Noise Cancelling Headphones - The basic principles of How They Block Unwanted Noise7626268

There are basically 2 kinds of headphones created to reduce background noise. Passive noise cancelling headphones and noise cancelling app free download. The passive type muffles extraneous sounds even though the active ones electronically decrease external noise.

Passive-

Passive noise cancelling headsets use what is known as circum-aural sound dampening design. They may be shaped like just one cup, which surrounds the ear. The rim of the cup is made of a high-density foam and sound wave dampening material. This produces a seal that blocks approximately 20 dB of noise.

Active-

The active noise cancellation headphones provide an additional 20dB of noise reduction than the passive type. It employs the same technology (circum-aural sound dampening design) since the passive headphones but additionally incorporates phase cancellation. This is the key feature of active noise cancelling headphones. A microphone is placed inside the headphone that picks up external noise that the aural cushions with the passive headphones are unable to block out. The phase cancelling technologies are able to analyze the intensity and frequency of the pitch, also referred to as the loudness and pitch of the noise. The circuitry then creates a perfect replica from the noise and throws it 180 degrees out-of-phase. This, for those intents and purposes, eliminates the sound.

The headphone speaker then plays this "non-sound" in addition to whatever it is that you will be listening to. This artificial noise is the exact opposite of the extraneous noise that means it is past the ear cushions. They then cancel the other person out because of the 180-degree phase reversal. As a result the external noise is reduced significantly, letting you enjoy your audio with a dramatic decrease in background noise.

These kind of headphones are perfect for airplanes or any place where there is much external noise. On airplanes, for example, this type of noise reduction while using headphones will dramatically reduce fatigue.

Another difference between the two is that the active type needs a power source, usually a battery.

Noise cancelling headphones tend to be larger and heavier that regular headsets or earphones. They are able to, however, be a little more comfortable when worn for very long periods of time because of the large cushions that impose less pressure around the ears.