When you're walking down the street, you hear noise from people and vehicles everywhere. You would rather listen to your own music or favorite podcast, of course, without all the external sounds. The noise cancellation technology helps with that. But what exactly is this technology and how does it work?
Noise cancellation is the process of reducing background and ambient noise. Noise cancelling headphones were originally designed for and used by airline pilots. This way, they heard less noise and felt more comfortable during their flights. Since then, headphones with this function have been popular all around the world for different usages.
We can distinguish 4 different features: active noise cancellation, passive noise cancellation, environmental noise cancellation and transparency mode.
ANC is a method for reducing unwanted noise where another identical sound is added by the device to cancel out the unwanted sound. Headphones with ANC have a small microphone that emits sound waves to counteract the incoming unwanted sound waves. In theory, there will be no more noise coming in.
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Source: Guardio Safety
Active noise cancellation can be divided into 3 categories: feedforward ANC, feedback ANC and hybrid ANC.
With feedforward ANC, there is a microphone that filters out noise on the outward part of the headset. This way, ambient noise is absorbed before you can hear it.
By contrast, feedback ANC has a mic on the inside part of the headphone that filters out unwanted noise. This microphone can hear exactly what the listener hears. As a result, the technology can better adapt to the sound that's coming in.
And finally, we have the hybrid function. This is a combination of the previous two functions. Hybrid ANC has a microphone on both the inside and outside parts of the headphone which filters out noise. If you want the best of both worlds for a complete noiseless experience, then the hybrid option is the best choice.
Unlike ANC, passive noise cancellation does not use internal technology to filter out noise. Headphones with PNC are designed to dampen out ambient noise by enclosing the ears, allowing the listener to clearly hear the sound from the source. There are also a variety of designs with different kinds of ear cups, headbands and headphone sizes. The listener can choose the most optimal formats to guarantee the best comfortability. Although headphones with PNC are less effective than its ANC counterpart, the price of PNC headsets is much more affordable.
Source: C't - IT-magazine
ENC or ambient noise cancellation is a technology very similar to ANC in its working, but with a very different objective. Headphones with ANC prioritize reducing noise for the headphone user, while headphones with ENC focus on reducing noise for other people that are in a call with the user of such a device. To do this, ENC uses a built-in microphone to detect and eliminate noise from the outside. This allows the users to communicate clearly with each other through their headphone. A vital feature for people who make frequent calls or regularly have online meetings.
Finally, there is also a function that can partially filter out ambient noise. This feature is called transparency mode. It slightly adjusts the ANC to let most of the outside noise through. This allows you to hear what is going on around you and be more alert to your surroundings. While ANC uses a microphone to suppress the noise, the transparency mode allows the ambient sound to merge with what you're listening to at that moment. A very useful feature if you want to hear the people nearby or simply hear what's going on around you.
Exposure to constant noise can be harmful to both our productivity and personal health. If we don't do anything about it, it can cause serious long-term problems and negatively affect our work performance. Therefore, noise cancelling products could be useful to prevent these sorts of problems.
Noise cancellation can be very useful while working or studying. After all, you want to focus on your work or tasks without being bothered by background noise. By reducing the noise, you create an oasis of tranquility for you to work or study without interruption. With a noise cancelling product, you can fully concentrate on the tasks at hand.
One of the biggest advantages of noise cancelling devices is that audio becomes much clearer due to the reduction of external sound. Are you listening to music or a podcast on the bus or watching a movie on the train? You can do these things undisturbed and hear everything clearly with noise cancellation. Also, when you're gaming it can ensure an immersive experience, where you're fully engaged in your game without external distractions.
Reducing disruptive noise is not only beneficial for your ears, but it can also be good for your mental health. You won't hear irritating sounds anymore, so you will feel less stressed and be more relaxed. You can also use noise cancelling earphones while sleeping. For example, if you live next to a busy road or have a loud snorer at home. There are also no negative effects on your health when using these devices. They are completely safe to use on a daily basis.
Noise cancelling headphones are especially very useful for people who often take the bus, train or airplane. It can help with jet lag by allowing passengers to sleep more comfortably without the noise of the plane. You can also listen to music or watch a movie peacefully without having the noise of people or the mode of transport you're using.
It can be concluded that there are many different types and options of noise cancellation. Some a bit more technologically complex than others, but each with its own advantages. There are also many benefits to using noise cancelling products, especially for people who travel a lot or are often affected by external noise.
Are you interested in buying a noise cancelling device after reading this article? Check out our audio-items with noise cancellation!
