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List Info Thread: Noise-canceling Headphones, Pros and Cons
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List Info Thread: Noise-canceling Headphones, Pros and Cons
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107129-app1.anj.com>
Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 06:29:26 -0500 (CDT)
Noise-canceling Headphones, Pros and Cons
Noise-canceling Headphones – Pros and Cons
By Patricia Marcher
As a consequence of my athletic lifestyle over the last
30 years, coupled with my manic obsession for high quality
music during the course of my daily workouts, I have
suffered hundreds of technologically inferior headphones in
my personal pursuit of those that provide the greatest
comfort and highest quality sound while limiting extraneous
noise which interferes with my concentration and focus. For
the active and athletically inclined, of all ages and levels
of excellence, hear me loud and clear! If you have been
searching for such an accessory, you have come to the
perfect online store!
The line of products that I offer will provide the
perfect balance between your ability to mentally and
physically focus upon your chosen activity and your complete
immersion into the unique and compelling world of energizing
sound virtually free from extraneous noise and
distractions.
The staggering effects of my “Noise-canceling”
headphones will seduce your senses while providing an
exhilarating backdrop for spirited and task directed
physical conditioning.
In order to asses the “price/sound” ratio, I began a
systematic process of practical experience in conjunction
with a comprehensive and exhaustive research of a variety of
headphones which were compatible with various technologies
such as MP3 players, automobile CD and DVD stereo systems,
personal computer data processors and telecommunication
systems of all varieties.
The music from these selected “Noise-canceling”
headphones provides an enclosed sound system, which
emphasizes bold and clear lyrics and instrumentation. I was
astounded by my ability to immediately recognize various
subtleties that I had always listened to, yet not heard.
My research has developed significant objective,
quantifiable differences between noise-canceling headphones
and those that do not have this capability. Included in
these comparisons, I specifically targeted enclosed ear
covers compared with those commonly referred to as “earbuds”
and “earclips”.
I currently feature a variety of (12) separate and
distinct headphone/headset styles and technologies. For the
cost conscious shopper, I have ranked these products by
price.
My most expensive headset is the Sony YMDRNC50 at
$149.99. My least expensive, with the noise-canceling
feature, is the Maxell MXLHPNC3 at a price of $39.95, which
is considerably less expensive than many other well
respected brands.
Both high and low-end headphones are lightweight, fold
for compact storage after use, come equipped with a carrying
case and a lifetime warranty.
Please note that price, while an indication of greater
manufacturing and technological sophistication, does not
automatically translate into the most comfortable fit and
superior quality and crispness of sound. Each person will
enjoy certain physical abilities, unique to them. Listening
and hearing capabilities obviously vary. You will be able
to gauge for yourself which product best suits your specific
listening needs.
There are advantages and disadvantages in using
“Noise-canceling” Headphones. These are best described in
Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia as follows:
“Noise-cancelling headphones reduce unwanted ambient sounds
(i.e., acoustic noise) by means of active noise control.
Essentially, this involves using a microphone, placed near
the ear, and electronic circuitry which generates an
“antinoise” sound wave with the opposite polarity of the
sound wave arriving at the microphone. This results in
destructive interference, which cancels out the noise within
the enclosed volume of the headphones.”*
Keeping low noise at the ear makes it possible to enjoy
music without raising the volume unnecessarily. It can also
help a passenger sleep in a noisy vehicle such as an
airliner.
Retail noise-canceling headphones typically only cancel
the lower-frequency portions of the noise. They depend upon
traditional noise suppression techniques (such as their
earcups) to prevent higher-frequency sounds from reaching
the interior of the headphone. This traditional noise
suppression technique has three benefits:
1. The demands on the circuitry are vastly simplified.
2. Because of the shorter wavelength of the high-frequency
sound, active cancellation is much less effective at higher
frequencies. To truly cancel high frequency components
(coming at the ear from all directions), the sensor and
emitter for the canceling waveform would have to be adjacent
to the user’s eardrum, an impractical situation.
3. For the same reason (shorter wavelength), effective
passive isolation becomes easier with rising frequency.
Noise-canceling headphones have several disadvantages
that vary from vendor to vendor:
1. They consume power, usually supplied by a battery, that
must occasionally be
replaced or recharged.
2. They may not cancel all sound effectively. Some
noise-canceling headphones can
be overloaded by low-frequency pressure waves, distorting
the desired signal. They work well for sounds that are
continuous, such as the hum of a refrigerator, but are
rather ineffective against speech or other rapidly changing
audio signals.
3. They may introduce additional noise, usually in the form
of high-frequency hiss.
4. They are generally more bulky than traditional
headphones.
5. They may pick up and convert stray electromagnetic
fields, such as a mobile phone signal, into unwanted noise.
6. When used by flight crews, noise-canceling headphones can
block out important noises such as alarms, abnormal engine
noise, and other aircraft while on the ground. The FAA has
issued a warning about the dangers of noise-canceling
headsets.
A number of airlines in their business and first class
cabins supply noise-canceling headphones (as mentioned
above, this works very well with the “continuous hum”
situation). In these cases, the headphones are about the
same size as normal headphones. The actual electronics to
take the sound from the microphone behind the headphone,
invert it, and add it back into the audio signal is done in
the plane handrest.
These systems often have a special channel allocated
with no underlying audio signal, thereby only using the
noise cancellation. This can make sleeping easier, as the
noise is significantly quieter than with no headphones on at
all.
We encourage you to visit our store for the finest
selection of competitively priced “Noise-canceling” headsets
available. Should you respectfully decline to do business
with us, we, nevertheless, urge in the strongest fashion,
you purchase a “Noise-canceling” headset as and for your
next entertainment accessory. You will be greatly
impressed!
*Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikipedia
Foundation, Inc., a US-registered 501(C)(3) tax-deductible
nonprofit charity.
Female, 54 years of age, Aerobics Instructor, Music Buff,
15K runner, ½ marathon runner, college graduate, mother of
3, business entrepreneur for 17 years, owner of 8 sailboats,
sailing enthusiast, experienced sailor in southern waters,
particularly Caribbean and Bahamas. Interests include
extensive gardening, sailing, bicycling, walking, running,
weight-training, reading, interior design and decorating.
New owner of website