Headphones or earphones might be the primary reason you opt for noise-cancelling technology. Whether it’s blocking out the sounds of your daily commute, a flight, or noisy neighbors, noise-cancelling features can be a game-changer.
Did you know?
Sound waves require a medium to travel, such as air, water, glass, or metal. If you’re in a room with a speaker playing music, you’ll be able to hear it. However, if you remove the air from the room, the speaker will still work, but the music will be inaudible. This is because without air acting as a medium, sound cannot propagate. Similarly, space is a vacuum, which means it typically doesn’t carry sound waves like air does on Earth (although some sounds can exist in space, which we can’t hear).
Why do I still hear external sounds when noise-cancelling is active?
The presence of air between your audio device and your eardrum Noise-cancelling technology can’t completely block out all sounds due to the air present between your audio device and your eardrum. However, this air is necessary for you to perceive the music. If you were to remove this air, the result would be silence, regardless of the volume of your music. This is because there would be no medium for the sound to reach your eardrum.
Effectiveness of noise cancellation at various frequencies
Have you ever noticed how well noise-cancelling technology works in silencing the sound of an airplane engine? Yet, when someone next to you speaks, you can still hear their voice. Why is that?
Mechanism of noise cancellation
Noise-cancelling audio devices utilize a built-in microphone to detect the ambient sound waves around you and generate the inverse sound waves to diminish the surrounding noise. These devices have a built-in microphone that creates the opposite reversed sound waves to neutralize the ambient noise. Noise cancellation is most effective when the ambient sound is steady and within the low to medium pitch range.
Interplay of balanced soundwaves with ambient and noise-cancelling waves
Consider the varying pitch levels of your voice. The rapid changes in pitch make it challenging for any noise-cancelling device to accurately analyze and respond to these fluctuations. As a result, you might still hear some sounds while others are cancelled out.
What can I anticipate from noise-cancelling technology?
Noise-cancelling technology enhances your listening experience by eliminating external disturbances. However, it’s important to note the following:
The noise-cancelling effect might not be as noticeable in quiet settings, and some sounds may still be audible. If the environment is relatively quiet, it’s even better to avoid activating the noise-cancelling feature, as it requires ambient input to perform at its best.
Noise cancellation doesn’t extend to telephone conversations. While it protects the user of the headphones from external noise, it doesn’t shield the person on the other end of the call from background noise.
The effectiveness of the noise-cancelling feature can change based on how you position the headset, and you might hear a beeping noise (like a howl) as a result. If this happens, remove the headset and reattach it.
The primary role of the noise-cancelling feature is to reduce noise from low-frequency sources such as trains, airplanes, and engine sounds. However, it doesn’t completely eliminate the noise.
Using the headset in a moving vehicle like a train or car can lead to noise, which can vary based on the surroundings. It’s not recommended to use noise-cancelling headphones while driving because being aware of traffic sounds is crucial for your safety.
Interference and noise from mobile phones can also affect the headset. If this happens, move the headset away from the phone.
Avoid covering the microphones. This could interfere with the noise-cancelling feature or Ambient Sound Mode, potentially causing a beeping noise (like a howl). If this happens, remove your hands from the headset microphones. How do Noise Canceling Headphones Work