Sound Cancelling Headphones – How To Choose The Right Noise Cancellation Headphones

Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 9:02 pm

Few years ago, we could see the first sound cancelling headphones arriving on the market. A lot of people use them on airlines to cover the noise of the aircraft. The first high quality sound cancelling headphones were developed by Amar Bose, CEO of Bose Technology. He quickly realised that the head phones currently on the market presented some problems. In the 80s, Bose Technology was the fisrt company to release this technology to the public. Two questions remain, how do they work and what makes high quality sound cancelling headphones?

Noise cancellation technology works with a microphone ‘listening’ to the noise around you. It does this by a microphone picking up the sounds around you. It inverts those sound waves so they are the opposite and when played back, the outside sound disappears. This is done in real time. As a result of the need for real time canceling the head phones work best with constant sounds such as air conditioning units rather than any quick changes of sound. So they eliminate some sounds, but not all.

To allow this technology to work, a battery power source is needed. In the past this was often done by adding the battery on the cabled outside area. However most sound cancelling headphones today have both the technology and the battery located in the head phones themselves. This reduces the outside bulk and makes them much more convenient and portable. Some models allow the head phones to continue working as normal head phones without the noise cancellation technology when the battery runs out.

The two main versions of head phones are the over ear surround model and the on ear models. The around ear tend to eliminate more sound as they work on an ear muff principle, passively reducing sound plus the noise canceling technology. However they can be heavier than the alternative and some people find them sweaty when used for long periods of time.

Sound cancelling headphones that are worn on the ear simply rest on the ear surface and tend to be lighter. They are usually lighter and allow more airflow as a consequence. They are also less capable of filtering out loud noises.

Some features to look for in sound cancelling headphones include detachable cords. This is useful if you just want to sit and eliminate airplane noise or the like, and don’t necessarily want to listen to music. This can be useful to protect the hearing such as when you’re out mowing the lawn.

If you use sound cancelling headphones on a regular basis such as for your job or travel, you may need to transport them safely. The final accessory you should look at is the carry case that is provided. Soft cases are easier to fit into odd spots in your luggage or hand bag, but they do not provide the level of protection a hard case will.. .

Would you like to learn more? Visit http://topheadphones.info to find instructions and videos on how to choose the right Sound Cancelling Headphones as well as a choice of the top headphones at amazing prices.