The development of headphones has revolutionized how we listen to music by converting electrical signals into a corresponding sound — headphones which are referred to as small loudspeaker drivers are worn over the head around the ears. There are different types of headphones, including Circumoral headphones, Supra-Aural Headphones, Earbuds, Canal Headphones, and Bluetooth headsets. Moreover, the headset comes with five types of drivers which are usually referred to as Dynamic or Moving coil, Balanced armature, Planar magnetic, Electrostatic and Magnetostriction or bone conduction. Furthermore, with the advancement of technology Active Noise Cancelling has been introduced in the headset, which was proven really helpful to cut off ambient noises and now is the top priority of any headset buyer.
There are two types of Noise Cancelling, which include Passive and Active. The circum-aural types of the headset are the passive noise-cancelling headsets as they are packed with high-density and sound absorbing the material, which also increases the weight of these headphones as compare to normal ones. On the other hand, Active noise-cancelling headsets can do all the tasks passive ones do. Moreover, Active provides an extra layer of noise reduction by actively removing low-frequency sound waves.
Noise cancellation is not only for you, but if you are using a microphone, it is for the receiver as well because microphones also come with noise-cancellation. Nowadays there are multiple microphones used in a headset to take noise-cancellation to the next level as there is always some distance between both mics and one should be closer to the source of sound (in typical cases your mouth). As one picks up your sound, the other one picks up the surrounding noises and using algorithms, the surrounding ones are purified.
The other factors which are impacted by the use of noise-cancellation are the battery. Most of the headsets come with an option allowing you to turn on or turn off the ANC depending on your choice. However, if you are using ANC, then it’ll consume more battery leading to shorter battery span than usual. So when buying noise-cancelling headphones you need to keep different factors in mind which include its connectivity type whether its wired or wireless, battery (if its wireless) play time, charge time, frequency response consistency, total harmonic distortion, breathability, adjustable or adaptive noise cancellation, sound leakage and quick access to outside world.
FAQs
- Can you hear using noise cancelling headphones?
In extreme conditions, low frequencies such as traveling in an airplane could lead to some interference even if you are using noise cancelling headphones as they don’t work like magic, but it’s minimal as compared to normal ones.
- Can you sleep with noise cancelling headphones?
The noise cancelling headphones certainly help you cancel ambient, but the design of these headphones due to technology and drivers used is not suitable to be used in the bed.