How Does Active Noise Cancelling Work

How Does Active Noise Cancelling Work?

Matt DearingHearing Health, Hearing Loss

Do you have a hard time enjoying your music on the commute to work? Listening to music or podcasts in places with a lot of background noise can make you turn up the volume to unsafe levels. Even when you crank up the volume, all the background sounds can still interfere with the audio you’re listening to. Active noise cancelling headphones will make it easy to enjoy music without damaging your hearing health.

Passive Vs. Active Noise Cancelling Technology

There are two types of noise cancelling technology. Passive noise cancelling works like your earplugs. The physical components of the earplugs or earbuds will block out some of the background sounds. The material of the earbuds absorbs background sounds and makes it easier for you to focus on what you want to hear.

Active noise cancelling technology does a much better job at blocking out all the background noise. Active noise cancelling earbuds or headphones use digital noise cancelling. These earbuds or headphones will actively block the noises in the background by playing sound waves that cancel out the background noise. You won’t have to turn up the volume to hear your music, and you’ll enjoy listening without being distracted by other sounds. 

How Does Active Noise Cancelling Work?

There are several parts that work together to actively cancel out the background noise. The components of active noise cancelling earbuds or headphones are:

  • The microphone that picks up all the sounds in the background.
  • The noise-cancelling technology that receives the sounds signals from the microphone and will generate a sound wave to block these sounds.
  • The speakers that will play these sound waves, along with the audio you’re listening to.
  • The battery that provides power to the earbuds or headphones.

Active noise cancelling headphones or earbuds can decrease background noise by around 20 decibels. Much of the background noise will be cancelled out, and you’ll only hear a few of the sounds in your environment. The background sounds you do hear will be muffled.

Wearing Noise Cancelling Headphones

You don’t need to wear noise cancelling headphones all the time, but you should wear your noise cancelling earbuds whenever you’re in places with a lot of background noise. Wearing these noise cancelling earbuds or headphones will help you enjoy your audio as well as protect your hearing. When you listen at a safe volume, you’ll avoid noise induced hearing loss and protect your hearing from dangerously loud sounds.

Why Wear Active Noise Cancelling Headphones? 

Once you’ve switched to noise cancelling headphones or earbuds you’ll never want to go back to regular earbuds. Noise cancelling headphones improve sound quality by blocking out all the distracting background sounds like traffic noise, or people talking nearby. Noise cancelling headphones let you enjoy your audio without straining to hear or missing sounds due to background noise. You’ll hear all the sounds you want to hear and have a relaxing listening experience. 

Active noise cancelling headphones will also reduce your stress levels. You will be able to listen to your music without worrying about any competing background sounds. This lets your focus on driving or working without straining to hear. 

Active Noise Cancelling Will Protect Your Hearing

Active noise cancelling technology will protect your hearing. When you listen with regular earbuds or headphones, you may be tempted to turn up the volume to block out background sounds. You may crank up the volume to block out the sounds on your commute, the noise coming in through the window, or even the noise of people chatting in the office. Those who listen to music every day often turn up the volume to very unsafe levels that can damage their hearing. Listening to music with normal earbuds can damage your hearing a lot quicker than you realize. 

Wearing active noise cancelling earbuds or headphones is a great way to protect your hearing! Not only will you enjoy your music without distracting noises, you’ll also be able to hear without turning up the volume. These earbuds or headphones can also help you focus on tasks without working to block out distracting sounds that divide your attention. 

To learn more about active noise cancelling, contact us. We’ll show you how active noise cancelling can improve sound quality and protect your hearing.