QUESTIONS

Do noise-cancelling headsets really work?

Yes, noise-cancelling headsets really do work. They often require a little more energy to function properly than conventional headsets because they are monitoring the noise levels around the wearer – through a system called active noise cancellation (ANC) - in addition to their role of providing a means of audio playback. This is usually not an issue except for noise-cancelling headsets that only run on battery power since these tend to need to be recharged more often than passive headsets. In fact, noise-cancelling headsets were developed from the sort of ANC headphones that were made for the aviation industry to help make communication easier in aeroplane cockpits. ANC devices have been around since the 1950s and continually improved upon since then. As such, noise-cancelling headsets constitute a tried-and-tested technology that consumers can enjoy numerous benefits from.

Is there a headset that cancels background noise?

To be exact, there is no headset that can cancel out all of the background noise you might be exposed to. If you want to wear a headset without being able to detect any other noises whatsoever, then you will need to go into a soundproofed room. What noise-cancelling headsets do is to boost the signals you will need to hear better by detecting in real-time the other noises you are being subjected to locally. So, if a bee were buzzing near to you, then your noise-cancelling headset should detect this and give your audio a boost at the higher frequencies. Likewise, if lots of people are talking close by, then you'd expect the middle frequencies to be adjusted accordingly. That's not the same thing as cancelling background noise of course – noise-cancelling headsets simply make it easier to hear what you want to hear despite the local soundscape.

Is noise-cancelling bad for your ears?

No, noise-cancelling headsets are not bad for your ears. In fact, they can be superior to headphones and earbuds in some regards because they mean being able to hear the sound coming from them more easily than would otherwise be the case. In other words, with noise-cancelling technology operating, you should be able to turn the volume down, thereby lessening the risk to your ears of aural shock and long-term damage. In some cases, people detect a certain amount of pressure on their ears when using them. This tends to come down to low frequencies being boosted to cancel out rumbling sounds. Although it is just sound, because it is at the lower end of the hearing frequency spectrum, the body can misinterpret it as pressure because of a differential created between the inner and outer ear. Most people adjust to this after a while without any further issues.

What are noise-cancelling headsets?

With a system of active noise control that is built into them, noise-cancelling headsets differ from conventional headsets insofar as they aim to reduce the level of ambient noise around the wearer. What this means is that they are designed to reduce the amount you can hear in your surroundings, thereby allowing you to concentrate on the sound that the headset is producing instead. You can purchase noise-cancelling headsets that are binaural, which means they cover both your ears, or monaural, which means that the technology will work in just the ear that is listening. Noise-cancelling technology adjust the signal-to-noise ratio depending on the sort of sounds that are being produced locally. This means that the sounds you will hear produced by them will be louder at certain frequencies to deal with extraneous noise. Low rumbles from passing traffic, for example, can be cancelled by boosting deeper frequencies.

Is noise-cancelling worth it?

Yes, noise-cancelling headsets have several benefits. As compared to passive headsets which have no noise-cancelling functionality, those which can filter out extraneous noise make it easier to pay attention to the sound coming from the headphones. If you are on a call using a noise-cancelling headset, for instance, and there is lots of noise in the office, then you might easily mishear what the caller is saying or not hear them at all. Unlike passive headsets which do not mitigate for this, noise-cancelling ones make it easier to stay focussed. They are also good at helping to cancel things like train noise or the hum of an aeroplane, so they help when commuting, too. Some people who are particularly distracted by auditory stimuli will find them more beneficial than others. Given that some models of noise-cancelling headsets are adjustable, they should suit most people and settings.