What are Noise Cancelling Headphones

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Exactly what are Noise Cancelling headphones and why are they used?

Noise cancelling headphones

If you are on the market for a new pair of headphones, you may have heard the term noise cancelling headphones and wondered what they are. To put it simply, these are a special type of headphones that helps to reduce unwanted ambient sounds or acoustic noise. This makes the music or other sounds you are listening to much clearer.

But maybe you thought that was what all headphones did.

Noise cancelling headphones are special. They work through a means of what is sometimes called active noise control. Put simply, this involves using a microphone and placing it near the ear. Then electronic circuitry within the headphones begins working to create an anti noise sound wave while at the same time allowing the opposite polarity of the sound wave to arrive at the microphone. This causes a destructive interference that cancels out any noise within the enclosed space of the headphones.

This essentially means that by wearing such headphones you do not have to worry about outside noises interrupting you from hearing whatever it is that you choose to hear via your headphone set. You also can enjoy listening to your headphones at normal volume levels. You do not have to turn up the volume to drown out any outside noises. This is the one reason why noise cancelling headphones are a popular choice for people when traveling on buses, subways and even on airplanes.

If you are wondering about the origin of how these noise cancelling headphones were first used and developed you will have to go back to the 1950's. Lawrence J. Fogel helped to invent some of the first noise cancelling headphones to help cancel out the loud noises in the cockpits of both airplanes and helicopters.

Then in 1978, Dr. Amar Bose (Of Canada and also the founder of the Bose Company) was traveling aboard an airplane on an international flight. He was given a pair of headphones and was not satisfied with their performance. He couldn't hear over the loud engine noises as well as the other noises of the plane.

Not forgetting about this experience, he spent the next decade trying to perfect a set of headphones that could cancel out noises properly. Finally, satisfied at what he created he begins to mass produce his own brand of Bose noise cancelling headsets. Now these types of headsets are made by many different brands and companies.

There are many uses for owning and using a pair of noise cancelling headphones, beyond just wearing them during airplane travel such as:

Listening to your favorite music at home, even when your husband is mowing the lawn outside.

When working in a crowded or noisy office, especially if you have to give complete attention to your work.

While jogging and wanting to listen to music or even an audio book player while you are on a busy city street, near a construction or highway improvement site.

While trying to listen and study audio tapes, especially when learning a foreign language and you are in a busy, noisy and possibly crowded area.

If you have a house full of children, especially teenagers (Of course make sure someone else is tending to the needs of the little ones).

Listening to your movies, music or even sports on your own home theater system. The noise cancelling headphones are the last addition to make any home theater system perfect.

Listening and watching HDTV for perfect performance and quality sound

Listening and watching Blue Ray Videos for perfect performance and quality sound.

Listening to your own MP3 tracks everywhere and anywhere you can.

Cutting off the noise of a loud mower or other machinery while you work (Sometimes the noise can be disturbing and the sound of music could make your work flow better).

Drowning out the sound of other people's crying babies in stores, doctor's offices or even in your own front yard during the summer months when you want to enjoy the outside in peace and quiet.

As for the consumers who are hard to please, they have no worries. They can easily find a pair of noise cancelling headphones that will fit their needs, their budget and their style preference.

They come in many light weight styles. They come in wireless styles and they even come in some choice of color range, if you are sick of the basic black look.

Most noise cancelling headphones also come with very comfortable ear buds or padded earphones.

Are noises disturbing you when you are listening to your favorite music, trying to concentrate at work or when you are out jogging? Would you like your home theater system to have an even better quality sound experience?

Could a pair of noise cancelling headphones be just what you need?