In a marketplace where high end headphones have never sold at a faster rate, many consumers are curious as to what the difference is between noise canceling technology and noise isolation. To make matters worse, many of the headphone brands are not even aware of the differences themselves, selling headphones that claim to be noise canceling, when they are actually noise isolating, and vice versa.
Each method of noise reduction works in its own way, albeit with a slightly different way of going about the task. Let’s have a closer look at each form of noise cancellation, to learn more about the actual differences.
Noise Canceling
When a person uses noise canceling headphones, they are actually using a microphone in order to hear the sound. Then some processing takes place and inverse waves are sent back into the person’s headphones. The inverse waves are what is responsible for getting rid of all the additional ambient sound.
This is not a perfect science, as noise canceling headphones seem to work best for sounds that are lower, as opposed to those that are more high pitched. Sounds that fall into the middle of the range, such as the human voice, are not always completely canceled out, and may sound more droning and low.
High pitched sounds, like the cries of an infant, are not canceled out, angering many who have gone to the trouble of purchasing noise cancellation headphones. Since noise cancellation headphones rely on the cancellation of the actual waves of sound, a person’s mileage may vary.
Noise Isolation
Noise isolation headphones depend more upon a physical form of noise removal. Noise isolation does not to attempt to cancel the sound waves. The headphones are placed directly onto or into the ear, so that there is a physical barrier between the noise and the person’s ability to hear it.
The effectiveness of noise isolation headphones is entirely dependent on how much of a seal you are able to have between your ears and the noises of the surrounding world. This is not a one size fits all proposition, as each person’s ears are shaped differently and react to noise in their own unique way.
Conclusion
Noise canceling headphones tend to be hit or miss. Top quality variations work well, while lower priced options struggle to work at all. Trying to skimp on noise canceling headphones can lead to purchasing a pair that adds hissing sounds to your audio mix. A set of noise isolation headphones will muffle the world around you quite well if you are able to get a good seal between your ear and everything else. A person must choose the headphones that work best for their personal preferences. Enjoying the fit and the feel is of the utmost importance.