Noise cancelling technology VS Sound Isolation in Headphones.. everything you need to know

While there appears to be a constant stream of technical breakthroughs in audio technologies, particularly in headphones and sound apps, revolutionary changes are also occurring in Noise-Cancelling and Isolation field. The Noise-Canceling Technology today is not just a secondary feature added to the Headphones. It rather has become a standard for quality of the device itself, and it has involved many upgrades during the last few years to be smarter and further beneficial than it used to be.

In this article we will discuss how the Noise-Canceling Technology started and evolved throughout the years, and how it affected Headphones and Sound Industry to a great extent.

What is Noise-Cancelling ?

Noise Cancelling Technology will help you reduce the surrounding noises that affect the user’s listening experience to allow the audiophile hear more of musical traffic with less disturbing ambient sounds.

Using a built-in microphone, this technology tracks the ambient noise and prevents it from reaching the user’s ear by redirecting it to the opposite direction. This could help a passenger fall asleep at a noisy vehicle such as an airliner and within the aviation environment.

The noise-cancelling technique emerged in 1978 when “ AMAR BOSE “ The Founder and Chairman of Bose Corporation tested the first headphones supported with this technology during a flight from Zurich To Boston. The result was satisfying as the pilot who wore those headphones barely heard the noise of the engine or the passengers hustle.

Since then, Bose Corporation carried on conducting its research to develop the surrounding noise cancelling process, and in 1989 the first official headphones with this technology were released and were primarily dedicated to the aviation sector.

The first Consumer’s Noise-Cancelling Headphones were released in 2000.  It was another creation by Bose and was labelled “ Bose Quietcomfort QC 1 “. It has been fitted with a tiny device connected to the headphones’ cable that is responsible of Reversing Sound Waves Process, and since then Bose continued to develop the technique until melting all the Noise-Cancelling Sensors and Microphones inside the headphones’ circuit itself!  Development carried on until the first wireless headphones with this feature were released.

Despite being a pioneer in this sector, Bose Corporation today is met with a fierce competition in the market by companies like Sennheiser, Sony and Dr.Dre, yet it still has its position in the foreground as the first inventor of this technology in the world.

How the Noise-Cancelling Effects the Hearing Experience

There is no doubt that it is totally amazing being able to enjoy your favorite songs with less or no annoying noise that usually disturbs your private time relaxing. It is an experience no one can go through a day without having. Therefore, wearing a noise cancelling headphones set will allow you to feel  and interact with the Music not just hearing it. More Bass and Treble dominating the sounds and Higher-Resolution Pure Detailed Audio Traffic. Put simply, we are talking a MUCH More Powerful Experience!

But on the other hand this technology, just like everything else in the world may include some negative aspects to it. Because of the electronic sound processing during the Sound Reversing, we may lose some of the High-Frequencies of the traffic. Luckily though, companies are still working to mitigate this effect and they are doing a good job at it.

What’s Next?

The recent advances, while impressive, have been mainly in developing a much powerful hearing asset. Beside merging the Microphones and Ambient Sounds Sensors in the headphones themselves, and turning it into wireless, companies have continued to develop Noise-Cancelling Feature to make it smarter, more intelligent, efficient and less risky. For example, some Headphones today in some cases may allow specific sounds to cross the cancelling firewall and reach your ear. By those sounds, we mean the cars’ horns when you cross the road, or maybe a friend shouting your name from a distance.

New Headphones provide you with the potential to choose from 3 levels of noise-cancelling. The  revolutionary upgrades exceeded headphones to include more devices like Microphones to enhance the Sound Recording Quality by getting rid of the air sound, and also Smartphones to make better calls with less annoying ambient. If successful, the outcome could be a breakthrough in audio experience in general.

Pros

  • Focusing on the sound traffic to get the best of musical experience.
  • Super beneficial in conditions like traveling where it helps the user to have more privacy and relaxation.

Cons

  • Battery Consuming
  • Situations like crossing the road in Rush Hour while hearing loud Music could be life-threatening.
  • Hearing nothing except loud music may cause you hearing issues and infections on the long term.

What is The Difference between Noise Cancellation and Sound Isolation?

Mainly, both terms Lead us to the same outcome, but each one has its own way to do so. As we mentioned in this matter, the Noise Cancellation Technology uses External “ now internal “ sensors and microphones to reverse the Annoying Ambience.  Meaning it needs more power to do its work.

While the Sound Isolation Technology exploits The Headphones’ Design and all the Headphones’ components like ear-cups, the foams to do the cancellation remains the sensors’ job, so it’s less power consuming and it may even grant you a better cancellation degree than the other technology. In some Headphones you may reach 35dBA via Sound Isolation.

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Sony MDR1000x

 Bose QC35

Bose QuietComfort 30

Best Sound Isolation Headphones

Beyerdynamic DT1770 Pro

The Beyer dynamic DT1770 Pro Headphones are a good example for a Sound Isolation over-ear. In case you are looking for in-ear headphones with Sound Isolation then Shure SE535 is your choice.

Westone W40

MEE audio Pinnacle P1

 Shure SE535


And now when purchasing your new headphones, will Noise Cancelling feature or Sound Isolation be your next first pick?

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