You may be wondering if noise-canceling headphones block out your voice in an attempt to shield you from external noise. You are not alone in this. Several people considering purchasing noise-canceling headphones have shown this concern too. Understanding how noise-canceling headphones work goes a long way in quelling this doubt.
So, do noise-canceling headphones block out your voice? It is crucial to understand that the mouthpieces of voice-canceling headphones are designed for detecting one’s voice vibrations. They have noise-canceling features that make it possible to hear one’s self.
Not denying some headphones suck at this very function, it then depends on what kind of headphones you’re purchasing. Find out what you need to know about this magical feature and how it helps you retain your voice. Also, how it gives you a seamless experience even while making calls.
How Does a Noice Canceling Headphone Work When You’re Talking?
Like stated earlier, understanding how noise-canceling headphones work plays a vital role in satisfying your curiosity about purchasing one. How does your headphone know which noise is your voice and what noise to cancel?
The best way to answer this may demand a little practicality. Plug your fingers into your ears, such that external voices or sounds are blocked out. Now utter a few things. You can still hear yourself, isn’t it?
However, you notice your voice sounds different from the way its sounds when your ears are free and open. You may even be tempted to have a conversation with yourself this way. It suddenly dawns on you how spectacular this is.
How do you still hear yourself while your ears are shut? Well, give credit to your jawbone. Voice canceling headphones impersonate this exact biological model, with a little bit of technological adjustment, especially when you have music on.
Another interesting feature of voice-canceling headphones worth drawing your attention to is the mouthpiece technology. A typical voice canceling headphone features two microphones – one for air conduction, the other for bone conduction, combined into one.
Noise-canceling headphones help you hear yourself clearly in noisy places, but how do you hear someone when making a call? Find out below.
In a scenario where you’re scurrying down a busy hallway and your cellphone rings. Do you pick up and shout over the mouthpiece or ignore the call? With noise-canceling headphones, you need not deliberate this choice.
This is because it is designed to remove surrounding noise so you can talk at a normal voice level anywhere. Your normal phone uses air conduction hearing which uses the outer ear to trap sound waves. These soundwaves are then transported through the middle ear and undergo processing when they get to the inner ear.
Noise-canceling headphones fuse this air conduction technology with bone conduction technology. Your voice canceling headset adopts this bone conduction method to distinguish the right noise to recognize. This way, filtering out surrounding voices or noise.
Other features that permit this are related to your microphone. Some noise-canceling headphones come with a single earpiece and an ear hook for balance. While some others have double earpieces like some set of headphones.
Technological advancements as well as an increase in demand, with more users confined to loud offices, have pioneered a trend. A brand of recent headphones now has noise-canceling added separately into the speakers.
What Adjustment Can I make to Improve the Effectiveness of my Noise Canceling Headphone?
Here are some things to check out:
1. Set it at Minimal Level
Luckily most headphones have their microphones set to the minimal level where callers can hear you clearly and you can hear yourself too. If you’re using a headset with microphone adjustment in the base, you can simply try out a call with a neighbor. All you need to do is have them listen to you as you count numbers repeatedly.
They will find a range where you sound perfect. Then adjust your microphone level to that range that allows your caller to hear you perfectly, omitting extra background noise.
2. Find the Right Location
Adjust your mic boom to where the microphone is located. This is about 1-2 finger widths from the corner of your mouth. This aids the optimal performance of the microphone. This way it is conditioned of understanding your voice and not respond to other noises when faced in a different direction.
What Kind of Noise-canceling headphones is Best for Noisy Workplaces?
1. Those that Cover Both Ears
When you’re working in an environment with a lot of noise, the most effective headphones are types that cover both ears.
2. Larger Speakers
Larger cushions or speakers are effective in creating a sound barrier that barricades outside noise from what you’re trying to hear. The louder your workplace, the more focus you crave. This in turn creates a need to find noise-canceling headphones with cushions that circle your ear. This way, you isolate and drown out all background noise and sounds.
3. Active Noise Canceling
The best type of noise-canceling headphone for people working in noisy places is Active Noise Canceling(ANC), and Hybrid Active Noise Canceling. This is, however, costlier than other types. These kinds of noise-canceling headphones are your best fit if you want to talk and still hear yourself perfectly.
Conclusion
No headphone user wants to deal with headphones that don’t conduct your voice back to you when you talk. This is why noise-canceling headphones are the perfect option as regards that. However, something you should note before buying one is the variance in the quality of noise-canceling headphones.
While some noise-canceling headphones may suck slightly at this, others are excellent options. This post makes a recommendation for ANC headphones, especially when you work in noisy closets. They are definitely what you need if you work in factories, loud offices, or noisy restaurants.
The article also highlights how voice-canceling headphones work and how it effectively supports the amplification of your speech. Whether you’re just miming or making a call, your voice is never drowned out. If this is your concern, this post provides you with reasons to get noise-canceling headphones, especially if you need one.