I read recently about some Bose noise-cancelling headphones, but they’re breathtakingly expensive and probably wouldn’t work with an iPod anyway…
But in the spirit of this thread, what would happen in a high-noise environment with headphones that actively cancel ambient sound? Would it be okay for your ears, or would there be some sort of high-decibel subsonic or ultrasonic noise that would melt your brain?
:eek:
I wondered the same thing recently, and decided not to risk it and bought these isolation headphones with sterio speakers from Vic Firth. They’re designed to allow a drummer to hear the song that he’s supposed to be playing while keeping out the noise of his own kit, so he doesn’t have to crank the volume as loud.
-lv
With an ipod?
If it’s that bad you might want to consider just turning the thing down a bit, hmmm?
They use the noise-cancelling technology for folks who work around things like running jet engines to preserve their hearing, and it works a lot better than the alternatives. Unless you’re in an environment more exotic than sitting next to a Boeing 747 cranking up the engines you’re going to be OK.
If it’s a REALLY loud environment the vibration induced by the noise (which you will still be able to feel, although with something like a high-end Bose system you wouldn’t hear it) might still cause fatigue or stress, but you won’t go deaf.
This is, of course, under the assumption the system is properly adjusted, the headset fits your head properly, you wear them all the time around loud noise, and so on and so forth.
My brother has an I-Pod and the Bose noise canceling headphones. They work together marvelously. Side note, the first version of the Bose had a separate box containing the electronics. The new version has the electronics built in to the headphones.
The headphones use a “1/8” (3.5 mm) headphone plug and includes an array of adapters so it can be used with most devices.
Jim Mac Millan
I recently invested in the newer Bose noise-cancellation headphones for noise reduction on an overseas flight and then use at home. They do not completely cancel the noise but do filter it quite well. The roar of the engines was reduced to the purring of an air-conditioning system. They also came with an adaptor that fit the U.S. Airways’ sound system.
When used with a good quality CD player, the sound has been supreme.
Bose aren’t the only company making noise-cancelling cans - just the most expensive (possibly the best, tho’ judging by their other products the price reflects how much they spend on advertising rather than on manufacturing).
I have an el-cheapo pair - they work fine but are ugly and clunky - (I’ve seen others since that aren’t)
Some stuff about noise-cancellation
No reason that it would put out ultra or infra-sound, or not work with iPods (in fact since muggers have worked out that the white ear-buds of iPods == easy pickings, changing to something different might be wise anyway)
You’re in luck!
I just happen to have worked for Bose when they first developed the Noise-cancelling headphones for Air Force and Navy pilots in the early 1990s.
They do not involve ultra- or sub-sonic sound. Rather, they contain a microphone on the outside, that picks up the surrounding sound. The elctronics then invert the electric signal created by the sound and play both from the headphone speakers, which severely reduce the net volume of the sound you hear by nearly cancelling each other out.
Far from being dangerous, they have been a boon to fighter pilots, and airport runway workers. A recording engineer at Bose even wore them to a heavy metal concert he had promised to take his son to, and fell asleep in his seat.