[camille]

sorry if this is such a n00b question, but i thought closed-type headphones offer great isolation from outside noises. although some isolation but not as much as i thought. and how does isolation coming from NC phones differ? thanks.

 

[jagorev]

Noise cancellers rely on an electronic circuit to generate an inverse sound wave to cancel out constant background noise (like in an airplane). Closed headphones and IEMs rely on a tight acoustic seal. The highest isolation is to be found on IEMs.

This gives some good buying tips:

http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-ap...ion/traveling/

 

[gigit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagorev This explains it pretty well, and gives some good buying tips: http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-ap...ion/traveling/

that has a good explination... if you want the short and simple answer though.... closed are well, closed no air comes in/goes out, while noise canceling has an extra device that needs to be powered by an extra battery usualy

 

[angler31337]

Also--to date--the performance and sound quality of actively noise canceling 'phones has been sort of unspectacular.

-Angler

 

[Nights_85]

except for Bose, cause Bose say they're really really good, so they must be! And remember the lion!

 

[PaulRivers]

Closed headphones block out noise by completely surrounding your ear with headphone. Just like wearing earmuffs.

Noise cancelling headphones are closed and block noise the same way, plus they have circuitry to actively cancel out low-end noise. That circuitry reduces fan noise and engine noise, but does absolutely nothing to stop peoples voices. (But the closed aspect of the headphone still reduces some of the noises.)

(The Sennheiser PXC250's are an exception, as they aren't closed, so they don't have the "closed" benefits.)

Hmm..let me try this again, only simpler:

Noise-cancelling headphones block out noise the same as closed heapdhones + they do their special thing that blocks out additional low-end noise.