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Post by elysion on Feb 28, 2015 4:10:40 GMT
So far my only practical experience with noise-cancelling headphones are very cheap 'phones from Lidl. We've had a discussion about them years ago on RG: Silvercrest noise-canelling headphones
Long story short: While the Silvercrest 'phones are a very good value (I still have them), they are far from being perfect and they come also with disadvantages/flaws. I'm thinking of buying better noise-cancelling headphones as soon a my financial situations allows it. I like the sound of the DT990 Pro's, DT770 Pro's, the Sennheiser HD580/600/650 series and the HD25-1/II's very much and I hope to find noise-cancelling headphones that match these 'phones at least partially. I'm sure that noise-cancelling technology will have also some drawbacks and I do not expect to find the perfect 'phones. I'm curious to hear about your practical knowledge with noise-cancelling headphones. Maybe I'll go a different route though. I have also plans to get a really good headset for combined listening to music and conversation through the internet with software like Mumble and/or Jabber/XMPP (Jabber/XMPP is only the technology; there are many clients available for that). I've seen some headsets from Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser, which are based on well know 'phones (like DT770 Pro's or the HD25-1/II's). Some of them are targeted to pilots and perhaps they are optimised also for speech. Perhaps it would be also possible to find a good combination of a headset with noise-cancelling technology.
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Post by elysion on Feb 28, 2015 4:56:36 GMT
I've retested the noise-cancellation of the Silvercrest 'phones for a couple of minutes and they still feel the same as a few years ago. The main problem: There's a HF problem even with the noise-cancellation alone. I doesn't look too good, at least when reading this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noise-cancelling_headphonesI already knew that noise-cancellation has drawbacks. But I was not aware that HF issues are a problem related directly to the technology. The possible cures for this issue seem to have also drawbacks (if they are used by a manufacturer at all). Seems like noise-cancellation is not for me. I'm quite sensitive in the treble and i hate some HF. That's also why I do like the 'phones mentioned in the first post. They are all very kind to my ears regarding HF. I've used the KH2347's only for a couple of minutes with the noise-cancellation alone and I'm already suffering from ear fatigue. That's certainly not a good sign. I think it's better to go for the second approach: To get a very good headset. Probably one based on good closed-back 'phones like the HD25-1/II's oder the DT770 Pro's. I don't like closed-backs too much because of the backwave that feels also not very comfortable for my ears. I've had some problems with the backwave on the DT770 Pro's and to a lesser extent with the HD25-1/II's, but closed-back is certainly a good thing for a headset since the isolation will be an advantage for conversation.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 28, 2015 7:44:57 GMT
If I fly anywhere, I tend to use noise cancelling headphones Christian. I use a Sennheiser 450x which is quite good but it has problems as well.
First of all, it doesn't cut high frequency so well. So if I was going in something like a helicopter, it wouldn't be brilliant. The noise of a helicopter has low sounds but very often, also higher pitched whining from the rotors. The headphones aren't so good at cutting out the whining. So I used to resort to a DT770 very often.
If you eat while wearing noise cancelling headphones, the sound changes a lot with the movement of your jaw. It kind of rolls in and out of focus. So if you eat on a plane, it's not very pleasant using these types of headphone.
In a living room, the electronic circuitry hisses when it's active. You're more aware of that when you're at home and it doesn't cut out a washing machine that's spinning. Again, the high whining noises come through.
So, although I have a fairly good pair, I only use them occasionally when flying.
If I don't want to carry a DT770, I use a Senn ie8. Mine are custom fitted so they do block out jets, both high and low pitched noise, quite well. Some people don't like iem's at all, but for me, they are a practical solution to mobility and noise blocking.
It's quite funny, but nowadays, I tend to see headphones as a tool for certain situations. So I use whatever suits what I'm doing. So in the garden, I might go for a Bluetooth headphone so there are no wires when I'm cutting the lawn. Not best sound, but ok for the job. In the front room, if the wife is watching TV, a nice closed headphone is better than a noise cancelling headphone. Sitting in the garden, I might use a Senn hd598 because I have a short lead on it and it sounds ok, or now, I use a Philips headphone that is more closed and sounds terrific.
So noise cancelling headphones serve a purpose but aren't great. For me, they were flying headphones, but I'll be doing a lot less of that now, so they may well become defunct.
With the Senns, they sound better with the cancellation switched out, but low rumbles then come through from the outside. They are also quite expensive for the amount of use they get.
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Post by elysion on Feb 28, 2015 8:22:31 GMT
I'm already almost sure that I'll spend the money on a good professional headset from Beyerdynamic or Sennheiser. Noise-cancellation is too costly for the few occasions where it could be an advantage for me. But the thread itself has its eligibility. It would be very interesting to hear about the practical experiences of other members.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 28, 2015 9:07:27 GMT
I have had a (cheap) noise cancelling headphones but got annoyed by the hiss it generates.
Basically it is a headphone with a built-in amplifier. It has a small mic on the inside (sometimes also on the outside) and this is used as 'feedback'.
In other words the amplifier compares the music signal to the actual sound inside the headphone and immediatly applies an 'opposite signal' to the speaker which 'cancels' the noises.
Of course this only works for low frequencies and thus the HP needs to have a good reduction of higher frequencies by itself. There are thus clear limits to what it can actually correct.
Works great for low frequency 'humming' noises such as engine sounds.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 28, 2015 9:15:50 GMT
Exactly what I have found, Frans. Hiss is a nuisance in a tv room, where noise levels aren't too high. It also allows higher pitched sounds through.
Better in a plane since the main bulk of noise is low, with a bit of higher pitch noise. I also have used them as attenuators when boarding, to protect my ears from engine noise. Helicopters can be awful in that regard. So I just put them on and switch attenuation on with no music. The Senns have a listen through button as well if anyone speaks (or shouts) at you. It's just a pity that they're silver. (In a public place) image and all that.
I'm happier with closed headphones for music listening though. I do wonder about delay in reaction so in effect, the transient attacks might be less apparent. I know it must be a micro second and all that but I have been curious about that for a while.
The Sens have an external mic which listens and send the opposite signal in to the headphone. Not that convincing though.
The Senns also turn I to 600 ohm headphones with noise cancelling on. Much lower with it off and the sound becomes a lot fatter with the circuitry switched out.
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