Noise Cancelling Headphones - Any Good?

jazzy

I have a noise problem with my upstairs neighbour because he plays his music through a base box the sound is travelling into my apartment downstairs.
I have been told that noise cancelling headphones may help in this kind of situation. Because I don't have a clue what noise cancelling headphones do, please could someone offer advice?
Thank you

Frozen_up_north

Noise cancelling headphones work by amplifying ambient noise and feeding it to the earphones out of phase. You can achieve the same result by using fully enclosed headphones to keep extraneous noise out.

If you can, pop into a Richer Sounds and try some.

https://www.richersounds.com/

googler

For a cheaper alternative, earplugs and/or industrial ear defenders ...

jazzy

Thank you.
So do you wear the headphones even though you are not watching TV etc and to just to get rid of the ambient noise i.e the neighbours music? and what happens when you want to watch TV are the headphones connected to the TV? I also guess that cordless headphones would be the best option to give you more freedom?

ballyblack

noise cancelling might help but they do not cancel outside noise completely.

Depend how loud the annoying sound is an what type it is?

I suspect on a loud base box you may be disappointed.



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shaun_from_Africa

Noise cancelling headphones will reduce the bass slightly but not to any significant degree.
They are fine for cutting out constant sounds such as the drone from aircraft engines or the humming from a fan or air conditioner unit but not as good as reducing sounds that are constantly changing in volume and frequency.

esuhl

You can get noise-isolating earbuds too, which simply block out external sounds by fitting snugly, like earplugs.

I absolutely loved the Shure E2 IEMs (in-ear monitors). The sound quality was superb.

I'd use them without music (as simple earplugs) on public transport, or at loud gigs/festivals. They eliminated the really shrill, painful high-end frequencies, and dulled everything else.

I listened to my own music in a nightclub once, and even at a modest volume I couldn't hear the loud club music (thankfully!).

Sadly they discontinued them, but maybe there are other brands/models available that are just as good...?

coffeehound

^ An advantage of S-C buds is that you can also wear industrial ear defenders over the top for more problematic situations such as the OP’s

Gloomendoom

Our house has exposed ceiling joists so our bedroom has precious little noise insulation from the room below. I have found that noise cancelling headphones are actually surprisingly effective at removing music coming up through the floor.

I don't have expensive ones either. £20 from 7dayshop a few years ago now.

John_Gray

I suppose it's always possible to talk to your neighbour and ask him to reduce his bass volume somewhat?

If it's really, really bad, have a word with Environmental Health...

RumRat

Make adjustment to the offending Sub-Woofer using the tried and tested baseball bat method.;)