Noise-cancelling Headphones for Noisy Neighbours' Bass-heavy Music?

Ibrahim5

chrisw said:

Noise cancelling headphones tend to be very good at removing constant noise.

Just wondering if they could cancel my wife.

Saga

Thanks all for all the replies – including the alternative solutions 🤣

On a serious note, while I've thought about giving back as good as I've got with some 300W 12-inch subwoofers and hours of Swiss yodel and Tuvan throat-singing music, it wouldn't be fair on my other community-minded neighbours.

@[Deleted User] really good to get feedback from someone who has used the XM4s for nearly a year and encouraging that it's positive so far for low-frequency noise that travels. Thanks for the link.

@googler I've tried all types of ear plugs and ear defenders alone and in combination at another flat when the occupants above me were a pair of self-described DJs... but they were largely ineffective and the ear plugs I always found uncomfortable.

@chrisw Yes I do worry that ultimately bone conduction hearing might be an issue. With the XM3 earbuds, do you still hear people even with the Ambient Sound mode turned off?

forgotmyname

flaneurs_lobster said:

forgotmyname said:

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. 

I think that counts as "torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" and is illegal under the Human Rights Act.

Must admit the dog used to howl when that was being played. I was young(ish) and it didn't click that it may have been animal cruelty...

chrisw

Saga said:

@chrisw Yes I do worry that ultimately bone conduction hearing might be an issue. With the XM3 earbuds, do you still hear people even with the Ambient Sound mode turned off?

I've found with Ambient Sound turned off they are good at cutting out general background chatter but i can hear quite clearly when someone comes up and asks me a question, as long as it's not during a loud piece of music. 

I did have some trouble getting the buds to fit so maybe the seal against my ears isn't as good as it might be.

Undervalued

chrisw said:

I doubt any will stop the bass sounds as those frequencies tend to be felt as much as heard. 

Noise cancelling headphones tend to be very good at removing constant noise such as aircraft engine noise or general background noise, but don't tend to cancel one off sounds such as someone speaking or shouting.

Certainly true for many types of "noise cancelling" headphones although some do block more random sounds too. 

However that is a two edged sword for many uses. In some situations you still want to hear the phone ring or somebody specifically speaking to you.

KingL2

Just a thought - have you used over-ear headphones for extended periods of time?  They make my ears and head go painfully hot after half an hour.  Maybe a trial-run with some cheapies is a good idea.

Are you planning/needing to wear them in bed ? How would that work?  I have a similar problem with 5am alarm calls from aircraft and neighbours' dogs and haven't really found a solution for sleepers.

Just as an aside, I once went to a Bose flagship store to try some out.  It was amazing how much of the ambient noise and music in the shop they cut-out.  Trouble was, I stayed too long in the shop and noticed that the staff have a button that they stamp-on when someone tries on a pair. The button cuts the volume on a tape of background noise, so the customer thinks that its the headphones that are removing the noise! That little scam doesn't work when there are two customers trying things on at slightly different times. Shysters.

another_casualty

Ramnsteiin , mercyful  fate, stormtroopers of death , obituary all would help . 😼

If you are in bed , and their racket is still going on I do recommend sleep phones . Checkout their website.  They are comfy despite looking like a John McEnroe type headband and unlike the usual chunky headphones aren’t an annoyance when side sleeping etc. 
you would obviously need noise cancelling ones as well 

I did have akg noise cancelling headphones which I got from richer sounds many years ago. The noise cancelling system worked with a AA Battery. Great for on buses where bawling babies cannot be heard . They were great . 

If you do go for noise cancelling headphones, make sure not to get noise reducing ones as they are not the same..