White Noise Headphones

What are White Noise Headphones?

White noise headphones are simply headphones that you use to listen to white noise through. They allow you to shut out a noisy environment without disturbing the people next to you. Some are specialized noise canceling headphones that can effectively reduces environmental noise by up to 85% with or without audio. Noise canceling earbuds are also available for those who prefer earbuds rather than headphones or headsets.

Why Do I Need White Noise Headphones?

Listening to white noise or noise cancelling sounds on the computer, CD or sound generator is great but at times may not be practical. Your co-worker sitting next to you may not appreciate the white noise like you do. Ironically, other people around may not want to hear the noise that YOU ARE MAKING so that you don't hear them. The best solution is to use white noise headphones. The headphones by themselves are designed to reduce or block external noises, even when no white noise is playing. When the white noise is playing through the headset you block out all disturbing environmental noise and you don't disturb your neighbor. Be sure to pick a headset that is lightweight and comfortable to wear. They are also great for traveling with portable noise cancelling devices or MP3 players. Use them on the airplane to block out crying babies and the noise of the cabin. They are especially great in hotel rooms when you have a noisy neighbor and you are trying to sleep.

What the Best Headphones to Use With White Noise?

Circumaural headphones are the best type of headphones to use with white noise. "Circumaural" means something that covers the outer/external part of the ear. Circumaural headphones are specifically designed to completely cover the ears and provide excellent external noise restriction and have excellent sound quality. Circumaural headphones are typically large and cumbersome compared to headsets for casual music listeners. Some include active noise cancellation technology and a talk-through mode (allowing the wearer to hear people talking to them).

What is the Difference Between Headphones and Headsets?

Headphones usually have larger cumbersome ear speakers that cover the entire ear and block out most outside sounds, while headsets have an ear speaker style that rests on the outside of the ear and allow monitoring of surrounding sounds.

What are Noise Cancelling Headphones?

"Large circumaural headphones enclose the wearer's ear for superior noise cancellation. Noise-cancelling headphones reduce unwanted ambient sounds (i.e., acoustic noise) by means of active noise control (ANC). Essentially, this involves using a microphone, placed near the ear, and electronic circuitry which generates an "antinoise" sound wave with the opposite polarity of the sound wave arriving at the microphone. This results in destructive interference, which cancels out the noise within the enclosed volume of the headphone. Noise cancellation makes it possible to enjoy music without raising the volume excessively. It can also help a passenger sleep in a noisy vehicle such as an airliner. Source: wikipedia.org

Personal Noise Pollution at the Human Level

Environmental noise is unwanted and displeasing sound that disrupts the mental process, activity or quality of human life. This noise pollution comes from many sources including: barking dogs, car alarms, office noise, noisy people, the television and more.

Noise Health Effects

Unwanted noise can effect both you physical and mental state of well being. It can cause loss of concentration, annoyance, high stress levels, sleep disturbances, aggression, other harmful effects and just put in in a overall bad mood. Too much of it can even make you ill and depressed.