has anyone found a true noise cancelling microphone/headset?
#1
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has anyone found a true noise cancelling microphone/headset?
Hi all, I searched a bit and couldn't find anything recent. I'm looking for something that would completely eliminate anything but my voice, that I could use in an airport, so it would block out overhead announcements and the like.
I'm not a tech person so this may be an impossible ask, I don't know. Just thought I would inquire. Thanks!
I'm not a tech person so this may be an impossible ask, I don't know. Just thought I would inquire. Thanks!
#2
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#3
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The ear part is completely impossible--there is no way to build anything over the ears that gives more than IIRC 32db of noise rejection (it varies somewhat by frequency)--the problem is that's what goes through the head instead.
I don't believe the microphone part could be done, either--even if you accepted a system that put the mic at a truly fixed position relative to your head you would still have sound reflecting off your face. There are also theoretical limits on focusing that mean as you get a narrower angle of observation the object doing it must be bigger. I don't know how much effect this has on microphones. (Which is why radio astronomers like to play with two dishes on opposite sides of the world--they get a much more accurate picture when their "receiver" is 8000 miles across. It's still a major undertaking to play the same games at visual frequencies, though.)
I don't believe the microphone part could be done, either--even if you accepted a system that put the mic at a truly fixed position relative to your head you would still have sound reflecting off your face. There are also theoretical limits on focusing that mean as you get a narrower angle of observation the object doing it must be bigger. I don't know how much effect this has on microphones. (Which is why radio astronomers like to play with two dishes on opposite sides of the world--they get a much more accurate picture when their "receiver" is 8000 miles across. It's still a major undertaking to play the same games at visual frequencies, though.)
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,782
The ear part is completely impossible--there is no way to build anything over the ears that gives more than IIRC 32db of noise rejection (it varies somewhat by frequency)--the problem is that's what goes through the head instead.
I don't believe the microphone part could be done, either--even if you accepted a system that put the mic at a truly fixed position relative to your head you would still have sound reflecting off your face. There are also theoretical limits on focusing that mean as you get a narrower angle of observation the object doing it must be bigger. I don't know how much effect this has on microphones. (Which is why radio astronomers like to play with two dishes on opposite sides of the world--they get a much more accurate picture when their "receiver" is 8000 miles across. It's still a major undertaking to play the same games at visual frequencies, though.)
I don't believe the microphone part could be done, either--even if you accepted a system that put the mic at a truly fixed position relative to your head you would still have sound reflecting off your face. There are also theoretical limits on focusing that mean as you get a narrower angle of observation the object doing it must be bigger. I don't know how much effect this has on microphones. (Which is why radio astronomers like to play with two dishes on opposite sides of the world--they get a much more accurate picture when their "receiver" is 8000 miles across. It's still a major undertaking to play the same games at visual frequencies, though.)
#5
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I wonder if the problem of your ear part could help solve the mic part. If someone could design a headphone that could pick up the vibration of your skull (or echo on your ear drum) when you talk, then only those sound that had a matching echo (with the proper delay) would be filtered and go thru.
#6
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#7
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I would be amazed if that worked as the sound is generated at multiple locations in your body. What arrives at a pickup on the back of your head will not be lined up exactly the same as what a mic in front of you picks up. Also, the component that comes from the vocal cords would be louder relative to the component that comes from the lips.
#8
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#9
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#10
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Hi all, I searched a bit and couldn't find anything recent. I'm looking for something that would completely eliminate anything but my voice, that I could use in an airport, so it would block out overhead announcements and the like.
I'm not a tech person so this may be an impossible ask, I don't know. Just thought I would inquire. Thanks!
I'm not a tech person so this may be an impossible ask, I don't know. Just thought I would inquire. Thanks!
Personally, I wish they would install the phone booths I have seen in various places. It's usually the physical movements that are more distracting than the noise for me.
#11
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Even if you do your best to block the passage through your ear, your entire skull conducts vibrations to the small bones, fluid, and nerve impulses inside your ear. You'd need to wear something like a padded motorcycle helmet to get further reduction.
After that, your entire body is a conductor, so you'd need to build a soundproof box around your body to cut the rest of the noise.
If I need to be listening to something, I've always found that noise blocking earphone (currently using Etymotic ER-4s), to be the best solution over any active NC muffs.
Last edited by CPRich; Feb 28, 2021 at 9:16 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Anyone remember the popular Jawbone Bluetooth earpiece from about 10 years ago? That thing was pretty insane, I was mowing the lawn on a call and nobody could hear the mower, just my clear voice. Super weird. Wouldn't help you on the listen side, however, Maybe you could get some IEM like the Shure with the yellow foam that would cut 30-33db on the listening side and find a Jawbone type microphone. That would be the closest you could get.
#13
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Do you have a friend that's a pilot where you could borrow their ANR aviation headset to try? It's not going to cut as much as a bone conduction mic, but they are designed for use in noisy environments. I used my Bose A20 on a call earlier today in a running airplane at about 90dB+, with no issues hearing or being heard. I'm not sure they would be as effective in cancelling other noises, though.
#14
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 102
Has anyone tried this? the promo videos seem impressive.
https://www.headsetbuddy.com/cm3505-...for-bose-qc35/
https://www.headsetbuddy.com/cm3505-...for-bose-qc35/
#15
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Has anyone tried this? the promo videos seem impressive.
https://www.headsetbuddy.com/cm3505-...for-bose-qc35/
https://www.headsetbuddy.com/cm3505-...for-bose-qc35/
https://uflymike.com/