Skip to main content

Active Noise-Canceling

In this episode - Active Noise-Canceling . . .

During a recent flight, with a baby wailing, I realized I had forgotten my noise-canceling headphones and wondered how they work. Have you noticed the constant background roar of jet engines during a flight? Probably not if someone was trying to comfort a squalling baby in front or behind you.

Anyway, noise reduction headphones, also known as Active Noise-Canceling (ANC) headphones, use advanced technology to reduce or eliminate unwanted ambient sounds. Using hardware and software components to counteract external noise and provide a more immersive listening experience and a quiet environment.

Here's a simplified overview of how noise-reduction headphones work:

  • Microphones: ANC headphones are equipped with one or more built-in microphones. These microphones capture the surrounding sounds and convert them into electrical signals.
  • Noise analysis: The electrical signals from the microphones are analyzed by the headphone's internal circuitry. The goal is to identify the frequency and amplitude of the ambient noise.
  • Reverse sound wave generation: Once the noise is analyzed, the ANC system generates a sound wave in the opposite phase to the ambient noise. This reverse sound wave is known as an anti-noise or anti-phase wave.
  • Combining sound waves: The anti-noise wave is combined with the original ambient noise wave. When the two waves meet, they interfere with each other in such a way that they cancel out or significantly reduce the overall sound level.
  • Output to the listener: The resulting sound, with reduced ambient noise, is output to the listener through the headphones' speakers. This allows the user to enjoy their audio content or eliminate the jet engine sounds, allowing them to sleep.

It's important to note that noise-canceling headphones work best for blocking constant, low-frequency sounds like engine noise, airplane cabin noise, or air conditioning hum. They may be less effective against sudden or irregular sounds, such as human voices or high-pitched noises. 

Additionally, the effectiveness and performance of noise-canceling headphones depend on the quality of the ANC technology, the number and placement of microphones, and the overall design. Although different manufacturers may use slightly different approaches to achieve noise reduction, most ANC headphones operate on similar principles.

So my next question was, “Who invented active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones?”

Active noise-canceling (ANC) technology for headphones was developed by a team of engineers led by Dr. Amar Bose, the founder of Bose Corporation. In the late 1970s, Dr. Bose was on a flight and noticed the significant amount of noise generated by the aircraft engines. This inspired him to explore ways to reduce unwanted noise and improve the audio experience for listeners.

Dr. Bose and his team conducted extensive research and experimentation to develop the first practical active noise-canceling headphones. They filed a patent application for their invention in 1978, which was later granted in 1986 (US Patent No. 4,545,982). The patented technology outlined uses multiple microphones, phase inversion, and electronic circuitry to cancel out ambient noise.

Bose Corporation introduced its first consumer ANC headphones, the Bose QuietComfort series, in 2000. These headphones gained popularity for significantly reducing background noise and providing a more immersive audio experience. Since then, ANC technology has become increasingly widespread, and many companies have developed versions of noise-canceling headphones based on the principles established by Dr. Bose and his team.

When flying, remember to pack your ANC headphones. As a side note, you can purchase headphones from vending machines after passing airport security if you forget yours.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

Paris – the End of Silence

✈️  In this special episode: Paris – the End of Silence Sometimes, connection arrives in the most unexpected form—not through grand gestures, but through a quiet voice carried by technology. In a Paris apartment, I finally understood my family’s words . . . and felt my mother’s presence in every sentence. Since I was a little boy, France has been both a beautiful and frustrating paradox in my life. Every six to nine years, my mother, Mauricette, would take my brothers and me back to La Rochelle to visit our French family. The moment we arrived, the air would fill with a sound I loved but couldn’t share in—the rapid-fire, musical rhythm of French. My aunts, uncles, and cousins would warmly sweep me into hugs and kisses, their words flowing like a lovely melody I couldn’t quite catch. I’d smile brightly, trying to communicate with my eyes and hands. But as soon as we stepped off the plane, my mother and her sister-in-law, Joséan, started talking animatedly. They were gone, chatting h...
2 comments
Read more

Pushing the Pause Button

In this episode, Pushing the Pause Button: Stepping Off the Treadmill Hello, friends — If you're reading this, I'm already off the grid. Today begins a much-needed vacation, and for the next few weeks, On the Fly is taking a break right along with me. For a long time, my inner voice has said, 'Keep every commitment, no matter what.' That's meant early mornings, long days, and a calendar packed with posts, podcasts, and projects I couldn't seem to say no to. I've been trying to be the tireless workhorse—but that kind of grind doesn't end well. Lately, I've noticed I'm not quite myself—shorter fuse, louder sighs, and a few too many grumbles (Lori deserves a medal). That's when you know it's time to hit pause before the spark burns out. So, I'm stepping back to rest, recharge, and remember what it feels like to not live by the next deadline: no tech, no to-do lists, just some space to breathe. Thank you, truly, for all your support and ...
2 comments
Read more

Noirmoutier: An Ocean Between Us, Gone in a Moment

In this episode, Noirmoutier: An Ocean Between Us, Gone in a Moment. Sometimes love waits half a century for its moment — and when it finally arrives, time doesn’t stand still; it disappears. The moment I stepped off the train in Nantes, it felt like time froze. There she was — my cousin Michèle — waiting on the platform, arms waving desperately. When we finally embraced, the fifty years that had passed between us disappeared in an instant. The melody in her voice was the same, but softer than I remembered. We both shed tears of joy that only come from love long overdue. “I’m so happy you are here,” she whispered, her voice trembling.   Thank goodness for the translation app on my phone, because the conversation began immediately — fast, fluid, and unstoppable. The Frenzy of Catching Up As we drove for about an hour to the tiny town of L’Épine on the Island of Noirmoutier, the words kept tumbling out. Michèle and her husband, Alain, are the most gracious hosts — but my new challe...
1 comment
Read more

The Friday Morning Pause

In this episode,  The Friday Morning Pause: When My Brother’s Bookshelf Called Me to Stillness We live in a world allergic to stillness. Our mornings begin mid-sprint—thumbs scrolling before our eyes even open. The impulse to jump into the digital chaos is immediate. But sometimes, stillness finds you . It was early Friday morning. We’d arrived late the night before, stepping into the cool air before the day turned hot. Half-awake, I reached for my phone—emails, headlines, social feeds waiting like a morning buffet of distraction. We were in Cuba. No Wi-Fi. No 5G. No password. Just stillness, disguised as inconvenience. Instead, I caught sight of something unexpected: a small stack of books on my brother’s TV shelf. My brother and his wife are powered by perpetual motion. They are the definition of overscheduled and overstimulated. Yet there it was: Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday, quietly mocking my scrolling habit. The irony was perfect. I put my phone down—a small, delibe...
Post a Comment
Read more