How does noise reduction work in wireless earphones?

Noise cancelling technology is becoming increasingly common in wireless headphones. Whether passive or active, it allows you to hear your music better without having to turn up the sound. But what is it really about? That's what we're going to see in this article.


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Noise reduction: what is it?


There are two types of noise reduction: passive noise reduction and active noise reduction. Both will allow to reduce the surrounding noise and to attenuate the sound to support a better listening in the earphones.


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So what is the principle? A sound wave propagates in the air and as soon as it meets an obstacle it is attenuated. The more obstacles we put, the more the attenuation increases. 


A sound is composed of several wavelengths that combine together. Short, medium and long wavelengths.


Our ears are perfectly capable of discerning wavelengths ranging from 1 millimeter to 17 meters. Thus, short wavelengths, the so-called high frequencies, can be perfectly absorbed by any kind of earphones. However, for much longer wavelengths, i.e. low frequencies, they pass through the earphones without any problem. This is where noise reduction technology comes in.  


For in-ear earphones, the silicone tips and foams will absorb and reduce ambient sound. It is their shape and placement in the ears that allow this technology to work, playing on the immersive form.


noise reduction


Using headphones with noise reduction has many advantages. It allows you to isolate yourself from the noise and be quiet: ideal when you want to concentrate at work, rest in transport, etc. Also, it gives you the opportunity to better adjust the sound of your music, which is beneficial for your ears because you will have less tendency to put the volume to the maximum.