Noise Cancelling Headphones? - Page 2

dragoon · 11-28-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R12GS HOOLIGAN

Etymotic ER-6i earbuds is all you need. Noise reduction is comparable to wearing foam earplugs. Well worth the money.

Ditto

GSman of La Mancha · 11-28-2006, 05:30 PM

I have some Bose NC's I have used while travelling via airplane. They are very good for that purpose. That is my only experience with noise cancelling devices.

Having established that I am no expert, I will venture to say that there are some criteria that have to be met before a noise cancellation device can be effective.

First: you want to start by isolating the ear from the source of the sound. (Sounds easy enough until you get to criteria #2). The Bose units do a fairly decent job of passive noise reduction. An MC helmet alone is not real good at isolating our ears from noise. In some cases, it may even amplify it in a sort of echo chamber kind of way...

Second: there needs to be a modicum of separation between the ear and the "microphone" or sound sensor of the sound cancellation electronics.

If the bad sound hits the ear at the same time as it hits the electronics then the electronics will not have had time to be able to analyze it and to generate an effective cancelling noise (imagine a noise source that looked like a simple sine wave - then imagine that the cancellation electronics recognized it and generated a sine wave that was 180 degrees out of phase.) There is a definite, though admittedly very fast, time differential. This differential leads to some of the noise not being cancelled.

Third: you need a good noise cancellation program or algorythm to predict what shape the enxt noise signal will be. Bose is good at this sort of thing.

Even so, it is one thing to predict aircraft noises (which may be similar between various jets in many respects as well as being somewhat constant for the duration of the flight) and cancel them, it is a more difficult task as the nature of the noise varies with time. If the algorythm predicts wrongly you get more noise - not less.

On the Bose noise cancellers that I have, there is an inch or maybe a little more of separation from the sensor to my ear drum. This yields sufficient separation for their intended design purpose.

If we had some way of incorpating a Bose type device inside the helmet (it would stick out on both sides and seal around our ears) then we might have something interesting.

However, what the maker would most likely get is a lawsuit from someone who crashed who "didn't hear the siren, alarm " etc, etc.

adaycj · 11-28-2006, 07:23 PM

I use Koss ear bud phones. None of the supplied ear pieces fit well, so I made my own. I have two sets of "custom" plugs that fit on the Koss tubes that go on the buds. The first set is a typical set of foam cylindrical plugs. I just burned a hole in the center with a match heated sewing pin. The second set of ear pieces is the silicone rubber ear pieces from the Etymotic ER-6s that I bought separately.

I set my max volume to a reasonable but loud comfortable level in a very quiet environment. I use that same level when things are noisy. The total sound pressure reaching my ears is the same or higher when the noise levels are high, so I don't want to turn it up and contribute to my tinnitus (from other sources).

yellowmike · 11-29-2006, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TintinStrom

cool. I had no idea there was a difference between sound isolating and noise cancelling - I'm pretty knew to both riding and headphones. (Only started using them once I could convert my MP3s to mono!)

Tintinstrom,
I'm deaf in one ear also. How did you convert your MP3 to Mono????

TintinStrom · 11-29-2006, 06:02 AM

I did it a while ago but I'm pretty sure I took all my MP3s and put them in a program called "FreeRip". In the settings (Tools menu) for FreeRip, you can select "Convert Multiple Audio Files" Then in that dialogue box you can make the switch to mono, among several other changes.

Hope this helps you out. It's like a whole new world listening to portable music for me now. (of course I'm careful to keep the volume down). Good luck.

I think I'm might get those ER6i Headphones. Unfortunately they want $199.00 for them locally and most of the great deals people are pointing out are for the US only. (I'm sitting in -30 degrees C in Canada right now).

Gravity · 11-29-2006, 06:23 AM

Love them!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoop

Etymotic ER-6i insert earphones are the best by far. They have great NRR (noise reduction rating) and when used correctly will cancel out almost all of the road and wind noise and will allow you to listen to music at a normal volume while still hearing all of the music. I would recommend those.
If you are deaf in one ear however, I would advise some caution. As an audiologist, I know that hearing loss due to noise is cummulative and sneaks up on you over time. If you are riding with music, I would suggest that you limit that to less than 3 hours per day and that you wear good ear plugs for the rest of the time. Otherwise, you may well be deaf in both ears over time. The ER-6i's are good because they will allow listening at relatively normal levels, reducing the potential for damage.
Bill

GB · 11-29-2006, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R12GS HOOLIGAN

Etymotic ER-6i earbuds is all you need. Noise reduction is comparable to wearing foam earplugs. Well worth the money.

I"ve tried everything, from custom ear monitors from Ear Inc. to helmet speakers.. ER-6i cancel out road noise and can be used a earplugs, and you can pipe in music too and are super comfortable under a helmet! Highly recommended

TintinStrom · 11-29-2006, 06:59 AM

Now I have to ask, how difficult is it to re-wire an earphone. With being deaf on one ear, I really only need one earphone at a time. The other one is just a pain. So, what I'm thinking is to split the cable and put a new plug on one of the headphones - that way it's like having two sets!
Thoughts on this?

Byrdman · 11-29-2006, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R12GS HOOLIGAN

Etymotic ER-6i earbuds is all you need. Noise reduction is comparable to wearing foam earplugs. Well worth the money.

+1

The 6I's or even the 6's are incredible little earbuds.

The aren't active noise cancelling but their design blocks a bunch of noise.

NJ Moto · 11-29-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TintinStrom

Now I have to ask, how difficult is it to re-wire an earphone. With being deaf on one ear, I really only need one earphone at a time. The other one is just a pain. So, what I'm thinking is to split the cable and put a new plug on one of the headphones - that way it's like having two sets!
Thoughts on this?

If you're handy with a soldering pen it shouldn't be a problem. I've done it with less expensive buds. The hardest part will be to remove the rubber stopper (keeps wires from splittng) without nicking the wires.

jimbemotumbo · 11-29-2006, 02:35 PM

Etymotics are really not all that good. They are not made well and the cord will not stand up to much use. I've had several sets, and several warranty replacements. Finally gave up on them. If you own a set, wrap the cord with some protective layer. Mine would kink and fray or come out of the setting with any kind of use. And yes, I'm fairly careful with things, especially things I've paid alot of money for!

Custom sets are just too expensive, but are an option.

Best I have found are the Sennheiser CX in ear plugs at about $50. They block alot of sound due to the fit, but are soft and comfy enough to wear for 8+ hours without discomfort. I have done several 1k rally's with them and had them in the whole time. Minor discomfort at the 15 hour mark, but not bad. Certainly better than the foam ear plugs many use. I sometimes wear them without plugging in to a CD or MP3 player, just for some reasonable silence.

winterhk · 12-05-2006, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R12GS HOOLIGAN

Etymotic ER-6i earbuds is all you need. Noise reduction is comparable to wearing foam earplugs. Well worth the money.

+1. I love these things. I've had others and especially the Sony's are absolute crap.

av8tr · 12-28-2006, 09:23 AM

Well I asked Santa for some Etymotics and a pair of Phillips SHN060 ANR showed up in the stocking.

Sitting around the house they are great, far better than the standard iPod earbuds. Right now I quite like them as they tend to make my mother in law seem to dissapear.

As for fit they tend to stick out a bit and I am a little worried they will not fit under my helmet comfortably, however they do come with a very handy neck lanyard system that does not tangle easily. Once I get home in a week I'll test them out on the road and let you all know how they work out. I might even buy some Etymotic and do a comparison. Till then a happy new year to you all!

Uncle Pollo · 12-28-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Skymaster

Buy the SONY headphones that you insert into the ear canal. They work marvels to noise with or without the music playing in an MP3 player. The y cost around $44.

They look cheap, but they are not.

Awesome work from Sony ... for a change!

backspinnn · 12-28-2006, 05:16 PM

I have tried the Sony in ear types, and the AIWA noise cancelling types, and IMO they sucked big time. My dad gave me the Shure E3Cs for christmas a couple years back and they are incredible. I went on a 4000 mile trip with them and did not even hear my muffler or engine unless you are between songs.

The E3Cs have a 2 year warranty too. I destroyed mine while refuelling in NM. They got caught in the chain and sprockets and were torn apart. I sent them back for warranty repair and stated the volume was low on the side that was really messed up. They had chain grease on them.

I fully expected to pay the $55 charge for non warranty related repairs, but they sent me a brand new set for no charge. I would spend my own money on them again in a minute.

11-28-2006, 05:30 PM	#17
GSman of La Mancha So!? My dog loves me... Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast Georgia Oddometer: 602	One more tidbit on noise cancellation.... I have some Bose NC's I have used while travelling via airplane. They are very good for that purpose. That is my only experience with noise cancelling devices. Having established that I am no expert, I will venture to say that there are some criteria that have to be met before a noise cancellation device can be effective. First: you want to start by isolating the ear from the source of the sound. (Sounds easy enough until you get to criteria #2). The Bose units do a fairly decent job of passive noise reduction. An MC helmet alone is not real good at isolating our ears from noise. In some cases, it may even amplify it in a sort of echo chamber kind of way... Second: there needs to be a modicum of separation between the ear and the "microphone" or sound sensor of the sound cancellation electronics. If the bad sound hits the ear at the same time as it hits the electronics then the electronics will not have had time to be able to analyze it and to generate an effective cancelling noise (imagine a noise source that looked like a simple sine wave - then imagine that the cancellation electronics recognized it and generated a sine wave that was 180 degrees out of phase.) There is a definite, though admittedly very fast, time differential. This differential leads to some of the noise not being cancelled. Third: you need a good noise cancellation program or algorythm to predict what shape the enxt noise signal will be. Bose is good at this sort of thing. Even so, it is one thing to predict aircraft noises (which may be similar between various jets in many respects as well as being somewhat constant for the duration of the flight) and cancel them, it is a more difficult task as the nature of the noise varies with time. If the algorythm predicts wrongly you get more noise - not less. On the Bose noise cancellers that I have, there is an inch or maybe a little more of separation from the sensor to my ear drum. This yields sufficient separation for their intended design purpose. If we had some way of incorpating a Bose type device inside the helmet (it would stick out on both sides and seal around our ears) then we might have something interesting. However, what the maker would most likely get is a lawsuit from someone who crashed who "didn't hear the siren, alarm " etc, etc.

12-28-2006, 09:23 AM	#28
av8tr Adventurer Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia Oddometer: 66	Well I asked Santa for some Etymotics and a pair of Phillips SHN060 ANR showed up in the stocking. Sitting around the house they are great, far better than the standard iPod earbuds. Right now I quite like them as they tend to make my mother in law seem to dissapear. As for fit they tend to stick out a bit and I am a little worried they will not fit under my helmet comfortably, however they do come with a very handy neck lanyard system that does not tangle easily. Once I get home in a week I'll test them out on the road and let you all know how they work out. I might even buy some Etymotic and do a comparison. Till then a happy new year to you all! __________________ ...i'm not sorry for all my medecines..

12-28-2006, 05:16 PM	#30
backspinnn Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2004 Oddometer: 158	I have tried the Sony in ear types, and the AIWA noise cancelling types, and IMO they sucked big time. My dad gave me the Shure E3Cs for christmas a couple years back and they are incredible. I went on a 4000 mile trip with them and did not even hear my muffler or engine unless you are between songs. The E3Cs have a 2 year warranty too. I destroyed mine while refuelling in NM. They got caught in the chain and sprockets and were torn apart. I sent them back for warranty repair and stated the volume was low on the side that was really messed up. They had chain grease on them. I fully expected to pay the $55 charge for non warranty related repairs, but they sent me a brand new set for no charge. I would spend my own money on them again in a minute. __________________ Chris Mckinney, TX 2009 BMW R1200GS 2007 KTM 450EXC dual sport

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11-28-2006, 07:23 PM	#18
adaycj Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2003 Oddometer: 456	I use Koss ear bud phones. None of the supplied ear pieces fit well, so I made my own. I have two sets of "custom" plugs that fit on the Koss tubes that go on the buds. The first set is a typical set of foam cylindrical plugs. I just burned a hole in the center with a match heated sewing pin. The second set of ear pieces is the silicone rubber ear pieces from the Etymotic ER-6s that I bought separately. I set my max volume to a reasonable but loud comfortable level in a very quiet environment. I use that same level when things are noisy. The total sound pressure reaching my ears is the same or higher when the noise levels are high, so I don't want to turn it up and contribute to my tinnitus (from other sources).

11-29-2006, 06:02 AM	#20
TintinStrom ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2006 Oddometer: 89	I did it a while ago but I'm pretty sure I took all my MP3s and put them in a program called "FreeRip". In the settings (Tools menu) for FreeRip, you can select "Convert Multiple Audio Files" Then in that dialogue box you can make the switch to mono, among several other changes. Hope this helps you out. It's like a whole new world listening to portable music for me now. (of course I'm careful to keep the volume down). Good luck. I think I'm might get those ER6i Headphones. Unfortunately they want $199.00 for them locally and most of the great deals people are pointing out are for the US only. (I'm sitting in -30 degrees C in Canada right now).

11-29-2006, 06:59 AM	#23
TintinStrom ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2006 Oddometer: 89	Now I have to ask, how difficult is it to re-wire an earphone. With being deaf on one ear, I really only need one earphone at a time. The other one is just a pain. So, what I'm thinking is to split the cable and put a new plug on one of the headphones - that way it's like having two sets! Thoughts on this?

11-29-2006, 02:35 PM	#26
jimbemotumbo LD Addict Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Colorado Oddometer: 133	Etymotics are really not all that good. They are not made well and the cord will not stand up to much use. I've had several sets, and several warranty replacements. Finally gave up on them. If you own a set, wrap the cord with some protective layer. Mine would kink and fray or come out of the setting with any kind of use. And yes, I'm fairly careful with things, especially things I've paid alot of money for! Custom sets are just too expensive, but are an option. Best I have found are the Sennheiser CX in ear plugs at about $50. They block alot of sound due to the fit, but are soft and comfy enough to wear for 8+ hours without discomfort. I have done several 1k rally's with them and had them in the whole time. Minor discomfort at the 15 hour mark, but not bad. Certainly better than the foam ear plugs many use. I sometimes wear them without plugging in to a CD or MP3 player, just for some reasonable silence.