Millions of Americans are now working at home thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. In an effort to slow the spread of the new and highly contagious disease, governors and city leaders have ordered businesses to have employees work from home if possible.
Even technology giants like Apple and Google have most of their workforce operating out of their own home. This is an entirely new experience for some people. With kids out of school and spouses possibly working from home as well, adjusting to the new level of noise can be challenging. Noise cancelling earbuds can help.
Passive Vs Active Noise Cancelling
Before anyone purchases a new set of earbuds, it is important to understand the difference between passive and active noise cancelling. Many people have worn a set of earplugs at night or at a loud event. This is a common example of passive noise cancelling technology.
Any earbuds that fit tightly in the ear canal and create a secure seal fit this description. While this generally creates a positive effect for users, it can also cause something known as the Occlusion Effect when the user has plugged ears. That means the user hears unnaturally low sounds, especially with his or her own voice.
Active noise cancelling technology is most effective in very loud settings such as an airplane. The device picks up sound through microphones or earbuds on the outside, breaks it down, and delivers it to the user in more manageable sound waves. This style of noise cancelling earbuds also blocks ambient noise from reaching the user’s ears.
Brands And Features To Consider
Many brands already had noise cancelling earbuds on the market before the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States while others have ramped up production to meet demand. Some options for consumers to consider include:
- Apple AirPods Pro: With so many people now working from home, the demand for business meetings using Skype or Zoom have exploded. For those who have difficulty tuning out competing noises, this product can help with its active noise cancelling feature. This eliminates background noise to allow people working at home to hear only what they need to from the video call.
- Boltune Bluetooth Wireless Earphones: This device contains wireless earphones featuring a Bluetooth profile. With this feature, users can block a significant amount of background noise. It is also lightweight and has received praise from users for staying securely in place in their ear regardless of their activity.
- Bose Headphones 700: These headphones fit over the ear to help drown out noise from the outside world. Users can choose from one of 11 noise-cancelling levels until they find just the right level of comfort. They also boast the capability of making phone calls using the built-in microphone to hear only the voice on the other end of the line. With a battery lasting up to 20 hours, it is easy to bring the Bose Headphones 700 everywhere.
These are just three examples among dozens of noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones currently on the market. Anyone struggling with the realities of working at home during this pandemic would be wise to invest time in researching their many options for cancelling out competing background noise.
