MyMomSaysIAmCool t1_j2do65k wrote on December 31, 2022 at 2:12 PM

Reply to comment by zap_p25 in Eli5 How exactly does Noise cancellation work? That too in such small airbuds by Professional-Ad3441

There's a third kind that's used for gun hearing protection. Shooters earmuffs use passive noise cancellation, but also have external microphones and internal speakers. When you wear them, the microphones transmit sound to your ears. But they will not transmit any loud noises such as gunshots.

The result is that they give you super sensitive hearing. But there's no risk of hearing damage, because if the electronics fail or the battery goes dead, you're left with passive noise cancellation.

zap_p25 t1_j2dqx8y wrote on December 31, 2022 at 2:35 PM

Those are a bit different. They don’t use active noise cancellation. They just use the limits of the audio amplification circuitry. Essentially sounds above a certain threshold just don’t get amplified and the passive noise reduction does it’s thing.

MyMomSaysIAmCool t1_j2dxdw8 wrote on December 31, 2022 at 3:25 PM

That's what I said.