Noise Cancellation vs. Electronic Hearing Protection

[ProfMagoo(ret)]

Folks may find the linked video interesting: it is on the difference between "noise cancellation" and "electronic hearing protection:"
This is a helpful video in distinguishing between these two modalities.

Tl;dr, the point is that most 'electronic hearing protection' muffs do not operate in the mode of "noise cancellation" insofar as the speakers are not generating an out-of-phase waveform of the same amplitude and frequency as the gunshot or other loud sound (that is, not employing destructive interference). Rather, the circuitry is amplifying low amplitude (volume) noises picked up by the microphones and recreates this waveform via the internal speakers. This process is effectively cut-off when the exterior amplitude (volume) passes a certain threshold.

But the actual and only dB "reduction" from an external source is that passively rendered by the muffs just as any passive muffs would do. In other words, the electronics have nothing to do with "protection," but, rather, in amplifying low-level sounds e.g. conversations or movement. They allow one to hear low level noises such as conversation better: they don't mitigate high dB sources other than passively.

My only fuss with the video is the fellow was using transverse waveforms to illustrate his point whereas sound waves are compressive or longitudinal. To be fair, it is a lot easier to illustrate the former, but he might have quickly acknowledged the point.

 

[Timfoilhat]

Without watching the video, is there a list of good ones vs bad ones?

 

[Variable]

For us who shoot guns, the point of hearing protection is to reduce the loud report of the firearm below the threshold that hearing damage will occur. A bonus is that they amplify other sounds, so you get a bonus of super hearing! When I am on the range I'm not sure I want noise-canceling headphones? If you are in a class/range/self-defense scenario the ability to hear other sounds is very important.

 

[JBoyette]

I didn't watch the video, but what you described is exactly what I thought electronic muffs do.

They have a mic, feed the sound to the inside speakers, and when a certain db pressure hits, it triggers a cutoff of sound to the speakers.


Did the guy who made the video think the "hearing protection" was anything other than passive?

YES lol,

The muff's are to make a SUPER quiet sound, (like ----unobtrusive----) when the loud noise happens...

 

[wvsig]

For us who shoot guns, the point of hearing protection is to reduce the loud report of the firearm below the threshold that hearing damage will occur. A bonus is that they amplify other sounds, so you get a bonus of super hearing! When I am on the range I'm not sure I want noise-canceling headphones? If you are in a class/range/self-defense scenario the ability to hear other sounds is very important.

The tech is sophisticated enough to be able to focus voice vs other noises. I have noise canceling headphones from Sony. I wear them mainly when I travel via plane. You can set them to block out the noise of the plane but "focus" on voice so you can hear other people. My Walker XCEL 500BTs do the same.

https://www.walkersgameear.com/xcel-500bt-digital-electronic-muff-w-voice-clarity-bluetooth/

 

[Variable]

The tech is sophisticated enough to be able to focus voice vs other noises. I have noise canceling headphones from Sony. I wear them mainly when I travel via plane. You can set them to block out the noise of the plane but "focus" on voice so you can hear other people. My Walker XCEL 500BTs do the same.

https://www.walkersgameear.com/xcel-500bt-digital-electronic-muff-w-voice-clarity-bluetooth/

Could be for voices. What about the deer coming through the brush or the bad guy in the other room steps on a creaky floorboard. I just think they are different purposes. Also the video claims the only noise suppression is from the muffs themselves and that is not true. Good hearing protection is uses compression. Cheaper hearing protection uses clipping. Regardless, I think super hearing is a good bonus for most of us over noise canceling. Maybe if i wanted to shoot guns and listen to music? I dunno.

 

[wvsig]

Could be for voices. What about the deer coming through the brush or the bad guy in the other room steps on a creaky floorboard. I just think they are different purposes. Also the video claims the only noise suppression is from the muffs themselves and that is not true. Good hearing protection is uses compression. Cheaper hearing protection uses clipping. Regardless, I think super hearing is a good bonus for most of us over noise canceling. Maybe if i wanted to shoot guns and listen to music? I dunno.

I don't hunt and if I am in a defensive gun situation I doubt I will be wearing ear pro. YMMV

 

[ProfMagoo(ret)]

I didn't watch the video, but what you described is exactly what I thought electronic muffs do.

They have a mic, feed the sound to the inside speakers, and when a certain db pressure hits, it triggers a cutoff of sound to the speakers.


Did the guy who made the video think the "hearing protection" was anything other than passive?

No, (in my opinion) the guy made the video to address what he felt to be the not uncommon misconception (not a quantified presupposition) that electronic ear protection muffs are "noise cancelling." Based on the comments, certainly some were. Of course, it's the Internet.

I suppose if everyone were as insightful on this topic as @Me. or the other experts, the video wouldn't have been made and I might not have felt it useful to post it.

 

[Variable]

I don't hunt and if I am in a defensive gun situation I doubt I will be wearing ear pro. YMMV

You definitely won't if you don't have them.

 

[GymB]

I’ll admit that at one time I thought that electronic range muffs provided noise cancellation. I don’t think that they are very sophisticated at all, above a certain spl they simply disconnect the amplifier. The do it very quickly.

I double up when shooting indoors, so no value to electronic muffs. Outdoors they work well, although they make a squirrel in dry leaves sound like a pack/herd/gang of bears.

 

[Variable]

I’ll admit that at one time I thought that electronic range muffs provided noise cancellation. I don’t think that they are very sophisticated at all, above a certain spl they simply disconnect the amplifier. The do it very quickly.

I double up when shooting indoors, so no value to electronic muffs. Outdoors they work well, although they make a squirrel in dry leaves sound like a pack/herd/gang of bears.

I thought a sasquatch/deranged killer was coming up on me from behind the ground blind I was in one time and it was a herd? of turkeys. I was in a blind way up in a tree one time and coulndt figure out the weird noise i was hearing was and it was birds flapping wings flying above me. They are pretty cool when you are alone in the woods.

 

[georgel]

I don't hunt and if I am in a defensive gun situation I doubt I will be wearing ear pro. YMMV

If it's a dynamic direct attack situation, yes. But, what if it's slower unfolding situation, like a noise outside or you hear shots in another part of the building and the only exit is through? Also, remember, that after your first shot, you will effectively be deaf going forward. If you didn't resolve the situation, then you are at a disadvantage.

Just sayin'...

 

[GymB]

If it's a dynamic direct attack situation, yes. But, what if it's slower unfolding situation, like a noise outside or you hear shots in another part of the building and the only exit is through? Also, remember, that after your first shot, you will effectively be deaf going forward. If you didn't resolve the situation, then you are at a disadvantage.

Just sayin'...

Suppressor/silencer