Posts Tagged ‘Active Noise-Canceling’

Noise canceling headphones have been around for some time, but now we are starting to see the same technology applied to noise canceling headphones earbuds. Everyone is familiar with Bose  QuietComfort® headphones, but carrying around a set of bulky over-the-ear headphones in order to listen to your iPod is not really possible. There are two new alternatives that show a lot of promise.

Bose Noise Cancelling Earbud Headphones

First, Bose has come out with their own option for portable media devices called, surprisingly enough, Bose® in-ear headphones. I’m sure that given Bose’s background and quality that this product delivers everything it promises, however, specs aren’t available for these ear buds and Bose doesn’t plan to exhibit at CES 2010. (Why? Beats the heck out of me.)

Bose In-ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

I can’t imagine the reasoning behind not releasing the specs on the headphones, especially for a set of headphones that will cost you $99.95 (SRP).

Fortunately, there is an alternative that WILL be at CES 2010.

Audio-Technica U.S., Inc. (Booth: South 1 21840) has come out with their own noise canceling earbud headphones, the ATH-ANC3 QuietPoint® Active Noise-Canceling In-Ear Headphones. Audio-Technica has released their specs and they look great. Like the Bose headphones, they use active noise-canceling to reduce external noise by 80% (up to 20 dB). Pretty impressive for a small fit-in-your-ear set of headphones. They do run a bit more than the Bose set, at $169.95 (SRP), but the increased price brings some great added features. The one that caught my eye was a monitor button that lets you turn the noise-canceling off so you can hear someone trying to talk to you without taking the buds out of your ears.

Quietpoint Active Noise Canceling Earbud Headphones From Audio-Technica

Here are the specs for the ATH-ANC3 QuietPoint® Active Noise-Canceling In-Ear Headphones:

Specifications measured with headphones in active mode.