4 ms·

Do you own noise cancelling headphones? Mine are worth their weight in gold to me (Sony W-something 1000x Mk2).

milkytron 7y ago
Funny you mention this... I previously worked in an open office layout where it was discouraged and frowned upon to wear noise cancelling headphones. They wanted to support the ability of others to be able to come up to you without feeling like they were interrupting.
- clinta 7y ago
  They wanted to support the ability of others to b̶e̶ ̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶t̶o̶ interrupt you without feeling like they were interrupting.
  - milkytron 7y ago
    Exactly. lol
scarface74 7y ago
Yes, maybe mine aren't the best, but the only way to drown out noise with them is by playing white noise and eventually that gets irritating. I'm also (overly?) concerned with the long term hearing affects of using them.
- m_mueller 7y ago
  get the newest Sonys. in terms of audio, nothing beats them atm. - some well invested 300 bucks IMO.
slackfan 7y ago
I can't do 'em, because of the constant pressure in my ears when I have them on.
- DoingIsLearning 7y ago
  I never saw this discussed before but I experience the same. I tried different noise cancelling cans and the effect is more or less the same: Audio wise they are great but it feels like I am on a airplane with the need to 'pop' my ears. Like you describe as if there is a stationary positive pressure wave. Anyone know the reason for this? Can it be eliminated?
  - octorian 7y ago
    They to make "passive" noise cancelling earphones. Basically, headphones that are thick and insulated enough to block surrounding noise without needing to cancel it. (Also sold w/o speakers as something construction workers would wear for ear protection.) I like noise cancelling headphones when on an airplane, but in everyday life I tend to not like the effect either. The older ones gave me a bit of a headache. The new ones just have that pressure you describe.
    - SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
      I may not be understanding your ask, but they do make passive noise cancellation headphones. https://www.amazon.com/slp/over-ear-active-and-passive-noise-cancelling-headphones/yfooctemyqzq34v https://www.amazon.com/slp/over-ear-active-and-passive-noise... Also, there are earmuffs and earplugs - I'm not sure what need those don't meet that a construction work requires.
    - slackfan 7y ago
      Those kinds of headphones sans speakers don't actually do much noise cancelling. They just reduce the volume to safe levels.
- jimcsharp 7y ago
  Have you tried earbuds v headphones? Anything that sits on / rattles my cartilage is excruciating, but after finding a comfortable pair of earbuds with the big silicone tip on them, I can go a full workday no problem.
- 7y ago
JohnFen 7y ago
For me, wearing noise cancelling headphones increases the amount of stress that an open office causes.

Funny you mention this... I previously worked in an open office layout where it was discouraged and frowned upon to wear noise cancelling headphones. They wanted to support the ability of others to be able to come up to you without feeling like they were interrupting.

clinta 7y ago
They wanted to support the ability of others to b̶e̶ ̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶t̶o̶ interrupt you without feeling like they were interrupting.
- milkytron 7y ago
  Exactly. lol

scarface74 7y ago

Yes, maybe mine aren't the best, but the only way to drown out noise with them is by playing white noise and eventually that gets irritating. I'm also (overly?) concerned with the long term hearing affects of using them.

m_mueller 7y ago
get the newest Sonys. in terms of audio, nothing beats them atm. - some well invested 300 bucks IMO.

slackfan 7y ago

I can't do 'em, because of the constant pressure in my ears when I have them on.

DoingIsLearning 7y ago
I never saw this discussed before but I experience the same. I tried different noise cancelling cans and the effect is more or less the same: Audio wise they are great but it feels like I am on a airplane with the need to 'pop' my ears. Like you describe as if there is a stationary positive pressure wave. Anyone know the reason for this? Can it be eliminated?
- octorian 7y ago
  They to make "passive" noise cancelling earphones. Basically, headphones that are thick and insulated enough to block surrounding noise without needing to cancel it. (Also sold w/o speakers as something construction workers would wear for ear protection.) I like noise cancelling headphones when on an airplane, but in everyday life I tend to not like the effect either. The older ones gave me a bit of a headache. The new ones just have that pressure you describe.
  - SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
    I may not be understanding your ask, but they do make passive noise cancellation headphones. https://www.amazon.com/slp/over-ear-active-and-passive-noise-cancelling-headphones/yfooctemyqzq34v https://www.amazon.com/slp/over-ear-active-and-passive-noise... Also, there are earmuffs and earplugs - I'm not sure what need those don't meet that a construction work requires.
  - slackfan 7y ago
    Those kinds of headphones sans speakers don't actually do much noise cancelling. They just reduce the volume to safe levels.
jimcsharp 7y ago
Have you tried earbuds v headphones? Anything that sits on / rattles my cartilage is excruciating, but after finding a comfortable pair of earbuds with the big silicone tip on them, I can go a full workday no problem.
7y ago

JohnFen 7y ago

For me, wearing noise cancelling headphones increases the amount of stress that an open office causes.