Discussion Ask HN: Shouldn’t Active Noise Cancellation make your hearing worse? Lets say I’m putting on my ANC headphones.The sound outside is 60db.The headphones producing a 60db noise to cancel the surrounding sound (using ANC) PLUS the music.So your ear is receiving the 60db surrounding sound PLUS the 60db noise of the headphone (ANC) PLUS the music.(60db surrounding+60db ANC+music)Isn’t this worse than turning noise cancellation off? (Because you won’t be receiving the 60db noise that ANC is producing…)Disclaimer: I’m no doctor here and my understanding on how ANC works might be wrong. 7 points throwaway4738 3 years ago 4 comments
The sound outside is 60db.
The headphones producing a 60db noise to cancel the surrounding sound (using ANC) PLUS the music.
So your ear is receiving the 60db surrounding sound PLUS the 60db noise of the headphone (ANC) PLUS the music.
(60db surrounding+60db ANC+music)
Isn’t this worse than turning noise cancellation off? (Because you won’t be receiving the 60db noise that ANC is producing…)
Disclaimer: I’m no doctor here and my understanding on how ANC works might be wrong.