I have listed a few popular earbud models in the $100 range (some higher, some lower) that are well rated and favorably reviewed. Noise isolating earbuds are a good option if your aim is to block out things like conversation or less constant but nonetheless unwelcome sounds. Noise isolation can also deal with low frequency constant sounds provided the fit of the earbuds in the ear is really good.

Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones

Shure SE210 Sound Isolating Earphone

Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Noise Isolating Earphones

The sound quality in this price range is generally better than lower priced earbuds. Still they are not up to par with the reproductive quality of pricier models. If you want really superb sound you need to invest at least a few hundred dollars in a pair of great earbuds (and you could check out Shure E5c Sound Isolating Earphones, Klipsch Custom-3 In-Ear Noise Isolating Earphone, Phiaton PS 200 Sound Isolating Earphones and Shure SCL5-CL Sound Isolating Headphones).

The most important feature of these kind of earbuds is their fit. Most of the models that work well come with numerous types of tips. To find the best fit you generally have to switch out the tips to find the set that works best. It may also be somewhat tricky to get this earbuds into your ear just right. By design, noise isolating earbuds fit deeper into your ear than conventional earbuds. Some people do not like this and simply cannot tolerate wearing them.

Many reviewers, from various websites, report that sound quality of noise isolating earbuds are strongly influenced by fit. A nice fit means can you cannot hear anything when they are in your ears and there is nothing playing through the amplifiers. Without a good fit you can hear more environmental noise and do not get as good a reproduction of the sounds being played.

Finally it should be noted that there are no one-size-fits-all earbud design, so in trying to get a tight fit not everyone will find the perfect match between their ears and every earbud. If you look at reviews realize that there will be some complaints from a few folks that are mad the earbuds would not fit well. This may well mean that these people were simply not compatible with that particular model’s design.

Ultimate Ears has a short video that explains how to use their earbuds video (it should be noted their .Fi5 does not shop with a case like the one shown in the video). This provides some idea about why there is such an emphasis on fitting the earbuds just right to get both the best sound and the optimal noise isolation.

Also check out…..

Klipsch IMAGE S4 In-Ear Enhanced Bass Noise-Isolating Headphone

The idea behind noise cancelling earphones is to actively cancel out the noise from your surroundings. This is done by producing sound waves that cancel the environmental noise. The details of this are explained in more detail below.

Noise cancelling technology involves four different components. First there is a power source to provide the energy to run the system. Typically this involves a battery or two. Second is a sound detector for assessing incoming noise. Third is a processor, which actually serves two purposes. It determines the frequency of incoming sound and sends out the signal for the sound that will cancel the noise. Fourth is the speaker that emits the noise cancelling frequency.

The idea for this form of noise cancellation was first patented in 1930 by Paul Lueg. This work acknowledged the fact that a noise and its mirror wave, exactly out of phase, could cancel each other out. In the 1980’s the US Airforce and Amar Bose perfected a headphone system of active sound cancellation that cancelled incoming noise within the ear canal in the 1980s. This advance lead to the modern day headphone and earbud applications we use today. Bose headphones with active noise cancelling are still offered for sale today, as are a number of other brands.

Bose QuietComfort 3 Noise Cancelling Headphones

JVC HANC250 High-Grade Noise Cancelling Headphones

Audio-Technica ATHANC7 Noise-cancelling Headphones

In theory noise cancelling technology is just as easily built into earbuds as it is into headphones. In reality it is a bit of challenge. Adding a battery fueled power source, a device to assess incoming sounds, a processor to determine the frequency of the sound cancelling waves that are needed and more sound reproduction transmitters to headphones is not problematic. Earbuds are another matter. They are not bulky and ideally should be unobtrusive and virtually unnoticeable.

Sound Waves and Noise Cancellation

Sound is produced by waves moving through air. All waves have peaks and trough and with a steady sound the distance between each repeating part of the wave is defined by a set distance (the wavelength). So the distance from one trough to the next or from one peak to the next peak is the same distance away. The trick with effectively negating this wave is to produce the same sound but with one important feature related to its timing. The sound cancelling noise is exactly out of phase with the noise you want to eliminate. This means that when the two sound waves meet the trough of the original noise is being met by a peak of the sound cancelling wave. The end result is an entirely flattened sound profile.

Baby with headphones photo courtesy creative commons license, http://www.flickr.com/photos/gideon/429590768/

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