What is a noise-cancelling feature in an earbud, and how does it help to have a great audio experience?

Active noise cancellation is not a new technology, but surprisingly enough, not many people are aware of how this popular innovation works. As several earphones are getting launched with this feature, their prices have also dipped. Let's try to explore what "noise-cancelling feature" means and how you can decide if it's to your liking. The noise-cancelling feature basically means that the earbuds will mute all the noise around it. Though it is practically impossible to reduce the noise to zero, most decent earphones can cut down a significant part of background noise. With most elements of ambient sound done away with, things are quiet enough for you to get engrossed in your favourite music.

How did it first come to be? 

The technology was first devised in the 1950s, based on patents by Lawrence Fogel. In fact, to date, he is hailed as the inventor of this feature. It was initially invented for the aviation industry, as this technology helped in making aeroplanes and helicopters quieter for pilots. Eventually, it also made its way into some high-end cars, to make the cabin quieter. However, it is the consumer-centric headphones where this feature finds its widest application. The mechanism is such that, it does not curtail noise simply by trying to block it, but rather listens to the sound with the help of microphones. Thereafter, it produces a sound wave of its own that cancels out the existing sound effectively. 

How does the technology work? 

When it comes to earbuds, the noise cancellation feature uses one or more microphones to decipher the environment of the wearer. Then, it captures the steadiest sound frequency, be it the hum of an airplane engine, car, AC, and so on. It then generates a "reverse" frequency, which means, it emits a sound of the same amplitude but with an inverted phase. When combined with the first sound, a new wave called interference" is formed, which manages to cancel out the sound going into your ears. Consequently, the primary 'noise' is minimized, and if your earbuds are equipped with good active noise cancellation, the sound is almost nil. This technology is most effective in the case of steady sounds since the microphones can pick up and reverse these frequencies. It is interesting to note that this technology does not work as effectively with irregular sounds such as voices, honking etc. This is what differentiates noise cancellation from sound-proofing; the former simply brings down the noise in certain environments. 

The all-new OPPO Enco X 

If you are on the lookout for a brilliant set of earphones that scores high on the noise cancelling feature, the latest launch from OPPO, the Enco X, is the best choice for you! Launched on the 18th of January, this premium earphone was unveiled in India along with the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G. Joining the Enco family that comprises the Enco W51, W31, W11, and Enco Free, this next-gen audio product is equipped with two modes for its noise cancellation feature: max noise cancellation and noise cancellation. You can also use the other modes: transparency and noise cancellation off. The OPPO Enco X comes with a dual microphone design to offer ANC (Active Noise Control). Priced at Rs. 9,990, the OPPO Enco X sports an in-ear style design accompanied by a stem. This flagship product from OPPO is complemented by the brand's DBEE 3.0 Sound System and LHDC (Low Latency and High-Definition audio Codec) wireless transmission. The DBEE 3.0 ensures distinct and detailed sound levels. Co-created by Danish HiFi brand, Dynaudio, the OPPO Enco X promises a dual-driver setup and is also one of the first adopters of Bluetooth 5.2. Besides, it supports SBC, AAC, and LHDC codes, the last one being quite a niche. 

OPPO Enco X was made available from January 22 onwards on Flipkart. Check out this link: https://www.flipkart.com/oppo-enco-x-store