Taking Control of Your Acoustical Environment - a Look at the Current State of Personal Noise Control Technology

Mankind has made many improvements in modifying sound for our well-being, but can we do better? This paper examines new technologies intended to help improve the quality of sound within an individual's surroundings. Products claiming open air noise control through means of detecting sound and creating anti-vibration fields, like the Muzo speaker, are examined. Comparative testing and evaluations are made to test the relative benefits and inherit limitations of these products in various categories, such as reduction of unwanted sound across distance and frequencies, product cost, ease of use, etc. The effectiveness of cutting-edge products are compared to currently available active and passive noise control products like noise cancelling headphones and white noise machines. Results show that while white noise machines can achieve their intended purpose, and that active noise cancelling headphones effectively reduce noise and provide personal auditory comfort, variations of personal anti-vibrational noise control products are limited in application and/or technologically inadequate.