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Implausibilibuddy t1_j2dk2br wrote

Reply to comment by GanondalfTheWhite in Eli5 How exactly does Noise cancellation work? That too in such small airbuds by Professional-Ad3441

It is quick but not instant which is why active noise cancellation works well on low frequencies and not too well for higher.

Low frequency sounds have a wider wavelength (and thus occur over a longer period of time). You can have a little latency between the live and generated sounds and they will still mostly overlap and cancel out. For high frequency sounds there could be several peaks and troughs in the offset gap and they're less likely to line up with the generated sound.

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IShouldBeHikingNow t1_j2ewg8x wrote

Which is why they're great an cancelling out the low hum of the airplane but not the shrieking banshee child two seats over?

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hgrunt t1_j2ftc1s wrote

It doesn't help that we're particularly sensitive to crying/screaming because it's a sign of distress

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