Make noise cancelling headphones

Ever wanted to have headphones that you can use wile working in a loud environment?
well its as easy as grab, tape, plug and play. This is the cost efective way to make noise canceling headphones.
Noise canceling headphones can cost hundreds of $$$. 

Step 1 Things you will need

Ear muffs,
Ear buds,
and Tape.

Comments

[susanrm]

How are these noise-"canceling"? They seem more like noise-isolating. Noise-canceling headphones use a microphone to detect and then generate sound wavelengths to neutralize the ambient noise. Neat idea otherwise, but I would find this too uncomfortable to use.

[zetacool]

agree with her!

[valhallas_end]

Sadly, you are only describing "good" noise-cancelling headphones. The majority of low-to-middle-end noise-cancelling phones do not use active methods; many mix a low-decibel white or pink noise into the audio, or use a small auxiliary speaker embedded in the foam to broadcast white/pink/brown/mauve/what-have-you noises. I guess the general idea is that most people cannot hear low-volume white noise, but it can act as a passive filter. I'm one of those few poor souls for whom white noise at any level is maddeningly apparent...I've returned several pairs of these cheap alternatives that were hidden by classier brand names...

But I agree, these shouldn't be called noise-cancelling headphones. Cobalt420, I've made headsets like these before (I can't stand most ear-cup designs, so I embed old headphone speakers into rifle range mufflers that I like) - if the tape ever becomes uncomfortable, you might want to look for a headset that allows you to remove the foam; then you can embed the ear-buds or speakers at any depth in the foam, and trail the cord through cuts in the foam and plastic. It's a little more work, but I like to trail the cord through the sides of the plastic shells...I hate having the cord sit against my ears.

[cobalt420]

thanks for the coment.

This is just an easy version to make.
should I change the title?

thanks i was thinking about inbeding them too!!!

[borninlyoko]

Perhaps change the title to include "Passive" Since these are passive noise cancelling. What they are referring to is "active" noise cancelling

[cobalt420]

just for working on a job like moeing the lawn that you would normaly wear ear muffs.

[insomniaSAH]

I keep seeing people saying "ear muffs" when referring to these things - a point of clarification, yes, this style is often called 'ear-muff' but your typical ear-muffs are worn to keep your ears warm, not to cancel sound.

These are hearing-protection ear muffs, or sound-canceling ear muffs, available at most sports/hunting places, typically around the guns/ammo.

Plain-old ear muffs will not work very well for this 'ible - people looking to do this one need to buy hearing-protection or sound-canceling ear-muffs.

[cobalt420]

sorry my bad these are hearing protection muffs

thanks for the comment,

cobalt420

[yeltrow]

DOH! I totally missed the headphones contest! I have done much the same thing, except that I found a pair that could be opened and drilled to increase the wearing comfort. See http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Homemade-Passive-Noise-Reducing-Headphones/ for a twist on the same idea.

[genghistron]

Drummer in my band did this for tracking and recording and swears by it. Might be a bit bulky for the daily commute but it's a good trick if you need to hear only what's in the phones.
Probably more appropriately titled "Noise Isolating headphones" as mentioned before (and across many similar 'ibles) cancelling suggests active electronics are used to cancel out external background noise.

[StephanSolar]

very simple but nice!
i have made it and it works pretty good better sound than first:P

[cobalt420]

Cool,

hey, can you go to the launch it chanenge and vote for my baseball launcher
thanks!!!!!