ANC headphones are great for low-frequency (bass) sounds. But with cheap headphones I find I can still hear speech. I think new housing uses mass loaded vinyl to prevent high frequency sounds from passing through walls - perhaps heavy, 1lb or 1kg headphones with ANC are the solution for experiencing real silence in e.g. a busy workspace? Does anyone have an idea if material weight or density is a big factor in sound insulation? Along with air-tight sealing.
Yeah I totally agree. I get that people find them uncomfortable, but passive IEM's to me are way more comfortable than a heavy over-ear set which puts pressure against the sides of my skull. The noise canceling is also amazing without any electronics. Only trick is getting really good drivers in such a small space but IEM manufactures have been doing this for decades with great results.
