Ask HN: Noise Cancelling headphones sucks for Meetings/Phone calls, right?

1 pointmihir66923 comments

I bought Noise Canceling headphones and started using them for work/phone calls. It amplifies outside noise so much that you can't hear actual sound when someone speaks in meeting/phone call.

Is that common experience for everyone?

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Could you explain further how you are set up? What are you using and how is it all plugged up?

Generally speaking, noise cancelling headphones work by utilising a small builtin microphone that 'listens' to the ambient sound immediately around you and then uses that signal to lower those sounds in your headphones.

If I am watching a movie/listening to a song, Active Noise Cancelling will suppresses/lowers outside noise. That's good.

When I join a meeting on google meet/Slack Or attend a call on Cell Phone (any activity where I need to use my mic), Noise Cancelling headphone actually amplifies outside sound, like sound of Fan etc.

Currently, I am using Sony XM3 headphones.

So when you are on a call, are you using the headphone mic or your cellphone mic?

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