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13 Comments

Noise cancelling for rooms

I live by a highway and I am looking to build a system that can reduce external noise using the noise cancelling technology. Something like the Noxcel Whisper (link below) or Apple Airpods - but for rooms?

https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/whisper-noise-canceller-unveiled-by-noxcel-27-06-2016/

Any thought that come first to mind on challenges I need to overcome in terms of technology?

posted to Icon for group Ideas and Validation
Ideas and Validation
on August 23, 2020
  1. 2

    There's this really cool window shutters available that block out the noise.

      1. 1

        Thank you... I have seen the original paper this article is referring to. It's a very promising start however, the reduction of 10dB isn't a great deal but indeed a promising.

      2. 1

        Nope, I was talking about indow window but this one's interesting too!

  2. 1

    If you want to find a good way to measure the noise of a particular room or device, but you don't know how to do it, then I would highly recommend that you try to pay your attention to this site decibel app, because here you can find the best application for your phone that can help you cope with your problem.

  3. 1

    @HafeezS - I'm not an engineer, but I've had a personal interest in the noise cancelling space for a while.

    I backed a Kickstarter campaign for a noise cancelling product called Muzo a while back (launched before the Whisper product), and was one of very few people that ever got the actual product.

    I did some initial testing, and posted some videos on my YT channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/c/mikelschwarz/videos

    I loaned my Muzo to ElectricBoom (another Youtuber), and he did this video:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCW5HUkrr-o&t=2s

    The makers of Muzo pivoted from calling it a "noise cancelling" system and now call it a soundscape system:
    https://www.celestialtribe.com/

    I followed the Whisper KS campaign for a while, but it never got any traction. Plus, if you scan through the comments, and expand the comments from those who have cancelled their pledge, you'll see some impressively detailed information from a prior-backer named Jimmy.

    More recently I added some of these acoustic panels to the inside of the bathroom door in my apartment, and it definitely made a big difference.

    Was thinking about either doing the same on the outside of the door, or possibly sticking my Muso to the outside of the door and see how much the acoustic panels + soundscapes/white noise would damper sound coming from within the bathroom.

    Would love to follow your progress somehow.

    1. 1

      Hi Mike,

      Thanks for your suggestions. I have had a look at Muzo and Mehdi's video on Muzo too. His worked really helped me understand the challenges I was dealing with and therefore I reached out a Researcher at ANU in Canberra to discuss this. Their opinion was it could be made but would have a few challenges that can be dealt with.

      I was therefore hoping to make a raw prototype with the help of a electronic engineer just to understand the challenges better rather than do nothing knowing there are challenges.

      There is a very real chance it might not work out like all projects but its the journey and not the destination. :)

      I am happy to keep you informed. My email address is ancproject2020 at gmail dot com

  4. 1

    Hello,

    My name is Andrew and I am currently finishing a masters in communications engineering and I currently work In the industry. This idea could work but you have some hills to climb. First the reason these noise canceling headphones work is there able to play back to you the sound wave but shifted 180 degrees canceling the sound out. The big problem I see is that noise canceling headphones aren’t great for any sound less than about 1 kHz due to smaller wave lengths. The remedy this problem by Introducing passive noise cancelation I.e similar to how an ear plug works. This idea could work but I think it might be easier to just sound proof your walls. I would be happy to talk with you more about this.

    Andrew.

    1. 1

      Hey Andrew, Thanks for your advice. Would love to connect with you on this and discuss further. How can I do that?

      1. 1

        Sure, feel free to reach out at [email protected]

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