Stepping back from ANR

Yup: Too little data. What method was employed to measure these values?
At what frequencies?

If I remember correctly, there was a frequency/attenuation chart on the
back of some foam earplugs carton I saw once in a drug store. I'm sure
ANR manufacturers have plenty of charts for their products. So, data is
obtainable, at least theoretically. But that doesn't mean much, since
noise perception is a very psychological thing (think of all those crazy
psycho-acoustic models for Hi-Fi audio noise reduction), and you cannot
really go by "more decibels = better noise cancelling" principle all the time.

Unfortunately, I cannot make comparisons myself, as I don't currently
own an ANR set. I tried passive vs. passive+foam, and the difference was
drastic. But I can't really tell how much I'm losing due to lack of selectivity
of ANR without trying one. Thus the question.



Andrey

Andrey,

If I remember correctly, there was a frequency/attenuation chart on the
back of some foam earplugs carton I saw once in a drug store. I'm sure
ANR manufacturers have plenty of charts for their products. So, data is
obtainable, at least theoretically.

A chart alone means nothing. It all depends on how you measure that chart.

But that doesn't mean much, since
noise perception is a very psychological thing (think of all those crazy
psycho-acoustic models for Hi-Fi audio noise reduction),

Not sure about that.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

From Wikipedia on "Psychoacoustics":
---
In many applications of acoustics and audio signal processing it
is necessary to know what humans actually hear. Sound, which consists
of air pressure waves, can be accurately measured with sophisticated
equipment. However, understanding how these waves are received and
mapped into thoughts in the human brain is not trivial.

Recognizing features important to perception enables scientists and
engineers to concentrate on audible features and ignore less important
features of the involved system. It is important to note that the
question of what humans hear is not only a physiological question
of features of the ear but very much also a psychological issue.
---

There's more in that article if you're interested.


noise perception is a very psychological thing (think of all those crazy
psycho-acoustic models for Hi-Fi audio noise reduction),

Not sure about that.