Bluedio F800 Headphones with Active Noise Cancelling Technology: a Marriage of Fashion and Sound

If you would not describe yourself as an audiophile that is – you are not at all obsessed or overly concerned over the most meticulous sound fidelity in a pair of headphones – but do nevertheless care and enjoy a superior than usual sound experience when listening to music through a pair of headphones (enough that you don’t mind overhead-style headphones), then the Bluedio F800 Headphones are an excellent choice.

A salient feature of the Bluedio F800 headphones, with a current price tag of approximately $65.00 (free shipping; regular price: $130.00), is the active noise cancellation technology built into the headphones.  The Bluedio F800 include two (2) concealed microphones on the bottom edge of each left and right ear-pad (for a total of 4) that actively listen to, and detect ambient, outside noise frequencies. A processor, or chip inside the Bluedio F800 headphones then superimposes the frequency of any incoming or inbound noise frequency, and projects an imperceptible outbound noise frequency to counter and actively cancel out any unwanted outside noise. This avoids the necessity of turning the volume up to hazardous levels that can lead to longterm noise induced hearing loss.

Bluedio F800’s Noise Isolating Design – In addition to the Bluedio F800‘s active noise cancelling features, the headphone’s stylish, classic-like foldable design incorporates excellent noise isolating features. First in the intelligently-designed, large, and rectangular-shaped size of the Bluedio F800‘s ear-muffs, and second, in the isolating features of the foam material used to pad the Bluedio F800 headphones.

With respect to the shape and size of the Bluedio F800‘s ear-muffs, the anatomy of the human ear resembles more closely that of a rectangle than a circle. Combined with their large size, the rectangular shape of the hollowed ear-pads affixed to each extremity of the Bluedio F800′s stainless steel, padded, circular headband ensures that the entirety of even the biggest human ears are fully, and comfortably couched inside the hollowed out areas of the ear-muffs. With the visibly thick layer of foam padding on the Bluedio F800’s ear-pads, the overall design of the Bluedio F800 headphones’ ear-muffs incorporates excellent noise isolating features. Combined with its active noise cancelling technology (described in the previous paragraph), the Bluedio F800 headphones’ design is optimized to preserve a high sound fidelity.

Other Features of the Bluedio F800 Headphones – The Bluedio F800 headphones provide a full punch base sound, while preserving the clarity, sharpness, and finesse of mids and highs. The F800’s universal compatibility makes them easy to connect with any USB-enabled smart device, such as a smart phone (whether Android, iOS, Samsung), computer, or tablet. The excellent noise cancelling and isolating features of the Bluedio F800 headphones make them suitable for any type of music, albeit with a preference for genres with lower tones, like pop, hip-hop, R&B, and rap.

Unlike its Bluedio T3 cousin ($65.00), the Bluedio F800 does not come with a 3D mode for the enhanced surround sound experience you would want to pair with a 3D movie or game. The comfort of the ear-pads and headband, the 33 meters of reception range (or optional 3.5mm wire), as well as the 20 hours of operating battery life nevertheless make the Bluedio F800 suitable for an afternoon of Netflix.

Perhaps the best feature on theBluedio F800 headphones is the current price tag. For the distinguishing minds that enjoy focusing every dollar of a purchase where it matters, you can save a few hundred dollars for opting for a lesser known brand that offers the same results in terms of high-fidelity sound reproduction and quality, but also in terms of style and and comfort.

 

Consumer Audio Listening Devices: Headphones, Ear Pads, Earbuds, Active, and Passive Noise Cancelling and Isolating Technology

The Evolution of Headphones and Earbuds – In the 1800s, Ernest Jules Pierre Mercadier receives a patent for earbuds used as telephone receivers.  In 1910, the U.S. Navy bought the first pair of headphones from its inventor, Nathaniel Baldwin’s,  for their supposed superior sound quality.  In 1957, the concept of active noise cancellation (the ability of analyzing unwanted outside-in signals, and sending inside-out counter-signals to cancel them) is introduced into consumer markets when Willard Meeker adopts aerospace technology to broader, practical consumer applications.  In 1958, stereo military-grade headphones are adapted by musician John Koss into commercial stereo headphones. The all to familiar 3.5 mm headphone-jack socket still found today on smart phones appears in 1964 with hand-held Sony radios, then later in 1979 with the arrival of the Walkman.  In 1997, a patent that would lead to what we know today as Bluetooth was filed by Jaap Haarsen in 1997, a technology that was then launched on a commercial scale with Ericsson two years later in 1999.  Headphones that could cancel 99% of high frequency noises (160HZ range) were released by Sony almost 10 years later, in 2008.

Earbuds and Earphones Today – In 2016, thanks to the long trail of evolution of this technology, consumers can choose from a wide variety of active and passive noise cancelling earbuds (in-ear headphones), ear pads (supra-aural headphones), or headphones (circumaural headphones), each combining its on set of qualities to fulfill its own purpose and characteristics.

While both active and passive noise cancelling features can be present in ear pads, headphones and earbuds, passive noise cancelling features are naturally accentuated in the design of ear pads and headphones, which largely tend to cover the full surface of the ear.  Active noise cancelling features will also tend to be  more effective when combined with strong passive noise cancellation features. Algorithms used in active-noise cancelling audio listening devices risk interfering with sound quality and accuracy. While greater sound quality and accuracy may be preserved in audio devices that only have passive noise cancelling features, the ambient outside noise may be too distracting to appreciate sound quality and accuracy.

Finally, there is the question of health and safety, as well as energy consumption.  Using highly efficient active noise cancelling audio listening devices may present dangerous hazards in certain environments. Conversely, tuning out ambient noise by turning up the volume on audio listening devices without active noise cancelling features can lead to unwanted noise induced hearing loss.  Active noise cancelling requires a constant supply of energy, i.e. a battery to feed the digital signal processing technology and audio processor that generate the noise cancelling counter-signal.

The Quick Botton Line When Choosing a Headphones or Earphones – consumers have a wide range of products, with varying of features to choose from.  The use and purpose of the audio listening device should be assessed next to the price. Audiophiles, or individuals who have a grounded purpose for high sound quality in environments, where blocking outside noise is not a hazard, may find a justification in paying the higher price for active noise cancelling headphones or ear pads. For those who tend to use their audio devices in outside environments, where blocking all ambient sound may be a hazard, and who are willing to trade-off dollars for sound clarity and quality, active or passive noise cancelling earbuds or earphones may turn out to be the more practical choice.