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What can I do to overcome the distraction of my coworkers talking
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I want to block the distraction of my colleagues' conversations. I tried different ear plugs, but none of them filtered out speech enough for me. Reading into earmuffs online, I read that ear protection is generally optimized to filter high and low frequencies while at the same time leaving the frequency ranges for speech untouched. For instance the high end 3M Peltor Optime III Premium is advertised as follows:
This results in maximum high-frequency muffling, while at the same time it is easy to understand speech and signals.
This makes sense on a construction site, where hearing your boss's or colleague's shout can save your life. But this is not a problem in open plan offices. So what is the solution to blocking out the room noise and conversations in an open office environment?
work-environment open-plan
edited Feb 15 at 9:52
Lilienthal♦
54k36183218
asked Sep 21 '12 at 14:34
Jean
330149
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
16
down vote
favorite
I want to block the distraction of my colleagues' conversations. I tried different ear plugs, but none of them filtered out speech enough for me. Reading into earmuffs online, I read that ear protection is generally optimized to filter high and low frequencies while at the same time leaving the frequency ranges for speech untouched. For instance the high end 3M Peltor Optime III Premium is advertised as follows:
This results in maximum high-frequency muffling, while at the same time it is easy to understand speech and signals.
This makes sense on a construction site, where hearing your boss's or colleague's shout can save your life. But this is not a problem in open plan offices. So what is the solution to blocking out the room noise and conversations in an open office environment?
work-environment open-plan
edited Feb 15 at 9:52
Lilienthal♦
54k36183218
asked Sep 21 '12 at 14:34
Jean
330149
5
Noise cancelling earphones worked for me well - but only while music was playing. Blocked out everything.
– Oded
Sep 21 '12 at 14:49
1
Work from home!!
– Sahil
Sep 25 '12 at 8:24
Tell them to be quiet so you can work?
– Fredrik
Sep 25 '12 at 12:33
5
Why is it that people with a private office always want to have their discussions in the open at someone's cube?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:14
1
possible duplicate of What can I do about a very loud coworker?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 16:32
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
16
down vote
favorite
up vote
16
down vote
favorite
I want to block the distraction of my colleagues' conversations. I tried different ear plugs, but none of them filtered out speech enough for me. Reading into earmuffs online, I read that ear protection is generally optimized to filter high and low frequencies while at the same time leaving the frequency ranges for speech untouched. For instance the high end 3M Peltor Optime III Premium is advertised as follows:
This results in maximum high-frequency muffling, while at the same time it is easy to understand speech and signals.
This makes sense on a construction site, where hearing your boss's or colleague's shout can save your life. But this is not a problem in open plan offices. So what is the solution to blocking out the room noise and conversations in an open office environment?
work-environment open-plan
edited Feb 15 at 9:52
Lilienthal♦
54k36183218
asked Sep 21 '12 at 14:34
Jean
330149
I want to block the distraction of my colleagues' conversations. I tried different ear plugs, but none of them filtered out speech enough for me. Reading into earmuffs online, I read that ear protection is generally optimized to filter high and low frequencies while at the same time leaving the frequency ranges for speech untouched. For instance the high end 3M Peltor Optime III Premium is advertised as follows:
This results in maximum high-frequency muffling, while at the same time it is easy to understand speech and signals.
This makes sense on a construction site, where hearing your boss's or colleague's shout can save your life. But this is not a problem in open plan offices. So what is the solution to blocking out the room noise and conversations in an open office environment?
work-environment open-plan
edited Feb 15 at 9:52
Lilienthal♦
54k36183218
asked Sep 21 '12 at 14:34
Jean
330149
edited Feb 15 at 9:52
Lilienthal♦
54k36183218
edited Feb 15 at 9:52
Lilienthal♦
54k36183218
edited Feb 15 at 9:52
Lilienthal♦
54k36183218
54k36183218
asked Sep 21 '12 at 14:34
Jean
330149
asked Sep 21 '12 at 14:34
Jean
330149
asked Sep 21 '12 at 14:34
Jean
330149
330149
5
Noise cancelling earphones worked for me well - but only while music was playing. Blocked out everything.
– Oded
Sep 21 '12 at 14:49
1
Work from home!!
– Sahil
Sep 25 '12 at 8:24
Tell them to be quiet so you can work?
– Fredrik
Sep 25 '12 at 12:33
5
Why is it that people with a private office always want to have their discussions in the open at someone's cube?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:14
1
possible duplicate of What can I do about a very loud coworker?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 16:32
 |Â
show 1 more comment
5
Noise cancelling earphones worked for me well - but only while music was playing. Blocked out everything.
– Oded
Sep 21 '12 at 14:49
1
Work from home!!
– Sahil
Sep 25 '12 at 8:24
Tell them to be quiet so you can work?
– Fredrik
Sep 25 '12 at 12:33
5
Why is it that people with a private office always want to have their discussions in the open at someone's cube?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:14
1
possible duplicate of What can I do about a very loud coworker?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 16:32
5
5
Noise cancelling earphones worked for me well - but only while music was playing. Blocked out everything.
– Oded
Sep 21 '12 at 14:49
Noise cancelling earphones worked for me well - but only while music was playing. Blocked out everything.
– Oded
Sep 21 '12 at 14:49
1
1
Work from home!!
– Sahil
Sep 25 '12 at 8:24
Work from home!!
– Sahil
Sep 25 '12 at 8:24
Tell them to be quiet so you can work?
– Fredrik
Sep 25 '12 at 12:33
Tell them to be quiet so you can work?
– Fredrik
Sep 25 '12 at 12:33
5
5
Why is it that people with a private office always want to have their discussions in the open at someone's cube?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:14
Why is it that people with a private office always want to have their discussions in the open at someone's cube?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:14
1
1
possible duplicate of What can I do about a very loud coworker?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 16:32
possible duplicate of What can I do about a very loud coworker?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 16:32
 |Â
show 1 more comment
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
18
down vote
accepted
Noise cancellation headphones like Bose QC-3 or QC-15 are statistics-based and work well for constant droning kind of noises (airplane engines, wind, street noise, etc). You will still hear conversations with them if they happen anywhere around you.
If you really want silence, you can go with shooting ear-muffs that they use on gun ranges. You can usually get them in your local outdoor-sy shops and they are not that expensive. IMHO this will work best, but you will look a bit goofy.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 15:11
MrFox
11.8k33857
4
@Framester, haha, try shooting ear-muffs at the office, just don't get arrested :P
– user3434
Oct 8 '12 at 15:07
2
@qarma - yes, you probably want to avoid camo and bright orange as your color selection ;)
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 13:34
Working as a software eng. for a hardware company has it's perks. I discovered that the ear plugs we use in our hardware halls make for great noise-cancelling devices. And they cost like 0.50c a pair. Plus you don't get to look like a total douche wearing earphones all the time.
– BoboDarph
Feb 16 at 9:15
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Get a white noise generator. generally a static sound that can be a bit annoying for 10 min or so but after you will rarely notice it being there but will definitely notice when it is not. I have worked in places that have them and those that do not and definitely prefer to work where they are using them.
It works great because it tricks your mind into eliminating all of the back ground noise but you can still have a conversation like normal.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:56
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
Are white noise generators used also for headphones? I know they certainly work (seen them in action in a court room), but it might be hard to convince an entire cube-farm to play white noise over loudspeakers!
– Angelo
Sep 24 '12 at 13:22
@Angelo - they have personal white noise generators that you can use at your desk.
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 24 '12 at 13:24
We actually have white noise piped into our whole floor via speakers in the ceiling. I'm not sure how effective it is, but I definitely notice it all day long. And I still hear lots of background conversations.
– alroc
Sep 24 '12 at 17:16
@alroc - As I understand it the White noise is supposed to overwhelm your brain with back ground noise so it filters more out naturally. I do know that I have had some that were much more effective than others. And heard some that was more distracting than the noise it was supposed to block. I suspect that it is more the product of using something other than white noise. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 25 '12 at 12:53
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
Headphones with loud music, preferably in-ear, to block the sound and to distract yourself from the conversations. Noise filtering headphones or ear-muffs will always have problems with speech because its not a constant noise.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:51
Joshua Aslan Smith
18410
In-ear isn't that essential. amazon.com/Sennheiser-Closed-Studio-Headphones-Standard/dp/… These work well for me, and no one else can hear a thing. Plus they're eerily comfortable with specs. But this doesn't answer the question.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 14:54
9
But the music itself will be distracting
– Mark
Sep 21 '12 at 14:59
"What do you use to block your colleagues' conversations?" It's completely within scope of his question. If I need to not hear other people, slotting in my earbuds with music up loud enough to drone them out but not so loud that its distracting to others is my solution. I was simply stating that noise cancelling technology in general will no be able to compensate with voice nearly as well as repetitive noise at the same tone and frequency.
– Joshua Aslan Smith
Sep 21 '12 at 15:00
5
@Oded: It's not, but there is a huge difference between "block" and "drown out" for many people.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 17:04
@Mark - could try white noise simply noise
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:05
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
I see suslik answered about the Bose QC-15 headphones, and I would like to improve on that answer a bit.
I actually am using the QC-15 at work every day. And they are simply amazing.
It is true that while turned on, without any music, they do not cancel out conversations going on right next to you. But they do lower the volume of those quite a bit.
And by playing music in the earphones, even at a very low volume, you will hear nothing of the conversations going on right next to you, at all.
I very easily get distracted by conversations among my peers, even if I am not addressed. And some tasks I cannot perform well with music, I really need silence. But I found that the solution with very low music and noise-cancelling earphones works really well for me.
answered Jan 16 '13 at 12:41
Bjarke Freund-Hansen
1,0571811
Seems like a get both some upvotes and downvotes on this one. Can the downvoters please explain why, I don't get it?
– Bjarke Freund-Hansen
Jan 4 '17 at 8:39
add a comment |Â
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
18
down vote
accepted
Noise cancellation headphones like Bose QC-3 or QC-15 are statistics-based and work well for constant droning kind of noises (airplane engines, wind, street noise, etc). You will still hear conversations with them if they happen anywhere around you.
If you really want silence, you can go with shooting ear-muffs that they use on gun ranges. You can usually get them in your local outdoor-sy shops and they are not that expensive. IMHO this will work best, but you will look a bit goofy.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 15:11
MrFox
11.8k33857
4
@Framester, haha, try shooting ear-muffs at the office, just don't get arrested :P
– user3434
Oct 8 '12 at 15:07
2
@qarma - yes, you probably want to avoid camo and bright orange as your color selection ;)
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 13:34
Working as a software eng. for a hardware company has it's perks. I discovered that the ear plugs we use in our hardware halls make for great noise-cancelling devices. And they cost like 0.50c a pair. Plus you don't get to look like a total douche wearing earphones all the time.
– BoboDarph
Feb 16 at 9:15
add a comment |Â
up vote
18
down vote
accepted
Noise cancellation headphones like Bose QC-3 or QC-15 are statistics-based and work well for constant droning kind of noises (airplane engines, wind, street noise, etc). You will still hear conversations with them if they happen anywhere around you.
If you really want silence, you can go with shooting ear-muffs that they use on gun ranges. You can usually get them in your local outdoor-sy shops and they are not that expensive. IMHO this will work best, but you will look a bit goofy.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 15:11
MrFox
11.8k33857
4
@Framester, haha, try shooting ear-muffs at the office, just don't get arrested :P
– user3434
Oct 8 '12 at 15:07
2
@qarma - yes, you probably want to avoid camo and bright orange as your color selection ;)
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 13:34
Working as a software eng. for a hardware company has it's perks. I discovered that the ear plugs we use in our hardware halls make for great noise-cancelling devices. And they cost like 0.50c a pair. Plus you don't get to look like a total douche wearing earphones all the time.
– BoboDarph
Feb 16 at 9:15
add a comment |Â
up vote
18
down vote
accepted
up vote
18
down vote
accepted
Noise cancellation headphones like Bose QC-3 or QC-15 are statistics-based and work well for constant droning kind of noises (airplane engines, wind, street noise, etc). You will still hear conversations with them if they happen anywhere around you.
If you really want silence, you can go with shooting ear-muffs that they use on gun ranges. You can usually get them in your local outdoor-sy shops and they are not that expensive. IMHO this will work best, but you will look a bit goofy.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 15:11
MrFox
11.8k33857
Noise cancellation headphones like Bose QC-3 or QC-15 are statistics-based and work well for constant droning kind of noises (airplane engines, wind, street noise, etc). You will still hear conversations with them if they happen anywhere around you.
If you really want silence, you can go with shooting ear-muffs that they use on gun ranges. You can usually get them in your local outdoor-sy shops and they are not that expensive. IMHO this will work best, but you will look a bit goofy.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 15:11
MrFox
11.8k33857
answered Sep 21 '12 at 15:11
MrFox
11.8k33857
answered Sep 21 '12 at 15:11
MrFox
11.8k33857
answered Sep 21 '12 at 15:11
MrFox
11.8k33857
11.8k33857
4
@Framester, haha, try shooting ear-muffs at the office, just don't get arrested :P
– user3434
Oct 8 '12 at 15:07
2
@qarma - yes, you probably want to avoid camo and bright orange as your color selection ;)
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 13:34
Working as a software eng. for a hardware company has it's perks. I discovered that the ear plugs we use in our hardware halls make for great noise-cancelling devices. And they cost like 0.50c a pair. Plus you don't get to look like a total douche wearing earphones all the time.
– BoboDarph
Feb 16 at 9:15
add a comment |Â
4
@Framester, haha, try shooting ear-muffs at the office, just don't get arrested :P
– user3434
Oct 8 '12 at 15:07
2
@qarma - yes, you probably want to avoid camo and bright orange as your color selection ;)
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 13:34
Working as a software eng. for a hardware company has it's perks. I discovered that the ear plugs we use in our hardware halls make for great noise-cancelling devices. And they cost like 0.50c a pair. Plus you don't get to look like a total douche wearing earphones all the time.
– BoboDarph
Feb 16 at 9:15
4
4
@Framester, haha, try shooting ear-muffs at the office, just don't get arrested :P
– user3434
Oct 8 '12 at 15:07
@Framester, haha, try shooting ear-muffs at the office, just don't get arrested :P
– user3434
Oct 8 '12 at 15:07
2
2
@qarma - yes, you probably want to avoid camo and bright orange as your color selection ;)
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 13:34
@qarma - yes, you probably want to avoid camo and bright orange as your color selection ;)
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 13:34
Working as a software eng. for a hardware company has it's perks. I discovered that the ear plugs we use in our hardware halls make for great noise-cancelling devices. And they cost like 0.50c a pair. Plus you don't get to look like a total douche wearing earphones all the time.
– BoboDarph
Feb 16 at 9:15
Working as a software eng. for a hardware company has it's perks. I discovered that the ear plugs we use in our hardware halls make for great noise-cancelling devices. And they cost like 0.50c a pair. Plus you don't get to look like a total douche wearing earphones all the time.
– BoboDarph
Feb 16 at 9:15
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Get a white noise generator. generally a static sound that can be a bit annoying for 10 min or so but after you will rarely notice it being there but will definitely notice when it is not. I have worked in places that have them and those that do not and definitely prefer to work where they are using them.
It works great because it tricks your mind into eliminating all of the back ground noise but you can still have a conversation like normal.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:56
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
Are white noise generators used also for headphones? I know they certainly work (seen them in action in a court room), but it might be hard to convince an entire cube-farm to play white noise over loudspeakers!
– Angelo
Sep 24 '12 at 13:22
@Angelo - they have personal white noise generators that you can use at your desk.
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 24 '12 at 13:24
We actually have white noise piped into our whole floor via speakers in the ceiling. I'm not sure how effective it is, but I definitely notice it all day long. And I still hear lots of background conversations.
– alroc
Sep 24 '12 at 17:16
@alroc - As I understand it the White noise is supposed to overwhelm your brain with back ground noise so it filters more out naturally. I do know that I have had some that were much more effective than others. And heard some that was more distracting than the noise it was supposed to block. I suspect that it is more the product of using something other than white noise. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 25 '12 at 12:53
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Get a white noise generator. generally a static sound that can be a bit annoying for 10 min or so but after you will rarely notice it being there but will definitely notice when it is not. I have worked in places that have them and those that do not and definitely prefer to work where they are using them.
It works great because it tricks your mind into eliminating all of the back ground noise but you can still have a conversation like normal.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:56
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
Are white noise generators used also for headphones? I know they certainly work (seen them in action in a court room), but it might be hard to convince an entire cube-farm to play white noise over loudspeakers!
– Angelo
Sep 24 '12 at 13:22
@Angelo - they have personal white noise generators that you can use at your desk.
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 24 '12 at 13:24
We actually have white noise piped into our whole floor via speakers in the ceiling. I'm not sure how effective it is, but I definitely notice it all day long. And I still hear lots of background conversations.
– alroc
Sep 24 '12 at 17:16
@alroc - As I understand it the White noise is supposed to overwhelm your brain with back ground noise so it filters more out naturally. I do know that I have had some that were much more effective than others. And heard some that was more distracting than the noise it was supposed to block. I suspect that it is more the product of using something other than white noise. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 25 '12 at 12:53
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
Get a white noise generator. generally a static sound that can be a bit annoying for 10 min or so but after you will rarely notice it being there but will definitely notice when it is not. I have worked in places that have them and those that do not and definitely prefer to work where they are using them.
It works great because it tricks your mind into eliminating all of the back ground noise but you can still have a conversation like normal.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:56
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
Get a white noise generator. generally a static sound that can be a bit annoying for 10 min or so but after you will rarely notice it being there but will definitely notice when it is not. I have worked in places that have them and those that do not and definitely prefer to work where they are using them.
It works great because it tricks your mind into eliminating all of the back ground noise but you can still have a conversation like normal.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:56
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:56
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:56
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:56
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
43.9k1398188
Are white noise generators used also for headphones? I know they certainly work (seen them in action in a court room), but it might be hard to convince an entire cube-farm to play white noise over loudspeakers!
– Angelo
Sep 24 '12 at 13:22
@Angelo - they have personal white noise generators that you can use at your desk.
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 24 '12 at 13:24
We actually have white noise piped into our whole floor via speakers in the ceiling. I'm not sure how effective it is, but I definitely notice it all day long. And I still hear lots of background conversations.
– alroc
Sep 24 '12 at 17:16
@alroc - As I understand it the White noise is supposed to overwhelm your brain with back ground noise so it filters more out naturally. I do know that I have had some that were much more effective than others. And heard some that was more distracting than the noise it was supposed to block. I suspect that it is more the product of using something other than white noise. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 25 '12 at 12:53
add a comment |Â
Are white noise generators used also for headphones? I know they certainly work (seen them in action in a court room), but it might be hard to convince an entire cube-farm to play white noise over loudspeakers!
– Angelo
Sep 24 '12 at 13:22
@Angelo - they have personal white noise generators that you can use at your desk.
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 24 '12 at 13:24
We actually have white noise piped into our whole floor via speakers in the ceiling. I'm not sure how effective it is, but I definitely notice it all day long. And I still hear lots of background conversations.
– alroc
Sep 24 '12 at 17:16
@alroc - As I understand it the White noise is supposed to overwhelm your brain with back ground noise so it filters more out naturally. I do know that I have had some that were much more effective than others. And heard some that was more distracting than the noise it was supposed to block. I suspect that it is more the product of using something other than white noise. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 25 '12 at 12:53
Are white noise generators used also for headphones? I know they certainly work (seen them in action in a court room), but it might be hard to convince an entire cube-farm to play white noise over loudspeakers!
– Angelo
Sep 24 '12 at 13:22
Are white noise generators used also for headphones? I know they certainly work (seen them in action in a court room), but it might be hard to convince an entire cube-farm to play white noise over loudspeakers!
– Angelo
Sep 24 '12 at 13:22
@Angelo - they have personal white noise generators that you can use at your desk.
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 24 '12 at 13:24
@Angelo - they have personal white noise generators that you can use at your desk.
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 24 '12 at 13:24
We actually have white noise piped into our whole floor via speakers in the ceiling. I'm not sure how effective it is, but I definitely notice it all day long. And I still hear lots of background conversations.
– alroc
Sep 24 '12 at 17:16
We actually have white noise piped into our whole floor via speakers in the ceiling. I'm not sure how effective it is, but I definitely notice it all day long. And I still hear lots of background conversations.
– alroc
Sep 24 '12 at 17:16
@alroc - As I understand it the White noise is supposed to overwhelm your brain with back ground noise so it filters more out naturally. I do know that I have had some that were much more effective than others. And heard some that was more distracting than the noise it was supposed to block. I suspect that it is more the product of using something other than white noise. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 25 '12 at 12:53
@alroc - As I understand it the White noise is supposed to overwhelm your brain with back ground noise so it filters more out naturally. I do know that I have had some that were much more effective than others. And heard some that was more distracting than the noise it was supposed to block. I suspect that it is more the product of using something other than white noise. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Sep 25 '12 at 12:53
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
Headphones with loud music, preferably in-ear, to block the sound and to distract yourself from the conversations. Noise filtering headphones or ear-muffs will always have problems with speech because its not a constant noise.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:51
Joshua Aslan Smith
18410
In-ear isn't that essential. amazon.com/Sennheiser-Closed-Studio-Headphones-Standard/dp/… These work well for me, and no one else can hear a thing. Plus they're eerily comfortable with specs. But this doesn't answer the question.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 14:54
9
But the music itself will be distracting
– Mark
Sep 21 '12 at 14:59
"What do you use to block your colleagues' conversations?" It's completely within scope of his question. If I need to not hear other people, slotting in my earbuds with music up loud enough to drone them out but not so loud that its distracting to others is my solution. I was simply stating that noise cancelling technology in general will no be able to compensate with voice nearly as well as repetitive noise at the same tone and frequency.
– Joshua Aslan Smith
Sep 21 '12 at 15:00
5
@Oded: It's not, but there is a huge difference between "block" and "drown out" for many people.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 17:04
@Mark - could try white noise simply noise
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:05
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
4
down vote
Headphones with loud music, preferably in-ear, to block the sound and to distract yourself from the conversations. Noise filtering headphones or ear-muffs will always have problems with speech because its not a constant noise.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:51
Joshua Aslan Smith
18410
In-ear isn't that essential. amazon.com/Sennheiser-Closed-Studio-Headphones-Standard/dp/… These work well for me, and no one else can hear a thing. Plus they're eerily comfortable with specs. But this doesn't answer the question.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 14:54
9
But the music itself will be distracting
– Mark
Sep 21 '12 at 14:59
"What do you use to block your colleagues' conversations?" It's completely within scope of his question. If I need to not hear other people, slotting in my earbuds with music up loud enough to drone them out but not so loud that its distracting to others is my solution. I was simply stating that noise cancelling technology in general will no be able to compensate with voice nearly as well as repetitive noise at the same tone and frequency.
– Joshua Aslan Smith
Sep 21 '12 at 15:00
5
@Oded: It's not, but there is a huge difference between "block" and "drown out" for many people.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 17:04
@Mark - could try white noise simply noise
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:05
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Headphones with loud music, preferably in-ear, to block the sound and to distract yourself from the conversations. Noise filtering headphones or ear-muffs will always have problems with speech because its not a constant noise.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:51
Joshua Aslan Smith
18410
Headphones with loud music, preferably in-ear, to block the sound and to distract yourself from the conversations. Noise filtering headphones or ear-muffs will always have problems with speech because its not a constant noise.
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:51
Joshua Aslan Smith
18410
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:51
Joshua Aslan Smith
18410
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:51
Joshua Aslan Smith
18410
answered Sep 21 '12 at 14:51
Joshua Aslan Smith
18410
18410
In-ear isn't that essential. amazon.com/Sennheiser-Closed-Studio-Headphones-Standard/dp/… These work well for me, and no one else can hear a thing. Plus they're eerily comfortable with specs. But this doesn't answer the question.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 14:54
9
But the music itself will be distracting
– Mark
Sep 21 '12 at 14:59
"What do you use to block your colleagues' conversations?" It's completely within scope of his question. If I need to not hear other people, slotting in my earbuds with music up loud enough to drone them out but not so loud that its distracting to others is my solution. I was simply stating that noise cancelling technology in general will no be able to compensate with voice nearly as well as repetitive noise at the same tone and frequency.
– Joshua Aslan Smith
Sep 21 '12 at 15:00
5
@Oded: It's not, but there is a huge difference between "block" and "drown out" for many people.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 17:04
@Mark - could try white noise simply noise
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:05
 |Â
show 1 more comment
In-ear isn't that essential. amazon.com/Sennheiser-Closed-Studio-Headphones-Standard/dp/… These work well for me, and no one else can hear a thing. Plus they're eerily comfortable with specs. But this doesn't answer the question.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 14:54
9
But the music itself will be distracting
– Mark
Sep 21 '12 at 14:59
"What do you use to block your colleagues' conversations?" It's completely within scope of his question. If I need to not hear other people, slotting in my earbuds with music up loud enough to drone them out but not so loud that its distracting to others is my solution. I was simply stating that noise cancelling technology in general will no be able to compensate with voice nearly as well as repetitive noise at the same tone and frequency.
– Joshua Aslan Smith
Sep 21 '12 at 15:00
5
@Oded: It's not, but there is a huge difference between "block" and "drown out" for many people.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 17:04
@Mark - could try white noise simply noise
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:05
In-ear isn't that essential. amazon.com/Sennheiser-Closed-Studio-Headphones-Standard/dp/… These work well for me, and no one else can hear a thing. Plus they're eerily comfortable with specs. But this doesn't answer the question.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 14:54
In-ear isn't that essential. amazon.com/Sennheiser-Closed-Studio-Headphones-Standard/dp/… These work well for me, and no one else can hear a thing. Plus they're eerily comfortable with specs. But this doesn't answer the question.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 14:54
9
9
But the music itself will be distracting
– Mark
Sep 21 '12 at 14:59
But the music itself will be distracting
– Mark
Sep 21 '12 at 14:59
"What do you use to block your colleagues' conversations?" It's completely within scope of his question. If I need to not hear other people, slotting in my earbuds with music up loud enough to drone them out but not so loud that its distracting to others is my solution. I was simply stating that noise cancelling technology in general will no be able to compensate with voice nearly as well as repetitive noise at the same tone and frequency.
– Joshua Aslan Smith
Sep 21 '12 at 15:00
"What do you use to block your colleagues' conversations?" It's completely within scope of his question. If I need to not hear other people, slotting in my earbuds with music up loud enough to drone them out but not so loud that its distracting to others is my solution. I was simply stating that noise cancelling technology in general will no be able to compensate with voice nearly as well as repetitive noise at the same tone and frequency.
– Joshua Aslan Smith
Sep 21 '12 at 15:00
5
5
@Oded: It's not, but there is a huge difference between "block" and "drown out" for many people.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 17:04
@Oded: It's not, but there is a huge difference between "block" and "drown out" for many people.
– pdr
Sep 21 '12 at 17:04
@Mark - could try white noise simply noise
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:05
@Mark - could try white noise simply noise
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:05
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
I see suslik answered about the Bose QC-15 headphones, and I would like to improve on that answer a bit.
I actually am using the QC-15 at work every day. And they are simply amazing.
It is true that while turned on, without any music, they do not cancel out conversations going on right next to you. But they do lower the volume of those quite a bit.
And by playing music in the earphones, even at a very low volume, you will hear nothing of the conversations going on right next to you, at all.
I very easily get distracted by conversations among my peers, even if I am not addressed. And some tasks I cannot perform well with music, I really need silence. But I found that the solution with very low music and noise-cancelling earphones works really well for me.
answered Jan 16 '13 at 12:41
Bjarke Freund-Hansen
1,0571811
Seems like a get both some upvotes and downvotes on this one. Can the downvoters please explain why, I don't get it?
– Bjarke Freund-Hansen
Jan 4 '17 at 8:39
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I see suslik answered about the Bose QC-15 headphones, and I would like to improve on that answer a bit.
I actually am using the QC-15 at work every day. And they are simply amazing.
It is true that while turned on, without any music, they do not cancel out conversations going on right next to you. But they do lower the volume of those quite a bit.
And by playing music in the earphones, even at a very low volume, you will hear nothing of the conversations going on right next to you, at all.
I very easily get distracted by conversations among my peers, even if I am not addressed. And some tasks I cannot perform well with music, I really need silence. But I found that the solution with very low music and noise-cancelling earphones works really well for me.
answered Jan 16 '13 at 12:41
Bjarke Freund-Hansen
1,0571811
Seems like a get both some upvotes and downvotes on this one. Can the downvoters please explain why, I don't get it?
– Bjarke Freund-Hansen
Jan 4 '17 at 8:39
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
I see suslik answered about the Bose QC-15 headphones, and I would like to improve on that answer a bit.
I actually am using the QC-15 at work every day. And they are simply amazing.
It is true that while turned on, without any music, they do not cancel out conversations going on right next to you. But they do lower the volume of those quite a bit.
And by playing music in the earphones, even at a very low volume, you will hear nothing of the conversations going on right next to you, at all.
I very easily get distracted by conversations among my peers, even if I am not addressed. And some tasks I cannot perform well with music, I really need silence. But I found that the solution with very low music and noise-cancelling earphones works really well for me.
answered Jan 16 '13 at 12:41
Bjarke Freund-Hansen
1,0571811
I see suslik answered about the Bose QC-15 headphones, and I would like to improve on that answer a bit.
I actually am using the QC-15 at work every day. And they are simply amazing.
It is true that while turned on, without any music, they do not cancel out conversations going on right next to you. But they do lower the volume of those quite a bit.
And by playing music in the earphones, even at a very low volume, you will hear nothing of the conversations going on right next to you, at all.
I very easily get distracted by conversations among my peers, even if I am not addressed. And some tasks I cannot perform well with music, I really need silence. But I found that the solution with very low music and noise-cancelling earphones works really well for me.
answered Jan 16 '13 at 12:41
Bjarke Freund-Hansen
1,0571811
answered Jan 16 '13 at 12:41
Bjarke Freund-Hansen
1,0571811
answered Jan 16 '13 at 12:41
Bjarke Freund-Hansen
1,0571811
answered Jan 16 '13 at 12:41
Bjarke Freund-Hansen
1,0571811
1,0571811
Seems like a get both some upvotes and downvotes on this one. Can the downvoters please explain why, I don't get it?
– Bjarke Freund-Hansen
Jan 4 '17 at 8:39
add a comment |Â
Seems like a get both some upvotes and downvotes on this one. Can the downvoters please explain why, I don't get it?
– Bjarke Freund-Hansen
Jan 4 '17 at 8:39
Seems like a get both some upvotes and downvotes on this one. Can the downvoters please explain why, I don't get it?
– Bjarke Freund-Hansen
Jan 4 '17 at 8:39
Seems like a get both some upvotes and downvotes on this one. Can the downvoters please explain why, I don't get it?
– Bjarke Freund-Hansen
Jan 4 '17 at 8:39
add a comment |Â
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5
Noise cancelling earphones worked for me well - but only while music was playing. Blocked out everything.
– Oded
Sep 21 '12 at 14:49
1
Work from home!!
– Sahil
Sep 25 '12 at 8:24
Tell them to be quiet so you can work?
– Fredrik
Sep 25 '12 at 12:33
5
Why is it that people with a private office always want to have their discussions in the open at someone's cube?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 14:14
1
possible duplicate of What can I do about a very loud coworker?
– user8365
Jan 16 '13 at 16:32