[Knack]

"Brian Marston" wrote in message
.. .
Knack wrote:
We currently have one of the quietest ceiling fan models in our bedroom,
but
I'm wondering if I can suppress that fan noise even further. However, we
don't want to wear earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones while we
sleep.

Just an idea-- Was wondering if it could be possible to somehow make the
sensor and signal processor of one of those noise-canceling headphones
(For
example, Panasonic RP-HC500) drive a larger amplifier, which would in
turn
power a pair of small cheap PC type speakers. The little speakers could
then
be spaced apart above the headboard of our bed.

Was hoping that I could obtain all components that I need (except the
RP-HC500 and the PC speakers) at Radio Shack or some other local
electronics
components retailer. However, I'm not an electronics tinkerer so I have
no
clue as to what the specs would be for those components.

From school (long ago) I have a vague and very limited knowledge of
electronics (Ohm's law, impedence matching), but know nothing about
amplifiers and next to nothing about filters/tuners.

Don't want to spend more than a total of US$400 on this. Is the idea
feasible? If so, then if someone could give me some tips/steering about
the
specifics of what I would need, then I'd be greatly appreciative.




Have followed this thread with some amusement.

There is research (still underway) to reproduce realistic 3-D sound fields
for theatrical spaces that may one day feed back into noise cancellation.
Without the resources of a major university and computing power to suit it
is unlikely that to be useful will emerge for several more years.

Resiliently mounted fan and soft ceiling materials, this in a bedroom
seems to be heading towards a TOO QUIET noise environment, a situation
occasionally encountered, where noise exclusion has gone TOO FAR.

Now may be the time to do some "acoustic back fill" with a white noise
generator to mask the fan and to stop the search for your domestic "cone
of silence".

Been long aware of the marketing claim that white noise induces sleep. In
fact, I have first-hand experience testing that claim.

I'll never forget a 2-week canyon river rafting trip. We camped each night
at about a stone throwing distance from the shoreline. Although the
background sound of rushing water (just a minor riffle) was only a low
volume that could easily be ignored during daytime, after about a week that
same sound became maddening at night when we tried to sleep through it.
After a while we all had morning headaches.

And years ago at my ski club's lodge someone in the bedroom turned on a
white noise contraption without bothering to ask if it was OK with the other
overnight guests. Well, after about 20 minutes of sleeplessness (following
our 5-hour drive that night to get to the lodge) we finally had enough of
the infernal thing, and so without bothering to ask its owner, we pulled its
plug ;-)

Marketing depts like to put to practice the old saying "Repeat something
often enough and people start to believe it." ;-)