Academic Equipment: Sounds & Silence
In this installment of the occasional academic equipment series, the topic is audio.
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Some of you listen to music while you work. Some of you prefer to block out the noise around you. Some of you record yourselves, for lectures, notes, or podcasts.
What do you use to do these things?
Are there especially good headphones you recommend, or especially effective noise-cancelling earbuds?* A good speaker (or set of speakers) for the office or computer? Do you go for earplugs or white noise machines (or apps), and which ones? Have you had to install sound insulation panels in your office? Is there a microphone that really makes a difference to how good your recordings sound? Is there some other kind of work-related audio equipment I’ve forgotten about?
Let’s, uh, hear your suggestions.
* I have an old pair of these that have served me well but after 7 years I’m sure the technology has improved and I’m considering upgrading.
I can’t really listen to music while working. I also find that I’m easily distracted by my phone. But I do like to work around other people, like in coffee shops, which presents a noise issue. So I purchased a set of Loop noise-cancelling earplugs and I’m pretty happy with them. They reduce distracting noises and interruptions without isolating me too much from other people. https://us.loopearplugs.com/
I use Denon Perl Pro earbuds, which were recommended to me by a friend who is very into audio equipment. The app they come with runs a kind of test on your hearing to customize how they will work in your particular ears, and they sound great to me.