[access-uk] Re: Noise-reduction Headphones was Re: Sirecogniser dealer
- From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:22:37 -0000
Not much to add to Caroline's thorough explanation of noise cancelling
headphones and the PX250 headphones. Might be worth adding a bit
though, especially as I used the phones a lot while I was away a few
days.
One thing that is good about them is you don't miss announcements on
trains while wearing them. Very low frequency rumble of diesel
engines and low pitched continuous noise falls away substantially.
Its all done by phase cancellation and the lower the frequency the
more effective it seems to be. You can wear them simply to reduce
surrounding noise if you're feeling stressed. I should add though
that in quieter surroundings like the hotel bedroom at Windermere I
stayed in, you do hear a small amount of hiss from the active part of
the phones. There was some sort of fan near the bedroom which was
slightly intrusive and this went away with the headphones turned on.
The PX250 takes two AAA batteries. When these are dead the phones
still work, but without noise cancelling. I find the little box in
the lead a bit annoying and it makes them a bit less easy to stow away
quickly. Some more expensive models have noise cancelling built in to
the phones themselves, notably the Boss ones, but they're very
expensive. I do also have a pair of Audio Technica noise cancelling
headphones now which sell for around £120.00. As well as effective
noise cancelling they are also closed back headphones so rejection of
outside noise is very good indeed. I fancy too that the Audio
Technica phones amplify the sound a bit, but that doesn't degrade the
sound quality, which is excellent.
From Ray
I can be contacted off-list at:
mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
Caroline Ford
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Noise-reduction Headphones was Re:
Sirecogniser
dealer
Andy,
As Ray hasn't come back to you on this one yet, I thought I'd jump in
as I
got a pair of Sennheiser PXC250 noise cancelling, or noise reduction,
headphones for Christmas.
The headphones come with a battery pack with one switch on it which
activates the noise-reduction feature. On the set I have, the battery
compartment can't be detached from the headphones, but it is fairly
small so
isn't too annoying to have to carry around. When noise reduction is
activated, the headphones drastically reduce the low-end frequencies
produced by planes, buses, etc, so you don't have that annoying rumble
to
interfere with what you're listening to. They're also useful for
reducing
all kinds of background chatter you get in open-plan offices, or if
someone
else in the same room is watching TV and you don't want it to distract
you.
As a result, I find you can turn down the volume of what you're
listening to
compared with the level you would need if the background noise was
still
there.
I've been very pleased with mine.
HTH,
Caroline.
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf
Of Andy Collins
Sent: 06 February 2008 09:09
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
Ray - How do noise cancelling headphones work? I've never tried a
pair; what
noise are they cancelling? -
Andy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 11:48 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
| Jackie, though my situation isn't that similar to yours, I share the
| not having holidays - well not for near five years now - and as for
| drinking, ar less than I used to, and I'v never smoked.
|
| When it comes to gadgets I'm less of a play being than I used to be,
| and now view them rather more in the light of their usefulness to me
| than their sex appeal! That's why I'm not overtly fashion concious
| when it comes to techy stuff, and far more into how easy it is to
use
| and whether it will play a substantial part in my dailly life,
rather
| than it gathering dust after the buzz.
|
| The one device I've bought recently that does these things for me is
| the Victor Stream which I wouldn't be without now. In fact it has
| replaced my RNIB supplied DAISY player which blew up recently
anyway.
| To me the Stream is rare in providing (in access tech terms) pretty
| good value for money, though maybe it should have been released
after
| they'd worked on the firmware a bit more, but they've got that right
| in a short time. It is a device I use dailly and the notetaking
| facility is really good too.
|
| Has to be added though that I bought the Stream at the special offer
| price, and it does go for a higher price now I believe, which is
| unfortunate, because ten or twenty quid knocked off the near £200.00
| price tag could mean a worthwhile saving to many without it seems to
| me, HumanWare chort changing itself.
|
| Maybe the other thing that's made a difference to listening on the
| move is noise cancelling headphones which really do increase
| enjoyment. Not so high up in the value for money stakes, but again
| something I have never thought was a mistake in buying.
|
| I could indeed benefit to some exstent from something like the KNFB
| reader which has text enlargement amongst its abilities. Still, it
| has to come down to the level of an up-market screen reader - say
| five - six hundred quid - before I would consider it is maybe money
| well spent. Let's face it, as it turns out its the image correction
| and porcessingprocessing that's the more inovative stuff, not the
| actual OCR that is now pretty 'old technology'.
|
| By the way, didn't someone - seems yonks back now - mention a tech
| subsidy scheme operating in Canada? Seems to me that possibly a
lump
| sum payable every five years or so wouldn't be a bad idea. Given
the
| present setup though, that would only go to help sustain these silly
| margins being earned by distributers. As if they needed any
| encouragement! Could end up subbing what, after all, are probably
| rather inefficient outfits.
|
| All this said, I do hope that, at whatever price, this new software
| does turn out to be much more than a plaything, and I look forward
to
| hearing of the positive advantages of having it by those who do
decide
| they can afford it.
|
| Cheers,
|
|
|
| From Ray
| I can be contacted off-list at:
| mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
|
|
| -----Original Message-----
| Of Jackie Cairns
| Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
|
|
| Hi Ray
|
| Everybody knows what they can and can't afford (hopefully), and must
| make a
| decision based on their own circumstances. When there is something
| out
| there that really enthuses Ian and I, we discuss whether it's
| worthwhile
| saving hard for it, or whether it isn't that important, or even
| whether to
| wait to see what develops. In some ways, we can say that both of us
| will
| benefit from a piece of access kit as we are in the same boat.
Also,
| holidays aren't a priority for us because we find it difficult to go
| to
| strange places without relying on sighted input anyway. And we are
| both of
| the mind that the access tech will give us more pleasure long term
| (most of
| the time) than a few holiday memories. We don't drink or smoke,
which
| are
| our choices, but we do spend a lot of time fiddling about with our
| bits and
| pieces.
|
| That doesn't justify the cost of access kit, of course, but it helps
| us to
| work out what we need, what is important to help us live
| independently, and
| whether the financial outlay is worthwhile.
|
| There are times when both of us would sacrifice robotic gadgetry for
| human
| voices and sighted assistance at every turn, but that isn't likely
to
| happen, so we just do our best with what we have. If we can afford
| something, we buy. If not, we just say: "Oh well another day" and
| move on.
|
| That sums it up for me on this one.
|
| Jackie
| Email: cairnsplace@xxxxxxx
| Skype Name: Cairnsplace
| ----- Original Message -----
| From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
| To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
| Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 10:40 PM
| Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
|
|
| > Jackie, you do raise a very pertinent question here as to how you
| > arrive at deciding whether the present portable recognition
software
| > etc is worth it.
| >
| > I'll own up and say that I'm very fortunate as of now in not
really
| > needing it, but I do hate the injustice of the pricing and the
| > bleeding dry of people who do need it. Still what is 'need'? is
it
| > that difficult when out and about to get things like menus read?
| Are
| > their other situations where you'd see yourself time and time
again
| > using this sort of aid? Maybe you want to know where the loo is,
| but
| > could you wave one of these things around for it to find it for
you?
| > How many instances do you find where no one's about to help?
| >
| > How about living at home? What would this sort of portable device
| > offer over and above a scanner with OCR software? Sure a few
might
| > chip in and spell this out. My reason for asking is that surely
how
| > much and when you'd use it must decide whether its a good or
| rational
| > use of money that maybe could be used for other things.
| >
| > I'd say simply sit back and ask yourself these questions and ask
| > yourself, is it worth it to me now, at this price level? The only
| way
| > suppliers are going to get the message about over pricing is if
you
| > decline to throw so much money their way and refuse to be a milch
| cow.
| > That indeed is a choice some will end up making.
| >
| > Raises interesting questions about the nature of independence too
| and
| > whether that means doing everything unaided by human
intervvention.
| > Personally I'd value good human assistance in many instances while
| out
| > doing things, and this simply isn't offered me.
| >
| > Cheers,
| > Ray.
| >
| > From Ray
| > I can be contacted off-list at:
| > mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
| >
| >
| > -----Original Message-----
| > Jackie Cairns
| > Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
| >
| >
| > Hi Andy
| >
| > That is the difficulty with buying anything that is going to bleed
| you
| > dry.
| > You either jump in and then think: "shit I should have waited," or
| aim
| > to
| > buy later, only to be confronted with something bigger, better and
| > even more
| > costly.
| >
| > It's a very tricky one, a subject that will rage forever with no
| > definitive
| > answer to be had I'm afraid.
| >
| > If you don't have access to work, it's a case of either doing the
| > charity
| > rounds, living like a recluse until you can afford something - by
| > which time
| > the next best thing is out there - or maybe do the Lottery or
| > something
| > (smile).
| >
| > Jackie
| >
| > Email: cairnsplace@xxxxxxx
| > Skype Name: Cairnsplace
| > ----- Original Message -----
| > From: "Andy Collins" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
| > To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
| > Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 5:51 PM
| > Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
| >
| >
| >> Ah! Jackie, I'm not surprised Steve omited to answer this in his
| > replies
| >> about this gadget <smile> not his fault no doubt, but too
expensive
| > to
| >> justify, and the thing is, with lots of this tech stuff, it never
| > really
| >> gives value for money, as it will be superseeded in a couple of
| > years.
| >> It's
| >> tricky as I have always said, to work out when to buy expensive
| kit,
| > and
| >> how
| >> long to hold out for something better, being inconvenienced in
the
| > mean
| >> time!
| >>
| >> For many, with all this stuff being so expensive, they will only
be
| > able
| >> to
| >> aford to buy once, if at all, so I understand the tendency to
hold
| > off
| >> buying in favour of an upgraded or superior device later down the
| > line -
| >>
| >> Andy
| >> ----- Original Message -----
| >> From: "Jackie Cairns" <cairnsplace@xxxxxxx>
| >> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
| >> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 5:36 PM
| >> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
| >>
| >>
| >> |I believe Andy that it is £2,700 with training, which is
| > recommended.
| >> But
| >> | if you insist on going it alone, it is £2,500.
| >> |
| >> | Jackie
| >> |
| >> | Email: cairnsplace@xxxxxxx
| >> | Skype Name: Cairnsplace
| >> | ----- Original Message -----
| >> | From: "Andy Collins" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
| >> | To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
| >> | Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 4:57 PM
| >> | Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
| >> |
| >> |
| >> | > Mark - can you post that link please?
| >> | >
| >> | > Also, has anybody yet gained an idea of the cost of this
| > device -
| >> Steve
| >> | > hasn't come back on this one! -
| >> | >
| >> | > Andy
| >> | > ----- Original Message -----
| >> | > From: "Mark Threadgold" <m.j.threadgold@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
| >> | > To: "accessuk list" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
| >> | > Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 4:23 PM
| >> | > Subject: [access-uk] Sirecogniser dealer
| >> | >
| >> | >
| >> | > |i all.
| >> | > |
| >> | > | I found a review of the sirecogniser by Brian Hartgen done
at
| > sight
| >> | > village.
| >> | > |
| >> | > |
| >> | > | It states the uk distributors are Micro Link PC.
| >> | > |
| >> | > | This is incorrect. I contacted Micro Link PC and they
never
| > got
| >> further
| >> | > | than the initial talks with the manufacturers at sight
| > village.
| >> | > |
| >> | > | Don't know who is the distributer, bight help someone else
| > avoid
| >> | > contacting
| >> | > | the wrong people.
| >> | > |
| >> | > | Mark Threadgold
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
Other related posts: