Active noise canceling (aka ANC) has been growing in popularity as more brands take on giants like Bose, Sony, and more. It has been a common trait listed for headphone models that are centered around travel, and the ability to tone the world around you out so that you can relax and concentrate on what you are listening to. Now, companies are seeking to bring that same technology to your car.
Typically, no matter how quiet your car is, there are still a handful of noises that make it into the cabin while you are driving around. Of these, the most common are engine noise (although we have come a long way in isolating this in recent years), road noise that travels up from the tires, wind as it beats against things like the windshield, or the person stopped next to you at the red light who thinks you need to listen to their woofer as much as they do.
Companies like Bose and other familiar names are working hard to deliver solutions that can bring ANC technology to the car, to help filter all of this out. Bose specifically is working on what they refer to as “QuietComfort”, which is the same name they use for their popular ANC series headphones. Other companies are working on technology that can work with any speaker brand/series. All of these solutions are aiming to make it into the market, pre-installed as premium features within vehicles, as soon as 2021.
Of course, you may be thinking: what about emergency vehicles and other road hazards? The idea that seems to be present with most of the solutions being developed, is that they are focusing on lower frequencies, working their way up to around 1Khz. This should be able to filter the road noise, engine noise, sound systems around you, and most of the wind beating your car. However, the siren of an emergency vehicle or a car horn should still be able to get through just fine.
Nothing is perfect and I am sure something like this will need extensive testing to make sure it can be equipped safely. However, I personally look forward to it as sometimes driving in the car is a great place to meditate to all of the ideas rolling around your head (assuming you are stuck in traffic).
