Ask HN: Do headphones exist with noise muffling capabilities?
People constantly post about how distracting open-plan offices are. The solution that is often proposed, noise cancelling headphones, don't really work because noise cancelling headphones stop background hums, not the sound of talking. Actual earmuffs DO block sporadic sounds like talking. However you can't really wear earmuffs in an open plan office (that would be weird, and also earmuffs don't play music).
What would be amazing, would be headphones with earmuff material between the earpiece and the outside of the headphones. Then you can listen to music without any sound bleeding in.
If anyone is looking for a hardware startup this may be a good idea. I would pay good money for this. I've tried the usual recommendations eg Sennheiser HD280's but the sound muffling isn't that high. There are some hearing protection earmuffs that allow you to plug in music players such as these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ I bought these a while ago and while the sound quality is not the greatest they will block a lot of sound. They also have microphones so you can listen to conversations without taking them off (useful for protecting hearing in dangerously noisy environments - not that useful in an office). You want a good pair of 'closed' studio headphones.
http://www.wirerealm.com/guides/top-10-best-studio-headphone... Have you used good or custom IEMs? I have fairly standard Westone IEMs and I do not notice anything on a flight, talking or otherwise We have Bose at work, with those on i can hear the conversation in the next room much better, they do the opposite.