Personally, I feel that ear plugs make me look rude. So I get the next best thing, in-ear headphones. A good pair should cost anywhere from $100 - $400 (Good as in last for years, and you can get stuff that doesn't hurt your ears and fits well). I listen to mainly instrumental and consistently use the same playlist so that it eventually becomes background noise.
Re:Ask HN: How do you cope with a loud office?
by devicenull on Friday June 22, 2012 @11:29PM
(#4149936)
The noise cancelling headphones I have work wonderfully for voices. Though, they need some music playing in order to be effective, they don't just work by themselves. They work so well that people have to come up and actually stand where I can see them before I notice them.
Re:Ask HN: How do you cope with a loud office?
by pasbesoin on Sunday June 24, 2012 @11:45AM
(#4153524)
Would you care to share the model? I've never encountered any that I thought worked well for voices.
Re:Ask HN: How do you cope with a loud office?
by devicenull on Monday June 25, 2012 @08:56AM
(#4156245)
Sure, Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B
Look for them online, or in a sporting goods store (in the hunting/shooting gear area) or in a hardware store.
I've tried earplugs, but a) they aren't as visible, so people try to talk to you, then you have to pull them out, which is a little gross; and b) my ear canals get irritated.
I used to listen to music, but in the last decade or so that's become more distracting to me.