Re:Mag-lev's quiet? OR Don't believe eveything on (Score 1)

The main noise component of the maglev trains is aerodynamic noise, just as you would have from a plane. This pretty much explains the comments about the similarity of the noises... And such noise can not really be cancelled; it might be possible to shield it a bit, but it will be there, and it can barely be directed. There might also be some electrically induced noise. However that noise will be easily covered by the aerodynamic noise. The noise with conventional trains is a mix between rolling noise (steel on steel, depending a lot on the roughness of the wheel surface), and the aerodynamic noise. This mix is of course also creating a totally different spectrum. Overall, this study looks to me quite a bit like a "publish or perish" study... not much substance, not really well worked out (playing sounds in a lab environment does not really have much to do with "real world" annoyment...