A noise canceling headphone (100; 200), comprising: a microphone adaptor having a first end, a second end, a cylindrical cavity wall, extending between the first end and the second end and an opening surrounded by the cavity wall and extending from the first end to the second end, the cylindrical cavity wall of the adaptor including the first end and the second end at which an electro-acoustic driver is coupled; a sensing microphone coupled to the cylindrical cavity wall at the first end of the microphone adaptor for detecting an unwanted acoustic noise signal and converting the unwanted acoustic noise signal to a microphone electrical signal; the electro-acoustic driver, inserted into the second end to be coupled to the microphone adaptor, for generating a canceling signal that attenuates the unwanted acoustic noise signal in response to the microphone electrical signal, the electro-acoustic driver comprising a diaphragm; the sensing microphone comprises an acoustic opening for receiving the unwanted acoustic noise signal, said acoustic opening extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of acoustic radiator displacement of the diaphragm; wherein the adaptor is constructed and arranged for positioning the sensing microphone at a predetermined fixed distance from the electro-acoustic driver wherein the diaphragm includes a central portion and an edge portion, wherein the central portion has a rigidity characteristic that is greater than that of the edge portion, wherein the electro-acoustic driver comprises: a basket; the diaphragm covering an opening in the basket; and a subassembly in the basket, wherein the adaptor is constructed and arranged to position the sensing microphone at a predetermined position and angle relative to at least one of the diaphragm or the subassembly, the subassembly including a bobbin coupled to the diaphragm, a magnet, and a voice coil about the bobbin, wherein the microphone is positioned over the edge portion so that the central portion is directly exposed to a wearer's ear canal, and wherein the sensing microphone is positioned between the bobbin and the basket or between the voice coil and the basket or directly above the voice coil. a microphone adaptor having a first end, a second end, a cylindrical cavity wall, extending between the first end and the second end and an opening surrounded by the cavity wall and extending from the first end to the second end, the cylindrical cavity wall of the adaptor including the first end and the second end at which an electro-acoustic driver is coupled; a sensing microphone coupled to the cylindrical cavity wall at the first end of the microphone adaptor for detecting an unwanted acoustic noise signal and converting the unwanted acoustic noise signal to a microphone electrical signal; the electro-acoustic driver, inserted into the second end to be coupled to the microphone adaptor, for generating a canceling signal that attenuates the unwanted acoustic noise signal in response to the microphone electrical signal, the electro-acoustic driver comprising a diaphragm; the sensing microphone comprises an acoustic opening for receiving the unwanted acoustic noise signal, said acoustic opening extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of acoustic radiator displacement of the diaphragm; wherein the adaptor is constructed and arranged for positioning the sensing microphone at a predetermined fixed distance from the electro-acoustic driver wherein the diaphragm includes a central portion and an edge portion, wherein the central portion has a rigidity characteristic that is greater than that of the edge portion, wherein the electro-acoustic driver comprises: a basket; the diaphragm covering an opening in the basket; and a subassembly in the basket, wherein the adaptor is constructed and arranged to position the sensing microphone at a predetermined position and angle relative to at least one of the diaphragm or the subassembly, the subassembly including a bobbin coupled to the diaphragm, a magnet, and a voice coil about the bobbin, a basket; the diaphragm covering an opening in the basket; and a subassembly in the basket, wherein the adaptor is constructed and arranged to position the sensing microphone at a predetermined position and angle relative to at least one of the diaphragm or the subassembly, the subassembly including a bobbin coupled to the diaphragm, a magnet, and a voice coil about the bobbin, wherein the microphone is positioned over the edge portion so that the central portion is directly exposed to a wearer's ear canal, and wherein the sensing microphone is positioned between the bobbin and the basket or between the voice coil and the basket or directly above the voice coil.