How to Choose the Best Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent way to improve your listening experience, regardless of whether you're at home working or commuting by public transport. They create an audio barrier between your ears and the outside sound. But how do you determine which pair is right for you?

There are two types of noise-cancelling headphones which are active and passive noise cancellation. The first uses earcups with thick padding that are tightly fitted to block out outside noises, Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones while the second uses built-in mics to create opposing sound waves that cancel ambient noise.

Comfort

Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent way to block out the noise of the world, whether you're in a crowded public transport system or trying to sleep on a flight that's booked to capacity, or battling with noisy colleagues. These headphones allow you to listen to music at an appropriate volume without straining your ears. Many of our top picks also have a light design, making them easy to wear all day.

Typically, noise cancellation entails using active sound reduction technology that creates opposing sound waves that cancel out ambient noise. While you can find cheaper headphones that employ passive noise isolation that seals the ear cups or earbuds to block out noises that aren't needed, the top models we've tested utilize active sound cancellation to provide a true escape from the daily grind.

To achieve the optimal results, you'll need to ensure your headphones fit comfortably and are well-designed. It is also important to ensure that they aren't leaking which could irritate people who are around you. For a truly immersive audio experience, you'll need headphones that support the high-resolution Bluetooth codec LDAC, which lets them playback high-res music at 96kHz/24 bits resolution, making them the ultimate audiophile's device.

While some people think of noise-canceling headphones as big heavy, bulky headphones that aren't suitable for travel, a lot of new models fold down into an incredibly compact size. The Bose QC45 headphones we've reviewed, for example are a great option when you're looking for a comfortable travel headphone that folds flat to fit into its case. If you're an avid traveler, the Sennheiser HD450BT is a great pair of headphones that can be folded down to fit in your carry-on bag.

Most of the models featured in our roundup are wireless, and a lot of them are mobile headsets with built-in microphones that allow hands-free phone calls. The app lets you adjust the volume and noise cancellation settings which is ideal for those who wish to adjust their headphones on the move. Some wireless models also have chargers for on-the-go listening, while others come with an accessory case that can give you a long battery life when you're away from your home or at work.

Sound Quality

Quality of sound is a major deal for most music lovers especially when it concerns headphones. While any pair of headphones will assist in removing ambient sounds, a great pair of noise cancelling headphones will not only be effective in blocking out the outside world but also to provide clear high-quality, high-quality sound.

If you're spending an enormous amount of money on headphones, you need them to play your music as effectively as they can. Thankfully, as ANC headphones have advanced and Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones improved, the sound they deliver has also improved considerably over time. The result is some of the most audiophile headphones available that are available today.

Of course, the sound quality you'll hear will largely depend on how you listen to music and what your preferences are. Some prefer an enveloping and full sound that's rich in bass while others might opt for high-quality headphones that can deliver every nuance of a song or album.

The type of sound you'll appreciate the most is contingent on how important noise cancelling is to you. While ANC does a great job at eliminating monotonous noises like the whooshing of an aircraft or the roaring of traffic, it's not able to stop dynamic sounds that fluctuate in frequency and intensity such as human voices or instruments.

For this reason, the best pair of headphones that provide exceptional passive isolation as well as good ANC will still be a solid option, whether you go with headphones that fit around your ears or over-ear headphones that completely cover your earlobes. You can enjoy a remarkable isolation even without active noise cancellation with a pair of Comply memory foam tips or similar products that will precisely fit to the shape of your ears.

Most ANC headphones come with a variety of Bluetooth codecs that allow you to connect to the music source you like. For example the Sony WH1000XM4s come with both LDAC and DSEE Extreme support to ensure that you'll be able to listen to your music in high-resolution, and in stunning detail. The result is that when Sinead O'Connor sings Nothing Compares 2 U her sibilant cry and forceful chorus come through like she's in the room with you.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent method of creating an extra buffer between you and the outside world. They basically listen to the ambient sound that you hear, and use built-in microphones to "read" those sounds, allowing only the audio you want to hear through. They're great for working at home, or in any other situation where background noise is distracting or annoying.

To achieve their magical effects Noise cancelling headphones employ an engineered technology known as active noise cancellation (ANC). The tiny microphones inside the earcups or the earbuds listen to the sounds you're exposed to, then emit the exact opposite frequencies that meet and effectively block out unwanted sounds, revealing only the music that you're listening to. It's more complex and relies on the sensitivity of your ears, the design of the headphones and the quality of the audio processing. The main thing is that they can cut down the noise, whether it's from the engine of an airplane, or animated conversations with your colleagues.

The best noise cancelling over ear headphones over-ear ANC headsets we tested aren't able to completely block out background noises, but they are effective in blocking them. For the most immersive listening experience, consider the headphones with adaptive noise cancellation. It enhances ANC to a new level by continuously listening to ambient sounds, reversing them in real time and ensuring that the audio you want to hear (including hands-free calls) in a steady volume. The Sony WH-1000XM5s are an example of this technology in action.

Apart from the noise-canceling features, many pairs of over the ear ANC headphones come with additional useful and interesting features that can make your listening life more enjoyable. Look for features such as touch controls, high-quality audio codec support, and support for voice assistants such as Siri or Google Assistant. Wireless Bluetooth is essential for hands-free audio playback and convenient audio playback. A portable charging case will help you stay connected when you travel.

Another feature that is useful is the passive mode which allows the noise-canceling circuitry to be shut off and lets you listen with the same isolation as regular headphones. This is a useful feature to use when you want to hear the outside world or don't have enough battery life to charge your headphones.

Value

While listening to music or taking phone calls, a great pair of headphones can make you feel as if you are in a soundproofed room. Noise cancelling headphones may be more expensive, but they offer better audio quality and block out distracting background noise. They are worth the additional cost for those who spend long hours alone in the office or on the go.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphone is packed with useful features. They have impressive noise cancellation abilities and include a dedicated mic that produces natural clear and clear audio when you call and DSEE Extreme Audio Upscaling. The ANC system is excellent at blocking out outside noises, but they're not as effective in isolating you from low-frequency sounds like trains or traffic.

They are also light and fold down into a compact, D-shaped bag that can be tucked away into a carry case, making them perfect for use on the road. They are compatible with many voice assistants, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and have a feature which automatically pauses music when they are removed from your ears. You can also use them with a wired cable to listen to your favourite videos or podcasts in noisy environments.

The Razer Opus X Wireless headphones offer an exceptional value for their price. They feature a decent ANC system, but they also have a transparency option that turns on the external microphones to let more noise from the surrounding environment to pass through. The headphones are equipped with a built in USB-C charging plug, which means they can be used while being charged. They have low latency connections via Bluetooth, which is important to play games on mobile devices and watch video content.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly alternative you can look at the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless headphones. They are capable of blocking out distracting sounds such as the rumble of bus and plane engines to the high-pitched hum of computer fans. They can last more than 32 hours on a single charge and have an auto-off timer that can save power.