How Noise Cancelling Headphones Can Improve Your Listening Experience

Noise cancelling headphones use microphones to pick up ambient sounds and produce an anti-noise tone that blocks unwanted noises. They are great for blocking out train and plane chatter however they will not assist in blocking out your seatmate's animated conversation or snarling breaks.

Active noise cancellation requires great isolation, either by padding around your ears or a solid seal with earbuds or over-ear headphones. We've also examined how the headphones muffle lower-frequency sounds like traffic and train noise.

What is noise cancellation?

Noise cancelling allows listeners to concentrate on their music or earbuds audiobook, without distraction from background noise. Noise cancelling headphones are equipped with microphones that block external sounds from entering your ears. This lets you listen to your audiobook or music in peace.

Active noise cancellation, or ANC is among the most well-known headphone features available today. It is available from many different brands of headphones, in a wide range of colors and sizes, and even on some budget models. The technology behind it is surprisingly simple: ear cups or earbuds have mics that "listen" to ambient sound frequencies, and then play back equal, but opposite anti-noise waves to cancel them out before they reach your ears.

This is known as destructive interfering. The valleys and crests of waves cancel each other out, leaving only the music that you are listening to. This works well on monotonous, constant sounds like the hum of an aircraft engine or Bob's endless chatter. It's less effective for sudden or higher-frequency noises that are difficult to identify and filter out. For instance, the pinging of a keyboard on your computer or the alarm sounding on your smartphone.

Another form of noise isolation is passive, which stifles noise by forming an ear-to-ear connection by using the padding of the ear cups. This is a good choice for those who do not want to rely only on batteries for ANC functionality, but still need a quiet work in a quiet home or office.

All headphones require power to function, whether it's an audio processing or battery. Although ANC can cut down on most external noises, headphones cannot create a cone-shaped silence around your ears. If the sounds around you are loud enough, they will bleed into your ears. This is why it's important to wear your headphones comfortably enough to not have any gaps in the fit to get the full benefit of ANC.

How does it work?

The technology behind noise cancelling headphones involves miniature microphones in the earcups or earbuds that listen to the sounds around you. They are then processed inside the headphones to produce an opposite sound wave which effectively blocks out the sound and prevents them from reaching your ears.

Air molecules oscillate to produce sound waves. This means that sound has a height or amplified. It is measured by the distances between peaks in an undulating graph. The higher the sound waves are, the greater their intensities, while smaller ones have smaller amplifies. ANC headphones make use of this to create the opposite sound to the sounds you hear around you.

ANC headsets feature a variety of features that help in blocking ambient noises including feedback microphones as well as an ANC chipset. These chips use algorithms that convert sound and then release a counter-signal which is similar to firing antiballistic missiles at incoming warheads.

The ANC drivers inside each ear cup generate the opposite signals. When ANC is activated by pressing the button on your headset, the sound of the surrounding noises are reduced or even removed.

The technology behind ANC is impressive, but it has some drawbacks. The extra electronics needed to make this technology function can add weight and bulk to your headphones. They also require more power, which could cause a decrease in the life of the battery, as well as high-frequency hiss.

One other issue is that many users have reported experiencing disorientation or a feeling of dizziness while wearing ANC headphones. Although this can be a source of frustration, it's usually due to something else that is triggering these sensations, rather than the ANC headphones themselves.

The good news is that the latest ANC headphones are beginning to address a few of these issues. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7, for instance, comes with several ANC modes, including 'office', 'plane' and 'city', earbuds with an adjustment slider that lets you customize the volume of external sound you want to let through. Apple's AirPods Pro 2 feature a similar feature, with a "Ambient Aware mode that adjusts the level of ANC depending on the environment.

What are the best headphones to block out noise?

Noise cancelling headphones can make a a huge difference to your listening experience. They can help you focus at work or block out engine noise on planes, trains and buses. These headphones are great for working or commuting at home. They can be used with any audio device, including smartphones, tablets and laptops. There are wireless ANC headphones for all budgets. They can be costly, but they're worth it.

The best pair of noise cancelling headphones will be comfortable to wear for long periods and have a great seal around your ears. The battery life should last at least 30 hours that's enough to get you through your daily commute or working day. Make sure whether the audio source is supported, whether that be Bluetooth or USB-C.

Over-ear headphones tend to be more comfortable than in ear models. They have a larger headband and padded cups that sit over your ears, assisting to keep them in place for longer. They are also more effective in blocking out noise from the outside. There are exceptions, and the best headphones for noise cancellation will be determined by your lifestyle and music preferences.

The degree of noise reduction will differ based on the design and how it fits in your ears. A poor fit could let in ambient noise, and could affect the bass quality. You can try switching out the standard tips of your headphones to see if this improves the fit and lessens ambient noise. This works with most earbuds.

In-ear headphones can be uncomfortable to wear for long listening sessions as they tend not to rest on your ears but rather inside them. They can be more comfortable if you tilt them back or forwards to adjust their fit. They are also lighter, making them more convenient to carry and more portable. In our tests, the majority of earbuds provide a certain amount of noise-isolation, but not as good as over-ear headphones.

What should I look for in noise-cancelling headphones?

The most effective noise cancelling headphones cut down on ambient noise, allowing you to focus on audio without being distracted by your surroundings. To accomplish this, they typically make use of active noise cancellation (ANC), although not all ANC headsets are made equal. It is important to take into consideration the type of ANC used, whether they're in-ear or over-ear, and the quality of their construction.

In-ear and over-ear headphones offer excellent noise isolation. While in-ear headphones are more comfortable for extended periods, in-ear headphones offer more portability and are less bulky. Over-ear headphones are more expensive, but they typically have better sound. In-ear models are more affordable, but still provide a good performance.

Some ANC headphones for tv allow you to adjust the level of ANC to meet the specific needs of the situation. You can choose to turn off ANC on an airplane, in public transport or at home, but turn it back on when at work or at home to keep out the whirrr of your PC cooling fans or the lawn mower of your neighbour. Many headphones come with a 'transparency mode' that allows some outside noise to pass through, meaning you can hear important sounds like traffic or conversations.

The top noise cancelling headsets come with ANC and Bluetooth for wireless listening. Some headphones are compatible with the aptX or aptX HD Bluetooth codes, which offer superior audio quality when compared to traditional Bluetooth.

There are ANC headphones that cost less than PS50. However, the Bose QC35 II over-ear headphones offer the best value. The ANC is excellent, with a slight delay between tracks to let you hear your voice when you speak and they also have high-quality audio that's clear and detailed.

Children's noise-canceling headsets are also recommended if your child suffers from sensory overload or requires assistance in processing auditory stimuli. They typically come with a broad variety of colors and designs targeted at children and some even license popular video games or cartoon properties. They are more comfortable for children than conventional headphones, and they often include parental controls like volume-limiting features.