How to Choose the Best Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

Whether you're commuting via public transportation or working from home, noise cancelling headphones can enhance your listening experience by forming an acoustic buffer between your ears and the outside world. But how do you decide which pair is best for you?

There are two types of noise cancelling headsets: passive isolation, and active noise cancellation. The former is made of heavily cushioned headphones that fit comfortably to seal out external sounds while the latter utilize built-in microphones to produce opposite sound waves to cancel out background noise.

Comfort

Noise cancelling headphones are a great way to block out the hum of the world, whether you're on crowded public transport, trying to sleep on a plane that's booked to capacity or fighting with noisy colleagues. They also allow you to enjoy your music at a comfortable level without putting pressure on your ears, and many of our top picks feature light-weight designs that are comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Noise cancellation is usually achieved by using active sound-reduction technologies that produce opposing sound waves to cancel background noise. While you can find cheaper headphones that employ passive noise isolation, which is the process of sealing the ear cups or earbuds around your ears to block out noises that aren't needed, the most effective models we've tested employ active sound cancellation to provide an unbeatable break from the monotony of everyday life.

To get the best results, you'll want to ensure your headphones are snug and well-designed. You should ensure that they don't leak, as this could be irritating to those near you. For a truly immersive audio experience, you'll need headphones that support the high-resolution Bluetooth codec LDAC, which allows them to playback hi-res music at 96kHz/24 bit resolution--making them the ultimate audiophile's device.

Many new models are foldable which makes them compact and convenient for travel. If you're looking for a travel headphone with an easy-to-fold design and a compact size, the Bose QC45 we reviewed is a great option. If you're a frequent traveler the Sennheiser HD450BT is a fantastic pair of headphones that fold down to fit into your bag for carry-on.

Most of the models we have reviewed are wireless and some have built-in mics for hands-free calls. You can also control your noise cancellation and audio settings through a separate app which is a great option for anyone who wants to adjust their headphones while on the move. Some wireless models also come with an charging dock for mobile listening, while others use an accessory case that can give you hours of battery life when you're away from your home or at work.

Sound Quality

The quality of sound is a major issue for many music lovers particularly when it concerns headphones. Noise cancelling headphones are a great option to block out any external noise.

If you're spending a lot of dollars on headphones, you need them to play your music as well as they can. Fortunately, as ANC headphone technology has advanced, the sound that they provide has also improved dramatically over time. This has led to some of the top headphones available today that can beat the best audiophile headphones available.

Of course, the quality of sound you hear will depend on the way you listen to music and what your preferences are. Some people prefer a full, warm sound with lots of bass, while others might prefer high-fidelity headphones to listen to every detail in the music or album.

The kind of sound you appreciate the most is contingent on how important noise cancellation is to you. While ANC is excellent in removing dull sounds such as the whooshing of an airplane or the roar of traffic, it can't eliminate dynamic sounds that vary in intensity and frequency such as human voices or instruments.

To this end, the best over the ear headphones noise cancelling pair of headphones that provide outstanding passive isolation and good ANC will still be an excellent choice, regardless of whether you choose earbuds that are sealed around your ears or over-ear headphones noise cancelling that completely cover your earlobes. You can enjoy a remarkable isolation even with no active noise cancellation using a pair of Comply memory foam tips or similar products that will conform perfectly to the shape of your ears.

Of course, most ANC headphones will come with a range of Bluetooth codes, allowing you to connect them to the audio source that is most suitable for you. The Sony WH1000XM4s, as an instance, come with LDAC support and DSEE Extreme to ensure you can enjoy your favorite tracks in high resolution and in stunning detail. Sinead O'Connor's sibilant cry, wireless and her ferocious chorus come through when she sings Nothing Compares 2 U.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent option to create an extra buffer between you and the outside world. They listen to the sounds that you hear, and utilize built-in microphones in order to "read" the sounds, only allowing the audio you wish to hear through. They are ideal for people who commute at home, work from home or in any situation where background noises could be distracting or annoying.

To achieve their magical effects, noise cancelling headphones have a powered technology called active noise cancellation (ANC). The tiny microphones in the earcups and earbuds of your headphones are listening to the sounds that you are exposed to. They then emit exactly the opposite frequency that will then collide to block out the unwanted sounds. It's more complicated than that, and is contingent on the quality of your ears, the headphone design and the quality of its audio processing, but the basic idea is that they significantly reduce the noises you hear, be it an aircraft engine or your coworker's animated conversations.

The top over-ear ANC headsets we tested weren't able to completely block out background noises, but they are effective in blocking them. You should consider a pair of headphones that feature adaptive noise cancellation. This takes ANC to a new level by monitoring ambient sounds and reversing them in real-time and preserving the music you'd like to hear (including handsfree calls) at a constant volume. The Sony WH-1000XM5s are a prime example of this technology in action.

In addition to the noise-canceling features, lots of over the ear ANC headphones have additional useful and interesting features that will make listening more enjoyable. Look for features like touch controls, high-quality audio codecs, and support for voice assistants such as Siri or Google Assistant. A wireless Bluetooth connection is essential to allow hands-free and comfortable audio playback as well as a mobile charging case that helps you remain connected while traveling.

Another useful feature is the passive mode which allows the noise cancellation circuitry to be turned off, allowing you to listen to music with the same level of isolation as regular headphones. This is a handy trick to use when you want to hear outside sounds or haven't got enough battery power to recharge your headphones.

Value

A great pair of headphones can make you feel like you are in a soundproofed room while listening to music or making phone calls. Noise cancelling headphones cost more than their non-noise-canceling counterparts but they deliver better sound quality and block out distracting background sounds. For this reason, they are worth the extra investment for those who spend long periods of time alone in the office or while traveling.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphone is packed with features that are useful. They have impressive noise cancellation capabilities and come with a dedicated mic that produces natural, clear audio during calls and DSEE Extreme Audio Upscaling. The ANC system does a fantastic job of blocking out external sounds but they struggle to isolate you from low-frequency sounds like traffic or trains passing by.

The headphones are light and fold up into a compact D shape that can be put into bags for transport. They're perfect for traveling. They are compatible with multiple voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and they come with an option to automatically pause your music when you take them from your ears. They can also be used with an audio wire to listen to your preferred podcasts or videos in noisy environments.

The Razer Opus Wireless headphones are a great value for the money. Alongside an ANC system that performs well, they have a transparency mode that turns on the external microphones of the headphones so that the sound of your surroundings can be heard. They also feature a built-in USB-C charging port, which means that they can be charged while being utilized. They have low latency connections via Bluetooth which is crucial for mobile gaming and watching video content.

You might want to consider the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless Headphones to get a cheaper option. They're great at cancelling out distracting sounds like the rumble from plane engines and buses or the high-pitched buzz of computer fans. They can last for more than 32 hours, and include an automatic shut-off timer.