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 upgrade your listening experience by creating a sonic buffer between your ears and the outside world. How do you choose the best pair for you?

There are two main types of noise cancelling headphones that are active and passive noise cancellation. The former uses heavily padded ears that are squeaky-clean to seal out external sounds and the latter rely on built-in microphones to produce opposite sound waves that cancel out background noise.

Comfort

If you're in noisy public transportation, battling for office space with chatty colleagues or trying to get some shut-eye on a flight that's overbooked, noise cancelling headphones offer an audio buffer between your ears and the world. They also let you listen to your music at a relaxed level without putting any strain on your ears. Furthermore, many of our top picks come with a lightweight design that's comfortable to wear for hours.

Traditionally, noise cancellation involves the use of active sound-reduction technology which creates opposing sound waves to cancel out ambient noise. There are headphones that come with passive noise isolation, which seals the earcups or buds around the ear to block out unwanted sounds. However, the most effective models we tested have active sound cancellation to offer the ultimate escape.

For the most effective results, you'll need to make sure that your headphones fit snugly and are well-designed. You'll also want to ensure that they don't leak which can cause annoyance to those around you. To truly experience a full audio experience, you'll need headphones that are compatible with the high-resolution Bluetooth codec LDAC. This allows them to playback hi-res music at 96kHz/24 bit resolution, making them the ultimate audiophile's device.

A lot of new models can fold which makes them compact and practical for travel. The Bose QC45 headphones we've reviewed, for example are a great option if you're looking for a comfortable and comfortable travel headphone that can fold flat to tuck into its case. And if you're a frequent traveler then the Sennheiser HD 450BT are a solid pair that fold down to the size of a carry-on bag for easy transportation.

Almost all the models we've reviewed are wireless, and a lot of them are true headphones with built-in microphones that allow hands-free phone calls. The app allows you to adjust the volume and noise cancellation settings which is ideal for those who need to adjust their headphones while traveling. Some wireless models also have an charging dock for mobile listening, while others come with a portable case that gives you a long battery life even when you're away from home or work.

Sound Quality

Most music lovers are very concerned about the sound quality of headphones, especially ones that offer high-quality audio. Noise cancelling headphones are a great option to block out any external noise.

If you're spending an enormous amount of money on headphones, it makes sense that they'll be able to play your tunes and possibly. Thankfully as ANC headphone technology has advanced in sound quality, the sound they produce has also improved considerably over time. The result is the best audiophile headphones that are available today.

The quality of the sound you hear will depend on your preferences and listening habits. Some people prefer an open and warm bass sound while others might opt for high-quality headphones that can deliver every nuances of a song or album.

The type of music you enjoy most also depends on how important noise cancelling is to you. While ANC is excellent at eliminating monotonous noises like the whooshing of an aircraft or the roaring of traffic, it isn't able to eliminate dynamic sounds that vary in frequency and intensity, such as human voices or instruments.

If you're looking for the most effective passive isolation, a pair headphones with ANC that is good is a good option regardless of whether they are earbuds or over the ear headphones noise cancelling-ear headphones. You can achieve impressive isolation with no active noise cancellation with Comply memory foam tips, or similar products. They will form to the shape of your ear.

Of course, all ANC headphones will come with an array of Bluetooth codecs that allow you to connect them with the audio source that works best for you. The Sony WH1000XM4s, for example, feature both LDAC support and DSEE Extreme to ensure you can listen to your favorite songs in high-quality and in stunning detail. The result is that when Sinead O'Connor sings Nothing Compares 2 U her sibilant cry as well as the forceful chorus are as if she was in the room with you.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancelling headphones are a great option to create an extra buffer between you and the outside world. They listen to the sound you hear, and best Over ear Headphones without noise cancelling make use of built-in microphones to "read" the sounds, only allowing the audio you wish to hear through. They're great for working from home, or in any other situation where background noise can be distracting or annoying.

Noise cancelling headphones utilize an active noise cancellation to make their magic. Small microphones in earcups or earbuds are able to listen to the sounds that you're exposed to and emit opposite frequencies, which will then be in collision and effectively block out unwanted sounds, leaving the music that you're listening to. It's a little more complex than that, and is contingent on the quality of your ears, the design of your headphones, and the quality of the audio processing, but the gist is that they will effectively reduce the noise you hear, whether that's an airplane engine or your colleague's animated conversations.

Although they're not able completely turn your surroundings into a solitary empty space, the best over ear headphones noise cancelling wireless-ear ANC headphones we tested do an excellent job of blocking most background noises. You should consider a pair of headphones that feature adaptive noise cancelation. This enhances ANC to a whole new level by monitoring ambient sounds and countering them in real-time while keeping the audio you'd like to hear (including handsfree calls) at a constant level. This technology is demonstrated by the Sony WH1000XM5s.

Many over-ear ANC headphones come with other features that make listening enjoyable. Look for features such as control buttons, high-quality audio codecs and support for voice-assistants such as Siri or Google Assistant. Wireless Bluetooth is essential to allow hands-free playback of audio and easy audio playback. A portable charging case will also help you stay connected on the move.

A passive mode is also a handy feature. It lets you switch off the noise cancellation circuitry and enjoy the same isolation that regular headphones provide. This is a handy trick to use when you need to hear the outside world or don't have enough battery life to charge your headphones.

Value

A great pair of headphones will make you feel as if you're in a soundproof room when listening to music or making phone calls. Noise cancelling headphones may be more expensive, but they will provide better sound quality and block out background noise. They are well worth the extra price for those who have to spend long hours in the office or on the go.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones come with amazing noise cancellation capabilities and come with many useful features such as a dedicated microphone that produces natural and clear audio during phone calls and DSEE Extreme audio upscaling. Their ANC system does a fantastic job of blocking out sounds from outside but they struggle to separate you from bass-range noises like the sound of passing trains or over ear noise cancelling headphones wireless traffic.

They are also lightweight and fold down into a compact, D-shaped bag that can be tucked away into a carry case, making them perfect for traveling. They work with a variety of voice assistants including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and a feature that automatically pauses music when they are removed from your ears. They can also be connected to a wired connection for listening to your favorite videos or podcasts in noisy environments.

The Razer Opus Wireless headphones are an excellent value for money. In addition to having an ANC system that works well they also 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 an integrated USB-C charging port, which means they can be charged while being used. They also have low-latency Bluetooth connection which is crucial for mobile gaming and watching videos.

For a more budget-friendly option you can look at the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless headphones. They are capable of cancelling out distracting sounds such as the rumble of buses and plane engines to the high-pitched hum of computer fans. They can last for over 32 hours, and include an automatic timer to shut off.