How to Choose the Best Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent option to enhance your listening experience, whether you're at home working or commuting by public transport. They create an ear-to-ear barrier that blocks out your ears and the outside sound. But how do you decide which pair is best for you?

There are two types of noise cancelling headsets: passive noise isolation and active noise cancellation. The former is made of heavily cushioned earcups that fit snugly to block out outside sounds while the latter utilize built-in microphones that create opposing sound waves to cancel out background noise.

Comfort

Whether you spend your days in noisy public transportation or fighting for office space with chatty colleagues or trying to catch some peace and quiet on a flight that's overbooked, noise cancelling headphones offer a sonic buffer between your ears and the world. These headphones allow you to listen to your music at a level that is appropriate without straining your ears. A majority of our top picks also have a light design, which makes them comfortable to wear throughout the day long.

Traditionally, noise cancellation involves using active sound-reduction technology that creates opposing sound waves that cancel out any background noise. You can find cheaper headphones with passive noise isolation, which encases the earcups or buds around the ears to block out unwanted sounds. However, the top models we tested employ active sound cancellation to give the ultimate escape.

You'll want your headphones are well-designed and fit comfortably. Also, you should ensure that they aren't leaking which can cause annoyance to those near you. And for a truly immersive audio experience, you'll require headphones that are compatible with the high-resolution Bluetooth codec LDAC. This lets them playback high-res music at 96kHz/24 bit resolution--making them an audiophile's dream.

While some people think of noise-canceling headphones as big, bulky over-ear headphones that aren't ideal for travel, the majority of the latest models fold down to an incredibly compact size. The Bose QC45 headphones we've reviewed for instance are a great choice when you're looking for a comfortable travel headphone that can fold flat to fit inside its case. And if you're a frequent flyer, the Sennheiser HD 450BT are a excellent pair that folds to the size of a carry-on bag to make it easy to transport.

Most of the models we have looked at are wireless, and some even come with built-in microphones for hands-free calling. The app allows you to adjust the volume and noise cancellation settings, which is perfect for those who wish to adjust their headphones on the move. Some wireless models come with a charging dock for on-the-go listening, while others come with cases that are portable and give you a long battery life when you're away from work or home.

Sound Quality

Sound quality is a big issue for many music lovers, especially when it concerns headphones. While any pair of headphones can aid in blocking out ambient noise, a high-quality pair of noise cancelling headphones will not only be able to effectively block out noise from the outside but also be able to provide clear high-quality audio.

If you're planning to spend an amount of money on a pair of headphones, it only makes sense that they'll be able to play your tunes as well as possibly. Fortunately that's what they can do. As ANC headphones have advanced in sound quality, their sound has improved with time. The result is some of the finest audiophile headphones on the market today.

Of course, the quality of sound you'll experience will largely depend on how you listen to music and what your preferences are. Some people prefer an enveloping and full sound that's rich in bass while others may prefer high-fidelity headphones that convey every nuance of a track or album.

Noise cancellation is a personal choice. While ANC does a great job in removing dull sounds such as the whirring of an aircraft or the roar of traffic, it's not able to stop dynamic sounds that fluctuate in frequency and intensity, head Phones such as human voices or instruments.

If you're looking for the most effective passive isolation, a pair of headphones with ANC that is high-quality will be a good choice regardless of whether they are headphones noise for earbuds or over-ear. You can get impressive isolation even with no active noise cancellation with Comply memory foam tips or similar products that conform perfectly to the shape of your ears.

Of course, all ANC headphones come with a range of Bluetooth codecs, Head Phones allowing you to connect them with the audio source that works best for you. 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 incredible detail. Sinead O'Connor's sibilant cries, and her forceful chorus, are evident when she sings Nothing Compares 2 U.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancelling headphones provide an audio buffer between your ears and the world around you. They essentially listen to the sound you hear, and make use of built-in microphones to "read" those sounds, only allowing the audio you want to hear through. They're a great option for working at home, or in any other situation where background noise is distracting or irritating.

To create the magic, noise cancelling headphones have an engineered technology known as 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 cancel out the unwanted sounds. It's more complicated than that, and it depends on the sensitivity of your ears, the design of your headphones and the quality of the audio processing, but the idea is that they drastically reduce the sounds you hear, whether it's an airplane engine or your colleague's animated conversations.

The top over-ear ANC headsets we tested aren't able to completely block out background noises however they do a good job in blocking them. You should consider the possibility of a pair with adaptive noise cancelation. This will take ANC to a new level by monitoring ambient noises and countering them in real-time and preserving the music you'd like to hear (including handsfree calls) at a constant volume. This advanced technology is demonstrated by the Sony WH1000XM5s.

Many pairs of over-ear ANC headphones have additional features that make listening more enjoyable. Look for features like control buttons and high-quality audio codec support, and support for voice assistants such as Siri or Google Assistant. A wireless Bluetooth connection is essential for hands-free and convenient audio playback, and a portable charging case that allows you to remain connected while on the go.

A passive mode is a handy feature. It lets you disable the noise-canceling circuitry and enjoy the same isolation that regular headphones provide. This is a great trick to use if you do not want to hear any outside noises, or don't have enough battery to charge your headphones.

Value

While listening to music or making phone calls, a good pair of headphones will make you feel as if you are in a soundproofed room. Noise cancelling headphones cost more than their non-noise-canceling counterparts but they deliver superior sound quality and block out distracting ambient noise. They are well worth the extra price for those who have to spend long hours in the office or on the road.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones come with impressive noise cancellation capabilities and come with a variety of useful features that include a microphone that delivers natural and clear audio during phone calls as well as DSEE Extreme audio upscaling. The ANC system does a great job of blocking out sounds from outside, though they struggle to shield you from the bass-range sounds like the sound of passing trains or traffic.

The headphones are lightweight and fold down into an elongated D shape that can be tucked into the bag of a carry-on. They're perfect for traveling. They work with a variety of voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and have a feature which automatically pauses music when they are removed from your ears. You can also connect them with a wired connection to listen to your favourite videos or podcasts in noisy environments.

The Razer Opus Wireless headphones are a great value for the price. Alongside an ANC system that works well and has a transparent mode that switches on the external microphones of the headphones so that the sound of your surroundings can pass through. The headphones have a built-in USB-C charging socket, so they can still be used while being charged. They also have a low-latency Bluetooth connection, which is essential for mobile gaming and watching videos.

You might want to consider the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless Headphones for a more affordable option. They are capable of blocking out distracting sounds, from the rumble of buses and plane engines to the high-pitched sound of computer fans. They can last up to 32 hours on a single charge. They have an auto-off timer that can reduce power consumption.