How Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones Can Make Your Music Sound Amazing

Noise cancelling headphones can make your music sound great, whether you're at home or on the move. There are a variety of options available including Apple's AirPods Max to long-time heavyweights like Bose.

Considerations when shopping for over ear noise cancelling headphones include: comfort, sound quality active noise cancellation, and battery life. We recommend checking whether the headphones can handle high-quality audio codes like AAC or aptX.

Comfort

Comfort is important when you are planning to listen for long durations. You need headphones that fit comfortably and are light. Choose models that feature soft padding and adjustable headbands so you can adjust the headphones to your preferences. The earcups must be sufficiently sealed to prevent ambient noise and sound leakage.

Over-ear headphones are typically more comfortable than noise cancelling headphones microphone-cancelling headphones that are in-ear. However, there are some instances where earbuds are more practical, like on-the-go audio and fitness apps. In these instances, you want wireless earbuds that provide an ideal mix of comfort and performance.

In addition to comfort, be aware of the audio codecs that your headphones are using. Apt-X, LDAC and other high-performance Bluetooth headset codescs provide the same quality of sound as CDs. They work with a variety of Android phones, as well as some Apple devices - but not the iPhone. Apple's proprietary AAC codec isn't as good, so it's worth avoiding that.

Active noise cancellation is a important feature of premium headphone. These technologies use microphones and speakers to detect external sounds and generate opposing sounds to block them out, resulting in a more peaceful listening environment. This technology is found in the top headphones available, including our top selections.

The Sony WH1000XM5s are among the best wireless noise cancelling headphone due to their outstanding audio quality, comfort, and a myriad of other features. They're perfect for frequent travelers. They can block out noises that distract you that range from the squeak of your seat's air conditioning to the rumble from subways and trains during your commute. They also feature unique features such as Quick Attention mode, which pauses music and pipes in background audio when you're talking or listen to what's happening around you.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 headphones are among the most expensive on our list. They're also among the most elegantly designed. They feature genuine leather around their ears and push buttons that allow for simple operation. They're not the most comfortable to wear, but they are very lightweight and pack serious audio clout, including amazing bass, deep midrange and crystal clear highs. In our tests, they performed very well in a variety of environments. However trains' noises could be heard at higher volumes and the cymbals grew a bit harsh.

Sound Quality

Noise cancelling headphones don't only have to block out the sounds around them but they also have to be able reproduce music in high quality. As with any headphone type the quality of sound depends on both the physical construction of the headphones and the software that manages them. Over-ear headphones generally offer superior audio quality than on-ear models because of their larger drivers. This allows for greater air movement, producing a more encompassing and richer headphones.

On-ear headphones are just as capable of producing good audio, as long as they have well-designed sound drivers and software. They don't have the same fullness as headphones with over-ears.

If you're looking to get the most from your headphones, then think about buying a pair with high-quality audio codes like AAC and aptX. These codecs make sure that the audio is not compressed and can be transmitted via Bluetooth with higher speeds than the older versions.

The Bose QC 45 headphones are a solid choice for most users, with excellent audio quality and a comfortable design. Their ANC is quite effective in blocking out background noise, but it still allows ambient sounds to pass through like the wind or the voices of people nearby. There is also the option of letting you alter the amount of the outside world you hear, which is useful to tune back in without taking off your headphones or switching off your music.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones are a different alternative. They provide excellent audio quality and noise cancellation. In fact, they're the best headphones that we've tested to date. They're packed with features like the Quick Attention mode, voice assistant integration as well as DSEE Extreme scaling.

The large ear cups make them heavy and difficult to carry in a bag or carry with. The headphones also require a power cable, which could cause issues in certain situations. Despite these shortcomings the WH1000XM5 headphones provide an excellent pair of wireless headphones that block out noise. They will enable you to concentrate in noisy offices, and also enjoy a peaceful rest on the plane.

Noise Cancellation

Whether you're listening to music or podcasts on a train, flight commute or at home, noise cancelling headphones let you focus on your audio without distraction. The most effective headphones aren't only those that block background noise. They also offer active noise cancellation.

Active noise cancellation is achieved by sampling ambient sound with tiny microphones built into the system and creating a sound wave that is opposite to the original sound, effectively cancelling it out. It's not perfect however it should be close enough to make your music the only thing you hear. You should also be able to 'turn off' the noise cancellation when you want to listen to your surroundings.

A good headphone should also provide isolation via passive. This means it should be properly fitted and create a tight seal on your ears. This usually means earbuds that are comfortable to wear or over-ear headphones that fully seal your ears. Earbuds that don't fully seal your ears are more likely to let in a significant amount of ambient noise, and over-ear headphones that are loose can be uncomfortable quickly.

The top headphones have excellent passive isolation, and they're typically comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The most comfortable headphones have a button to allow you to tune back in to the sounds around you. This is very useful in noisy environments where the train's rumble or your coworkers voices can be crucial for security.

In addition to active noise cancelling, the best headphones will come with features that make them more appealing to audiophiles. This could be extra features such as touch controls and high-quality audio codec support or it could be a sign of top-quality finishes and a sleeker design that makes them more attractive to wear.

The best headphones are expensive however, you can get a top-quality set for less by shopping around. Monoprice's BT600ANC headphones provide fantastic ANC sound quality for a fraction of the cost of Bose or Sony's flagship models. They're not as good in cutting out background noise as the other models on this list and don't come with a 'hear through' setting for when you have to converse with someone, however they do offer a high-quality audio quality for the price.

Battery Life

The active noise-control circuitry of most headphones needs power. It is usually supplied by a battery that needs to be recharged or replaced regularly. This can increase the overall weight, size and cost of the headphones. This could cause the headphones to produce high frequency hiss and other noises that may not be arousable to other listeners, but may be distracting for some.

Noise-cancelling headphones are great for enhancing your music listening experience while on an airplane, commute or at work. You can also use them to protect your ears from noise pollution at home, like the whirr of your HVAC unit or your neighbor's lawn mower. You can even use a pair of headphones to aid in sleeping or meditative.

Bose, Sony and Sennheiser offer various styles of noise-cancelling headphones that can be worn over-ear. Target offers a range of brands with features like hands-free, August Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones - Grey - Mic and around-ear. You can also choose from a range of prices as well as comfort levels and color choices.

Some of the latest models in this category have improved the quality of audio, noise cancellation and battery life when compared with their predecessors. Bose QC 700 headphones are 30% lighter, 30% smaller and more comfortable and yet offer the same ANC performance. Other improvements are more refined and balanced sound signature, a faster attention mode, smart voice activation with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and DSEE Extreme upscaling.

The Sony WH1000XM5s are a different set of noise cancelling over-ear headsets which we highly recommend. They boast a long battery, and great sound quality, earning them the highest rating in our evaluations. They have a premium feel and over ear noise cancelling headphones are comfortable for long wear and fold down into an extremely compact case that fits easily into most bags. They come with a variety of useful extras like ambient noise control and Speak to Chat, Quick Attention mode, and wear detection.

The WH950NB is an affordable pair of Edifier headphones which are a great value and are able to compete with more expensive models by the big manufacturers. They are comfortable and have an extended battery life (you could go for a whole week without needing to charge them) and fold flat for easy transport.