How Noise Cancelling Headphones Can Improve Your Listening Experience

Noise cancelling headphones use microphones to detect ambient sounds and create an anti-noise sound to counteract unwanted sounds. They are ideal to block out train and plane chatter, but they won't assist in blocking out your friend's chatter or squealing breaks.

Active noise cancellation requires good isolation, either through padding around your ears or a solid seal with earbuds or over-ear headphones. We've also tested whether the headphones block out lower frequency noises like traffic or train noise.

What is noise cancelling?

Noise cancellation is a feature which allows listeners to concentrate on their music and audiobooks without being distracted by ambient sounds. Noise cancelling headphones are equipped with microphones that block outside sounds from getting to your ears. This allows you to enjoy your audiobook or music in complete peace.

Active noise cancellation, or ANC, is one of the most popular headphone features available in the present. It's offered by a variety of brands of headphones, in a variety of sizes and colors, and it's even included on some budget models. The technology behind it is simple: the ear cups or earbuds are equipped with mics that "listen" to ambient sound frequencies, then play back equal, but opposite noise waves to cancel them out before they reach your ears.

This is referred to as destructive interfering. The crests and valleys of the waves cancel each and leave only the music you are listening to. This is great for repetitive, monotonous sounds like the drone of an airplane engine or the hum of your coworker Bob who can't seem to stop talking. It's less effective for louder or more frequent sounds that are difficult to identify and filter out. For instance the pinging of a computer's keyboard or the alarm beeping on your phone.

The padding of the ear cup can be used to cut down on the sound. This is a great option for those who don't need to rely on batteries for ANC functions, but want a quiet working environment, or at home.

All headphones require power to function, whether it's an audio processor or battery. Although ANC can block out most external noise, the headphones aren't able to create a cone of silence around your ears. If the ambient noise is too loud, they'll just bleed into your ears. It is essential to wear your headphones tightly enough there aren't any gaps in the fit. This will allow you to get the full benefit of ANC.

What exactly is it that makes it work?

The technology behind noise cancellation headphones consists of miniature microphones within the earcups or earbuds which listen to the sounds around you. They're then processed inside the headphones to create an opposite sound wave which effectively blocks out the sounds and blocks the sound from reaching your ears.

Sound waves, whether coming from the outside or through your music are composed of air molecules that oscillate. This means that sound has a height, or the amplitude. It is measured by the distances between peaks in an oscillating graph. The higher the sound waves are, the greater their amplifies, while shorter ones have lower amplitudes. ANC headphones benefit from this by listening to sounds around you and creating an opposing sound that neutralizes them.

ANC headsets come with a variety of features that make them more effective at blocking ambient sounds including feedback microphones as well as an ANC chipset. These chips use algorithms to reverse incoming sound signals and then emit an opposite signal, which is much like firing anti-ballistic missiles that shoot down the warheads coming in (again, think of the military-grade countermeasures from war movies).

These signals that are opposite to each other are generated by two ANC drivers inside each ear cup. When the ANC is activated by pressing a button on your headset, the sound of the surrounding noises are reduced or eliminated.

While the technology behind ANC is impressive, it does come with a few trade-offs. The extra electronics needed to run this technology can add weight and bulk to your headphones. They also draw more power, which could result in a decrease in battery life and potentially some high-frequency hiss.

Another issue is that some users have reported feeling dizzy or disoriented wearing ANC headphones. Although this can be a source of frustration but it's usually due to something else triggering those sensations, not the ANC headphones themselves.

The good news is, more advanced ANC headsets are beginning to address a few of these problems. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7, for Buying Earphones example, offers several ANC modes like 'office', 'plane' and 'city', with a slider that lets you customize the volume of external sound you want to pass through. Apple's newest AirPods Pro 2 also feature the same feature, and comes with the 'Ambient Aware mode' which digitally adjusts the amount of ANC to your surroundings.

What are the best headphones for noise cancellation?

Noise cancelling headphones can make huge differences to your listening experience. They can aid in concentration in the office, or block out engine noise on trains and planes. They are also great for commuting or working at home and can be used with all kinds of audio equipment, including computers, tablets and smartphones. There are wireless ANC headphones to suit every budget. They can be costly, but they're worth it.

The most effective pair of headphones that block out noise will be comfortable to wear for extended periods, with a good seal around your ears. They'll also have a battery life that lasts at least 30 hours, which ought to suffice to get through your commute or workday. Check that the audio source is supported, whether that be Bluetooth or USB-C.

Over-ear headphones are usually more comfortable than in-ear designs. They come with a larger band and cushioned cups which are placed over your ears. This helps to keep them in place for a longer period of time. They are also more effective in blocking out ambient sound. However, it's important to remember that there are exceptions and the best headphones for noise cancellation will depend on your lifestyle and musical preferences.

The majority of over-ear headphones offer some degree of noise reduction, but the level of reduction is going to vary greatly depending on the design and the way they fit your ears. An insufficient fit could let in ambient noise and even impact the quality of bass. One great suggestion is to change the headphones' stock tips to determine if they improve fit and reduce ambient noise, and you can do this with a majority of headphones too.

In-ear headphones can be less comfortable for long listening sessions as they tend to rest in your ears, rather than over them. You can adjust the fit of your headphones by tilting them forward or backward. They're also generally lighter, Buying Earphones which makes them lighter to carry and more mobile. In our tests, we discovered that the majority of earbuds offer noise cancellation. However, it's not nearly 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 concentrate on music without having to worry about your surroundings. They typically use active noise cancellation (ANC) to achieve this, although not all ANC headphones are made equal. It's important that you consider the kind of ANC, whether it's over-ear or in ear and their quality of construction.

In-ear and over-ear headphones are typically the more well-known options and both provide excellent noise-cancellation. While headphones with over-ears can be more comfortable for extended durations, in-ear models offer greater mobility and are less bulky. Over-ear headphones are more expensive but they often have a better sound. In-ear models are more affordable, but still deliver a solid performance.

Some ANC headphones have different levels of ANC offering you the ability to adjust the level to the situation that is at the moment. You can choose to disable ANC on an airplane, on public transport, or even at home, but turn it back on when at the office or home to keep out the whirrr of your PC's cooling fan or the lawn mower of your neighbour. Many headphones come with a 'transparency mode' that allows some external noises to pass through, so you can hear important background sounds such as traffic or conversation.

The top noise cancelling headsets are equipped with ANC and Buying Earphones Bluetooth for wireless listening. Some are compatible with the aptX and aptX HD Bluetooth codecs that provide superior audio quality when compared with traditional Bluetooth.

While there are some ANC headphones that are priced less than PS50 but you'll likely find the most value in headphones that are over-ear such as the Bose QC35 II. Their ANC is superb, with a slight gap between tracks that lets you hear your own voice when talking and have a high-quality sound that's clear and detailed.

Children's noise-canceling headphones are worth considering in the event that your child suffers from sensory overload or requires assistance in processing auditory stimuli. They usually feature a wide variety of colors and designs targeted at children, with some even licensing popular video game or cartoon properties. They are more comfortable for children than regular headphones, and they often include parental controls like the ability to limit volume.