How to Choose the Best Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

If you're traveling by public transport or working from your home, noise-cancelling headphones can enhance your listening experience by forming an audio buffer between your ears and the outside world. How do you choose the best Over ear headphones noise-cancelling pair for your needs?

There are two types of noise cancelling headsets: passive noise isolation and active noise cancellation. The first uses earcups with thick padding that is fitted to block out outside sounds, while the second utilizes built-in microphones to produce opposing sound waves to block out ambient noise.

Comfort

Noise cancelling headphones are a great way to block out the sounds of the world, whether you're in a noisy public transport, trying to sleep on a flight that's overbooked, or battling with noisy colleagues. They also let you listen to your music at a relaxing level without putting any strain on your ears. Furthermore, many of our top picks have light-weight designs that are easy to wear for hours.

Noise cancellation is traditionally achieved through active sound reduction technologies that create opposite sound waves in order to cancel ambient noise. You can find headphones with passive noise isolation which encases the earcups or buds around the ear to block out noises that are not needed. However, the most effective models we tested employ active sound cancelation to provide a true escape.

You'll want your headphones are well-designed and fit snugly. You'll want to ensure that they don't leak, as this could be a nuisance to the people who are around you. For a truly immersive audio experience, you'll require headphones that are compatible with the high-resolution Bluetooth codec LDAC. This allows them to playback hi-res music at 96kHz/24 bits resolution, making them an audiophile's dream.

While many people think of noise-canceling headphones as big bulky, bulky headphones that aren't ideal for travel, the majority of the latest models can fold down to an incredibly compact size. The Bose QC45 headphones we've reviewed, for example are a great option when you're looking for an affordable travel headphone that can fold flat to fit inside its case. If you're an avid traveler, the Sennheiser HD450BT is an excellent pair of headphones that fold down to fit into your luggage.

Most of the models in our roundup are wireless, and many of them are mobile headsets that have built-in microphones that allow hands-free phone calls. You can also manage your audio and noise cancelling settings using a separate app that is a great option for anyone who wants to adjust their headphones on the go. Some wireless models also come with a charging dock for on-the-go listening, while others use a portable case that gives you a long battery life when away from work or home.

Sound Quality

Sound quality is a big deal for most music lovers especially when it is about headphones. While any pair of headphones will help filter out environmental sounds, a great pair of noise cancelling headphones will not just be capable of effectively blocking out sounds from outside, but also be able to provide clear, high-quality audio.

If you're spending lots of money on headphones, then you want them to play your music as good as they can. Fortunately as ANC headphone technology has evolved and improved, the sound they provide has also improved dramatically over time. The result is the most audiophile headphones available currently available.

The quality of the sound you hear will depend on your listening habits and preferences. Some people prefer a deep warm, warm sound with plenty of bass, while others might prefer high-fidelity headphones to be able to hear every detail of a song or an album.

The type of music you like the most depends on how important noise cancelling is to you. While ANC is excellent at eliminating monotonous sounds such as the whooshing sound of an airplane, or the roaring of traffic, it is unable to eliminate dynamic sounds with various frequencies and intensities like human voices or instruments.

To this end, a great pair of headphones with outstanding passive isolation and good ANC can be a solid option, whether you go with earbuds that seal around your ears or over-ear headphones that completely cover your earlobes. You can get impressive isolation even with no active noise cancellation using a pair of Comply memory foam tips or similar products that mold perfectly to the shape of your ears.

Of course, most ANC headphones come with a range of Bluetooth codes, allowing users to connect with the audio source that is most suitable for you. For example the Sony WH-1000XM4s have both LDAC and DSEE Extreme support to ensure that you'll be able to listen to your music in high-resolution, and in stunning detail. The result is that when Sinead O'Connor sings Nothing Compares 2 U, her sibilant cry and powerful chorus are as if she was in the room with you.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancelling headphones can create an audio buffer between your ears and the world around you. They essentially listen to the sound you hear, and then use built-in microphones to "read" the sounds, only allowing the audio you want to hear through. These are great for those who commute, work from home, or in any other situation where background sounds can be distracting or irritating.

To make their magic happen, noise cancelling headphones have an active technology that is powered by noise cancellation (ANC). The tiny microphones inside the earcups or earbuds listen to the sounds that you're exposed to, then emit the exact opposite frequencies that meet and effectively block out unwanted noises, leaving only the music you're listening to. It's a little more complicated than that, and best over ear headphones Noise-cancelling it is dependent on the sensitivity of your ears, the design of your headphones, and the quality of the audio processing, but the idea is that they can drastically reduce the sounds you hear, whether it's an aircraft engine or your coworker's animated conversations.

While they're unable to completely turn your surroundings into a silent void, the best over-ear ANC headphones we tested do excellent job of blocking out most background noises. For the most immersive listening experience, look into the headphones with adaptive noise cancellation. It will take ANC to the next level by continuously listening to ambient sounds, countering them in real time and keeping the sound you would like to hear (including hands-free calls) in a steady volume. This cutting-edge technology is demonstrated by the Sony WH1000XM5s.

Many pairs of over-ear ANC headphones include additional features that make listening more enjoyable. Look for features like touch controls and high-quality audio codec support and best over ear headphones Noise-cancelling support for voice assistants such as Siri or Google Assistant. Wireless Bluetooth is essential to allow hands-free playback of audio and convenient audio playback. A portable charging case can keep you connected while on the go.

Another handy feature is a passive mode, which allows the noise cancellation circuitry to be shut off, allowing you to listen to music with the same level of isolation as regular headphones. This is a great feature to use if you don't want to hear outside noises, or don't have enough battery to power your headphones.

Value

When listening to music or making phone calls, a great pair of headphones can make you feel as if you're in a soundproofed area. Noise cancelling headphones are more expensive, but they offer better sound quality and block out distracting background noise. They are worth the extra cost for those who spend long hours in the office or on the road.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones come packed with features that are useful. They have impressive noise cancellation abilities and include a dedicated mic that produces natural, clear audio during calls as well as DSEE Extreme Audio Upscaling. The ANC system is very effective in blocking out outside noises, but they are not as effective in isolating you from low-frequency sounds, such as trains or traffic.

They are also lightweight and fold down into a compact D-shaped package which can be put into a carrying case, making them ideal for traveling. They work with a variety of voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and a feature that automatically pauses music when they are removed from your ears. They can also be used with wired connections to listen to your favorite podcasts or videos in noisy environments.

The Razer Opus beats studio3 wireless noise cancelling over ear headphones headphones offer great value for money. In addition to having an ANC system that works well and has a transparent mode that switches on the external microphones of the headphones so that more of the noise around you can pass through. The headphones have a built-in USB-C charging plug, which means they can still be used even while charging. They have a low-latency Bluetooth connection which is crucial for gaming on the go and watching videos.

Take a look at the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless Headphones to get a cheaper option. They excel at blocking out distracting sounds like the rumble of plane engines and buses or the high-pitched hum of computer fans. They can last up to 32 hours on a single charge and have an auto-off timer to conserve power.