How to Choose the Best Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

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

There are two main types of noise cancelling headphones that are passive noise isolation and active noise cancellation. The former makes use of padded earcups that fit snugly to block out sounds from outside while the latter utilize built-in microphones that create opposing sound waves that cancel out any background noise.

Comfort

If you're spending your day in noisy public transportation or fighting for office space with chatty coworkers or attempting to catch some sleep on a long-haul flight, noise cancelling headphones offer a sonic buffer between your ears and the world. They also let you listen to your music at a comfortable level without putting any strain on your ears. Additionally, many of our top picks feature light-weight designs that are easy to wear for hours.

Typically, noise cancellation involves using active sound reduction technology that creates opposing sound waves to cancel out background noise. Although you can find headphones that use passive noise isolation that seals the ear cups or earbuds to block out unwanted sounds, the best models we've tested use active sound cancellation for an ideal escape from the daily grind.

To get the optimal results, you'll need to ensure your headphones fit snugly and are well-designed. You should ensure that they don't leak, as this can be annoying to the people near you. To experience a truly immersive sound, you'll want headphones that support high-resolution Bluetooth codesc LDAC. This lets them play back hi-res music at 24 bit resolution and 96kHz which makes them an audiophile's dream.

While some people think of noise-canceling headphones as big heavy, bulky headphones that aren't suitable for travel, the majority of the latest models fold down into a compact form factor. The bose over ear noise cancelling headphones QC45 headphones we've reviewed for instance are a great option when you're looking for an affordable travel headphone that can fold flat to tuck into its case. If you're a frequent traveler the Sennheiser HD450BT is a great pair of headphones that can be folded down to fit inside your carry-on bag.

The majority of the models we have examined are wireless, and some come with built-in microphones that allow hands-free calls. The app allows you to manage the audio and noise cancellation settings, which is perfect for those who want to adjust their headphones traveling. Some wireless models also come with a charging dock for on-the-go listening, while others come with an accessory case that can give you a long battery life when away from home or work.

Sound Quality

Quality of sound is a major issue for music lovers of all kinds especially when it comes to headphones. While any pair of headphones can aid in blocking out ambient sounds, a great pair of noise cancelling headphones will not only be effective in blocking out sounds from outside, but also to deliver clear high-quality audio.

If you're spending lots of dollars on headphones, you want them to be able play your music as good as they can. Fortunately as ANC headphones have advanced in sound quality, the sound they provide has also improved considerably over time. This has resulted in some of the best headphones that today can rival any top-tier audiophile headsets.

The quality of your sound will depend on your preferences and listening habits. Some prefer an open and warm bass sound while others may prefer high-quality headphones that can deliver every nuance of a track or album.

Noise cancellation is a personal choice. While ANC is excellent at removing monotonous sounds like the whooshing sound of an airplane, or the roaring of traffic, it cannot eliminate dynamic sounds with various frequencies and intensities such as human voice or instruments.

This is why an excellent pair of headphones with outstanding passive isolation and good ANC can be a solid option, whether you choose earbuds that seal around your ears or over-ear headphones that completely cover your earlobes. You can get a remarkable isolation even without active noise cancellation with Comply memory foam tips or similar products. They will conform to the shape of your ears.

The majority of ANC headphones are equipped with a variety of Bluetooth codes that allow you to connect to the music source you like. The Sony WH1000XM4s, for example, have LDAC support as well as DSEE Extreme to ensure you can listen to your favourite tracks in high resolution and stunning detail. Sinead's sibilant cry and her forceful chorus, is evident in her rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent way to put a barrier between you and the outside world. They listen to ambient sounds and then use built in microphones to "read" the environment, allowing only the sound you would like to hear. They are ideal for people who commute, work from home, bose over ear noise cancelling headphones or in any other situation where background noises can be distracting or annoying.

To make their magic happen Noise cancelling headphones use an active technology that is powered by noise cancellation (ANC). The tiny microphones inside your earbuds and earcups are listening to the sounds that you are exposed to. They then emit the exact opposite frequency, which collides with each other to block out unwanted sounds. It's more complicated and relies on your sensitivity and the design of the headphones and the quality of audio processing. But the bottom line is that they can cut down the sound of the engine of an airplane or animated conversations from your colleagues.

While they're not able to completely transform your surroundings into a silent silence, the top over-ear ANC headphones we tested did an excellent job of blocking out most background noises. 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 reversing them in real time, while maintaining the audio you want to listen to (including handsfree calls) at a constant level. The Sony WH-1000XM5s are a prime example of this advanced technology in motion.

Many pairs of over-ear noise cancelling headphones ANC headphones include additional features that make listening enjoyable. Look for features like control buttons and high-quality audio codec support, and support for voice assistants such as Siri or Google Assistant. Wireless Bluetooth is essential for hands-free audio playback as well as easy audio playback. A portable charging case can keep you connected when you travel.

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

Value

While listening to music or making calls, a quality pair of headphones will make you feel like you are in a soundproofed room. Noise cancelling headphones are more expensive, but they offer better audio quality and block out distracting background noise. Because of this, they're worth the additional expense for those who spend much time alone at work or traveling.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphone is packed with useful features. They boast impressive noise cancellation abilities and include an in-built microphone that can produce natural clear and clear audio when you call and DSEE Extreme Audio Upscaling. The ANC system does an excellent job of blocking out sounds from outside however they struggle to isolate you from low-frequency sounds like traffic or trains passing by.

They are also lightweight and fold into a compact, D-shaped bag that can be tucked away into a carry case, making them perfect for use on the road. They are compatible with multiple voice assistants, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and they have a feature that automatically pauses your music when you take them from your ears. You can also use them with a wired connection to listen to your favourite videos or podcasts in noisy environments.

The Razer Opus X Wireless headphones offer an outstanding value for the money. In addition to an ANC system that works well, they have a transparency mode that activates the external microphones on the headphones, so the sound of your surroundings can pass through. The headphones have a built-in USB-C charging plug, which means they can be used while charging. They also 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 alternative. They do a great job of blocking out distracting sounds, from the rumble of buses and plane engines to the high-pitched sound of computer fans. They can last for more than 32 hours and come with an automatic timer to shut off.