How Noise Cancelling Headphones Can Improve Your Listening Experience

Noise cancelling headphones employ microphones to pick up ambient sounds and create an anti-noise sound that counteracts unwanted noises. They're great for blocking out rumbles as well as chatter from planes and trains, though they don't do much to cut screeching brakes or your seatmate's animated conversations.

Active noise cancellation requires a strong seal, whether it's earbuds and over-ear headphones, or padding around the ears. We've also tested whether the headphones muffle lower-frequency noises like traffic or train noise.

What is noise cancellation?

Noise cancellation is a feature which allows listeners to concentrate on their music and audiobook without being distracted by ambient sounds. Noise cancelling headphones are equipped with microphones that actively block external sounds before they reach your ears, effectively silencing the outside world so you can listen to your music or audiobook with peace.

Active noise cancellation, or ANC is among the most popular headphone features in the market in the present. It is available from a variety of different brands of headphones with a variety of colors and sizes, and even on some models that are budget-friendly. The concept is quite simple: best headphones earbuds or earcups have miniature microphones which "listen" to ambient sound frequencies and best headphones playback equal but opposite anti noise waves to cancel the sound before it reaches your ears.

The crests and troughs of these waves cancel out each other in a process known as destructive interference, leaving you with nothing other than the music you're listened to. This works great on monotonous, continuous sounds like the drone of an airplane engine, or your coworker Bob who just can't seem to quit. However, it's less effective on sudden or higher-frequency sounds that are more difficult to detect and eliminate, such as the ping of a keyboard or the alarm ringing from your smartphone.

Another form of noise isolation is passive, which blocks sound by creating an ear-to-ear connection by using the padding of the ear cups. This is a good option for those who don't need to rely on batteries to provide ANC functions, but require a peaceful working in a quiet home or office.

All headphones require power to function, whether it's an audio processing or battery. Although ANC can reduce most external noises, they are unable to create a cone-shaped silence around your ears. If the ambient sounds are loud enough, they will bleed into your ears. This is why it's crucial to wear the headphones in a snug way enough that they don't have any gaps in the fit, so that you can enjoy the maximum benefit from ANC.

What exactly is it that makes it work?

The technology behind noise cancelling headphones is based on miniature microphones inside the earcups or earbuds which listen to the sounds around you. They are then processed inside the headphones to produce an opposite sound wave that effectively cancels out those sounds and prevents the sound from reaching your ears.

Sound waves, whether coming from the outside or your music, are composed of oscillating air molecules. This means that sound waves have a height or amplitude. This is measured by the distance between peaks of an unsteady graph. Sound waves with greater amplifies are larger, while those with smaller amplifies are smaller. ANC headphones make use of this by listening to the sounds around you and generating an opposing sound that neutralizes them.

ANC headsets have several features that make them more effective at blocking out ambient sounds including feedback microphones as well as an ANC chipset. These chips use algorithms that reverse the sound coming in and then release a counter-signal which is akin to firing antiballistic missiles at incoming warheads.

The ANC drivers inside each ear cup generate the opposite signals. When you activate the ANC by pressing a button on your headset, the sounds of the surrounding environment are minimized or eliminated.

While the technology behind ANC is impressive, it comes with some tradeoffs. The additional electronics required to run this technology can add weight and bulk to your headphones. They also consume more power, which can result in a decrease in battery life, and even high-frequency hiss.

Another issue is that some users have reported feeling dizzy or disoriented while wearing ANC headphones. While this can be frustrating but it's usually due to something else triggering those sensations, not the ANC itself.

The good news is that more sophisticated ANC headphones are starting to address these issues. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 headphones are a good example, offering different ANC modes, including 'office,' 'plane, and city'. They also have an adjustment slider that allows you to customize the amount of external audio you want through. Apple's AirPods Pro 2 feature a similar feature, with a "Ambient Aware mode' that digitally adjusts the volume of ANC according to your surroundings.

What are the best noise cancelling headsets?

Noise cancelling headphones can make a an enormous difference to your listening experience. They can help you concentrate in the workplace or block out engine noise on planes, trains and buses. They're also great for commuting or working from home. They can be used with a variety of audio equipment, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. There are wireless ANC headphones to suit every budget. They can be costly but they're worth it.

The best pair of noise cancelling headphones will be comfortable to wear for long periods of time, with a good seal around your ears. They'll also have a battery that lasts at least 30 hours, which should suffice to get you through your commute or your workday. It is also important to ensure whether they can work with your audio source, whether it's Bluetooth or USB-C.

Over-ear headphones are generally more comfortable than in ear models. They have a larger headband and cushioned cups that sit over your ears, assisting to keep them in place for a longer period of time. They are also more effective in blocking out background noise. There are exceptions, however, and the best headphones for noise cancellation will be determined by your lifestyle and music preferences.

The level of noise cancellation will differ depending on the design and how it fits in your ears. A poor fit could let in ambient noise and could affect the quality of bass. A great tip is to change the earbuds' original tips to check if they improve the fit and cut down on ambient noise and you can do this with most headphones too.

In-ear headphones may not be as comfortable for long listening sessions as they tend to rest in your ears, rather than over them. You can alter the size of your headphones by tilting them either forward or backward. They are also lighter, making them more mobile and easy to carry. In our tests, the majority of headphones provide some degree of noise isolation but it's not as good as over-ear headphones in ear.

What should I look for in noise-cancelling headphones?

The best noise cancelling headphones minimize ambient noise, allowing you to concentrate on your music without having to worry about your surroundings. To achieve this, they usually employ active noise cancellation (ANC) but not all ANC headsets are made equal. It is crucial to think about the type of ANC, whether it's over-ear or in-ear, as well as their build quality.

In-ear and over-ear headphones offer excellent noise isolation. While headphones with over-ears can be more comfortable for extended durations, in-ear headphones provide greater portability and can be 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.

Certain ANC headphones let you alter the volume of ANC to fit the needs of the moment. You may choose to turn off ANC on an airplane, on public transport, or at home, but turn it back on when you're at work or at home to stop the whirrr of your PC cooling fans or the lawn mower of your neighbor. Some headphones also feature the 'transparency' mode that allows some outside noise through so you can hear important ambient sounds like traffic or conversations.

As well as ANC and ANC, the best headphones that cancel out noise typically come with an impressive battery life and Bluetooth support for wireless listening. Some headphones support the aptX or aptX HD Bluetooth codes, which give superior audio quality when compared to conventional Bluetooth.

There are ANC headphones for less than PS50. However, the Bose QC35 II over-ear headphones provide the best value. They feature a fantastic ANC, which includes the ability to pause tracks to allow you to hear your voice when talking. The sound is clear and clear and their ANC is superb.

Children's noise-canceling headsets are also worth considering for children who suffer from sensory overload or needs help processing auditory stimuli. Some even include popular cartoons or video games. They are more comfortable for children than traditional headphones, and often come with parental controls such as volume-limiting features.