How Noise Cancelling Headphones Can Improve Your Listening Experience
Noise cancelling headphones use microphones to pick up ambient sounds and create an anti-noise sound to counteract unwanted sounds. They are ideal for blocking out rumbles as well as chatter from trains and planes but they won't make much difference to the sound of screeching brakes or your seatmate's animated conversations.
Active noise cancellation requires a good seal whether it's earbuds, over-ear headphones or padding for the ears. We've tested their ability to mute lower-frequency constant sounds like traffic and train noise also.
What is noise cancellation?
Noise cancellation is a feature which allows listeners to concentrate on their music and audiobook without being distracted by background sounds. Noise cancelling headphones come with microphones that block outside sounds from entering your ears. This lets you enjoy your audiobook or music in complete peace.
Active noise cancellation (ANC) is one of the most popular headphone features available on the market. It is available from many different brands of headphones in a variety of sizes and colors, and even on some budget models. The concept is quite simple: the earcups or earbuds have tiny microphones that "listen" to the ambient sound frequencies, and then playback equal but opposite anti noise waves to cancel them before they reach your ear.
The crests and troughs of these waves cancel each other, a process referred to as destructive interference, leaving nothing but the music you're listening to. This works well with continuous, monotonous sounds like the hum of an aircraft engine or Bob's constant chatter. It's less effective with high-frequency or sudden noises which are more difficult to detect and filter out. For instance, the pinging of a computer keyboard or the alarm sounding on your smartphone.
Another form of noise isolation is passive, which blocks the sound by forming an ear-to-ear seal by using the padding of the ear cups. This is a good option for those who do not want to rely only on batteries to provide ANC functionality, but still need a quiet work environment or at home.
It's important to remember that all headphones require some kind of power, whether it's for audio processing or battery, to function. While ANC can reduce most external noises, it isn't able to create an enveloping silence around your ears. If the ambient sounds are loud enough, they will simply bead into your ears. This is why it's crucial to wear your headphones comfortably enough that they don't have any gaps in the fit, so you can get the maximum benefit from ANC.
How do you make it work?
The technology behind noise cancelling headphones involves miniature microphones in the earcups, or earbuds, that listen to the sounds around you. The sound is processed in the headphones to create a sound wave opposite that cancels the sound waves out and stops them from reaching your ears.
Sound waves, whether they're emanating from outside or your music, are made up of oscillating air molecules. This means that sound has a height or amplitude. It is measured by the distances between the peaks of an oscillating graph. Sound waves with greater amplifies are larger, while those with smaller amplitudes are smaller. ANC headphones employ this technique to create an audio that is in opposition of the sounds that you hear around you.
ANC headsets are equipped with various features to block out background noises, including feedback mics and ANC chipsets. These chips use algorithms to invert sound signals and then emit an opposing signal. This is much like firing anti-ballistic missiles to shoot down the warheads that are incoming (again think of military-grade countermeasures from war movies).
These opponing signals are produced by two ANC drivers inside each earcup. When the ANC is activated by pressing a button over ear bluetooth headphones on your headset, the sound of the surrounding environment are reduced or eliminated.
The technology behind ANC is impressive, but it comes with some compromises. The extra electronics required to make this technology work can increase the weight and size of your headphones, making them bulkier than similar-looking models. They also draw more power, which could result in a decrease in battery life and possibly high-frequency hiss.
Another issue is that some users have reported feeling dizzy or disoriented wearing ANC headphones. This can be a bit frustrating, but is usually due to something else, not by ANC.
The good news is that more sophisticated ANC headphones are starting to address some of these issues. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7, for example, offers several ANC modes such as 'office', 'plane' and 'city', with an adjustment slider that lets you customize the amount of external noise you want to pass through. Apple's newest AirPods Pro 2 also feature the same feature, and comes with 'Ambient Aware mode that digitally adapts the level of ANC to your surroundings.
What are the best headphones that block out noise?
Noise cancelling headphones can enhance your listening experience. They can help you focus at work or block out noise from engines on trains, planes and buses. These headphones are ideal for commuting or working at home. They can be used with any audio device including tablets, smartphones and laptops. They can be costly, but there's now a pair of wireless ANC headphones to fit every budget.
The best pair of noise cancelling headphones will be comfortable to wear for long periods, with a good seal around your ears. They'll also have a battery that can last for at least 30 hours, which should be enough to get you through your commute or your workday. Also, make sure whether they can work with your audio source, regardless of whether it's Bluetooth or USB-C.
Over-ear headphones are generally more comfortable than the in-ear models. They come with a bigger headband and padded cups that sit over your ears, which helps to keep them in place for a longer period of time. They are also more effective in blocking out ambient noise. However, it's important to remember that there are exceptions and the best headphones to block out noise will depend on your lifestyle and music preferences.
Most over-ear headphones will provide some degree of noise reduction However, the degree of reduction is going to vary greatly depending on the design and how well they fit in your ears. A bad fit can allow in ambient noise and even affect the bass quality. A great tip is to swap out the headphones' stock tips to check if they improve the fit and reduce ambient noise, and you can do this with the 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. They can be more comfortable if you tilt them forwards or backwards to adjust their size. They're also typically lighter, making them easier to carry and more mobile. In our tests, we discovered that most earbuds offer some noise cancellation. However, it's not nearly as good as a pair of over-ear earphones.
What should I look for in noise-cancelling headphones?
The best noise cancelling headphones minimize ambient noise, allowing you to focus on audio without being distracted by your surroundings. To achieve this, they usually employ active noise cancellation (ANC) but not all ANC headsets are created in the same way. It is important to consider the kind of ANC that you choose, whether it's over-ear or in-ear and their quality of construction.
Over-ear and in-ear headphones are generally the more popular choices and both offer superior noise isolation. In-ear headphones are more compact and less bulky. While over-ear models are more comfortable but they can also be more expensive. 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 let you alter the volume of ANC to suit the situation. You may choose to disable ANC on an airplane, in public transport, or even at home, but switch it back on when you're at the office or home to keep out the whirrr of your PC cooling fans or the lawn mower of your neighbor. Some headphones also feature"transparency mode" which allows some noise from outside through so that you can hear important ambient sounds like traffic or conversations.
As well as ANC, the best headphones for noise cancellation typically have an impressive battery life and Bluetooth support for wireless listening. Some of them support the aptX and aptX HD Bluetooth codecs that provide superior audio quality compared to traditional Bluetooth.
While there are a few ANC headphones that cost less than PS50, you'll probably find the most value in headphones that are over-ear such as the Bose QC35 II. They have a great ANC, which includes the ability to pause tracks to allow you to hear your voice when talking. The sound is clear and full of details and their ANC is superb.
Children's noise-canceling headsets are also recommended for children who suffer from sensory overload or requires assistance in processing auditory stimuli. They usually feature a wide range of colors and styles that are aimed at kids and even licensed by some popular video games or cartoon properties. They are more comfortable for children than regular headphones, and often come with parental controls such as volume-limiting features.