How Noise Cancelling Headphones Can Improve Your Listening Experience
Noise cancelling headphones employ microphones to pick up ambient sounds and generate an anti-noise tone that blocks unwanted noises. They're ideal to block out rumbles and chatter from planes and trains, though they don'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 around the ears. We've also examined how the headphones muffle lower-frequency sounds like traffic and train noise.
What is noise cancelling?
Noise cancelling allows listeners to concentrate on their audiobook or music without distraction from background noise. Noise cancelling headphones have built-in microphones that actively block external sounds before they get to your ears, effectively shutting out the outside world so that you can listen to your music or audiobook in complete peace.
Active noise cancellation, also known as ANC is among the most popular features of headphones available in the present. It's offered by a variety of brands of headphones, in a variety of sizes and colors, and is even found on a few budget models. hedphones is simple: the earcups or earbuds have mini-microphones that "listen" to ambient sound frequencies and then playback equal but opposite anti noise waves to cancel them before they reach your ears.
This is referred to as destructive interfering. The valleys and crests of waves cancel each and leave only the music that you are listening to. This works well on continuous, monotonous sounds like the hum of an aircraft engine or Bob's incessant chatter. However it's less effective for high-frequency or sudden sounds that are harder to detect and eliminate like the sound of a keyboard, or that alarm beeping from your smartphone.
The padding of the ear cup can be used to block out noise. This is a great option for those who do not want to rely only on batteries to provide ANC function, but need a quiet work in a quiet home or office.
All headphones require power to function, regardless of whether it's an audio processing or battery. Although ANC can help reduce the impact of external noises, headphones cannot create the illusion of a cone-shaped silence around your ears. If the sounds around you are loud enough, they'll get into your ears. It is crucial to wear your headphones tight enough there aren't any gaps in the fit. This will allow you to get the maximum benefit of ANC.
How do you make it work?
The technology behind noise cancelling headphones consists of miniature microphones within the earcups, or earbuds, that listen to the sounds around you. They're processed inside the headphones to create an opposite sound wave which effectively blocks out the sound and blocks them from reaching your ears.
Sound waves, regardless of whether they're coming from the outside or from your music, are made up of oscillating air molecules. This means that sound waves have a height or amplitude, which is measured by the distance between the peaks on an oscillating graph. The higher the sound waves are, the greater their intensities, while smaller ones have lower amplifies. ANC headphones make use of this by listening to sounds around you and generating an opposing sound that neutralizes them.
ANC headsets have several features that help in blocking ambient noises such as feedback microphones and an ANC chipset. These chips make use of algorithms to invert incoming sound signals and then emit an opposite signal, which is similar to launching anti-ballistic missiles to destroy the warheads that are incoming (again think of the military-grade countermeasures from war movies).
The ANC drivers in each ear cup generate these opposing signals. When you activate ANC by pressing a button on your headset, the sounds of the surrounding environment are minimized or eliminated.
The technology behind ANC is impressive but it comes with some compromises. The extra electronics needed to run this technology can add weight and bulk to your headphones. They also consume more power, which could result in a shorter lifespan of the battery and some high-frequency hiss.
Another issue is that a number of users have reported feelings of disorientation or dizziness when wearing ANC headphones. This can be a bit frustrating, but it is usually caused by something else, not necessarily the ANC.
The good news is that more sophisticated ANC headphones are beginning to address some of these issues. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7, for instance, comes with several ANC modes, including "office", 'plane' and 'city', with a slider that lets you customise the volume of external sound that you wish to hear. Apple's AirPods Pro 2 feature a similar feature, with a 'Ambient Aware mode which adjusts the level of ANC depending on the environment.
What are the best headphones for noise cancellation?
Noise cancelling headphones can make an enormous difference to your listening experience. They can help you focus in the workplace or block out engine noise on trains, planes and buses. They're also great for commutes or working at home and can be used with any kind of audio equipment including smartphones, tablets, and computers. They can be costly however, there's an option of wireless ANC headphones to suit every budget.
The most effective pair of headphones that block out noise will be comfortable to wear for long periods with a tight seal around your ears. They'll also have a battery life that can last for at least 30 hours, which ought to be enough to get you through your daily commute or your workday. Check that the audio source is supported, whether it be Bluetooth or USB-C.
Over-ear headphones are usually more comfortable than the in-ear models. They feature a wider headband and padded cups that sit over your ears, which helps to keep them in place for longer. They also have a better chance of blocking out ambient sound. There are exceptions, and the best noise-cancelling headphones for you will depend on your lifestyle and music preferences.
Most over-ear headphones provide some degree of noise isolation however the degree of reduction is going to differ greatly based on the design and the way they fit your ears. An insufficient fit could let in ambient noise and even impact the bass quality. Try swapping out the stock tips of your headphones to see if this improves the fit and decreases ambient noise. This works with earbuds of all types.
In-ear headphones may not be as comfortable for long listening sessions, since they sit on your ears instead of over them. You can alter the size of your headphones by tilting them back or forward. They're also usually lighter, making them more portable and more convenient to carry around. In our tests, the majority of headphones provide some degree of noise-isolation, but not as impressive as with over-ear headphones.
What should I look for in noise cancelling headphones?
The best noise cancelling headsets reduce background noise to allow you to focus on your music without being distracted by your surroundings. They typically use active noise cancellation (ANC) to accomplish this, but not all ANC headphones are made to be equal. It's important to consider the type of ANC used, whether they're over-ear or in-ear, and their build quality.
In-ear and over-ear headphones are generally the more popular options and both offer superior noise isolation. While over-ear headphones can be more comfortable for extended durations, in-ear headphones provide more portability and are less bulky. Over-ear headphones are more expensive, but they typically have better sound. In-ear models are more affordable, but still offer a great sound.
Certain ANC headphones offer different levels of ANC, giving you the option to tailor the level to the circumstances at the moment. For instance, you might prefer to keep ANC off when traveling on public or an airplane transportation, but enable it when in the office or at home, to block out the whir of your PC's cooling fans or your neighbor's lawn mower. Many headphones come with a 'transparency mode' which allows some external noise to pass through, so you can hear important background sounds like traffic or conversations.
The top noise cancelling headsets are equipped with ANC and Bluetooth for wireless listening. Some headphones are compatible with the aptX or aptX HD Bluetooth codes, which provide superior audio quality when compared to conventional Bluetooth.
Although there are a few ANC headphones that cost less than PS50, you'll probably find the best value in headphones that are over-ear such as the Bose QC35 II. The ANC is superb, with a slight gap between tracks that lets you hear your own voice when you speak and they also are high-quality and sound crisp and full of detail.
Children's noise-canceling headphones are worth looking into, particularly in the case of children who suffer from sensory overload and require help 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 traditional headphones and usually have parental controls that are crucial, like volume-limiting features that ensure safe listening levels.