How to Choose the Best Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones
Whether you're commuting via public transportation or working from home, noise cancelling headphones can enhance your listening experience by creating a sonic buffer between your ears and the outside world. But how do you determine which pair is the best for you?
There are two main types of noise-cancelling headphones which are passive noise isolation and active noise cancellation. The first uses earcups with thick padding that are tightly fitted to block out outside sounds, while the second utilizes built-in microphones to produce opposing sound waves that cancel ambient noise.
Comfort
Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent option to block out the hum of the world, whether on crowded public transport or trying to sleep on a flight that is overbooked or battling noisy coworkers. These headphones allow you to listen to music at a level that is appropriate without straining your ears. A lot of our top picks have a light design, making them easy to wear throughout the day.
Traditionally, noise cancellation involves using active sound reduction technology that creates opposing sound waves that cancel out background noise. There are headphones that come with passive noise isolation which encases the earcups or buds around the ear to block out unwanted sound. However, the most effective models we tested employ active sound cancellation to give the ultimate escape.
You'll want to ensure that your headphones are well-designed and fit comfortably. Also, you should ensure that they don't leak, which can annoy people who are around you. And for a truly immersive audio experience, you'll need headphones that are compatible with the high-resolution Bluetooth codec LDAC, which allows them to play back hi-res music at 96kHz/24 bit resolution--making them an audiophile's dream.
While many people think of noise-canceling headphones as huge heavy, bulky headphones that aren't suitable for traveling, many new models fold down to smaller dimensions. The Bose QC45 headphones we've reviewed, for example, are an excellent choice to consider if you're looking a comfortable travel headphone that folds flat to fit inside its case. If you're a frequent traveler, the Sennheiser HD450BT is a fantastic pair of headphones that can be folded down to fit inside your bag for carry-on.
The majority of the models we have looked at are wireless, and some even come with built-in microphones that allow hands-free calls. The app lets you adjust the volume and noise cancellation settings, which is ideal for those who need to adjust their headphones on the move. Some wireless models include docking stations for on-the going listening, while others have a portable case which gives you plenty of battery life when you are away from home or working.
Sound Quality
Most music lovers are very concerned about the sound quality of headphones, especially ones that offer high-quality audio. While any pair of headphones will help filter out environmental sounds, a great pair of noise cancelling headphones will not only be effective in blocking out the outside world but also be able to deliver clear, high-quality audio.
If you're spending an enormous amount of dollars on headphones, you need them to play your music as well as they can. Fortunately, as ANC headphones have advanced and improved, the sound they produce has also improved dramatically over time. over the ear noise cancelling headphones has resulted in some of the top headphones on the market today that compete with the top audiophile headsets.
The quality of your sound will depend on your preferences and listening habits. Some people prefer a deep, warm sound with lots of bass, while others may prefer high-quality headphones to be able to hear every nuance in a song or an album.
Noise cancellation is a personal preference. While ANC is excellent at eliminating monotonous sounds such as the whooshing sound of an aircraft, or the roar of traffic, it's not able to eliminate dynamic sounds with varying frequencies and intensities such as human voice or instruments.
For this reason, a great pair of headphones with exceptional passive isolation as well as good ANC will still be an excellent choice, whether you go with headphones that fit around your ears or over-ear headphones that completely cover your earlobes. You can get a remarkable isolation without active noise cancellation by using Comply memory foam tips or similar products. They will form to fit the shape of your ear.
The majority of ANC headphones are equipped with a variety of Bluetooth codes that allow you to connect to the audio source you prefer. The Sony WH1000XM4s, as an example, feature both LDAC support as well as DSEE Extreme to ensure you can enjoy your favorite tracks in high resolution and with stunning clarity. Sinead's sibilant cry and her powerful chorus are evident when she sings Nothing Compares 2 U.
Noise Cancellation
Noise cancelling headphones provide an sonic buffer between your ears and the world around you. They basically listen to the sounds you hear, and then make use of built-in microphones to "read" those sounds, allowing only the audio you want to hear through. These are ideal for those who commute, work from home, or in any other situation where background noises could be distracting or annoying.
To achieve their magical effects, noise cancelling headphones have an active technology that is powered by noise cancellation (ANC). The tiny microphones inside the earcups and earbuds of your headphones are listening to the sounds that you are exposed to. They then emit the exact opposite frequency, which collides with each other to cancel out the unwanted noises. It's more complicated and depends on the sensitivity of your headphones and the design of the headphones and the quality of the audio processing. But the bottom line is that they reduce noises, whether it's the engine of an airplane, or animated conversations with your coworkers.
The best over-ear ANC headsets that we tested didn't completely block out background noises however, they are effective at blocking them. Look into a pair of headphones that feature adaptive noise cancellation. This will take ANC to a new level by monitoring ambient sounds and reversing them in real-time, while maintaining the audio you'd like to hear (including handsfree calls) at a constant volume. The Sony WH-1000XM5s provide an example of this advanced technology in motion.
Many over-ear ANC headphones come with other features that make listening enjoyable. Look for features such as control buttons as well as high-quality audio codecs and support for voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant. A wireless Bluetooth connection is a must for hands-free and convenient audio playback, and a portable charging case that allows you to remain connected traveling.
A passive mode is an excellent feature. It lets you turn off the noise-canceling circuitry, and listen with the same level of isolation that regular headphones offer. This is a great feature to use if you do not want to hear any outside noises, or don't have enough battery to recharge your headphones.
Value
A great pair of headphones can make you feel like you are in a soundproofed room while listening to music or making phone calls. Noise cancelling headphones are more expensive than non-noise-canceling models however they offer better quality sound and block out distracting background sounds. This is why they are worth the additional expense for those who spend much time on their own at work or traveling.
The Sony WH1000XM5 headphone is packed with useful features. They have impressive noise cancellation capabilities and an in-built microphone that can produce natural clear and clear audio when you call and DSEE Extreme Audio Upscaling. The ANC system does a great job of blocking out sounds from outside however they struggle to shield you from bass-range noises like traffic or trains passing by.
They are also light and folds down into a compact D-shaped package which can be put into a carrying case, making them perfect for use on the road. They are compatible with a variety of voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and they come with an option to automatically pause your music when you take them from your ears. You can also use them with a wired cable to listen to your favorite music or podcasts in noisy environments.
The Razer Opus Wireless headphones are a great value for the price. They have a good ANC system, but they also have a transparency option that turns on the external microphones of the headphones to let more noise from the surrounding environment to pass through. The headphones come with a built in USB-C charging plug, which means they can be used while charging. They also have low latency connections via Bluetooth which is essential to play games on mobile devices and watch video content.
You might want to consider the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless Headphones to get a cheaper alternative. They are capable in blocking out distracting noises, from the rumble of buses and plane engines to the high-pitched hum of computer fans. They can last for more than 32 hours on a single charge. They have an auto-off timer to reduce power consumption.