How Noise Cancelling Headphones Can Improve Your Listening Experience

Noise cancelling headphones rely on microphones to listen for ambient sounds and create an anti-noise signal that blocks out unwanted sounds. They're ideal for blocking out rumbles as well as chatter from planes and trains, though they don't help to stop the sound of your brakes squealing or your passenger's animated conversations.


Active noise cancellation requires a good isolation, either by padding around your ears or an earbuds that are sealed or over-ear headphones. We've tested their ability to can block lower-frequency sounds like train and traffic noise as well.

What is noise cancellation?

Noise cancellation is a feature that lets listeners focus on their music or audiobook without being distracted by distracting background noises. Noise cancelling headphones are fitted with microphones that block outside sounds from entering your ears. This lets you enjoy your audiobook or music in peace.

Active noise cancellation, also known as ANC is among the most popular headphone features in the market today. It is available on many different brands of headphones, in a variety of colors and sizes, and even on some budget models. The principle behind the technology is simple: the earbuds or earcups have mini-microphones that "listen" to ambient sound frequencies and play back equal, but opposite noise waves to block them before they reach your ears.

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

Another kind of noise-isolation is passive, which stifles noise by forming an ear-to-ear seal using the foam padding in the ear cups. This is a good option for those who do not want to rely only on batteries for ANC functions, but require a peaceful working in a quiet home or office.

All headphones require power to function, whether it's a battery or audio processing. Even though ANC can block out most external noise, it's important to remember that the headphones won't be able to create a quiet cone around your ears - if the ambient sounds are too loud, they'll simply bleed through to your ears. It is crucial to wear your headphones securely enough to ensure that there aren't any gaps in the fit. This will allow you to get the full benefit of ANC.

How does 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 produce an opposing sound wave that effectively blocks out the sounds and blocks them from reaching your ears.

Sound waves, whether emanating from outside or through your music are made up of oscillating air molecules. This means that sound waves have a size or amplitude. This is measured by the distance between the peaks on an oscillating graph. Sound waves with greater amplifies are larger, while those with smaller magnitudes are smaller. ANC headphones use this to create a sound that is opposite of the sounds that you hear around you.

ANC headsets are equipped with various features to block out ambient noises, including feedback mics and ANC chipsets. These chips employ algorithms that invert incoming sound and then release a counter-signal, which is like launching antiballistic missiles against the incoming warheads.

These signals that are opposite to each other are generated by the pair of ANC drivers inside each earcup. When ANC is activated by pressing a button on your headset, the sound of the surrounding environment are reduced or even completely eliminated.

Although the technology behind ANC is amazing, it comes with some tradeoffs. The extra electronics needed to make this technology function can add weight and bulk to your headphones. They also use more power, which can result in a shorter lifespan of the battery and some high-frequency hiss.

One other problem is that a lot of users have reported experiencing disorientation or a feeling of dizziness while wearing ANC headphones. It can be very frustrating, but is usually due to something else, not necessarily the ANC.

The good news is that more advanced ANC headsets are beginning to address these issues. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7, for instance, has various ANC modes like 'office', 'plane' and 'city', along with an adjustment slider that lets you customize the amount of external noise you want to let through. Apple's latest AirPods Pro 2 also feature the same feature, and comes with 'Ambient Aware mode' that adjusts the volume of ANC to match your surroundings.

What are the best headphones to block out noise?

Noise cancelling headphones can improve your listening experience. They can help you concentrate at work or block out the sound of engines on planes, trains and buses. These headphones are ideal for working or commuting at home. They can be used on all audio devices, including smartphones, tablets and laptops. They can be costly, but there's now an array of wireless ANC headphones that will fit any budget.

The most effective headphones for noise cancellation are comfortable to wear and provide a great seal around your ears. The battery lifespan should be at least 30hrs, which is enough to last you through your daily commute or workday. Make sure that the audio source is supported, whether that be Bluetooth or USB-C.

Over-ear headphones are typically more comfortable than in-ear designs. They come with a bigger headband and padded cups that rest over your ears, which helps to keep them in place for longer. They're also more effective at blocking out ambient noise. However, it's important to remember that there are exceptions and the most effective headphones to block out noise will depend on your lifestyle and musical preferences.

The level of noise cancellation will differ based on the design and how it fits into your ears. A poor fit can let in more ambient sound, and could affect the quality of the bass. A great tip is to swap out the headphones' stock tips to determine if they improve fit and cut down on ambient noise and you can do this with a majority of earbuds too.

In-ear headphones aren't always comfortable for long listening sessions, because they are more likely to sit in your ears, rather than over them. They may be more comfortable if you tilt them forwards or backwards to adjust their size. They're also usually lighter, making them more portable and more convenient to carry around. In our tests, most earbuds offer some level of noise-isolation, but not as impressive as with over-ear headphones.

What should visit the next page look for in noise-cancelling headphones?

The top noise cancelling headsets reduce background noise to allow you to concentrate on your music without being distracted by your surroundings. To achieve this, they usually employ active noise cancellation (ANC), although not all ANC headsets are made to be equal. It is important to consider the kind of ANC and whether it's in-ear or in-ear and their build quality.

Both in-ear and over-ear headphones provide superior noise isolation. While over-ear headphones can be more comfortable for extended durations, in-ear models offer greater portability and can be less bulky. Over-ear headphones are generally more expensive but often offer superior sound quality while in-ear models provide an affordable option that still provide solid performance.

Certain ANC headphones offer different levels of ANC, giving you the ability to adjust the level to the circumstances at present. You may choose to disable ANC on an airplane, in public transport, or at home but turn it back on when at work or home to block out the whirr of your PC's cooling fan or the lawn mower of your neighbour. A lot of headphones have a 'transparency mode' which allows some external noise to pass through, meaning you can hear important ambient sound like traffic or conversations.

The best noise cancelling headphones come with ANC and Bluetooth for wireless listening. Some headphones support the aptX or aptX HD Bluetooth codes, which give superior audio quality 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 have a great ANC that includes a slight pause in between tracks so you can hear your voice when you talk. The sound is clear and full of details, and their ANC is superb.

Children's noise-canceling headphones are worth considering, particularly for children who suffer from sensory overload and require help in processing auditory stimuli. Some even have popular cartoons or video games. They are more comfortable for children than regular headphones, and they often have parental controls, such as the ability to limit volume.