How to Choose the Best Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones
When you commute using public transportation or working from home, noise-cancelling headphones can upgrade your listening experience by forming an audio buffer between your ears and the outside world. How do you pick the right pair for you?
There are two types of noise cancelling headsets: passive noise isolation and active noise cancellation. The first type uses earcups with thick padding that is fitted to block out external noises, while the second makes use of built-in microphones to create opposing sound waves that cancel background noise.
Comfort
Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent way to block out the noise of the world, whether in a crowded public transport system, trying to sleep on a plane that’s booked to capacity or battling noisy coworkers. These headphones let you listen to music at a level that is appropriate without straining your ears. A majority of our top picks also have a light design, making them comfortable to wear all day.
Noise cancellation is traditionally achieved through active sound reduction technologies that create opposite sound waves to block ambient noise. While you can find cheaper headphones that employ passive noise isolation–which seals the ear cups or earbuds around your ears to keep out unwanted sounds–the most effective models we’ve tested employ active sound cancellation for an unbeatable escape from the everyday grind.
You’ll want to ensure that your headphones are well-designed and fit snugly. You’ll also want to ensure that they aren’t leaking which could irritate people who are around you. For a truly immersive audio you’ll need headphones that can support high-resolution Bluetooth codesc LDAC. This allows them to play back high-resolution music with resolution of 96kHz/24 bits and makes them an audiophile’s dream.
While many people think of noise-canceling headphones as large bulky, bulky headphones that aren’t suitable for travel, a lot of new models fold down to smaller dimensions. If you’re looking for an affordable travel headphone that has a foldable design and best Over ear noise cancelling headphones a compact size, the Bose QC45 we reviewed is an excellent choice. And if you’re an avid traveler and want to travel light, the sennheiser noise cancelling headphones HD 450BT are a excellent pair that folds to the size of your carry-on bag to make it easy to transport.
The majority of the models in our roundup are wireless, and many of them are mobile headsets that have built-in microphones that allow hands-free phone calls. The app allows you to manage the audio and noise cancellation settings which is perfect for those who wish to adjust their headphones traveling. Some of the wireless models come with chargers for on-the-go listening, while others use an accessory case that can give you hours of battery life when away from home or work.
Sound Quality
Many music lovers are concerned about the sound quality of headphones, particularly ones that offer high-quality audio. Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent method of blocking out any external noise.
If you’re spending lots of money on headphones, then you need them to play your music as effectively as they can. Thankfully as ANC headphone technology has evolved and improved, the sound they provide has also improved considerably over time. This has resulted in some of the top headphones that today can compete with the top audiophile headsets.
The sound quality you experience will depend on your listening habits and preferences. Some people prefer a full, warm sound with lots of bass, whereas others may prefer high-fidelity headphones to hear every nuance in a song or an album.
Noise cancellation is a personal preference. While ANC is great at removing monotonous sounds such as the whooshing noise of an aircraft, or the roar of traffic, it cannot remove dynamic sounds that have various frequencies and intensities such as human voice or instruments.
To this end, the best pair of headphones with exceptional passive isolation as well as good ANC will still be an excellent choice, regardless of whether you opt for earbuds that seal around your ears or over-ear headphones that completely cover your earlobes. You can achieve impressive isolation even without active noise cancellation by using Comply memory foam tips, or similar products. They will conform to fit the shape of your ears.
Of course, all ANC headphones come with a range of Bluetooth codecs that allow you to connect them with the audio source that works best over ear noise cancelling headphones for you. For example the Sony WH1000XM4s come with both LDAC and DSEE Extreme support to ensure that you’ll be able listen to your favourite tracks in high-resolution and in stunning detail. Sinead’s sibilant cry and her ferocious chorus come through when she sings Nothing Compares 2 U.
Noise Cancellation
Noise cancelling headphones provide an audio buffer between your ears and the world around you. They essentially listen to the ambient sound that you hear, and use built-in microphones to “read” the sounds, allowing only the audio you wish to hear through. They’re an excellent choice for working from home, or any situation in which background noise can be distracting or irritating.
To make their magic happen Noise cancelling headphones use an engineered technology known as active noise cancellation (ANC). The tiny microphones inside the earcups or earbuds listen to the sounds you’re exposed to and emit opposite frequencies, which will then meet and effectively cancel out those unwanted sounds, leaving the music you’re listening. It’s more complex than that, and is contingent on the quality of your ears, the design of the headphones and the quality of its audio processing, but the gist is that they can significantly reduce the noises you hear, whether it’s an aircraft engine or your coworker’s animated conversations.
The top over-ear ANC headsets we tested aren’t able to completely block out background noises however, they do a good job at blocking them. For the most immersive listening experience, look into a pair with adaptive noise cancellation, which enhances ANC to the next level by continuously monitoring ambient sounds, countering them in real time and ensuring that the audio you want to hear (including hands-free calls) at a consistent volume. The Sony WH-1000XM5s are a prime example of this technology in the action.
Many pairs of over ear noise cancelling headphones wireless-ear ANC headphones come with other features that make listening enjoyable. Look for features like control buttons as well as high-quality audio codecs and support for Best over ear noise cancelling headphones voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant. Wireless Bluetooth is essential for hands-free audio playback as well as easy audio playback. A portable charging case can keep you connected while on the go.
Another handy feature is the passive mode which allows the noise-canceling circuitry to be shut off, allowing you to listen to music with the same level of isolation as regular headphones. This is a great feature for when you want to hear the outside world or don’t have enough battery life left to charge your headphones.
Value
A good pair of headphones will make you feel as if you’re in a soundproof space when listening to music or making phone calls. Noise cancelling headphones are more expensive than their non-noise-canceling counterparts, but they provide better quality sound and block out distracting ambient noise. They are well worth the extra price for those who have to spend long hours at the office or on the go.
The Sony WH1000XM5 headphone is packed with useful features. They boast impressive noise cancellation capabilities and come with a dedicated mic that produces natural, clear audio during calls and DSEE Extreme Audio Upscaling. The ANC system is great at blocking out outside noises, however, they aren’t as effective in separating you from low-frequency sounds like trains or traffic.
They are also lightweight and fold down into a compact D-shaped package that can be tucked away into a carry case, making them ideal for traveling. They are compatible with a variety of voice assistants, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and they have the ability to automatically stop your music when you take them from your ears. You can also use them with a wired connection to listen to your favorite music or podcasts in noisy environments.
The Razer Opus X Wireless headphones are an outstanding value for the money. They feature a decent ANC system however, they also have the option of turning on the external microphones of the headphones to allow more noise from the surrounding environment to be heard. The headphones are equipped with an integrated USB-C charging plug, which means they can still be used while being charged. They also have low-latency Bluetooth connection which is crucial for gaming on the go and watching videos.
Consider the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless Headphones to get a cheaper option. They are capable of blocking out distracting sounds including the rumble of bus and plane engines to the high-pitched hum of computer fans. They can last up to 32 hours on a single charge. They have an auto-off timer to save power.