What Over The Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones Could Be Your Next Big Obsession?

How to Choose the Best Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

Noise cancelling headphones are a great way to enhance your listening experience, whether you're at home working or commuting by public transport. They create a sound barrier between your ears and the outside sound. How do you pick the best pair for your needs?

There are two kinds of noise cancelling headsets: passive noise isolation, and active noise cancellation. The former makes use of padded headphones that fit comfortably to block out outside sounds and the latter rely on built-in microphones that create opposing sound waves that cancel out background noise.

Comfort

Noise cancelling headphones are a great way to block out the sounds of the world, whether in a noisy public transport, trying to sleep on a plane that's booked to capacity, or battling with noisy colleagues. These headphones let you listen to music at the right volume without straining your ears. A lot of our top picks feature a lightweight design, making them comfortable to wear all throughout the day.

Traditionally, noise cancellation involves using active sound-reduction technology that creates opposite sound waves to cancel out any background noise. You can find cheaper headphones with passive noise isolation, which seals the earcups or buds around the ear to block out unwanted sound. However, the best models we tested employ active sound cancellation to give the ultimate escape.

To achieve the best results, you'll want to ensure your headphones fit snugly and are well-designed. You'll want to ensure that they don't leak, as this could be irritating to others near you. To experience  noise cancelling headset with mic 'll need headphones that can support high-resolution Bluetooth codesc LDAC. This lets them play back hi-res music at 96kHz/24-bit resolution, making them an audiophiles dream.

While many people think of noise-canceling headphones as huge, bulky over-ear headphones that aren't ideal for traveling, many new models fold down into an incredibly compact size. The Bose QC45 headphones we've reviewed for instance are a great choice when you're looking for a comfortable and comfortable travel headphone that folds flat to fit into its case. If you're a frequent flyer then the Sennheiser HD 450BT are a good pair that folds to fit in your carry-on bag to make it easy to transportation.

Most of the models featured in our roundup are wireless, and a lot of them are truly headphones with built-in microphones to make 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 while traveling. Some wireless models include a docking station for on-the go listening, while others come with a portable case which gives you hours of battery power when you are away from home or at work.

Sound Quality

Sound quality is a big deal for most music lovers particularly when it concerns headphones. Noise cancelling headphones are a great way to block out any external noise.

If you're going to spend a significant amount of money on headphones, it makes sense that they'll able to play your tunes as well as possibly. Fortunately as ANC headphone technology has advanced and improved, the sound they provide has also improved significantly over time. The result is the best audiophile headphones on the market today.

Of course, the quality of sound you'll hear will largely depend on the way you listen to music and what your preferences are. Some people prefer an open and warm bass sound while others may prefer high-quality headphones that can deliver every nuances of a song or album.

Noise cancellation is a personal preference. While ANC does a great job in removing dull sounds such as the whistling of an aircraft or the roar of traffic, it's not able to eliminate dynamic sounds that vary in intensity and frequency such as human voices or instruments.

If you are looking to get the best passive isolation, a pair of headphones with ANC that is good will be a good choice regardless of whether they're earbuds or over-ear headphones. You can get impressive isolation even without active noise cancellation by using a pair of Comply memory foam tips or similar products that precisely fit to the shape of your ears.

Of course, all ANC headphones will have various Bluetooth codecs, allowing you to connect them with the audio source that is most suitable for you. For example the Sony WH1000XM4s come with both LDAC and DSEE Extreme support to ensure that you can listen to your favorite tracks in high-resolution, and in incredible detail. As a result, when Sinead O'Connor sings Nothing Compares 2 U, her sibilant cry and powerful chorus sound as if she was in the room with you.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent option to create a barrier between you and the outside world. They listen to ambient sounds and then use built-in microphones to "read" and only allow the sound you would like to hear. These are great for those who commute at home, work from home or in any other situation where background noises could be distracting or annoying.

Noise cancelling headphones employ an active noise cancellation to create their magic. The tiny microphones inside the earcups and earbuds of your headphones are listening to the sounds that you are exposed to. They then emit exactly the opposite frequency, which collides with each other to block out unwanted noises. It's a little more complicated than that, and it is dependent on the sensitivity of your ears, the design of the headphones, and the quality of the audio processing, but the basic idea is that they will significantly reduce the noises you hear, be it an aircraft engine or your coworker's animated conversations.

The best over-ear ANC headsets that we tested didn't completely block out background noises however they are effective in blocking them. For the most immersive listening experience, look into the headphones with adaptive noise cancellation, which takes ANC to a new level by constantly monitoring ambient sounds, countering them in real time, and maintaining the audio you would like to hear (including hands-free calls) at a consistent volume. The Sony WH-1000XM5s are an example of this technology in the action.

In addition to the noise-canceling features, many pairs of over-the-ear ANC headphones come with other interesting and useful features that will make your listening experience more enjoyable. Look for features such as touch controls, high-quality audio codecs, and support for voice assistants such as Siri or Google Assistant. Wireless Bluetooth is essential to allow hands-free playback of audio and easy audio playback. A portable charging case will keep you connected when you travel.

Another feature that is useful is a passive mode which allows the noise cancellation circuitry to be turned off, allowing you to listen with the same isolation as regular headphones. This is a great trick to use if you don't want to hear outside noises or have enough battery to recharge your headphones.

Value

While listening to music or making phone calls, a good pair of headphones will make you feel like you're in a soundproofed area. Noise cancelling headphones are more expensive than their non-noise-canceling counterparts however they offer superior sound quality and block out distracting background sounds. This is why they can be well worth the extra investment for those who spend much time on their own at work or traveling.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones come packed with features that are useful. They boast 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 is very effective in blocking out external noises however, they aren't as effective at separating the listener from low-frequency sounds such as trains or traffic.

They are also light and fold into a compact D-shaped box that can be tucked away into a carry case, making them ideal for use on the road. They are compatible with multiple voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and have a feature which automatically will stop music when removed from your ears. They can also be used with wired connections to listen to your preferred podcasts or videos in noisy environments.

The Razer Opus Wireless headphones are an excellent value for money. In addition to an ANC system that performs well they also have a transparency mode that activates the headphones' external microphones so the sound of your surroundings can be heard. They also have a built-in USB-C charging port, which means that they can be charged even while being used. They have a low latency connection over Bluetooth, which is important for mobile gaming and watching video content.

Take a look at the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless Headphones to get a cheaper option. They excel at blocking out distracting noises, such as the rumble of plane engines and buses or the high-pitched sound of computer fans. They can last more than 32 hours on a single charge. They have an auto-off timer to conserve power.