How Noise Cancelling Headphones Can Improve Your Listening Experience
Noise cancelling headphones utilize microphones to detect ambient sounds and produce an anti-noise sound to counteract unwanted noises. They're great for blocking out rumbles as well as chatter from planes and trains but they won't help to stop the squealing brakes or your friend's animated conversations.
Active noise cancellation requires good isolation, either by padding your ears or an earbuds that are sealed or over-ear headphones. We've also examined how the headphones muffle lower-frequency sounds like traffic and train noise.
What is noise cancellation?
Noise cancelling is a feature that allows listeners to concentrate on their music or audiobook without distraction from background noise. Noise cancelling headphones are equipped with microphones that actively block external sounds before they reach your ears, effectively silencing the outside world so you can enjoy your tunes or audiobook in complete peace.
Active noise cancellation (ANC) is one of the most common headphone features available on the market. It's offered by a variety of brands of headphones, in a variety of sizes and colors, and it's even available on a few budget models. The technology is quite simple: earcups or earbuds have miniature microphones which "listen" to ambient sound frequencies and then playback equal but opposite anti noise waves to block the sound before it reaches your ear.
This is referred to as destructive interfering. The valleys and crests of the waves cancel each and leave only the music you are listening to. This works great on monotonous, continuous sounds like the drone of an airplane engine or the hum of your colleague Bob who is unable to quit. It's less effective for sudden or higher-frequency noises that are harder to recognize and eliminate. For instance the pinging of a keyboard on your computer or the alarm beeping on your smartphone.
The padding of the ear cup can be used to block out the sound. This is a good alternative for those who do not want to rely on batteries for their ANC capability, but still want to enjoy a quiet environment when working or at home.
It's worth noting that all headphones require some kind of power, whether it's for battery or audio processing, to function. While ANC can help reduce the impact of external noises, headphones cannot create a cone-shaped silence around your ears. If the sounds around you are loud enough, they will simply get into your ears. It is essential to wear your headphones securely enough so that there are no gaps in the fit. This will allow you to enjoy the full benefits of ANC.
How does it work?
The technology behind noise cancellation
headphones involves miniature microphones in the earcups or earbuds which listen to the sounds around you. They are then processed inside the headphones to produce an opposing sound wave that effectively blocks out the sound and prevents them from reaching your ears.
Air molecules oscillate, generating sound waves. This means that sound waves have a height or amplitude, which is measured by the distance between the peaks on an oscillating graph. Sound waves with higher intensities are larger, whereas those with lower amplitudes are smaller. ANC headphones make use of this to create an audio that is in opposition of the sounds you hear around you.
ANC headsets have several features that can make them more effective in blocking ambient noises such as feedback microphones and an ANC chipset. These chips employ algorithms to reverse incoming sound signals and then release an opposing signal. This is basically like launching anti-ballistic missiles that shoot down the warheads coming in (again think of military-grade countermeasures in war films).
These signals that are opposite to each other are generated by the pair of ANC drivers within each ear cup. When ANC is activated by pressing the button on your headset,
headphones the sounds of the surrounding noises are reduced or even completely eliminated.
Although the technology behind ANC is impressive, it does come with a few trade-offs. The additional electronics required to enable this technology can add weight and size to your headphones, making them bulkier than similar-looking models. They also draw more power, which could result in a decrease in battery life, and even high-frequency hiss.
One other problem is that a lot of users have reported experiencing dizziness or disorientation while wearing ANC
headphones marshall. This can be a bit frustrating, but is usually caused by something else, not the ANC.
The good news is that more advanced ANC headphones are starting to address a few of these issues. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7, for instance, comes with various ANC modes like "office," "plane," and 'city' with a slider that lets you customise the volume of external sound you want to pass through. Apple's new AirPods Pro 2 also feature the same function, and include the 'Ambient Aware mode that digitally adapts the level of ANC to your surroundings.
What are the top noise cancelling headsets?
Noise cancelling headphones can make a an enormous difference to your listening experience. They can aid in concentration at work, or block out engine noise on trains and planes. These headphones are great to use for commutes or working from home. They can be used with any audio device, including smartphones, tablets and computers. They can be pricey however, there's an option of wireless ANC headphones to fit every budget.
The most effective pair of noise cancelling headphones will be comfortable to wear for extended periods, with a good seal around your ears. The battery lifespan should last at least 30 hours which is enough to last you through your daily commute or working day. Check that the audio source is supported, whether that be Bluetooth or USB-C.
Over-ear headphones tend to be more comfortable than in ear models. They come with a bigger headband and padded cups that sit over your ears, which helps to keep them in place for longer. They are also more effective in blocking out ambient noise. However, it's important to remember that there are exceptions and the best headphones to block out noise will depend on your lifestyle and preferences in music.
The level of noise reduction will differ based on the design and how it fits into your ears. A poor fit could let in ambient noise, and even affect the quality of bass. A great tip is to swap out the earbuds' original tips to determine if they improve fit and reduce ambient noise, and you can do this with most headphones 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 when you tilt them back or forwards to adjust their fit. They are also lighter, making them more convenient to carry and more portable. In our tests, all headphones provide some degree of noise cancellation, but it's not as good as over-ear headphones.
What should I look for when purchasing noise cancelling headphones
The best noise cancelling headphones minimize the background noise so that you can concentrate on music without having to worry about your surroundings. They typically employ active noise cancellation (ANC) to achieve this, however not all ANC headphones are created equal. It's important that you consider the type of ANC, whether it's over-ear or in-ear and also their build quality.
In-ear and over-ear headphones are generally the more well-known options and both offer superior noise-cancellation. In-ear headphones are lighter and less bulky. While models with over-ears can be more comfortable however, they are more expensive.