How to Choose the Best Over the Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

Noise cancelling headphones are an excellent way to enhance your listening experience, regardless of whether you work from home or taking public transport to commute. They create an ear-to-ear barrier that blocks out your ears and outside noise. But how do you decide which pair is the best for you?

There are two kinds of noise cancelling headsets: passive noise isolation and active noise cancellation. The first utilizes earcups that have thick padding that are tightly fitted to block out external noises, while the second utilizes built-in microphones to produce opposing sound waves that cancel ambient noise.

Comfort

Noise cancelling headphones are a great option to block out the sounds of the world, whether you're in a noisy public transport, trying to sleep on a plane that's overbooked or battling noisy colleagues. These headphones let you listen to music at the right volume without straining your ears. Many of our top picks also have a light design, which makes them comfortable to wear all day.

Noise cancellation is typically achieved through active sound reduction technologies that create opposite sound waves to block out background noise. Although you can find headphones that employ passive noise isolation that 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 to provide an unbeatable escape from the daily grind.

To achieve the optimal results, you'll need to ensure your headphones are snug and well-designed. It is also important to make sure they don't leak, which can annoy people around you. To truly experience a full audio experience, you'll require headphones that support the high-resolution Bluetooth codec LDAC. This allows them to playback hi-res music at 96kHz/24 bit resolution, making them an audiophile's dream.

Many of the latest models can be folded, allowing them to be compact and practical for travel. If you're looking for headphones for travel that have an easy-to-fold design and a compact size, the Bose QC45 we reviewed is a great option. If you're a frequent traveler the Sennheiser HD450BT is a great pair of headphones that can be folded down to fit inside your luggage.

The majority of the models we've looked at are wireless, and some even come with built-in mics for hands-free calls. You can also adjust your noise cancelling and audio settings with a dedicated app which is a great alternative for those who want to adjust their headphones while on the move. Some wireless models include a docking station for on-the move listening, and others have a portable case that gives you plenty of battery life when you are away from home or at work.

Sound Quality

The quality of sound is a major issue for many music lovers especially when it concerns headphones. Noise cancelling headphones are a great way to block out any external noise.

If you're planning to spend a significant amount of money on headphones, it makes sense that they'll be capable of playing your music as well as possible. Thankfully as ANC headphone technology has evolved, the sound that they deliver has also improved dramatically over time. This has resulted in some of the most powerful headphones on the market today that beat the best audiophile headphones available.

The sound quality you experience will depend on your preferences and listening habits. Some people prefer an open and warm sound that's rich in bass while others may prefer high-fidelity headphones that convey every nuances of a song or album.

The type of music you appreciate the most is contingent on how important noise cancelling is for you. While ANC is excellent at eliminating monotonous noises like the whooshing of an aircraft or the roaring of traffic, it isn't able to stop dynamic sounds that fluctuate in frequency and intensity, such as human voices or instruments.

If you are looking to get the most effective passive isolation, a pair headphones with ANC that is excellent is a great choice, whether they are headphones with earbuds or even over-ear ones. You can achieve impressive isolation even with no active noise cancellation by using Comply memory foam tips or similar products that conform perfectly to the shape of your ears.

Most ANC headphones come with several Bluetooth codecs that let you to connect with the music source you like. The Sony WH1000XM4s, for example, have LDAC support as well as DSEE Extreme to ensure you can listen to your favorite tracks in high resolution and in stunning detail. Sinead's sibilant cry and her ferocious chorus is evident in her rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancelling headphones provide an sonic buffer between your ears and the world around you. They listen to the sounds that you hear, and use built-in microphones to "read" the sounds, allowing only the audio you want to hear through. These are ideal for those who commute at home, work from home or in any other situation where background noises could be distracting or annoying.

To make their magic happen, noise cancelling headphones have an active technology that is powered by noise cancellation (ANC). The tiny microphones in your earcups and earbuds 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 relies on the sensitivity of your ears and the design of the headphones and the quality audio processing. But the bottom line is that they can reduce the sound of the engine of an airplane or animated conversations with your coworkers.

The best over-ear noise cancelling headphones ANC headsets we tested weren't able to completely block out background noises, but they are effective at blocking them. For the most immersive listening experience, you should consider an ANC pair that has adaptive noise cancellation, which takes ANC to the next level by continuously monitoring ambient sounds, countering the background noise in real-time and ensuring that the audio you want to hear (including hands-free calls) at a consistent volume. This advanced technology is demonstrated in the Sony WH1000XM5s.

Many over-ear ANC headphones include additional features that make listening more enjoyable. Look for features such as touch controls, high quality audio codecs, and support for voice-assistants such as Siri or Google Assistant. A wireless Bluetooth connection is essential for convenient and hands-free audio playback and a portable charging case that lets you remain connected while on the go.

Another useful feature is a passive mode, which allows the noise-canceling circuitry to be shut off and around Ear noise cancelling headphones lets you listen to music with the same level of isolation as regular headphones. This is a useful feature to use when you need to hear the outside world or haven't got enough battery power to charge your headphones.

Value

A great pair of headphones can make you feel like you're in a soundproof space when listening to music or making phone calls. Noise cancelling headphones may be more expensive, but they provide superior sound quality and block out background noise. For this reason, they are worth the additional expense for those who spend long periods of time on their own in the office or traveling.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones boast amazing noise cancellation capabilities and come with many useful features that include a microphone that can produce clear and natural audio during phone calls as well as DSEE Extreme audio upscaling. The ANC system is very effective in blocking out external noises but they are not as effective in isolating you from low-frequency sounds like trains or traffic.

They are also light and folds down into a compact D-shaped box that tucks into a carrying case, making them perfect for traveling. They are compatible with multiple voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and they come with the ability to automatically stop your music when you remove them from your ears. They can also be connected to an audio wire to listen to your favorite podcasts or videos in noisy environments.

The Razer Opus X Wireless headphones are an exceptional value for their price. They feature a decent ANC system however, they also have the option of turning on the external microphones of the headphones to allow more sounds from your surroundings to be heard. The headphones have a built-in USB-C charging plug, which means they can still be used while charging. They have an extremely low-latency Bluetooth connection, which is essential to play games on the go or watch videos.

Take a look at the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless Headphones for a more affordable alternative. They're great at cancelling out distracting sounds, cheap such as the rumble from plane engines and buses, or the high-pitched hum of computer fans. They can last for over 32 hours, and include an automatic off timer.