Noise cancellation is the elimination of undesirable noises. Headphones are excellent for shutting out the outside world when listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. However, the outside world can sometimes seep through, and the sounds of planes, traffic, and people might interfere with your listening experience. If you wish to prevent all noise, you should consider using noise-canceling headphones.
Must-Have Noise-Canceling Headphones
It’s an excellent time to think about getting a set of noise-canceling headphones. Here are the top noise-canceling headphones you might consider:
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max sounds amazing, especially with the surround-sound spatial audio function turned on. The design and build quality are so outstanding that you can almost forget it costs $549.
Bose 700
The Bose 700 reaps these perks, with ten levels of ANC which you can set in the Bose Connect app. It works flawlessly to mute the bulk of extraneous noises. Most significantly, this headphone manages this without sacrificing sound quality, enabling listeners to experience clean, well-balanced sound reproduction.
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Bose QuietComfort 35 II is a smart noise-canceling headphone for voice assistant lovers. This device is virtually identical to the already-excellent Bose QuietComfort 35. The good news is it is upgraded with Google Assistant. This means you still receive the class-leading noise cancellation that Bose is known for. It also has excellent sound quality and a handy assistant to answer any questions you may have while traveling.
Bowers and Wilkins PX7 Wireless
If you’re searching for a pair of noise-canceling headphones that are both fashionable and functional, look no further because you might consider these headphones. They also have aptX Adaptive for enhanced stability and latency between the headphones and your smartphone, as well as high-quality (24-bit) streaming aptX HD.
Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony WH-1000XM4 is considered as the best noise-canceling headphones in the market. Everything that made the WH-1000XM3 a critical favorite is still there, including the incredible soundstage and touch controls that enable seamless playing and communication management. You can also customize audio to build your sound profiles that work well with nearly any music genre. You also receive top-tier ANC, which outperforms competitors and allows you to play for longer than other brands.
What Noise Cancellation Is and Isn’t Capable Of
If you’ve never worn noise cancelling headphones before, here’s what you need to know:
While noise cancellation reduces the loudness of ambient noise, it does not entirely eradicate noise and is far less successful at removing inconsistent noise. When you put on noise cancelling headphones, it’s not like you’re entering a soundproof chamber—more it’s like wearing very effective earplugs.
What exactly does this mean?
Most noise cancelling headphones significantly reduce the rumbling of an airline or train. However, they are constant, generally unchanging noises. However, music, conversation, or dogs barking—anything more complicated than a continuous drone—will cause ANC problems. The most extraordinary noise cancellation will reduce these sounds to some extent, but you will still hear some of them.
Listening to the sounds of nature or the noises of people around you might be entertaining at times, but sometimes you need to get away from it all. As public transport commuters, it is important to occasionally shut off the world to keep your sanity—and hearing—intact. Whether you’re always in crowded places, working at your desk, or a regular passenger, noise cancellation can be a life-saving function. Any of the best noise-canceling headphones could help everyone.