How Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones Can Make Your Music Sound Amazing
When you're out and about or at home, noise cancelling headphones can make your music sound fantastic. There are a variety of options available including Apple's AirPods Max to long-time heavyweights such as Bose.
Considerations when shopping for headphones with noise cancellation over the ear include: comfort the sound quality, audio quality, active noise cancellation and battery life. We recommend also checking if they have high-quality audio codecs such as aptX and AAC.
Comfort
If you are planning to listen for long periods of time the comfort of your ears is a key aspect to take into consideration. You'll want headphones that are lightweight and comfortable to wear around your ears. Find models with headbands that are adjustable and soft padding so you can personalize the headset to suit your personal preferences. The ear cups must be sealed well enough to stop noise leakage and unwanted ambient noise.
In general, headphones with over-ears are more comfortable than in-ear noise cancelling headphones. There are some situations where earbuds are more suitable, such as fitness and audio applications on the go. Wireless earbuds are the best choice for these situations because they provide the perfect balance of comfort and performance.
In addition to comfort, pay attention to the audio codecs your headphones use. Apt-X and LDAC are high-performance Bluetooth headset codecs that offer the same quality of audio as CD. They're compatible with the majority of Android phones, as well as some Apple devices -- but not the iPhone. Apple's proprietary AAC codec is not as reliable, so it's worth avoiding that.
Apart from the excellent sound quality, active noise cancellation is a key benefit of high-end headphones. These types of headphones use microphones and speakers to sense external sounds and produce opposing sounds to block them out, leading to an environment that is more quiet. This technology is present in some of the best headphones available and includes our top selections.
noise cancelling wireless headphones -1000XM5s are our top pick for noise cancelling headphones that are wireless due to their impressive audio quality, a comfortable fit and a range of other features that make these headphones ideal for frequent travellers. They are able to block distracting noises including the whoosh or rumble of the air conditioning on the plane to the rumbles of trains and subways on your commute. They come with unique features like Quick Attention mode which pauses ambient audio and music when you're talking or needing to hear what's going on around you.
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 headphones are among the most expensive options on our list. They're also among the most elegantly designed. They feature genuine leather on their earpieces and push buttons for easy operation. They're not the most comfortable for all-day wear, but they are very lightweight and pack serious audio clout. They have amazing bass, deep midrange and crystal clear highs. In our tests they performed well in all environments, though trains' noise was noticeable at higher volumes and the cymbals did become slightly harsh at high volume.
Sound Quality
Noise cancelling headphones don't just need to block out the sounds around them; they must also be able to reproduce music in high quality. The sound quality of headphones is determined by the design and the software that runs the headphones. Over-ear headphones typically have better audio quality than models with on-ears due to their larger drivers. This allows for greater air movement and more, more immersive sound.
On-ear headphones can deliver excellent audio if they're designed well and come with the appropriate software and sound drivers. They're not going to provide the same quality as over-ear headphones.
If you're looking to get the best from your headphones, then think about buying a pair with high-quality audio codes, such as AAC and aptX. These codecs ensure that the audio doesn't compress, and are able to be transmitted via Bluetooth at higher speeds than the older versions.
The Bose QC 45 headphones are an excellent choice for most users, offering excellent sound quality and an ergonomic design. Their ANC is quite effective in blocking background noise but it still allows ambient sounds to be heard, such as the wind or the voices of those around. They also have a switch that lets you manually adjust how much of the outside world you hear which is helpful to tune back in without removing your headphones or switching off your music.
Another alternative is the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, which offer excellent noise cancellation and excellent audio reproduction. They're actually the best headphones we've ever tried. They're packed with features like Quick Attention mode, voice-assistant integration, and DSEE Extreme scaling.
The ear cups are large, making them bulky and difficult to store in a bag, or to travel with. The headphones also require a power cord which can cause problems in certain situations. Despite these limitations, the WH1000XM5 headphones make an excellent pair of wireless headphones that block out noise. They allow you to focus in noisy workplaces and take a quiet rest on the plane.
Noise Cancellation
Whether you're listening to podcasts or music on a flight, train commute or just at home, noise cancelling headphones allow you to concentrate on your music without distraction. The most effective headphones aren't just those that block out background noise. They also have active noise cancellation.
Active noise cancellation is a method of sampling ambient sounds using mics that are tiny and built-in, creating the sound wave opposite to the original sound - effectively blocking it out. It's not perfect but it is close to making your music the only sound you hear. In the ideal scenario, you'll be able to turn down' the noise cancelling when you want to hear the sounds around you.
Passive isolation is also an essential component of a quality headphone, and this means that you require an appropriate fit that forms an encapsulated seal around your ears. This usually means earbuds that snugly fit in your ears or over-ear headphones that fully seal your ears. Over-ear headphones that are too loose can be uncomfortable and allow plenty of noise.
The best headphones are typically comfortable to wear and feature good passive insulation. The best headphones will also include a button that allows you to listen to the sounds around you. This is very useful when traveling in noisy areas when hearing the train's rumble or the voices of your colleagues could be vital for safety.
The top headphones will include features that make them more appealing to audiophiles. It could be features like touch controls or high-quality audio codecs or it could be a sleeker and more appealing design.
You can find excellent headphones for less money by shopping around. Monoprice's BT600ANC headphones have excellent ANC sound for half the price of Bose or Sony's flagship models. The Monoprice BT600ANC over-ear headphones are a good example of this, providing an outstanding ANC experience for less than Bose and Sony's flagship models.
Battery Life
The active noise control circuitry in the majority of headphones requires power. It is usually powered by a battery which will need to be recharged or replaced regularly. This can increase the overall weight, size and cost of the headphone. It could also cause the headphones to produce high-frequency hiss and other audio irregularities that are not audible to others but could be distracting for some.
Noise-cancelling headsets are a great way to improve your listening experience on an airplane, during a commute or at the office. They also help to shield you from at-home sound pollution like the whirr of your HVAC system or the roar of your neighbor's lawn mower. You can also use headphones to aid in sleeping or meditative.
Bose, Sony and Sennheiser offer a variety of styles in headphones that block out noise for over-ear. Shop Target to find a wide variety of brands that offer features like hands-free, Bluetooth, around-ear and more. You can also choose from a range of comfort levels, colors and price points.
Some of the latest models in this category have improved audio quality, noise cancellation and battery life compared to their predecessors. Bose QC 700 headphones are 30% smaller, lighter and more comfortable, yet still deliver the same ANC performance. Other improvements are a more refined and balanced sound signature, quicker attention mode and smart voice activation using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and DSEE Extreme upscaling.
The Sony WH1000XM5s are another set of noise cancelling over-ear headsets that we highly recommend. They have an impressively long battery, and great sound quality, which earned them a top rating in our rating. They sport a stylish design, are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and fold down into small cases that fit into most bags. They offer a range of useful features like ambient noise control as well as Speak to Chat, Quick Attention mode, and wear detection.
The WH950NB is an excellent pair of Edifier headphones that are a great value and can rival more expensive models from the top manufacturers. They are comfortable and have an extended battery life (you could use them for an entire week without having to recharge them) and fold flat for easy transportation.