Noise-cancelling headphones provide users with one key benefit—they block out sound, letting you enjoy your music without outside distractions. However, you may be wondering who can actually benefit from noise-cancelling headphones the most and whether or not they’re worth investing in if you already have a solid pair of headphones lying around.
Here’s how to know who should use noise-cancelling headphones and how to choose the best pair possible if you decide they’re right for you.
What Are Noise Cancelling Headphones?
According to Panasonic, noise-canceling headphones create virtual sound fields in your ears using both speaker drivers and a microphone recording ambient noise. The mic captures what your ear would hear (for example, an airplane engine), then subtracts it from the music you listen to through your headphones. This gives you ultimate control over which sounds you hear and, in turn, improves how well you can focus on work or conversation when trying to drown out distracting noises.
In fact, there is some evidence that wearing noise-canceling headphones could help protect hearing over time from various background noises—an especially good reason for frequent flyers to invest in a set of headphones designed specifically for reducing unwanted ambient noise.
What Are The Benefits of Noise Cancelling Headphones?
The best way to explain who benefits from noise-canceling headphones is to list some pros. One of their best attributes is the ability to cancel background noises, but there are many other things they can also help with.
For starters, they improve concentration.
When you can’t hear anything except what you’re listening to, it becomes easier to focus on that sound instead of being distracted by your environment.
Noises canceling headphones also reduce stress levels.
These will be perfect for your needs if you have trouble blocking out distractions and need a little help. You might even fall asleep in public places more easily if you use them at night. They’re also great if you travel a lot since they reduce engine sounds and other annoyances while in transit.
Read: What Is The Best USB Headset For Working From Home?
What Are The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones?
Most noise-canceling headphones can be pretty expensive. This is especially true if you’re interested in some of the best ANC headphones money can buy.
So we wanted to look at some of the best affordable noise canceling headphones on today’s market and see what they offer.
The $200 Sony MDR-7506 is high quality but pricey. If you want something cheaper and less bulky that offers good ANC, consider getting a pair of AKG K430 NC headphones for only $55, and don’t worry too much about them being noise canceling specific—they do a great job blocking outside sounds.
On a tight budget?
Consider checking out Audio Technica’s ATH-ANC7B QuietPoint active noise canceling headphones with 40mm drivers for only $49.
These tiny gems may not be stylish, but their performance makes up for it by letting users completely shut out external noises without breaking their wallets.
In fact, Audio Technica claims these tiny cans reduce ambient noise by 90% when powered on.
What Are The Features To Look For In Noise Cancelling Headphones?
These headphones are designed to shut out all other sounds, so noise-canceling headphones will never have great sound quality. After all, if they canceled most of the ambient noise around you, it would be hard to hear what was coming from them. Instead, their sound quality is slightly better than average for a pair of earbuds or regular headphones.
But that’s not what you’re looking for in these headphones. You’re looking for a solid device that can help you achieve peace and quiet so that you can listen to your music or podcasts without interruption from outside noises.
For example, if you’re commuting on public transit every day and want to tune out everyone else around you, noise canceling headphones could be an ideal solution. They won’t block out all external sounds completely, but they’ll reduce how much external noise reaches your ears. And when combined with high-quality earbuds or over-ear headphones, that can make listening to music more enjoyable.
Read: What Is The Best HEadset For Zoom Meetings?
How To Choose The Right Headphones?
Many people use headphones while they are working. This isn’t a new concept, but you can ensure great results when you use noise-cancelling headphones. This is even more important if you work in an environment with many distractions and background noise.
Traditional headphones don’t actually block out all that noise, which can lead to decreased productivity and error rates as well as frustration and stress levels rising at work. If you want to keep your focus during your working hours, then it’s essential that you take a look at some noise cancelling headphones from a reputable company such as Bose or Plantronics.
These brands have been around for years and have built their reputations on quality products that really do deliver what they promise. When you’re looking at a pair of these headphones, there are several features that you need to consider before making a purchase.
- Do they have active noise cancellation technology?
- Are there any feedback or echo issues with them?
- Are they comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time without causing any issues?
These are just some of the questions you need answers to before deciding which set of headphones will be best for your needs.
How To Prevent Noise Cancelling Headphones From Breaking?
To properly maintain your noise-canceling headphones, you’ll want to be careful about what you’re doing with them. You might notice that they can get scuffed or dented over time. If these start to appear, it may be time to purchase a new pair of headphones.
While some brands will let you send them back in for repairs, others won’t, and you risk damaging your pair if you try and fix them on your own. This is especially important because hard surfaces like concrete or wood can increase static electricity buildup within ear cups.
To prevent damage from occurring, make sure you take extra care when storing or transporting your headphones. Be sure not to throw them into a bag alongside other electronics and store them in their original box when possible. When traveling by plane, always put your headphone bag under your seat, so it doesn’t get crushed by other luggage during takeoff or landing.
Read: Do Noise Cancelling Headphones Work In An Office?
Conclusion
It’s understandable that people have differing opinions on what music is and isn’t appropriate. Everyone has a different taste in music, after all. The key with noise cancelling headphones is to be considerate to others while preserving your own comfort. So, ask yourself: where am I? Who else is around me? How loud will these headphones cancel out noise effectively (and safely)?
Once you have an answer to those questions, you can make a more informed decision about whether or not it’s worth it for you to wear them or if something else would serve better. If you do decide on some noise cancelling headphones (whether they’re from Bose, Beats, or some other brand), please use them responsibly.
