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Are Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Worth It?
The best wireless earphones that deliver audiophile-pleasing audio and excellent ANC can easily cost over $300, but those aren't your only options. We're starting to see some worthwhile, budget-friendly alternatives that deliver commendable noise cancellation and sound quality for under $100.
Whether they are worth the money depends on the character of noise in your environment and how much it prevents you from focusing on whatever you need to do. If you can't think clearly without silence or (at least) a greater sense of quiet, noise-cancelling earphones are well worth the peace of mind.
Once you find the perfect pair, check out our stories on five easy tips to extend the life of your headphones and eight ways you're using them wrong.
Do any wireless earbuds support lossless audio?
No. Lossless audio is not a thing with Bluetooth. However, you may find that you don’t actually experience much benefit from it while you’re commuting or are in other high-noise environments, so it’s not a big concern.
Are noise canceling earbuds good for your ears?
Yes, in the sense that they can allow you to listen to content at lower volumes since background noise is reduced. This can potentially reduce the risk of hearing damage caused by prolonged exposure to loud sounds. However, like any earbuds, they should be used at safe volumes and not for excessively long periods.
I've read some reviews, but I'm still not sure how well each option actually cancels sounds.
Let me say that by far what I care about the most is the ability to cancel outside noise, even without music playing. So I can take a hit to sound quality if that means really good noise cancelling. To that end I'm willing to buy either earphones or headphones, as long as they do the job really well.
Before people suggest plain old earplugs lol, I've tried lots of them but honestly they suck at cancelling low pitch sounds 😬
Thanks!