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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.
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.
Do Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Block All Sound?
Active noise cancellation (ANC) debuted in over-ear and on-ear headphones first but is now prevalent in wireless earphones. As the first word of the term suggests, active noise cancellation requires power, as opposed to passive noise reduction. Battery power feeds ANC circuitry that uses microphones to create a live, inverse signal of the surrounding noise. Just like how adding a negative number to its positive equivalent nets zero, the goal here is to offset the ambient noise with inverse sound waves.
Does it work? That depends on the manufacturer and the character of the surrounding noise. Even competent ANC is typically far more effective against low to mid frequencies, especially unchanging, drone-like sounds such as from an engine or an appliance. The best ANC does the same for higher-frequency sounds, like office chatter and keyboard clicks. But a tight in-ear seal is what helps most against these sounds.
Speaking of an in-ear seal, passive noise cancellation (or passive noise isolation) uses the physical sealing off of the ear canal to block out surrounding sound. There are no mics or batteries involved in this method, but it is, in many ways, more effective than active noise cancellation because it helps cut back frequencies across the board. Earplugs still exist for a reason—they work.
I am finally ready to invest in proper noise cancelling, but I am stuck between over ear headphones and in ear earbuds, and there are way too many options out there.
Here is what I am looking for:
Strong noise cancelling for planes, commuting, and noisy offices
Comfortable enough to wear for a few hours without feeling like my head or ears are being crushed
Good sound quality for both music and podcasts
Decent mic for calls and meetings
Reliable battery life and a case that is not massive if it is earbuds
I am not hunting for the absolute most expensive flagship if it is only a tiny improvement, but I also do not want something that feels cheap or breaks in a year. I am fine paying a bit more if it really holds up and feels worth it.
For those of you who have tried a few brands, which noise cancelling headphones or earbuds impressed you the most, and why?
Did you end up happier with over ear headphones or earbuds for daily use?
Any models you regret buying or would avoid would also be useful to know.
Edit: After reading the comments, I checked a guide that helped clarify the differences between over ear headphones and earbuds. Sharing it here: this noise cancelling headphones guide.
Im looking forward to get a good pair of ANC earbuds, I reduced it to those 3 (Airpods Pro 2 / WF-1000XM5 / QC Ultra Earbuds)
I currently have many over the ear ANC headphones (XM4, XM5, Momentum 4 and QC Ultra) and 2 wired "audiophile" headphones (Arya Stealth and HD 540 Reference II).
Somehow I havent bought a good pair of earbuds yet, so... Im NOT looking for an absolute killer sound quality, Im mainly looking for Noise Cancelling performance here, Im an Apple user (Iphone 11 and Macbook Pro 2012), some smart features would be nice too.
A comparison in sound would be nice too, besides not being a priority.
I got an jbl wave flex on Christmas last year and i’m really disappointed, it has zero anc and the sound is really low quality tbh, i really want a good earbuds with ANC bc of my commute time to work and college. I’m on a budget so i can’t really buy something expensive, i was looking at qcy ones bc i saw really good reviews but i’m open to other brands too! Any good earbuds with ANC suggestions? :)
edit: my budget is around $50-$25
looking for the best noise cancelling wireless earbuds. i mostly use my earbuds during work and am looking for the best combination in comfort and noise cancellation... sound quality is not that important