Buyer's Guide: Noise Cancelling Headphones

The Facts

Noise cancelling headphones reduce the perceived noise from outside with the clever use of small microphones located inside the earpiece and active electronics within the headset. The basic principle is that the noise signal for the outside world is inverted and then summed with the signal from the audio source. The result is that the ambient noise from outside is effectively cancelled out, which lets you enjoy your music.

Noise cancelling headphones are particularly effective with reducing low frequencies (i.e. bass and lower midrange). If the noise is a constant drone it is all the better. For example they work very well at cancelling out the constant low down booming noise created inside an aircraft cabin by jet engines or the roar from fans in a computer room, but will not work so well at reducing the noise of a child screaming in the seat next to you on the train to work in the morning.

The first commercially available noise cancelling headphones are widely regarded to have been offered by Bose, but manufacturers such as Sennheiser and Panasonic now have a broad range of competing products. This type of headphone has become increasingly popular with the help of large marketing campaigns by these companies.

The active electronics inside a noise cancelling headphone set require power (i.e. batteries) to run in noise cancelling mode. Some models allow you to continue listening in ‘passive' mode.

Our Opinion

If you travel on aeroplanes often it may be worth considering a good pair of noise cancelling headphones for flights. However, if you want to isolate yourself from the noise of a noisy underground train bashing and crashing around they may not best choice.

The design and active electronics inside noise cancelling headphones is very clever and it is incredible to be sitting on a flight and remove the engine boom with the simple flick of a noise cancelling switch. For gadget lovers they are a fun device to have and to experiment with.

Purists who are looking for the minimum interference with the audio signal may want to consider sound isolating earphones or closed back (sealed) full size headphones. Both of these types of headphone use ‘passive' methods to block out the external sounds and the audio signal does not undergo any electronic processing. This means you are listening to the pure audio source and don't have to suffer distortions in the signal. We frequently recommend sound isolating headphones or closed back full size headphones in preference to noise cancelling headphones.

The fact that noise cancelling headphones only remove certain frequencies and types of noise is a bit limiting. However, in the correct listening environment they do an excellent job of reducing the background noise.

Browse our selection of Noise Cancelling Headphones