Noise Cancelling Headphones

Noise cancelling headphones reduce ambient sound using active noise controlling electronics. The electronics located in the cable or earcup take the sound from the microphone behind the headphone, invert it, and add it back into the audio signal, which reduces background noise, resulting in an undisturbed audio experience.

Noise cancelling headphones from brands such as Sennheiser, Parrot and Bang & Olufsen are particularly good at blocking out low frequency sounds, such as the low-end rumble created inside airplane cabins, but are not so good at eliminating inconsistent, higher frequency background sounds.