It’s no secret that noise canceling headphones are becoming evermore popular and it just continues to rise. Basically every big name company that deals with the production of tech toys are coming out with their own versions of noise canceling headphones. Some of the big name players in this game of noise reduction technology are companies such as Bose, Sony, Logitech, Panasonic and Sennheiser and that’s just naming a few.
But which company makes the best noise canceling headphones? There are also many different versions of the noise canceling headphones within the companies with all types of different features and add-ons. So which models of noise canceling headphones are the best? Which one is worth the money- because truthfully most of them are not cheap.
We have put together a list of the best noise canceling headphones and this list comes from countless hours of research. If you’re wanting Sony noise canceling headphones then read the review of their MDR-NC500D model which made number one on the list of best noise canceling headphones.
If you’re looking for a pair of headphones by Bose then read our review of their QuietComfort 15 model which made second on our list of best noise canceling headphones.
If you’re looking for a pair of headphones by Monster Beats then check out this review of their Dr. Dre “Studio” model which made third on our list of best noise canceling headphones and in our opinion also the best looking pair of headphones. There’s one word that comes to mind when looking at this pair of headphones- SEXY!
If you’re looking for a pair of headphones by Koss then check out the pair that made number four on our list which is the QZ900 model. We will continue adding reviews of the best noise canceling headphones as they come available so bookmark this site and visit often to stay up to date on the best noise canceling headphones that money can buy.
The Science Behind Noise Canceling Headphones- How Do They Work?
Noise canceling headphones work by using one or both of these two approaches: passive noise reduction and active noise reduction. All that passive noise reduction means is that the headphones help cancel out external noise by completely surrounding your ear with a comfortable ear cup that fits over your entire ear. This also works for noise canceling headphones that fit deep inside the ear canals by basically working like ear plugs. This method is pretty simple.
The active noise reduction is a little more advanced. Active noise reduction works by using special noise canceling circuitry which are tiny microphones built into the headphones. These microphones sample external noise and then an inverse audio signal is immediately fed back into the headphone which in theory cancels out the noise on the outside.
Noise canceling technology is still in it’s infancy so it’s still not 100% effective in canceling out all of the outside noise. This is because there’s a small delay between when a sound is detected on the outside of the headphones to when the inverse signal is sent through your headphones.
With that being said, noise canceling headphones are much more effective at canceling out continuous noise such as a lawn mower, a car engine or jet engine, the constant buzz of a crowded room full of talkative people, etc… and not so effective at continuously canceling out choppy noises such as a phone ringing, a baby crying, a cat meowing, you get the idea.
Another problem with noise canceling headphones is that they all vary depending on what make and model they are. Some noise canceling headphones are limited to the range of frequencies that they can block out. Some of them have a little trouble blocking out higher pitched sounds. And many of them also give off an annoying hiss or hum when in noise canceling mode. They can also make your ears feel hot and sweaty after wearing them for longer periods of time because of the vinyl cushioning that engulfs the ears unless of course they are the type of noise canceling headphones that work like earplugs.
Even though noise canceling technology is still in it’s early stages and there are still some minor bugs to work out of the system they are still a pleasure to have not just for their noise canceling capabilities but also for their ability to make your favorite music sound so much better.
There are many, many reviews of people saying how much they love their noise canceling headphones for listening to their favorite music. So even though noise canceling technology is still in it’s early stages, having a pair of noise canceling headphones can still be a very pleasurable and worthwhile experience. We do recommend the type of noise canceling headphones that cover the ears with plush vinyl cushioning instead of the ones that fit deep into your ear canals because they are much more comfortable on the ears and much easier to put on and remove than the ear canal headphones.