Best Noise Cancelling Headphones to Buy in 2022

Disturbance from honking traffic and the drilling machine at the nearby construction site while you are listening to your favourite track can be annoying. Also, kids creating a ruckus while you are working from home or your partner switching on the vacuum during a client callcan leave you embarrassed. At one point or the other, we all need noise cancelling headphones in our lives that can save us from all the ambient noise. These devicescreate an environment that does not let the wearer hear any background sounds and get distracted. You can carry on with your office calls or enjoy a soulful rendition in peace without any interruption with these exceptional devices.Theyextend an immersive experience by conjuring up a soul-stirring world created by the crystal-clearaudio coming from the headphones.

With people spending more time indoors because of the COVID-19 pandemic , noise cancelling headphones have become a necessity since remote working has become the new normal. They offer the best engagement when you are watching a movie on your laptop or listening to a podcast on your phone or enjoying an audiobook while travelling to work. You can listen only to the sound you want to hear and remove all the interference that distracts you or breaks your chain of thought.

With so many sound waves travelling towardsyouat any given point, you need to choose what you want to hear, and these headphones help you do it. So, if you are planning to go shopping, you first need to look at the best noise cancelling headphones to buy in 2022. With our comprehensive list, you can quickly find a device that suits your needs and fits within your budget. Since the marketplace will leave you spoilt for choice, our specially curated guide will help you to make an informed decision. Let us understand its mechanism to identify the best in the lot.

What Is a Noise Cancelling Headphone?

Noise cancelling headphones remove all the ambient noise and help you to focus on the audio coming through the device. It helps you to tune out any external sounds that can hinder your leisure or work hours. However, you need to know about the two types of noise cancellation devices – active and passive.

Active noise cancellation(ANC) is based on the latest technology that involves the creation of an anti-noise signal by the headphones. The signal is produced by the device when it identifiesexternal noise and understands its sound pattern. The anti-noise signal cancels out the incoming sound so that the wearer does not feel any disturbance. It is also known as destructive interference and cancels outlow-frequency noises, such as the sound of the ceiling fan. The ANC headphones can be further divided into three categories, feedforward, feedback, and hybrid.

In the feedforward ANC headphone, the microphone is positioned externally, which makes it pick up noise before the wearer and generate destructive interference to cancel it out. It is considered a better version because it can cancel high-frequency noise of up to 1-2 kHz. However, it may not be able to successfully remove sounds at lower frequency.

The feedback ANC headphones have the microphone positioned inside the ear cup where it receives the signal from the speaker and corrects it. However, it is unable to work on high-frequency sounds. On the other hand, the hybrid ANC headphones have two microphones that are placed inside and outside. Thus, it covers the gaps of both feedforward and feedback headphones. It can work on arange of frequencies and cancels noise even when the headset is not worn properly. The downside of buying this type of headphone is that you will have to pay a lot more to own them. Also, the presence of two microphones can create white noise, so you need to know its right usage.

Passive Noise Cancellation headphones use the design and material of the device to control the noise. For example, the padding and the shape of the ear cups help in blocking the ambient sound that can be highly distracting, such as high-frequency sounds from nearby traffic signal or people talking on the train while you are travelling. These are preferred for work purposes by professionals who do not need a fancy or expensive device to get the job done. It is common to find many people wearing wireless earbuds while running, working or listening to music. However, noise cancellation headphones are more beneficial as they allow you to drown out all the ambient sound.

Best Noise Cancelling Headphones to Buy In 2022

When you start your search, you need to keep in mind that active noise cancelling headphones are priced a bit on the higher side because of the advanced technology used in the small device. Since you are looking for a product that can save you from all the distortions during playtime, you must prepare your budget. If you do not want to spend too much, you can also find some pocket-friendly options. However, you will have to settle for lower sound quality if you move down the price ladder. So, here is a list that will help you to choose the best noise cancelling headphones in 2022.

 

10. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i Wireless On-Ear Headphones

Things to Know When Buying a Noise Cancelling Headphone

The features of the headphone play a significant role in determining its value for money. You need to look at a variety of attributes, besides the price and look of the device,before adding it to the shopping cart. Here is what needs your sincere attention.

Technology Used for Noise Cancellation

As stated above, headphones use passive and active noise cancellation technology. Within ANC, there are three types of effective noise cancellation techniques. You need to look at the pros and cons of every type before picking it as the final choice. Make sure you test them when you are purchasing a specific model to understand the level of external noise control and clarity of sound according to your needs. If you will be using the headphones in a high decibel environment like a train or when someone is using a cordless stick vacuum under your feet to clean under the table, you need to pick the device after thorough satisfaction.

Sound Quality

Once you have decided on the technology, you need to focus on the audio. It is of utmost importance when you are buying a headphone. Thus, you need the perfect device that covers your work-related needs as well as entertainment-based desires. The headset must have powerful drivers and adaptive sound along with customisation features that will help to adjust the audio as per your requirement and the level of noise in the background. Also, make sure that it isolates all the ambient sound at different frequency levels. Phone call quality should also be evaluated by the buyer for complete satisfaction.

Design

Besides looking trendy and stylish, the noise cancellation headphones must be ergonomically designed to sit comfortably over the head and ears. They should have adequate grip over the ears so that there are no gaps, which can lead to ambient noise seeping into the ear canal. The cushions must cover the ear completely. You must check them physically to understand the comfort level of the device. Make sure that it is not heavy as wearing it for long hours can create pressure on the head and the ears. Also, the earmuffs should be of good quality, otherwise, they can become easily ripped or worn out after a few months.

Battery Life

With battery-operated devices, you need to know the playtime provided by the device after a single charge. Most of the high-end brands boast of 20-30 hours of listen time so that you can easily complete your daily commute to the office and take calls throughout the day without worrying about running out of battery. Some of them also provide up to 3 hours of listen time after 10-15 minutes of charging, so don’t forget to check this feature.

Bluetooth Range

The better the range of the Bluetooth technology embedded in the headphone, the farther you will be able to move without the call dropping or losing the signal. The Bluetooth range of these devicesvaries from up to 30 feet to over 90 feet. If you love moving around after pairing your device, you need to check this specification so that you can hear clear audio even when you move to the second level of the house and the phone is at the ground level.

 

How To Test Noise Cancelling Headphones When Buying?

It can be challenging to test the audio quality when you are inside the store, but you must not leave any stone unturned while examining the product. Use it in the noisiest corner of the retail store and the quietest one to check the difference in sound with and without disturbance in the background. You should keep it on for some time so that you can check the comfort level while wearing it. Also, listen to a variety of music ranging from hip-hop and jazz to R&B. Make a call from your phone and connect the Bluetooth of the headphone to evaluate the sound quality. Moreover, you can move around the store to check the range of the Bluetooth.

Do the testing with various brands so that you get a clear idea about the level of noise control achieved by each product. Shortlist the best ones and then check all the other features like warranty, battery life, design, technology, price, add-ons, discount, etc. Pick the one that suits your budget and your needs perfectly.

Why Do You Need Noise Cancellation Headphones?

If youhave been getting disturbed by your pooch barking in the background when you are on an office call, or the kids are making noise around the house when you are trying to watch a new movie, you need noise cancellation headphones. There are dozens of uses of noise cancellation headphones. Let us look at the most basic ones.

Better Focus

With online classes going on for college students and school kids, these noise cancellation headphones can help them to concentrate on the lectures and classes without getting distracted by conversations at home or TV playing in the background or someone using the food processor in the kitchen. With clear audio support, children and adults can remember the information vividly and learn better.

Enhanced Experience

Whenever we are disturbed during our business call or while listening to music, we tend to increase the volume to hear clearly. However, it is detrimental to the health of our ears. Noise cancellationheadphones allow the user to eliminate the disturbance created by the external environment and enjoy the audio without any noise. It works best when you are on a noisy office floor or travelling in an aeroplane or train and need silence to work or enjoy.

Safe Hearing

We usually tend to forget about our ears when thinking about safety. While we do not hesitate to buy the best humidifier for fresh air, we think twice before buying headphones that protect our ears. If you spend too much time in a noisy place or working in high decibel volumes, you are at risk of hearing loss, headache, sleep deprivation and more. Noise cancellation headphones come in handy in these situations and help the wearer to block all the piercing sounds and relax peacefully.

Health Benefits

When you are taking a long flight to another country, the noise cancelling headphones help in getting rid of jetlag and travel exhaustion by helping you to sleep without any noise from the plane and co-passengers disturbing you. These devices also come in handy if you get stressed by extreme noise levels in the surroundings. It reduces the overstimulation of your ears by drowning out the ambient noise.

Look and Feel

These devices are loved by gamers and youngsters who love to flaunt them in various colours and designs. Music lovers and mixers who have their own social media channels with several followers can use this for their work and looking happening in their videos. DJs and people working in manufacturing units can also make use of these devices to stay unaffected by the blaring microphones and sound of machines. In addition, they add an appeal to your persona and give you a cool vibe.

Conclusion

If you have been looking for noise cancellation headphones to buy in 2022, you need to figure out the utility of the device and your final budget. The next step is to understand the key aspects of the product and compare different brands. If you are unable to choose, look at our guide for a quick review and buy the best headphone that will give you an enriching listening experience.