Whether you’re hunting for headphones to use during your commute or want to block out noise while you work, there are many choices. But which earbuds are the best?
Our picks include Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II, which offer a comfortable fit and best-in-class active noise cancellation. They also feature multiple preset sound modes to hear everything from intimate acoustic guitar to action movie blasts.
Table of Contents
Sound Quality
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your audio experience on your next commute or block out distractions at work or home, noise-canceling headphones can be the best investment for your ears. The best headphones offer an immersive, high-quality sound that can be enjoyed in various environments. Some online electronic stores, such as Newegg, provide good deals.
Headphones with active noise cancellation monitor the sounds around you using miniature built-in microphones. When they hear a certain frequency from ambient noise, such as the rumble of an airplane engine or your seatmate’s animated conversation, the headphones emit a sound wave opposite the noise, effectively canceling it. Hence, all you should hear is your music.
While most headphones claim to have ANC, examining how many decibels of noise they can cancel and how much noise is canceled at different frequencies is important. Additionally, it is important to consider whether your headphones support the latest Bluetooth audio codecs, such as aptX and LDAC. Bluetooth is messy and older headphones tend to use a lower-quality audio codec that can degrade the quality of your music.
Battery Life
If you are a regular traveler or someone who works in an active office, noise-canceling headphones will give you a welcome break from the noise of other people. However, these headphones require a battery to function, so they must be charged regularly. This can become inconvenient, especially if you are traveling frequently.
Some users may also experience problems with their noise-canceling headphones. These problems can include decreased sound quality, audio issues and battery life. It is important to note that the headset’s firmware typically causes these problems and can be fixed with a factory reset.
Some brands of headphones offer a comfortable fit and high-quality sound for an excellent price. They have a competitive battery life of up to 30 hours with noise canceling turned on. They also feature an innovative ANC technology that uses eight microphones to reduce noise.
French headphone maker is known for producing incredible-sounding wired headphones with a jaw-dropping price tag. They do a great job canceling outside noise and boast a surprisingly long battery life of 28 hours. They also have Bluetooth codec support and a useful app for personalizing the headphones’ performance. However, they use older USB-B charging ports, and it can be hard to find a replacement battery if the original one becomes damaged.
Design
Originally designed for aviation and military use, noise-canceling headphones monitor the ambient sound around you using miniature microphones in the earcups or earbuds. The headphones then take these sounds and emit an inverted audio wave that cancels out the original one. This effectively reduces external noise levels and lets you enjoy your music peacefully.
If you’re a frequent traveler or commuter, ANC can make all the difference when concentrating on a task in a noisy office or getting rest on a plane or train ride. It’s also a great feature for anyone living in a busy urban environment where you can hear your neighbors or coworkers constantly interrupting you with conversations or noise.
The newest version has better ANC, a more comfortable fit and touch controls that are easier to navigate. The earbuds have an appealing design that wins us over with their sleekness and simplicity; though they are a little bulky, the earcups can press against your ears when you wear them for extended periods.
The earbuds offer a variety of listening modes, including transparency mode, which lets you hear the world around you without stopping your music. They also allow you manually adjust ANC settings.
Cost
Noise is all around us, from the hum of refrigerators to the chatter of coworkers, and it’s not just annoying: studies show that long-term exposure damages our hearing, mood, and ability to concentrate. So, when the noise gets to you, a pair of headphones that block out external sounds can be a lifesaver.
Noise-canceling headphones use miniature microphones to listen for ambient sound frequencies and then analyze the data to create an inverse sound wave superimposed on the original. When the two sound waves collide, they cancel each other out. The result is that the outside world fades away, and you can enjoy your music, podcast, or audiobook.
Unfortunately, extra electronics and battery power add to the cost of these headphones, which are often more expensive than regular ones. And, while they’re an excellent choice for concentrating on work, they aren’t ideal for sleeping since outside noises (like traffic or train rumbles) will penetrate the headset.
Ultimately, the best value in a pair of headphones comes from considering the long-term impact on your budget. Spending on a pair of high-quality headphones that will last years rather than months can save money in the long run by helping you avoid unnecessary repairs or replacements. This disciplined approach also allows you to allocate funds to essential expenses like debt repayment or building an emergency fund, increasing your financial security and stability.