With active noise cancellation, they cost like premium models compared to regular headphones. But if you commute to work daily by public transport, then they are worth it. Even the most gloomy morning in the subway does not seem so unbearable anymore, when you can enjoy a couple of your favorite tracks without distracting extraneous sounds. What's more, you don't have to turn up the volume, which is detrimental to your hearing, to drown out the noise.
Fortunately, the sound quality of headphones with active noise cancellation has improved significantly over last years. Now you do not need to choose what is more important for you - good sound or the absence of annoying noises.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST POWERED NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES
If you decide to purchase such headphones, then you need to immediately pay attention to a few points.
The first thing to decide is whether you want an in-ear model (noise-cancelling earplugs), large over-ear or on-ear headphones, or maybe you are looking for bluetooth headphones. In in-ear headphones, all the elements necessary for noise reduction are located in a special case, which is attached to the wire in wired models or attached to the back of the neck and to the collar in wireless models. In full-size models, such as the company's popular headphones, noise-canceling elements are located in the headphones themselves. It's much more convenient.
One of the features of the headphones was that until you turn on noise reduction, there will be no sound. Thus, when the battery runs out, the headphones become useless. Fortunately, the new wireless model has been finalized. Now, when the battery is low, you can connect the headphones via cable and continue to listen to music, but without noise cancellation. Some other models have the same features, while others do not. Keep this in mind if you know that you often do not have the opportunity to recharge your headphones during the day.
Battery life has also improved. Nowadays, you can easily find a model that works without recharging up to 20 or even up to 50 hours. Many models come with branded chargers, while others run on good old AA/AAA batteries.
Some headphones are equipped with technologies that will allow you to hear what is happening around you if necessary: you can temporarily turn off noise reduction or reduce its intensity. Headphones like , you can adjust the level of active noise cancellation, while others, like , have a smart mode that allows you to hear the sounds of the world around you using a special microphone.
Active noise canceling headphones use microphones that pick up ambient sounds. Then, using some technical devices, the headphones create a phase-reversed wave. Waves in the process of interference mix into a new wave and cancel each other out. The result cannot be called 100%, but this technology can largely get rid of repetitive sounds. The system targets sounds such as the rumble of an airplane, the noise of an air conditioner or fan, and to a lesser extent the sound of traffic. If you use active noise cancellation in combination with music, you will not hear most ambient sounds.
The sound quality and comfort levels of the latest active noise canceling headphones have been taken to a new level. In early models, there was a strange and annoying hiss and an unpleasant pressure was felt. The sound quality of the latest models is comparable in brightness and energy to the sound of headphones without noise reduction.
1 place.
Main characteristics:
- Full size headphones;
- Adjustable active noise cancellation;
- aptX Bluetooth.
The Sony MDR-1000X are the best active noise canceling headphones available on this moment. They block out most of all ambient noise. What's more, they are wireless and support aptX Bluetooth. Smart technology allows you to adjust the level of transmission of ambient sounds, for example, not to miss an important announcement at the airport. Particularly noteworthy is the "Quick Listen" mode, which temporarily drowns out the music and transmits ambient sounds to the headphones. Now you do not need to take off your headphones every time to exchange a word with a friend. Management is carried out with one touch of the cup. They are comfortable and the battery lasts a long time. The sound quality of the MDR-1000X is simply excellent.
2nd place.
Main characteristics:
- Full size headphones;
- Active noise cancellation;
- bluetooth.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 has the same excellent active noise canceling performance as the QuietComfort 25, but with the added bonus of being a Bluetooth-enabled wireless model. This makes the QuietComfort 35 even more comfortable and the battery lasts a decent amount of time.
3rd place.
Main characteristics:
- Full size headphones;
- Active noise cancellation;
- Passive listening mode.
Sony MDR-100ABN h.ear on Wireless combine modern urban design, functionality and excellent performance of active noise reduction. The price for them is quite affordable, so they have already pressed many competitors. These on-ear headphones completely cover the ears, but they are very comfortable. They support Bluetooth aptX and their own LDAC codec, which is useful if you use a player or . The battery lasts for 20 hours, which is a lot, and if the battery runs out, you can connect headphones using a cable and a 3.5 mm jack.
4th place.
Main characteristics:
- Full size headphones;
- Active noise cancellation;
- Passive listening mode.
The latest AKG N60 commute headphones are definitely worth checking out. Noise suppression is good. In addition, they are compact and convenient. To some, their price may seem overpriced, but when compared with competitors, everything makes sense.
5th place.
Main characteristics:
- Full size headphones;
- Active noise cancellation;
- 24 hours battery life.
The Plantronics BackBeat PRO is a great pair of over-ear headphones with a battery life of up to 24 hours of continuous use, and with noise canceling turned off, the headphones will keep you happy for up to 60 hours. The sound quality of this model is excellent, the noise cancellation works effectively, and the controllers are easy to use. The only downside is convenience. Cups could be softer.
6th place.
Main characteristics:
- Full size headphones;
- Active noise cancellation;
- 3-button remote control remote control for iOS and Android.
The Bose QuietComfort 25 are a great pair of noise canceling headphones, especially for city dwellers. They have a more youthful design than most models in the QuietComfort collection, and the noise cancellation works great. However, they do not stand up to comparison with the AKG N60.
A year and a half ago, I had an argument with a colleague from another site. We discussed rumors that the iPhone 7 will not have a headphone jack, and my argument was this: they say that Apple will revive the entire acoustics industry and motivate manufacturers to develop better wireless headphones.
I already thought I had lost. In addition to Apple itself in the face Beats, almost no one tried to do really a good product: Not just wireless headphones with bells and whistles, but cool, comfortable and functional. And most importantly - better than before.
The surprise came from where I did not expect. Sony took and made as many as 3 models of wireless headphones, which are mandatory, without any “buts” you have to try it for yourself. Wear, listen, be surprised.
Why did the idea of testing surprise me?
Publication from website (@site) Oct 26, 2017 at 2:49 PDT
A couple of weeks ago Sony invited journalists to an unusual event. No, just to make a presentation of new headphones in the office, like everyone else.
We were invited get on a helicopter and test not only the flagship model of the new headphones - Sony WH-1000XM2, but also their noise reduction.
Here it is worth making an important digression.
I've tried a dozen different noise-canceling headphones, from earplugs to full-size ones. And they all had one of two drawbacks:
- either they played mediocre or ok but not good.
- or their noise cancellation didn't work well.
There is nothing unusual about this. Herself noise reduction technology - the most complex system, which includes so many factors that making a universally excellent model of headphones that is not inferior to simply wireless counterparts at the same price was almost impossible for a long time.
It is necessary to ensure that the ideal were: design, passive noise reduction, speakers, microphones, ear cushion materials, air outlets. The "brains" of the headphones - the processor that corrects the sound, should work at 5 points and adapt to the surrounding conditions very quickly, accurately.
Therefore, I went to test Sony's new products without any special expectations, except perhaps with surprise. How much should a company be sure in such a sophisticated gadget to allow a hundred people to test them in a helicopter - probably the noisiest form of transport, even worse than a liner?
How did it go and what was presented
We were taken to Helipark Podushkino– for a formal presentation, then acquaintance with the models and the helicopter flight itself.
AirPods upon arrival could be thrown into the trash. The noise from the helicopters on the site was such that even at maximum volume the music could not be heard.
In this contrast, I felt excitement. Well, it can't be that noise canceling in these new Sony headphones so cool In extreme cases, something must be wrong with the sound. Miracles don't happen.
Here is what was announced at the official part.
The new line of Sony W headphones - and everything is smart
Publication from website (@site) Oct 26, 2017 at 2:21 PDT
A fan of the brand in the past, so deep down I wanted the W in the model indices to stand for "Walkman". In fact, this is Wireless, that is, “wireless”.
At the presentation, 3 new models of Bluetooth headphones with active noise reduction were shown at once - and all of them have gone on sale by today.
The common feature of this line is an interesting technology smart listening.
It changes the noise reduction algorithm according to what you are doing. Depending on the specific situation, headphones can either muffle all the noise, or vice versa reproduce all the surrounding sounds - to help you better navigate in space.
The latter is really important in the city. Walking on busy streets with headphones can be dangerous, which is why many of you (myself included) use AirPods or EarPods with their lack of noise cancellation.
So it's very cool that in the W series you can choose whether to hear noise or not.
Here are some smart scenarios that the headphones detect and activate on their own in Smart Listening mode:
- Journey: 100% noise reduction, 0% ambient sounds.
- Expectation: 50% noise reduction, 50% ambient sounds
- Walk: 70% noise reduction, 30% ambient sound
At any time, you can change the proportion of reproduction of ambient noise and the proportion of noise reduction, as well as change other settings through the proprietary Headphones Connect application.
And these headphones recognize the level of atmospheric pressure is a factor influencing the perception of sound. If you are high above sea level (on an airplane, for example), the headphones will change the acoustic pattern to achieve best quality sound and mitigate the effect of height on the impression of the library.
It turns out that the W series is initially adapted to all situations in which you may need noise reduction - train, flight, street, subway, office.
And at the same time, it allows the opposite - to hear MORE ambient noise so as not to miss your name in line, the voice of a colleague, an approaching car or an announcement from a subway station. Noise reduction and noise amplification, all in one.
Sony WI-1000X. Earplugs, always with you
Headphones necklace. All electronics are hidden under the collar and hang around the neck, and "gags" on a short wire are inserted into the ears.
Control buttons, charging port and indicators are on the necklace. The fit is comfortable, the weight is small - 70 grams.
The headphones themselves are two-driver: there are 9-mm dynamic and balanced reinforcing speakers. According to impressions - a good rich sound with a moderate bass (you can feel the impact), but at the same time bright high frequencies. Medium at the middle level, in this range one can feel the digital amplification and the work of the “improver”, which puts emphasis on some signals instead of others.
Operating time - 10 hours with continuous music playback and 17 hours just in standby mode.
Other interesting features: NFC, support aptX HD(alas, iPhones are in flight), wired mode - via an audio cable, a 3.5 mm cable from the kit. The range of the headphones in wireless mode is standard, 10 meters.
Headphone necklaces - mainstream of the wireless world, because it is convenient to use them: you won’t lose them anywhere, you don’t have to look, it’s easy to remove the “gags” themselves and put them back on. Sony, however, managed to add excellent noise reduction to them. Against this background, BeatsX similar in design look pathetic.
Sony WF-1000X
Where today without true independent wireless headphones! Sony has finally entered this segment of the market, and their very first model hit the mark.
Firstly These are really comfortable headphones. The biggest problem with independent wireless "ears" is how crookedly they are inserted and poorly held. In the case of the WF-1000X, it took me 5 seconds to poke both and get full soundproofing and a “vacuum” effect that is not lost when walking (another popular jamb of such models).
I walked in them for 15 minutes, I did not feel any discomfort.
Secondly, super sound quality! After AirPods, this is just an incomparable upgrade. Good mids. The bass is powerful and punchy. The highs are slightly muffled against the background of the rest. But how cool is all this in combination with noise reduction! You don't have to turn up the volume to hear something. And there are no wires hanging.
Playback control - through taps and swipes on the earpiece, a simple system.
Third they look good. Again, unlike other models in this class, the WF-1000X doesn't stick out far to the side like you're an android robot. And they don't hang down like they put a toothbrush in their ear. Personally, I liked the beige model more, it looks advantageous on everyone.
Battery life is a bit weak after AirPods. 3 hours on a single charge with continuous music playback. And 8 hours of standby time with noise cancellation (35 hours without it). The headphones are charged in a portable case (weighs 70 grams), for everything about everything for an hour and a half.
The case is enough for 3 full charges. There is a Fast Charging function - 15 minutes of charge is enough for 75 minutes of listening.
I would recommend listening to this model for those who have not bought AirPods yet. And if you don't like the fit or sound of Apple's wireless earbuds, the WF-1000X is the place to start looking. The sound is too good to miss. Well, there is noise reduction!
Sony WH-1000XM2
Here she is, the star of the day. Full-size wireless headphones with Sony's top noise-canceling technology. A whole bunch of bells and whistles and "improvers" of the highest class, after which the price of the model ceases to seem high.
I don’t even know where to start, the sea of emotions. Here I will talk about technology.
These are closed-type headphones with dynamic dome emitters on neodymium magnets. 40 mm drivers reproduce a very high frequency range: from 4 to 40,000 Hz.
Iron is serious. Wireless audio processed by technology DSEE HX- the ideological successor of aptX, which improves the quality of compressed music files and recovers lost data due to the nature of the Bluetooth connection.
The result is that these headphones sound even cooler in wireless mode than in wired mode. There is a small digital “mark” on the sound: unusually sharp, bright detailing of different frequencies that the system considers important at a particular moment in the track.
I can describe the sound quality for a long time. For example, the bass here is multifaceted, strong, but not buzzing. It is equally good both in instrumental tracks and in heavy metal-cuts - thanks to the work of electronics. And what good ones are high here, with the effect of presence!
Overall conclusion - WH-1000XM2 sound cooler than anything with noise cancellation that I have ever heard.
There is support for the LDAC codec - it allows you to improve the sound quality when playing uncompressed audio files.
Working hours - 30 hours! That is, one charge is enough for a week of daily use on the road or for the entire round-trip flight. Well, you can always connect the cable, having lost, however, excellent Sony software bells and whistles available in wireless mode.
Ear pads from skin, body made of plastic with a matte finish and metal inserts. Management is carried out through touch panel on one of the headphones: swipes and taps familiar to everyone. The scheme takes some getting used to, as for me this is the only (small) drawback of the model. Buttons taxied and will steer.
There is an awesome feature instant muting music and playback of ambient sounds: you put your hand on the right earpiece - and you sharply hear everything that is happening around. This allows you to answer a question from others or listen to an announcement without removing your headphones. Works flawlessly.
This is an awesome thing, but it costs 27,990 rubles.
Well, how is noise reduction in a helicopter?
🚁 We flew in a helicopter with Sony WH-1000Xm2 headphones and tested active noise cancellation. In short: 🔥! You sit in almost complete silence, but in fact there is noise and whistling in the cockpit 😌 respect to #sony for proving the coolness of these “ears” instead of a buzzshit 👍 @ngoryainov is still impressed 😳 #1000x #headphones
Rating of the top 3 best noise canceling earplugs
Noise Cancellation vs Noise Isolation – Is Noise Cancellation Better?
There are misconceptions about noise cancellation and noise isolation. Below we will try to explain the difference.
Noise suppression
Noise cancellation is an active system that uses a microphone and external power. The microphone picks up ambient noise, and the control chip creates a sound with similar characteristics, but opposite in wave phase, and sends this sound to the headphones. The same sound with opposite phases extinguishes itself, and you just have to listen to music and enjoy the silence.
Such a system performs well at suppressing low-frequency noise, such as the constant hum of an engine.
When Active Noise Cancellation is activated, you seem to be transported to a quieter place, however this technology does not remove all ambient noise.
The echoes of the human voice, loud music and any other noises with unstable frequencies cannot be isolated, so you will hear them constantly. Typically a combination active system noise reduction and passive noise isolation provides the best result.
Noise isolation
Passive noise isolation does not need complex systems - it drowns out noise by isolating it. For example, the tight-fitting ear cushions of full-size headphones play a significant role in blocking out all external noise. In-ear headphones seal the ear canal with their shape, so sound waves are transmitted through an air column isolated from the environment.
Well-isolated headphones can block up to 37 dB of noise, which provides complete blocking of a quiet human voice.
Passive noise isolation blocks out all outside sounds, from stomping neighbors to screaming children. This makes them useful when you crave privacy.
On the other hand, complete sound isolation can be dangerous in public places, because during a walk on the street it can be important to know what is happening around you.
What can you expect from noise canceling headphones?
Noise-canceling headphones will eliminate most background noise without canceling out high-frequency sounds such as human voices and traffic.
As soon as you press the button to activate the noise reduction, some of the background sounds will simply disappear, creating the illusion of a quieter environment.
So noise-cancelling headphones are perfect for when you want to get rid of the rumble of the engine while still allowing you to hear sounds that warn you of important things. For example, about a flight delay at the airport or about the approach of a car on the street.
What does 95% noise reduction mean?
Typically, the effectiveness of noise cancellation is measured in specific, low-frequency, low-noise environments, as it is under these conditions that active noise cancellation technology achieves its best performance.
This does not mean that active noise cancellation with 95% efficiency will remove 95% of background noise. They will only suppress frequencies at various levels. As such, ANC ratings should be treated with some skepticism, as they do not demonstrate the true effectiveness of the technology.
Review of the top 7 best in-ear headphones with noise canceling technology
Best Bose QuietComfort 20 Earplugs
The Bose QuietComfort 20 is undeniably the best active noise canceling earbuds available today.
Not everyone likes Bose products, but it is worth recognizing that they have achieved impressive results in the field of sound suppression and are today the leaders in this direction in the audio equipment market.
Noise suppression
If you want to magically eliminate background noise and immerse yourself in the world of music, but still hear high-frequency sounds, you will not find anything better than the Bose QuietComfort 20.
The noise canceling in earbuds seems to work even better for high frequency noise than competing headphones (with this technology). They are so good that they will save you both the rumble of aircraft turbines and some of the noise of automobile traffic, and muffle the shrill human voices and the loud chirping of birds.
They may not completely get rid of these sounds, but they do it better than all the other models on this list.
In addition, the QC 20 has a special mode called "Attention", which reduces the amount of noise reduction for those times when you need to hear other people around you.
The battery, which is needed for noise reduction, is unfortunately non-removable, but it lasts for 16 hours, after which it can be charged with via USB. Li-ion battery withstands up to 500 charge cycles, after which its capacity begins to decrease. Thus, if you use the noise reduction mode for about 10 hours on average, then you will have enough trouble-free battery life for a year and a half.
Design reliability
The construction quality is good, despite the plastic "plugs". Silicone ear pads are pleasant to the touch and fit snugly. The cables are protected by a sufficient layer of rubber and are hardly the weak link in this design.
Comfort
With its lightweight design and quality silicone ear cushions, the Bose QuietComfort 20 is extremely comfortable.
Included with the headphones, you are provided with three different sizes of ear cushions, which will allow you to comfortably place “plugs” in the ears of almost any person. And while the ear cups are comfortable, they feel a bit short, which reduces their passive noise isolation and fit stability. However, as soon as you find the best level of fit, noise isolation will hardly disappoint you.
Peculiarities
The microphone is located on the cable and works as expected, allowing you to easily answer calls without interrupting the noise canceling mode.
No less ergonomically located control compositions and mode of operation of noise reduction. Please note that Attention mode is guaranteed to work only with the required OS type - iOS or Android.
sound
As for headphones with active noise cancellation - the sound is not bad, but it cannot be compared with conventional audiophile models.
Sound seems to be better when noise canceling is on than when it's off. In the latter case, the mids are less pronounced, so it makes sense to activate active noise cancellation as often as possible.
In general, the sound can be described as typical Bose - with an accentuated bass and slightly shaded treble. However, the sound turned out to be more balanced than in previous models, where the mids were even worse.
Bottom line, if you value noise cancellation over sound quality (typical of people on the move), the Bose QuietComfort 20 will appeal to you. After all, if you're looking for the very best in noise canceling technology packed into a small and comfortable pair of headphones
Bose QuietComfort 20 is waiting for you.
Advantages:
- Best noise cancellation in its class
- sufficient comfort with a stable fit;
- strong assembly;
- ideal "plugs" for travelers;
- sound quality that rivals the best active noise-cancelling headphones.
Flaws:
- price;
- sound quality deteriorates when noise canceling is turned off.
AKG K391 NC Active Noise Canceling In-Ear Headphones
Noise suppression
Compared to the Bose model above, the AKG K391 still has some room for improvement, but overall it delivers a decent level of noise cancellation.
They perform well on board airliners and on the seats of public transport, successfully drowning out low hums, white noises and other background noise, while he is not able to cope with the voice.
The battery is even more durable than on the Bose, and lasts about 40 hours on a single charge.
Design reliability
The construction is made of aluminum and the build quality is top notch. Aluminum ear cups, thick rubberized wires securely attached to the battery and noise canceling devices - you will have to work hard to find flaws in the design.
Convenience
The AKG K391 NC has a more over-ear design, while the Bose QuietComfort 20 is more on-ear. Therefore, they stay in your ears exactly until the moment when you begin to actively move, which makes them not the best choice for sports training. The ear pads can be replaced with foam rubber ones to improve comfort, although the original silicone ones are very good.
Peculiarities
The microphone works great when taking calls, and you can easily connect to any devices on your phone. iOS platform and Android. Don't expect studio quality from it, but it's fine for talking to a friend.
sound
Any audiophile will surely agree that the AKG K391 NC sounds better than the Bose SoundQuiet 20 as the sound is more balanced.
Whereas the Bose have more pronounced bass and treble, the AKG has a more balanced sound profile. It also cannot be compared to typical audiophile devices, although the sound quality is already closer to them than that of Bose.
With the noise reduction mode turned off, the sound sharply loses detail, but as soon as it is turned on, the sound picture changes dramatically for the better: the highs become clear and pronounced, acquire a warm tint, the middle is not darkened, and the basses become elastic and clear.
Bottom line, if you don't want to spend a ton of money on the Bose QuietComfort 20, but want similar noise-canceling performance with a high build quality and improved sound profile, go for the AKG K391.
Advantages:
- noise cancellation is better than average;
- high quality assemblies;
- balanced sound.
Flaws:
- a little bulky due to the battery;
- The sound is still not up to standard headphones.
The best wireless headset with microphone and active noise cancellation Phiaton BT 220 NC
Noise suppression
According to the developers, the noise reduction efficiency is 95%. Despite the nice figure, the Bose QuietComfort 20 still beats the Phiaton, especially when suppressing high-frequency sounds.
Active Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headphones - Battery lasts up to 16 hours, depending on usage. Bluetooth 4.0 works as well as older versions, and can receive a signal within a radius of 10 meters. Wireless headphones have built-in AptX technology for best quality, just make sure your device supports it (iPhone does not).
The Phiaton BT 220 NC can be used in a variety of ways - both with Bluetooth and active noise cancellation, and as regular wired headphones using a micro USB cable.
Design reliability
There is nothing special in the design. They don't look flimsy, but they don't hold up well to moisture and are mostly made of plastic, which makes them very light though.
Convenience
Due to their light weight, they are very comfortable. As soon as you choose the right size of ear pads, you will forget that you are wearing them.
Peculiarities
Wired connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0 and AptX technology, a microphone (working in Bluetooth mode only), and multipoint connectivity that allows you to connect up to two devices at the same time.
sound
The sound is excellent, perhaps even better than the Bose QuietComfort 20, but only if you gravitate towards balanced sound. The highs are very "crispy" and detailed, the mids are not darkened, and the basses are elastic, but clearly not accentuated.
In the end, if you're looking for comfortable, lightweight, affordable wireless headphones with good sound, check out the Phiaton BT 220 NC.
Advantages:
- 95% noise reduction;
- convenience due to lightness;
- 16-hour battery life;
- Bluetooth 4.0 with AptX;
- possibility of wired connection;
- balanced clean sound.
Flaws:
- strong wind spoils the sound when the noise canceling mode is turned on.
Sony MDRNC13 - Sony's latest in-ear headphones with active noise cancellation
Noise suppression
This technology is less effective here compared to products from Bose or Phiation, but it works well. They perform well when you need a noise canceling mode, but you still want to hear the surrounding sounds. As Sony claims, they have 87% noise reduction.
But what surprised the Sony MDRNC13 was the battery capacity, which is enough for 100 hours! It uses standard AAA batteries. None of the "earbuds" with noise cancellation are not able to work for so long on a single charge.
Design reliability
The design of the product is made of high quality plastic. The Sony MDRNC13 shouldn't be taken to the gym or expected to last for years, but they won't fall apart if used daily.
Convenience
The headphones are quite large, but since they are made of plastic, they do not weigh very much and provide a comfortable fit even on long flights.
Peculiarities
The Sony MDRNC13 does not come with a microphone for phone calls, but can work with any tablet or smartphone.
sound
The sound quality has a typical picture for Sony - weakly present bass and clear highs. In general, the sound is not bad, but does not stand up to comparison with more advanced counterparts.
Bottom line, if you want quality earbuds from Sony with impressive battery capacity, the Sony MDRNC13 is a great choice.
Advantages:
- effective 87% noise reduction;
- Sony branded quality;
- light and comfortable;
- impressive battery capacity;
- good balanced sound.
Flaws:
- Bose and Phiaton have better noise cancellation
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 - the most popular noise canceling earbuds
In our opinion, this model offers optimal solution at the cost of all headphones with active noise cancellation at the moment.
For less than $100, you get sturdy in-ear headphones with high-quality sound that's better than many $200 models in this segment.
Noise suppression
According to Audio-Technica, these headphones cancel out up to 90% of noise, which is true, so they can be compared to Bose QuietComfort 20 and Phiaton earbuds in terms of noise cancellation.
The battery life on a single charge is 60 hours thanks to the capacious AAA batteries.
Design reliability
Products under the Audio-Technica brand can hardly be of poor quality, even despite the plastic. In any case, you should not be afraid that the headphones will break after a few weeks.
Convenience
The ATH-ANC23 are lightweight yet have a bulky design. But that doesn't make them uncomfortable. On the contrary, as soon as you choose the right size of ear pads, they will seem more convenient to you than many vacuum plugs.
Peculiarities
The headphones do not have a separate microphone, as the microphones are already built into the ear cups.
sound
That's what Audio-Technica is good at, especially considering the cost. These are definitely the best in-ear headphones with active noise cancellation in terms of sound quality. It is felt that the sound profile is concentrated around the middle. The tops are usually clean, but can get rough at times. Lows have clear and percussive bass.
Thus, if you want the best earplugs with active noise cancellation technology, then the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 is definitely your choice.
Advantages:
- excellent 95% noise reduction;
- good build;
- affordable;
- high quality sound;
- 60-hour work on one battery.
Flaws:
- For the money it's hard to find something better.
Active Noise Canceling Headphones for Sony Xperia MDR NC31EM
Before reading the review, please note that the Sony MDR NC31E is only compatible with noise canceling-enabled Sony gadgets - these are Xperia series smartphones and tablets (Z2, Z3, Z4, etc.)
Noise suppression
According to the manufacturer, this value reaches an impressive 98%, however, in our opinion, the Bose QuietComfort 20 has better noise reduction. On the other hand, the NC31E has various noise canceling modes: air travel, public transport, and office. In addition, there is no need to worry about the battery, since there is no battery in the headphones, and active noise cancellation is powered by the connected device.
Design reliability
Active noise canceling headphones for Sony Xperia made of plastic with rubberized wires that are prone to tangling, since the cable on the left side is shorter than the right. The build quality is consistent with the Sony brand, but can not boast of anything special.
Convenience
Swapping out the bundled ear pads for Comply foam pads will allow you to reach a new level of comfort, as the standard ear pads are nothing compared to most models of this type.
Peculiarities
The noise canceling mode works because the microphones are built into the headphones, and the connected Xperia series device is responsible for generating the waves.
sound
The sound quality is very good. The sound profile is balanced and there is clearly no heavy bass. In general, exactly the sound that you would expect from regular headphones for $50.
Bottom line, if you're looking for affordable noise canceling headphones for your Sony Xperia, the MDR NC31E will come in handy.
Advantages:
- noise reduction with a level above average;
- there is no bulky "box" with a battery and noise reduction device;
- available;
- unique design;
- good sound.
Flaws:
- only works fully with Sony Xperia series devices.
TaoTronics TT-BH06 Best Budget Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
Noise suppression
After evaluating previous samples of active noise canceling headphones, we believe that the TT-BH06 has the worst performance. Yes, noise cancellation works, but it's much worse than the more expensive counterparts, which, in principle, is quite expected for $20 headphones.
The built-in battery allows you to enjoy the available noise reduction mode for 5 hours.
Design reliability
Of course, the fortress of these headphones is not the highest. The manufacturer claims that the device is waterproof, but you should definitely not hope for a long service life. On the other hand, the TaoTronics support department is ready to replace any product that suddenly stops working for unknown reasons.
Convenience
Finding the right fit takes some getting used to, as the headphones have a built-in battery that makes them heavier. In general, they can be worn for about an hour before you get tired of them. If you are lucky with the shape of the ear canal, then you will surely find these headphones comfortable, and if not, then get ready for the constant loss of "plugs" during any active activities.
Peculiarities
Bluetooth 4.1 allows you to connect to any wireless device, and the communication range is up to 10 meters. In addition, TaoTronics can use AptX audio enhancement technology. A built-in microphone is also available, which is convenient for phone calls.
sound
The sound quality, oddly enough, surprises. Of course, he is far from his dear colleagues, but a fairly balanced sound with a minimum of bass is quite suitable for those who want to enjoy music on a long journey.
So for $20 you can't find a better one. wireless headset than TaoTronics TT-BH06.
Advantages:
- very low price tag;
- definitely worth the money;
- heaped enough;
- responsive support.
Flaws:
- noise reduction technology is worse than all the above models;
- nothing special stands out.
In our testing of the latest and most expensive noise-canceling headphones, we examined four of the best Bluetooth models currently the following parameters: Noise cancelling, sound quality, battery life and Bluetooth connectivity.
Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headphones: Testing the Noise Canceling Function
Bose made a splash in 2016 with its first active noise-cancelling wireless headphones: the Quiet Comfort 35 delivers not only great sound, but also high-quality noise cancellation. Now the successor Quiet Comfort 35 II has entered the market, which in our test will fight for the first place with new Sony WH-1000XM2, Beats Studio 3 Wireless, and Sennheiser PXC 550. Headphones currently cost 20-25 thousand rubles.
The models tested have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): they are equipped with microphones that absorb ambient noise and create anti-phase sound waves that best attenuate external sounds for the listener. Their advantage over conventional headphones: you do not have to turn on the music in order not to hear external noise. Accordingly, these headphones promise true silence in the workplace or on the go. Sure, construction earphones do the job well and are cheaper, but NC earphones allow you to enjoy your music with very little external noise, as the noise canceling adapts the music signal accordingly. And since we are talking about rather expensive models, users, of course, can count on the highest sound quality.
Left to right: Beats Studio 3 Wireless, Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II, Sennheiser PXC 550
Noise Reduction: This is how it works for all tested models.
In order to test active noise cancellation in a natural urban environment, we played typical external sounds through the speakers in the test lab, such as the sound of a moving train, the noise of a supermarket and a playground, to test how the noise cancellation of headphones works without music.
Sony's WH-1000XM2 earphones perform best in our test, followed by the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II. The Beats Studio 3 Wireless came in last place, with the Sennheiser PXC 550 in the middle of the list. But not a single model could achieve complete silence. Bass and deeper mids are barely perceptible, but voices (albeit much quieter) still penetrate the headphones. It follows that on-ear headphones are particularly well-suited for use in cars and airplanes, as they do an excellent job of capturing monotonous low-frequency noise. Some people, however, react negatively to such unnatural silence, some perceive it as pressure on the ears, others think they hear a slight noise. Wind has a bad effect on the sound transmission in such headphones, which creates a noticeable noise when it blows into the microphones. The tested models did not perform well in those cases when a person put on a hood over them, or was in a noisy bus. In these situations, the sound constantly changes and begins to twitch, which does not happen in conventional headphones. Fortunately, in such situations, noise cancellation can be turned off for all four models.
Noise-Cancelling headphones suppress street noise not perfectly, but quite well (Headphones pictured: Sony WH-1000XM2) Noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones shorten battery life
If you turn off noise cancellation, the battery life is longer, but the headphones start to sound worse. This is especially noticeable with the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II: the bass and mids become fuzzy and blurry. Unfortunately, the batteries of all four models are built-in, and it will not be possible to replace them yourself. We asked the manufacturers how much it cost to replace the battery, but only Beats gave us a satisfactory answer. According to information on their home page the cost of replacing the battery will be a little less than 6,000 rubles. The battery is non-replaceable, according to Bose, while Sennheiser and Sony are prepared to calculate the cost on a case-by-case basis. It is very unpleasant that headphones worth 20,000 rubles because of this threaten to become in some way a disposable product.
| Name | Sony WH-1000XM2 | Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II | Sennheiser PXC550 | Beats Studio 3 Wireless |
| Sound | Rich, pronounced bass, usually warm, a little lacking in clarity | Clear and crisp but at times cold, good bass | More restrained bass, natural mid-range reproduction, high frequencies dominate | Not very wide range and not very high detail, but warm and pleasant |
| Time battery life battery with ANC enabled | 33:50 h | 18:01 h | 19:49 h | 23:45 h |
| Battery life with ANC off | 45:11 h | 20:37 h | 23:09 h | 42:47 h |
| Battery charge time | 169 minutes | 96 minutes | 165 minutes | 76 minutes |
| Bluetooth connection stability | Very good | Satisfactorily | Very good | Great |
| Wearing comfort | Great | Great | Fine | Very good |
| Noise suppression | Great | Great | Fine | Satisfactorily |
| The quality of the speech signal when talking on the phone | Fine | Fine | Very good | Fine |
| Cable connection without Bluetooth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operates via cable connection when the battery is discharged | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| You can change the battery yourself | No | No | No | No |
| Stacked up | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| travel case | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Control | touch | Mechanical buttons | touch | Mechanical buttons |
| Connection via NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audio codecs | SBC, aptX, aptX HD, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | SBC, aptX | SBC, AAC |
| Construction type | full size | full size | full size | full size |
| Weight | 275 grams | 310 grams | 227 grams | 260 grams |
| Price | 24 000 rub. | 21 000 rub. | 20 200 rub. | 19 900 rub. |
In general, the Sony WH-1000XM2 headphones performed best, the successor to a very similar Sony models MDR-1000X: except good sound They feature top-notch noise cancellation, stable Bluetooth connectivity and excellent battery life, plus they fit very comfortably. With noise cancellation turned on and constant music playback, they lasted almost 34 hours - the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II survived only 18 hours in such conditions.
We liked the sound in general, but it has a bit of a bass bias, so we lacked a bit of clarity and definition. Headphones are not very suitable for listening to high-quality sound, but at work in the office or on the road, they will definitely please you with good meaty sound. If you are not satisfied with the "bass" headphones, you should pay attention to the Sennheiser PXC 550. Bass forms an excellent basis for the sound, which gives zest to electro, pop, as well as hip-hop tracks, as well as movie soundtracks (for example, Running on the blade 2049), but still the sound in the headphones is a little blurry, and tends to go into the middle range. In the range high frequencies the 1000XM2 headphones should have sounded a little clearer. For example, guitars, cymbals and tambourines are heard more openly and clearly in the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II, while they are slightly muffled in Sony by comparison.
The Sony WH-1000XM2 has a mechanical button to change the amount of noise reduction. Otherwise, you can control them with taps and swipes on the right earcup. The Sony WH-1000XM2 fit very well, with soft and pleasant to the touch ear cushions that fit well on the head. The hidden touch controls on the right earcup take some getting used to: swipe back or forward to skip tracks, and up and down to increase or decrease the volume. It seems that everything is simple, but in practice it is a different matter, more than once we, trying to simply change the volume, switched to another track. In general, after a short period of getting used to, management ceases to seem so difficult. The Bluetooth connection is quite stable and does not drop when the user moves to another room.
WH-1000XM2 sit very comfortably on the head. True, from time to time the plastic creaks a little. Testing the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II
Compared to the Sony WH1000XM2, the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II has two significant drawbacks. Problem #1: Bose headphones showed the most unstable Bluetooth connection in our test. Already at a distance of three meters, the music during testing began to stray, if between mobile phone and the earpiece was the wall. Even with a line-of-sight connection, we were able to induce short disconnections by simply placing our hands on the headphones. When listening to music in these headphones, you will no longer be able to move freely around the apartment (of course, a lot depends on the thickness of the walls). Even with the close location of the Galaxy S7 and headphones on the go, there were sudden interruptions.
Problem #2: Battery life with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. And here Quiet Comfort 35 II showed the worst result, in our test they lasted only 18 hours.
But the noise cancellation itself works just fine and fights external noise very effectively. Voices can be heard through the headphones, but very quietly, not disturbing at all. But in our test, Sony headphones performed better in this regard. Both those and others according to this indicator can be recognized as almost a reference option. The disadvantage of Bose is that people standing nearby can hear quite well what music sounds in the headphones, already starting at medium volume.
The sound of the headphones is very pleasing: compared to the model from Sony, the sound of the Quiet Comfort 35 II is clearer and more precise, but at the same time colder and harder. We really liked listening to jazz and classical music with them, but not so much metal, we didn’t have enough sound volume, which prompted us to lower the volume. The dynamic range of the sound is excellent, and the low frequencies are well defined, without blurring.
Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II do not fit snugly on the head, but they sit very comfortably. Quiet Comfort 35 II sit very comfortably on the head, not quite tight, but it does not interfere. However, with quick head turns, they slide off. The fact that Bose is still relying on mechanical buttons may seem a little dated, but we liked it. True, someone has already lost the habit of having to press the button two or three times to switch the track, but you definitely can’t go wrong by pressing pause or changing the volume. By the way, Quiet Comfort 35 II allows you to work directly with the Google Assistant, which makes it possible to control your phone using voice commands. This is a nice bonus, but it is unlikely that for many it will be a reason to buy these headphones. Sony WH-1000XM2 will have this feature with the update.
It's quite annoying that the Bose app transmits user data and information about your music preferences by default. Those who do not want this should disable this feature.
It was quite convenient for us to work with the control buttons on the earpiece. The big button on the left controls Google Assistant or adjusts the intensity of noise cancellation. Sennheiser PXC 550
The Sennheiser PXC 550 is a great purchase for fans of clear and rich sound, but compared to the other models we tested, these headphones are too dominated by heights for us, and the sound sounds a bit “dry”. The bass sound is ok, but the models from Bose and Sony convey it better. Depending on the track, we sometimes liked the Sennheiser basses, because they sounded not so intrusive, sometimes not so much, because sometimes they lacked materiality and persuasiveness. The mid-tones and voice of the headphones are quite pleasant and natural. But when listening to quieter passages, we noticed a slight background noise that other headphones did not have. The noise cancellation system on the Sennheiser PXC 550 is generally good, but still worse than the Sony WH-1000XM2 and Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II. In the office, voices are heard through these headphones more than other models. Overall, we rate the noise cancellation system as "Good". When testing the battery, the headphones lasted 20 hours on a single charge, a good result. When measuring the charging time, the headphones showed themselves differently: when using some power supplies, they charged very slowly, it took more than 20 hours to fully charge, we replaced the power supply, everything is the same. When we managed to find a more suitable device for powering, the entire process of 100% charging took only 165 minutes, which is quite an acceptable result.
The Sennheiser PXC 550 look very serious, but wearing them is not very comfortable due to their some clumsiness and rather narrow ear cushions. In the Wearing comfort category, we would have preferred other models, although the PXC 550 fit quite well on the head. But there is relatively little foam on the ear pads, and therefore the headphones sit, for our taste, not quite perfect. Sennheiser PXC 550 as well as Sony WH-1000XM2 are controlled using hidden touch buttons. The problem is that to activate Play / Pause here you need to click only once on reverse side right earpiece (Sony twice), which leads to common mistakes with touch control. In addition, two editors accidentally dialed the last phone number dialed because they accidentally activated the appropriate function (swipe and hold) while putting on the headphones. Our conclusion is that the control of these headphones still needs to get used to. In addition, this Sennheiser model has a proximity sensor so that the headphones automatically pause music when you take them off and start playing when you put them on.
Unfortunately, this feature didn't work very well when we wore the hood on top, although the headphones were on all the time, they occasionally stopped playing a track when the wearer turned his head.
Plus: Like other headphones, Sennheiser PXC 550 can be folded for travel. Beats Studio 3 Wireless Headphones
The sound of the Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones is quite decent, but compared to the other three models, it seems rather unremarkable, slightly flat and not very wide range. Unlike the QC35 II from BOSE, these headphones sound equally good on any genre of music, their warm sound conveys the music in a slightly less detailed and more restrained way, but it never annoyed us with any track of any genre, even at high volume levels. . The Studio 3 Wireless may sound a bit closed off, but they are great all-round headphones for travel and work.
The Beats Studio 3 Wireless has the worst noise cancellation of any model we've tested, but it still earns us a Satisfactory rating for this feature. In our testing, the difference was especially noticeable when compared to models from Sony and Bose, which do a much better job of handling ambient noise. But when listening to music already at the lowest volume, the difference ceases to be so noticeable. Like the rest of the models we tested, these headphones should not be worn in windy conditions, because the microphones transmit the wind as a rather pronounced rustling.
The Beats Studio 3 Wireless sound warm, with a slight tendency to emphasize the bass, but I wanted more range and sound clarity. We really liked the way the Beats Studio 3 Wireless fits, they are very comfortable and comfortable on the head. But the ear cups themselves could be a little bigger, the inner fabric padding touches the ears and they get hot after a while. People with long hair should also be careful when wearing these headphones, the narrow connection between the headband and the ear pads in testing showed that it was capable of pulling out hair quite well. Beats are controlled using mechanical buttons on the outside of the left earcup. We very quickly got used to their management, and did not make mistakes.
The Beats ANC headset bets on button control instead of touch. Management works well. The Studio 3 Wireless showed the best Bluetooth connection stability in testing, and came second in terms of battery life, with nearly 24 hours of battery life on a single charge. In addition, the Beats headphones are equipped with a special Bluetooth chip optimized for connection to Apple devices: W1.
28.02.2019
Promotion has expired
Noise-canceling headphones are not the cheapest, but very useful devices that protect against extraneous noise. A special system captures the sound of the outside world through a microphone and creates a mirror sound wave. The two waves overlap and cancel each other out.
Thus, you can enjoy silence by simply putting on such headphones - they cut off the extra rumble even without the music turned on. And by turning on your favorite song, you will hear only it, without the noise of the street or the cries of children in public transport.
Sony WF1000X - full sound control
The Sony WF1000X headphones provide noise reduction control in several modes. Standard - completely isolates you from external sounds. Ambient Sound mode, on the other hand, mutes the music, so that the microphones broadcast the sounds of the surrounding world. The third mode completely turns off soundproofing.
For advanced control of the gadget, a proprietary Sony Headphones Connect application is provided. Here you can view the battery level, fine-tune the noise reduction function, set the virtual sound source, set the equalizer parameters and set the highest priority for sound quality.
The bass in the headphones is clear and tight, the vocals are clearly distinguishable, and upper frequencies clear and resonant. At a volume level of about 70%, the headphones will last approximately 2 hours on a single charge. With periodic charging in a powerbank case, the headphones will work without problems for at least 2 days.
Sony WH1000 - almost studio quality sound
The noise cancellation of the Sony WH1000 can be called one of the best for wireless gadgets. Even in the noisiest subway car, external sounds will not bother you. At the same time, a smart optimization system is implemented in the model. The gadget independently adapts to the user's listening style and even the height at which you are.
A powerful speaker and branded amplifier provide high quality sound, close to the studio. During playback of songs, interference is reduced and the smallest nuances of sound are emphasized.
One charge of the built-in battery lasts for 38 hours of continuous sound. At the same time, a reserve of 70 minutes can be achieved in just 10 minutes of connection to the charger.
JBL Everest 750bt - individual sound for everyone
Headphones JBL Everest 750 are full of technical "chips". Active noise cancellation is complemented by NXTGen technology here. Through the application, you can individually adjust the level of external noise that enters the headphones through the microphone.
The special TruNote mechanism allows you to adapt the gadget for each user. You put on your headphones and press the Smart button. The device is playing sound signal, which is reflected from the auricle and analyzed by the device. After that, Everest 750 creates a sound profile specifically for you with an optimal combination of low, medium and high frequencies. At the same time, using the equalizer in the proprietary application, you can adjust the sound quality even more precisely.
After a 3-hour charge, Everest 750 provides up to 19 hours of battery life in standard mode and up to 15 hours in noise canceling mode.
Marshall Mid ANC Bluetooth - Max Bass
Another model from legendary brand Marshall. The Marshall Mid ANC are headphones with every detail carefully considered. For example, you can use the gadget in both wireless and wired mode. Another nice detail is the Share function. When you listen to music via a Bluetooth connection, you can connect the headphones with a cable to another headset or speakers.
The speakers, designed specifically for this model, perfectly reproduce compositions in any genre. Bass is especially well defined here. Noise canceling does its job well. It takes 3 hours to fully charge the gadget, after which the headphones work up to 30 hours with noise reduction turned off and up to 20 hours with it turned on.
Beats Studio3 - headphones with an Apple processor
Ever since the Cupertino-based company bought the Beats brand, headphones under this trademark have symbolized the full triumph of high technology.
Beats Studio3 uses Apple's proprietary W1 processor to conserve battery life. Therefore, even at maximum volume, the gadget is able to work up to 40 hours. The headphones are implemented Fast Fuel system, which in 10 minutes will provide 3 hours of listening to music. The PureANC function recognizes the surroundings and adjusts the noise reduction level.
Despite the impressive appearance, the headphones fit perfectly on the head and do not put pressure on the ears. The ear pads themselves are placed on a swivel mechanism, so you can more comfortably adjust the fit of the gadget.
You will find even more models of cool noise-canceling headphones on the pages of our catalog.
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