Rating of the best headphones with active noise cancellation: wireless and wired

Best Vacuum Noise Canceling Headphones

Vacuum headphones are designed to be compact and as comfortable as possible. They are easy to roll up and put in your pocket when not needed, or leave them hanging around your neck. These headphones are inserted directly into the ear canal. They additionally isolate the ear from external noise, since they clog the canal and prevent sounds from getting inside. Well, what could get through the ear pads will eliminate active noise cancellation. Unfortunately, most of these headphones cannot be called loud - due to noise reduction, the resistance increases, and the smartphone’s power is not always enough. But this is a minor omission. Below are the three best models of vacuum headphones with active noise reduction.

When is Active Noise Canceling required?

This type of headset is in demand among people who spend a lot of time traveling. It should be noted that in many commercials the world's best manufacturers show men and women of the executive class. Successful and incredibly busy, they will take the best headphones with them on the road. It is worth noting that in economy class there are also often people with headsets. Public transport isn't the only place where noise-canceling headphones come in handy.

Some people like to listen to their favorite tracks on headphones at home. Loud music will not please your neighbors, but a scandal can be avoided by simply using a headset. In an office setting, accessories will help drown out the cacophony of human voices, telephone calls and operating equipment, giving a person the opportunity to work in a calm atmosphere.

Principle of operation

Sound is a series of acoustic waves. If we take into account the noise coming from the street, after they are inverted - mirrored, they will be directed to the original position, which will allow the flows to be compensated to zero. The active noise reduction system consists of the following components:

The earpiece's microphone picks up environmental noise, which is inverted and directed into the speaker. Ultimately, the mirrored copies and the sounds themselves destroy each other. Theoretically, this solution will allow you to enjoy clear sound with good bass without extraneous noise. Several methods can be used to achieve a specific signal inversion. The first is considered analog, which will be converted using transistors. Technologically, this solution is considered the simplest, but most effective. It is used in the creation of sound cards, preamplifiers and some audio equipment.

In order for the sound to be truly high-quality, simple inversion will not be enough. A number of auxiliary nuances are also taken into account, including:

1. Elimination of noise arising from resonances and harmonic circuits.
2. The noise received from the frequency response of microphones is converted into sounds and transmitted to the frequency response of the speaker.
3. The signal is removed from the speakers.
4. A nearby microphone will automatically pick up the echoes of the music.
5. In addition, there is some change in the noise signal as it passes through the structure body.

In essence, the chain presented above is an incredibly complex technological process for processing an audio signal, which is then implemented on modern headphones. DSP processors are used for this. The conversion process can be thought of as changing the signal into ones and zeros. After this, the system will perform various tricks that will turn the waves into sounds produced by the speakers.

Technical nuances

Modern technologies aside, the process of active noise reduction can be very effective when operating at certain frequencies - 100-1000 Hz. This is due to the fact that small microphones are very limited in frequency response, which are used in most headsets. There is no point in jamming frequencies below 100 Hz, since such powerful bass will be picked up even by the human body. Only those designs that are based on the use of several microphones: high-frequency and low-frequency are capable of drowning out interference at a frequency of 1000 Hz.

It should be noted that most of the sounds that irritate the human nervous system are located in the range of 100-1000 Hz. These include the sounds of city transport, arguments of random passers-by, strong gusts of wind.

Active noise insulation, which will operate at such frequencies, in combination with passive one, will lead to a reduction in background noise by 20-30 dB. A person will feel that wearing such a headset will be 70% more comfortable compared to full-size or on-ear headphones. In addition to the usual vacuum liners, the technology is found in noisy industries. It is in high demand among athletes, airport workers, including pilots. Wired and Bluetooth, they will be the best gift for professional shooters, racers and bikers.

Denon AH-NCW500. Interesting control system

This is a relatively compact model of on-ear headphones, with a powerful plastic-leather body and a convenient control system, which is worth talking about in more detail. A universal button to start/stop playback and switch between tracks (as well as answer/end calls) is located on both the right and left earbuds. In addition, the first has a ring rotating in both directions to control the volume. The noise suppression here is average and sometimes it’s even difficult to determine whether it is activated - it only cuts off certain noises in the low-frequency range (operation of an air conditioner, copier, etc.). The headphones are equipped with a Bluetooth 3.0 module, a built-in amplifier and an AAC and aptX decoder, which is positive. The battery lasts for 10 hours of device operation in wireless mode with noise reduction, after which you can continue to use the Denon AH-NCW500 in passive mode by connecting them to a sound source with the included cable. In terms of sound, the headphones have good bass, high frequencies are reproduced well, but there is a slight dip in the mid range.

Buy Denon AH-NCW500 for RUB 12,990 at Denon.ru

Sennheiser MM 550-X Travel. High-quality station wagon in retro style

These headphones look like something from the 80s, but they work great. In terms of acoustic properties (they sound meaty, bassy and correct), they easily outperform the Bose QC 25, although they are somewhat inferior in noise reduction (they cut out 90% of noise, while the competitor cuts out 95%). But they are wireless and the battery charge lasts for up to 20 hours. It is worth mentioning the support for SRS WOW HD technology, which provides spatial sound. In addition, the model is very comfortable to wear; you can leave it on for hours. The last nail in the coffin of many competitors is a replaceable battery, although you will have to buy a branded one.

Buy Sennheiser MM 550-X Travel for $322 on Amazon.com

Cleer Enduro ANC

The best noise-cancelling headphones at your price

★★★★☆

USD 149.99

price may vary

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Size and Weight: 178 x 168 x 76mm, 301g Battery Life: 60 hours (ANC enabled) Bluetooth Range: 9m Features: Active Noise Cancellation, Ambient Mode, Digital Assistant Support, Android Fast Pair 2.0, NFC Connection, Equalizer Settings

pros

• The best ratio of price and quality
• Best-in-class battery life
• Rich sound

Minuses

• ANC microphones pick up wind noise
• Not the most comfortable

With great sound, a modern and flexible design, powerful features, a useful app, a full range of accessories and best-in-class battery life, the Cleer Enduro ANC currently ranks number one on our list of the best budget wireless headphones.

The Enduro ANC isn't great - there's some wind noise in ANC mode, and they seem to be made for smaller ears. The Cleer noise-canceling headphones are particularly good for travelers, as we got an excellent 50 hours and 15 minutes of ANC playback in our testing.

8

Bose 700

Best Noise Canceling Headphones with ANC

★★★★★

RUB 33,990

price may vary

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Size and Weight: 203 x 165 x 51mm, 255g Battery Life: 20 hours (ANC enabled) Bluetooth Range: 9m Features: Adjustable Active Noise Canceling, Customizable EQ, Charging Case (Optional)

pros

• Adjustable active noise cancellation
• Elegant, attractive design
• Accurate, balanced sound
• Fantastic noise reduction for calls

Minuses

• Expensive

An argument can be made that the Bose 700 are the best noise canceling headphones out there. There's no denying that Bose has the most powerful and effective active noise-canceling technology on the market. The Bose 700 delivers on these benefits, with 10 levels of ANC that can be adjusted in the Bose Connect app, and it works flawlessly to cancel out most outside noise. Most importantly, the 700 achieves this without compromising sound quality, allowing listeners to enjoy clear, well-balanced playback. The companion Bose app also lets you customize the equalizer for personalized sound.

What's not to like about the cutting-edge design of the headphones? The 700's slim and sexy silhouette is also an engineering feat. But the high price should definitely make you think twice before purchasing. And Bose also needs to address the elephant in the room: battery life, an area where many other models excel at the 700.

3

Sony WH-1000XM4

Best Noise Canceling Headphones Overall

★★★★★

RUB 27,999

price may vary

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Size and Weight: 254 x 76 x 185mm, 255g Battery Life: 30 hours (ANC on), 38 hours (ANC off) Bluetooth Range: 12m Features: Active Noise Cancellation, Custom EQ, Multi-Point Technology

pros

• Unrivaled sound
• Excellent noise reduction
• Lots of customization features via Sony Connect Headphones app
• Lots of connectivity options (Bluetooth, NFC, multipoint technology)

Minuses

• Communication quality needs improvement

The Bose 700 may have better active noise cancellation, but the Sony WH-1000XM4's quality and lower price make them our top pick. Everything that made the WH-1000XM3 a critical darling remains intact in the WH-1000XM4, including a phenomenal soundstage and touch controls that deliver smooth playback and call control. The ability to personalize your sound using the Sony Headphones Connect app is amazing. It allows you to create your own sound profiles or choose from several finely tuned presets that are suitable for almost any musical genre. You also get high-level ANC, allowing you to enjoy longer gaming sessions than any Bose model with the feature enabled.

Unfortunately, call quality leaves much to be desired, which is a recurring problem with the Sony Mark series. But we must give credit to the WH-1000XM4, this is the only complaint about Sony's flagship headphones.

2

Apple AirPods Pro

Best AirPods Noise Canceling In-Ear Headphones

★★★★★

RUB 24,999

price may vary

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Size and Weight: 61 x 43 x 23mm, 249g Battery Life: 4.5 hours (ANC enabled), 24 hours (with charging case) Bluetooth Range: 10m Features: Active Noise Cancellation, Siri Support, Spatial Audio

pros

• Active Noise Cancellation
• Water and sweat protection
• Excellent call quality

Minuses

• Battery life could be longer

The AirPods Pro made our list of the best noise-cancelling headphones because these ANC headphones blocked out noise quite well in our testing.

ANC is easy to activate by simply pressing and holding the earbud stem. And for those times when you need to be aware of your surroundings, there's a Transparency mode that lets in ambient noise so you can listen to music and hear the world around you. The latest iOS 14 update includes new features such as automatic switching and spatial audio.

AirPods Pro have a very comfortable and secure fit that you can personalize with the three sets of included silicone tips. These headphones are great for working out as the AirPods Pro are waterproof and waterproof. Battery life with noise cancellation enabled is only 4.5 hours, but they can last 24 hours with the wireless charging case.

7

Apple AirPods Max

Best Noise Canceling Headphones for iOS

★★★★★

RUB 48,799

price may vary

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Size and weight: 188 x 168 x 84 mm, 377 g Battery life: 20 hours (ANC enabled) Bluetooth range: 10 m Special functions: ANC, spatial audio, audio sharing, Siri

pros

• Luxurious design
• Excellent noise reduction
• Spatial audio sounds great

Minuses

• Expensive
• No additional connector

Although the ultra-premium AirPods Max only have one level of active noise cancellation, it works as it should. Headphones are excellent at blocking out ambient sounds, especially in the lower range of the frequency spectrum. It's almost as good as Bose's ANC, which is an excellent performance for Apple's first pair of over-ear headphones.

On the other hand, the sound of AirPods Max is also excellent. Especially with surround sound enabled. The standards of design and build quality are so high that you can turn a blind eye to their cost.

4

Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds

Best TWS Noise Canceling Headphones

★★★★☆

RUB 25,990

price may vary

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Size and weight: 38 x 25 x 28 mm; 8.5g (per bud) Battery life: 6 hours, 18 hours (with charging case) Bluetooth range: 10m Features: Adjustable ANC, Bluetooth 5.1, Self Voice mode for better call quality

pros

• Best in class ANC
• Dynamic sound
• Excellent call quality
• Bluetooth 5.1

Minuses

• Disappointing battery life

AirPods Pro can be considered the best model overall among TWS headphones. But here we're talking about noise cancellation, a category currently dominated by the Bose QuietComfort headphones. Think of these headphones as a wireless in-ear version of the Bose 700, offering much of the same functionality to deliver unrivaled ANC. They have 10 levels of ANC that can be adjusted in the Bose Connect app, which also combines with Ambient Listening mode to make you fully aware of what's going on around you. The sound is warm and clear, and call quality is a standout feature, delivering clarity on both ends.

Aside from the bulky design (both the earbuds and the charging case), the only thing holding Bose's flagship headphones back from being great is their average battery life. A single charge is rated to last 6 hours, but that quickly drops to 5 hours when factoring in listening modes and heavy streaming. The charging case offers an additional 18 hours, which is a big disappointment when you look at how huge it is.

6

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

4.6/5

371 reviews

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average price

RUR 9,980

Characteristics

• design: in-ear (open)
• connection: Bluetooth 5.0
• charging: USB Type-C, wireless
• number of microphones: 6
• working time: 8h
• degree of protection: IP2X

The fifth position in the ranking is occupied by Samsung Galaxy Buds Live – wireless in-ear headphones that differ from previous models in having a smoother design. The manufacturer considers this design, which follows the natural curves of the ears, to be more comfortable when using headphones for a long time. They fit softly and tightly and do not fall out when running. The model is presented in a wide variety of colors.

The noise reduction in Samsung Galaxy Buds Live cuts out up to 97% of extraneous noise. When turned on, external sounds become barely audible, but the sound from the speakers remains clear. Due to the special design, the presence of a bass channel for air flow output, speakers with a diameter of 12 mm and sound from AKG, depth and realism of sound are ensured. Each earphone has three microphones and a bone patency sensor (Voice Pickup Unit) , which are responsible for clear speech transmission when talking on the phone. This sensor tracks jaw movement, picks up bone vibrations and converts them into a voice signal that can be heard even in noisy environments.

The headphones work for 8 hours (28 hours from the case) , although in terms of the capacity of the case the model is inferior to the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro and the previously described models. For quick recharging, 5 minutes is enough. In this case, the headphones will be able to work for an hour.

Pros:

• Design.
• Fits comfortably in the ear. They don't fall out. Long-term use does not cause discomfort.
• The sound quality is decent.
• In rooms with strong noise (subway), noise reduction works well.
• Charging lasts a long time.
• The microphone transmits voice clearly (a little worse in noisy rooms).

Minuses:

• The voice during a conversation is muffled (according to isolated reviews).
• The sensor is hard to find on the earphone. It may not work the first time.
• Few ear pads included.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live costs 8,400 rubles . At a fairly low price, the headphones provide decent sound quality, clear speech transmission into the microphone and good noise reduction. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live is inferior to Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro in the lack of an equalizer and individual noise reduction settings (in the Samsung Galaxy it can only be turned on or off), as well as a smaller number of replaceable ear pads in the set (only 2 pairs). 83% of users agree that headphones are optimal in terms of price-quality ratio.

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