How Do Noise Canceling Headphones Work?

Have you ever been in a situation where your music gets drowned out by too much noise? It could be the sound of people talking, kids playing, or even construction going on outside. 

If this has happened to you, you probably wished for noise-canceling headphones. But what exactly are these magical devices, and how do noise canceling headphones work?

Well, what makes noise canceling headphones so unique is their active noise cancellation capability. What is active noise cancellation?
Basically, it features a specialized technology inside the headphones to recognize what sound frequencies are coming in from outside. Then it picks up those same interfering frequencies and generates sound waves with the opposite phase. It creates an 'anti-noise' effect which causes destructive interference and ultimately cancels out all bothersome background noises without needlessly taking away from the listening experience!

You can find two distinct options for noise-canceling headphones: passive and active. 

Passive noise canceling involves reducing outside noises from reaching your ears by utilizing soundproof materials in headphones or earbuds. 

Active noise canceling, on the other hand, takes a more high-tech approach by generating opposite sound waves that effectively cancel out background sounds. 

Each can be used for noise cancelation for certain situations, like using passive when you're at home so it's not bothering your family members and using active when flying and trying to drown out engine noise. 

Let's dig deeper and you can decide which will work best for you!

How Do Noise Canceling Headphones Work?

Noise-canceling headphones are a dream come true for those who want to experience sound in its purest form. These headphones use an active noise canceling system to eliminate external noise, allowing the user to enjoy music, games, movies, or other audio without distraction. 
The canceling headphones use microphones to detect ambient sound and then create a spectrally opposite signal that effectively cancels out the unwanted noise. 
This also works in reverse: any microphone attached to the noise-canceling headphones will be muted thanks to the noise-cancelation effect. 

So no matter your needs, you can count on noise canceling headphones to block out the world and deliver quality audio.

How active noise-canceling headphones work

The active noise-canceling headphones help you enjoy the silence of your music and basically do your thing uninterpreted and free of distractions. How it works and deliver silence? The active noise-canceling headphones work by taking in outside sound waves with an internal microphone, then emitting equal but opposite audio waves within the headphones.  
What this does is ‘cancel’ out the original waveform, and by that provides a distraction-free environment. 

Active noise cancellation technology still leaves sounds from the outside perceptible for your safety, but barely audible compared to otherwise and keeps annoying background noise to a minimum. 

How passive noise-canceling headphones work

Put simply, how passive noise-canceling headphones work is quite simple. The foam around the earpads actually acts as a sound barrier, trapping sound from the outside world before it can reach your eardrums. 

This prevents some of the background noise from being heard, which offers a degree of comfort and also allows for more focus on desired audio sources. Furthermore, having polyurethane instead of dense foam materials wrapped around earpads creates sealed spaces to act as a buffer between the outside environment and our ears. This technique eliminates irritating noise affordably without needing expensive noise-cancellation technology. By just leveraging these physical means, one can achieve a reasonable level of sound isolation at a reasonable cost. 

The Limitations of Using Noise-Canceling Headphones Without Music

Noise-canceling headphones can be a useful way to block out distracting noise. But without the comforting rhythm of music shielding you, anc headphones have their limitations.  
First of all, the airtight seal created by them will quickly drain your battery life - and there's nothing worse than having no sound at all when it runs out! 

Secondly, to make the most out of your noise-canceling headphones you'll need high-quality sound production, and silence is quite the opposite. 

Common Noise Cancellation Issues

With noise-canceling headphones, it feels like you're living in a world of sound bliss - until you start to encounter noise-cancellation issues.

Some people may experience noise cancellations that don't quite work as advertised. This can be caused by environmental sounds, the technology itself, and more. Unfortunately, noise-canceling headphones can't always outmatch other sound waves - such as waves from speakers playing a song or loud conversations happening nearby. 

But, noise-canceling headphones work to identify and focus on one noise source to reduce surrounding noise. Additionally, noise isolation technology also works in conjunction with noise canceling to mask any outside noises you may encounter while wearing them.  

Common noise cancellation issues are not uncommon - but utilizing the usage technologies will make a world of difference!

The best of the best:
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700,Bluetooth, Over-Ear Wireless with Built-In Microphone for Clear Calls & Alexa Voice Control,Black

4.5 out of 5 stars
30,085 ratings

Our experts' first runner is the best Bose noise-canceling wireless headphones takes any noisy environment and make it perfect for making phone calls, listening to your favorite podcasts or playlist. Whatever the reason is for staying focused: work or studies or just tuning out the world. 
These headphones also feature a connection to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, which you will find very helpful. 

It is also designed with you in mind, for comfortable maximum fit and lightweight. One of the best features is the long battery life of 20 hours, leaving you to stay in your noise-free bubble on the plane, bus, office, or home. 

Second close runner:
Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones - Triple Black 

4.6 out of 5 stars
9,931 ratings

With this option, you can enjoy the silence of your playlist and keep the noise outside. It gives you clear sound while balancing the environmental noise. 

The aware mode keeps you safe, it does just that - keeps you aware of what's around you, blocking noise without jeopardizing you. 

Every charge gives you 25 hours of battery life. When the battery is low and you need to recharge, after only 15 minutes you will be able to get 2.5 hours. 
It was carefully designed to look polished and to make you feel comfortable with cozy cushions and earcup caps. 

Budget friendly - best value for cost: 
JBL Live 460NC - Wireless On-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones with Long Battery Life and Voice Assistant Control - Black

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,066 ratings

These headphones give the best value for money. It's compact, budget-friendly and still gives you quality sound and cancels out any noise. 

You can work around safely with it, talking or listening to music, and keep on rocking up to 50 hours of battery life, that's impressive! When the battery is low and you need to charge, after only 10 minutes you will be ready for 4 hours of battery life. 

The JBL wireless headphones are small in size but still provide good sound and noise cancellation, but some users find the compact size not comfortable and prefer when the ear is covered in full so be sure to try it out before purchasing.