2017 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Reviews & Comparison

Published by Jennie Doyle at August 7, 2017

Top 5 Noise Cancelling Headphones Comparison

	1. Sennheiser HD1 Wireless	2. Bose QuietComfort 35	3. Sennheiser PXC 550	4. Sony MDR1000X	5. Bose QuietComfort 25

	BEST MODEL	OUR CHOICE
Product Specifications
Brand	Sennheiser	Bose	Sennheiser	Sony	Bose
Dimensions (H x W x D)	9.9″ x 7.5″ x 4″	7.1″ x 6.7″ x 3.2″	7.9″ x 5.9″ x 3.1″	9.5″ x 6.3″ x 4.5″	7.5″ x 6″ x 0.9″
Weight	7.4-Ounce	8.3-Ounce	8-Ounce	9.7-Ounce	6.9-Ounce
Cable Length	55.1″	47.2″, 12″	49.2″	59″	56″
Ear Coupling	Circumaural	Over-Ear	Circumaural	Circumaural	Circumaural
Materials	Leather, Stainless Steel	Glass-Filled Nylon, Corrosion-Resistant Stainless Steel, Alcantara	Stainless Steel, Padding	Soft Synthetic Leather	Canvas-Like Cloth, Padding, Corrosion-Resistant Stainless Steel
Battery	Rechargeable Lithium-Ion	Rechargeable Lithium-Ion	Rechargeable Lithium-Ion	Rechargeable Lithium-Ion	AAA Battery
Color	Black, Ivory	Black, Silver, Midnight Blue	Black	Black, Beige	Black, White, Triple Black
Performance
Passive Impedance	28 Ω	32 Ω	46 Ω	46 Ω	32 Ω
Active Impedance	480 Ω	600 Ω	490 Ω	N/A	600 Ω
Transducer	Dynamic, Closed	Dynamic, Closed	Dynamic, Closed	Dynamic, Closed	Dynamic, Closed
Headphones Frequency Response	16 Hz – 22000 Hz	N/A	17 Hz – 23000 Hz	4 Hz – 40000 Hz	10 Hz – 800 Hz
Sensitivity	-44dB V/Pa (1kHz)	113 dB	110 dB	103 dB	N/A
Total Harmonic Distortion	<0.5%	<0.5%	<0.5%	<0.5%	<0.5%
Bluetooth	4.0+EDR	4.1	4.1	4.1
Supported Profiles	A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP	A2DP	HPS, HFP, A2DP, DIP	A2DP	N/A
Attenuation	Up to 25dB	Up to 25dB	Up to 22dB	Up to 21dB	Up to 25dB
Charging Time	≃3 Hours	2.25 Hours	3 Hours	≃4 Hours
Operating Time	22 Hours	20 Hours	30 Hours	22 Hours	35 Hours
Codecs	apt-X		apt-X	apt-X, SBC, AAC, LDAC
Smartphone Compatibility	All Bluetooth Enabled Smartphone Devices	All Bluetooth Enabled Smartphone Devices	All Bluetooth Enabled Smartphone Devices	All Bluetooth Enabled Smartphone Devices	Apple Devices, Samsung and Android Devices
Highest Decibel Cancellation	81.85dB	80.55dB	N/A	N/A	78.6dB
Features&Accessories
Noise Cancelling Technology	NoiseGard Hybrid with 4 Pick-Up Microphones	Active	NoiseGard Hybrid Adaptive Technology	Active	Active
Wireless
Passive Play Option
Comfort Cushioning	Memory Foam	Synthetic Protein Leather, Silicone Bead	Memory Foam	Urethane Foam	Synthetic Protein Leather
Adjustable Headband
Volume Controls	Earcup Control	On-Ear	Earcup Control	Earpad Control	In-Line
NFC Connectivity
Microphone	Dual Omni-Directional	Noise Rejecting Dual System	Triple Microphone Array	Integrated	Built-In
Other Features	VoiceMax Technology	Volume-Optimized EQ	Rotating Earcups	Dual Noise Sensor Technology	Rotating Earcups
	Multi-Device Compatibiliy	Voice Prompts	Fold-Flat Collapsible Frame	Sense Engine Technology	Bose Active EQ
	Foldable Headband	Dual-Microphone System	CapTune Compatibility	Swivel Folding	TriPort Technology
	Voice Prompts	Multi-Point Technology	Voice Prompts	LCP Diaphragm	LED Lights
	3-Way Calling	Automatic Shut-Off	Selective Sound Modes		Foldable
			Built-In Limiter
			Talk Through
Accessories	USB Charging Cable	USB Charging Cable	Cable with Remote	Carry Case	Microphone Cable
	Carrying Case	Airline Adapter	Carry Case	Inflight Adapter	Airline Adapter
	Inflight Adapter	Carrying Case	USB Cable	Headphone Cable	Carrying Case
	Audio Cable	Audio Cable for Wired Connection	IFE Adapters	USB Cable	AAA Battery
Warranty&Support
Product Warranty	2 Years	1 Year	2 Years	1 Year	1 Year
Customer Support
User Manual

How Headphones that Cancel Noise Work

Ambient noise is the enemy of anyone who wants to enjoy peace and quiet or to peacefully enjoy music, without being bothered by the people around or the ongoing traffic. Luckily for all of us, there is a device that can help us enjoy the perfect experience when listening to music or when we just want to sleep without being bothered by any ambient noise, this device coming in the form of noise cancelling headphones.

These amazing headphones do exactly what they promise, more precisely block out all external noise. But how exactly do they work? Unlike noise isolating headphones that don’t provide complete quiet, noise canceling ones use the amazing active noise control technology to ensure that not even 20 decibels of external noise will be heard by your ears. The active noise control technology was developed by the founder of Bose, Amar Bose, who was annoyed by the loud noise produced by the jet engines of a flight that he was on.

Instead of preventing outside sound from reaching your ear, what the active noise control technology does is to cancel out the ambient noise completely using destructive interference. This amazing process involves placing a microphone close to the position where the sound will be entering the ear, picking up on the frequencies of the noise, and generating a frequency 180 degrees out of phase with this unwanted noise. This anti-noise output perfectly cancels the input, the headphones being capable of canceling noise by up to 80 decibels or even more depending on the quality of the product that you invest in.

If you’re on a flight and you have such a device with you, there’s no possibility that you may ever be bothered by the sound of the jet’s engines as it will be canceled out, letting you rest peacefully or listen to your music and actually understanding what you’re listening to. The process through which the headphones work isn’t a complicated one, and this recipe for success is one of the main reasons why Bose is the leading manufacturer of headphones at the moment, taking care of an issue that has been bothering many people in the most effective manner possible.

Advantages That Come with This Investment

One of the first questions that you might have regarding making this investment is whether it’s truly worth making or not. The answer is yes, but our word shouldn’t be the whole proof that you need for making this investment as concrete facts are better and more convincing. Thus, to truly understand why it’s important to purchase noise cancelling headphones, rather than taking our word for it, read the following lines to see what are the advantages that the device has to offer.

Complete Blocking of Ambient Noise

Let’s face it, no matter if what you’re planning to do is to get a shut eye or just listen to music in peace, you won’t be able to enjoy the experience at its fullest due to the ambient noise. Unfortunately, you can’t make it disappear as everything and everyone around you makes noise. Thus, the only viable solution is to somehow block the sound. This is where the headphones that cancel noise come in, unlike noise isolating headphones that only reduce the sound, these headphones actually blocking it. Therefore, you won’t ever be bothered by the ambient sound regardless of where you are and what you plan on doing.

There’s No Need to Turn Up the Volume Too Much

Due to the fact that there will be no exterior disruptive noises interfering with your experience when listening to music, you won’t need to turn up the volume too much either anymore. This means that you will protect your hearing as there won’t be a need to listen to music loudly but rather at a much lower and calming volume. The listening experience will be a lot more relaxing and you will get to enjoy it to its fullest for the first time, not having the music scream in the headphones or being overlaid by external noise.

Perfect for Studying

When you need to study or read a book, you need to fully focus on what you’re reading and your thoughts shouldn’t stray from the material sitting in front of you. Because of the annoying ambient noise, this is basically impossible as even the slightest sound will take you out of your focus zone, making you think about other things and losing your train of thought. This is where the headphones shine as they completely block out the external noise, ensuring that not even the cars honking outside of your house on the street will be heard by your ears. If you’re a student, this is an important advantage as you need to focus on your studies when exams are approaching.

Take a Comfortable Nap On Long Flights

Some people travel more often than others as they are sent for business purposes from one location to another. If your line of work has you traveling often, you’re already fed up of watching the beautiful sky through the window and you’d rather get a shut eye until you reach the destination in order to be fresh when you arrive. This is especially important when there’s a meeting or presentation being held at the time of your arrival, not affording to lack attention to what is happening because you’re tired. With the headphones on during the flight, you won’t hear the loud and annoying noise of the jet engines, the chatty people on the plane, and not even the screams of babies that parents take with them on their flights. Being surrounded by complete peace and quiet, you will be able to sleep like a baby until the stewardess wakes you up as you have arrived at your destination.

Get to Relax When Doing Certain Activities

There are certain activities that require you to be in a calm state, activities such as meditation and yoga. With the help of the headphones, you will reach that inner peace as you won’t be bothered by any outside noise, but rather get to fully focus on clearing your mind of all negative thoughts. When you will do yoga or meditate with the headphones on, the results will be noticeable from the first session as you will actually be calm and feel serene, being absolved of all the worries that used to cloud your mind.