If you are a true music nerd, you know very well the importance of noise canceling headphones. Have you ever listened to your audio player on a flight? The roar of the engines just makes it too hard to listen to what is being produced by the speakers. Noise canceling headphones might be the perfect solution for the music nerds on the flight as they reduce the unwanted ambient sounds (aka the acoustic noise). Here, I have compiled a list of best noise canceling headphones for you. Just pick the one of your choice when you will be flying off to some place for your next vacation or business trip.
But, before moving ahead with some of the best noise canceling headphones available in the market, let’s see how they came into the scene and how they actually work.
Bose was the first company to launch noise-canceling headphones after Amar Bose, the founder of Bose Corporation, experienced on a 1978 flight to Europe that the roar of the jet engines prevented him from enjoying the audio on the headphones provided by the airline authorities. A decade later, he was with the world’s first Bose noise canceling headphones. For your info, in the year1986, Bose applied their noise-cancellation technology to develop headphones to protect the hearing of pilots who took part in the first non-stop around-the-world flight.
The technique used for the noise-canceling headphones involves a microphone that is placed near the ear, and electronic circuitry which produces an “antinoise” sound wave with the opposite polarity of the sound wave hitting the microphone. This leads to destructive interference, which cuts the noise within the enclosed volume of the headphone. It helps to listen to the music with crisp audio quality and you need not raise the volume gratuitously. Although, Bose noise-canceling headphones are claimed to be the best but there are many other companies including Panasonic, Sony, and Sennheiser. Let’s take a look at them.
Price: US $100
The compact Sony MDR-NC22 noise canceling headphones is a perfect option for those who are looking for a good bass, high-frequency clarity, and noise cancellation for a very reasonable price. It manages to eliminate much of the ambient noise but the main problem is that the outside noise is replaced by a kind of internal hiss. If you have no problems with headphones having clips, then you can certainly go for Sony MDR-NC22.
Price: US $199
Weighing 10 ounces, the Sony MDR-NC50 touts over-the-ear make and its efficient ear seal offers ambient noise isolation along with a perfect bass response. The only downside with the headphones is that they might not please people who love to listen loud on their MP3 players as Like the JVC HA-NCX77, the Sony MDR-NC60 also features a Monitor switch to let in outside sounds when required.
Price: US $199
MDR-NC60 noise canceling headphones were launched as an upgrade to the previous MDR-NC50. Boasting 16.5dB noise reduction at 200Hz, these headphones can cancel up to 85% of the ambient noise. There is the integrated Monitor switch while the swivel ear-cup design of the headphones doesn’t pains to keep them on for long hours.
Price: US $149.99
Equipped with SilentSound high-parametric noise canceling technology and ear cushions, the Logitech noise canceling headphones are easy to wear and can effectively cancel up to 22 decibels or 92% of the unwanted background noise. The integrated huge 40mm neodymium drivers let you enrich yourselves with crisp quality audio sound on the flight and you have the detachable audio cable too, which you can use when you are not listening to music but want to be in quiet. Logitech noise canceling headphones are compatible with iPods, MP3 players, CD players and other audio devices that feature a 3.5mm stereo audio output.
Price: US $110
Like the Sennheiser PXC 300, the folding, lightweight, closed-ear PXC 250 also rocks NoiseGard Advance technology for maximum reduction of ambient noise. The headphones promise high-resolution sound, thanks to the Sennheiser “Duofol” diaphragms with spiral embossing. Its fold and flip make lets you turn the ear pieces 90 degrees for flat folding. The kit includes 6-foot Kevlar-reinforced cord, .25-inch stereo adapter, airline adapter, and a belt pouch.
Price: US $199
The lightweight Sennheiser PXC 300 noise canceling headphones boasts company’s NoiseGard Advance technology for eliminating the maximum of the loud engine noise of the jet engines during the flight. Its noise canceling capability makes it a good choice to carry along in noisy environments. The headphones also tout patented folding mechanism and protective soft case for easy storage and transportation. The package also includes two adaptors, stereo jack and 3.5 mm double mono jack.
Price: US $79.99
Although the JVC HA-NC100 noise canceling headphones don’t swipes out all the ambient noises, they are still good enough to reduce 75% of the noise. The best thing about the pair is that being inexpensive, they offer crisp sound quality. Other salient features are comfy ear cups, an expedient fold-up design, an auto-retracting 5-foot cord, a carrying case and an airplane adapter.
Price: US $45.99
The perfect balance of contoured canal design and noise canceling circuit allows the JVC HA-NCX77 headphones to produce good quality sound by reducing the unwanted sounds top up to 80%. Well, the unit is quite bulky but we can overrule that considering the excellent bass response. There is a Monitor function (on/off) that allows you to hear in-flight announcements or other sounds when you want to. The kit features a dual-prong airplane adapter and an adaptable carrying case with many pockets.
Price: US $299
The QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Canceling headphones are expensive but they offer an unparalleled blend of noise reduction technology, audio performance and comfortable fit. Based on Bose’ Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphone technology that fades background distractions, these headphones have been especially designed for air travel. Available in silver and chrome accents, these headphones fold-flat design for easy storage. If you buy them before 30th June, you will get a free 256 MB MP3 player priced at $50.
Price: US $349
Listening to music is at its best anywhere with the new Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Canceling headphones. Launched as an upgrade to the QuietComfort 2, these headphones bring in the highly praised Bose performance in a compact, on-ear design. These headphones are the most expensive out there but they deliver the sound quality that you might have never heard before on any headphones. QC3 headphones are compatible with most of the music-enabled mobile phones through an optional Cell Connect cable. Again, if you buy them before June 30, you will get a free $50 256 MB MP3 player.
If you are really not interested to buy any of these but want to make them yourself, here you are. The pictured above are the home made headphones for under $50 that are being claimed to work as well or better than Sony or Bose noise-canceling headphones.
• Battery needs to be recharged. Battery gone, music gone!
• Some noise-canceling headphones can be overloaded by low-frequency pressure waves.
• Might not be very effective against rapidly changing audio signals.
• Ambient noise might come in form of internal hiss.
Note: Please compare prices from different online stores.
