Noise-canceling headphone guides

Noise-canceling headphone guides help you understand, choose, and use headphones with active noise canceling (ANC).

Why noise-canceling headphones?

Noise-canceling headphones were initially enjoyed by some frequent travelers.  Such magic headphones can give you a quiet journey in the airplane without using the uncomfortable earplug. You can enjoy the music in a quieter condition at the same time with a noise-canceling headphone.

Now, more and more urban commuters find noise-canceling headphone a necessity.

Active noise-canceling headphones can effectively cancel out annoying low-frequency noises and bring you a quiet environment in an airplane, in the subway, or simply in office.

Active noise canceling (ANC) is different from noise blocking.

As explained in the differences among in-ear, on-ear and over-ear headphones, all headphones can block certain ambient sound (not just low-frequency noise) physically.

An extreme example of such physical blocking is ear muffs used in the shooting.  Some in-ear headphones may seal the air inside your ear, but most of them are not effective. Over-ear headphones can offer better noise-blocking depending on the design.

On the other hand, active noise-canceling headphones can “filter” or cancel the ambient low-frequency noise, which is the most annoying and disturbing portion of ambient sound. An ANC unit can generate a “negative” sound wave to cancel the ambient noise. And the result is that you get music without ambient noise. Most active noise-canceling headphones in the market can cancel up to 80-95% ambient noise.

So, if you travel a lot, or use public transport frequently, or work in a noisy office, you will find out that a noise-canceling headphone can be your lifesaver.

But a lot of headphone users are not fully understanding the benefits of active noise-canceling headphones.  They need some detailed guides showing how to get the best headphone with active noise canceling within their budget.

Some noise-canceling headphone owners may be still confused on the features in these headphones with ANC.

So, we created this noise-canceling headphone guides section to explain to you how ANC works, how to choose an active noise-canceling headphone, and how to use noise-canceling headphones.

Please note, active noise-canceling is a sound technology which can be used in all types of headphones.

List of  noise-canceling headphone guides

More noise-canceling headphone guides are added regularly. The list will be updated once new guides are released.

Here is the list of published and coming-soon noise-canceling headphone guides.

1. What is active noise canceling (ANC)? How active noise canceling headphone works?

You need an active noise canceling headphone if you want to block the ambient low-frequency noise, like engine noise in the airplane.

Active noise canceling (ANC) is different from noise blocking/isolating, which passively blocks both high and low-frequency noises.

This headphone guide explains what the active noise canceling (ANC) is and how the active noise canceling headphone works. It will not only help you understand ANC but also help you choose proper active noise-canceling headphones.

Read to learn more about ANC and ANC headphones …

2. How to use active noise-canceling headphones?

3. How to choose an active noise canceling headphone?

4. The top 5 noise-canceling headphones in 2019 under $100

5. The top 5 noise-canceling headphones in 2019 under $200

6.  The best noise-canceling headphones in 2019

7. Review of  noise-canceling headphones

8. Top 10 new features of AirPods Pro (vs AirPods 2)

9.  A review of Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

The added active nosing cancelling (ANC) makes Samsung Galaxy Buds Live a direct and serious competitor to Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM3.

This headphone guide explains the new features and improvements of Galaxy Buds Live (vs Galaxy Buds Plus), and how Galaxy Buds Live stands against Apple AirPods Pro to help you choose a pair of proper wireless earbuds.

10. and many more …….

Other headphone guides

In addition to noise-canceling headphone guides listed in this page for headphones with ANC, you may check other specialized headphone guides:

• Headphone 101.  You can find detailed explanations on features, technologies, and usages of headphones.
• Bluetooth headphone guides. You can find detailed guides on how to choose a Bluetooth headphone, how Bluetooth headphone works, and how to pair and use Bluetooth headphones.
• Sports headphone guides. If you are considering a headphone for sports, or if you have any questions on sports headphones, you can find answers and guides there.
• Wireless earbuds guide. You can find guides on using and choosing wireless earbuds in this section.

Do you have any questions on noise-canceling headphones?

If you have any questions on noise-canceling headphones, or if you encounter any problems on using active noise-canceling headphones, please leave your question in the comment box below.

You can also post your questions on our Facebook page.

The community will help you get the answer.