What Does Noise Canceling Mean?
What is noise canceling? In layman’s terms, noise canceling simply means reducing any unwanted background noise. If you’re curious about how noise canceling works, it basically will take the outside noise that it hears, and then an ANC (Active Noise Canceling) chipset will invert soundwaves that neutralize the outside soundwaves.
In other words, noise canceling frequencies are used to cancel out any exterior sounds. Noise canceling is excellent for headphones when you need to focus and steer clear of distractions.
What Are the Different Types of Noise Canceling Earphones?
Now that we’ve answered “What do noise canceling headphones do?”, we can take a look at the different types of noise-canceling earphones. There are several different types of noise-canceling earphones to choose from, and sometimes it can be challenging to choose the right type. Here we break down a few of the most common ones for you:
- Passive Noise Cancellation
This type of noise-cancellation technology uses the power of well-designed ear cups to filter out surrounding noise. This technology can be found in both in-ear earbuds and over-the-ear headphones to keep out unwanted noise.
- Adjustable Active Noise Cancellation
Adjustable active noise cancellation allows the user to manually change how much background noise gets heard by adjusting the noise cancellation levels. This is a great option for people who want to have full control over how much they hear or don’t hear when using headphones.
- Adaptive Noise Cancellation
Adaptive noise cancellation is a very advanced form of ANC technology. This technology can digitally adapt to different surroundings by using microphones and speakers without any manual adjustments.
- Active Noise Cancellation
Active noise cancellation involves using both microphones and speakers to automatically adjust to any outside noises. This technology is typically found in over-the-ear headphones and has been developed so much that it can now be made small enough to fit inside in-ear earphones.
- Adjustable Own Voice
The adjustable own voice ANC technology is best for those using headphones for regular conference calling. This is because it allows you to control how much you want to hear your own voice while calling using ANC.
- Adjustable Transparency Mode
With this technology, you can change how much of the surrounding noises you want to hear manually, all without switching off your music. It’s great for people who want to listen to music without interruptions but also might need to hear what’s going on around them from time to time, and it provides the option of sound muffling headphones as compared to full noise cancellation all the time.
- Transparency Mode
This is similar to adjustable transparency mode in that it allows you to control how much you want to hear from the outside world. The only difference is that with transparency mode, you don’t need to switch your music off or take your headphones off either to make these adjustments. It provides you with all the control with as little interruption as possible.
What Are the Benefits of Using Noise Canceling Headphones?
There are several benefits when it comes to using noise canceling headphones as a sound blocker, and we have listed a few of them below:
- Improves concentration
When working on projects or tasks that need all your focus, using earphones that block out noise is a huge benefit to help you concentrate better. Rather than hearing the busy streets or the sound of family at home, you can completely focus on your task at hand and listen to what you want to.
- Reduces stress
Sometimes, constantly hearing noises in the background can increase stress, as your mind can’t focus and you’re always thinking about what else is happening. However, with noise canceling, you can block out everything around you, reduce your stress, and take time to meditate and focus on yourself for a bit.
- Aids with sleep
For those who have difficulty falling asleep, sometimes listening to music can help provide comfort. However, with constant background noise, it can be difficult to properly listen to music and
- Provide a better music experience
Obviously, the main reason people love using noise-canceling technology is for the music. Music lovers can use this technology to enjoy all their favorite tunes interruption-free with just the click of a button.
The Best Noise Canceling Earbuds and Headphones We Recommend
Now that you know how noise canceling works, as well as the benefits of ANC technology and the different varieties out there, it’s time to find a pair of your own! At AUKEY, we have a few that we think are some of the best in the industry that we carry in our store.
For those who like earbuds, we have some True Wireless earbuds that are affordable, compact, and high-quality. If you’re looking for a range of in-ear and over-the-ear earbuds, our Wireless Elite collection has a good variety of fast-charging options. Finally, for the classic headphone wearers or those who want a hybrid option, our Beyond ANC collection has some excellent noise canceling products.