Sometimes all we want is to be alone with music, wherever and whenever. We don't want noise leaking into our ears nor do we want to be easily interrupted, and those are pretty hard to avoid given that you travel around the country mostly on foot.
Thankfully, there's the ever-improving noise-cancelling technology that many audio peripherals are equipped with. This technology works by filtering unwanted background noises such as city traffic and people’s conversations.
What are the differences between noise-cancelling earphones and headphones?
While noise-cancelling (NC) earphones can never be superior to NC headphones in terms of music quality, each of them might suit you based on some certain situations.
For noise-cancelling earphones, they are definitely lightweight and much more portable. Therefore, making a better choice for those who do not wish to weigh themselves down when they travel on foot. However, they may not completely isolate noise due to their smaller and compact design.
To combat this matter, many brands include comfortable and higher quality earbuds on the earphones, which go nearest to your ear canal. This makes it possible to block out noise while staying comfortable. But then again, not everyone fancies the feeling of earbuds in their ear.
Meanwhile, noise-cancelling headphones, are noticeably bigger and bulkier. But that's because there's a whole lot of components in that bigger body, making them generally better in blocking out background noises especially since the earcups will fully enclose your ears. Moreover, most headphones are comfortably padded which allows for long-wearing hours.
Therefore, stick to earphones for the portability, and leave the bulky lot at home. Here is a list of the best noise-cancelling earphones that suits various needs.
Table of Contents
The Bose QuietComfort 20 isn't named like that just for fun. In fact, it utilises a top-of-the-line noise-cancelling technology named Acoustic Noise Cancelling. It works by reducing unwanted background noise efficiently, letting you enjoy uninterrupted music no matter if you are on the train or running in a park.
Listeners can expect amazing sound clarity with a depth sufficient in both bass and treble. Enjoy the likes of an upbeat pop song, a guitar-driven alternative rock or even string-laden orchestral music - everything will sound clear and vivid.
Additionally, the earphones come with an in-line remote where you can control volumes and take hands-free calls with.
Can’t enjoy music because the MRT is too loud? Consider this pair of high-quality earphones from Bang & Olufsen. Their Beoplay E4 set comes with advanced hybrid active noise cancelling (ANC) which can detect ambient sounds and reduces them significantly.
As expected from a reputable brand, the sound quality is crisp whereas its build quality is quite solid, being constructed from sturdy and scratch-resistant metals. Not forgetting, but the battery life is also just as amazing, which can last up to 20 hours of playback.
Wires can be troublesome, so enjoy none of that with this true wireless Sony WF-1000X. Not only do you get to enjoy its compact design that sits snugly in your ears, but also quality features such as crystal-clear sounds with its tiny but mighty 6mm driver.
And don't you worry about noise-cancelling; you can even customise them according to your preferences via Sony’s Headphones Connect mobile app. Moreover, the earphones have a pretty reasonable durable battery life, which is continuous playback of up to nine hours.
There are not many pairs of budget earphones around that comes with noise-cancelling technology. But that doesn’t mean you can’t ever own one for yourself if you don't have the budget.
Enter TaoTronics BH026. Aside from having an affordable price, these earphones boast a CvC 6.0 noise cancelling technology that minimises exterior noises which even helps to boost better voice quality for phone calls. The simple earphones also have an in-line remote for adjusting volumes and skipping tracks. Perfect for those who are out and about in the city.
One of the first things that you'll be thankful for the Sony WI-1000X is its ergonomically-shaped, leather-covered neckband design that fits comfortably around your neck. Weighing at just 71g, this will definitely not strain the neck even if you wear them for the whole day.
Besides that uber comfortable design, enjoy the convenience of wireless music with its Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC connectivity. Also, enjoy its sound quality which we'd characterise as having a deep bass. The earphones also has a built-in S-Master HX audio amplifier that minimises distortion in favour of clearer audio all around.
Another biggest selling point is the earphones' noise-cancelling technology, complete with a cool feature via Adaptive Sound Control. It allows you to adjust different ambient sound settings automatically like when you're travelling and walking using Sony's Headphones Connect app.
Compatible with both Android and iOS devices, the Sony WI-SP600N has a well-constructed design that feels both sturdy and premium. Made with decent noise cancellation that is able to drown out exterior sounds, the earphones boast a sound quality which utilises Sony's Extra Bass technology, making it suitable for bass-heavy music like EDM.
The Sony WI-SP600N also has an easy-to-use, in-line remote that lets you control your music, volume and even make hands-free calls. Moreover, the earphones are lightweight enough at just 21g and have a battery life of up to six hours of playtime.