Best Noise Cancelling Headphones – Tune The World Out Completely, Anywhere You Need It

Before we get into a discussion about the best noise cancelling headphones in the marketplace, let’s talk a little bit about what noise cancelling headphones are and why you may need them.

Well, noise cancelling headphones, as the name perfectly describes, block out ambient sounds and noise, the noise that’s all around us. But it only does so when that feature has been switched on, and some models have “talk through” features.

It’s technical, as they say, but in essence most brands simply have a tiny microphone placed near the ear, producing what is called an antinoise signal. This will block most, if not all, of the noise surrounding you, which is perfect when you’re in an environment when listening to the noises around you is… unpleasant, shall we say?

Yes, teenagers on long road trips with Mom and Pop qualify for a pair of these, I suppose, but these headphones tend to be more expensive so the people that buy them are usually traveling sales people or people that take public transportation when commuting to work.

When you’re on an airplane and you want to tune out that crying baby, that obnoxiously loud drunk, and/or the noisy plane engines then these headphones are worth their weight in gold. You work hard, and you don’t need to mess around with an unbearable flight.

And then there are those of us that commute to work on a noisy train, there’s always some chowder-head blabbing away on his cell phone, or a couple that can’t seem to keep their private life…private. Again, noise canceling headphones work like magic to block all of these sounds out, almost completely, if not completely, depending on the brand.

Here’s a tip, in order to block out noise most completely, it’s best to listen to music or something that has continuous sound, listening to say, “books” on an mp3 player, might not work very well to totally block out noise.

In the past these types of headphones were too bulky for most people, but as technology has advanced they have slimmed down quite a bit. If there are any draw backs to these headphones at all they are that you might hear a bit of hissing in the high frequency ranges (but, only a true audiophile snob could truly hear it) and they tend to chew up batteries and consume a lot of power. You’re forewarned.

Let’s talk brands and features, going in descending order from most expensive to least expensive. All the prices quoted are subject to change and minor adjustments from retailer to retailer will apply.

• Sennheiser PXC 450
• Bose QuietComfort 3
• Sony MDR-NC60
• JVC HA-NC250

The Sennheiser PXC 450 is like the Cadillac of noise cancelling headphones. You pay top dollar (around $450) but in definitely get what you pay for. They are extra light weight and ultra-comfortable, as you would expect, and also as you would expect a super slick carry case is included. The Noise Gard 2.0 system used in this model is patented technology built for the true audiophile. The Sennheiser brand is very well respected and well known in the audio world, you really can’t go wrong with a pair of these, but they are expensive.

Next comes the Bose QuietComfort 3, the improvements noted from the QuietComfort 2 are that they are smaller and more compact. These fold up as well and come with a very nice carrying case. They also come with a fully rechargeable battery, so that buying new batteries all the time won’t be a problem as it might be with other models. Retail price is around $350.

From here pricing tends to fall off quite a bit, allowing a lot more people the opportunity to get in on the action. The Sony MDR-NC60 retails for around $200 but you can get it online at a massive discount. The JVC HA-NC250 can be found online with pricing from $100 to $120 dollars. Both of these brands are solid, if not as powerful as the first two standouts mentioned. They are perfect for the entry user.

When you’re looking to purchase the best noise cancelling headphones, price can be a factor or it may not be (if you’re lucky), but you simply always get what you pay for.  Lastly, remember that these systems are a God-send for frequenters of noisy airports, train stations, and bus terminals. It keeps everybody else’s private life…private, so you can actually turn your brain “off”.

For more information, you can check out my Top 7 Tips for Choosing a Noise Cancelling Headphone here before buying.