Noise-Canceling Headphones

Active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones contain microphones that pick up ambient noise, then generate an inverse sound wave in real time to cancel it before it reaches the ear. The process mainly targets low, continuous sounds—the rumble of an aircraft, the rolling noise of a train, office ventilation—where the passive isolation of the earcups alone struggles. It remains less effective against sudden, high-pitched noises, with voices or clicking sounds passing through more easily. Most models adjust the intensity of the correction and offer a transparency mode that lets surrounding sounds back in without removing the headphones, useful for an announcement or a quick conversation. This electronics requires power: ANC headphones run on a battery, with a wired backup connection when it is empty. Noise reduction also affects sound reproduction, with slight pressure or coloration depending on the model, which good implementations make unobtrusive. The headband format remains the most common for housing microphones and a battery, but in-ear earphones with sealed tips now combine passive isolation and ANC. To block noise without electronics, closed-back headphones rely on the sealing of their earcups; when travelling, this type of headphone falls within the category of portable headphones and accessories, and the full selection can be found in hi-fi headphones and earphones.