If you are considering buying a pair for the first time, you may be overwhelmed by the many choices on the market and wondering just how to make sure you are buying the best noise-canceling headphones.
In order to do that, you need to ask yourself what you actually want them for.
These headphones are not all the same and each make has its own particular features, some of which you may not need, possibly causing you to spend more than is necessary.
For example, there are two types of noise-cancellation, passive and active.
Passive noise-cancellation is probably what most people have experienced by wearing around the ear headphones or earphones that fit in the ear canal, sealing off the ear from outside noise.
Active noise-cancellation involves a more scientific approach, using special circuitry which, of course, costs more.
Obviously, if you would be quite happy with the passive noise reduction provided by the circumaural (surrounding the ear) or the canalphones (inside the ear canal), then you probably will not need to spend hundreds of dollars on the technology of the active noise reduction models.
Another reason to stay with passive noise reduction is if you are going to be in situations where it would be dangerous for yourself or others for you not to be able to hear outside noises.
Examples would be if you are driving a vehicle, if you are looking after young children or are walking alone at night.
The active noise-canceling headphones are ideal for use indoors when noise is disturbing or distracting you.
You may need to concentrate at work or relax on a long plane or train trip.
The extra expense of these headphones is well worth it for those who need to concentrate or get some rest.
If you are looking for the best noise-canceling headphones on the market today, there are a few that consistently appear and are clearly favored by consumers and reviewers.
Probably the most well known are the Bose Quiet Comfort2 and Quiet Comfort3.
They are in the $299 to $350 price bracket but are extremely popular, even at a high price.
Some others are the Sennheiser PXC 250, PXC300 and PXC450, the Sony MDR-NC50 and the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7.
These are all over-the-ear or on-the-ear.
Other reviewers were pleased with in-the-ear sets from Sony and Shure.
Whether you are comfortable with headphones or earbuds is also a factor to consider when looking for the best noise-canceling headphones to buy for yourself.
In order to do that, you need to ask yourself what you actually want them for.
These headphones are not all the same and each make has its own particular features, some of which you may not need, possibly causing you to spend more than is necessary.
For example, there are two types of noise-cancellation, passive and active.
Passive noise-cancellation is probably what most people have experienced by wearing around the ear headphones or earphones that fit in the ear canal, sealing off the ear from outside noise.
Active noise-cancellation involves a more scientific approach, using special circuitry which, of course, costs more.
Obviously, if you would be quite happy with the passive noise reduction provided by the circumaural (surrounding the ear) or the canalphones (inside the ear canal), then you probably will not need to spend hundreds of dollars on the technology of the active noise reduction models.
Another reason to stay with passive noise reduction is if you are going to be in situations where it would be dangerous for yourself or others for you not to be able to hear outside noises.
Examples would be if you are driving a vehicle, if you are looking after young children or are walking alone at night.
The active noise-canceling headphones are ideal for use indoors when noise is disturbing or distracting you.
You may need to concentrate at work or relax on a long plane or train trip.
The extra expense of these headphones is well worth it for those who need to concentrate or get some rest.
If you are looking for the best noise-canceling headphones on the market today, there are a few that consistently appear and are clearly favored by consumers and reviewers.
Probably the most well known are the Bose Quiet Comfort2 and Quiet Comfort3.
They are in the $299 to $350 price bracket but are extremely popular, even at a high price.
Some others are the Sennheiser PXC 250, PXC300 and PXC450, the Sony MDR-NC50 and the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7.
These are all over-the-ear or on-the-ear.
Other reviewers were pleased with in-the-ear sets from Sony and Shure.
Whether you are comfortable with headphones or earbuds is also a factor to consider when looking for the best noise-canceling headphones to buy for yourself.