Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Listed below are a few of our top recommended noise cancelling earbuds (also known as noise reducing, noise blocking and noise isolating) earbuds:
Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones
Etymotic Research is a well-known high-end manufacturer. The ER6i are their entry level noise isolating offering, priced at just under $75. The reviews for these have been universally outstanding. The buds do such a great job of blocking outside noises they are not recommended for activities where allowing some external sounds to be heard is beneficial, such as bike riding. these are great for exercising in a gym environment where complete isolation from distracting noise is desirable.
Klipsch IMAGE S4 In-Ear Enhanced Bass Noise-Isolating Headphone
Priced at $80, this product recently received the prestigious Editors Choice Award from Cnet. There are a number of features that are unique to the S4’s. First and formost, many cite the clarity of the sound reproduction as the most outstanding quality especially considering the price (at the low end of audiophile-grade earbuds). Many reviewers comment on the comfort that these buds afford, and most attribute this to the silicone oval-shaped tips. Since this shape more closely matches the anatomical shape of the ear canal, they tend to seal better at less pressure. Other nice touches are the aluminum carry case and a unique cleaning tool.
Sony Mdrnc22/Blk Noise Canceling Headphone
The noise cancelling technology will block airplane cabin noise effectively but is less effective for higher frequencies like voices and crying babies, although these frequencies are muted. They block airplane engine noise almost completely. Gym noises such as the hum of treadmills are almost eliminated as well. They mute higher frequencies (people talking, babies crying, etc) quite a bit, but not so much that you can’t hear if, say, a flight attendant asks you a question. I also use this headset in the gym. A sensitive ear will notice a white noise hiss that seems to be present in all active noise cancelling headphones and earbuds. For those who cannot tolerate the tight fitting noise isolating earbuds, most will find these quite comfortable as they come with three sizes of tips for different sizes of ear canals. These are priced at about $62.
Noise cancelling earbuds actually generate a signal that is designed to cancel out unwanted external noise. In order to accomplish this task, extra components are required: a receiver to sample the un-wanted noise, a signal generator to generate the cancelling signals, and a power supply to power the process. The power supply is usually a battery built into the cord. This technology is not perfect in that the trained ear can sometimes hear additional artifacts introduced into the music. One area where noise cancelling technology is particularly effective is where the unwanted noise is relatively constant such as the hum of an airplane cabin.
While several manufacturers have are producing noise cancelling systems that are quite effective, the resulting cost of a well-engineered system is dear compared to non-active solutions. Before investing in this technology we always recommend trying noise blocking earbuds first. Noise blocking rely on a tight seal between the earbud and the ear canal to effectively eliminate the exterior ambient noise, similar in concept to earplugs. Wearing noise blocking earbuds may be uncomfortable at first, but most will become accustomed to them with a few uses. There are a few people that find them to be too intrusive and simply cannot tolerate the sensation that the tight seal causes. For them, a well-engineered noise cancelling earbud is worth the extra investment.
Click here for a complete listing of all of our featured noise cancelling earbud reviews.
