Perfect headphones for blocking out noise
There’s a frightening range of headphones available these days, and there’s no such thing as a perfect pair. Here’s our guide to what to look for.
All portable headphones have a degree of noise isolation, depending on how well they seal against your ear. Many in-ear models are designed to fill your ear canal so that they physically block as much outside noise as possible.
Noise cancellation, on the other hand, uses clever tech to trick your ears into un-hearing the hubbub. A microphone constantly checks the level of ambient noise, and the headphones then output an inverse wave to counter it.
These are great for those who travel a lot or who just want to crack on with their essays, but that extra tech comes with a price premium and the added reliance on batteries.
Supplied with a range of silicone and foam earbuds, these portable headphones sit tightly in your ears for the best performance. However, some people find them invasive. If you’re particularly flush, you can pay to have some custom-moulded to your ear canals.
Another good option for travelling. These position two pads on your ears, making a light seal.
These negate any on-ear discomfort, as they sit around the ear rather than on it. However, they’re bulky and very conspicuous.
They often have good noise isolation due to their closed cups, and are capable of producing plenty of bass.
Primarily aimed at home use, these headphones generally offer the best-quality sound. They’re not cheap, though, and don’t isolate against sound at all. They also leak the music out, so they’re no good for a quiet environment.
A decent option for fitness freaks and those who hate having to adjust headphone cables. These connect to your music device through Bluetooth, which means there’s an inevitable loss of sound quality. There’s also the added inconvenience of them possibly running out of battery while you’re on the go.
A selection of three great headphones follow.
These are a great choice for anyone who finds on- or over-ear headphones too conspicuous. Likewise, they’re great for those on a budget who don’t want to skimp on quality.
These are robust earphones as the frames are made from metal, which means they’ll survive being stood on. Some people bemoan in-ear headphones because they struggle to achieve a tight fit in the ear canal, but the E10C come with a huge range of tip sizes to cover most ear shapes. There's also a remote that supports both Apple and Android phones.
Read more: SoundMagic E10 review
Buy Now: Amazon
The AKG Y50 offer impressive low-end grunt for very little money. Plus they look stylish and come in a variety of colours.
They sound great, injecting bass into the music in a way that doesn’t sound artificial or upset the tonal balance. There's a good amount of noise isolation too, especially at this price. After a couple of hours they can start feeling a bit uncomfortable, but they’re better than most on-ear headphones at this price. If you don't like the intrusive nature of in-ear headphones then these are a great budget alternative.
Read more: AKG Y50 review
Buy Now: Currys
They might be expensive, but the comfort and sound quality of these noise-cancelling headphones take them to the next level.
They're wireless, connecting via Bluetooth, but there's little loss of sound quality. Battery life is an excellent 20 hours, plus there’s a cable provided in case they run out of charge when you’re on the go. Bose’s active noise cancelling is still the best in the business. These are perfect for commuters or students who need to drown out external distractions and crack on with some work.
Read more: Bose QuietComfort 35 review
Buy Now: Amazon | John lewis
