“Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed, and available to the right people in a format for decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit.” William Pollard said this with a clear frame of mind.  There’s so much information out there that often, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed…  One website may say something while another tells a completely different story.  You get lost in a flood of info, and it’s difficult to know where to turn next.  Well, you don’t need to look too hard to find relevant, organized, and useful information here at HeadPhoneMart.com.  All the information you need about noise cancelling headphones is right here for you to grasp and enjoy.

This article is a generic look at noise cancelling headphones so if you’re looking for specific product recommendations, you’ll find many detailed product reviews on other parts of the site – both editor reviews and customer reviews.  Combine all of this information to make the most educated decision that is right for you.

Without further ado, let’s get into the good stuff.

1) Type of Noise Cancelling Headphones – In-ear or not?

Do you want in-ear models or larger ones?  This can help you narrow down your choices.  There are fewer in-ear models, but they are generally less expensive, more lightweight, and more portable.  However, on the contrary, they are less durable and not as efficient at noise cancelling.  If you’re looking for the highest level of noise cancellation, it’s probably a safe bet to stay away from the in-ear models. On the other hand, if you want a decent amount of noise cancellation but lightweight, portable headphones, narrow your searches down to the noise cancelling earbuds.

2) Appearance – Good-looking or strange looking?

This may not be one of the more important factors, but let’s face it.  If you’re going to spend a significant amount of money, why not get headphones that look good?  There are a lot of great looking noise cancelling headphones which also do the job well.  Some of the designs don’t look very pleasing…  Almost all of them have corresponding pictures that you can take a look at before you purchase.  Be sure to browse through the pictures before buying!

3) Fitting – Comfortable or awkward?

Design fitness is certainly an important aspect to consider when purchasing headphones.  While most companies try to build models that mold to anyone’s ears, this may not always be the case.  Some in-ear models may feel awkward in your ear.  Other times, the more durable models began to heat up your ear if you’ve had them on for too long.  Most of the time, you’ll have the same reactions as other people.  Browse through the reviews of a particular product to see other customers have reported some sort of problem with the fitting.  Most of the time, these problems will be apparent.  The majority of noise cancelling headphones are meant to fit well and feel okay even for extended periods of time, but some may not.

4) Product dimensions – Too big?

All products will have the dimensions – the height, the width, the depth, the weight – listed in the description.  Be sure to check out what size is appropriate for you. Around 8.5 ounces, or 0.5 pounds, is on the lighter side; the general weight for the better quality noise cancelling headphones is around 2.5 or 3 pounds.  Common dimensions are 9 x 5 x 10 inches, 10 x 5 x 8 inches, 10 x 4 x 12 inches (in order of increasing weight: 0.5 pounds, 2.5 pounds, and 3.0 pounds).  Find ones that’ll be comfortable for you.

5)  Power/Energy Consumption

A lot of people forget about this…  In order to efficiently cancel noise, the headphones need to consume power.  And they can only do this if they are supplied energy from some source.  It is very common for noise cancelling headphones to use 2 AA batteries or 4 AAA doubles.  Many people who are purchasing noise cancelling headphones for the first time are surprised to see that the headphones need power in order to operate.  Don’t worry though – almost all of the headphones come with the batteries or necessary supplies included.

6)  Amount of Noise Cancellation

Of course, one of the most important things to decide upon is how powerful you want the noise cancellation to be.  If you’re just going to be using these headphones within the home or office to tune out other people, you may not need the best noise cancellation.  On the contrary, if you’re trying to get rid of loud machinery such as a lawn mower or an airplane, definitely aim for the higher-end models that are specifically designed with you mind.

You’ll certainly want to consider the price as well.  Prices can range from $100 to $500 or more…  More than likely, the more expensive ones are branded technology (Bose, Sennheiser, Sony, etc.) which have been in the business for a long time.  Your best bet when purchasing noise cancelling headphones is definitely the customer and editor reviews for that product.  Good luck!