Noise-cancelling headphones listen to the world through tiny microphones and play the opposite sound wave. The two cancel out, and the hum of a plane or a fan almost disappears.
Who benefits most
- Frequent flyers and train commuters
- People in open-plan offices
- Anyone who studies in noisy places
When to skip it
If you mostly listen at home or on walks, a good pair of regular headphones sounds just as good and costs much less.
Noise cancelling works best on steady, low sounds, not on sudden voices.
Frequently asked: where do I start?
Start small. Pick one idea from this post, try it this week, and build from there.
Photo: Mark Rohan on Unsplash.