While giving a presentation today on ADHD, I was asked if I could recommend some noise-cancelling headphones. This is, of course, a personal choice with many factors at play, and so I updated my research and put the following together.
One’s choice of noise-cancelling earphones depends on a number of personal considerations, like
- Wired vs. Wireless connection
- Over-ear vs. In-ear style
- Comfort/Fit
- Compatibility with existing systems (e.g., Apple vs. PC or Android)
- Passive vs. Active vs. Adaptive noise-cancellation (explained here)
- Budget
- On-ear controls
- Battery life; charging case
- Need/Preference for Bluetooth, integrated microphone, voice-assist, etc.
For example, for me, passive cancellation is perfectly fine; I wanted something I could “hide” under my hair when on-screen; I wanted Bluetooth and a decent battery life; I don’t use Apple products; and I didn’t want to spend too much. In the end, I went with Anker Soundcore Liberty, and it works well for me.
Here are some brands and models that are well rated (2023) for noise-cancellation in general:
- Bose (QuietComfort 2)
- Apple Airpods (Pro and Max models)
- Sony (WF and WH series)
- Samsung Galaxy (Buds2 Pro)
- Anker Soundcore (Life, Space, and Liberty models)
- Sennheiser (Momentum True and Momentum 4 models)
- Earfun (Air Pro and Air S models)
If you prefer to skip the research and just see some buying options, head over to the Shop.
