As you walk down Orchard Road, bobbing to the beats of Elvis Presley’s ‘Jailhouse Rock’ on your Apple EarPods, you hear an orchestra of noise from the distance. The cries of an inconsolable baby, the endless chatter of gossiping aunties, the exhaust notes of a Ferrari F430.
You don’t even realise when Elvis has left the building.
Noise-cancellation earphones are excellent in drowning out the unwanted disturbances in the background. Without getting too technical, what it does is generate a noise-cancelling wave that counters the ambient noise. Let’s look at eight of the best noise-cancellation headphones that one can buy:
1. Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphone II
Starting with the king of noise-cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphone II delivers 20 hours of non-stop music in a single charge.
A second quick charge of just 15 minutes will give you another 2.5 hours of fun. So how’s the sound on these cans? They’re from Bose, thus listeners can expect world-class audio with deep lows and clear highs.
With both style and function in mind, Alcantara cushions (typically found in sports cars) are used to provided superior comfort. No wires will hinder your music experience as the Bose QuietComfort 35 is equipped with both Bluetooth and NFC connectivity.
Price: S$529 | Available at: Bose
2. Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone
If you are an avid audiophile, you would be glad to know that the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone features the High-Resolution Audio classification, allowing listeners to enjoy tonal accuracy.
Going hand-in-hand with High-Resolution Audio is the S-Master HX™ technology that reduces distortion in music, producing a clean and clear music experience.
Whether you are walking down the street, or cruising on a plane, Smart Listening by Adaptive Sound Control automatically adjusts the settings for you, to provide the optimal level of noise-cancellation.
With 30 hours of juice available at your service, rest assured that you can enjoy your favourite music wherever you go. Just 10 minutes of charge will get you up to 70 minutes of play.
LDAC™, a new audio technology developed by Sony promises a disruption-free listening experience as LDAC™ transmits data at a faster rate as compared to traditional Bluetooth. Sounds legit!
Price: S$549 | Available at: Lazada
3. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i
Bang & Olufsen (B&O), the Prada of the audio world, is one brand that is worth splurging on.
With an improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) capability that filters unwanted ambient noise, and with an upgraded sound system, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i will be like a portable Celine Dion, singing melodies into your ears.
With 18 hours of playback available, enjoy the signature B&O sound quality produced by these cans. As expected from B&O, the headphones feature high quality materials, from premium leather wrapping on the headband, to lambskin ear cushions.
You are indeed paying for what you get. Fussy listeners, with the B&O app, you can customise the sound signature and noise-cancellation level according to your preference.
Price: S$699 | Available at: Headphones.sg & Various Retailers
4. KEF Space One Porsche Design Sound Wireless
Want to join the Porsche ecosystem but don’t have enough money to buy their cars? Fret not, have a taste of the high-life with this headphone with the KEF Space One Porsche Design Sound Wireless.
Awarded the “Red Dot Best of the Best” title, this sleek looking piece of art not only excels aesthetically, but in terms of sound as well. Don’t worry, you have up to 30 hours to flaunt this beauty!
KEF’s tuned the ANC in such a way whereby it eliminates ambient noise without affecting the quality of music played, producing clear highs, rich midtones, and booming bass.
Sweat-resistant material ensures your ears remains comfortable during long commutes. If you are afraid of damaging the KEF Space One Porsche Design Sound Wireless, don’t be; the aluminium band used enhances its durability.
Price: S$629 | Available at: Stereo Electronics
5. Beats Studio3 Wireless
Popularised by the collaboration with Dr. Dre in 2008, Beats has come a long way and joins the noise-cancellation family with this addition, the Beats Studio3 Wireless. With a chic dark grey colour with gold accents, you’ll be turning heads when you wear these out.
Pure ANC technology constantly listens to the environment and accurately filters out unwanted noise, allowing consumers to hear only the good stuff, music.
Powered by Apple’s A1 chip, it offers Class 1 Bluetooth for effortless connectivity to your Apple devices, 22 hours of playback with Pure ANC on, and Fast Fuel technology that provides 3 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charge.
The soft over-ear cushions feature an enhanced venting system that provides the necessary ventilation when wearing the Beats Studio3 Wireless over an extended period of time.
Price: S$478 | Available at: Apple
6. Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless
Coming from one of the most established audio brands around, the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless will wow you with the signature Sennheiser sound. With Sennheiser’s NoiseGard™ Hybrid technology, it monitors the surroundings and adjusts the noise-cancellation intensity accordingly.
The long-lasting battery life of 30 hours means that audiophiles will be able to maximise listening power everywhere they go.
You can also use the touch-sensitive surface to perform certain actions such as changing volume of the audio, and also to pick up calls.
I am pretty sure you have heard of ergonomic chairs and other ergonomic creations. Now, even your ears will enjoy a fit that is made for you due to this pair’s ergonomic design, made possible after intensive research and testing.
Price: S$649 | Available at: Harvey Norman
7. JBL Everest Elite 750NC
If you are budget conscious but still want to enjoy the pleasures of ANC technology, the JBL Everest Elite 750NC is the pair for you. But with a more modest price tag as compared to the other brands, do be prepared to forego several premium features.
Instead of a super durable metal construction, the JBL Everest Elite 750NC is almost entirely plastic. The plus side to this is that it only weighs about 280 grams.
With that in mind, indulge in 15 hours of non-stop music pleasure without having to suffer the strains of wearing a heavy pair of headphones.
TruNote™ Auto Sound Calibration personalises the audio profile based on the ear cup fit, ensuring that you get the best sound quality possible. In addition, you can update the software of the JBL Everest Elite 750NC to enjoy all the latest features available.
Price: S$339 | Available at: JBL
8. Marshall Mid ANC
Guitarists, you may be familiar with this brand. Marshall is known for its guitar amplifiers due to the superior sound quality, and now the brand is bringing its expertise to the headphone line.
Marshall Mid ANC is the brand’s premium selection that offers superior audio performance as well as 20 hours of wireless playtime with ANC turned on, and 30+ hours of playtime without ANC turned on.
The Marshall Mid ANC is designed with a 3D hinge that moves freely as you rotate your head, making for an ergonomic fit.
With the classic black and gold design, this minimalist pair will match almost every outfit you wear. Bluetooth aptX technology ensures a stable wireless connection with a range of roughly 10m.
We’re pining for a pair of these just from the aesthetics alone!
Price: S$469 | Available at: Stereo Electronics & Harvey Norman
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