ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) Headphones

What are ANC Headphones?

ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) headphones are electronic earphone speakers that have the ability to block out certain types of background noise. ANC headphones can be paired with digital devices to improve audio delivery, or they can be used alone to create a quieter environment.

ANC headphones are especially good at blocking out low-frequency background noise created by airplane engines, heavy machinery, household appliances, and traffic. They are not good at blocking intermittent high-frequency sounds like sirens, smoke alarms, dental drills, or car horns.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. What are ANC Headphones?
2. Key Takeaways
3. How ANC Works
4. How ANC Headphones Work
5. What Does ANC Do?
6. ANC History
7. Types of Active Noise Cancellation Headphones
8. Active Noise Cancellation vs. Passive Noise Cancellation
9. Why Use Active Noise Cancellation Headphones?
10. ANC Headphones Pros and Cons
11. The Bottom Line
12. FAQs
13. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. What are ANC Headphones?
2. Key Takeaways
3. How ANC Works
Show Full Guide
4. How ANC Headphones Work
5. What Does ANC Do?
6. ANC History
7. Types of Active Noise Cancellation Headphones
8. Active Noise Cancellation vs. Passive Noise Cancellation
9. Why Use Active Noise Cancellation Headphones?
10. ANC Headphones Pros and Cons
11. The Bottom Line
12. FAQs
13. References

How ANC Works

ANC technology uses a principle called destructive interference to block waves.

Destructive interference is a phenomenon that occurs when the peak of one wave is canceled out by the trough of another wave. Technically, the phenomenon creates a null wave where the wave amplitude is zero.

How ANC Headphones Work

ANC headphones have built-in microphones that can detect ambient noise.

Digital signal processors (DSPs) in the headphones analyze the noise frequency (pitch) and amplitude (loudness) and generate inverse (opposite) sound waves. The inverse sound waves are then broadcast through the headphone speakers.

Active noise cancellation headphones can be used alone, or they can be paired with a digital device. During use, the headphone’s processors will adjust the inverse waves in real time as the ambient noise changes. Some high-end ANC headphones can even use artificial intelligence (AI) to fine-tune inverse waves based on the detected environment.

Most ANC headphones have a pass-through feature that allows the user to turn ANC on or off. Some have a transparency mode that allows some types of ambient sound to be heard. Transparency mode is typically used in public spaces to provide situational awareness and improve safety.

What Does ANC Do?

ANC measures sound waves from a specific source and then creates equal and opposite secondary waves to cancel out the primary sound.

The technology can be used to create the illusion of a quieter environment or reduce the need to turn the volume up in noisy environments.

ANC History

From its initial use in aviation to its widespread use in consumer electronics, ANC has transformed the way users deal with background noise when they are traveling or working.

Types of Active Noise Cancellation Headphones

ANC headphones can be categorized by how they implement noise cancellation. The four main types of ANC are feedforward ANC, feedback ANC, hybrid ANC, and adaptive ANC.

Active Noise Cancellation vs. Passive Noise Cancellation

Active noise cancellation and passive noise cancellation (PNC) are both strategies that can be used to reduce external noise, but they work in different ways.

ANC uses destructive interference to block out certain types of continuous background noise. In contrast, PNC uses sound-isolating materials and/or snug-fitting form factors to block out all types of external sound.

Passive noise control is generally a better strategy for blocking unpredictable, sudden sounds like someone dropping a book. Active noise control is generally a better strategy for blocking out continuous background noise like the sound of a lawnmower.

To optimize ambient noise reduction, many ANC headphone vendors use both ANC and PNC strategies. The combination provides a broader spectrum of noise cancellation by addressing both predictable and unpredictable sounds.

ANC headphones

PNC headphones

Why Use Active Noise Cancellation Headphones?

ANC headphones can be used alone to block certain types of annoying ambient noise and create a quieter, less stressful environment.

They can also help limit hearing damage. When users don’t need to crank up the volume to overcome background noise, they can listen to audio content at safer, lower volumes.

ANC Headphones Pros and Cons

ANC headphones offer significant benefits for reducing noise and enhancing listening, but they come with trade-offs related to cost, comfort, and battery usage.

The Bottom Line

The definition of ANC headphones makes it clear that this type of earphone actively uses technology to analyze ambient noise in real time and generate “anti-noise” signals that block it out.

In contrast, PNC headphones (which may also be referred to as regular headphones) use dense material that fits snugly to passively reduce background noise.

Essentially, PNC headphones use physical barriers to cancel undesirable background noise, and ANC headphones use electronics and sometimes machine learning.

FAQs