Noise-cancelling headphones – are they worth it? Pros and Cons

Noise-cancelling headphones have been invented as a solution for people who want to find their peace and quiet in noisy environments. There are a plethora of situations in our lives when we have to deal with outside noises we don’t want to hear. Whether you’re in the middle of the street, in a mall, airport, crowded bus and so on, sometimes it gets so loud around you that you can’t even hear your own thoughts, let alone focus on reading a book, studying or getting some work done. That’s where noise cancelling headphones come in. They are designed in such a way that they are able to significantly reduce the undesired ambient noise, while allowing you to still enjoy your favorite tune or podcast at decent volumes.  

But there are a lot of people out there who don’t think noise-cancelling headphones are worth all the fuss and who still prefer to remain faithful to the traditional, standard earphones. Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of noise-cancelling headphones. We’ll give you all the data and let you make your own decision.

Pros of noise-cancelling headphones

• They are very efficient in blocking most unwanted, external sounds, especially lower and medium frequencies. That is why they are great for when you’re traveling, studying, talking on the phone and more
• They don’t require you to increase the volume of the music or whatever you are listening to, in order to block the external noise. You can listen to your music at lower volumes and the headphones will still be able to block ambient sounds
• They can protect children’s hearing. Kids are very sensitive and their hearing can be seriously damaged by loud noises
• They can help you sleep better
• They improve the sound quality when you are listening to music, because you don’t have to crank up the volume to block undesired sounds. The higher the volume, the bigger the risk of distortion. When you listen to music at a lower volume, the quality is better, the sound is clearer

Cons of noise cancelling headphones

• One of the main disadvantages is the high price of these types of headphones. Noise cancelling headphones tend to be more expensive than headsets that don’t come with this feature
• They drain the battery faster. Noise-cancelling headphones have a higher power usage, so be prepared, especially when you’re traveling
• They can’t block all external sounds. While they do manage to significantly attenuate the level of ambient noise, they can’t block all external sounds. Most noise-cancelling headphones are more effective in blocking low to medium frequency sounds
• The audio quality of your music will be a bit compromised when using them, although the difference is barely noticeable to the average user
• They are bulkier and heavier than regular headphones. Noise-cancelling headphones are quite complex devices and have more parts, including batteries. All these components add to the weight of the headphones and you will feel those extra ounces if you are using the headphones for a longer period of time.