Active noise cancelling (ANC) feels a little like magic: you press a button and the hum of a plane, a train or an open-plan office simply fades away. Here is what is really happening inside your headphones.
Fighting sound with sound
Small microphones on the outside of each ear cup listen to the noise around you. A chip then creates a sound wave that is the exact mirror image of that noise and plays it through the speakers. When the two waves meet, they cancel each other out, and what is left is your music.
What ANC is good at
- Steady, low-pitched noise such as engines, air conditioning and traffic rumble.
- Long journeys, because you can listen at a lower volume, which is kinder to your ears.
- Focus in noisy offices and cafés.
Sudden, high-pitched sounds like voices or clattering cups are harder to cancel. That is where a good passive seal helps: over-ear cushions and well-fitted ear tips block what the electronics can't.
Transparency mode
Most ANC headphones also have a transparency mode that does the opposite: it lets outside sound in on purpose so you can hear announcements or chat without taking them off. Use it when walking near traffic.
Which style suits you?
Over-ear headphones such as the Auralis Studio ANC Headphones give the strongest cancelling and the longest battery life, which makes them perfect for travel. True wireless earbuds like the Auralis Buds Pro trade a little of that for pocket-sized convenience and are ideal for workouts and commutes.