There is so much talk about noise cancellation lately, and everyone looking forward to buying earphones puts this specification before any other. Producers have also put in effort to produce more of the product.

What is Noise Cancellation?

Noise cancellation, also known as Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is a technology used in headphones and other audio devices that actively reduces unwanted background noise by detecting ambient sounds with microphones and generating opposing sound waves to effectively cancel them out.

Some of the outside noises that impact your audio experience include the deafening roadworks outside your window, and that annoying office chitchat while you are on a phone call, in a meeting or listening to a podcast or a plane engine among others hence creating a quieter listening experience and the outcome is sweet, smiles, sweet silence. I believe this technology is for a good cause.

Who Invented Noise Cancellation?

Dr Lawrence Jerome Fogel back invented the Noise Cancelling concept in the 1950s. Fogel was an American pioneer of electrical and aerospace engineering. He submitted a patent about using this technology in the aviation field. His system was specifically designed to protect pilots’ hearing in the cockpit area and it is believed that his NC headphones were the first. Later on, in 1956 and 1957, the Air Force Research Laboratory further developed the idea. Willard Meeker, who then led the operation, introduced earplugs and earmuffs as passive hearing protectors, further enhancing them with the new ANC design. This technology rapidly advanced in the 1970s, with credit to Dr Amar Bose, founder of Bose Corporation. 

Headphones with the beat ANC.

Now I know there is so much whining and so many products on the market that “claim” to give you Active Noise Cancellation. But here is the gist: most of those products don’t support ANC.

However, you still cannot get 100% Noise Cancellation due to the presence of the natural air gap between the audio device and the eardrum.

Here are some of the audio devices, in this case, headphones that deliver groundbreaking noise cancellation.

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.

• Sony WH-1000XM5

• Sonos Ace

• Soundcore Space One

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds.

I am sure you’re wondering why Bose is appearing several times; do you remember Dr. Amar Bose that we read about? Yes, that’s the answer.

ANC was a feature that was only reserved for strictly the most expensive headphones. But currently, you can get surprisingly decent noise cancellation at approximately every price point, thanks to technological advancement.

NOTE: The number of options is still exceptionally limited.