Sound cancelling headphones best: Sony WH-1000XM5 review: new design, new sound, new price

Sony WH-1000XM5 review: new design, new sound, new price

Sony has a brand new flagship set of noise-canceling headphones: the WH-1000XM5. And as much as we’ve ragged on Sony’s terrible product names before, I think that at least with the 1000X series, people get it: these have always been among the very best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. Sony’s been battling it out for years with Bose, and more recently Apple, to win over frequent flyers, commuters, work-from-homers, and everyone else who can’t go without noise cancellation. As more jobs shift to a hybrid work model, noise-canceling headphones have only become more essential for peace and quiet both at the real office and in your home office. 

The 1000XM5s have a fresh design, cleaner sound, and even better ANC than before. But they don’t really do anything new. Now priced at $399, they’re also $50 more expensive than the M4s, which Sony is keeping in the lineup. Are they worth the upgrade? Potentially, but it’s not exactly a slam dunk.

8Verge Score

Sony WH-1000XM5

$399.99

The Good

• Even better active noise cancellation
• More balanced, tighter sound
• Much-improved voice call quality

The Bad

• Design is very plasticky for $400
• No major new features over 1000XM4
• Bulky, awkward carrying case

$400 at Best Buy$400 at Sony

How we rate and review products

For the first time in several years, Sony has overhauled the entire design of the headphones. The 1000XM5s look totally distinct from their predecessors. The headband is slightly thinner, and, instead of arms that cradle the ear cups at both sides, there’s a single stem running down the center. If you look at some of Sony’s competitors like Bose’s Noise Canceling Headphones 700 or Apple’s AirPods Max, you can see where Sony may have found some inspiration. 

This style looks more refined and cleaner with fewer obvious seams and such. The mic inlets that looked like USB-C ports on the previous model are gone, now located around the perimeter of the headphones and set deeper to help cut back on wind noise. The ear pads are a bit wider and more memory foam-y, which results in improved overall comfort. Even with the revamped design, the M5s weigh in at 250 grams, pretty much the same as the 254-gram M4s. Sony continues to offer them in black or off-white, and the latter has a subtle textured finish that hides finger oils and smudges better than the black model.

The headphones come in black or off-white.

But I’m not convinced that these headphones look very premium. The 1000XM4s at least had some visible metal on their ratcheting ear cup sliders, but everything you can see or touch on the 1000XM5s is all plastic. I wouldn’t be concerned about durability: I twisted the hell out of these headphones and they held up perfectly fine. It’s more about fit and finish. For $400, I’d have appreciated some nicer materials thrown in — or ear pads that are easier to replace a la the AirPods Max. My Sennheiser Momentum 3s have a more impressive build quality that feels appropriate for their price. That said, it’s possible to go too far in the other direction, too. You can make a good case that the AirPods Max are too heavy, and Sony is clearly prioritizing extended comfort above a lavish design. 

The new headphones can’t fold down like Sony’s previous models could.

The ear cups still pivot and turn just as they did before. But one thing Sony’s new headphones can’t do anymore is fold. This is one of my biggest disappointments with the 1000XM5s. Instead of folding down for convenient portability, these headphones just lay flat in their case. And, as a result, that case is significantly larger than before. The 1000XM4 case is easy to toss in my bag, but the 1000XM5s don’t fit in the usual compartment, so I’ve had to clumsily put them in the main part of the bag. You can always leave the case at home, but then you’ve got to be mindful of what else might be in your bag nudged up against the headphones.

The case is significantly larger than before.

It takes up more space in my bag than I’d like.

Even though it’s collapsible without the headphones inside, this case is too bulky, and I think Sony could’ve done better. Bose’s case for the Noise Canceling Headphones 700, which can’t fold up either, is smaller and makes efficient use of space. People travel with these headphones constantly, and I think Sony’s oversized case is going to cause frustration. But it’s at least a functional case — hello, Apple — with storage for the USB-C and aux cables. Sony no longer includes a dual-prong airline adapter in the box. That strikes me as stingy for $400, but it is what it is. 

SONY WH-1000XM5 SPECS

• Bluetooth version: 5.2
• Active noise cancellation: yes
• Ambient mode: yes
• Multipoint: yes
• Battery life: 30 hours (ANC on), 40 hours (ANC off)
• Recharge time: approx. 3.5 hours over USB-C
• Bluetooth codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC
• Extra features: Speak to Chat, 360 Reality Audio, DSEE Extreme, Spotify Tap, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
• App: Sony Headphones Connect for Android and iOS

As for how the 1000XM5s sound, there are bigger changes than I was expecting. Sony has switched from 40-millimeter drivers in the 1000XM4s to 30-millimeter drivers in these new headphones. Driver size isn’t everything, but I can’t think of the last time a pair of Sony headphones sounded this different from their predecessors. The 1000XM5s are tighter, more detailed, and clean up the sometimes muddy bass of the 1000XM4s. “The new 30mm driver unit, with a light and rigid dome, uses carbon fiber composite material that improves high frequency sensitivity for more natural sound quality,” Sony spokesperson Chloe Canta told The Verge.

More natural, yes, but they also have less oomph to them. They’re less in your face and less potent out of the box overall. I’ve done direct comparisons with the same songs on both headphones, and the M5s won out in most cases. They’re noticeably more refined, detailed, and spacious. But in some instances, particularly when listening to thumpy hip-hop or EDM tracks, I leaned towards the M4s.  

With a new design, the 1000XM5s look sleeker and more streamlined.

There are inevitably going to be people who prefer the more energetic sound of the 1000XM4s. And maybe that’s partly why Sony is keeping them around; selling two headphones that are otherwise so similar wouldn’t make much sense. You can use the EQ controls in Sony’s Headphones Connect app on Android or iOS to bring the sound of these headphones closer together, but the best thing to do is try both of them yourself if possible. You can look at all the frequency curve charts you want, but this stuff is fundamentally subjective. 

Sony stuck with the same QN1 noise cancellation processor for the new headphones, but now it’s also added in a second processor to dial up ANC even further. As a result, the company says noise cancellation performs similarly to the M4s on a plane but should be better at handling street noise and cutting down on nearby voices. That’s been true in my experience. It’s still not enough to completely silence the world if you’re in a busy coffee shop, but it’s an improvement over what was already fantastic noise cancellation.

One minor hardware thing to note: Sony previously had an “optimize” button on the headphones that would adjust the ANC for factors like air pressure and fit — hairstyle, whether you wear glasses, etc. But now the button is gone, and Sony says the same optimization is all happening automatically in the background. I miss the button a little; it was a fun trick that only took a few seconds, but I can see why Sony ditched it for simplicity’s sake. 

The 1000XM5s take after competitors like Bose’s Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and Apple’s AirPods Max.

As for voice calls, Sony is going for broke. The 1000XM5s have eight microphones in total, and four of those are used for voice. Add that together with AI algorithm improvements for noise reduction on calls, and the M5s deliver a noticeable upgrade over the M4s in this department. They aren’t a match for the standout LinkBuds or standard AirPods, but, for over-ear headphones, they’re about the best you’re going to find. Things get a bit dodgier if you’re in a loud environment, but all headphones struggle in that scenario and the Sonys managed to keep my voice intelligible on calls and Zoom chats. 

AGREE TO CONTINUE: SONY WH-1000XM5

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

Like any headphones, you can use Sony’s WH-1000XM5 over Bluetooth without clicking through any agreements. But if you want to use the Headphones Connect app, which is essential for customizing the settings, EQ, and other features of the headphones, you’re agreeing to:

• Sony’s end user license agreement
• Sony’s privacy policy

You can also opt in to letting Sony collect data from your usage of the Headphones Connect app, which the company says is for the purpose of improving its products and services.

Together, you get three optional agreements.

The 1000XM5s still support LDAC, Sony’s codec for higher-quality wireless audio. And if you can’t plug in, LDAC is the next best thing for listening to hi-res music on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and others. This only applies to Android, mind you; iPhone owners are still limited to the lower-bitrate AAC codec. These headphones also support multipoint, meaning you can connect to two devices at once. But unfortunately, Sony still makes you pick one advanced feature or the other: you can enable either LDAC or multipoint but not both at the same time. The 1000XM4s had the same restriction, which makes me think it might come down to Bluetooth bandwidth. 

The ear pads are slightly wider and roomier.

Controls and buttons remain largely unchanged.

Some core basics about the 1000XM5s remain unchanged. You control them with taps and swipes on the right ear cup. The old Sony hallmarks — like holding your hand over the right ear cup to briefly lower your music and boost the outside world — are still present. Same goes for features from the 1000XM4s, like “speak to chat,” where the headphones can detect when you’re talking and automatically halt music and enter transparency mode. You can also lift the left ear cup (or remove the headphones entirely) to automatically pause your music. Battery life is the same 30 hours as before if you’re using noise cancellation. If you turn all the extra bells and whistles off, you can stretch well beyond that.

Now, I want to discuss some missed opportunities: the things I was hoping Sony might add this time around but still hasn’t. First, it’s getting silly that these expensive headphones can’t work wirelessly with the PlayStation 5. They’re both top-tier, headline Sony products, but you’ve still got to plug into the PS5 controller with a cable. Second, the USB-C port is still just for charging, when a number of other headphones let you use it for audio as well. And finally, the 1000XM5s aren’t remotely water or sweat resistant: there’s a little paper in the box that urges you to avoid getting them wet. I’m not under the impression that these are fitness headphones, but some progress and resistance to the elements would be great to see in the year 2022. Maybe a few of these points will be addressed by the time the 1000XM6s come along in another two years. 

Sony’s WH-1000XM5 (left) compared to the prior-gen WH-1000XM4 (right).

The WH-1000XM5s have a wonderfully comfortable new design that looks more modern but doesn’t quite rise up to their $400 price tag. The already best-in-class noise cancellation has been stepped up even further. These headphones sound clearer and more natural but also very different from their predecessors, which could prove divisive. 

If you’ve got a pair of 1000XM4s and are happy with them, there’s zero reason to run out and upgrade. Those headphones can do everything these can. But if you’re on an older pair of Sony cans — say the 1000XM2s or M3s and your battery is starting to give out, then these are a much better buy. You’re getting multipoint and the best ANC Sony has achieved yet.  

I don’t love that the price has gone up, and the case is a miss. For those reasons, you should do your own side-by-side comparisons with the M4s and potentially save some money. It seems like Sony got confused with what it wanted the 1000XM5s to be: they’re a strange half-step between the 1000XM4s and luxury headphones like the AirPods Max. There’s no major new feature or big headlining thing about them. But they’re still damn good noise-canceling headphones.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge

Sony WH-1000XM4 review: the best noise-canceling headphones get better

Sony released its superb WH-1000XM3 noise-canceling headphones in 2018, and they still frequently top lists for the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. But competitors haven’t been sitting idle: Bose’s Noise Canceling Headphones 700 are neck and neck with Sony for noise cancellation and have better microphones for voice calls. Microsoft’s Surface Headphones 2 have more intuitive controls, and smaller companies like Jabra are releasing impressive noise-canceling headphones at lower prices. Even Apple is rumored to be at work on its own premium set of headphones.

But to fend off its rivals, Sony has returned with the new $349.99 1000XM4 headphones, available for preorder today and shipping later this month. They address the two main downsides of the previous product: you can now pair to two devices simultaneously, and updated mics should make for clearer calls. Everything else is very similar or unchanged from last time around: the design is nearly identical, battery life still tops out at 30 hours, and the buttons and controls all work the same way. (Sony has assured me that the 1000XM4s will perform reliably in cold weather after it was found that the M3s had significant touch sensor problems in winter.) And aside from a few tweaks Sony made to how it upscales music, the 1000XM4s sound just like their predecessors — a very good thing, trust me.

9Verge Score

Sony WH-1000XM4

$349.99

The Good

• Sony’s best noise-canceling capabilities yet
• Improved voice quality
• Support for two simultaneous Bluetooth connections

The Bad

• USB-C port cannot be used for audio
• No significant design changes after two years
• Cold-weather improvements are unproven

$350 at Best Buy$350 at Amazon

How we rate and review products

Let’s get to the new stuff. The first is a simple convenience for anyone with an Android phone; Sony now supports Android’s Fast Pair for quick setup. This also lets you find your misplaced headphones by playing a sound through them, and you’ll get low-battery notifications when that 30-hour runtime is nearly exhausted. 

A bigger improvement that both iPhone and Android people will appreciate is the upgraded mic performance. Sony has added what it calls “Precise Voice Pickup technology” to the 1000XM4s, which optimizes audio processing from the five built-in microphones for clearer voice capture — and the difference is apparent. I’ve made a few voice memo recordings and had some calls with the 1000XM4s, and while the mics won’t give you pristine audio, your voice is reproduced clearly and intelligibly. It sounds more digitized than I’d like, but this is still an improvement over the 1000XM3s.

Look familiar? Not much has changed about the appearance of the 1000XM4s.

Related to the mics is a new feature that Sony calls Speak to Chat. If you enable this, the headphones will automatically pause anytime you start speaking. The detection works really well; music stops even if I say one short word. If you don’t do anything, the music will return 30 seconds after speech stops. (You can just double tap on the right ear cup to resume playback quicker.) 

The 1000XM4s have the same copper accents as the 1000XM3s.

The badge and indented NFC logo are the only clues that you’re looking at the newer Sony headphones.

I think some people will find this useful; the 1000XM4s still have the useful trick where you can cover the right ear cup with your hand to lower audio volume and pipe in ambient sound, but this method is voice-activated. But if you’re someone who talks to yourself with any regularity, forget about it. Your music will be pausing constantly. There was also a situation during my testing where the headphones stopped when an overhead announcement was playing at the train station, even though the feature is supposed to be listening for your voice. You can adjust the sensitivity of Speak to Chat in Sony’s Headphones Connect app to avoid false activations.

Sony has made small tweaks like slimming down the head cushion at top and increasing the surface area of the ear pads.

The other big new addition to the 1000XM4s is multipoint: finally, you can pair to two devices simultaneously. You don’t need to worry about missing a call if you’re absorbed in a movie or show on Netflix on your laptop. When I first received the headphones, Sony’s multipoint was a bit buggy and occasionally took too long to switch between audio sources. But the company released a firmware update in mid-August (before the M4s started shipping to customers) that largely resolved any issues. There’s still the random, rare glitch — but I think that’s just the reality of multipoint sometimes.

You can manage simultaneous Bluetooth connections in Sony’s Headphones Connect app.

You can manage simultaneous connections and switch between devices right from Sony’s app without having to futz with the Bluetooth settings on whatever secondary device you want to use besides your phone, which is useful. Sony’s Headphones Connect app also has the usual EQ options and adaptive sound control, which can automatically adjust the levels of noise cancellation and ambient sound based on your activity or location. I don’t like the headphones taking control or changing the audio on me unexpectedly, so I tend to leave those features switched off. 

You’d have an impossible time telling the 1000XM3s and 1000XM4s apart. The new headphones have the same outward appearance, down to the copper accents — including the one around the microphone inlet that almost makes it look like a USB-C port. Sony has made some subtle design tweaks; they’re just the kind you can’t see. The head cushion at the top has been slimmed down; the ear pads now have 10 percent greater surface area for more contact with your head; and the curve of the headband has been “fine tuned.” I’m not some masochist who likes wearing over-ear headphones outside in the sweltering summer heat, but I’ve found the 1000XM4s to be plush and comfortable when worn for several hours around my apartment. Thanks to a new sensor inside the left ear cup, the headphones can now detect when you remove them from your ears and will pause audio until you put them back on.

The buttons and swipe gesture controls remain unchanged from the 1000XM3.

A new sensor inside the left ear cup detects when you remove the headphones, so your music is automatically paused.

There’s still no water protection to speak of, which is one area I really wish Sony had addressed with the 1000XM4s. It’s pretty easy for rain to find its way into those upward-facing microphone grills. The headphones still fold up for carrying the same way as before. Also, the USB-C port is still exclusively for charging; you can’t use it as a wired audio connection, but you can still plug in with the included headphone cable if you want.

The 1000XM4s use the same Q1N processor for noise canceling as the prior headphones, but Sony says there’s a new Bluetooth audio system on a chip that analyzes music and surrounding noise 700 times per second, and this data is used for the noise cancellation algorithm. The 1000XM3s were already great at hushing airplanes, buses, trains, and other constant sound, but according to Sony, the 1000XM4s have gotten modestly better at reducing mid-high frequency sounds — like voices and everyday ambient sound. I haven’t had the previous pair on hand to compare against, but my visits to the grocery store have been free of noisy distractions or chatter cutting through. Sony also says it has improved the optional feature that upscales compressed music with the help of AI, which can now analyze music in real time and recognize instruments, music genres, and individual elements of songs. Honestly, it all sounds a little artificial to me, and I still leave this disabled. I’ve also barely explored the 360-degree audio feature of the 1000XM4s since so few music services support the format. 

Sony’s app shows when you’re streaming with LDAC.

The sense of “sameness” around the 1000XM4s extends to sound quality. Sony isn’t making any claims about core sound quality improvements; if you loved how the 1000XM3s sounded, you’ll be just as pleased with these. If you found them too bass-heavy or the tuning too colored, you’ll have those same critiques with the M4s. But count me in the group that appreciates the warm, expressive sound from this series. I’m still riding high on my high-energy summer listens like Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher and Taylor Swift’s Folklore, and the Sony headphones showcase both albums superbly. Every acoustic guitar on Swift’s “Betty” has its own space in the soundstage, as does the harmonica present through the song. The new remaster of Paul McCartney’s Flaming Pie is a good demonstration of how detailed and nuanced the 1000XM4s can get; even home recordings and rough-mix outtakes are enjoyable through these cans. 

My time with the 1000XM4s has made me a firm believer in Sony’s LDAC codec (available on most Android phones), which streams audio wirelessly at a significantly higher quality than the AAC you’re limited to if using an iPhone. I’ve put in several hours testing the 1000XM4s with Amazon Music HD, and if you’re the type of person who sits and attentively listens to your music, you’ll notice the improved fidelity. But here’s a bummer: if you enable the “connect to two devices simultaneously” option in settings, you can’t use LDAC at all — even when you’re connected to just your phone. Multipoint has to be fully switched off if you want to stream at those higher bitrates of between 600kbps and 900kbps. Thankfully, the 1000XM4s sound very good even when you’re listening without any fancy codecs.

Even if a lot is the same, the 1000XM4s are fantastic headphones.

It’s fair to say the 1000XM4s are an iterative update, not a radical step up from the M3s. They look the same, sound the same, and feel more or less the same on your head. But Sony’s software improvements — multipoint, Speak to Chat, and nice throw-ins like Fast Pair — aren’t insignificant. And the terrible voice quality has finally been rectified. With no outward design changes, I’m a little perplexed about what took Sony so long to release these — especially considering the 1000X, 1000XM2, and 1000XM3 headphones launched in such rapid succession. Regardless, the 1000XM4s live up to the strong reputation that Sony has built and offer more powerful noise-canceling capabilities than ever before. If the company makes good on its multipoint fix, you’re probably looking at the new top pick for noise-canceling headphones.

AGREE TO CONTINUE: SONY WH-1000XM4

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

You can use Sony’s WH-1000XM4 over Bluetooth without clicking through any agreements. But if you want to use the Headphones Connect app, which is essential for customizing the settings and performance of your headphones, you’re agreeing to:

• Sony’s end user license agreement
• Sony’s privacy policy

You can also opt into letting Sony collect data from your usage of the Headphones Connect app, which the company says is for the purpose of improving its products and services.

Together, you get three optional agreements.

Update August 12th, 12:00PM ET: The review has been updated to reflect improved multipoint / simultaneous Bluetooth pairing after Sony pushed out a pre-release firmware update. Accordingly, the review score has been increased from 8.5 to 9. I’ve also added a mention of the cold weather issues reported with the 1000XM3 headphones, which Sony insists have been fixed in the new model.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge

Quality passive noise canceling headphones? — Habr Q&A

You should pay attention to such a thing – the human voice lies in a wide range of frequencies, and if you take full-size (monitor headphones) only with passive sound insulation (i.e., the headphone cups are made of a special material that partially dampens external noise), they will not completely dampen voices of people. Headphones with such sound insulation will mainly dampen medium and high frequencies, but the human voice, especially the male one, also has a low-frequency component. So active noise canceling is struggling with this particular component of the voice or just noise. But at the same time, I can’t advise you worthy monitors that would have good sound and that would dampen both bass and midrange + high frequencies well – I just haven’t seen such monitors yet. The idea with active noise reduction is good, but it has not yet been implemented at a good level.

If we talk about overhead headphones, then with noise isolation they are better off. For example, as the owner of the AT ATH-ES 7, I can say that their soundproofing is enough to drown out most of the noise around. However, you can’t sit in such headphones all day – your ears will hurt, but I calmly sit in them for 2-3 hours. As for the sound quality of these headphones, it is very good for its price (4K). In general, a lot of good things have been written about these headphones on the Internet – you can read and see for yourself what I wrote above. Or listen to them in the store – it’s easier to make sure.

But if you’re okay with earplugs, this might be the best option. The idea is as follows – choose the earplugs that you like the most in terms of the nature of the sound, and then customizations are made for your headphones (special silicone tips that are made to order based on ear passage molds). As a result, you will get excellent sound insulation, which so far cannot be obtained in other ways.

And it would be easier to advise something if you indicated not only the budget, but also the intended sound source, as well as musical preferences – after all, these are important points when choosing headphones, especially when it comes to expensive (relatively) models .

Answer written

more than three years ago

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I think you should look at the Pioneer HDJ-1000, Pioneer HDJ-500 and Sony XB700 (Sony has very soft ear pads and good sound isolation, a lot of enhancers and a very powerful bass, you have to remove it if you don’t like it). There is also a junior model XB500. As for Pioneer, they can disappoint the layman with sound, because they present the sound “as it is”, without improving it.

Answer written

more than three years ago

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www.etymotic.com/
As far as I know (and in practice) here are the best.

Answer written

more than three years ago

Once again I will send in the direction of the Beyerdynamic DT880, I am not the owner, but they were tested in the store for quite a long time (a friend wanted good headphones and we tried everything and everything for 3 hours (several synheizers, AT, sony, coss, something else (there were a lot of models)) in the range from 30 to 300). In general, in terms of noise isolation + quality, it was very, very far in a good direction from the closest competitors (I would buy it for myself, but I don’t need it at all, although the issue of choosing headphones has now been resolved :)). I was very, very impressed, as were 2 other people in the store. I advise you to try to listen somewhere, or just put it on and listen to the noise around :).

Answer written

more than three years ago

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I have a Pioneer HDJ-1000. Excellent insulation. Good sound. And they are pretty inexpensive.

Answer written

more than three years ago

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What is the difference between active and passive noise cancellation in headphones and headsets?

Passive and active noise canceling technologies are widely used in both consumer-grade and professional headsets for contact centers and offices. What is the difference between the methods of dealing with extraneous noise in headsets, and which method of noise reduction is the most effective?

The generic term “noise canceling” refers to several ways to reduce the effect of ambient noise on the sound quality of headphones and headsets. Manufacturers of these audio devices use different noise reduction technologies – active (with static and adaptive filters), passive, and also hybrid. A variety of technologies and terms make it difficult for users to choose headsets. The purpose of this material is to cover the basics of noise reduction and compare its various methods.

What is Active Noise Cancellation?

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is a process that uses a microphone to monitor and filter out ambient noise in the headphones.

Active noise reduction is achieved through the use of analog or digital filters and differs in implementation types – closed-loop, open-loop, and hybrid. High-quality active noise cancellation technology greatly improves the acoustic performance of headphones and headsets with good passive noise cancellation. But it cannot compensate for design flaws or poor ear pad material if the manufacturer decides to save on them.

A typical example of an active noise canceling headset: Poly Savi W8220 Wireless Headset

What is passive noise canceling?

Passive noise cancellation is what the design and materials of headphones and headsets mean, whether it’s the silicone earbuds of vacuum headphones or soft ear cushions on on-ear models. In essence, this is the level of isolation from external noise that the device itself can provide, without taking into account electronic components and algorithms. Simply put, it’s how well the headphones perform as earplugs.

Good passive noise reduction is primarily due to high-quality materials and well-thought-out ear cushion design. Pictured is the Poly Voyager 8200 UC Advanced Passive Noise Canceling Headset

Total Noise Reduction

Total Noise Reduction (the total effect of noise reduction that the end user hears) is the sum of passive and active noise reduction. This combination is determined by the features of the electronic components of active noise reduction, as well as the design and material of the ear cushions (passive noise reduction).

Types of ANC

As already mentioned, there are three types of ANC: Open Loop, Closed Loop, and Hybrid (a combination of the first two). The open loop ANC system uses the main microphone to detect external noise, then converts it into “anti-noise” and mixes it with the playback audio, thus providing noise cancellation. This process is quite complicated, since the phase inversion of complex signals must take into account the noise propagation delays and calculate the noise protection signal so that it arrives at the user at the same time as the noise.

Adaptive noise reduction is based on the ability of filtering algorithms to detect and adapt to different noise patterns .

The implementation of closed loop ANC presents some difficulties, as designing a system that will always remain stable is quite difficult due to the need to fit the size of the headphones, as well as the tendency of the feedback loop to drive the system to excitation.

Feedback requires a microphone on the outside of the headphones that will monitor the sound coming to the user. By comparing the sound that comes to the user with the audio source, the feedback algorithm detects the noise and creates protection that helps to suppress it.

The feedback system is effective mainly for suppressing low frequencies. The reason is that there is a possibility of suppressing a part of the useful signal that can be recognized as noise. This results in coloration or distortion of the original signal.

Hybrid Noise Reduction

The hybrid ANC solution combines the best of the techniques listed above. It uses an external main microphone to monitor ambient noise and an internal error control microphone to monitor what the user hears in addition to the audio being played. When both methods are used at the same time, noise reduction is most effective.

Static and adaptive active noise reduction filters

Until recently, manufacturers used only static non-tunable active noise reduction filters. This universal method assumes that one filter works for all audio playback conditions.

Today’s ANC uses adaptive or tunable filters that adapt to a person’s hearing or headphone configuration and adapt to changing acoustic environments. This allows the noise reduction function to be improved for a wider range of users.

How ANC works with adaptive filters

Adaptation is more than just noise filtering. If you analyze ambient noise, you can notice a lot of their varieties, for example, the sound of engines in the cabin of an airplane (low frequencies), conversations in a cafe (mid frequencies), music at a concert (very loud sound) and noise in a library (very quiet sound). In each specific situation, the adaptive filter works to maximize the overall noise reduction performance. For example, in the cabin of an airplane, the filter suppresses lower frequencies, and in a cafe, middle ones, etc.

In reality, the adaptation process is more complicated, but our description gives a general idea of ​​the possibilities of adaptive filters.

Benefits of adaptive noise reduction

The challenge of developing a high quality noise reduction solution is that it must be tailored to the anatomy of the auditory tract of thousands of users.

In a simple case, active noise cancellation is described as noise inversion. In reality, when creating a suppression system, it is necessary to take into account the time it takes for noise to travel from the main microphone to the eardrum. If the ANC system does not model the noise path correctly, the protection it provides will be inaccurate and may even amplify the noise. Such is the risk of using generic static filters.

The adaptive filter uses a microphone to control errors or noise fraction in the useful signal, which allows you to more accurately simulate what the user hears. In this way, the system can adapt or reconfigure the filters to provide the best noise protection for that particular user in a particular acoustic environment.

How Poly Active Noise Cancellation Works

Adaptive Noise Cancellation has the advantage of taking into account the unique physiological characteristics of each user. In addition, the adaptive solution can monitor the actual noise and adjust filters based on its type to make the suppression as effective as possible.

Until relatively recently, only insulating vacuum or on-ear headphones were equipped with tunable noise suppression filters. Today, even non-isolating headphones can be equipped with adaptive noise cancellation technologies, as modern algorithms are able to compensate for various distortions resulting from poor passive isolation. Adaptive solutions sound better than closed-loop systems because they don’t create unwanted coloration in the sound.

CONCLUSION

Professional active noise canceling headsets significantly increase the efficiency of contact center agents and mobile office workers.