Question on Music & Play:

Should I invest in noise-cancelling headphones

Submitted by Via email reader

Answer:

There is no firm rule to this. Noise-cancelling headphones are great if you're frequently on long trips or flights as they provide very good noise cancellation of the low frequency roar of engines from trains and planes. However, they do not cancel out middle to high frequencies such as voices and sirens.

While noise-cancelling headphones are great at reducing ambient noise, they do not fare well with sudden noise changes such as the varying pitch of revving car engines. They are generally heavier and bulkier as well as they require a dedicated power source. But if comfort is of concern, headphones generally fare better than in-ears for long listening sessions.

The cheaper alternative to noise cancelling is noise isolating in-ear headphones. This works by sealing up the ear with a variety of foam and silicon ear tips attached to the buds. These are lighter as well because they do not require any power source. That said, you will be sacrificing some comfort levels and noise-removal capabilities.