4 Noise-Canceling Headphones You Have to Try

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock. All others are courtesy of Sonic Electronix.

Whether it is to block out screaming children, someone talking too loudly or just the hum of the plane, noise canceling headphones are becoming more and more common in the marketplace. Nathanial Victor is an electronics entrepreneur prodigy, starting Sonic Electronix at the age of 18 out of his bedroom filling one order at time. He has built the company into a multimillion dollar corporation and knows a thing or two about noise canceling headphones.

"There are a couple of misconceptions when people hear the word[s] 'noise cancelation.' One, does it actually cancel out the noise or does it really make a difference? Well, yes it does. In fact you might need a degree in sound engineering to figure out exactly how it works. It's pretty amazing.

"The second misconception is price. Most people think they need to spend over $200 to get decent noise cancelation. That's simply not the case. These Able Planet headphones eliminate much of your normal ambient noise at a price point that almost anyone can afford."

The headphones that Nathanial is talking about are these:

Able Planet NC200B Active Noise Canceling Headphones

They come with an adjustable headband, patented LINX AUDIO technology, in-line volume control and they fold down to stow in the included soft carrying pouch. All this for $29.99.

Sound Degradation

Many people complain about losing the sound when you turn the noise cancelation on but Nathaniel says it depends. "Noise cancellation can degrade sound quality. Certain headphones do better than others. The Momentum 2.0 proves you can have both noise cancelation and high quality sound and does so with style."

Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 On-Ear Headphones

They feature proprietary 18-Ω Neodymium transducers, variable fit headband, low profile plug, in line remote control and protective carrying case. These are for the total audiophile and are priced at $229.95.

Ear Buds

Many people like the option of traveling with ear buds as they take up less space. Others want Bluetooth. Nathanial says you can have both. "I love traveling with earbuds; they take up no space. These are Bluetooth and even have noise canceling. The Phiaton BT 200NC is noise cancelation that you can store in your pocket."

Phiaton BT 220 NC

These feature 16 of hours calling time, 17 hours of music-listening time and 300 hours of standby time, multi connection that allows you to connect to two devices at once, active noise cancelation and Bluetooth 4.0. Sounds great at $159.99.

If You Must Go Without

If you are not the biggest fan of nose canceling headgear and you just want something really comfortable and reasonably quiet, Nathanial has a great suggestion. "I would challenge anyone to find a more comfortable headphone than the XPT100. While they don't have active noise canceling, the secure fit and extra padding make for a quiet listening experience."

NVX Audio XPT100

They feature over ear Comfort Max Earpads, a flexible headband, fully detachable cables and replaceable parts for long-service life. Only $99.99 for comfort and clarity.

So there are four great choices in the world of noise canceling. Remember, for those who have a loud home or work environment, they work in those places, too. Do you have a favorite pair of noise canceling headphones that you enjoy? Tell me about them in the comments below.

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