By Akriti Rana and Nimish Dubey
New Delhi: It is one of the buzzwords when it comes to headphones – active noise cancellation. In simple terms, it is an arrangement of microphones in the headphone that produce audio waves that cancel external sound. So when you are wearing a pair of ANC headphones, there are two ways in which external sounds (crowd noise, traffic noise, and so on) are kept out – by the padding around the ears and by ANC. The result is often a more peaceful and uninterrupted audio experience, making ANC headphones very popular among those who work on the move or travel frequently.
Until a few years ago, ANC was very much a feature found only in expensive wireless headphones, generally priced north of Rs 20,000. The feature has since become available on more affordable headphones. You can today get headphones with ANC for even less than Rs 5,000. There is a catch, though – ANC does not work in the same way on all headphones. It is more effective in some, affects sound in others, and also uses battery differently. In short, different headphones deliver different ANC experiences, and this difference becomes even more obvious in the affordable headphone category, where compromises are made to keep prices relatively low.
So if you are in the market for a pair of ANC headphones and have a budget of up to Rs 10,000, here are your best options: (the prices mentioned were available at the time of writing. They might have changed since)
Sennheiser HD 450SE – The sound master | Rs 9,990
If you value audio quality, then these are perhaps your best choice. The Sennheiser HD 450SE comes with a very clear and largely balanced sound, making them a great option for listening to almost any genre of music. Those who love thumping beats might find them a little tame in that regard – the bass is definitely not stressed here – but the overall sound quality is excellent and the best in this collection. The ANC on the other hand is not quite the greatest but is handy enough to kill some sound around you. The earpads are comfortable, although a little on the smaller side for those with big ears. The design might seem a little boring, but the sound more than compensates, and the 30-hour battery life means you can get through close to a week of usage on these. Just be patient to get used to the button driven interface, which can be a little confusing in the beginning.
Philips PH805BK- A super all-rounder | Rs 7,900
Philips has had a reputation for delivering solid rather than spectacular audio equipment, and the PH805BK follows this tradition. They might not overwhelm you with any single feature but they tick pretty much most boxes. Their design is definitely very high-class, and is almost a little similar to some of the much more expensive headphones from Sony, particularly the WH-1000XM3. There is plenty of padding on the ears and on the band between them too. The audio quality is clear but it seems to lack body, with no frequency really shining – some would call it a little boring. ANC works well enough as long as the noises outside are not too loud (you can use it easily in a cafe, although not in a metro). The call quality is very good, and the battery life a solid thirty hours. These are perhaps the best option for someone who wants their headphones to have a bit of everything, and is not really too much into long music listening sessions. These are very good for everything, without being really great at anything. All-rounders, we would say. And perhaps the most premium looking of this lot.
Sony WH-CH710N – The ANC ace | Rs 8500
For those who really prize ANC, the rather confusingly named WH-CH710N from Sony is the best choice in the four-figure price zone. They may not look the sleekest (surprising, when you consider they are from Sony), and their sound is a little low-profile and not as bass-heavy as on some other Sony headphones. Yes, there is a very slight accent on the bass but you will not notice it right away. These are comfortable sounding headphones without really impressing in the audio department. Their ANC however, is the best on this list. You can lose a fair amount of external noise while wearing these – they will keep out noise in offices and cafes effortlessly, and even do reasonably well on a flight. Its 35-hour battery life also makes it one of the longest-lasting on this list. It is perhaps the best option for anyone who wants a good-ish ANC experience under Rs 10,000.
Skullcandy Hesh ANC – The boss of the bass | Rs 9,999
Most of the headphones in this list have a relatively balanced sound profile, with maybe a few leaning towards bass. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC, however, is an exception to this. The headphones are unabashedly bass-heavy and the perfect ear companions for those who like to hear a lot of boom for their buck – those beats will get an extra thump on these headphones. They are well designed too, with large earpads although the padding on the band is a little scant. The bass-accented sound makes them really not so suitable for classic rock and jazz or country, but these are great for action games and films, especially those with multiple explosions. They also have very good ANC (second only to the Sony WH-CH710N in this selection), and can actually kill enough sound to be worn in reasonably noisy areas. The 22-hour battery life is decent too. These are for the bass heads, though.
JBL Tune 760NC – Great value for money | Rs 6,499
These are the perfect ANC headphones for those who really want to save as much as possible without losing out too much in terms of features. They are surprisingly well-designed when you consider their price and have very comfortable earpads. Although they are relatively light, they come with some very comfortable padding and solid construction. Their sound is reasonably good, although there is a little stress on the bass, which makes these great for those who love tracks with lots of beats and who also love to watch action films with explosions galore. Their ANC is surprisingly decent for the price – you will not be able to tune out a lot of external noise, but they are decent enough to give you some peace even in a noisy cafe. A huge bonus is their battery life – you can get 35 hours with ANC. The design is a little on the plain side, but you get the headphones in white, blue, and black, which does make a difference.
Noise Defy ANC – Super affordable solid performer | Rs 5,000
The most affordable headphones in this list come from the Indian brand, Noise. The brand is famous for its bass-heavy, super affordable headphones, but the Noise Defy is rather different. Yes, the stress on bass is there but it is not as much as on its more affordable headphones. The design is impressive too and not very flashy, although a little on the heavy side with hints of metal. And for the price, it does deliver usable ANC – you will feel the difference when you turn it on. In terms of build and audio quality, we think these are perfect for those who want to start out on ANC without spending too much. Battery life is a solid twenty hours.
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