Headphones are a great way to drown out distractions and focus on what you want to listen to, whether that's a podcast or a song. However, not all headphones are created equal and some offer a better noise-canceling experience than others.

The best noise-canceling headphones have a number of key features that help them achieve the most effective level of cancellation. Some models are specifically designed to block out sound from outside, while others can cancel out both audio and ambient noise at the same time.

Choose the Right Headphones for Your Lifestyle

Choosing the best headphones with noise cancellation can be tricky, especially if you're shopping on a budget. Some of the best options can be very expensive, but there are also plenty of budget alternatives that still pack a lot of noise cancellation.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

The most advanced noise-canceling headphones use digital signal processing technology to cancel out the sounds around you. They'll automatically "listen" to environmental noise and then play an opposite sound to cancel it out.

They can be a bit loud, so you'll want to check your audio settings before wearing them, but overall they do a good job of blocking out unwanted noise and making audio from your device sound clearer.

A few things to note: They'll only be as effective as the earbuds that come with them, so make sure you get a pair that is sized and fit for your ears.

Earbuds are typically more portable and comfortable than over-ear headphones, but they're less stable in your ears when walking or exercising. That's why they're usually not the best choice for people who want to be able to wear their headphones around for long periods of time.

Some of the best noise-canceling earbuds come from companies like Bose and Sony, which have made noise-canceling an important part of their headphones. They're designed to be very comfortable and block out as much sound as possible while you're listening to your music, podcast, or audiobook. They're also very quiet and easy to control with their touchscreen, voice assistant, and proximity sensors.

If you're a music lover, you've likely already heard of noise cancelling headphones. They are some of the best headphones available, offering a great combination of comfort, quality, and noise reduction. However, finding the right pair can be difficult.

There are a few different types of noise canceling headphones, so it's important to know which type is right for you. This will ensure you get the most out of your purchase.

Active Noise Cancellation Headphones

This type of noise cancelling technology is typically found in over-the-ear headphones, although it is also available in earbuds. It works by listening to the ambient environment and generating an opposing sound wave that effectively blocks out noises.

But noise cancellation isn't the only thing ANC does; these headphones have a variety of other features that will improve your listening experience, like adaptive modes that adjust to your location and volume levels, on-ear detection that stops your music when you take the headphones off, and battery life that lasts for hours.

They can help you concentrate, too. This is because they block out ambient sounds so you can focus on what you're hearing.

The best noise cancelling headphones offer excellent sound that's crisp, incisive, and accurate from deep subs to highs.

That's a big deal for anyone who loves to listen to bass-heavy music, as this means that they'll be able to hear every detail.

If you're not a fan of bass, or you're not sure how much noise cancellation you want, there are also a few headphones that don't have an active noise cancelling mode, but are still highly recommended.

Using an App to Change the Level of Noise Cancellation

The best headphones will come with an app that lets you customize the noise cancellation mode. Some headsets let you cycle through the different noise cancellation modes directly, while others allow you to set a default and then use the app to switch it up whenever you want.

But even if you don't have an app, it's still worth trying a few headphones out and getting a feel for how their noise-canceling mode sounds with your own audio files. This will give you a good idea of how the noise-canceling affects your listening experience, and can help you determine which headphones are right for you.

How to Choose the Right Placement for Noise Cancellation

Having the right headphone placement can dramatically improve your listening experience. For instance, some people find that certain ear tips help to create a better seal and block out more noise than others. You should also experiment with various placements to see which works the best for your ears.

But the most important part of choosing the right noise canceling headphones is getting the right fit. You need to make sure the ear pads are securely in your ears, covering as much of the ear canal as possible so they can effectively block out sound.