The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones

PC Magazine

04.24.08

Dampen the din with these devices that actively block background noise, letting you hear only what you want to.

by Brian Bennett

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It's hard to escape noise; the modern world is full of it. Whether it's the drone of jet engines, the low rumble and metallic screech of commuter trains, or merely the distracting muttering crowds, life can be pretty damn loud. You might try to dismiss the din by slapping on a set of regular headphones and cranking up the volume of music, movies, or podcasts. This tactic may get the job done, but you're really only adding extra noise to the equation, and are probably damaging your hearing at the same time.

The best solution to save your sanity and your ears is to invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones so you can enjoy your audio at much lower volumes. These devices, rather than merely covering up unwanted noise, actively block it.

We most recently reviewed Sony 's MDR-NC40. Despite this set's relatively low price of $100, it pumped out surprisingly good audio quality with satisfying low bass. If you prefer earphones to larger, more cumbersome headphones, Sony...

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