Noise reduction headphones are rated based on decibel readings. The decibel scale is logarithmic. A change of 10 dB means a tenfold change in loudness. Noise reducing headphones can block out 40 dB of ambient noise.
The headphones that are rated the highest for noise cancellation are Bose headphones. They are recommended for long flights and for times when you will want to cancel out outside noise.
Audio Headphones that are highly rated are Beat Headphones for their ability to cancel out surrounding noise and that they come in different color options.
No, they don't really have noise reduction properties, but they are designed exceptionally well to make you only hear the sound from the headphones.
Bose noise reduction headphones offer a compact design and soft cushions that will rest comfortably on the ears. Another feature is the additional cable with inline microphone and a remote to use with the iPhone/iPod. They also come with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Bose headphones are considered to be the premier brand among audiophiles. Quiet Comfort is this manufacturer's top-of-the-line headphone product featuring advanced noise reduction for better enjoyment of music. These headphones are commonly referred to as airplane headphones, because of their superior ability to cancel jet engine noise. Soft ear cushions, and advanced electronics achieve full-spectrum noise reduction. These headphones come with an inline microphone and a remote for iPhone or iPod connection.
The Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling headphones have several strengths. Their main strengths include their comfortable and adjustable fit (for the ears and different head sizes), compatibility with multiple portable electronic devices, and revolutionary noise reduction capabilities.
There are different type of earphones in the Sony range. The Prestige In-ear headphones are available. There are different kinds of these headphones. There's regular, active sports, Bluetooth, and a small noise reduction earphone.
Noise blocking headphones insulate your ear from outside sounds to reduce the amount of outside noise allowing you to better hear and focus on the sounds from the headphones.
Any unwanted noise is muted with the noise cancelling headphones. For example if there is a baby on the plane that is crying. The headphones will mix the noise from your music/media and the external noise and cancels out the external noises.
The best reviews of noise reduction headphones on CNET is the PSB M4U 2. These headphones are good in that they have comfortable ear pads, a long lasting battery, and produce great sound. The only bad thing about them according to CNET is that they are more expensive compared to similar products.
According to an article on technology website CNET, where several noise-cancelling headphones were compared, the headphones with the best rating were the PSB Speakers M4U 2 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones.
Usually, you can't add active noise cancelling to existing headphones. Noise-cencelling headphones have a built-in microphone that listens to the sound around the headphones so that the electronics can cancel the noise.