Studying has significantly changed with the invention of noise-canceling headphones. Like me, you need complete silence to focus on your work. However, with roommates, dogs, and construction happening outside the window, it is nearly impossible to find a quiet spot in the house. That is until I discovered the wonders of noise-canceling headphones for studying.
With several options available for remote learning, you no longer have to sacrifice your peace to get your schoolwork done. In this article, we will discuss the best noise-canceling headphones for studying so that you can find the perfect pair for you.
| Headphones for Studying | Brand | Our Rating | Check Price on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Sennheiser HD 4.50 Bluetooth Headphones |  | Check Price |
 | Srhythm NC35 Noise-Canceling Headphones | | Check Price |
 | Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Headphones |  | Check Price |
 | Sony MDRZX110NC Headphones | | Check Price |
 | Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiets | | Check Price |
 | Bose QuietComfort 35 II Headphones | | Check Price |
Are Noise-Canceling Headphones Ideal For Studying?
If you’re confused about whether or not noise-canceling headphones are ideal for studying, the answer is both yes and no. While they provide a sense of privacy and peace conducive to focusing, they are not perfect.
It may be beneficial to invest in excellent noise-canceling headphones while studying. Students in colleges and universities are often subjected to an unwelcomed crowded atmosphere. People prefer to congregate where they want to feel comfortable, which poses obstacles to their studies. In this environment, concentration is vital and can be challenging to maintain when outside noise is constantly competing for your attention.
The right pair of headphones can help you tune out the distractions and focus on your work. Noise-canceling headphones have active noise cancellation. This technique reduces ambient noise and creates a peaceful, quiet atmosphere. The best noise-canceling headphones can completely cancel out external noise, ideal for studying in public places like coffee shops and libraries.
Noise-canceling headphones can also be helpful when working from home. If you live in a busy neighborhood or your family is constantly talking around you, a good pair of noise-canceling headphones can help you stay focused on your work.
The main downside to using noise-canceling headphones for studying is that they can distract themselves. If you become used to listening to music or white noise while studying, it can be challenging to work without them. It is crucial to find a balance between the level of noise cancellation and your ability to focus.
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones For Studying: Our Top 6 Choices
Our #1 Choice
Our Top Pick: Sennheiser HD 4.50 Bluetooth Headphones
Product Name: Sennheiser HD 4.50 Bluetooth Headphones
Product Description: Want to use music to block out the noise from your surrounding while you study? With the Sennheiser HD 4.50 noise-canceling headphone, you can. It takes pride in its NoiseGard noise-canceling technology, which significantly reduces unwanted sounds up to 30 dB around you. So you can unwind and focus more on your study. These headphones are equipped with many essential features. The Sennheiser HD 4.50's built-in XBS DEEP is one feature that improves the overall audio quality (Extra Bass System Deep). It enables you to listen to music with enhanced crystal clear bass. But don't worry: the bass isn't overpowering, and it doesn't cause audio distortion, which would jeopardize the music's purity. Thanks to its straightforward controls, multipoint connection, and NFC compatibility, you'll also spend less time adjusting and more time learning. Its long battery life and compact design make it an excellent option for on-the-go studying. The Sennheiser HD 4.50 folds up into a small package and even comes with a protective case. Sennheiser HD 4.50 noise-canceling headphones don't have many drawbacks. However, if you have a large head or large ears, these headphones may be troublesome to use for extended periods.
Offer price: $$$
Availability: InStock
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Summary
The Sennheiser HD 4.50 headphones are an excellent option for anyone looking for a good noise cancellation feature. With a sleek design, these headphones are perfect for on-the-go studying. They have the NoiseGard feature, which blocks up to 30 dB of noise. The sound quality is also excellent with XBS DEEP, providing deep and pure bass. NFC compatibility and lengthy battery life make these headphones a perfect choice for students.
Pros
✔Multipoint connectivity
✔Effective noise canceling that sounds excellent
✔Relatively affordable
Cons
❌Uncomfortable tight fit
❌No more dedicated companion app for customization
Top Contenders
The Srhythm NC35 are sturdy headphones with an astounding 50 hours of battery life that don’t skimp on other features like affordability or sound quality. The battery life is even more surprising when you discover that they barely weigh 0.39 lbs. The NC35 features a well-designed battery, and it also charges quickly. You may obtain up to 2 hours of playing time with only 10 minutes of charging.
Additionally, these headphones offer active noise cancellation (ANC), which may block out 20-25dB of background noises for distraction-free study time.
You may also play it between 3.5mm wired audio playback and Bluetooth multipoint connection. You’ll also receive a tremendous built-in microphone with CVC 8.0, which allows for better speech calls. Voice assistant integration is also available from the NC35, a fantastic addition to your experience.
Unfortunately, in wired mode, you can’t control the volume. You’ll have to adjust it from the playback device. Shrythm NC35’s ANC technology isn’t the finest, either. While they reduce background noise, when you switch on ANC in calm areas, they tend to create static.
If you want a cheaper option, the Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Bluetooth Headphone is a set of superb ANC headphones. It has a fantastic battery life, fantastic sound quality, and well-rounded features – particularly at such a cheap price point.
These headphones can provide 40 hours of listening time on a full charge. With just 5 minutes of charging, you’ll receive 4 hours of playback time, ideal for when you’re in a hurry. If you want a USB-C connector for speedier charging, the Soundcore Life 20+ is an upgrade that includes EQ tuning through the Soundcore mobile app.
The Soundcore Anker Life Q20 is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 and a multipoint connection. The hybrid ANC can block up to 35dB of external noise, which is a good level of protection for headphones at this price. There’s also an uplink noise reduction microphone, so you can ignore certain background sounds in online lectures or meetings.
The Soundcore Anker Life Q20 is often confused with the Soundcore Anker Life Q20’s next-generation version. The Soundcore Anker Life Q20 headphones are noise-canceling, but the Q10 headphones primarily focus on bass and loudness.
While the overall audio quality is adequate for everyday usage, the detail is lacking. The tonal balance is warm, favoring bass over clarity. Soundcore Anker Life Q20 also continues to utilize Micro-USB, which you should consider. There’s also no option to change the EQ on the headphones, so you’re stuck with the preset settings. Furthermore, the restricted codec options (SBC & AAC) may result in latency concerns.
Like Soundcore Anker Life Q20, the Sony MDRZX110NC headphones may suppress sound even when not playing music. But the Sony MDRZX110NC headphones are more portable and easy to use. Besides the noise-canceling switch, the headphone doesn’t have any control settings. It may be a drawback, particularly if you like customizing your sound.
But come on! Is it even feasible to read your favorite book while listening to music? While reading a book, you could praise the Sony MDRZX110NC for obviating sound control and adding to the inconvenience! In any case, the sound quality of these headphones is incredible. They will provide you with an amazing sound experience.
Dynamic 1.18 in drivers deliver powerful bass response for deep, rich sound quality that adds depth to your favorite tracks. You can also rotate the earcups 90 degrees into a folded position for easy portability. It has a lightweight design for maximum comfort during long music listening sessions. Y-type cord reduces tangles when storing or carrying.
As suggested by the World Health Organization, most children’s headphones have a volume restriction of 85 decibels. It is the loudest volume limit for headphones to prevent irreversible hearing damage. Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiets is a beautiful alternative for parents searching for noise-canceling headphones for their children (2 years old and older).
Aside from the 22dB noise cancellation, these Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiets headphones restrict 85dB volume. It guarantees that any student enjoys a nice and comfortable study session or any loud circumstance.
You may use a 3.5mm cable or Bluetooth connections to play some music. A wired connection is useful when Bluetooth isn’t available. If your children like doing things with their classmates and friends, you can daisy-chain Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiets for group listening sessions.
Even though the Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiets have a kid-friendly volume restriction, the 40mm drivers and built-in microphone provide surprisingly good sound quality.
However, remember that the Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiets are on-ear headphones. Despite having soft ear cups, they may compress your children’s ears even though they have soft ear cups. They also charge via micro USB, which is currently a little out of date.
The Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiets’ somewhat higher price tag is justified if you seek ANC headphones to safeguard your kids’ hearing.
The Sony MDRZX110NC Noise Cancelling Headphones help you focus on your study and block out noise. The headphones feature three levels of noise cancellation: low, medium, and high, which can be used separately or combined with the bass-boosting function.
Thanks to their adjustable headband and soft earpads, these headphones offer a comfortable fit. They also have a built-in microphone for hands-free calls and voice control for select Android smartphones. It also features an extra-long 12-inch cord that allows you to plug into your laptop or other devices. The sound quality is excellent for this price point and has been praised by many users as crisp and clear with good bass response.
With their specialized app, you can also alter the noise-canceling settings. The app also enables you to share music, manage Bluetooth connections, and check for software upgrades.
Surprisingly, this headset’s versatile app isn’t the only benefit! As your virtual assistant, you may choose between Alexa and Google Assistant. The headset will then read your alerts, make phone calls, answer easy educational questions, play music, and do various other tasks.
You won’t need to touch your phone for any of these actions. As a result, if your phone is distracting you from your studies, just put it away.
Do Noise-Canceling Headphones Increase Students’ Productivity?
Whether you are a student at school or an office worker, you must keep track of your productivity. A recent study published in the Journal of Consumer Research revealed that people working in a noisy environment are less productive than those who are not.
The study also showed that they were more productive when people could focus on their work or studies. It’s up to you to figure out how to get through your environment if it’s distracting you. At home, students must discover methods to block out the noises of their siblings watching television in a separate room.
Students must concentrate on their studies in an apartment or college dorm while paying attention to their housemates. While everyone should be respectful of one another, you can’t expect everyone to be quiet or leave all of the time.
In other words, noise-canceling headphones can help you become more productive while studying in a noisy environment. Some genres of music, such as classical, may be beneficial, while others may detract from your attention. However, music with lyrics was the most distracting when studying.
When your eyes are studying or reading something while your ears are hearing something completely different, it may adversely affect productivity. Surprisingly, if you wear noise-canceling headphones at work, you could just be the most productive of the group.
Advantages of Noise-Canceling Headphones for Students
Though they are not a perfect solution for all distractions, noise-canceling headphones can be helpful to students in a variety of ways.
🎧Better hands-free experience
The noise-canceling headphones do more than just block out external sounds. It does, however, have another characteristic. That is, all of the noises in the vicinity are muffled.
If you use a hands-free phone for calls, you will notice the variations due to the pausing and screening nature. You can reply more quickly since you can hear after wearing noise-canceling headphones. You don’t have to fumble around to find the phone and put it up to your ear.
It is also applicable when trying to record a video or take a picture of something. Wearing noise-canceling headphones will eliminate the sound of the camera shutter.
🎧Boosts concentration
When ambient resonances disrupt the students’ study period, they get frustrated. They are not able to focus on the task at hand. When students listened to white noise, it helped them concentrate better.
Students who used noise-canceling headphones had a higher success rate in completing their tasks than those who did not have the headphones. Also, students who used the headphones reported feeling less stressed.
It is a well-known fact that it becomes difficult to concentrate on anything if you feel stressed. When you have noise-canceling headphones, it will help you feel more relaxed, and in turn, you will be able to focus more easily on what you are doing.
🎧Prevents headaches
What do you do if you are in school and have a test the next day, but you feel a headache? Many people would take medication to get rid of the headache, but that’s not always the best solution.
You can try wearing noise-canceling headphones to see if that will help the headache disappear. A lot of the time, people get headaches because of the noise in their environment. By wearing noise-canceling headphones, you can block out most of the noise and hopefully stop the headache from coming on.
🎧Increases productivity
It has been shown that when people are trying to study or do work, they are more productive if they are in a quiet environment. However, it is not always possible because of the many distractions that can occur in a quiet environment.
If you are trying to study, but there is a lot of noise in your environment, you may find it difficult to concentrate. By wearing noise-canceling headphones, you can reduce or block out the noise and be more productive.
Disadvantages of Noise-Canceling Headphones
Noise-canceling headphones are not perfect. They have their own set of disadvantages as well.
🔈May be distracting
Though noise-canceling headphones may help you concentrate better, there is a possibility that they can be more distracting than helpful. It is because when you are trying to focus on something, and you have music playing in your ears, you cannot entirely concentrate on the task at hand.
You may also find that you are more easily distracted when headphones are on. It is because you cannot hear what is going on around you, and if someone starts talking to you, you may not be able to hear them.
🔈Can be uncomfortable
Noise-canceling headphones can be uncomfortable to wear for a long period. It is because they are often heavy and fit tightly on your head. They may also make your ears hot and sweaty.
🔈Can be expensive
Noise-canceling headphones can be quite expensive, depending on your buy type. If you are looking for a good pair of noise-canceling headphones, you may have to spend a lot of money.
🔈It may not work well in certain environments.
Noise-canceling headphones are not always effective in blocking out noise. It is because the type of noise that they cancel out depends on the environment that you are in.
If you are in a noisy environment, such as a busy street or a loud restaurant, noise-canceling headphones may not be able to block out all of the noise. In these cases, it is best to try and find a quieter place to work or study.
🔈It may require more power or energy.
Noise-canceling headphones often require more power or energy than regular headphones. It is because they have to cancel out the noise to work properly. If you are trying to use them and they are not charging, you may find that they do not work well.
Though noise-canceling headphones have a few disadvantages, they are still a great tool to have to focus better while studying or working. If you are looking for a pair of headphones that will help you concentrate, then noise-canceling headphones may be the right choice for you.
Noise-Canceling Headphones For Studying: Buying Guide
If you are looking to buy a pair of noise-canceling headphones for studying, there are a few things that you should consider.
🎼Noise cancellation
One of the most important things to consider when buying noise-canceling headphones is how they cancel out noise. Some headphones are better at canceling out noise than others. You should look for headphones with a good seal around your ear and high-quality materials.
It would best to understand the difference between Active Noise Cancellation and Passive Noise Isolation. ANC is when a microphone on the headphones picks up the surrounding noise and then creates a sound wave that is 180 degrees out of phase with the original sound. It effectively cancels out the noise. PNC is when the headphones fit tightly around your ear, which blocks most of the surrounding noise.
Some versions have Adaptive ANC, which employs artificial intelligence to automatically evaluate your surroundings and adapt to the best amount of noise-cancellation. It is especially useful while traveling between courses or studying outside the house. Any warning signals such as alarms or announcements will still be heard as an added safety precaution.
🎼Comfort when using
Another thing to consider when buying noise-canceling headphones is how comfortable they are. You will likely be wearing them for a long period, so they must be comfortable. Look for lightweight headphones and have a soft cushion on the headband. The ear cups should also be a soft material that will not cause your ears to sweat.
🎼Excellent battery life
Another important thing to consider when buying noise-canceling headphones is how long the battery lasts. You will want headphones that can last for a few hours without recharging them. Some headphones come with a charging case that can extend the battery life by several hours.
Active noise-cancellation takes more power to perform because of the extra technology included in the design. As a result, choosing a set of headphones with long battery life is critical. Otherwise, you may not be able to get the full advantages of background noise cancellation when studying.
Even though it has an auxiliary connection, you still need to charge the headphones for ANC to function. Keep an eye out for headphones with fast-charging capabilities, which may frequently provide several extra hours of playing after just 5-15 minutes of charging. Suppose you frequently forget to charge your headphones. In that case, rapid charging will come in handy if necessary, ensuring that your study routine is not disrupted.
🎼Sound quality
You should also consider the sound quality of the headphones before making a purchase. The sound quality of noise-canceling headphones can vary from model to model. It is important to find a pair of headphones with good sound quality to focus better while you are studying.
When reading is your primary focus, you pay little attention to music. It essentially serves as a kind of backdrop for you.
While looking for an ANC headphone, you should pay great attention to the sound feature. While ANC is turned on, certain headphones tend to distort the sound, which might make it difficult to concentrate.
As a result, test the sound ahead of time.
🎼Microphone quality
Another thing to look for in a noise-canceling headphone is the quality of the microphone. If you plan to use the headphones to take calls or record videos, you will want a microphone with good sound quality. Some noise-canceling headphones have microphones that are not very good and tend to produce a lot of background noise.
Look for a headset that has a function called Clear Voice Capture. The CVC program increases the quality of speech recognition. In addition, the number of microphones has an effect on speech clarity. More microphones mean excellent speech recognition.
🎼Range of prices
If you’re a student, you’re probably well aware of the financial difficulties of balancing your education, part-time employment, and a full social schedule. It’s all too tempting to buy the cheapest noise-canceling headphones you can find and hope for the best. However, we recommend exercising caution since the price of a headset may frequently reflect its build quality, affecting its performance and lifespan.
However, a greater price tag does not necessarily imply superior sound quality. Instead, you can find these distinctions in the extra features. Budget headphones will still provide good noise cancellation on a basic level, but they may be less durable over time.
Premium versions are often manufactured with more modern materials and equipped with various outstanding features. It helps increase the overall performance of your headphones if you have the resources to invest a little more. If you don’t have the cash, don’t worry. Our selection contains several cheap and mid-range alternatives that give outstanding noise-cancellation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are noise-canceling headphones safe when studying?
A: No evidence suggests that noise-canceling headphones are harmful when used for studying. However, we recommend using caution and reading the manufacturer’s guidelines before use. If you are experiencing any discomfort or adverse effects, stop using the headphones and consult a physician.
Q: What headphones are best for online classes?
A: If you are participating in an online class, we recommend using headphones with a built-in microphone. It will allow your professor to hear you without background noise interference. Additionally, if the course material includes video lectures or other multimedia content, noise-canceling headphones will ensure that you can focus on the content without any distractions.
Q: Is it better to study in silence or with music?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question. Some students prefer to study in complete silence, while others find that listening to music helps them focus. If you have difficulty concentrating, we recommend trying out both options and seeing which one works better.
Q: How can I prevent my noise-canceling headphones from leaking sound?
A: If you are concerned about your headphones leaking sound, we recommend using earplugs to reduce the noise. Additionally, increase the headphones’ volume to ensure that people around you can’t hear you.
Final Thoughts
Aside from listening to excellent music, high school, college, and graduate school students may benefit from wearing noise-canceling headphones for studying. A good set of noise-canceling headphones is a great investment. Still, it’s also a must if you want to keep focused on studying, doing your homework, or writing your thesis without being distracted by your surroundings.
We hope that this guide has helped you make the best decision for your needs. If you’re still undecided, check out our selection of the best noise-canceling headphones for studying.