**Over-the-Ear Headphones vs. Noise-Cancelling Earbuds: Which Option Is Best for You?**
Over-the-ear [headphones](https://mashable.com/article/best-headphones) have traditionally been the preferred selection for those aiming to block out external noise and dive deep into their favorite music or podcasts. Believe me, I understand the appeal. My [Sony WH-1000XM4s](https://mashable.com/article/best-wireless-headphones) feel like a second skin — you’d truly have to wrest them from my grasp. Yet, despite my fondness for them, carrying around a hefty pair of headphones while on the move isn’t always practical. What I genuinely seek is a more compact option that can be tucked into my pocket while still effectively reducing outside noise. Enter: noise-cancelling earbuds.
Every leading audio brand boasts its own rendition of active noise-cancelling (ANC) earbuds, each offering distinct features and designs. Since you can’t possibly test them all, I’ve taken it upon myself to evaluate the finest ANC earbuds so you won’t have to.
### How Do Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Function?
*Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable*
All [noise-cancelling headphones](https://mashable.com/article/best-noise-cancelling-headphones), including earbuds, provide some degree of passive noise cancellation. Over-the-ear headphones inherently obstruct external sound by covering the ears, but earbuds lack that benefit. Instead, they fit snugly into your ear canal, presenting audio directly to mask external sounds. To offset their compact design, earbuds depend more on active noise cancellation (ANC) to diminish surrounding noises.
ANC technology utilizes internal microphones to detect environmental noise and subsequently generates an inverted sound wave to neutralize it. Occasionally, you may hear a subtle buzzing or humming when using ANC headphones or earbuds — that’s just the ANC at work. Nevertheless, top-quality ANC earbuds aim to minimize or completely eliminate this background hum.
### What Are the Top Noise-Cancelling Earbuds?
*Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable*
Numerous audio brands provide satisfactory sound quality and noise cancellation, but for exceptional performance, Bose and Sony stand alone in their field. They not only master noise cancellation but also enhance the listening experience, making music and podcasts sound fuller and more engaging. For instance, experiencing “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter on a quality pair of earbuds elevates the catchy song even further.
That being said, comfort can vary greatly with earbuds. I’ve experimented with several models that simply didn’t fit well or were incredibly uncomfortable. Once again, Bose frequently leads in comfort, though they’re not the sole contender. This prompted me to test a range of noise-cancelling earbuds to identify what defines an outstanding pair.
If you’re like many, you likely want to avoid the fuss of purchasing and returning multiple earbud pairs just to discover the perfect match. Fortunately, I’ve already done the groundwork for you.