All articles tagged with #active noise cancellation
Bose has launched its first wired earbuds in 11 years, the Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds, priced at $99. The device features active noise cancellation, lossless audio support via USB-C, and an IPX4 water resistance rating. Preorders are open now, with shipping expected in mid-October, targeting a market where wired audio sales have recently rebounded among younger consumers.
Nothing has launched the Headphone 1 Pro, a $399 flagship over-ear headphone featuring a triple-driver architecture and a physical flat EQ switch designed for studio professionals. The device includes active noise cancellation, Auracast support, and high-resolution audio capabilities, positioning it as a premium alternative to competitors like Sony and Bose.
Bose has launched its first wired earbuds in 11 years, the Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds, priced at $99. The device features active noise cancellation, lossless audio support via USB-C, and an IPX4 water resistance rating. Preorders are open now, with shipping expected in mid-October, targeting a market where wired audio sales have recently rebounded among younger consumers.
Apple's new AirPods 5 bring active noise cancellation to its open-ear lineup, but the premium Pro 3 remains superior for isolation and health features. The $129 base model offers 4 hours of ANC battery life, while the $149 wireless charging variant adds volume controls and a Find My speaker. The $249 Pro 3 provides three times the noise reduction, in-ear tips, and heart rate monitoring, making it the choice for those prioritizing immersion and health tracking over the open-ear comfort of the standard model.
While Apple's AirPods Pro 3 offer unmatched integration for iPhone users at $249, several competitors provide strong audio and noise cancellation at lower prices. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds lead at $149, while Anker and Beats offer specialized features for voice clarity and workouts, respectively.
Beats 360 are $350 over-ear headphones with swappable cushions, IPX4 rating, and a Beats-designed chip that preserves iPhone features like always-on Siri and head-tracking spatial audio while also working well with Android; they deliver top-tier noise cancellation and excellent voice-calling, solid battery life (up to 32 hours), and premium build, but lack wired audio support and wear-detection sensors, with pricing likely to drop in promotions.
Engadget’s review finds AirPods 5 finally offer ANC on both models with improved sound and IP57 water resistance, backed by a new multiport acoustic design and H2-powered Live Translation. The $129 AirPods 5 adds wireless charging and swipeable volume controls but is a tougher sell next to the better-equipped $149 model, which also delivers longer battery life. The reviewer notes strong openness-friendly ANC and overall solid performance, and suggests Apple should consolidate to a single regular AirPods option, while still praising the $149 AirPods 5 as the smarter buy.
Apple’s AirPods 5 arrives with active noise cancellation as standard and starts at $129 (with a $149 Wireless Charging Case option). Apple has stopped selling AirPods 4 directly, though retailers still stock them. The AirPods 5 add a redesigned acoustic architecture, improved Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Live Translation, a Find My-enabled charging case, USB-C, and an IP57 rating (up from IP54). Battery life is modestly better than AirPods 4 when ANC is on, and the case now offers longer listening time overall. For existing AirPods 4 users, upgrading is not essential unless you want stronger ANC and better durability; for new buyers, AirPods 5 is the recommended default, with AirPods Pro 3 remaining the option for true isolation. Deals at third-party retailers are common, so shoppers should hunt for the best price.
Apple splits its AirPods lineup into a premium Pro 3 and a budget-friendly AirPods 5. Pro 3 offers stronger Active Noise Cancellation, ear tips for a better seal, longer battery life up to 32 hours with the case, and exclusive features like MagSafe charging and Find My support, at $249. AirPods 5 introduces an open-ear design (no ear tips) with ANC on both models but different charging options: the base USB-C case at $129 (or $149 for Wireless Charging), lasting about 4–5 hours per charge (20–22 with the case), while the wireless-charging version adds Find My speakers and a volume-swipe force sensor, totaling roughly 24–27 hours with the case.
Apple unveils AirPods 5 at $129, delivering stronger active noise cancellation (up to 50% more than AirPods 4) and an improved transparency mode, plus better sound for a wider range of ear shapes. A wireless charging case version is $149 and adds on-stem volume control; preorders are live and sales begin Sept 18. Battery life is about five hours with ANC (up to 22 hours with the case); the case supports Apple Watch chargers, Qi, and USB-C, and AirPods 5 include AI features like live translation and Siri interactions.
Sennheiser's Momentum True Wireless 5 delivers a substantial redesign—smaller, more comfortable buds with up to 12 hours of ANC-enabled listening (40 hours with the case), plus user-replaceable batteries and enhanced sound controls (8-band EQ, Sound Personalization) and Dolby Atmos—yet it falls short of the best in ANC and call quality, and a few firmware-fixable quirks (like auto-pause behavior) remain.
Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds feature a redesigned shell, upgraded ANC and voice-calling, a larger microphone array, Bluetooth 6.0 with AptX (where supported), and the novel option to replace batteries in both the buds and the case. They deliver cleaner, more natural sound with a wider stage, and the companion app adds EQ and personalization. Battery life tops out at about 12 hours without ANC (6 hours with ANC), and the $300 buds come in five colors. However, ANC isn’t class-leading, occasional dropouts can occur in high-quality modes, and features like Speak-To-Chat and Auracast aren’t available at launch.
Sonos unveils the Ace Ultra, a refreshed wireless headphone with Headphone Engine 2 that can directly swap audio with any Sonos speaker (via an Early Access feature), letting TV, local media, or a turntable play through the headphones and then return to the source with a press of a button. It adds up to 35 hours of battery with ANC on, an 8‑band EQ, upgraded passive isolation, adaptive ANC, sidetone, Dolby Atmos support, and lossless audio over Bluetooth (aptX Adaptive) or USB‑C. Priced at $449 and launching September 29 in four colors (Black, White, Sand, Agave).
Amazon is selling Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 for about $190 (roughly $40 off, ~17% off). The premium earbuds deliver strong sound, capable ANC, and long battery life: up to 12 hours on a charge (8 hours with ANC on) and up to 48 hours with the case. They’re comfortable, customizable via Pixel/Bluetooth settings and the Pixel Buds app, and available in multiple colors for a limited time.
Amazon slashes $79 off the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) headphones, bringing the price below $370. They offer premium sound, strong ANC with Immersive Audio and dynamic head tracking, up to 30 hours of battery life, and USB-C lossless audio, though they lack an official IP dust/water resistance rating.