Trying to study in a noisy environment can be frustrating. It even often leads to additional stress other than the stress of studying itself. Unfortunately, not all of us can enjoy the luxury of silence libraries offer at all times. That’s why noise cancelling headphones can be your saving grace. But it’s not easy to pick the best one, especially with our limited student allowance. No one wants to spend their savings on something that won’t give the satisfaction we’re looking for. But we’re here to help you with just that! In this article, you’ll learn exactly what you need to know when picking out headphones specifically for studying. We’ve also compiled a handpicked list of what we feel are the best study headphones you can buy today. Let’s get started!
How to Pick the Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Studying?
When it comes to finding the right pair of noise-cancelling headphones for studying, there are a couple of factors that you should first take into consideration before making a purchase. Here’s what you need to ask yourself:
What can I expect at different price ranges? What’s the best type of ANC to go for? Is it comfortable? Is the sound quality good enough? Can I use it for calls and online classes? How long is the battery life?
Here are our top picks for the best noise-cancelling headphones for studying: If you’re looking for budget headphones (typically around the $50 price range), you can expect simple, but effective entry-level noise-cancelling features and modest build quality. Opting for these headphones may require you to take extra care to prolong your headphones’ lifespan. However, if you have the money to splurge on something a little more expensive, then you can opt for more premium models. These headphones have more advanced features in addition to improved sound and build quality. And if the price isn’t exactly an issue, you can find industry-leading noise cancelling headphones at around $1000 and below. But if you don’t have the budget to afford premium headphones, don’t be discouraged! There are a lot of mid-range options that can provide you with recognizable noise reduction. Active noise cancellation has gone a long way since its conception in 1989. However, you’ll come across different types of ANC in headphones and each works in its own unique way. These types of ANC technology are usually identified for where the ANC microphones are placed. Feedforward (mic outside the earcups) and Feedback (mic inside the earcups) are the most basic. Between the two, most headphones opt to go for Feedforward ANC. But if your budget allows, it’s better to go for at least a Hybrid ANC. This type has both the positive qualities of Feedforward and Feedback ANC, with none of the downsides. And if you’re willing to splurge a bit more, you can even go for Adaptive ANC. This provides you with premium noise cancellation with the help of artificial intelligence. Adaptive ANC is also a safety measure to make sure you’ll be able to what warning signals when needed. Additionally, having a proper fit will mean that the ear cups have a better seal around the ears. This improves the overall noise isolation the headphones provide. With a good fit, the ANC effect is much stronger, thus making it work a lot better. Here are a few factors that contribute to the two:
Weight: Lighter headphones (around 0.55 lbs) tend to apply a lot less pressure on the top of the head. But heavier headphones (above 0.75 lbs) can still be comfortable depending on the padding. Clamping force: Since people have different head sizes and shapes, there are no definite numbers for clamping force. However, it should keep the headphones securely in place without giving you discomfort. Materials and padding: The materials used and the ear padding helps relieve the pressure around your head. You’ll want to get padding that feels soft, dense, and can let your ears breathe for maximum comfortability. Leather, velour, microfiber, and memory foam are the top materials you can look for. Adjustability: You’ll want headphones that have proper ear cup rotation, adjustable headbands, a folding design, etc. The more the headphones can move and adjust for you, the better it’ll feel to wear them.
Sound quality often depends on the user’s preferences, but it’s important to know that it usually lies with the accuracy and clarity of the audio. For this, check out the sound signature and the Bluetooth audio codec support of the headphones.
Sound signature
Your headphones’ sound signature is the unique sound the headphones produce or the combination of frequencies that it amplifies or decreases. Choosing a specific type of sound signature generally depends on the type of music you often listen to. If you like to listen to jazz & classical music, you’d want to go for a flat sound signature. This lets you hear all the elements/instruments clearly. On the other hand, a v-shaped sound signature would be ideal if you prefer listening to dance music and pop.
Bluetooth audio codecs
Essentially, Bluetooth audio codecs are the different algorithms used to transfer data from your audio player to your headphones.[/note] Different headphones may use different audio codecs, but all Bluetooth headphones support the SBC codec, which often loses a good chunk of a song’s detail in the compression process. On the other hand, more advanced codecs, like Sony’s LDAC, offer near-lossless sound quality in exchange for higher power consumption. If you’re after headphones with the best audio quality, the best alternatives to Sony’s LDAC are the aptX, aptX HD, and aptX-LL codecs. These codecs have relatively better compression, power efficiency, and stability than others.. Most headphone microphones nowadays also have their own noise cancelling features. Albeit, these are software rather than the hardware Active Noise Cancellation use. You’ll often see the terms cVc when looking at headphones. This stands for Clear Voice Capture. It’s a software most manufacturers use to improve voice pick up in headphones.
ANC technology requires more power to function and can’t run when the battery is drained. ANC headphones need batteries even when connected to an audio source using an aux cable just isn’t enough. Good battery life = longer listening hours. You get to enjoy your headphones for much longer without having to constantly worry about charging.
Most noise-cancelling headphones can go for about 15-40 hours before needing to charge again. It’s also important to take note of the charging time and fast-charging options which allow you to get 2-4 hour playtime with just a quick 5-10 minutes charge.
BOSE QC35ii
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Hybrid ANC Noise Reduction Depth: 27dB Battery Life: 20 hours Audio Codec Support: AAC, SBC Multipoint Connectivity: Yes Microphone: Yes Voice Assistant Integration: Yes
If you’re looking for the most premium pair of headphones in terms of feel and style to study with, then the Bose QC35ii headphones are the ones for you. These have the best build quality and other features that’ll help improve your study sessions. Whether you decide to go full blast or a moderate volume, you can expect complete clarity and fullness in whatever you’re listening to. Its specialized volume-optimized EQ drivers enhance the headphones’ overall performance so you can enhance your studying. Additionally, the reliable Hybrid ANC can tune out any unwanted ambient noises when needed for a smoother listening experience. Moreover, if you have more budget to spare and wish to upgrade the microphones and add versatility, you can opt for Bose QuietComfort® 35 II Gaming Headset, which is our top pick for the best noise cancelling gaming headsets. The headphones come with a simple action button that you can click on to access Alexa. You can have her play music, podcasts, and search for any relevant information you might need without ever having to pick up the phone. Don’t like Alexa? There’s always the option to use the multi-function button to access your phone’s default voice assistant like Siri or Google Assistant. Additionally, having the Bose Connect app can improve your level of control. You can adjust the levels of ANC, activate music sharing, manage Bluetooth connections, and more. Made from impact-resistant materials such as corrosion-resistant stainless steel and synthetic protein leather earcups, you can expect these headphones to last. The headband is also wrapped with a material called Alcantara. Also, these headphones give you the option of further customizing how it looks. Just head over to the official product page on the Bose website and customize the look for a more personal color profile. This, however, will cost you an additional $50. These headphones may have issues with Bluetooth connectivity, especially because of their limited audio codecs (just SBC and AAC). These problems can range anywhere from intermittent disconnections, difficulty connecting and managing multiple devices, difficulty establishing initial Bluetooth connections with devices, etc. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
Treblab Z7 Pro
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Hybrid ANC Noise Reduction Depth: 20dB Battery Life: 45 hours Audio Codec Support: aptX HD Multipoint Connectivity: Yes Microphone: Yes Voice Assistant Integration: Yes Weight: 0.02 lbs
If you’re looking for a pair of ultra-light ANC headphones, the Treblab Z7 Pro are easy to recommend. With these, Treblab has managed to pack excellent audio quality, long battery life, great noise cancelation, and sleek design into overall well-rounded headphones. Moreover, what makes these headphones even easier to recommend is that they are only 0.02 lbs, which is far lighter than any other on this list, or on the market. These headphones come with aptX HD codec support that should deliver excellent sound quality should your audio source supports it. You’ll also get Hybrid ANC that can get you up to 20dB noise reduction. For a more convenient experience, these headphones also have a wearing detection feature that will automatically pause playback when you take them off your ears, and resume playback once you wear them again. The memory foam ear cups and breathable mesh are also great additions to make these headphones more comfortable. Treblab also certified the Z7 Pro with IPX4 water-resistant – which means they are safe from water splashes from any direction, including your sweat. But they’re not waterproof headphones – you do not want to walk in the rain with these. If you want to still be aware of your surroundings, the Treblab Z7 Pro also have an ambient sound mode that will let you hear noises around you when needed. Long studying sessions are also not a problem since Treblab has packed these headphones with a whopping 45 hours battery life – the second-best for this list. If you’re ever out of battery, you can fully charge these headphones in 2.5 hours. But if you’re in a rush, 20 minutes of charge will get you up to 5 hours of playback time. There’s also multipoint connection support so that you can pair them with multiple devices at once. The touch control in these headphones is also super intuitive, with minimum latency between the input and response time. You can use the touch control to play/pause songs, skip tracks, change volume, and activate voice assistant. Jumping on online classes or a quick call are also a breeze with the six built-in microphones. Despite all the good things about the Z7 Pro, the touch controls are rather finicky. For the large surface area that the touch-sensitive panels cover, they seem to have problems registering functions other than play/pause. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
Anker Soundcore Life Q20
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Hybrid ANC Noise Reduction Depth: 35dB Battery Life: 40 hours Audio Codec Support: SBC, AAC Multipoint Connectivity: Yes Microphone: Yes Voice Assistant Integration: Yes Weight: 0.58 lbs
If you’re a little tight on the budget, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 are a pair of excellent ANC headphones with well-rounded features, great audio quality, and tremendous battery life – especially at such a low price point. These headphones can give you 40 hours (60 hours without ANC) of playback time on a full charge. You’ll also get 4 hours of playback time with only 5 minutes of charge, which is great for when you’re in a rush. Tech-wise, the Soundcore Life 20 use Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint connectivity. The hybrid ANC can negate up to 35dB of external noise, which is a solid depth for headphones at such a low price point. There’s also a microphone with uplink noise reduction, so you can get away with some background noises during online classes or meetings. These headphones are also extraordinarily comfortable to wear for hours on end. It’s largely because of the lightweight and flexible plastic construction. Having super plush leatherette ear cups also help with the comfort level. While the overall audio quality is enough for daily use, it doesn’t have the best detail and the tonal balance is on the warm side, emphasizing bass over clarity. They also still use Micro-USB, which you may want to put into consideration. There’s also no way to customize the headphones’ EQ – so you’re stuck with the default configuration. Additionally, the limited codec selection (SBC & AAC) may also cause some latency issues. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
Silensys E7 Pro
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Feedforward ANC Noise Reduction Depth: 30dB Battery Life: 30 hours Audio Codec Support: SBC, AAC Multipoint Connectivity: Yes Microphone: Yes Voice Assistant Integration: No Weight: 0.66 lbs
The Silensys E7 Pro take the title for the runner-up budget pick with their complete package of features, sound quality, and comfort. Their feedforward ANC can negate up to 30dB of external noises reliably and consistently – which is rare given the price. Design-wise, these headphones have the appearance of top-shelf premium products. The ear cups also rotate, so you can rest them more comfortably on your neck. These headphones also have plush ear cups foam and headband padding, making them comfortable enough to take on walks or travels. Moreover, the 800mAh battery can provide up to 30 hours of playback time with ANC turned on. You can also choose to use Bluetooth 5.0 or wired 3.5mm audio input – but even in wired mode, you’ll still need some power in the battery to use the ANC. Despite all the improvements, the E7 Pro still charge with a micro-USB cable. That’s why they also require a whopping 4 hours to fully charge, which might be a deal-breaker for people with high mobility. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
PuroQuiets
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Feedforward ANC Noise Reduction Depth: 22dB Battery Life: 23 hours Microphone: Yes Voice Assistant Integration: No Weight: 0.37 lbs
The PuroQuiets are an excellent choice for parents looking to get comfortable and safe noise-canceling headphones for kids (2 years old and older). These headphones have an 85dB volume limit on top of the 22dB noise cancellation, which virtually guarantees nice and cozy road trips or other noisy situations for your kids. You can choose between Bluetooth or 3.5mm wired connections to play the audio – which is great when you can’t use Bluetooth (e.g., on a plane). If you have kids who love to do stuff together, the PuroQuiets also support daisy-chaining for group listening sessions. But despite being rated with a kid-friendly volume limiter, the PuroQuiets offer a surprisingly excellent sound quality from both the 40mm drivers and the built-in microphone. However, you should keep in mind that the PuroQuiets are on-ear headphones. Despite having soft ear cups, they may squish the ears of your little ones. They also still use micro USB to charge, which is a bit outdated right now. If you are looking for ANC headphones to protect your kids’ hearing, the slightly higher price tag on the PuroQuiets is justifiable. But if you’re looking for flat-out great ANC headphones, you may want to consider others on this list. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
Srhythm NC35
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Feedforward ANC Noise Reduction Depth: 20-25dB Battery Life: 50 hours Microphone: Yes Voice Assistant Integration: Yes Weight: 0.39 lbs
The Srhythm NC35 are solid headphones with a whopping 50 hours battery life that don’t sacrifice too much on other aspects, including the sound quality and affordable price. Not only do the NC35 have a well-optimized battery, they’re also relatively quick to charge. With only 10 minutes of charge, you’ll get up to 2 hours of playback time. Considering that they weight only 0.39 lbs, that battery life gets even more impressive. These headphones have ANC that can negate 20-25dB of external noise for a distraction-free studying session. Aside from the gigantic battery, you’ll also get a decent built-in microphone with CVC 8.0, enabling clearer voice calls. There’s also voice assistant integration from the NC35, which is a welcome additional feature to improve your experience. You can also choose between multipoint connectivity Bluetooth and wired 3.5mm audio playback. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to adjust the volume in wired mode – that’s something you’ll have to do from the playback device. The ANC technology from Shrythm NC35 also isn’t the best. While they somewhat negate the background noise, they tend to produce static when ANC is turned on in quiet environments. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
Avantree Aria Me
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Feedforward ANC Noise Reduction Depth: 20-25dB Battery Life: 24 hours Audio Codec Support: aptX hd, aptX low latency, SBC Multipoint Connectivity: Yes Microphone: Yes Voice Assistant Integration: No Weight: 0.66 lbs
The Avantree Aria Me are a pair of excellent headphones with decent ANC, a customizable audio profile, and a detachable boom microphone, which makes a perfect combo for online class headphones. Having a boom mic instead of in-line or Microelectromechanical System (MEMs) microphone makes the Aria Me excellent choice for online classes or meetings. Compared to typical in-line mics or MEMs, the larger diaphragm size and better directional accuracy of boom mics make Aria Me’s mic sound better with minimum background noise being picked up. Right off the bat, the Avantree Aria Me stand out by offering aptX hd and aptX low latency, which are great for better audio quality and faster data transfer, respectively. The aptX codecs are also known for their more power-efficient data transfer process – which may have contributed to the Aria Me’s 24 hours battery. On top of the excellent codecs, the Aria Me are also supported by the Avantree Audio app that you can use to customize the audio sound profile of your headphones. The customized audio profile is configured through the app, but it’s stored locally on the headphones. So, you can switch devices without setting up your audio profile again. The Aria Me are made from cheap-feeling plastic that feels fragile, but is expected from their price point. However, they don’t have an official durability rating or IP certification – so there’s no telling how much daily wear they can take. The battery life is also slightly shorter than other headphones around their size. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Feedforward ANC Noise Reduction Depth: 25dB Battery Life: 6 hours Audio Codec Support: SBC, AAC Microphone: Yes Voice Assistant Integration: Yes Weight: 0.02 lbs
When it comes to the most portable ANC headphones, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are still the reigning champions. These are small and pocketable earbuds but can still deliver clear audio comparable to some over-ear headphones. Like most noise-canceling earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds use feedforward ANC that uses a mic to pick up ambient noises and negate them before entering your ears. These earbuds also use Bluetooth 5.1 to ensure a stable connection throughout any of your indoor or outdoor activities. They’re also IPX4 certified, which means they’re resistant to water splashes and sweat from any direction. Additionally, they come with a Qi-certified wireless charging case that can store up to 12 hours of battery life for the earpieces. But if you want better and faster charging, you can use the included USB-C cable. There are also touch-sensitive pads on the earpieces that you can tap, swipe, or press to control media, volume, and noise cancellation. Since they’re earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort can cause negative side effects like dizziness, ear pain, ear infections, and ear wax accumulation when used for prolonged periods, or not cleaned/maintained regularly. Their smaller sizes also prevent them from having a battery life that’s comparable to over-ear models. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
Sony MDR-ZX110NC
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Feedforward ANC Noise Reduction Depth: ≥13dB Battery Life: 80 hours (w/ LR03 alkaline battery), 40 hours (w/R03 manganese battery) Audio Codec Support: SBC, AAC Multipoint Connectivity: No Microphone: No Voice Assistant Integration: No
For people who hate having to wait for their headphones to charge up, the Sony MDR-ZX110NC offers the longest playtime on this list. With up to 80 hours of continuous playtime from just a single battery, you can use their ANC for several study sessions in a row without it dying on you. The main feature that separates these headphones from the others, aside from only offering a wired connection, is their extremely long playtime on just a single battery. This feature ensures that you’ll always have your headphones ready for every study session. Because these headphones use batteries instead of charging, there’s practically no downtime if you buy spare batteries ahead of time. All you have to do is simply swap out the drained battery for the new one. These headphones feature 30mm Neodymium drivers that have a frequency response of 10-22000 Hz. As such, you can expect modest sounds and music with pristine bass, mids, and treble. Although they’re not exactly premium quality headphones, they still offer sound quality you can appreciate, especially considering the price. However, one of the main concerns of these headphones would have to be the build quality. It is mostly made from plastic and feels cheaply made. Because of the subpar build quality, these headphones aren’t stable and may fall off your head easily, especially if you’re walking around or do frequent head movements while studying. Additionally, these headphones have very limited features. You can’t use these for video calls since it has no microphone. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
Nuraphone
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Feedforward ANC Noise Reduction Depth: 20dB Battery Life: 20 hours Audio Codec Support: aptX hd Multipoint Connectivity: No Microphone: Yes Voice Assistant Integration: No Weight: 0.66 lbs
The Nuraphone are unique headphones that combine the comfort of over-ear frame and in-ear tips for better sound delivery and isolation. These headphones have self-learning engines that can adapt to your hearing – hence the title awarded to them here. Using the Nura App, the Nuraphone will create a visual representation of how you hear sound – which you can set to be your default hearing profile on the headphones. For people with hearing problems, ANC can make or break the experience of using headphones. Fortunately, the ANC in these headphones is decent enough for such a use case. While the ANC itself is only rated to negate 20dB of external noise, the dual-layer passive isolation (ear cups and in-ear tips) amplifies the efficiency, resulting in much better real-life results. There’s also an ambient mode that can inverse the active noise canceling when you want to hear what’s going on around you. The intuitive touch control is also a nice choice from Nura here. If they used a physical button, the in-ear tips would go further in with each button press – which isn’t great. But as mentioned earlier, the hybrid build can be off-putting for some people. While the over-ear design makes it easy to put on, the in-ear tips make the Nuraphones a little tricky to wear. The in-ear tips also sit on squishy cones that get dragged down by the ear cups’ weight. This results in the in-ear tips being slightly pointed upwards inside your ear canals. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
Notable mention
These headphones didn’t quite make a list, but they are still worth considering if none of the products above fits your needs.
Sennheiser HD 4.50
Key features for studying
Noise Cancellation Type: Hybrid ANC Noise Reduction Depth: up to 30dB Battery Life: 25 hours with ANC off, 19 hours with ANC on Audio Codec Support: AptX Multipoint Connectivity: Yes Microphone: Yes Voice Assistant Integration: Yes
The Sennheiser HD 4.50 is perfect for any study session no matter where you go. This is thanks to its adjustable design, long battery life, intuitive controls, NoiseGard ANC, and the well-balanced dynamic signature Sennheiser sound.
Focus on your sessions despite the noise
Do you want to drown out the outside world with music during study sessions? Sennheiser HD 4.50 can help you achieve that. It features NoiseGard™ noise-cancellation technology that effectively cancels out up to 30dB of unwanted noise around you. Rest easy knowing you can focus on your study sessions more effectively.
Added convenience for improved study sessions
These headphones have a lot of incorporated convenient features. Its NFC-compatibility, multipoint connectivity, and intuitive controls let you minimize the time needed interacting with the settings, and more time spent studying. Its portable design and long battery life make it a great choice for studying on the go. Sennheiser HD 4.50 can easily be folded into a more compact design and even comes with a protective case.
Good for studying, great for music
One of the features that improve the overall audio quality of Sennheiser HD 4.50 is the built-in XBS DEEP (Extra Bass System Deep). This allows you to play music with enhanced bass in full clarity. Don’t worry though, the bass won’t come off as overbearing and won’t sacrifice the overall music integrity to audio distortions. This is mainly the reason why the Sennheiser HD 4.50 is listed as the “Best for Bass Lovers” in our list of the best noise cancelling headphones under $200.
Drawbacks
These headphones may be uncomfortable to wear for long hours at a time, especially if you have a big head shape or big ears. The ear cups tend to not go all the way around big ears. This means a reliable seal isn’t always made. Additionally, the headband clamping force may be too tight for comfort for big head shapes. The microphone is also highly sensitive. This means it picks up noises from far away and amplifies it into the ears, thus reducing the quality of voice calls. CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON
Conclusion
We hope this article helps you find the best pair of headphones for studying. It’s always best to take the factors we mentioned into consideration when making your purchase. However, if you don’t know where to start, then the headphone options in this list are great starting points that you should definitely take a look at. Don’t forget that one of the most important things to look at is your budget. We know the struggles of being a broke student, which is why we tried our best to include headphone options across all price ranges. Hopefully, you can find a pair that fits your needs. What were your favorite headphones on the list? Do you have any other recommendations for study headphones? What playlist do you listen to while studying? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!
