How ANC blocks background noise

Noise is everywhere and more subtle than you think

Before we delve into ANC, let’s talk about its enemy: noise. The noise is not the honking of a car or the sound of a drill by the window. It can be anything that keeps your ears from hearing what you want to hear – whether it’s your favorite playlist, podcast, or even your own voice.

Consider this:

• The coffee table next to you chatting.
• humming airplane engine
• A co-worker who typed like a keyboard wronged them

Traditional headphones can cancel these sounds by creating a physical barrier (i.e. passive noise isolation), but ANC takes it to the next level. If you are planning to buy headphones with top-notch sound quality, then you need to make sure that it has this feature.

The ‘spy’ microphone in your headphones

ANC headphones have tiny, ultra-sensitive microphones inside them. These little agents have one job: to listen to the outside world. The moment you put on your ANC headphones, the microphone starts picking up all the noise around you, from the low, steady rumble of a bus to the sharp click of your coffee machine.

This is where the science party begins.

Phase Cancellation Technique: Sound Fights Sound

Sound travels in the form of waves, like ripples on water. Every wave has peaks and troughs. ANC works on an exciting principle called destructive interference.

Here’s the thing:

• Microphones pick up incoming noise waves.
• Your headphone’s ANC chip instantly (we’re talking microseconds here) creates a reverse wave – same volume, same time, but upside down.
• When the original noise wave and the reverse wave meet, they cancel each other out.
• It’s like Noise meets the evil twin, and when they face off, they both disappear. puff.

This is the scientific basis that makes many people decide to buy ANC headphones as their first priority.

Why ANC is more effective for some noises than others

You may have noticed that ANC is great at canceling out low, persistent sounds like engines, but less than perfect at blocking out random, high-pitched noises like people clapping or dogs barking. This is because deep, predictable sounds are easier to “match and cancel.” Sudden, irregular sounds are trickier—your headphones can’t predict them in time. That said, the best ANC headphones are getting better at adapting to both types of noise.

Technology Brain: Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

The real hero here is digital signal processing – the supercomputer inside the headset, which:

• listen to noise
• generate opposite waves
• Continues in real time without missing a beat

It’s like a DJ mixing anti-noise tracks in headphones all day long.

Feedforward and feedback ANC

Let’s get into the internal details – because knowing these details can help you choose the right headphones when you decide to buy headphones with ANC capabilities.

• Feedforward ANC: In this setup, the microphone is placed outside the earcup. They pick up any ambient noise that would otherwise reach your ears, but the system cancels it out before it reaches your ears. The technology works well for predictable static noises, such as engine hum or air conditioning, but may periodically fail for sharp, high-frequency noises.
• Feedback active noise reduction: In this case, the microphone is located inside the ear cup, close to the speaker. This allows the system to understand exactly what you’re hearing and adjust cancellations in real time. It’s very accurate, can be adjusted to fit your headphones, and can be a little laggy for feed-forward, urgent sounds.
• Hybrid active noise cancellation: The combination of both technologies gives you wider noise coverage and higher accuracy in different environments. For frequent travelers, commuters, or anyone who works in noisy spaces, Hybrid ANC offers the best of both worlds, making it the smartest choice if you’re looking to buy headphones with advanced noise-canceling features.

But wait! The ANC is not just for silence

Yes, ANC is incredible when you need some peace and quiet, but here’s the twist: ANC also affects the sound of your music. By canceling out background noise, ANC allows you to hear the better tones of your music; the slight pluck of a guitar note, the slight breath between vocals, the slight thud of a cymbal that you didn’t notice before. It’s like upgrading the sound quality of your playlist to 4K Ultra HD for your ears.

Misconceptions about the ANC that people still have

Let’s bust some myths:

“ANC is bad for your ears.” Incorrect. ANC doesn’t add more sound or pressure to cancel noise; instead, it uses inverse sound waves to offset the volume of the sound waves. In fact, it allows you to listen to some music and other programs at a lower volume, thereby preventing your hearing from being damaged by long-term high-decibel exposure.

“ANC drains your battery instantly.” This was the case with earlier models due to less efficient signal processing chips. Modern ANC headphones use advanced low-power DSP (digital signal processing) and energy-saving microphones, allowing many models to run for 20 to 40 hours with ANC enabled.

“ANC blocks everything.” ANC is best for eliminating repetitive low-frequency audio (e.g. engine hum, air conditioning). Higher frequency, unpredictable sounds are harder to eliminate in real time. This is the main reason why most high-end models have a transparency mode, which deliberately lets outside sounds seep in for safety and alertness.

Whether you want clear audio while traveling, working, or just for everyday listening, investing in the right model can make a big difference – so if you’re planning on buying headphones, choose one with advanced ANC capabilities for the best experience.

When ANC really changes your life

You won’t truly appreciate ANC unless you:

• On a long-haul flight, suddenly the hum of the engine disappears
• Sitting on the noisy commute, feeling like you’re immersed in your own private world
• Work in a busy office, but feel like you’re in a peaceful library

Once you experience this, you’ll understand why so many people decide to buy headphones with ANC functionality and never look back.

Choose the right ANC headphones

If you’re ready to buy headphones with ANC, keep the following on your list:

• Hybrid ANC technology provides the most effective noise reduction in all environments.
• Comfortable fit for long listening sessions – because no one likes ear fatigue during a playlist or on a flight.
• Transparency mode provides safety and awareness when you need to hear outside sounds.
• Long battery life – ideally 10+ hours with ANC enabled so you don’t have to charge it every hour.
• Premium sound quality matched with silence, ensuring your music or calls sound their best.

Good news? Hezire Technologies does most of that with the Hbudz Smart, a stylish, powerful pair of headphones designed for travel, work and everyday life. When you buy headphones from Hezire, you don’t just get ANC, you get performance, comfort, and style all rolled into one.

The Last Word: Silence is Golden (Science Makes It Possible)

Active noise cancellation isn’t just a way to quiet down your surroundings, it can also create your own “soundscape.” Whether it’s background noise disrupting your concentration, music immersing you in an immersive experience, or a moment of peace in a world that feels a little chaotic, ANC is the technology that makes it happen. So the next time you put on your headphones and welcome that wonderful silence, remember: now you have access to a complete symphony of microphones, sound waves, and signal processing – all designed to enable you to hear exactly what you want to hear.

Now go ahead and be kind to your ears. Buy headphones and let the ANC speak (or rather, mute).