What Does ANC on My Headphones Mean?

We use headphones or earbuds to listen to audios; however, sometimes we need them to avoid hearing environmental sounds, which count as noise when we are listening to music or podcasts. Nowadays headphones or earbuds have the ability of noise cancellation, and some have active noise cancellation (ANC) signs. The fact is that not all ANC implementations are equal. Here, we will explain more about ANC, how it works, and different types. 

How Does Active Noise Cancellation Work?

Active noise cancellation is a technology in headphones, earbuds, and audible devices to reduce and minimize noise. Each sound has a wave, and the summation of two waves that are inverse to each other can be canceled out. Exactly when we sum -1 with +1, the result is 0. This idea, which dates back to the 1930s, has been used in ANC technology.

Although we have to note that there are some barriers to canceling noise completely. One of the challenges is to receive the noises accurately in order to create exact anti-noise. Another one is timing; the peaks and alleys of two waves might not be aligned perfectly. That’s why ANC typically reduces noise by 20-40 dB. It means the background noise can be cut between one-quarter to one-sixteenth of its original level. While it is not a complete cancellation, it can be dramatically helpful to listen to clearer sound. 

The accuracy of noise is affected by the microphone's placement, which is inside or outside of the headphone. So the practical questions “where is the best position for a microphone to capture noise and cancel them?”.

Types of Active Noise Cancellation

Based on the microphone's position, we can categorize ANCs.

Feedforward ANC

It is the simplest type of ANCs that places the noise-capturing microphones on the outside of the headphones. This kind is ideal for use with ANC earbuds. 

External microphones are highly sensitive to environmental sound, so they can minimize mid-frequency noise like speech and traffic effectively, while they might amplify unpredictable sounds like wind noise. 

Feedback ANC

With microphones inside the ear cup, feedback ANC is closer to your ear and more responsive. In this ANC type, the microphone captures noise more accurately, and we can suppose it is a self-correcting system. So it is able to cancel wind noise, but it may be less effective in high-noise settings. Plus, there is a small risk of unwanted noise, where the system amplifies its own noise-canceling signal.

Hybrid ANC

By combining feedforward and feedback ANC, hybrid systems offer better noise reduction, ideal for complex environments (like airports or crowded spaces).

In this system, there are 2 microphones: the reference microphone on the outside of the headphone to capture external ambient noise, and the error microphone inside the ear cup to monitor what the user actually hears. In hybrid ANC, there is a technology of adaptive filtering that is responsible for customizing noise canceling based on each person and each environment. With the use of adaptive filtering, the best "anti-noise" signal is created and the ambient noise will be canceled out, which reduces the background sounds. This anti-noise will be checked by the error microphone to see if it is working efficiently or not. 

So, with the combination of an internal and external microphone and based on adaptive technology, a listener can receive clear audio.

Why is ANC Important?

ANC enhances audio quality, reduces the need to turn up the volume in noisy settings, and offers health and productivity benefits:

• Hearing Health: ANC minimizes the risk of hearing damage by reducing the need for high volumes in noisy environments.
• Enhanced Focus: For work or travel, ANC provides a quiet space, reducing distractions and promoting concentration.
• Comfort: ANC helps make long commutes or flights more enjoyable by significantly reducing engine and ambient noise.

When you want to buy a hybrid ANC, you need to consider some features like sound quality, battery life, and whether it is comfortably fitted. Let’s introduce Levelo hybrid ANC headphones and check their appealing features. 

Levelo VibeMaster Wireless Hybrid ANC Headphones

This Levelo headphone with a transport mode can reduce noise while traveling, making it enjoyable by blocking out background sounds. Its general ANC mode creates a peaceful environment, and you can enjoy smooth playback from your devices. 

Key Features

• Transport Mode
• Charging Time: 2 hours
• Material: Ultra-Soft Protein Leather
• Bluetooth Range: Over 10 meters
• ANC Mode (Active Noise Cancellation)
• Battery Capacity: 600mAh for the headset and 200mAh for the screen
• Dual Noise Detecting Microphones: Clear audio output during calls and music playback

Conclusion

There is no difference if you're listening to music, focusing on work, or just relaxing; in all cases, you undoubtedly need to feel the lowest sound noise. That’s why noise cancellation is a striking technology in new generation headphones.