Noise canceling headphones that hush the world

Whether you want to escape the drone of a neighbor's leaf blower or the roar of a jet engine, the right headphones can offer relief. Any headphones that fit tightly over your ears or inside the ear canal will block some noise simply by creating a seal. Noise canceling headphones go a step further. Those battery-powered headphones use electronic circuitry to eliminate or at least reduce unwanted noise picked up by their tiny microphones.

We tested 10 headphones with active noise reduction. Our Ratings (available to subscribers) list five that stood out for noise reduction and sound quality. All use one AAA battery except the Sennheiser, which uses two. All but the Bose and Panasonic let you listen to music with noise canceling turned on or off. (When it's off, those units work without a battery.) Bose packs the battery and circuitry in the headset; in the others they are in a compartment on the cord.

Over-the-ear models

Like earmuffs, these noise canceling headphones seal in sound, but you might miss things you shouldn't, like a smoke alarm. Some have openings in the ear cups that let in more sound.

The Bose QuietComfort2, a closed, over-the-ear model, had very good sound and noise reduction. It's a bit larger than the others, but you can use the noise-reduction feature to muffle ambient noise even when it's not connected to any audio source. The soft, leather-like ear cups fold flat.

On-ear models

Generally smaller and lighter than the over-the-ear type, they press on but don't enclose your ears, so they admit more sound. Most have an adjustable strap; some use ear clips.

The Sony MDR-NC40 was very good at blocking noise and had good sound. The Sennheiser PXC 250 also had very good sound quality but was not as effective when it cameto canceling ambient noise.

Inserts

Insert-style earphones fit inside the ear canal, forming a seal that can help keep out extraneous noise. (Earbuds, like those included with iPods, sit in the bowl of the ear outside the canal.)

The Panasonic RP-HC55, a CR Best Buy, was tops for noise reduction and had very good sound. It has replaceable rubber ear tips that come in small, medium, and large sizes. The Koss QZ77 had good sound, is low-priced, and had excellent noise canceling. You pinch the ear cushions before inserting them, and they expand to fit.