Headphone Ratings: Noise-canceling models

Consumer Reports News: November 26, 2008 03:19 PM

Headphones seem to be everywhere these days. Whether you're looking for a pair to use on the go with an MP3 player or at home when you're watching a DVD movie, you have a growing variety of options for keeping the decibels to yourself.

At Consumer Reports, we've been trying to keep up with the various types and models that have become available over the past few months. While we're still working on finalizing the new information, we can offer some help if you're shopping for headphones this holiday season.

We've completed testing and Ratings of noise-canceling headphones (available to subscribers). This is a more complete list of models than those mentioned in our January 2009 issue, which featured only selected, Recommended noise-canceling models. (Subscribers clicking on either of these links will also give you a sneak peek at the new online format for all our information about headphones, coming soon.)

We also have Recommended headphones from our annual Electronics gift guide, along with other great ideas for holiday shoppers. For more shopping information, see our video: Buying guide to headphones.

In our video (right), expert tester Rich Sulin discusses the types of headphones available, from the small buds that joggers tuck inside their ears to the over-the-ear, noise-canceling models seen on frequent flyers trying to drown out engine noise.

Rich also talks about our methods of testing headphones—we get a lot of help from our mannequin friend, KEMAR—and how performance can vary by type.

Related:

For more detailed information on the performance of specific headphones, check out our full Ratings.

—Nick K. Mandle