People are actively trying to have richer audio experiences. Almost every earbud on the market offers varying levels of driver qualities, sound ranges, and craftsmanship; however, there are other companies that take a more clever route. We're beginning to see a surge of noise cancellation in earbuds on the market. Though certainly not cheap, noise cancellation goes a step beyond normal audio components by "erasing" everything but pure music. Noise cancellation is a relatively new technology; therefore, there isn't a whole lot of research that has been conducted in demonstrating whether or not the technology is malevolent to your ears. As of now, you should not fear any ill effects the technology may cause. You will have greater harm done to your ears by listening to audio at excessively loud levels.
According to world renown Dr. Oz: "Models available in stores typically cancel lower-frequency noises, while the ear cups themselves protect you from high-frequency noises. (By the way, there's no evidence to suggest that these devices cause any damage of their own.) If you are exposed to loud noises that come and go-sirens, trucks, traffic-cover your ears. And bring earplugs to weddings and bar mitzvahs."
The way Noise Cancellation earbuds work is that they simply transmits a sound wave into your ear that blocks out external noise. The sound frequency is something the ears can't hear; however, the waves enact as reflectors that bounce off any incoming sounds from the outside.
Because Noise Cancellation requires various hidden frequencies in order to operate, they require battery use. It is very difficult, as of now, for manufacturers to make this technology existent in earbuds. The hardware would really add weight to a set; however, there have certainly been some introductions to the market.
The Denon AHNC600's offer an amazingly rich experience for people who want the quietest earbud listening experience money can buy. They come with a pretty high price tag as well because they sell for 0. Now, they certainly do not offer the best noise cancellation on the market, but they do offer a nice edge. The drivers, by the way, are very large at 13.5mm; therefore, you can expect some phenomenal highs, lows, and mids.
Then, there exist the Sony MDR-NC300D Noise Cancelling earbuds. These earbuds have enormous drivers that are 16mm in size, and they block out 98% of the noise. You really have to give these babies a whirl in order to understand their power. The sound is phenomenal, and the power is something you have to really experience to understand. They are categorically better than the Denon's; however, they also come with their own price tag: 0. If you can dish out the money, you'll feel like you're falling into bliss while experiencing the sound these earbuds have to offer.
Because of the cost of noise cancellation earbuds, they generally come with many additions. Most of them come with in-flight adapters because earbuds that carry noise cancellation are mostly bought by frequent fliers. Many of them also come with built-in microphones, and they also come with an array of earbud foams and extras. You can find carrying cases in most boxes, and nearly all of them have spare cables of different lengths.
