Are Cheap Noise-Canceling Headphones Worth it?

Looking to buy top-quality noise-canceling headphones but are short on the budget? Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered. People are usually hesitant about whether or not they should go for cheap noise-canceling audio devices. There is also a misconception that low-priced ones are not worth the money. So, is it true? No!

Cheap Noise-canceling headphones are indeed worth it. They offer more or less the same features as expensive ones. Plus, they are also durable and keep on working smoothly until you take good care of them. So, they definitely provide the best value.

But there’s much more to it. In this guide, I am exploring the top benefits of cheap noise-canceling headphones and which ones are the best.

Top Benefits of Cheap Noise-Canceling Headphones

It is no secret that low-priced headphones don’t offer the exact same features as expensive ones. There are always some differences. But this does not mean they are not worth buying. The benefits they still offer are much more than you can ask for a low price.

The best advantages of cheap noise-canceling headphones are:

Cost Effective

The biggest reason why everyone should go for cheap noise-canceling headphones is that they are cost-effective. How? Well, you pay a lot less money than the expensive ones and still enjoy valuable features.

Wondering what they are?

In addition to noise cancellation, the cheaper noise-canceling headphones include long battery timing, fast charging, diverse compatibility, comfort, stylish design, and much more.

So, if you get all of these things at a reasonable price, you can call such gadgets cost-effective.

Excellent Sound Quality

After being cost-effective, the second main reason why you should never hesitate to buy low-cost noise-canceling headphones is the superior sound quality.

Before reading this, you must have thought that a low price means bad audio quality. But that’s not true.

Affordable noise-canceling headphones are also manufactured by the top and reputable brands like Sennheiser, Soundcore, etc. These are known for excellent sound quality because they use high-quality drivers, which make sure that you enjoy the best listening experience. Furthermore, they support every frequency range so that you get to enjoy the audio.

Cheaper headphones usually produce the worst bass, but the noise canceling ones are free from sound troubles.

Noise Cancellation Is Impressive Too

The noise cancellation feature in low-priced headphones is as effective as in costlier ones. You will find this out when you wear them and then check for yourself. These headphones will stop almost every annoying background noise from disturbing your listening the way you expect them to do.

So, if you live in a noisy neighborhood or travel a lot through noisy surroundings, cheap noise-canceling headphones are perfect for you.

Similarly, if public places give you a headache, then these headphones will do the job for you. The noise-canceling headphones you will wear will filter out most of the chats, horns, vehicle sounds, and a lot of other irritating noises effectively.

In addition, if you want to study somewhere and the noise starts to disturb you, then wearing these affordable noise-canceling headphones will be a blessing. Just wear them and start focusing on your studies as the outside noise pollution won’t disrupt you anymore.

Decent Battery Life

Another reason why cheap noise-canceling headphones are worth buying is that they also have a great battery life. You can use one for calling for about 12-24 hours straight and there will still be some battery left. Similarly, listening to music/movies is also ideal with these headphones. You can listen to them for hours in one go.

The battery life of economical noise-canceling headphones when they are fully charged is around 30-40 hours. This much battery is enough for you to do whatever you want with them. You can also travel to any place with them and enjoy listening to your favorite music.

In addition, the charging speed for such headphones is also ultra-fast. A five-minute charge can allow them to work for two to four hours easily.

So, if you have misconceptions that cheap noise-canceling headphones are bad when it comes to battery timing and charging, get rid of them now.

Great Bluetooth Range

One more thing to love about inexpensive noise-canceling headphones is that they do not compromise on Bluetooth and connectivity despite being low in price.

The Bluetooth range is usually up to 40 to 45 feet, and the connectivity is also super strong. If you start moving away from the connected device but stay within the limit, you can still enjoy high-quality audio. They don’t distort like the knockoffs.

Plus, you can simply turn this type of headphone on with just a tap. Noise canceling ones are also recognized by the device’s Bluetooth easily.

Long story short, everything is good about cheap noise-canceling headphones when it comes to Bluetooth.

Works With Every Device

Most inexpensive audio devices do not work with every device, but that’s not the case with noise-canceling headphones.

The affordable noise-canceling headphones are compatible with every OS/device. There won’t be any change in the audio quality, no matter if you have an iPhone or Android.

Let me tell you why.

Noise cancellation is not an ordinary feature. If the audio device has it, it means that it is already of top quality, no matter the price tag. It is because noise cancellation comes with top-notch drivers, diaphragm, and microphones.

So, low-cost noise-canceling audio gadgets should not be taken the same as any cheap & ordinary earphones.

Supports Voice Command

Cheap noise-canceling headphones also support voice commands, just like the expensive ones. They are Siri and Alexa enabled, which convey your command to the system to carry out.

Just connect them to your device and then say what you want to do, like Hey Siri, tell me about today’s weather. Siri will then give you a weather update.

It’s that easy with such headphones!

Safe To Use

The last reason why cheap noise canceling headphones are worth it is the safety. They are safer to wear than the noise-canceling earbuds. The reason is that they are worn on/around the ears, and no structure goes inside the organ.

But when it comes to noise-canceling earbuds, they are inserted in the ear canal so that you properly hear the sound.

Wearing such earbuds for a long time can cause complications in the canal. Plus, they can also lead to skin irritation inside the ear.

In addition to this, if you keep hearing a sound at a high volume with the earbuds, the eardrums are directly affected. As a result, the chances of hearing damage or hearing loss are more if you use them (whether the noise canceling ones or otherwise).

The scenario is quite different if you use inexpensive Noise-canceling headphones.

These headphones have soft and comfy cushions that are worn around the ears (and not the inside). So, they are a lot safer to wear than noise-canceling earbuds.

All in all, these are the top reasons why cheap noise-canceling headphones are worth it. When you buy them, you will then realize that the money was well spent.

However, to feel all the benefits, you should only buy the best noise-canceling headphones (that are affordable as well).

It is hard to find such headphones, but lucky for you, I have shortlisted the top two.

Best Cheap Noise-Canceling Headphones

There are dozens of affordable noise-canceling headphones. But out of them, only the two are the best.

Let’s have a look at both.

Soundcore by Anker Life Q30

Soundcore is one of the best headphone manufacturing brands, which has also launched a top-quality noise-canceling headphone that is reasonable in price. It is Anker Life Q30.

The main reason I shortlisted this low-cost noise-canceling headphone is its superb sound quality. It uses hybrid noise cancellation technology that makes sure that you only hear the audio in its true sense.

You can also customize this feature. Soundcore by Anker life offers three modes- Transport, Outdoor, and Indoor.

The Transport mode minimizes the high volume sounds like airplane engine noise. The Outdoor mode filters out the sounds in a public place (like a park). Similarly, the Indoor mode is for home or office, where the frequency of sounds is usually lower. These modes let you enjoy top audio quality without any interruption.

Let’s have a complete look at its features.

Features

The best features of Soundcore Q30 are:

• Soundcore Q30 fits comfortably because of the soft leather cushions and foam paddings.
• It has dual noise-detecting microphones that block more than 95% of the annoying background noises efficiently.
• This headphone includes 40 mm drivers, which is the reason why the audio quality sounds top-notch.
• The silk diaphragms in their structure support high and thumping frequency. It will work best even if the frequency reaches 40 Hz.
• Soundcore Anker Q30 also has excellent battery life. It has a 40-hour-long call/music time which is really impressive. If you use the standard mode, the battery life can increase up to 60 hours too.
• The charging speed of these noise-canceling headphones is matchless. Just five minutes of charging is enough for them to run for 4 hours straight.
• It can also work with the Soundcore app.

Pros

• Noise cancellation works great
• Excellent audio quality
• Impressive battery life
• Offers three modes- Transport, Outdoor and Indoor.
• Bluetooth multipoint
• Amazing ANC

Cons

• It is not water resistant
• A little bulky

Related: Which Is The Best Headset For Mobiles?

Sennheiser HD 450BT

Sennheiser needs no introduction. It is one of the popular brands that has been manufacturing top-quality electronic gadgets (including headphones) for over 70 years.

The company has launched Sennheiser HD 450BT, which is a top noise-canceling headphone at an affordable/cheap price.

The reason I chose this headphone is the topmost features it offers that are not offered by most brands in this price range. It is stylish in looks, foldable in structure, and no match for comfort.

Let’s have a look at its key features.

Features

The best features of the Sennheiser HD 450BT are:

• It uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology, which leads to the strongest connection possible. You won’t face Bluetooth disconnectivity or distortion when you use this gadget.
• It includes intuitive controls that let users give voice commands to Siri or Google Assistant.
• Sennheiser has also launched its App, with which you can control your headphones with just a few taps. This app also includes Podcast mode, with which you can enhance the audio quality while recording.
• These headphones are compatible with all devices. Whether you have a mobile (Android, iPhone) or a PC (laptop, Mac, computer), these headphones will work smoothly.
• The battery life is around 30 hours with quick USB-C charging.
• Sennheiser HD 450BT is foldable, which means it is also portable. So, you can carry it anywhere you want, and it will take up less space than what typical headphones do.
• It is available in two colors- black and white.

Pros

• Uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology
• Fast USB C charging
• Foldable
• Comfortable to wear
• Supports voice command
• Can control it with the app.

Cons

• The slightly poor call quality
• Limited touch controls.

So, these are the important details about the two best affordable noise-canceling headphones. If you want to know which one I recommend you buy, then check out my final verdict.

Related: Do Wired Headphones Sound Better?

Final Verdict

Long story short, cheap noise-canceling headphones are definitely worth it because they offer top-notch features which are more or less the same as expensive ones. So, deciding to buy them is indeed a good decision.

In this guide, I suggest the two best noise-canceling headphones that you can buy. Both are good, but the best one is Soundcore Q30.

The reason is that this noise-canceling headphone has a better battery life of 40 hours, superior sound quality due to 40 mm drivers, and a silk diaphragm to support every type of frequency. In addition, soft leather padding and foams make it one of the comfiest headphones ever.

So, if you want to purchase the best yet cost-effective noise-canceling headphones, then buy Soundcore Q30.