What does ANC mean for headphones? Simply explained

ANC in headphones generally stands for "Active Noise Cancelling", describing a technique that effectively filters noise from the environment, allowing the listener to enjoy completely isolated and undisturbed music from the headphones. Basically, it's a sound isolation technique.

ANC in headphones: active noise cancelling

Noise cancelling is not a novelty in headphones. Active noise cancellation, however, extends the technology by providing a method by which noise is not only shielded, but eliminated.

1. If you are looking for new headphones and they state in the product description that noise cancellation is provided, it does not mean that they also have ANC.
2. Design and shape of the headphones can already dampen or shield noise from the environment very much.
3. Also the material of the headphones can favor this.
4. Through the active noise cancellation, ambient noise is reduced or completely eliminated by counter sound.

ANC - How does it work exactly?

1. Headphones with ANC have microphones on the ear cups, through which ambient noise is picked up.
2. The ANC chip inside the headphones analyzes the received waves and generates a counter sound.
3. Dieser soll die ankommenden Wellen aufheben, sodass Sie vor dem Eintreffen in Ihrem Ohr bereits stark reduziert oder eliminiert wurden.
4. Wie gut ANC in der Praxis funktioniert, hängt ganz von der Qualität des Chips, des verbauten Mikros und den Kopfhörern allgemein ab.
5. Nicht jeder Kopfhörer bietet einen vollständigen Schutz.