Stay at ease this Diwali with noise-cancelling earphones

Diwali is almost here and there’s no denying there’s going to be a lot of noisy firecrackers around where you live. While it’s fun playing with them, for those in their houses trying to relax, it’s quite annoying and difficult to get away from it. So, we’ve decided to give you a list of options to cut down on the noise. We’re putting together a list of active noise-isolation headphones that can keep your ears noise-free this Diwali. They could even be great gifts for your loved ones.

Bose QuietComfort 15

Traditionally, the most popular one – Bose QuietComfort 15

Bose has traditionally been one of the more well-known brands for noise-cancelling headphones amongst travellers who fly a lot. Its QuietComfort 15 noise cancelling headphones are some of the popular ones even now, with many flyers choosing these on long distance flights. Be it flights or just plain noise from crackers, these can help give you some peace of mind. The QuietComfort 15 can also be used for making and answering calls using the hands-free kit. The cables are also detachable, so carrying them is very simple. You also get a carry case for this reason. The QuietComfort 15 sells at a price of Rs. 17,550, which is a bit expensive but not as much as our next recommendation.

Sennheiser PXC450

Expensive, but performance headphones – Sennheiser PXC450

One of the more expensive options in the market is from Sennheiser and it’s called the PXC450. It's a pair  of active noise cancellation headphones that are powered by just one AAA battery. It has a wide frequency range of 8 to 28,000Hz which should get you good audio quality even with the noise cancellation feature turned on. Sennheiser has even implemented a feature called TalkThrough, which basically lets you listen to people outside without having to completely remove the headphones from your head. These are circum-aural headphones, so they’re really comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Of course, price shouldn’t be a constraint if you’re planning to buy this pair, because the PXC450 is priced at a steep Rs. 27,990.

Klipsch Mode M40

Stylish and solid – Klipsch's Mode M40

The Klipsch Mode M40 headset is a quite impressive looking pair of headphones. It has high-quality leather cans and they’re very likely to grab some attention. There’s even a copper finish on the headphones. When it comes to audio quality, the M40 uses two sets of drivers instead of the traditional single driver per channel setup; the larger ones being 40mm and 15mm in diameter. It also comes with a microphone so that you can use the M40 to make phone calls. Sure, it's a little bulky to be wearing them outdoors, but the headphones take little space when folded neatly, so you can carry them to work with you very easily. Like most of the other expensive headphones, the Mode M40 also comes with a carry pouch and detachable cables. There’s also support for iPhone and other Apple products. The Klipsch Mode M40 is available in the market for around Rs. 18,699.

Creative EP-3NC

Portable and affordable – Creative's EP-3NC

When you have a budget and you need noise cancellation on the move, you need more portable options. Creative’s EP-3NC is one such product. These are canal earphones, which mean they offer passive noise isolation like all other such products. However, you also get an active noise-cancellation module with it, which can be toggled on demand. Since these are canal earphones, they’re small and so is the module. This means you can simply drop them in your pocket and head out, or you can also lie in bed watching your favourite movie on your tablet or phone. It’s powered by a single AAA battery and Creative even bundles a travel adapter for aircrafts so that you don’t need to sacrifice on quality while flying. There are even three sets of silicon buds, so you get the best seal in your ears. The Creative EP-3NC is pretty cheap as well in comparison to the other products, at just Rs. 5,500.

Wolfson Digital Silence DS-321D

The newcomer to the scene – Wolfson Digital Silence DS-321D

Wolfson Microelectronics is known for its audio processing chips, but now it has come up with noise-cancelling earphones. The Wolfson Digital Silence DS-321D in-ear earphones are affordable and highly portable. Priced at Rs. 5,499, these earphones can be preordered right now. The DS-321D uses a single AAA Lithium polymer battery to operate, which is a good thing because you can forget about replacing batteries. These active noise cancellation earphones can be recharged via USB; there’s even an LED that reminds you to recharge them. The DS-321D is compatible with most phones for making phone calls, but you can find adapters if it isn’t compatible with your phone.

So that’s our list, which should keep you at ease this Diwali. If you’ve already owned noise-cancelling earphones, do share it us with in our comments section below or on our forum.

Cover image credit: Getty images