It may seem a bit silly to describe a pair of headphones as soundproof; after all, isn’t the goal of the system to produce sound? However, the soundproof headphones are a worthwhile purchase. Soundproofed headphones simply block out all ambient noise, creating a peaceful den of silence in your ears, leaving nothing behind but the soft sound of the headphones themselves. A good pair of soundproof headphones should be able to block out everything from the hum of computer fans to rough play by nearby children. A good pair of soundproof headphones should be comfortable and able to be worn for hours. A good pair of soundproof headphones should leave you distraction-free, with nothing separating you from complete listening immersion.

There are two different philosophies for making a good pair of soundproof headphones. Some sound systems use active noise cancellation to make background noises less prominent. These systems generally require an additional set of batteries to operate, but the result is worth the cost. Active Noise Cancellation works by analyzing the noise outside the headphones and generating an equally strong sound of the exact opposite wavelength. This anti-sound is then played along with the rest of your music, where it will interact with the background noise and cancel it out. Cheaper active canceling headphones may not correctly calculate the proper counter-wavelength to cancel out everything you don’t want to hear, producing an audible hiss behind your music that is undesirable. Active-canceling headphones also cost more, both to buy and to maintain, with the cost of batteries to deal with. However, with some smart purchases, reasonably priced, high-quality active sound-canceling headphones are pretty easy to find.

The second main method of sound damping comes in the form of passive noise cancellation. Unlike active noise cancellation, passive cancellation removes background noise by absorbing and deflecting noise. Because all noise cancellation is caused only by the body of the headphones, no batteries or additional setups are needed to make them work. Passive noise cancellation also tends to be cheaper to produce and therefore to buy. However, most of these hearing aids will wear tight-fitting ear protectors, which can squeeze uncomfortably and become hot and sweaty, causing discomfort if worn for long periods. Passive headphones also tend to be bulky and heavy, causing neck discomfort. Lastly, passive headphones aren’t sleek, stylish, or discreet. While they are sure to deliver a satisfactory level of performance, wearing them and using the headphones in public can be difficult.