Well I have had my ANC over ear cans for a few months now and I have realised that whilst ANC can work it is only good in certain situations. I got them to help with my commute to work, which is by train. Now they do cut down on some of the noise but still leave a lot to be desired. I guess this is because ANC only targets the low frequencies which is why they works so well for air travel as the engine noise is in the range they are active. For Trains it seems its only cutting out some of the lower end rumble, it doesn’t help with the rest of the noise you get in this travel mode and when the windows are open which is now happening more since its warming up the noise that comes in from outside, plus the fact voices especially kids are all let through. Also wind reduction is really hit and miss and having it active reduces all other modes of ANC. I guess each model has its strengths and weaknesses in each area.
I am finding that going back to my passive isolation from my wired iems with foam tips gives overall better noise isolation when commuting and helps much more in the upper registers. However you cant get full range of sound via iems you nee the over-ear to get the best for the bass/sub bass. So overall when ANC works on them you get a much fuller representation.
If you use ANC, whats your verdict as good as its made out to be, or like me works ok but not stellar unless air-travelling.
A few questions:
What over ear ANC headphones are you using?
What IEMs are you using?
Important because the audio quality can differ greatly depending on the model being used. For example the Sony over ear ANC headphones have great noise cancelling but so so audio. The Focal Bathys have great audio but so so noise cancellation.
I agree with @Marian. I originally went to ANC over-ears when flying but found they didn’t have the same impact on extraneous train and people noise when commuting.
I eventually moved back to a set of high quality IEMs. There are many to choose from but I have mainly used the Shure 846 - really solid bass and frequency response. Recently I also acquired Shure 1200 electrostatic IEMs - great for classical music and even work quite well with my Smyth Realiser at home.
I got the Sennheiser Momentum 4 they sounded the best to my ears, didnt like the Sonys i tried them and didn’t think the ANC was that much better either. I was not interested in the Bathys at all too pricey for on the go solution. I have a number of IEMS, Shure SE425, SE535, Meze Rai Solo and Sennheiser IE300, latter have good bass for an IEM but it’s just not as clear or defined as any of my over ears with ANC or no ANC such as the Focal Elears or Meze 99 Classics.
I just thought ANC would have moved on since I last tried it years ago, but it doesn’t seem to have in this regards, its sounds better I admit than the older tech but its not removing much more.
I replaced my Shure 535s with the 846. Night and day from the perspective of bass - goes deep but without an unnatural emphasis or overhang. But until then I was reasonably happy with the 535s.
The Shure 1200 is a different beast - doesn’t have the bass depth but the transients and mid frequency response is superb. Worth a listen if you have the opportunity. For daily commuting, the 846 is much more practical.
To me, IEMs are as coherent and bassy as over ears if they fit…
I like the sound they produce in general (but have had troubles finding ones that fit good, and don’t migrate) but can still become irritated by the feeling of “things in your ears” after a while.
I don’t have any issues with fit on any of my iems so it’s not the reason for lack of bass over full cans. Maybe I am just just not spending enough on them or choosing the wrong types but to me only the IE300 have come near but you can hear it struggling as it’s muddy rather than clean and precise and overall it just doesn’t get the same feeling from an over ear.
I started out with the Senn PCX550 over ears - good sound, good ANC, but quirky UI (gave them to my sister)
Then went to the Sony WH-1000XM3, good sound, ANC had a slight hiss but worked well (gave them to my Mother)
Now have the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the WF-1000XM4 both work well, good ANC for mowing the yard, working around the house, good sound, good bass with EQ. The advantage to these types of ANC devices is the ability to get ambient sound and be able to talk to others without having to take them out.
But if I want good isolation and really good sound I go with my JH Audio Roxanne or UE7 Pro CIEMs. @Mikael_Ollars I agree that universal IEMs get irritating after some time. That’s why I went for customs, well fit custom in-ears act like ear plugs and are much more comfortable than ear universal IEMs.
The JH roxanne have 12 drivers per ear and have a “tuning” pot on the cable. Mine fit so well that I can use them at the shooting range for pistols and my quieter rifles. For the big rifles I need to double up ear protection. The Alclair that @MamaTried mentioned were very nice also, I only demoed them and have not purchased any.
They each have their pluses and minuses and user cases. It’s all about choice and what level of sound quality you are wanting for the activity you are doing.