About Where's the Noise

Where's the Noise is an independent buying guide to noise cancelling headphones. It answers one question: which pair to buy for the place you actually listen, whether that is a plane, an open-plan office, a train, a road or a gym.

Most buying guides start with the brand. We start with the noise. Cabin rumble, office voices and traffic are different problems, and the right headphone for one is often wrong for another. That is why every pick on this site says who it suits and who should skip it.

We are not a test lab, and we do not pretend to be. Our picks are built on published measurements and long-term reviews from outlets that explain their methods, which we name and link on every pick, checked against makers' specifications and against what is actually listed for sale. Our method page explains the process in full.

The site earns money through Amazon affiliate links. That never decides the order of the picks, and we say plainly when a cheaper product, or no headphone at all, is the better answer.

Write to us at [email protected].