Earbuds are a staple in the world of phone accessories, and true wireless stereo (TWS) headphones are especially appealing as they provide the user with a lot of freedom. In addition to wireless technology, noise-canceling earbuds allow users to enjoy their music without worrying about outside noise getting in the way.
Here we will discuss the trending true wireless stereo technology and how noise-canceling technology works to better understand what consumers seek in everyday headphones.
Table of Contents
The market for noise-canceling earbuds
What are true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds?
Advantages of TWS earphones
What is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)?
Noise cancellation types and settings
Best TWS noise-canceling earbuds
4 tips for maintaining TWS earbuds
True wireless technology with noise cancellation is the future
The market for noise-canceling earbuds
The global wireless headphone market was valued at US $11.7 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach US $49.6 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.8% during that time. Advancements in technology have resulted in the development of more sophisticated noise-canceling features, which have added to the popularity of wireless headphones.
The global noise-canceling headphones market was valued at US $5.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US $9.06 billion by the end of 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.7% over that period. The emergence of active noise cancellation technology that enables minimal distortion is estimated to be the leading cause of the increased growth in the wireless headphone market.
What are true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds?
Wireless headphones are any headphones that use Bluetooth to connect to listening devices and don’t require being plugged in via a headphone jack or other source. But what is true wireless stereo (TWS)?
True wireless stereo headphones are truly wireless headphones because they have no wires at all. These are earbuds that can work independently of one another.
Difference between TWS and wireless headphones
The difference between true wireless headphones and other wireless headphones is based on the independence mentioned above. While some headphones are considered wireless because they use Bluetooth technology and don’t require a wire to the source, a wire connects the earbuds to one another.
Advantages of TWS earbuds
There are three major benefits of true wireless earbuds:
Freedom
True wireless technology gives you total freedom. You are no longer connected to your device at all times, and you can use the earbuds independently of one another to allow for outside noise to be heard, if necessary.
Versatility
With freedom also comes versatility. As mentioned, you can choose to wear only one earbud at a time for a customized experience. You can wear them in several different scenarios and easily share listening with a friend without having to be uncomfortably close together.
Reduce the potential for damage
Wires often cause many problems when it comes to regular headphone use. Not only do they get tangled easily, but this tangling often leads to damage. Damage also regularly occurs where the wire connects to the headphone jack. If damage occurs, typically, both earbuds stop working and need to be replaced.
What is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)?
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) uses a noise-canceling system to reduce unwanted background noise.
In this system, a microphone “listens” to sounds outside and inside the earphone, then an ANC chipset inverts soundwaves inside the earphone to cancel out the outside sound by neutralizing the soundwaves. Essentially, if the microphones hear +2 outside and add -2 inside, it makes zero.
Noise cancellation types and settings
Many noise-canceling headphones work in more ways than one and have a few settings that customize the listening experience, including:
- Passive Noise Cancellation: this uses well-designed ear cups to seal out unwanted noise. This type of cancellation is used in over-ear and in-ear earphones, where the earbud itself keeps out surrounding noise.
- Active Noise Cancellation: as mentioned above, it uses microphones and speakers to reduce surrounding noises. This is the most widely known type of noise cancellation. Previously ANC was mostly used in over-ear headphones, but technology has become so small and battery efficient that it can now be used in true wireless in-ear earphones.
- Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation: this is a more sophisticated type of active noise cancellation, where the noise level automatically adapts to the surroundings.
- Adjustable Active Noise Cancellation: this is similar to the above, but it also lets you adjust the noise cancellation levels to change how much background noise you hear.
There are also transparency modes in noise-canceling technology.
- Transparency Mode is a setting that lets you easily tune back in and hear what is going on around you without switching off your music or taking your earphones out.
- Adjustable Transparency Mode lets you control how much of the outside noise you want to pass through when put into transparency mode.
Best TWS noise-canceling earbuds
Here are some of the best true wireless earbuds with noise-canceling technology:
Basic TWS earbuds
Transmission distance: 10 meters; 2–3 hours of charge is equal to 9 hours play time; Type-C water resistance rating: IPX1.
These TWS earbuds come with active noise-canceling noise reduction. Each earbud comes with a control panel that allows for easy control of features like play/pause, previous/next, ANC on/off, and answer/hangup phone calls.
Another bonus feature of these headphones is that they come with a digital display that shows the battery status. But one thing to note about these headphones is they’re not waterproof, so they shouldn’t be used for water-based workouts.
Transmission distance: 10 meters; battery life: 6 hours play time with 1.5 hours charge; water resistance rating: IPX5.
These TWS earbuds have hybrid active noise canceling and transparency. They also have touch control on each earbud and are built with an ergonomic design with custom eartips to fit every consumer perfectly.
Smartwatch with TWS earbuds
These TWS earbuds are built into a watch and also include a heart rate monitor, sleep monitor, and other interesting functions like an activity tracker. The earbuds connect magnetically into the watch and charge while in this position. The watch also functions like a smartwatch and accepts messages and phone calls.
Bluetooth speaker and TWS combo
For music lovers who want to take their music on the go and listen to it in different formats, this is the perfect solution. A carrying case for TWS earbuds that also functions as a Bluetooth speaker when you want to share your music with others.
4 tips for maintaining TWS earbuds
Use your headphones safely to extend their life by following these tips:
1. Never disassemble or modify your headset
If you look at your device warranty, you’re likely to see this advice and the warning that disassembling or modifying the device will void the warranty. This is standard, partly because of the damage an inexperienced person can do to the earbuds and the potential danger they pose to themselves.
2. Do not get your device wet
Most people likely already know this, electronics and water do not mix. Refrain from submerging your headphones. If your headphones have an IPX rating (ideally IPX 7 or above), you can wear them while doing water-based workouts, and they are protected from damage caused by light rain or other water splashes.
3. Do not expose your device to extremes in temperature
No matter where you are from, you should make sure your headphones are not exposed to temperatures below 37 °F (3 °C) or above 112 °F (45 °C). Extreme temperatures can cause damage to your device’s battery, reducing the amount of time the battery can hold a charge.
If you live in a country with a very cold or hot climate, you should make sure that your earbuds aren’t left outside or near a window for too long. It’s estimated a battery runs at around 60% of its strength at 32 °F (0 °C).
4. Do not use during a thunderstorm
As with all electronic devices, you should be careful to use your TWS devices if there is a thunder or lightning storm. They should also not be plugged into an outlet to charge during a storm, as an electrical surge can damage them.
True wireless technology with noise cancellation is the future
Earbuds with true wireless technology and adaptive noise cancellation are stealing the hearts of consumers and becoming the most popular types of headphones as they offer freedom and versatility.
Consumers are taking an interest in the technology, and the market is experiencing tremendous growth, making it a must-have for sellers. So, it’s a good time for retailers to stock up their inventory with this technology, and stay updated with relevant trends in this industry to make more sales.
