Subj : Sure, noise-cancelling headphones are great for work but they sav To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Sat Mar 08 2025 17:15:08 Sure, noise-cancelling headphones are great for work but they saved my sleep (and sanity) and several vacations too heres how Date: Sat, 08 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0000 Description: The Apple AirPods Maxs noise-cancelling chops helped save my ultimate bucket list holiday in Hawaii. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Outside of the invention of penicillin, noise-cancelling cans might be humanitys greatest creation. Im not just making that obviously wild statement as an audiophile. Oh no, Im spouting those controversial words as someone who has suffered from severe insomnia for many moons. A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to go on my ultimate dream vacation. Make no mistake: this was bucket list territory of the highest order. As a lifelong Jurassic Park fan, my best friend was gracious enough to join me on a trip to Honolulu in Hawaii. In case you don't speak fluent 'Spielberg Dinosaur 101', Honolulu is the Hawaiian island where several key scenes from the dino masterpiece were filmed the gorgeous Kualoa Ranch, to be exact. Such is the pull of the all-time great 1993 masterpiece, 22 years on, the stunning tourist-luring spot still runs several JP themed tours a day. So what does my favourite film of all time have to do with my AirPods Max and an incredible holiday Id been dreaming up since I was eight years-old? That would be Apples first class noise-cancellation features. With a press of their highly effective Noise Control button, you could silence even the mighty roar of Jurassic Park s T-Rex. Not that I was overly concerned with the greatest (very much extinct) predator that has ever walked the Earth disturbing my sleep while staying in Waikiki with my bestie in early 2023. At full blast, the roar of the Tyrant Lizard King could probably shift this planets tectonic plates. Yet even the dino to end all dinos cant hold a prehistoric candle to the constant hum of a mobile food vans energy generator when youre trying to nod off. But Ill get to that. To the Max (Image credit: Future) This is where my Apple AirPods Maxs $399 / $399 credit card-crippling price tag justify that significant outlay. They saved my sleep on this incredible holiday. Sure, we all know effective noise-cancelling features can put a set of the best over-ear headphones into an elite bracket. Yet without trying to sound hyperbolic, my AirPods Maxs headline noise-kiboshing features put them up there with some of the finest tech purchases to have dented my bank balance. Recently, and far from the picturesque mountain ranges of Honolulu, I rediscovered the power of Apples noise-slaying tech. It is quite simply the best in class din-dampening wizardry. This is a tale about trying to work at a kitchen table beside an adorable doggo, whose snores could perforate your eardrums. Again, thats another tale Ill get to in a bit. Its no secret that in a busy office, background noise (constant chatter, someone dropping a big jug of milk behind you, the low-level thrum of the printer/scanner/microwave/AC unit above your head, the gurgle of the water cooler as another colleague takes a glass) can severely dampen your productivity. It's hardly a spoiler akin to discovering Darth Vader is Lukes perpetually wheezing papa. Yet when it comes to craving peaceful moments on vacation, the AirPods Maxs noise-nixing features are nothing short of transformative. When I had the privilege of staying in Kauai for a few days one of the smaller Hawaiian islands that Jurassic Park was primarily filmed on noise-cancelling saved my sleep. And the last lingering remains of my sanity. Despite being the primary filming location of what Id argue is the greatest, most influential blockbuster of all time, Kauai also has one, far more annoying credit to its name roosters that wont stop crowing their guts out. Cock-a-doodle-boo (Image credit: Future) The beautiful island is absolutely covered with them. And you know what? They really enjoy screaming for hours on end during the dead of night. As someone who suffers from crippling arachnophobia, its the audio equivalent of sharing your bed with a dozen tarantulas all of which are into hardcore metal bangers. Thankfully, my AirPods Max and their noise-kiboshing features helped to slay the rooster racket. I'm a poor sleeper generally, so Ive never been more appreciative of a piece of technology, even if wearing Apples chunky cans in bed is pretty uncomfortable for a side sleeper like myself (although I'm told you can buy ANC sleep earbuds , too). The best noise cancelling headphones can bring your lobes much welcome peace during what should be the most relaxing days of your life. You know what didnt bring out my inner audio zen? Staying in an oh so cheap and cheerful two star hotel in downtown Waikiki, one that just so happened to be situated above that aforementioned mobile food truck and the worlds noisiest generator. This is where noise-cancelling features really came into their own again. While holidaying in Hawaii, my friend slept like a vampire a vamp whos been heavily sedated before taking that trip to the Land of Nod. I, on the other hand, could barely catch 40 winks during a tornado. Throw in relentless generators, cheeky chickens and the fact the residents of downtown Waikiki never seem to go to bed, and youre left with an incredibly effective recipe for a terrible nights sleep. My ears nay, my very sanity! owe my AirPods Max a lot. Circling back to work issues, its hardly an eye-rubbing shocker that headphones able to nullify loud sounds can be tremendously effective when it comes to getting work done with minimal distraction. That brings me back to my recent issues with constant ear-pummelling pooch snoring. A dog's din(ner) Forget any of the toothy residents of John Hammonds doomed theme park; Ive been staying at my cousins house recently and the noise his French bulldog makes would drown out the wails of that poor cow as it's being crunched by Jurassic Parks ruthless raptors. Yes, Spielbergs T-Rex could perforate your eardrums with a mild cough in certain movie theaters. But my cousins ageing Frenchie could easily ruin both your sleep and productivity from half a house away, due to its adorable squished nose and the resulting room-reverberating racket of her snores. And hoo-boy, does that dog enjoy its sleep just try writing a tech feature within 30 ft of that lovely little hound. Without my AirPods Max, I would never have gotten a single word written over the past few weeks. Youd think I was some sort of weird Frenchie whisperer, the way Pixie decides to plonk herself down for an epic nap the second she seemingly hears my digits tapping away on one of the best gaming laptops . Its no surprise that the finest headphones or best noise-cancelling earbuds can significantly improve your sleep and ability to work in peace. Whether dealing with a Hawaiian cockerel or a pooch who loves noisy napping more than I love oxygen, subduing ambient noise through headphone tech can genuinely have an uplifting effect on your general mood. And when it comes to trying to catch some kip on a dream vacation, nullifying noise is an absolute soul-lifting game-changer. And my set of Max cans didnt just save my trip to Hawaii they were also lifesavers in both New Yorks Times Square and Tokyo. Now those are two cities that really have a creative interpretation of what constitutes sleep. When it comes to the AirPods Maxs best in class noise-cancelling, Apple is top of the tree in my book. Those premium cans have improved the three best holidays of my 39 years on the spinning rock, and for that, my eardrums will be forever thankful to them. You may also like Want noise-cancelling earbuds ready for 2025 travel? Here are the 4 best weve tested for all budgets The best headphones 2025 One of the most underrated headphones makers just launched new cheap ANC wireless earbuds ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/sure-noise-cancelling-headphon es-are-great-for-work-but-they-saved-my-sleep-and-sanity-and-several-vacations -too-heres-how --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .