I'm looking to upgrade my PC setup for both gaming and work calls, but my room can get quite noisy during the day. I need a pair of wired noise cancelling headphones as I want to avoid any issues with charging or battery life. I'll be connecting them directly to my PC or possibly using a basic DAC. Has anyone had good experiences with wired noise cancelling headphones that perform well for voice calls and gaming audio without sounding weird or muffled? Any reliable long-term recommendations would be appreciated!
5 Answers
I’ve had good luck with the Sennheiser HDB 630s. They plug directly into the PC and deliver fantastic sound, though they are on the pricier side. If you're looking for something with USB-C audio, check the Momentum 4—no charging necessary and it features active noise cancelling!
It might be difficult to find solid wired noise cancelling headphones. Generally, about 20 years ago, wired options needed a battery, and many manufacturers have shifted to wireless. For current recommendations, you could check out the Bose QC Ultras or Sennheiser Momentum 4s, which support wired USB-C. These headphones double as a DAC and DSP, making them a solid choice for your setup.
If you're unsure about active noise cancelling, just be clear on what you want. Active noise cancelling requires power, whereas noise isolation can work just based on the headphone design itself. I found the Sony ULT Wear to be useful for covering external noise when wired, but keep in mind that wireless options can outperform wired counterparts in ANC technology.
Right, and when you're using these types of headphones with a built-in mic, you may face some audio issues on Windows. It’s usually better to use a dedicated mic instead.
It’s a mixed bag with wired noise cancelling options. Some options like Sonos Ace do well with both sound quality and ANC, but I've experienced some audio popping issues through USB-C with a few units. Definitely consider testing various models to find the one that suits your needs best!
I wouldn't worry too much about wired noise cancelling, as the options can be limited. Many high-quality headphones like the Bose QC Ultra II provide good sound quality but might not feel natural to everyone. I’d recommend trying things out to see what fits best for your ears.
Actually, noise cancelling can work without a battery if it’s passive noise cancelling, which many wired headphones use. Just keep in mind that active noise cancelling does require power.