Yes, you can use the noise Cancelling headphones for drumming.
Often, earbuds or normal headphones don’t do the trick.
So, special headphones, made to reduce the level of volume in your ears, become your best friend.
Some of the top choices are:
If you are a drummer or simply can’t listen to noise anymore, follow this guideline to find the perfect headphones.
Important Things to Know When Buying
Design
There are two types of designs :
- Over-the- ear
- In-ear
If you are a professional, over-the-ear design is probably your first choice. They cancel the noise better and are more comfortable. Therefore, more suitable for long performances.
Optimal comfort is certain since they have padded ear cushions.
In-ear handphones are another option for drummers. However, wearing certain models for hours causes discomfort and ear fatigue.
So, make sure to choose the right one.
Some of them, such as Etymotic Research hf3 Earphones + Headset, offer impressive noise cancellation.
Weight
If you plan to use the noise Cancelling headphones for hours, make sure they are not heavy. They can cause uneasiness after a while.
On top of that, large and heavy headphones are not the best choice for traveling. For the reason that they take up a lot of space.
Durability
If you are drumming every day, durable noise cancelling headphones are the key. In this case, paying a little extra is worth the investment.
Headphone Cable
The length is another important thing together with the durability of the cable.
As a pro drummer, you are going to use the headphones in a studio. So, you will need a strong and long cable. Maybe even a coiled one, so that it can withstand a movement.
However, if you are using them at home, this is not an issue. Then, a shorter cable will do the trick. Since too long of a cable will most likely get in the way.
Best Rated Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sennheiser HD 450BT

One of the best-rated noise Cancelling headphones includes Sennheiser HD 450BT.
The HD 450BT allows you to focus on the sound without distractions.
Even in loud surroundings, you can catch every audio detail.
Other than their great ANC value, the battery life is excellent. They offer exceptional Bluetooth audio and are a high-quality product for their price point.
Their quality of sound combined with a variety of styles and designs gives you the ultimate experience.
What seems to be their disadvantage is the plastic build and lack of auto-pause mode.
Overall, if you don’t mind plastic headphones and the lack of the auto-pause mode, they offer remarkable noise-cancelling.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Bose is famous for its superior noise cancellation when it comes to headphones.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 more adjustable than any other. You can adjust the active noise cancellation from 0 to 10 and avoid pressure or discomfort.
Thus, you can get a more sense of your surrounding if you want to.
Their con is that the sound is not as crisp as some of the best-tested headphones. Also, the life of the battery is not the longest and they are not the cheapest.
Overall, if you don’t mind charging often and are not a sound enthusiast, they are definitely worth the investment.
Sony WH-1000XM4

The model has a powerful ANC system, with a dynamic sound. The reviews like its immersive sound with punchy bass.
The battery’s life is long, full 30 hours. Also, you can use two simultaneous Bluetooth connections.
What the reviews didn’t like is the high price and the same design as the previous Sony WH-1000XM3 model. In this way, the upgrade of the model is not visible.
Overall, even though it lacks visual upgrading this model is a great ANC investment.
FAQ
Why Do Drummers Wear Headphones at the Concerts?
Drummers wear headphones because it helps them play.
They usually have a hard time hearing the band members and their own drum. As a result, wearing their ear monitors helps them balance the sound.
Also, they cancel out the noise coming from the audience, thus drummers can focus on what’s going on on stage.
Do noise Cancelling headphones actually cancel noise?
ACN headphones remove the ambient noise. However, something that they don’t eliminate is the sounds of our voices.
Low-pitched noises from your background are canceled. Still, voices are more high-pitched noises, which you might still hear.
Noise-canceling headphones are great to use when traveling or drumming. As they block the ambient noise, you can hear the crispiness of the sounds you want.
Is it worth buying Noise Cancelling headphones?
Yes. There are many advantages of using ANC headphones.
Such as hearing protection and peace of mind. It allows you to hear fuller sounds at a healthier volume level.
Also, it prevents you from damaging your hearing. This is a possible consequence of blasting thunderous music to isolate your thoughts from the rest of the world.
Specifically, if you want to focus on the audio. Headphones with active noise cancellation can help you choose the sounds in the environment you wish to hear.
Therefore, you can play at the concert better, yet being in a noise pollution environment.
Overall, you can definitely use noise Cancelling headphones for drumming. In this way, you are protecting your ears and can focus on the sounds you need and want to hear.
Follow these guidelines to find the perfect pair of headphones, and let us know what you think in the comments.
Conclusion
Let’s wrap up!
Can you use Noise Cancelling Headphones for Drumming? Yes but the truth is drummers use them rather for practice but for live they usually use sound isolation headphones that use a pasive sound isolation meaning they blog the sound physically.
Denis Loncaric
My name is Denis. I am a drummer, percussionist, music enthusiast, and blogger. Drums have been my passion for 15 years now. My idea is to write about the things I like and I am interested in. I want to share my drum passion with fellow musicians who walk, talk, and breathe drums.