Between traffic, generators and open-plan offices, Dhaka is a loud place to listen to anything. Good noise-cancelling headphones can make a commute feel shorter and a workday calmer — but the spec sheets are full of numbers that don’t tell you much. Here is what we look for when we test a pair.
1. Noise cancelling you can feel
Active noise cancelling (ANC) uses microphones to measure outside sound and plays the opposite wave to cancel it. It works best on steady, low sounds: engines, fans, air-conditioning. “Hybrid” ANC uses microphones both outside and inside the ear cup and handles a wider range of noise. Adaptive ANC adjusts itself as your surroundings change, so you’re not constantly switching modes.
2. Comfort for hours, not minutes
Over-ear headphones with memory-foam cushions spread pressure around your ear instead of on it. Check the weight — anything around 250 g feels light enough for a full day. If you wear glasses, softer cushions make a big difference.
3. Battery life with ANC switched on
Manufacturers love quoting battery life with ANC off. Look for the ANC-on figure; 25–30 hours is excellent. Fast charging is the real everyday feature: 10 minutes on the cable for several hours of listening.
4. Multipoint Bluetooth
If you switch between a laptop for calls and a phone for music, multipoint lets the headphones stay connected to both. It sounds minor until you’ve used it.
Our picks
- Aurel Pulse ANC Wireless Headphones — adaptive hybrid ANC, 40-hour battery and multipoint. Our favourite all-rounder.
- Aurel Buds Pro True Wireless Earbuds — when you want cancelling that fits in a pocket.
- Voltix Boom Mini Bluetooth Speaker — not headphones, but the perfect partner for sharing music at home.
Every headphone we sell carries the official one-year warranty, and you can return unopened audio products within 7 days.
