ANC vs ENC: What’s the Difference, and Which Do You Need?

ANC uses small microphones on the earbuds or headphones to listen to outside noise, then plays an opposite sound wave to cancel it before it reaches your ears. It works best on low, steady sounds like bus and train engines, airplane drone, fans and AC hum. It is much less effective on sudden or high-pitched sounds such as voices, horns and keyboard clicks. ANC uses extra battery, so battery life with ANC on is shorter.

ENC works on your microphone during calls. It uses one or more mics and software to separate your voice from background noise such as traffic, wind or people talking, so the person you are calling hears you more clearly. ENC does not reduce the noise you hear while listening to music.

The simplest way to remember it: ANC is for your ears, ENC is for your voice.

Passive isolation is simply the physical seal of in-ear tips or over-ear cushions blocking sound, with no electronics. A good fit can block a surprising amount of noise, and it also makes ANC work better. Transparency (ambient) mode does the opposite of ANC: it lets outside sound in through the microphones so you can hear announcements or traffic without removing your earbuds.

If you commute by bus, train or metro, travel often or work in a noisy office, choose earbuds or headphones with ANC. If you mainly want clearer calls, look for ENC with four or more microphones. Many earbuds from about ₹1,500 now offer both.