Noise-cancelling headphones or regular ones?

If you're often in noisy environments, go with noise cancellation for sure! I got active noise-canceling headphones and don't regret it, especially when I need to concentrate or just want my own sound. Without it they're cheaper and the battery lasts longer, but if your budget allows - better to just get decent ones right away.

Noise cancellation really does make a difference if you're constantly on the go or spending time in public places. I got headphones with active noise cancellation for trips and noticed I'm way less stressed out on transport - you don't have to crank the volume all the way up to hear your music over the noise. On the flip side, if you're just sitting at home or don't really need the headphones for anything specific, you can get by without it - they're cheaper and the battery lasts longer.

It depends on where and how you use them. If the headphones are for home, office, or studio where you can control the sound environment, then active noise cancellation isn't critical. But if you spend a lot of time in cafes, trains, airports, or just out on the street in a big city - you'll definitely be more comfortable with it. Another important thing: with active noise cancellation you need to charge the headphones regularly, whereas without it they can run on a single battery for months.

When choosing, also consider your personal preferences. Some people aren't bothered by background noise at all, while others find it really distracting. If you're in the second group and spend a lot of time in noisy places, then paying extra for noise cancellation will pay for itself in the first month of use - simply because you won't be turning up the volume and damaging your hearing. The downside is just the price, but the plus side is that with good noise cancellation the headphones can still pick up incoming calls and voices if you need them to.

Don't just buy ones with noise cancellation because they have it - you'll overpay for a feature you might not even need. I personally went with non-noise-cancelling because I listen to music mostly at home or on walks, where there's not that much background noise anyway. When I did need to focus in crowded places, it turned out that just turning up the volume or picking comfortable in-ear models that physically block outside sound was enough. If I were commuting on the metro or planes all the time - then yeah, it would be worth the extra cost.