What Is the Ambient Sound Mode on Headphones? [Answered]

Ambient sound is a feature present in many modern headphones and earbuds nowadays. Many people are already familiar with the term “noise cancellation,” which is the technology used to suppress outside noise while you listen to your favorite music, but what if you want to be aware of your surroundings?

That’s what ambient noise technology is all about. The feature uses built-in microphones in your headphones or earbuds and plays them into your ears. This feature is useful because oftentimes, you want to listen to your music while still being around your surroundings for safety and practicality reasons.

Or, perhaps, you still want to be able to hold a conversation without having to take your headphones or earbuds out of your ears. In this article, we will explain everything about ambient sound and what are the things you should be aware of when buying a product with this awesome technology.

What is Ambient Sound?

Ambient sound is a feature present in most modern headphones and earbuds that let you stay aware of your surroundings while listening to your music, useful for safety, and also for allowing you to hold conversations without having to take your headphones off.

The ambient sound technology, put in simple terms, uses a series of built-in microphones in the body of the headphone to record any background noise that is going around while you listen to your music or audio media and play it back to you.

In some headphones and earbuds, this feature may also be called transparency mode and can be activated either via a smartphone app or directly through buttons in the body of the product.

Many headphones and earbuds nowadays feature ambient sound technology. Some examples include the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and the Sony WH-1000XM3. It is always a good idea to look into the specifications first if you want a product compatible with ambient sound.

Also Read: Top 10 Headphones with Best Soundstage Ever

What Is the Ambient Sound Mode on Headphones and Earbuds?

Definition of Ambient Sound

We can define ambient sound as anything that can be considered background noise. For example, nature noises, airplane noises, people holding conversations in the background, etc.

The ambient sound feature can be defined as a convenience made for safety and convenience. As the name implies, you can listen to your music while still being aware of your surroundings.

Ambient Sound Technology

The ambient sound technology, most of the time, relies on built-in microphones present in your headphones and earbuds. The microphones will record everything that is going on in your surroundings and reproduce it to you while your music is being played.

In many cases, as we said earlier, you can also configure how much ambient sound you want leaking in while you listen to your music by using the smartphone app provided with your headphones or earbuds.

Depending on the particular model of the headphones or earbuds, this technology will vary slightly. Some products even use, for example, certain designs that will allow for the ambient sound technology to sound even better.

What Does Ambient Sound Do?

The ambient sound mode will help you stay aware of your surroundings and can even help you achieve a more positive experience while listening to music. It records the sound around you and plays it back in your ear.

What Effect Does Ambient Noise Have on People?

It depends on what your main goal with ambient noise is. If you would like to be aware of your surroundings for safety reasons, then the ambient noise technology will certainly give you a better sense of security across various situations.

If you want to be still able to hold conversations without having to take your headphones or earbuds out of your ears, then it can be very practical since it will eliminate anything that can distract you from what you’re doing.

Some people find ambient noise therapeutical as well. Let’s say you’re working while sitting in a coffee place. The sounds present in that kind of environment aid people in staying focused on whatever they’re doing and greatly improve their performance.

For some, though, those ambient noises may not be as pleasant. Then the solution would be to use noise cancellation, which is the opposite of ambient sound technology. We will talk about the differences between these two features below.

Ambient Sound vs. Noise Cancelation: What’s the Difference Between?

The main difference between ambient sound and noise cancellation is that one will allow background noise to pass through so you can be aware of your surroundings, while the other will suppress any sound that is going around you.

Ambient sound is best used when, for example, you’re using your headphones at work and still need to maintain a conversation without having to take them off; Or perhaps you have a child at home, and you still need to be alert for any noises while you’re working. The ambient sound technology is perfect for that situation.

Now, let’s say you don’t need to hear anything that is going around you and want to concentrate on whatever you’re hearing or listening to fully. In this case, noise cancellation is the answer. The technology will greatly suppress any background noise, and you will be fully immersed in your listening experience.

Most ambient sound technology is active, meaning it will use built-in microphones to record the sound around you and play it into your ears. With noise cancellation, the technology can be either passive or active. Passive noise cancellation uses the design of the product to suppress noise, while active uses built-in microphones.

Depending on the model of the headphones or earbuds, these technologies may vary slightly, and some products are better than others when it comes to ambient sound and noise cancellation technologies. We always suggest looking at online product reviews and testing for yourself if possible.

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Ambient Noise vs. White Noise

Ambient noise and white noise are very different in content. As we mentioned before, we can consider ambient noise as any sound that you hear in the background, be it nature, rain, or even a ceiling fan.

White noise is an audio signal that features different frequencies with the same intensity. It sounds a lot like rain or the static noise you hear in some electronic products.

White noise is widely discussed because it has the effect of muffling background noise. Some people swear by white noise while sleeping or working. This can be a great solution if your headphones don’t feature noise cancellation and you want to muffle the sound around you.

While ambient sound and noise cancellation technologies are present in a lot of earbuds and headphones, white noise can’t be played while you’re listening to music, but you can combine both sounds on your smartphone or computer for a more pleasurable listening experience.

How Do I Activate Ambient Sound in my Headphones/Earbuds?

The answer will depend on the particular model of your headphones or earbuds. Most of the time, modern products are compatible with smartphone apps in which you can adjust these features and even customize the intensity of the feature.

In some headphone models, such as the Sony WH-1000XM3, there is a button on the earcups labeled NC/Ambient or NC button, which will let you activate ambient noise with a single tap on the built-in button.

Bonus: What Are Some of the Best Headphones and Earbuds with Ambient Sound Technology?

If you want a few recommendations on great headphones and earbuds that feature ambient sound technology, here are a few of our favorite products in the category that we think you might be interested in.

1. Cleer Audio Enduro ANC

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The Cleer Audio Enduro ANC is one of our favorite headphones in this category because it features both ambient sound and noise cancellation technology, both of which can be controlled via the smartphone app provided with the product.

For example, you can use the app to configure how much ambient sound you want leaking in while you listen to music. These headphones also feature an impressive 60 hours of battery life and can be quick-charged in 10 minutes.

Features:

• 40mm Ironless Drivers
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Ambient Sound Technology
• 60 Hours of Battery Life
• Bluetooth Connectivity

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2. Tribit MoveBuds H1

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These earbuds are excellent for physical activities. The ambient sound feature on the Tribit MoveBuds H1 is called transparency mode and will let you stay aware of your surroundings while you work out, for example.

These earbuds also have IPX8 waterproof rating, meaning they are extremely resistant. The battery life is of 15 hours, but you can get up to 65 hours with the charging case.

Features:

• IPX8 Waterproof Rating
• 4 Mics
• Ambient Sound Technology
• 15 Hours of Battery Life
• Bluetooth Connectivity

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3. Yamaha TW-E5B

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These earbuds from Yamaha have an excellent design and feature ambient sound technology. It is a great option both for casual music listening and for physical activities or working out.

We like the fact that the ambient sound feature can be easily activated in these earbuds by pressing the built-in button in the body of the earbuds, eliminating the need for a dedicated smartphone app of any kind.

Features:

• Yamaha True Sound
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Ambient Sound Technology
• 8.5 Hours of Battery Life
• Bluetooth Connectivity

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Frequently Asked Questions

Read More:  7 Best Over-Ear Headphones For Working Out

Conclusion

As we explained, the definition of ambient sound is anything that is any noise that is going on in the background. Think of nature sounds, birds chirping, ceiling fan noises, etc. While sometimes you might want to attenuate these sounds while listening to your music, sometimes you want to be aware of your surroundings.

The ambient sound feature present in modern headphones and earbuds can be activated so that you stay aware of everything that is going on around you for safety and practical reasons. It can also be useful in situations where you want to hold a conversation without having to remove your headphones, for example.

It is important not to mistake the ambient sound feature for noise cancellation. Noise cancellation will actually do the opposite: it will suppress any background noise so that you can be more immersed in your listening experience.

We hope our article on What Is Ambient Sound was helpful and guided you in understanding more about this technology and feature. Feel free to contact us if you have any suggestions for our website or questions about the subject!