minsta

What is Transparency mode? Which headphones have it?

Pabio December 13, 2024

THE best headphones are intended to immerse you in music; but sometimes they can make you feel a little isolated and cut off from your surroundings. A new wave of ‘openHeadphones can help, but if you still want the option to shut out the outside world, a pair with Transparency mode is a better choice.

More and more headphones are coming with them – and not just expensive models – so you’re spoiled for choice if you’re looking for a pair with the technology included.

Here we explain what Transparency mode is (along with the other names it goes by), how it works, and which headphones are best to offer it.

What is Transparency mode?

Side view of worn Sonos Ace headphones

(Image credit: Which Hi-Fi?)

Headphones exist to fill your ears with music, podcasts, radio, or whatever you choose to listen to. But they can also allow outside sounds in, thanks to a feature called Transparency mode.

Why would you want to do that? This can be useful for hearing announcements at a train station, for quick interactions in stores or on public transport, or if you’re on the move and want to be more aware of your surroundings (traffic noise can be so as not to make you run). during a race).

Consider it anti-active noise cancellation (ANC). While ANC neutralizes background noise to help you focus on the music, Transparency lets in ambient noise so you’re less isolated from your surroundings.

The effect is similar to wearing a pair of open helmetalthough those with Transparency mode won’t play the sound of an open can, so everyone around you won’t be subjected to your hair metal playlist.

How does Transparency mode work?

AirPods Max

(Image credit: Apple)

Like active noise cancellation, Transparency mode uses external microphones to pick up sounds from the outside world. But instead of canceling these sounds, it simply transmits them to you by playing them through your earphone drivers.

The headphones also apply some processing to make the noises sound correct.

Is this different from ambient/aware mode?

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC wireless earbuds

(Image credit: Which Hi-Fi?)

Transparency mode goes by many different names – you may hear it called Aware, Ambient, social mode and others. But ultimately, they all mean the same thing. Transparency is Apple’s chosen term, as used on AirPods Pro (First of all– And second generation models), AirPods 4 with ANC And AirPods Max.

There are also some fragmented modes to be aware of – sort of like spinoffs that are a bit more advanced than basic transparency. Adaptive transparency reduces all external sounds above 85 dB to protect your hearing. Speak to Chat (as seen on some Sony headphones) automatically detects when you’re speaking and activates Ambient mode, so you can just start chatting and the headphones let you hear the other side of the conversation.

Which headphones have Transparency mode?

Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones on a wooden table

(Image credit: Which Hi-Fi?)

Remember, Transparency is Apple’s term for the mode, so technically speaking, the only headphones with Transparency are the AirPods Pro (first and second generation models), AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Max. But most high-end headphones with ANC have the mode by another name.

These include the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones And Headphones, Sony WH-1000XM5 And WF-1000XM5 And Mark Levinson #5909. But this useful technology is not limited to high-end headphones: it is also found in some cheaper models, like the Bose QuietComfort Headphones, SonyWF-C700N And Sony WH-CH720N.

It even started showing up on headphones without ANC….

Is Transparency mode only available on noise-cancelling headphones?

Sony WF-C510 In-Ear Headphones

(Image credit: Which Hi-Fi?)

Usually, Transparency goes hand in hand with noise cancellation, but a pair of Sony headphones buck that trend. The winner SonyWF-C510 are some of Sony’s cheapest wireless earbuds and therefore don’t have ANC, but they do have an ambient mode to allow for outside sound. You can change this between 1 and 20, and even focus it on vocals.

Unfortunately, it’s not fantastic. “You can hear a slight difference when there is no music as they try to tone down the background noise and increase the voice level,” we note in our review. “But if you try to use this mode while listening at modest or high volumes, we don’t find it extremely effective. Your music simply drowns out most of the outside noise.”

However, this is a positive first step, which shows that Transparency mode is becoming more and more common. We can see in the not too distant future where it becomes standard on all wireless headphones.

MORE:

Discover the best noise canceling headphones

THE best noise canceling headphones

And the best cheap noise canceling headphones

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