Taking a phone call in a busy café, open office, or crowded train can be frustrating. You may hear the other person clearly, but they keep asking you to repeat yourself. Traffic, wind, nearby conversations, and other background sounds can all interfere with your voice.
Goodwireless earbuds can help solve this problem. Features such as ENC, AI call noise reduction, and well-placed microphones can reduce unwanted sounds picked up during calls. However, the results also depend on how you wear your earbuds, where you stand, and how you use their settings.
Understand the Difference Between ANC and ENC
ANC and ENC sound similar, but they serve different purposes. Knowing the difference can help you choose wireless earbuds that work better for calls in noisy places.
ANC: Reducing Background Noise You Hear
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) reduces some outside noise that reaches your ears. It uses microphones to detect environmental sounds and creates an opposing sound signal to help reduce them. This can be useful on buses, trains, and in busy offices. With less background noise reaching your ears, you may find it easier to hear the other person during a call without increasing your listening volume.
ENC: Reducing Background Noise Picked Up by Microphones
Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) focuses on the microphone side of a call. It helps reduce unwanted background sounds before your voice is sent to the person on the other end. For example, when you take a call near traffic, your microphones may pick up both your voice and the sound of passing cars. ENC processes the captured audio to reduce some of that noise, helping your voice stand out.
The key difference is easy to remember: ANC helps you hear more clearly, while ENC helps other people hear you more clearly. For calls in noisy environments, microphone performance and ENC are especially important.
How AI Call Noise Reduction Improves Voice Clarity
AI call noise reduction adds another layer of processing to microphone audio. Instead of treating every sound in the same way, an AI system can analyze sound patterns to help distinguish human speech from unwanted noise. Imagine answering a call in a busy café. Your microphones may capture your voice, people talking nearby, cups clinking, and background music. AI processing can help reduce some of those distractions while keeping your speech clear.
Find a Better Position Before Starting Your Call
Sometimes, a small change in position can improve call quality more than changing your settings. If you are standing near a busy road, a fan, or a loudspeaker, try moving a short distance away before answering an important call.
Wind deserves special attention. Outdoor airflow can create a rough, rumbling sound around microphone openings, making your voice difficult to understand. Turning away from the wind or moving behind a wall can help reduce the problem.
It is also worth checking how your wireless earbuds sit in your ears. Avoid covering the microphones with your hands, hair, or clothing. If your earbuds have a companion app with call settings, check whether AI call noise reduction or wind noise reduction is enabled.
What to Look for in Wireless Earbuds for Clear Calls
Multiple Microphones for Better Voice Pickup
Many modern earbuds use several microphones to capture your voice and surrounding sounds from different positions. The system can compare these signals and help separate speech from background noise. However, microphone count alone does not guarantee better calls. Placement, microphone quality, and audio processing all matter. A well-designed system with fewer microphones may perform better than one with more microphones but weaker processing.
ENC and AI Call Noise Reduction
If you regularly take calls in cafés, offices, or public transportation, look for ENC or AI call noise reduction. These features are designed to reduce unwanted sounds picked up by the microphones. Some wireless earbuds combine several microphones with AI processing to handle different kinds of noise. This can be useful for people who move between quiet rooms and busy outdoor settings throughout the day.
ANC for Better Call Comfort
Although ANC does not directly improve the microphone signal in every design, it can make calls more comfortable for you by reducing the background noise you hear. This may help you follow conversations without turning up the volume. For the best overall experience, look for a combination of good microphone performance, ENC or AI call processing, and effective noise cancellation. A secure fit and stable Bluetooth connection also help keep conversations clear and consistent.
TOZO NC9 Pro: Wireless Earbuds for Clearer Calls in Noisy Places
TheTOZO NC9 Pro combines a six-microphone AI Call Noise Reduction system with audio features designed for everyday listening. Its microphone system helps reduce unwanted background sounds during calls, making it a useful option for people who often talk in shared offices, cafés, or other busy places.
The earbuds also feature Hybrid ANC of up to 45dB, Adaptive ANC, Wind Noise Reduction, and Transparency Mode. These features serve different purposes. ANC can reduce some environmental noise you hear, while the microphone system focuses on helping other people hear your voice more clearly. Transparency Mode is useful when you need to hear people nearby or remain aware of announcements.
The NC9 Pro also uses a 10mm SDLC dynamic driver withTOZO OrigX Pro acoustic technology and supports LDAC for compatible high-quality audio. Bluetooth 6.0 and Multipoint Connection make it easier to switch between compatible devices, such as a smartphone and laptop. This can be convenient when you move between work calls and personal conversations during the day.
For everyday communication, the combination of AI call noise reduction, flexible noise control, and device switching makes the NC9 Pro a practical option. It is worth considering if you need wireless earbuds that handle calls as well as music, podcasts, and travel listening.
TOZO NC20 Pro: Call Clarity and Noise Control for Daily Use
TheTOZO NC20 Pro is designed for users who want strong noise control alongside clear everyday audio. Its six-microphone AI Call Noise Reduction system helps reduce wind and environmental noise picked up during calls, supporting clearer speech when your surroundings are less than ideal.
Its Hybrid ANC can reduce surrounding noise by up to 52dB, with Adaptive ANC adjusting noise control as the environment changes. This is useful when moving between noisy trains, busy streets, and quieter indoor spaces. Remember that ANC mainly changes what you hear, while the AI call system works to improve the voice sent to the other person.
The NC20 Pro also uses a 12mm DLC dynamic driver with TOZO OrigX Pro acoustic technology and supports LDAC. For users who spend long periods listening to music or joining calls, it offers up to 16.5 hours of playback with ANC off and up to 12.5 hours with ANC on from a single charge. The charging case extends total playback to up to 80 hours with ANC off or 63 hours with ANC on.
Bluetooth connectivity and Multipoint support make it easier to switch between compatible devices, while the touchscreen charging case provides quick access to selected controls. For frequent callers, the NC20 Pro brings together call noise reduction, strong noise cancellation, and long battery life in one package.
Conclusion
Clear calls depend on more than one feature. ENC and AI call noise reduction help manage microphone noise, while ANC reduces some of the sounds you hear. Combine suitable wireless earbuds with good positioning and sensible settings, and you can make calls easier to follow even in busy places.
FAQ
Why can people hear background noise when I use wireless earbuds?
Your microphones may pick up nearby conversations, traffic, fans, or wind along with your voice. Earbuds with ENC or AI call noise reduction can help reduce some of these sounds.
What is the difference between ANC and ENC for phone calls?
ANC reduces some background noise that reaches your ears. ENC focuses on reducing noise picked up by the microphones, helping the person on the other end hear your voice more clearly.
Do more microphones always mean clearer calls?
No. Microphone placement, hardware quality, and noise-processing software all affect performance. A larger microphone count is useful only when the system is designed to use those microphones effectively.
Can AI call noise reduction remove all background noise?
No. It can reduce many unwanted sounds, but very loud noise, strong wind, and overlapping conversations can still affect call clarity.
Why do my wireless earbuds sound clear to me but noisy to the other person?
ANC may be reducing the noise you hear, while your microphones still capture the surrounding environment. Check the call noise reduction settings and make sure the microphone openings are not blocked.
Are wireless earbuds good for calls in busy cafés?
Yes, provided they have a capable microphone system and effective call noise reduction. Moving away from loud speakers or nearby conversations can also improve results.
