What is ENC in Bluetooth earbuds and headphones?
Wireless earbuds with ENC in the microphone. What does that mean? ENC stands for Environmental Noise Cancelling. It helps the person you're talking to hear your voice more clearly, with less background noise.
The quick answer:
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ENC improves phone calls and online meetings
Environmental Noise Cancelling makes it easier for the person you're talking to to hear you during calls and online meetings. -
It's basically a microphone filter
The microphone filters the sound so only your voice comes through. -
Don't confuse it with ANC
ANC and ENC are completely different things.
Better conversations
I don't need to tell you how important it is to be heard clearly on a call. That's why manufacturers do everything they can to equip microphones with technology that makes your voice clearer. That means less repeating yourself because the person you're talking to can't hear you.
Is ENC a mic filter?
Essentially, yes. It's a technology that requires at least 2 microphones built into each earbud.
- Mic. 1 picks up your voice (nothing unusual so far)
- Mic. 2 picks up background noise instead. The earbud then tries to filter out that exact noise for the person you're talking to.
So the earbud essentially filters out your background noise, letting the person you're talking to hear just your voice. Handy!
Do you make lots of calls with your earbuds, or is call quality a priority? Then definitely go for ENC.
ENC versus ANC
When I speak to customers on the phone, it often takes a little explaining to make clear that ENC is different from ANC.
- 🔈ANC = active noise cancelling: It reduces the background noise you hear while wearing your earbuds or headphones.
- 🎙️ENC = environmental noise cancelling: It helps the person you're talking to during calls and online meetings hear mainly your voice, with less background noise.
Also check out our blog on the earbuds with the best microphone.
