Technologies

Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Under $100 for 2022

You don’t have to sacrifice quality for affordability with these great noise-canceling headphones.

If you’re a commuter or just want that extra something to help you focus, noise-canceling headphones are the way to go. Headphones with active noise cancellation make it easier to focus in on your music, podcasts or audiobooks by blocking outside noises. This can make noisy commutes on the bus or train much more bearable. Active noise cancellation (or ANC) is achieved by microphones on the headphones that detect noise and work to eliminate it before it reaches your ears. They’re particularly good at canceling out continuous droning sounds like jet engines or railway tracks, making them a favorite of frequent commuters and travelers.

The truth is that budget headphones aren’t as great for listening to music and other audio as premium noise-canceling headphones from Sony, Bose and others, but you can find some pretty decent noise-canceling models for far less money. Here’s a look at some of the best cheap noise-canceling headphones I’ve tried, all of which cost less than $100, and a few even come in under $50. All of these headphones offer decent sound quality, active noise cancellation and a comfy earcup to boot (not an earbud to be seen on this list).

Looking for the best ANC headphone for audio, regardless of price and style? Check out the best noise-canceling headphones and the best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds. This story was recently updated.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for May 17, #706

Hints and answers for Connections for May 17, #706.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections puzzle is pretty fun. There are a couple of royal titles that might throw you off, though Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group, to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Think science.

Green group hint: Found in schools.

Blue group hint: Chilly Willy.

Purple group hint: Fifth letter.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Member of a kingdom in taxonomy.

Green group: Graduated instruments.

Blue group: Kinds of penguins.

Purple group: «E» things.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is member of a kingdom in taxonomy. The four answers are animal, bacteria, fungus and plant.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is graduated instruments. The four answers are beaker, protractor, ruler and syringe.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is kinds of penguins. The four answers are chinstrap, emperor, king and macaroni.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is «E» things. The four answers are commerce, mail, scooter and signature.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for May 17, #236

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 236, for May 17.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Connections: Sports Edition has one pretty simple category, especially if you’re a fan of horses. The other ones aren’t terrible, though there are a couple of very long words that barely fit in the grid. Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: NFL division.

Green group hint: Sport of kings.

Blue group hint: Laverne and Shirley’s hometown.

Purple group hint: Hoops coach.