Yes, Beats Solo 4 have active noise cancelling built in

The Beats Solo 4 include active noise cancelling (ANC), which uses microphones to detect outside sound and play an inverted sound wave to cancel it out. This is different from passive noise isolation — the Solo 4 do both. Passive isolation comes from the physical design of the ear cups, which seal against your ears. Active noise cancelling is the electronic layer on top of that.

The noise cancelling on Solo 4 works best on steady, low-frequency sounds: airplane engines, traffic rumble, air conditioning hum. It is less effective on sudden or high-pitched sounds like a car horn or someone speaking directly to you. You control it through the Beats app on your phone or through the physical button on the left ear cup.

Key Takeaways

  • Beats Solo 4 have active noise cancelling that you can turn on or off using the button on the left ear cup or the Beats app.
  • Noise cancelling drains the battery faster — expect roughly 36 hours with it on versus 50 hours with it off.
  • You can also use Transparency mode to hear your surroundings without removing the headphones, which is useful when you need to stay aware of traffic or conversation.
  • Noise cancelling works best on constant background noise and less well on sudden or unpredictable sounds.

How to turn noise cancelling on and off

The quickest way is the physical button on the left ear cup. Press and hold it for about two seconds until you hear a tone or feel a haptic vibration — this toggles between noise cancelling on, Transparency mode, and noise cancelling off. The button cycles through these three states each time you press it.

If you want more control or to check the current mode, open the Beats app on your iPhone or Android phone. Go to the settings for your Solo 4, and you will see a section for noise cancelling modes. From there you can switch between Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency, and Off without cycling through all three. The app also shows you which mode is currently active, which is useful if you forget what the last button press did.

What Transparency mode does

Transparency mode lets you hear the world around you without taking off your headphones. The headphones use their microphones to pick up outside sound and play it through to your ears at the same time as your music or call. This is useful when you are walking near traffic, waiting for someone to get your attention, or in a situation where you need to stay aware of your surroundings.

Transparency mode uses less battery than active noise cancelling but more than having both off. If you find yourself switching to Transparency often, you might want to check whether you actually need noise cancelling for that activity, or whether you could just turn everything off and save battery.

Battery life with noise cancelling on versus off

Beats Solo 4 are rated for up to 50 hours of battery life with noise cancelling off. With active noise cancelling on, that drops to around 36 hours. The difference comes from the power required to run the microphones and the processing that cancels the sound in real time.

Transparency mode falls somewhere in between — it uses the microphones but does not do the active cancellation work, so it drains less battery than full noise cancelling but more than having everything off. If you regularly use your headphones for long stretches without charging, turning off noise cancelling when you do not need it will extend the time between charges.

When noise cancelling works well and when it does not

Noise cancelling is most effective on steady, repetitive sounds with low frequencies. Airplane cabin noise, highway traffic, air conditioning, and refrigerator hum are all good examples — the headphones learn the pattern and can predict and cancel it. You will notice a real difference in these environments.

Noise cancelling is less effective on sudden, unpredictable, or high-frequency sounds. A dog barking, someone shouting, a car horn, or a door slamming will still come through because the headphones cannot predict when it will happen. Human speech is particularly hard to cancel because it varies constantly. If someone is talking to you while you wear the Solo 4 with noise cancelling on, you will still hear them — the headphones cannot tell the difference between speech you want to hear and speech you do not.

Comparing Solo 4 noise cancelling to other Beats models

Beats makes several headphone models, and not all of them have noise cancelling. The Solo 4 do. The Beats Studio Pro (over-ear) also have noise cancelling and are generally considered to have stronger cancellation because of their larger size and better seal. The Beats Fit Pro (earbuds) have noise cancelling as well. The Beats Solo 3 Wireless, an older model, do not have active noise cancelling — they only have passive isolation.

If noise cancelling is important to you and you are choosing between Beats models, check the product name and specs before buying. The presence or absence of noise cancelling is usually listed in the first line of the product description on the Beats website or retailer pages.

Troubleshooting noise cancelling that is not working

If you turn on noise cancelling and do not notice any difference, first check that it is actually on. Use the Beats app to confirm the mode — sometimes the button press does not register if you do not hold it long enough. Make sure the headphones are fully charged, because noise cancelling does not work if the battery is critically low.

If noise cancelling is on and the battery is good, try restarting the headphones. Hold the power button for 10 seconds until the light flashes, then turn them back on. If that does not help, unpair them from your phone and pair them again — sometimes the connection gets into a state where features do not work properly. If none of that fixes it, the microphones may be blocked by dirt or earwax. Clean the microphone holes gently with a dry cloth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does noise cancelling work if I am on a phone call?

Yes, but with a caveat. Noise cancelling will reduce background noise on your end, so the person you are talking to will hear less traffic or office noise. However, the person on the other end will still hear you clearly because the microphone is designed to pick up your voice. Noise cancelling does not muffle what you say.

Can I use noise cancelling while exercising?

You can, but Transparency mode is usually better for exercise. Noise cancelling works best when you are stationary or moving slowly, because the headphones need time to learn and predict the sound pattern. While running or moving around, the sound environment changes too quickly for cancellation to be effective. Transparency mode lets you hear traffic and people around you, which is safer during exercise.

Will noise cancelling damage my hearing?

No. Noise cancelling does not add sound to your ears — it removes it. The inverted sound wave that cancels outside noise is inaudible. The only hearing risk with any headphones is playing music too loud, which is a separate issue from noise cancelling.

How do I know if my Solo 4 are in noise cancelling mode?

The Beats app shows the current mode clearly. On the headphones themselves, there is no visual indicator, but you will hear a tone or feel a vibration when you press the button to change modes. If you are unsure, open the app — it takes two seconds and removes the guesswork.

Does noise cancelling work with all audio sources?

Yes. Noise cancelling works the same whether you are listening to music, a podcast, a video call, or anything else. It is a feature of the headphones themselves, not of the content or app you are using.