[cel1ne]

Did you read parent poster? What good are noise-cancelling headphones if you can't listen to music because it's distracting?

[somehnguy]

Noise cancelling headphones can cancel noise without any music playing.

It's not 100%, but they'll get rid of like 80% of the background noise without playing anything. To get that last 20% yeah you need something playing to help mask it(even at an extremely low volume).

Sometimes I wear mine with nothing playing while at work just to get rid of random office chatter.

[notkaiho]

You can use them to tune out noise around you. It muffles conversations, keyboard clacking, people sniffling, airconditioning noise, etc.

[ageofwant]

Seems you failed to realise that 'noise-cancelling' headphones is good for noise cancelling, not just listening to music.

My Bose QC35 set is ~4 years old, on their second set of muffs and only play sound when I fly, once or twice a year.

[Wohlf]

You can get a nice pair of ear muffs for much less.

[lou1306]

But the parent was also talking about ambient stuff. Noise-cancelling headphones would definitely help.

[ssb1]

They're cancelling noise whether or not you're listening to music ;-) Sweet sound of silence.