[neor]

I have the same problem with Bose. I love the headphones but I always need to put on music.

Just using them to reduce noise and focus isn't possible because it makes me nauseous.

[floatingatoll]

With both AirPods Pro and Beats Studio Pro, if I leave them unpaired to anything and with noise cancellation active, I forget that I have them on because it's so noninvasive and occasionally knock them off my head by accident.

[exhilaration]

Have you tried a white noise app instead? I play "heavy rain pouring + thunder" and it's amazing for focus.

[kkotak]

Personally, I prefer Rap :)

[adrianN]

Why not get a pair of passive ear protectors if you only want to reduce noise? They cost about a tenth of what a pair of Bose headphones cost.

[portlander12345]

Can’t speak for OP, but noise canceling headphones are good for low-frequency noise, while passive hearing protection is better for high-frequency. For that reason I use headphones while bicycling — it blocks the loud engine noise and lets me better hear localizable sounds like tire swish.