We purchased the The 6 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full products reviews.
The best noise-canceling headphones can help you tune out distractions when you’re ready. They’re designed to block out both high and low levels of ambient noise before it reaches your ears. This sound neutralization creates an immersive listening experience, allowing you to concentrate on what you want to hear while ignoring what you don’t. This could be exactly what you need while traveling, commuting, or simply taking a break.
Of course, blocking out all sounds isn’t always safe or desirable, which is why many wired or wireless headphones with active noise-canceling (ANC) technology also let you control how much ambient noise you let in. Some models even adjust these levels automatically, finding the best balance based on the ambient noise.
Audio quality is also a top priority, as it is with any pair of headphones. Supported audio codecs, drivers, frequency, impedance, and sensitivity statistics can help you figure out how loud they’ll get and which tones you’ll hear best. However, fit (in-ear or over-the-ear), battery life for wireless models, and other features such as voice assistant support and microphone quality (if you make and receive a lot of phone calls) are all important to consider when creating a complete product that you’ll enjoy using.
That’s exactly what our top pick, the Sony WH-1000XM4 at Amazon, is. It has a stylish and convenient wire-free design, 30 hours of battery life, numerous smart features like Google Assistant support, and excellent audio with some of the most advanced active noise cancellation technology on the market.
We’ve compiled a list of the best noise-canceling headphones from other big names in the game, including Bose, Sennheiser, and Jabra, to help you find your perfect balance of noise cancellation, comfort, and audio quality.
The Sony-WH-1000XM4s (Check latest price on Amazon) could be the best consumer headphones available for a wide range of users. That’s because these Bluetooth headphones are truly all-encompassing, sometimes to an unhealthy degree. The first thing to consider when purchasing a product like this is your listening and sound-blocking experience.
With Sony’s latest QN1 noise-canceling processor, you’re getting some of the best ANC available, and when you combine that with the headphones’ rich, natural sonic response, you’ve got a truly compelling listening experience. With ultra-soft leather ear pads, a soft-touch matte plastic exterior, classy design touches like a copper logo, and a slim profile to match it all, the headphones look and feel premium. In other words, these headphones tick all of the major boxes you might be looking for.
This situation becomes more complicated once you get into all of the minor details. Sony has packed these headphones with so many features that they can be overwhelming. You won’t be short on extraneous features, ranging from a speak-to-chat voice recognition feature that pauses your music as soon as you start speaking to a certifiably gimmicky 360-degree audio emulation, but you might be overwhelmed by them all.
The accompanying smartphone app does a good job of guiding you through the process, and there’s a lot of sound customization here as well. The absence of the aptX Bluetooth codec is a notable omission. This Qualcomm-developed compression format has long been the go-to for high-resolution audio, and it was included on the 1000XM3s last year. If you prefer aptX, you won’t find it on the M4s because Sony has chosen to use their DSEE audio upscaling software to do the heavy lifting. These headphones are available in matte black or soft silver, and they’ll set you back under $300.
Type: Over-ear | Connection Type: Bluetooth | ANC: Yes | Water/Sweat Resistant: No
The Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) (Check latest price on Amazon) puts their authority on full display. The Bose brand is one of, if not the most, well-known pioneers in noise-canceling technology and headphones, and the Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) puts their authority on full display. This pair of noise-canceling over-ear headphones has three levels of noise cancellation that you can switch between to suit your environment and listening preferences. The volume-optimized equalization (EQ) in the drivers produces clear sound regardless of volume level or background noise—even during phone calls.
If you prefer voice commands for hands-free connectivity on the go, the QuietComfort 35 has Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built-in and ready to use right out of the box. If you’d rather use a different voice assistant, you can do so by assigning it to the multipurpose/voice assistant button. Even better, with 20 hours of battery life, these headphones will easily get you through the day, and if you’re short on time, a quick 15-minute charge will extend playback by 2.5 hours. These headphones are pricey, but the travel-friendly design is drop- and corrosion-resistant, as well as comfortable enough that you’ll want to use them every day.
Type: Over-ear | Connection Type: Bluetooth | ANC: Yes | Water/Sweat Resistant: No
The Sennheiser PXC 550 (Check latest price on Amazon) is a contender if you’re looking for a pair of headphones that will keep you comfortable for hours. The elongated cup design of these Bluetooth and NFC-compatible headphones is meant to mimic the shape of the ear. The plush band and padding, as well as the unique earcup design, will provide a comfortable fit for many, and the light 8-ounce build won’t weigh you down while wearing or storing them. They also fold completely flat to make packing even easier.
The adaptive noise canceling technology closely monitors surrounding sound levels while you’re on the go and makes the necessary adjustments for noise-free listening. And no matter what you’re listening to, the PXC 550 provides pleasantly accurate and balanced audio. Sennheiser claims that plugging these headphones into a computer improves fidelity, which you may do if the battery life is exceeded after 30 hours. The slow charging time is the trade-off for the large battery capacity, but as long as you have the cable or plan ahead, you’ll enjoy using these comfortable headphones.
Type: Over-ear | Connection Type: Bluetooth | ANC: Yes | Water/Sweat Resistant: No
The worthy of a splurge The Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700 (Check latest price on Amazon) have a premium price tag that won’t appeal to everyone, but there are a number of compelling reasons to consider investing—especially if you’re a fan of the Bose brand and its noise-canceling expertise. There are six mics in this set of headphones, four of which help you hear callers better and two of which deliver superior voice clarity when you’re talking, and 11 different noise control settings ranging from complete isolation to the complete opposite.
The attractive and unique design of the Bose 700 is another highlight that helps to justify the high price. The steel headband is more minimalist than other Bose or over-ear wireless headphones, and the plush earcups rotate to 15 degrees to better match the natural shape of the head and ears. The clamp design on the headband, which helps to create a secure fit and freedom to tilt the ear pieces, was praised by our reviewer. Though he had some issues with the touch controls’ sensitivity, which can lead to misfires or unintended prompts, the excellent audio performance more than makes up for any flaws.
Type: Over-ear | Connection Type: Bluetooth | ANC: Yes | Water/Sweat Resistant: Yes (IPX4)
One area where the Jabra Elite 85h (Check latest price on Amazon) excels is adaptive sound control options. The Jabra Sound+ app and a physical button allow the user to make adjustments to these over-ear Bluetooth headphones. The app allows users to adjust ambient noise levels, causing the brand’s Smart Active Noise Cancellation feature to activate. Depending on your in-app preferences, the eight-microphone system inside the headphones uses four to neutralize outside noise. To keep you alert to environmental noise, you can toggle between enabling ANC, turning it off, and allowing hear-through.
If you leave the Smart ANC on its default settings, the system will guess whether you’re at home, commuting, or out in public based on clues. Our reviewer had some success with the automatic adaptive switching, but preferred to use the button control or contribute some input via the app. He also mentioned that they were generally comfortable to wear, but that the fabric covering easily picked up lint. If you prefer a light and streamlined design, their slightly bulky build may be an issue. One thing that’s difficult to argue against is the excellent battery life, which can last up to 36 hours even with ANC turned on.
Type: Over-ear | Connection Type: Wireless, Bluetooth | ANC: Yes | Water/Sweat Resistant: Yes (no IPX rating)
The Marshall Mid ANC headphones (Check latest price on Amazon) are sure to appeal to anyone who values good looks and great sound. They have good ANC and reliable sound quality, but their true strength is in their design. These headphones feature premium, textured vegan leather, anodized metal hinges, and brass finishings, and they look fantastic—as expected from the Marshall brand—while also providing incredible sound quality.
They have a minor stumbling block with a single multipurpose button—a retro joystick-style knob—that looks cool but is difficult to use effectively. In addition, while the Marshall Mid ANC has Bluetooth aptX connectivity, they don’t have the same wow factor when it comes to playback as other headphones in this price range. However, with such style, this is a pair of wireless headphones that manages to stand out.
Type: Over-ear | Connection Type: Bluetooth | ANC: Yes | Water/Sweat Resistant: No
The Final Word
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is our top pick for the best noise-canceling headphones in general, and the reason for this is because it has the best under-the-hood hardware. This cutting-edge technology provides an exceptional balance of noise reduction and audio quality, as well as adaptive sound settings and a slew of smart features that make everyday use enjoyable and simple.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II is another excellent option. Few brands are as well-known for noise-canceling technology as Bose, and these over-the-ear headphones live up to that reputation with three levels of noise cancellation and balanced audio quality at any volume. Plus, they’re already set up to work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so there’s no need to configure or update them.
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