Buying guide for best noise-canceling headphones
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Noise cancellation is one of those innovations you wonder how you ever lived without. The best noise-canceling headphones and earbuds make all kinds of sounds disappear on a plane, in a train, in a crowd and even at home. They’re a godsend for people with tired ears and frazzled nerves.
Active noise cancellation, or ANC, was popularized by Bose in 2000 with the company’s first QuietComfort headphones. Noise-canceling headphones detect unwanted sounds and generate an opposite sound wave to cancel them out. Headphones with closed-back ear cups and earbuds that fit in the ear canal also physically block out external sounds.
The BestReviews Testing Lab has tested a wide selection of noise-canceling headphones and earbuds from Bose, Sony, Apple, Sennheiser and more, grading them on ANC performance, audio quality, comfort and other factors. The best noise-canceling headphones we’ve tested are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, which eliminated the most noise in more situations than the competition.
Which noise-canceling headphones are best?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
Product specificationsNoise-cancellation type: Active | Battery life: 28 hr (tested) | Sound quality: 8/10 | Comfort: 10/10 | Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are the best noise-canceling headphones we’ve tested. Others are almost as good, and a couple sounded better to us or had longer battery life. But the QuietComfort Ultras silenced unwanted sounds more substantially than any other pair, and that’s why they’re our top pick among noise-canceling headphones.
In our tests, the QC Ultras reduced the engine roar of a plane better than any other headphones we tested. They also silenced single voices, such as a person speaking nearby or on TV. They were highly effective in public transit, nearly silencing bus engines, air conditioning and brake noise. They also eliminated exhaust fans and ventilation in a quiet room. They only struggled with crowd noise in a busy cafe.
The audio is enjoyable with an overall bass emphasis and defined, articulate mids, although we would have liked more sparkle in the high end. It took a few tries for us to pair correctly, and we had issues switching between connected devices, but they were comfortable to wear and came in a sturdy, hard-sided travel case.
These are the best headphones for airplanes and other situations where consumers need top-notch ANC. Because they are the best noise-canceling headphones overall, we scored them 10 out of 10.
Soundcore by Anker Space One
Best Bang for the Buck
Product specificationsNoise cancellation type: Active | Battery life: 32 hours (tested) | Sound quality: 7/10 | Comfort: 7/10 | Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired
The Soundcore Space One headphones aren’t in quite the same class as the Bose, our Best of the Best choice. But they’re good enough at almost everything, and they cost far less than their top competitors. There are cheaper noise-canceling headphones, but the Space Ones come from a trustworthy brand and are unlikely to fall apart after a single long flight.
In our noise tests, the Soundcore Space Ones expertly reduced the sound of ventilation fans, exhaust fans and external noises in a quiet room. They also softened the noises of a public bus, including engine and brake noise. They reduced the loudness of passing traffic outdoors and softened the background noise of a crowded cafe, although individual voices could still get through. They stood their own, reducing background plane noise as well.
The Space Ones’ solid audio quality improved when we used Soundcore’s HearID feature to customize the sound to our ears. The headphones can be a little stiff and plasticky, but we found that to be nothing objectionable. Furthermore, we liked their lightweight and colorful design.
The 32 hours of tested battery life was shorter than the promised 40 hours, but these headphones are still plenty for most travel needs. We think they’re the best budget noise-canceling headphones, and we rated them 8 out of 10 for value.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds
Product specificationsNoise cancellation type: Active | Battery life: 6 hr (tested) | Sound quality: 9/10 | Comfort: 9/10 | Connectivity: Bluetooth
Earbuds may not be the most obvious gadget for noise cancellation. However, if they can form a seal with your ear canal, they can offer both passive and active noise cancellation. Apple’s AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) are a great example. They’re comfortable to wear and offer impressive ANC.
As in-ear buds, flexible silicone tips seal off the wearer’s ear canals. We were pleasantly surprised at how comfortable they were and how easy it was to get a good seal in our ears. With ANC on, the AirPods Pro impressed us with their performance, eliminating a loud leaf blower heard from within a quiet room and quieting traffic on a busy street. They also offer a transparency mode that makes it sound like there’s nothing in your ears.
Overall sound quality was also excellent, including solid bass despite the smaller size. With ANC on, they last only six hours (8.5 hours with ANC off). However, like other true wireless earbuds, you can get additional juice from their charge case. They work best with Apple devices, but they will also work with Android and Windows sources. We rate them 9 out of 10 and consider them the best noise-canceling earbuds we’ve tested.
Sony WH1000-XM5
Most Comprehensive
Product specificationsNoise cancellation type: Active | Battery life: 34.5 hr (tested) | Sound quality: 10/10 | Comfort: 10/10 | Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired
The Sony WH1000-XM5 tops our list of the best headphones overall with its powerful, warm tone, advanced features and excellent noise cancellation. While its noise cancellation was slightly less powerful than the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, you’d be hard-pressed to find noise-canceling headphones that offer a more comprehensive basket of superlatives.
We tested the XM5’s ANC in a quiet room, a cafe, a busy street and on public transportation. We were impressed by these noise-reduction headphones: They reduced traffic noise on the busy street and softened background music and chatter in the cafe, even in ambient mode. We also appreciated the adaptive sound controls that intelligently switched modes based on location and activity.
This headphone set has a powerful sound profile, rich on bass and bright on highs. For a more customized sound, we used the Sony smartphone app, which also offered many features and controls. We found the touch-sensitive controls convenient, especially the cup-to-listen gesture for brief conversations.
As the total package of sound quality and noise cancellation, we rated the Sony WH1000-XM5 10 out of 10 as the most comprehensive noise-canceling headphones.
Sennheiser Accentum Plus
Midrange Option
Product specificationsNoise cancellation type: Active | Battery life: 56 hr (tested) | Sound quality: 8/10 | Comfort: 8/10 | Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired
Sennheiser is known for excellent audio quality. The Sennheiser Accentum Plus is the renowned brand’s mid-priced model of wireless noise-canceling headphones, and we think its price, audio quality and ANC make it a great option for smart shoppers.
The sound of the Accentums is tight and controlled. They have a plastic-based build that is comfortable enough to wear but doesn’t feel premium; their touch controls, however, mimic their higher-priced siblings.
During testing, they quieted the roar of plane-engine noise to more comfortable levels, lessened the din of a busy cafe and almost eliminated the whir of kitchen vents in a quiet room. A great noise-canceling option at a midrange price, the Sennheiser Accentum Plus received a score of 8 out of 10.
Apple AirPods Max
Best for Apple Devices
Product specificationsNoise cancellation type: Active | Battery life: 20 hr | Sound quality: 10/10 | Comfort: 10/10 | Connectivity: Bluetooth
When it comes to noise cancellation, we think the Apple AirPods Max are some of the best around. They’ve got their quirks, and they work best with iPhones and other Apple devices, but for great audio quality and top-quality noise cancellation, the AirPods Max remains an excellent choice.
The AirPods Max's ANC was outstanding when we first tested them, and while other headphones have since caught up or surpassed them, they’re still better than most. The AirPods Max are particularly good at blocking low-end noise, which makes them great for plane travel.
Apple’s Spatial Audio recreates a well-defined bass, mids and treble for concert-hall sound quality. We enjoyed how comfortable these headphones were to wear. On the downside, the “case” seemed impractical to us, and we wished the product supported lossless audio. In terms of noise cancellation and sound quality, however, the Apple AirPods Max received a perfect score of 10/10 during testing. They are among the best noise-canceling headphones you can find for your Apple computer, phone or tablet.
Beats Studio Buds Plus
Best for Working Out
Product specifications:Noise cancellation type: Active | Battery life: 9 hr | Sound quality: 8/10 | Comfort: 8/10 | Connectivity: Bluetooth
The Beats Studio Buds Plus are some of the best noise-canceling earbuds for working out. While they don’t have stabilizing fins or clips, their excellent noise cancellation, sweat-resistant build and cross-platform compatibility make them a great choice for fitness activities.
The Studio Buds Plus promise improved noise cancellation over their predecessors, the Beats Studio Buds. As an Apple subsidiary product, the Buds Plus features adaptive ANC similar to the Apple AirPods Max. They adjust their sound with the help of multiple mics and vents for effective noise reduction in all frequencies, including the low end. They can also activate transparency with a gesture to keep you safe and aware of your surroundings.
These earbuds are compatible with both Apple and Android. They have onboard controls and provide up to nine hours of battery life with 36 hours more in their charging case. An IPX4 rating makes them resistant to water and sweat, which is great news if you plan to wear them in the gym or on the trail. We give them an 8 out of 10.
Beats Studio Pro
Customer Favorite
Product specificationsNoise cancellation type: Active | Battery life: 31 hr (tested) | Sound quality: 8/10 | Comfort: 8/10 | Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB-C audio
Speaking of Beats, the popular brand’s top full-sized headphones, Beats Studio Pro, are worth a look if you’re in the market for noise-canceling headphones. Sleek and iconic, they provide worthwhile active noise cancellation at home, the office or on the go, with much brighter sound than is typical for Beats devices.
In our tests, the Studio Pros quieted fan and vacuum-cleaner noise and greatly diminished traffic noise on a busy street. They didn’t do quite as well in a crowded cafe, but their transparency mode was particularly effective at making it sound like you weren’t wearing headphones at all.
They have a somewhat closed sound profile with bright highs and restrained bass. They fold neatly into their hard-sided carrying case and are more compact than other full-sized headphones we’ve tested. The Studio Pros, which we scored 8 out of 10, are cross-platform and support lossless audio via an included USB-C charging cable.
How we tested
We tested noise-canceling headphones in various sound environments, including a quiet room, a busy street and public transportation. We evaluated their sound quality, comfort, build quality, connectivity and additional features.
Noise cancellation
We tested as many pairs of noise-canceling headphones as we could using the same test audio and the same source device in the following sound environments:
- Quiet room: We used a carpeted indoor room with a running ventilation fan and a TV on low volume.
- Busy street: We used a sidewalk on a moderately busy highway with traffic and wind noise.
- Public transportation: We tested on a city bus with engine noise, AC, brake noise and passengers.
- Noisy cafe: We visited a local eatery full of conversation, dining sounds and background music.
- Plane noise: We tested headphones against speakers playing a YouTube video of the engine roar inside a plane cabin. The volume was set to 77 decibels to simulate a real flight.
Sound quality
We tested each pair of noise-canceling headphones with the same tracklist of songs from different music genres. We looked for elements such as bass punch and definition in hip-hop and R&B; vocal clarity in rock, country and folk; energy and accuracy in EDM and pop; and staging, clarity and separation in jazz and classical music. When we could, we repeated each genre test with ANC on, ANC off, and transparency on or off. We then noted any differences.
Other tests
- Comfort: We wore the headphones for a minimum of two hours and an average of three hours without taking them off, noting any fatigue, pressure, irritation or other issues with fit and comfort.
- Build quality: We examined each pair of headphones for construction, design, materials and weight, noting any build issues that surfaced during the testing period.
- Connectivity: We connected each pair of headphones to at least two different audio sources, noting the ease of pairing and switching. We noted which pairs supported wired connections and their compatibility with various audio sources.
- Ease of use: We took note of the controls offered on each pair of headphones, evaluating them for intuitiveness and convenience. We downloaded applicable smartphone apps and studied their user interfaces.
Traditional vs. noise-canceling headphones
Noise-canceling headphones can be expensive; many of our top picks reflect that. But there are some on the market that cost well under $100. For example, the Soundcore Space Ones offer a terrific value.
Audiophiles tend to prefer traditional headphones without ANC, and many of the top audiophile headphones respected over the years are both non-noise-canceling and, for the highest fidelity, wired instead of wireless. That said, there are models with noise cancellation that please audiophiles and have earned their praise for sound quality.
Traditional wired headphones still offer the purest audio experience. But in general, we think the ability to listen to what you want without hearing what you don’t is worth the investment in noise-canceling headphones.
Types of noise cancellation
Active
Active noise cancellation (ANC) is the technology found in noise-canceling headphones. A microphone or series of microphones detect unwanted sounds and generate sounds in the opposite frequencies. This “anti-noise” cancels out unwanted sounds via destructive interference, ideally leaving silence.
ANC works best with low, repetitive noise that’s easy to detect and counter. It has a harder time with higher-pitched or irregular noises, like conversation or a crying child. Even in low-frequency noise, some sounds are just too loud to eliminate, like the roar of an airplane engine.
The mics and anti-noise require power, which is why headphones with ANC require batteries. Nevertheless, there’s a clear difference between what you hear and what you don’t. Completely soundproof headphones are a rarity, but headphones with good ANC can reduce sound by 20 to 40 decibels.
Passive
Passive noise cancellation, or noise isolation, physically blocks sound from reaching your eardrums. Any headphones or earbuds that block off your whole ear or ear canal offer a degree of isolation from external sound.
Passive noise isolation works well against the middle and high frequencies that ANC doesn’t, like speech, bangs, pops and loud music. Closed-back, full-sized headphones block off your whole ear with ear cups and earpads, while in-ear earbuds seal off your ear canal from outside noise.
Hybrid
Hybrid noise cancellation is a term for active noise-canceling headphones with noise cancellation mics inside and outside the ear cups. These mics allow hybrid noise-canceling headphones to sample external and internal sounds, resulting in more precise noise cancellation. Most of the top noise-canceling headphones use hybrid ANC.
Key features to consider
Build quality and battery life
The best noise-canceling headphones need to survive frequent usage, especially if they’re used for travel.
- Materials and design: Consider lightweight but durable materials, including high-grade plastic and aluminum. Full-sized headphones should have flexible, durable headbands and extendable arms that won’t break or bend with frequent use. Earbuds should be lightweight and able to withstand falls and drops.
- Water/sweat resistance: Some water and sweat resistance would be welcome for working out and traveling. Unfortunately, many full-sized noise-canceling headphones lack water resistance. Noise-canceling earbuds fare better in this regard.
- Battery life: Battery life is one of the most important features. Full-sized headphones should last at least 20 hours and then recharge quickly, in one to two hours. Noise-canceling earbuds should have at least six hours of battery life with 24 hours or more in their charging cases.
Our top picks: Build quality and battery life
- The Sennheiser Accentum Plus has the longest battery life among our picks at 56 hours of nonstop play with ANC. In our testing, they simply wouldn’t die.
- The Bose QuietComfort Ultra has premium materials including aluminum arms and hinges to stand up to travel use.
- The Beats Studio Buds Plus offers IPX4 water resistance, making them good for exercise.
Comfort and fit
Noise-canceling headphones are often worn for long periods. Thus, they need to fit comfortably without excessive pressure or sore points.
- Padding: Full-sized noise-canceling headphones should offer comfortable padding on their ear cups and, ideally, on their headbands. Plush or leatherette pads should strike a good balance between softness and support.
- Weight: The heavier a pair of headphones is, the more discomfort the listeners feel over time. A weight of around 250 grams is a good yardstick for full-sized headphones. Earbuds should be light enough to fit in your ear or ear canal without falling out.
- Clamping force: This refers to the pressure exerted by a pair of full-sized headphones on the wearer’s head, especially at the ears and temples. Too much clamping force can lead to discomfort and even headaches.
Our top picks: Comfort and fit
- The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones have soft yet supportive padding on the earcups and headband. They weigh just over 250 grams with minimal clamping force.
- The Soundcore Space Ones are made of lightweight plastic. While they’re bigger than most of our other picks, they weigh just 258 grams.
- The Apple AirPods Max feels luxurious to wear despite a 385-gram weight. This is partially attributable to the cool, flexible mesh on the headband.
Additional features
- Wires and wireless connectivity: All our top noise-canceling headphones are also wireless headphones that connect to audio sources via Bluetooth. Wireless connections offer the freedom and convenience that wired connections lack. Some of our picks offer wired connections via aux audio cables or USB-C cables, but some noise-canceling headphones don’t offer ANC over a wired connection.
- Controls: Onboard controls — physical buttons or touch-sensitive virtual controls — are convenient in noise-canceling headphones. Our tested picks also offer smartphone apps for additional features and controls. Controls vary in how intuitive and sensitive they are, but all have a bit of a learning curve.
- Transparency or ambient sound: A useful feature in noise-canceling headphones, transparency or ambient mode lets exterior sound reach you in conjunction with or in place of active noise cancellation. This is useful when you need to be aware of your surroundings. Some transparency modes make it sound like you’re not wearing headphones at all.
- Automated modes: The top noise-canceling headphones can detect whether you’re wearing them to play or pause music and power on or off. Other automated actions include sensing wind noise and adapting the strength of the ANC to fit the surroundings.
- Travel features: If you’re buying noise-canceling headphones for travel, a good travel case with hard sides is recommended. It should protect your headphones from damage and hold any accessories. The headphones should come with a charging cable.
Tips
- Keep the charging cable with you, especially if you’re traveling. You don’t want to lose access to the noise-canceling capabilities on a plane or at the office.
- Use a cloth or paper towel dampened with isopropyl alcohol or dish detergent and water to clean your headphones. Gently wipe down the padding of the ear cups and dry gently. Care may vary for delicate materials like leather.
- Turn off your headphones when they’re not in use. This will extend the life of the battery.
FAQ
Q. Can noise-canceling headphones protect your hearing?
A. Absolutely. Most active models can block up to 20 decibels. While this doesn’t come close to the maximum volume levels of subways or busy streets, it’s that much less noise that your eardrums have to endure.
Q. What happens if the battery dies in noise-canceling headphones?
A. You won’t get any more noise cancellation, but you can continue listening to your music. Since this turns your noise-canceling headphones into traditional headphones, you’ll want to replace the battery.
Q. Can an amplifier improve the sound quality of my headphones?
A. An amplifier can be a worthwhile investment for high-quality sound if you have a pair of passive noise-canceling headphones. Active models effectively have built-in amplifiers, so an external amplifier wouldn’t make a significant difference.
Our expertise
Jmar Gambol has been a headphone aficionado for almost three decades. He has owned or used almost 20 pairs of headphones, from inexpensive earbuds to audiophile models from the likes of Sony, Sennheiser, Bose, Audio-Technica and Koss. He personally tested six of the eight models in this article and has been writing for BestReviews since 2021.
