RS Recommends: 7 Noise-Cancelling Headphones Our Editors Are Using Right Now
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Sometimes you just want to shut out the world around you. But if you can’t find a quiet space away from people, you can at least throw on a pair of headphones to drown out the noise. Pair the headphones to your streaming service and device, and find your zen as you get lost to your favorite artists and tracks.
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While dozens of companies are making decent headphones these days, if you want a truly immersive listening experience (think rich highs and deep, body-shaking bass), you’ll want to look for a pair of cups with noise-cancellation technology.
In This Article
What Are the Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones?
What to Know About Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Noise-Cancelling Headphones Buying Guide
How We Chose Our List of Noise-Cancelling Headphones
What Are the Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones?
We rounded up our favorite pairs of noise-cancelling headphones to buy right now, based on audio quality, noise cancellation technology, battery life and ease of use.
BEST OVERALL: Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
EDITOR’S CHOICE: Shure AONIC 50 Headphones
BEST DESIGN: Apple AirPods Max
LUXURY PICK: Bowers & Wilkins PX8 Over-Ear Headphones
VALUE PICK: Sennheiser HD 450BT Headphones
1. Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones
How do you make a good thing even better? For Sony, whose WH-1000XM4 headphones topped our list as the 2021 Audio Awards list, it meant adding new features and refining the little details rather than re-designing an already-impressive set.
Sony’s brand new WH-1000XM5 headphones one-up their predecessor with intuitive features that make for a more seamless — and yes, whisper quiet — listening experience. The same noise-cancelling technology is in place here, with a whopping eight microphones running ambient noise through the new Integrated Processor V1.
New to these headphones is Sony’s “Auto NC Optimizer,” which automatically adjusts and customizes noise cancellation based on the environment you’re in (I.e. a relatively quiet office vs. a busy freeway with traffic). The WH-1000XM5’s also filter out more mid and high frequencies, compared to the previous model. Nowhere was that more evident than when we took these headphones onto a recent flight. In addition to blocking out the din of airplane noise, the headphones also blocked out the chatter of people around us, and the noise of dinner service being distributed in the aisles.
Sony WH1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
These new headphones also have additional microphones that isolate outside sounds while you’re on the phone, resulting in clearer audio for both the speaker and receiver. We found no problem with the mics picking up our voice while on a call, and the ability to filter out noise for every environment makes it easy to take a fuss-free call both at home and on a walk or run.
We mentioned the WH-1000XM5 headphones are great for travel, but we’ve found them especially great for work too. They’re the most comfortable headphones we tested on this list, and our temples stayed relaxed — not tight — even when wearing these cans for hours at a time. They’re super lightweight too, and the adjustable strap offers plenty of room.
The new headphones offer multiple device pairing, letting you switch from your laptop to a call with the touch of a button. Cup your hand over the right earpad to quickly pause music, say, if you need to talk to a colleague. And if you fully remove your headphones, the music automatically pauses.
Music-wise, the WH-1000XM5s really up the ante with the ability to process more nuances from a track, across a wider range of frequencies. We tested the headphones out while listening to a number of genres, from hip-hop to classical, and audio was crisp and well-balanced — never overbearing. Volume and settings are easy to control on the headphones or through the easy-to-use app.
Like its predecessors, the headphones get up to 30 hours of playback time; a quick three-minute charge gets you up to three hours of use. Sony’s WH-1000XM line has earned the company a reputation for creating some of the best noise-cancelling headphone out there. With the release of the WH-1000XM5 headphones, Sony proves its still top of the class when it comes to noise-cancellation.
Sony WH1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
2. Panasonic Technics EAH-A800 Wireless Headphones
Panasonic has made a name for itself by creating hi-fi turntables, amps, and speakers that dominated the Eighties, but it’s slowly been entering the true wireless headphone arena. Its EAH-A800 on-ear noise-cancelling pair are an example of why the company has been successful.
The Technics EAH-A800 get 30 hours of battery life with active noise-cancelling turned on, and an impressive 50 hours when it’s turned off. These headphones use a whopping eight microphones to block noise, including a dual hybrid setup. Technics claims this results in “industry-leading” noise cancellation, which combines an analog filter and a feedback mic with a feed-forward mic and a digital filter in an effort to reduce noise inside and outside the headphones.
Panasonic Technics EAH-A800
The design also has the added bonus of minimizing wind noise. New, mid-sized 40mm drivers (a driver is the part of the headphone that creates sound; the bigger, the better), creates an immersive soundstage and deep bass.
These headphones support LDAC Bluetooth codec to deliver hi-res audio at 96kHz/24 bit resolution, which is an audiophile’s dream. In terms of comfort, the EAH-A800 have plush ear pads, and weigh just 10.5 oz. This doesn’t make it the lightest pair of headphones on this list, but they’ve packed in a lot of power.
Even when not listening to hi-res music, Panasonic’s custom tuning doesn’t overly boost the bass or treble; instead, the company made headphones that sound very detailed, especially with the enhanced noise-cancellation. That said, if you don’t like how they sound out of the box, you can adjust their EQ (equalization) through the Technics Audio Connect iOS or Android app.
Panasonic Technics EAH-A800
3. Apple AirPods Max
When Apple debuted its premium AirPods Max headphones, the brand took a giant leap into the world of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones — a category with no shortage of competition. But after testing them for myself both for commutes and listening to music at home, the AirPods Max deliver truly stellar sound, with unparalleled noise cancellation, the right amount of balanced-meets-booming bass, and intimate vocals that at times feel like the artist is in the room with you.
Along with their active noise cancellation, the AirPods Max boast spatial audio for immersive listening, plus dynamic head tracking, meaning the sound coming out of the cans changes and moves to a different ear as you move.
AirPods Max
The bass at the intro of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” a song I’ve heard countless times, came alive and hit harder than I’ve heard using other cans. Paul McCartney’s “Deep Deep Feeling,” meantime, sounded like I was sitting in the middle of the studio, surrounded by the drums, piano, and a group of McCartneys performing the track live around my office. Elton’s “Rocket Man” took my ears straight to another atmosphere, with sweeping background vocals and strings I didn’t fully pick up on in the past. If it’s all too much, you can also press a button on the right earcup to switch to transparency mode, a nice feature if you need to be aware of your surroundings (though I rarely used it).
With 20 hours of battery life per charge, the AirPods Max also feature an adjustable headband and cushioned earpads that make them comfortable enough to wear for an entire workday. Controlling your music is also easy, thanks to a digital crown knob that lets you adjust the volume, play, pause, and skip your tunes with a push of the button.
One nitpick, if you can call it that: The AirPods Max stay connected and “on” for hours unless you put them back in their carrying case – not a dealbreaker, but something that took some getting used to when I first took them for a spin. In the future, I wish I had the option to turn them off with a switch.
So are the Apple AirPods Max worth their high-end pricetag? Sure, there are a lot of worthy noise-cancelling headphones on the market that you can get for less – this list proves it. But after days of testing, I can’t imagine wearing anything else … at least, until Apple launches its next pair.
AirPods Max
4. Shure AONIC 50
Shure has long been a favorite of our product editors and the brand continues to improve on its audio quality and noise-cancellation prowess with the AONIC 50 headphones.
In a conversation with Rolling Stone, Shure mentioned that it auditioned between 100 and 200 drivers before settling on the ones inside the headphones. That work paid off; you’d be hard-pressed to find a better sounding pair of noise cancelling headphones at this price. Not only does music sound excellent, but active noise cancellation doesn’t impact audio quality the way it does with other cans.
Shure AONIC 50
Shure doesn’t mention how many microphones it uses for its digital active noise cancellation system, but it works pretty well. You can toggle between a light, normal and max setting (we suggest you keep it on max, especially if you’re trying to get work done) inside the ShurePlus Play app (iOS and Android). You can toggle between noise cancellation and “Environment” transparency modes by flipping a physical switch on the headphones themselves, or through the app. This little time saver is a nice bonus.
Shure says the AONIC 50s can get up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, and in our experience that’s accurate. While that’s down from the battery life on the AONIC 40s, you’ll still be able to get through an international flight (and then some) on a single charge.
At just under 12 ounces these headphones are slightly heavier than most, and we could feel the extra weight on our head, but it was manageable. If you’re coming from on-ear headphones, the difference will be very noticeable, but this is a worthwhile tradeoff for the sound quality you’re getting. The thick and cushy earpads on the AONIC 50s, meantime, are an improvement from the AONIC 40s, feeling much more gentle and comfortable over the ears.
If you want premium audio with premium noise-cancellation to match, Shure’s AONIC 50 headphones deliver in spades.
Shure AONIC 50
5. Bowers & Wilkins PX8 Active Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones
Bowers & Wilkins is another vaunted audio company that has made the jump into high-end noise-cancelling headphones, and its latest offering is the PX8. In terms of technology, the PX8 are competitive — or better — than any option in this guide.
Bowers and Wilkins PX8
There are high-end headphones, and then there are headphones like the Bowers & Wilkins Px8s. I could get into the details that explain the headphones’ hefty price tag, like their beefy 40mm carbon drivers, their steel, leather, and memory foam build, and their seemingly endless battery, but there’s a simpler metric that proves the greatness of the Px8s: they made me use headphones more often than before.
Instead of turning on my (very respectable) home sound system or using my more-convenient AirPods, I now reach for the Px8s. When I should be getting some quiet time (i.e. right before bed), I have trouble not listening through another album on the Px8s. And it doesn’t matter what I’m listening to; it all sounds better. Hip-hop and electronic are simultaneously rumbling and clear, classical is expansive and delicate, and vocal-forward tracks are crisp and full at any volume.
This exceptional sound quality is bolstered by an effective six-microphone noise-cancellation system that gives music the spotlight in any loud environment — be it a chatty office or an airplane.
In short, the Px8s are a powerhouse pair of headphones on paper, but they’re even better in practice.
Bowers and Wilkins PX8
6. Bose 700 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
For a long time, when someone asked about noise-cancelling headphones, the default answer was to go with Bose’s QC35. The company has been challenged by companies like Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, and has responded with the Bose 700 noise-cancelling headphones.
The 700s use a six-microphone array to block out noise, and have 11 levels of noise-cancellation, so you can tune them to work best in your current environment. This is the most sophisticated noise cancellation system of any headphone in this guide, which proves Bose is taking this feature very seriously.
Bose 700 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Bose says the 700 noise-cancelling headphones get 20 hours of battery life with active noise-cancelling turned on, and can get 3.5 hours of playtime on a 15-minute charge. The headphones charge over USB. These charging times aren’t impressive compared to Sony and Bowers & Wilkins headphones, but you’ll still get through a cross-continental or international flight with plenty of battery life to spare. The lower battery life is a fair trade off for the additional noise-cancelling microphones, and the 700’s fairly light 8.8oz weight.
In terms of technology, Bose’s 700s have touch-sensitive controls on the right earcup like Sony’s WH-1000XM3. You can change their EQ, and access other options like Bose AR (a technology that intelligently blends your music to ambient sounds around you) through the Bose Music app on your smartphone. You can also access smart assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant with the push of a button. These headphones also support Bluetooth 5.0, the current standard for wireless connectivity.
Bose doesn’t say much about how the 700s sound, but the QC35 had a good reputation, and these headphones are built on similar technology. The company does tout Bose AR, so if you’re interested in getting to hear a cutting-edge audio technology, the 700s are a good option. Still, it seemed Bose really prioritized nailing noise cancellation, so it could regain its status as the default option for travelers and commuters.
Bose 700 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
7. Sennheiser 450BT Wireless Headphones
Sennheiser is a familiar name in the audio world, with their headphones used by everyone from casual music listeners to sound engineers and artists. These 450BT headphones fall somewhere in between, delivering studio-worthy sound in a lightweight, portable unit that delivers a lot of bang for its buck. Expect pretty decent bass, with good contrasts and a wide, dynamic range of mids and highs, even when the volume is turned up.
Sennheiser HD 450BT Headphones
The wireless headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 technology for easy pairing, with AAC and AptX Low Latency codecs for stutter-free audio transmission. Sennheiser’s active noise cancellation technology creates a deep, immersive listening experience, helping you zone out from the outside world. The grippy ear cups help to further seal out noise.
A single charge gets you up to 30 hours of playtime. The headphones use a USB-C connection for fast charging. Like other models on our list, the headphones support voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant.
If you’re commuting or traveling, these headphones fold down into a small, D-shaped package that tucks into a carrying case for easy portability. When it comes to features for price-point, these headphones deliver on value.
Sennheiser HD 450BT Headphones
What to Know About Noise-Cancelling Headphones
The best noise-cancelling headphones can significantly reduce noise and keep distractions to a bare minimum, so you can tune into the music — and tune out that annoying chatter around you.
Keep in mind, however, that no headphones will ever block out 100% of your surrounding noise (and many companies prefer the term “Active Noise Reduction” versus “cancellation” for this reason). Not only would that dampen your listening experience, it would also pose a safety threat, say, if you were walking around outside and couldn’t hear a car or pedestrian approaching.
All of the noise-cancelling headphones on our list let you adjust the level of noise-cancellation depending on your environment, so you can customize your levels based on where you are, and what you want to listen to.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones Buying Guide
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best noise-cancelling headphones for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
Style: Most noise-cancelling headphones are designed in the over-ear style, which means the earpads are large enough to cover your entire ear. This makes sense, because the large earpads block out some noise automatically by putting a solid barrier between you and the outside world. Still, to balance this list out we’ve included one pair of on-ear headphones and one pair of earbuds, so you have have the freedom of choice.
Noise-cancelling microphones: Active noise cancellation (ANC for short) works by zeroing out unwanted noise with the addition of other, almost imperceptible sounds. Microphones in your headset draw in outside noise, and then invert the sounds internally. The inverted soundwaves are then used to counteract the original waveforms, effectively “cancelling” them out.
Battery life: This is something to consider when choosing any pair of Bluetooth headphones, but it’s especially true with noise-cancelling pairs. Active noise-cancelling is a battery-hungry feature, so we set the bar high: all the headphones on this list get at least 20 hours of playback time per charge. The earbuds we chose get 4.5 hours, but have a charging case that bumps its total up to 24 hours.
Weight: If you’re going to be wearing a pair of headphones all day, you don’t want them to feel heavy. All of the headphones in this guide weigh around half a pound, which is pretty standard for this category.
How We Chose the Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones
We chose our list of the best noise-cancelling headphones based on extensive first-person testing. Each of our editors spent weeks with the headphones, testing out the ANC features in traffic, at the office and on commutes and plane travel.
We chose our picks based on effectiveness of noise reduction, ease of setup and use, and overall audio quality. Points were also awarded for comfort, battery life and portability.
1. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Adaptive Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones
Bowers & Wilkins is another vaunted audio company that has made the jump into high-end noise-cancelling headphones, and its latest offering is the PX7.
In terms of technology, the PX7 are competitive -- or better -- than any option in this guide. The headphones have a four microphone array to block out noise, and can it to "adapt" to your surroundings in order block out the specific type of sounds. Bowers & Wilkins says the PX7 gets 30 hours of battery life per charge, and get six hours of playtime with a 15 minute charge. The headphones charge over USB-C.
The PX7 have a Bluetooth 5.0 chipset, which is the current standard. It's more power-efficient than previous versions, and allows the headphones to create a stronger connection to your phone, so audio is less likely to cut out.
Modern technology and great battery life are important, but Bowers & Wilkins really spent time making sure these headphones sound great. The PX7 has 43mm drivers, which are the largest on this list. The headphones are often used by the same engineers at Abbey Road, who also use the company's $15,000 800 series speakers.The one double-edged sword with the PX7 is its physical design. The headphones are made out of carbon fiber, which makes them look sleek and modern, but makes them heavier than the other headphones in this guide. They weigh 10.7 ounces, which is only 1.7 ounces heavier than Sony's WH-1000XM3, but every little bit counts when you're wearing something on your head. This shouldn't be a deal-breaker by any means, but just something to keep in mind.
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Adaptive Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones
2. Bose 700 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
These headphones give you 11 different noise-cancellation settings that you can control with a single button.
Unique to models on this list, the Bose 700 Headphones are enabled with Bose AR (augmented reality) technology. An embedded, multi-directional sensor detects where you are and what you are doing (in terms of movement) to adjust your audio settings for cleaner, clearer sound.
Great for calls on-the-go, the headphones have a noise-rejecting four-microphone system for accurate sound and voice pick-up, while filtering out excess background noise. Use Alexa to control your music and settings with just your voice.
The headphones get up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge. This set includes a carrying case, charging cable and audio cable, for when you need to be plugged in.
Bose 700 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
3. Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sony has invested a lot of money lately into developing their noise cancellation technology, and the results are seen — and heard — all over these WH-1000XM4 headphones. The advancements include an HD noise-cancelling processor that stands separate from the music processor in the cups, and improved noise-cancellation even at high altitudes. Sony's Adaptive Sound Control, meantime, detects where you're at and what you're doing (say, on the subway or at the office) then automatically adjusts ambient sound settings to an optimal level for your environment. Sony says the headphones are also tuned to recognize more subtle background noises, like voices or weather patterns, to block them out as well.
What we like: the "Quick Attention" feature, which lets you turn the volume down simply by holding your hand over the cups. Connect it to your preferred voice assistant, meantime, and ask Alexa or Google to play your music, check the temperature and more.
The WH-1000XM4 headphones deliver a whopping 30 hours of battery life, even on Bluetooth. Need to power up quickly? Just ten minutes of charging (with an AC adapter) gets you up to five hours of playtime.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Cancelling Headphones
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