The 7 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones - Spring 2020
Reviews

The best noise cancelling headphones with Bluetooth that we've tested so far are the Sony WH-1000XM3. These popular wireless over-ear headphones are very comfortable thanks to their soft padding and look and feel very premium and well-built. Their battery lasts 27 hours, which is great, and you can get five hours of playtime from only a 15-minute charge, which is convenient.

Their ANC feature works exceptionally well and is the best we've tested to date. While most ANC headphones do a good job of blocking out background chatter or the high-pitched noises from an AC unit, many struggle with the lower rumble of bus and plane engines. This isn't the case with these, and they're some of the best headphones we've tested at blocking out all frequencies, making them a great choice for the office or your daily commute.

Unfortunately, their touch-sensitive controls don't work in colder climates, and their out-of-the-box sound profile is a bit bass-heavy. Luckily, these headphones are compatible with the excellent Sony | Headphones Connect app which gives you access to a graphic EQ to customize their sound. Overall, these are a great pair of ANC headphones and are among the best headphones we've ever tested.

The best noise cancelling earbuds we've tested to date are the Apple AirPods Pro. These small in-ears have a new design with a shorter stem and a more typical in-ear fit than what you'll find on the previous AirPods models. They're very comfortable and easy to carry around thanks to their excellent charging case. You can expect over 5 hours of battery life on a single charge, on top of being able to fully recharge them five them with their case.

Their ANC is quite impressive for such small headphones. They do an excellent job of reducing ambient noise and are a great option for people that are on the move often and need to reduce the rumble of a plane or bus engine. They also barely leak audio, even at high volumes, so you shouldn't bother people surrounding you. Their overall sound signature is also very well-balanced and neutral, although some may feel like they're a bit bass-light.

Unfortunately, even though an interface with limited control is available on iOS devices, there's no EQ available to be able to customize their sound profile the way you want. Also, their microphone isn't the best as voices sound muffled and it struggles in moderately loud environments. Nevertheless, if you want the best noise cancelling headphones in a small form factor, these are one of the best options out there, even for Android users - if you don't mind not having customization options.

The best noise cancelling headphones with a wire that we've tested so far are the Bose QuietComfort 25. These wired over-ear headphones are very lightweight and comfortable and have an easy-to-use in-line remote. They feel quite well-made and come with a nice hard carrying case for bringing them around with you.

While their ANC doesn't work quite as well as the higher-end Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018, it still works very well and will help bring some peace to your daily commutes, as well as keep you concentrated at work. Their sound profile is fairly well-balanced and should be suitable for a wide range of genres, though unfortunately, they have no companion app to make any changes to their EQ or settings.

Since they're wired headphones, they don't require a battery to connect to your device but do use a single AAA battery to power their ANC feature. A single battery should last around 33 hours, which is great, and you can use them without ANC if your battery dies, which is nice. Overall, if you like the comfort of Bose headphones but don't need Bluetooth, these are a great option that will also save you a few bucks.

The best noise cancelling headphones under $200 that we've tested so far are the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2. These over-ear Bluetooth headphones are quite comfortable and have an impressive, easy-to-use control scheme. They feel quite durable and their 30-hour battery means you can use them for several full work days before you need to charge them.

Unfortunately, their ANC doesn't work as well as the other options on this list, and while they'll help keep you concentrated in the office, they don't do much against the low engine rumble of buses or planes. On the bright side, they have a very well-balanced sound profile with a bit of extra rumble that will please fans of bass, though unfortunately, their companion app doesn't include any EQ settings.

Overall, despite not having as powerful ANC as the other options on this list, these headphones are excellent value for their price, and are among the best over-ear headphones we've tested to date.

Breaking the bank isn't always necessary to get great products, and the Mpow H10 is the best budget noise cancelling headphones we've reviewed so far. These over-ears are comfortable and have a great active noise cancelling feature for their price point. They even allow for about 23 hours of continuous listening, which is good. They can also be used wired if you ever want to reduce the latency or if the battery is dead.

Sound-wise, they're better suited for bass-heavy music. They have an exciting V-shaped sound profile with an overemphasis in both the bass and treble ranges. Their ANC is able to reduce a good amount of lower-end noises, such as engine rumble, which is great for your daily commute or if you often take a plane.

Unfortunately, their price reflects in the build quality. They're decently built, but feel very plasticky and the hinges make a very loud cracking sound when you fold them in. Also, their microphone isn't the best for making calls, especially not in noisy situations. However, if you're on a tight budget, their price-to-performance ratio is great and they're one of the best noise cancelling headphones available at such an affordable price.