The 7 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds And In-Ear Headphones - Summer 2019
Reviews

Sometimes you need a bit more isolation for the noisy conditions involved in your daily routine. However, if you're going to be carrying your headphones often to isolate you while commuting or working out, then you may want something a bit more portable. In this case, noise cancelling in-ears or earbuds are the best solution for users who want the most isolation in the smallest format. Some in-ears isolate well enough passively that you may not even need the noise cancellation.

We've tested 115 earbuds and in-ears and below are our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds to buy in 2019. See also our recommendations for the best earbuds and in-ears and the best Bluetooth earbuds.

1. Best Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds: Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless

   

   Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless

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   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   7.0

   Mixed Usage

   7.0

   Critical Listening

   7.5

   Commute/Travel

   7.6

   Sports/Fitness

   7.4

   Office

   5.6

   TV

   5.3

   Gaming
   Type : Earbuds

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : Yes

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   The best wireless noise cancelling earbuds that we’ve tested so far are the Bose QuietControl 30. They have a fairly lightweight neckband design with a comfortable earbud fit. They have very good noise isolation and are suitable for commuters, frequent flyers, or anyone who needs some peace and quiet from time to time.

   These headphones have a well-balanced, versatile sound. They isolate noise very well and effectively block out the deep rumbles of bus and engines, which makes them a good choice to wear on the bus or subway. They have a decent battery life of 11.4 hours and an auto-off timer that you can adjust in the Bose Connect app to help save power.

   Although they have efficient in-line controls, the power button is set in the rubber sleeve of the neckband, which makes it stiff and difficult to use. The rubber sleeve is also not the most durable and has been known to peel off the neckbands of some units after only a few months of use. However, there are very few earbuds that offer the level of noise cancelling, sound quality, and comfort that these headphones provide, making them an easy recommendation overall.

   See our review

2. Better-Built Alternative: Sony WI-1000X Wireless

   

   Sony WI-1000X Wireless

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   Amazon.com

   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : Yes

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Balanced Armature

   If you want a better-built alternative to the Bose QuietControl 30, then consider the Sony WI-1000X Wireless. They’re not as comfortable as the Bose since they have a more typical in-ear fit and a more rigid, bulky neckband, but they feel better-built. They come with a pretty complete companion app that gives you access to several customizable features and they also support passive playback, which makes them a bit more versatile than most of the recommendations on this list.

   However, their isolation performance isn’t as good as that of the Bose. They don’t isolate noise as well and they also leak more sound at higher volumes. They’re still a good choice for commuters, but they’re not quite on par with the Bose in respect to noise cancelling.

   See our review

3. Cheaper Alternative: Jabra Elite 65e Wireless

   

   Jabra Elite 65e Wireless

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   Amazon.com

   Type : Earbuds

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : Yes

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you like the neckband design of the Bose QuietControl 30 but find them slightly too expensive, then consider the Jabra Elite 65e instead. They don’t cancel noise quite as well as the Bose, but their neckband is more flexible and they have the best microphone performance we’ve measured on Bluetooth earbuds. With the right fit, they isolate well enough for noisy environments, and since they barely leak, you can play your music at much higher volumes without distracting the people around you.

   These earphones have a fairly bass-heavy sound that will please fans of deep rumbling bass but won’t be ideal for everyone. You can customize the way they sound with the Jabra Sound+ app, but the Sony WI-C600N have a more balanced, neutral sound profile. Their companion app is also more feature-packed, but their ANC performance isn’t as good. All things considered, these are comfortable earbuds that provide a fair amount of value for the price.

   See our review

4. Best Wired Noise Cancelling Earbuds: Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20

   

   Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20

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   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   6.7

   Mixed Usage

   6.2

   Critical Listening

   7.1

   Commute/Travel

   7.3

   Sports/Fitness

   6.8

   Office

   5.9

   TV

   6.5

   Gaming
   Type : Earbuds

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : No

   Noise-Cancelling : Yes

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   The best wired noise cancelling earbuds that we’ve tested so far are the Bose QuietComfort 20. They isolate remarkably well and have a comfortable earbud design which makes them easy to wear for long periods. They’re fairly portable, even with their ANC control module and come with a soft fabric case that will help protect them in your pockets.

   These headphones have excellent noise cancelling and can effectively reduce the intensity of noises of almost all frequencies. They cancel out sounds in the bass range, like the low rumble of bus or plane engines, to a great degree and are also very good at blocking speech as well as the higher-pitched noises produced by fans or A/C units. Their 19-hour battery life is great, and they can even be used while charging.

   On the downside, they sound considerably boomy, especially compared to the wireless Bose QuietControl 30 which have a more balanced sound. Their controls also only work on either Apple or Android devices, so you’ll have to choose which variant you prefer when buying them, which can be annoying if you often use both types of devices. That said, if you’re looking for wired noise cancelling earbuds, they’re still the best we’ve tested so far.

   See our review

5. Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds For Sports: Sony WI-SP600N Wireless

   

   Sony WI-SP600N Wireless

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   6.7

   Mixed Usage

   6.5

   Critical Listening

   7.2

   Commute/Travel

   7.7

   Sports/Fitness

   6.8

   Office

   5.4

   TV

   5.2

   Gaming
   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : Yes

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you need more sports-oriented noise cancelling in-ears, the best noise cancelling earbuds for working out are the Sony WI-SP600N Wireless. Their active noise cancelling (ANC) feature isn’t as strong as that of the Jabra Elite 65e, but they’re well-built and are rated IPX4 for light water resistance. They have a simple in-ear design that fits securely yet fairly comfortably, and they are very breathable.

   These wireless in-ears have a very good control scheme that feels complete and provides good feedback. Their portable design is easy to stash in a pocket or a bag when you’re on-the-go, and their 5.6-hour battery life is long enough for a full workout. They’re compatible with the Sony | Headphones Connect app which provides a decent amount of customization options, and they have a standby mode to help save power when not in use.

   Unfortunately, they sound rather mediocre. Although you can EQ their sound in the app, there are non-ANC in-ears that sound better out-of-the-box and achieve better passive isolation performance, like the Jabra Elite Active 65t or the JBL Reflect Mini 2. That said, these are still well-built and stylish wireless in-ears that are worth considering for athletes who prefer ANC headphones.

   See our review

6. Best Passively Isolating Budget Earbuds: KZ AS10

   

   KZ AS10

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   6.6

   Mixed Usage

   6.9

   Critical Listening

   6.8

   Commute/Travel

   7.1

   Sports/Fitness

   6.5

   Office

   6.0

   TV

   5.6

   Gaming
   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : No

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : No

   Transducer : Balanced Armature

   If you don't care whether your headphones actively or passively isolate against ambient noise as long as they block out enough of your surroundings during your busy commutes, the best noise cancelling in-ear headphones in the budget category are the KZ AS10. They’re simple wired headphones that are surprisingly well-built, with a detachable cable that you can replace and even upgrade with a microphone.

   These headphones have good enough passive isolation for commutes, and since they barely leak you can play your music at much higher volumes without distracting the people around you. They have good audio reproduction and sound decent overall.

   On the downside, these earphones have bulkier earbuds than most in-ear headphones. Although they aren’t the most comfortable, their angled design helps block even more noise passively and makes them stable enough to wear while running. The customizable wireless Jaybird Freedom have equally good passive isolation, but their short battery life can be a bit limiting. If you prefer a wired design, the KZ are the way to go.

   See our review

7. Cheaper Alternative: AUKEY Latitude Wireless

   

   AUKEY Latitude Wireless

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   Amazon.com

   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you want to bring a touch of peace and quiet to your daily commute but don’t want to spend a bunch of money on noise cancelling earbuds, then get the AUKEY Latitude. They don’t provide the same wired reliability as the KZ AS10 since they’re Bluetooth earbuds, but they’re less expensive and their wireless design makes them easier to deal with when you’re on-the-go since you don’t have to worry about tangled cables in your way. They isolate an impressive amount of noise passively and have a decent 7-hour battery life.

   Unfortunately, their great passive isolation comes at the expense of comfort – their in-ear fit can be fatiguing to wear over time since their earbuds go quite deeply into the ear canal. They also don’t have any power-saving features, so you’ll want to remember to turn them off when not in use. On the upside, they can pair to 2 devices simultaneously and even support aptX(LL), which are great active features to have, especially at this price point. If you prefer wired earbuds you’ll want to go for the KZ AS10, but if you prefer going wireless, then the AUKEY are a better option.

   See our review