The 5 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $200 - Fall 2020
Reviews

The best over-ear noise cancelling headphones under $200 that we've tested so far are the Razer Opus. These powerful and versatile headphones have an outstanding ANC that's able to block out a significant amount of noise in all ranges. Their ANC performance even rivals more high-end headphones, landing them among the best noise cancelling headphones we've tested to date.

Thanks to their well-balanced and accurate sound profile, they're suited for a variety of audio content. While some users may find them a bit light on the bass, they have a good companion app that offers a graphic EQ plus presets to help you get the best sound for your preferences. They're also very comfortable and feel very well-built. They also have a nearly 33-hour battery life, even with the ANC on, so you can easily wear them for a long flight and not have to worry about charging them mid-way through.

On the downside, their integrated microphone struggles to separate your voice from ambient noise, especially in loud environments. They also lack more advanced features like multi-device and NFC pairing, which can be a pain if you like to use your headphones with your laptop one moment, and your phone, the next. However, these headphones have an outstanding cost-to-performance ratio and their well-balanced out-of-the-box, but customizable sound is extra icing on the cake.

The Marshall MID ANC are the best ANC headphones under $200 that are on-ears that we've tested to date. If you love the look of an on-ear option, these stylish Bluetooth headphones have a retro leather look that feels well-built and comfortable.

Although they have a slightly excited V-shaped sound profile, they're very well-balanced and suitable for a variety of audio content. Fans of EDM and hip-hop can particularly enjoy the extra bass, which brings thump, rumble, and punch into the mix. They also have a 17-hour battery life, which is great for long days at the office or multi-hour commutes. When their battery dies, you can even keep using them passively via their audio cable.

On the downside, their noise isolation performance is lacking, especially when compared to over-ears, and their on-ear fit doesn't completely seal around your ears, allowing some background noise to seep into your audio. That being said, they still do a good job at cutting down mid and treble range noise, which is more useful when trying to block out people chatting or the hum of an A/C unit.

The best noise cancelling headphones with an in-ear design that we've reviewed so far are the Amazon Echo Buds. These Alexa-enabled truly wireless earbuds have excellent battery life and are comfortable enough to wear for long periods. They have touch-sensitive controls, but lack volume up and down, which might be a deal-breaker for some.

They're nicely built, and their sound profile should please most people. They can be used for a wide variety of music genres, but some may notice a small lack of bass kick. These in-ears genuinely shine when it comes to noise isolation: their tips passively block a lot of noise, but you can also enable their active noise cancellation for a little extra help. They're a good option if you often commute and need headphones that can easily fit in your pockets.

Unfortunately, they do have very high latency, which won't be ideal for watching video content during your commute, and they strongly rely on their Echo app, even for pairing. Hence, it becomes pretty much mandatory to download it if you want to use them. If you don't mind having the app, which also allows for customization via a Graphic EQ, then these are some of the best noise cancelling headphones under $200.