The 5 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $200 - Winter 2021 Reviews

The best over-ear noise cancelling headphones under $200 that we've tested 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.

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.

Unfortunately, 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, customizable sound is extra icing on the cake.

he Marshall MID ANC are the best noise cancelling headphones under $200 with an on-ear design that we've tested. These Bluetooth-enabled headphones are quite well-built and have a retro-inspired design that looks quite premium, with low-profile square-ish ear cups and gold detailing. They're also decently comfortable and have a very easy-to-use control scheme that offers plenty of physical feedback.

Their sound profile is versatile enough for a wide variety of audio content, though their slightly overemphasized bass response should give your favorite EDM and hip-hop tracks an added touch of thump and rumble. They supply roughly 17 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, which should be more than enough to get you through a day at work as well as the commute back home. Thanks to their included coiled 1/8" TRRS cable, you can use them for passive audio playback and for making calls even when you've run out of charge.

Their ANC system isn't especially effective overall, as it does very little to block out bass-range background noise like the low rumble of a bus engine. Their integrated microphone also delivers mediocre recording quality and struggles to isolate your voice from loud ambient chatter. That said, if you're looking for a stylish, well-built pair of wireless noise cancelling headphones, they're a good choice.

The best noise cancelling headphones with an in-ear design that we've tested 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.