The 10 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones

Noise cancelling headphones can cancel our ambient sounds like those in the environment by creating frequencies that prevent the unwanted noise hitting your ears.

No noise cancelling headphones can cancel everything, but the better the model, the greater the reduction in the ambient noise. Say goodbye to annoying air-conditioning systems, nagging parents and crowd chatter, and hello to clear, and crisp music at whatever sound level you choose.

There is a range of noise cancelling headphones to choose from, such as full size to ear buds- so there are some to suit every taste. What is more, as noise cancelling headphones remove external noise, you will no longer have to turn up the volume to overcome background noise, so you will be able to listen to lower levels saving your delicate ears from damage.

If you are looking for your perfect pair of noise cancelling headphones then read on to find out what you need to consider, as well as what noise cancelling headphone models there are currently on the market.

Things to Consider

When looking to buy noise cancelling headphones there are a number of things that you should consider to help you make the right decision:

1. Noise isolation or noise cancellation

Noise isolation just aims to minimise the amount of noise that gets into the ear through physical means, whilst noise cancellation headphones involve serious technology called digital signal processing to actually prevent any unnecessary noise from entering the ear.

2. Types of headphone

Are you in the market for earbuds, earpads, of full sized on ear headphones? Deciding on which you prefer will really help you to make the decision as to which headphones to go for when shopping.

3. Battery life

If you choose to get a pair of active noise cancelling headphones then you should remember that due to the technology involved in cancelling the noise, the headphones also have an audio processor which needs power so the headphones may not last as long as you might think.

You may also want to consider whether or not you want your headphones to use replaceable batteries. If you opt for batteries you may want to keep a few extras on-hand.

4. Warranty statistics

Noise cancelling headphones are expensive and involve serious electronics that can fail. As a result, you should ensure that the headphones you choose have warrant that will ensure that they can be repaired or replaced should anything go wrong.

Check out reviews of the headphones, as well as of the company itself. Also take a look over the company’s customer service policies as they can provide you with some key info about how you might be dealt with should your headphones break.

5. Weight

Depending on the type of headphone you opt for, the weight of the piece can vary. Make sure to consider the weight of the headphones you choose if you are after a lightweight item to take with you on travels or on your commute.

QUICK OVERVIEW

The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones

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Products	Features
EDITOR’S PICK 4.6 9,320+ 9320+ Sony WH1000XM3Sony WH1000XM3	Extremely comfortable Great sound quality PRICE RANGE: Under $400 Extremely comfortable Great sound quality PRICE RANGE: Under $400 Check price at Amazon
MOST REVIEWED 4.6 20,630+ 20630+ Bose QuietComfort 35 IIBose QuietComfort 35 II	Headphone type: Over-ear, full headphones Battery life: 20 hours, rechargeable batteries PRICE RANGE: Under $400 Headphone type: Over-ear, full headphones Battery life: 20 hours, rechargeable batteries PRICE RANGE: Under $400 Check price at Amazon
TOP PICK 4 5+ 5+ B&O Beoplay H9B&O Beoplay H9	Headphone type: Over-ear, full headphones Battery life: 25 hours, rechargeable batteries PRICE RANGE: Under $500 Headphone type: Over-ear, full headphones Battery life: 25 hours, rechargeable batteries PRICE RANGE: Under $500 Check price at Amazon
MOST REVIEWED 3.7 2,660+ 2660+ BOHM B66BOHM B66	Charging Time: approximately 3 hours Battery life : 18 hours PRICE RANGE: Under $75 Charging Time: approximately 3 hours Battery life : 18 hours PRICE RANGE: Under $75 Check price at Amazon
BUDGET PICK 3.9 235+ 235+ Sony MDR-ZX110NCSony MDR-ZX110NC	Battery life: 80 hours Weight: 6 lbs PRICE RANGE: Under $50 Battery life: 80 hours Weight: 6 lbs PRICE RANGE: Under $50 Check price at Amazon

Under $50

Sony MDR-ZX110NC

The Sony MDRZX110NC Noise Cancelling Headphones are a real budget option but they still manage to isolate outside noise. These headphones are worn over the ear and have a 30mm driver which provides the wearer with high quality sound.

These headphones also provide up to 80 hours of battery life so no worries about these headphones running out of battery whilst on the plane or at work. An extra feature of these headphones is that they are foldable for easy transportation.

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BOHM B66

The BÖHM Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Technology offer 18-Hour rechargeable batteries so that the headphones can be charged for 3 Hours and then the user can enjoy up to 16 hours of playtime (18 Hours talk time). Incorporates industry-leading CSR bluetooth 4.0 and so these headphones are fully wireless.

The headphones have premium stereo drivers which enables you to enjoy whatever music details you so choose, including thumping bass, prominent mids and sparkling highs. The BÖHM Wireless Bluetooth Headphones offer active noise cancellation which is activated by a flip on switch.

Under $100

COWIN E7 PRO Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

E7 PRO Active Noise Cancelling Headphones from Cowin are a real budget option but they still manage to isolate outside noise. These headphones are worn over the ear and have a 45mm large-aperture drivers which provide the wearer with high-quality sound and accurate bass response. 

The E7 PRO have extra-soft ear cushions to provide maximum comfort and provide noise reduction depth of up to 30 dB. They weigh only 0.80 ounces, so the weight won’t bother you after long periods of wearing.

These headphones also provide up to 30 hours of battery so no worries about these headphones running out of battery whilst on the plane or at work.

Under $150

Sennheiser HD 4.50

Sennheiser HD 4.50 headphones are affordable wireless Bluetooth headphones that use Noise Gard technology for effective noise cancellation.

The intuitive ear cup-mounted controls let you change settings on your music tracks or make calls through a built-in microphone. The HD 4.50 gives you up to 19 hours of battery life with activated Noise Guard and Bluetooth and up to 25 hours of battery life without these features.

They are completely foldable to take anywhere with you and the sound is excellent for the price range. Plus, it connects to most devices and enables you to have a seamless listening experience.

Under $200

Sony WHXB900N

If you’re looking for responsive touch control on your noise cancelling headphones, the WHXB900N from Sony are the perfect headphones for you. They use the next-level noise cancellation technology. If you want to activate it, you will need to use Alexa.

These headphones offer hands-free calling because of the built-in microphone and Bluetooth connectivity. The touch sensor lets you control the volume, pause, plan, or skip tracks, as well as activate the voice assistant.

The headphones weigh 9 ounces but have ergonomically-designed drivers and can fold so you can carry them on your next vacation. The package comes with a connection cable, a carrying pouch, a USB cable card, operating instructions, and a reference guide.

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V-MODA Crossfade M-100

The V-MODA Crossfade M-100 Over-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone offers serious durability and noise isolation, great for when out and about, and you want to reduce the noise you can hear whilst listening to music or watching films on your tablet.

The headphones were created with a unique CLIQFOLD design that allows for compact storage. These headphones also allow for real-time mixing by allowing the wearer to listen to multiple sources simultaneously.

A pretty cool feature of these headphones is that they offer an additional SharePlay cable to allow the user to share their music with friends.

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Audio-Technica ATH-ANC9

The Audio Technica ATH-ANC9 QuietPoint Noise-Cancelling Headphones offer QuietPoint active noise-cancelling technology which is stated to reduce environmental noise such as air condition units and chatter by up to 95%.

These headphones also offer Tri-Level Cancellation so that you can pick between 3 noise-cancelling modes dependant on the amount of noise you wish to remove for example whether on an airplane or in the office.

The headphones boast 40 mm drivers for seriously clear high-fidelity audio reproduction, and they are ridiculously comfortable with memory foam padding on headband and ear cups. A cool feature of these headphones is that the audio functions (in passive mode) even without the battery so you can use them at any time.

Under $300

Jabra Elite 85h

Jabra Elite 85h use SmartSound audio technology to enhance your listening experience. The Smart Active Noise cancellation detects and cancels background noise so you can have a seamless listening and enjoy music.

The battery lasts up to 36 hours on a single charge. You have to charge it for 5 hours and you’re ready to listen. The 8 built-in microphones let you receive calls, while you can enable all options with Jabra Sound+ app and Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant.

These headphones are water-resistant, so you can even go jogging in the rain if that’s your thing.

Beats Solo Pro

Beats are a widely-known name in the headphones industry. Their Solo Pro uses Active Noise Cancelling to block the external noise to deliver excellent sound quality. They are compatible with Android and iOS operating systems.

The headphones feature Class 1 Bluetooth and Apple H1 chip to improve range. You can control them via Siri for hands-free control and other voice-enabled software. They give you up to 40 hours of listening time without the noise-canceling option and up to 22 hours with it.

The Solo Pro headphones are foldable and come with a carrying case, quick start guide, lightning to USB-A charging cable, and a warranty card.

Under $400

Sony WH1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones

Sony’s WH1000XM3 headphones deserve the first place on every noise cancelling headphones list. They deliver a soundproof experience, they are foldable and designed to fit comfortably on your ears.

The integrated microphone lets you make calls, while the voice assistant feature lets you control the headphones with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can instantly turn down music when you cover the right ear cup and control your music with touch controls.

One charge gives you up to 30 hours of battery life. The headphones come with a carrying case, audio cable for wired connection, and a charging cable.

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Bose QuietComfort 35 II

Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones are Bluetooth compatible and offer significant external noise reduction on 3 levels,  for travel, work, and anywhere in between. The headphones have been specially created to ensure a deep, powerful sound for the audio you listen to.

What is more, these headphones are seriously comfortable, and lightweight so you can wear them all day long. The headphones also enable you to control your music and calls with your phone through Bose Connect app and Alexa.

They offer up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge and come with a charging cable, a carrying case, and an audio cable for enjoying music without battery power.

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Sennheiser Momentum 3

Sennheiser Momentum 3 noise cancelling headphones use Active Noise Cancellation technology and Transparent Hearing that blocks out all ambient noise using 4 special microphones for ultimate isolation to dramatically improve sound quality in noisy environments. 

These foldable headphones offer 17 hour battery life to ensure performance during long commutes or plane flights. A cool feature is that the headphones have the Auto On/Off and Smart Pause to let you take phone calls, even mid way through listening to music.

You can control the headphones through Bluetooth 5.0 and Sennheiser Smart Control app that provides 3 noise cancellation levels. The beautiful design and ergonomic ear pads make these headphones a must-have.

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Bowers & Wilkins PX7

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 respond to your environment and automatically adjust the noise cancelling so you can enjoy your music. If you lift up an ear cup, the music will stop and play again if you put it back.

The full charge gives you up to 30 hours of listening, while light and durable carbon fiber arms save the headphones from the elements. You can connect it to 2 of your devices via Bluetooth.

The sound quality of the PX7 is excellent; it is clean and balanced and the ear pads sit comfortably on your ears. You can also use the built-in microphone to answer calls. The product comes with.

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Bose 700 Noise Cancelling Headphones

Bose 700 headphones use the Bose Music app and have excellent Bose noise cancelling features. You can change 11 levels of cancellation according to your preferences.

Their battery life on a full charge is up to 20 hours, while the signature active EQ delivers seamless listening experience. You can slide the ear cups up od down to adjust the volume and 8 microphones let you take calls in the middle of listening to music.

The headphones 700 connect to Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri for contactless usage. They come with a USB charging cable, an audio cable, and a carrying case.

Under $500

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9

Beoplay H9 from Bang & Olufsen have touch controls for easier operating, as well as connectivity to all voice assistants. The Advanced ANC reduces the external noises to let you enjo your music. 

A single charge will give you up to 25 hours of listening time, while the 2 microphones enable you to make phone calls. 

The earcups are made to sit comfortably on your ears, and the package comes with a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, a 3.5mm analog cable, double-layer cinch sack, and two-prong airline adapter.

Conclusion

With so many noise cancellation headphones on the market, it can seem pretty overwhelming to choose which ones are right for you. The headphones discussed here are the top 10 in our opinion that are currently available on the market. Be sensible, and chose wisely, and you will have a pair of headphones that you will be proud of!

*All prices mentioned above are at the time of publishing.