The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones to Drown Out Your Surroundings
These cans and earbuds create peace and quiet for you to focus or relax.
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If you’re traveling by plane or train, it’s likely you’ve seen noise-canceling headphones. Ideal for tuning out ambient noise, this type of headphone can help you to better enjoy your music, podcast, or other audio content while on the go. But noise-canceling headphones aren’t just for traveling or commuting. If you work in an open office, these may help minimize distractions so you can focus. Working from home? Noise-canceling headphones could be a way to drown out chatty housemates so you're able to be more productive. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best ones available now, as well as provided some background on the tech behind noise cancellation.
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
The Expert: As a devoted audiophile of a few decades’ standing, I have been listening through high-end headphones since the dawn of the compact disc [1984 for those not familiar]—so I’ve got a reasonable idea of what sounds good and what doesn’t.
What to Look for in Noise-Canceling Headphones
In a perfect world, you would be able to buy a set of headphones or earbuds that provide top-flight sound quality and eliminate external noise. But, in this world, you’ll have to choose.
Open or Closed
The very best audiophile headphones on the market are “open-back,” meaning they don’t isolate you from your surroundings. There’s a reason for that: with “closed-back” or sealed headphones, unwanted reflections from the inside of your headphones can impair sound quality.
Furthermore, the Active Noise Cancellation feature, or ANC, of modern noise-canceling headphones works by listening to external noise and producing sound waves that are the opposite of that noise, canceling it out like two waves in a pool colliding. This, too, has an effect on the quality of the sound you want to hear.
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In anything short of a home listening room or professionally soundproofed environment, most people find that noise reduction does a lot more to improve their experience than, say, the last 1-percent of sound quality possible in a $2,000 set of open-back audiophile headphones. On a plane or train, noise-canceling headphones are hard to beat. Once home, however, you may want to consider different options.
Portability
Bigger headphones tend to sound better, last longer between charges, and offer better sound quality. Don’t let that fool you into buying something that you can’t comfortably carry, store, or use in all conditions. And don’t assume that your headphones will fold, because many noise-canceling options do not.
Comfort
The advantages of earbuds over conventional headphones are obvious. They're lighter, easier to carry, less visible to others, and often provide superior levels of noise isolation due to their ability to seal the ear canal. Not so obvious: many people cannot comfortably tolerate earbuds for long periods of time, the time between recharges tends to be lower, and it’s a lot easier to lose them while being jostled on the subway or street.
How We Evaluated Noise-Canceling Headphones
I applied the same standards to the newest generation of noise-canceling earbuds and headphones that I have to ones I first used decades ago, testing these noise-canceling headphones and earbuds in everything from the back of a creaky regional jet to the cockpit of a McLaren GT3 race car. This roundup also includes the previous research and efforts of writer Paige Szmodis who listened to and solicited user feedback on dozens of headphones and earbuds, with particular attention to usability, convenience, and the ability to isolate a listener from the outside world. Also prioritized were durability and value, because unlike audiophile headphones, these gadgets tend to be used and abused without much mercy.
Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700
Pros
- Quick charge in 15 min.
Cons
We tested the Bose 700 against Apple’s AirPods Pro on a cross-country flight. The verdict: Even the best wireless earbuds can’t match the 700’s noise isolation and run time. The latest version is equipped with Alexa compatibility, intuitive touch controls, a 20-hour battery life, and an impressive quick-charge time of just 15 minutes for 3.5 hours of tunes.
Though the wireless connection is seamless, there’s also a reliable old cord for a headphone jack. Perhaps most important, these headphones boast an impressive 11 levels of noise-cancellation and a four-microphone system, which makes them great at isolating your voice from ambient sounds while you take phone calls. Bose also offers an augmented reality feature and new music app.
Beyond the impressive sound, noise cancellation, and battery life, you’ll want your over-ear headphones to be as slim and comfortable as possible. The 700 delivers here, too, with a lightweight construction at just half a pound. These come with an especially compact carrying case—compared to other over-ear options—at about 7 x 2 inches. And they’re available in black, white, or silver.
Key Specs
| Battery life | 20 hrs. |
|---|---|
| Weight | .56 lb. |
| ANC | 11 levels |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 |
Bose QuietComfort 45
Pros
- Optional wired mode
- Quick charging
Cons
- Bulky padding
Bose’s QuietComfort headphones provide similar great noise cancelation as the brand’s 700, but at a slightly more affordable cost. Though their appearance is less compact, the ample ear padding—which is pleatless—is designed with total comfort in mind. The 24-hour battery life is decent, plus you get three hours of battery in just a 15-minute charge. Thanks to an optional audio cable, you can listen even longer when wired.
Key Specs
| Battery life | 22 hrs. |
|---|---|
| Weight | .97 lb. |
| ANC | 2 levels |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 |
Pros
- Great battery life
Cons
- Hard carrying case not included
While most noise-canceling headphones cost north of $200, this pair from Anker Soundcore provides respectable quality for under $100. CNET describes the sound as “fairly well balanced with a reasonable amount of clarity and plump bass that’s not bloated or muddy.” They also have a bass boost mode and four ANC microphones, and with a play time of 40 hours in noise-cancelation mode at 60 percent volume, they don’t skimp on battery life. The Life Q20s don’t come with a carrying case, rather a simple pouch for storage. For a slightly more premium pair, check out the upgraded Soundcore Life Q30 for just $80.
Key Specs
| Battery life | 40 hrs. |
|---|---|
| Weight | .58 lb. |
| ANC | 1 level |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 |
Apple AirPods Max
Pros
- Memory foam cushioning
- Powerful H1 chip
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the best battery life
When Apple revealed its AirPods Max in 2020, many were skeptical of the price tag, higher than top competitors from Bose and Sony. However, reviews from CNET, Wired, and others have indicated that the premium sound quality���not just the Apple name or design—has justified the cost for many Apple users and music lovers. Apple added great noise-canceling tech to its AirPods Pro, so it’s no surprise that the Max headphones offer adaptive noise-canceling that also relieves pressure.
Despite being on the heavier side, the AirPods Max have a comfortable mesh canopy and memory foam ear cups. Though the battery life is decent at 20 hours, unfortunately these headphones never actually turn off—only to a low power mode—which means you’ll be tethered to the strange Smart Case for wireless charging. Note: The rumored AirPods Max 2 may not be available until 2024.
| Battery life | 20 hrs. |
|---|---|
| Weight | 13.6 oz. |
| ANC | 1 level |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 |
Pros
- Premium materials and sound quality
Cons
- Only two noise cancellation settings
Like all Master & Dynamic headphones, the MW65 look beautiful. They're pricey, but the added cost is due to the more premium feel of the durable leather-and-metal construction. Even the ear cups are padded with a lambskin-wrapped memory foam. The noise cancelation is solid, but high and low are the only two ANC settings, so we probably wouldn’t reach for these first for a flight or train ride. They offer decent battery life (and add up to 12 hours worth of play time in just 15 minutes of charging). Plus, we like the hard on/off buttons that easily show what mode you’re in, and the six color options.
Key Specs
| Battery life | 24 hrs. |
|---|---|
| Weight | .54 lb. |
| ANC | 2 levels |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 |
Pros
- Can change volume and track without grabbing phone
Cons
Sony wants listeners to feel the bass with this set of headphones—and these even have a miniature “bass port” like the automotive subwoofers of old. A touch-sensitive panel allows users to change volume, music track, and other settings without taking their phone out. A press of the power button and the headphones audibly report their battery level. Bonus: They’re even foldable. Some listeners thought these were too bass-heavy; for others, they will be just right.
Key Specs
| Battery Life | 30 hrs. |
|---|---|
| Weight | .56 lb |
| ANC | 1 level |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 |
Put Fit First with Noise-Canceling Headphones! Expert Jack Baruth Shares What to Know Before You Buy
PM: What is the difference between noise isolating and noise canceling headphones?
JB: Noise-isolating headphones rely on a seal around the ear and insulation in the ear cup to keep noise away from your ears. They generally don't need batteries and are not as complex. In general, they will also have a higher sound quality than a noise-canceling headphone set of the same price. Noise-canceling headphones use a microprocessor and a tiny speaker to generate sound that is the "opposite" of the incoming sound. When that opposite sound meets the incoming sound, the sound waves cancel each other out. This requires a power source, so you will always have to charge or put batteries in noise-canceling headphones.
PM: What is the most important aspect when buying headphones?
JB: Comfortable fit. If your headphones don't fit, you'll never be happy with them, no matter how well they work. So focus on fit and comfort first.
PM: How long should I realistically be able to comfortably wear and listen to these? 2 hours? 6 hours? More?
JB: Listening to ANY headphones for a long period of time can pose risks to your hearing, largely because people tend to turn up the volume as they become accustomed to what they're hearing, and that turning-up can eventually harm your eardrums. If you can keep your volume low, however, you can comfortably wear headphones all day—or at least the length of a transcontinental flight!
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