Karlston Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones These over-ears and earbuds will add some serenity to your day. Shaking off the world and sinking into a new album can feel like a train ride through the countryside … unless you're sharing that seat with two young toddlers. Or your neighbor's dog is constantly barking. Come to think of it, there are a lot of sounds that can ruin a good song in the work-from-home era, and that's why we have headphones that isolate and actively cancel out noise. Below are the best noise-canceling cans and buds you can buy, handpicked and tested by the Gear team here at WIRED. Not seeing something you like? Be sure to check out our other guides, like the Best Wirefree Earbuds, Best Workout Earbuds, and Best Wireless Headphones. Updated November 2020: We've added the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED Photograph: Sony Best Overall Sony WH-1000XM4 Sony's WH-1000X lineup has produced some of the best noise-canceling headphones for several years in a row, and the recently released WH-1000XM4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are no exception. The new model retains the sleek, businesslike looks and 30-hour battery life, but this time you get better noise-cancellation and audio upscaling—a cleaner overall sound signature. The microphones also don't make you sound like you're underwater in Zoom meetings, which is an essential upgrade in the Covid-19 world. $350 at Amazon $350 at Target Photograph: Bose Best for the Office Bose Noise Cancelling 700 The ever popular Bose QC35 II (8/10 WIRED Recommends) remains a fantastic noise-canceling option, but Bose’s newest flagship headphones, the Noise Cancelling 700, take our top spot for business users. They have excellent noise reduction that quiets clacky keyboards or chatty roommates better than ever, plus slightly better sound quality and battery life than the QC35 II. But the real reason to buy the 700s is for call quality. They use advanced signal processing and four microphones to limit the sound of the world around you on phone calls. It feels like you’re in a library when you’re actually in your rowdy living room. You probably find yourself on a conference call more often than an airplane these days. $379 at Amazon $379 at Target Photograph: Bose Best Earbuds Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Just like with its over-ears, Bose has packed its tiny QuietComfort earbuds with some of the best noise-canceling around. Despite a bulky-seeming design, they're actually very comfortable, thanks to built-in earfins and soft eartips. I also like that they have awesome mouth-facing microphones, so they work great on zoom and phone calls. Specs-wise, they get six hours of battery life and can be quick-charged via USB-C, so you can get two hours of listening after plugging in for just 15 minutes. They also have an IPX4 rating, so you don't have to worry about them in the rain or during occasional workouts (though I'd recommend workout buds for frequent exercise). $279 at Amazon $280 at Target $280 at Bose Photograph: Sony Also Great Earbuds Sony WF-1000XM3 Like the Bose buds above, the WF-1000XM3 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are also a little bulky compared to other wirefree earbuds, but they have killer sound and a dedicated active-noise-canceling processor that quiets everything nearly as well as the Bose model. They’re also packed with features like touch controls (that are actually usable!), adjustable EQ, and the ability to let in sounds from the outside world when you're out in public. You'll never run short on juice, with six hours of battery life and 18 more with the battery-filled case. This kind of battery life is no small feat, especially when you consider that Apple’s AirPods Pro clock in at just 4.5 hours. $230 at Amazon $230 at Target $228 at Walmart Photograph: Apple Best for iOS Apple AirPods Pro I hate the middling sound and uncomfortable fit of the original AirPods, but Apple's AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are wildly different. They feature comfy ear tips, a better design, and some of the best noise canceling you'll find in a pair of earbuds. It might seem like it won't be worth the extra hundred bucks you'll spend over the standard model, but it absolutely is. WIRED reviewers Adrienne So and Jess Grey swear by their personal pairs. They're best used with an iPhone or another Apple device, but they'll work with Android phones too (with fewer features). $249 at Amazon $249 at Apple $250 at Target Photograph: Mont Blanc The Most Silent Montblanc MB 01 Montblanc made its name with pens, but its first-ever noise-canceling headphones, the MB 01 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) should be equally enticing to fat cats for one simple reason: They've got the best noise-canceling I've ever (not?) heard in a pair of headphones. We're talking eerie levels of silence. You'll be terrified by your own pets sneaking up on you. They cost a pretty penny, which is why they're further down this list, but they've got top-of-the-line sound quality and comfort, and 20 hours of battery life for long flights. You'll get nearly as quiet with Sony or Bose models, but if you're after the best silence money can buy, you'll have to pony up the big bucks for the MB 01. $595 at Montblanc Photograph: Sennheiser Best Sound Quality Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless You won’t get the same level of noise reduction as you will from Sony and Bose models, but this pair of Sennheisers pluck at my heartstrings with their analog-era looks and great audio processing. Instead of focusing on cutting the maximum amount of background noise possible, which can often make things sound shrill, Sennheiser’s noise reduction gives music the cleanest possible ride without ever getting in its way. The effect on the soundstage is dramatic: You’ll hear your favorite music like it's around you, and with crystal clarity—even when your baby nephew is screaming in the other room. $400 at Amazon $400 at Best Buy Photograph: Jabra Most Rugged Jabra Elite 85h I’m not easy on headphones! I break headbands, snag cables, erode ear pads, and wear headsets out in the Oregonian rain while walking my dog. That’s why I like the Jabra Elite 85H. They have a water-resistant coating, replaceable ear pads ($20), and a robust, understated design that holds up to abuse. Their active noise-canceling abilities aren't the absolute best, but you’ll notice only in the loudest environments. And with 36 hours of battery life with ANC turned on, you rarely have to charge them. $250 at Amazon $250 at Target $250 at Walmart Photograph: EPOS Audio Best Value Sennheiser Adapt 660 Want excellent sound, a comfortable fit, and high-quality noise canceling for less than you'd pay for Sony or Bose phones? Check out this collaboration between EPOS and Sennheiser. The Adapt 600 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) feature excellent microphones for great silence on calls, sound fantastic, and are some of the lightest noise-canceling headphones I've ever worn. I highly recommend value shoppers check them out—they're easily some of the highest-performing wireless cans you'll find for the money. $300 at Amazon Photograph: Plantronics Best for $150 or Less Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 The BackBeat Pro 2 headphones don't have the absolute best noise canceling on the market (you'll hear some noise on the street), but everything else about them crushes most wireless headphones this cheap. The controls are easy to use, and they sound excellent, with a punch of bass just when you want to hear it. They also auto-pause if you lift an ear cup off your head, and they twist to rest comfortably on your shoulders when you take them off, which makes them among the most convenient and affordable headphones. (These bounce around in price. Wait until they are in the $130 to $150 range.) $154 at Amazon Photograph: Bose Slightly Cheaper Bose Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Bose has set the standard for active noise cancellation for some time, and the QuietComfort 35 II were its top cans for many years. With wireless connectivity, a comfortable fit, and 20-plus hours on a charge (8/10, WIRED Recommends), they remain an excellent choice, especially at their lower price. There are flashier headphones, but the QC35 II provide a complete package that sounds great and does its job in every way that counts. That's why they've been among the best for such a long time. $299 at Amazon $300 at Target $299 at Walmart Photograph: Master & Dynamic Audiophile Pick Master & Dynamic MW65 Noise-canceling headphones aren’t usually this pretty. New York’s Master & Dynamic knows that, which is why these are $100 more than models with similar specs from Sony and Bose. But if you’re already paying so much, why not get something pretty—and with better sound (9/10, WIRED Recommends). The MW65 paint higher-frequency instruments with a finer brush, allowing you to hear tiny details—like the shaky edges of your favorite singer’s voice—that might otherwise disappear in a fog of daily noises. You just have to pay for the privilege. $382 at Amazon $400 at Best Buy Photograph: Taotronics Bargain Basement Taotronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Look, I'm not here to tell you that these noise-canceling headphones from Taotronics will win you any beauty contests—or that they'll last forever. (Eventually, you will accidentally crunch the plastic headband.) But they sound pretty good! And they cost $30. With a quoted 40 hours of battery life and a surprisingly comfortable fit (the benefit of lightweight plastic), they're really not so bad. Sure, they're a little bassy, but you'll have to spend nearly double the money to find something better. $39 at Amazon The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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