It’s a noisy world, but our picks of the best noise-canceling headphones will help hush it for you while making music, podcasts, and other sounds even sweeter.
Noise-canceling headphones are a wonder of the modern world. No, seriously, the tech that makes them work is borderline magical, bringing much-needed quiet to our everyday bus and plane rides, study and work sessions, and movie, music, and podcast enjoyment. The best noise canceling headphones have a great mix of features, including that all-important ANC, transparency mode for letting in some outside sounds, comfort, battery life, and, of course, price.
While active noise cancellation has been around for a while now and it’s almost standard in headphones from over-ear (our focus here) to earbuds, the feature is better in some than in others. Whatever your listening needs may be, though, we’ve got you covered.
We test a lot of noise-canceling headphones, and when it comes to the very best we feel that the Sony WH-1000XM5 simply cannot be beaten. They come from a great line of fantastic headphones (we’ve even kept their predecessor, the WH-1000XM4s, on this list) that sound awesome, are comfortable, and have best-in-class ANC. We consider them to be among the best wireless headphone options overall, which in turn led us to crown them the best headphones, period.
And if the WH-1000XM5 aren’t right for you, we’ve put together this extensive list of excellent alternatives. They all cancel noise, but each pair has its own specific strengths.
Sony WH-1000XM5The best overall
When it comes to top-notch sound quality, comfort, and ease of use, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the best in every way, bar none.
Improving upon the previous generation’s WH-1000XM4 (our runner-up pick below) in more ways than one, we were amazed to find out that there even could be improvements made. But the powers at Sony had a few more tricks up their sleeves.
For starters, the XM5 are cozier to wear, thanks to an improved cushioning system and better weight distribution from cup to cup. In terms of actual audio, interestingly, the XM5 speaker drivers are 25% smaller than the ones found in the XM4, featuring 30mm carbon-fiber-based transducers that make listening to any music genre an absolute joy.
And let’s not forget the power of the XM5’s active noise cancelation (ANC). Utilizing eight microphones and two onboard audio processors, the XM5 are constantly listening and adapting to whatever environment you’re in, delivering the very best noise cancelation on the market.
Factoring in its Sony-exclusive LDAC lossless listening for Android devices (sorry, Apple fans), modest battery life, and a bevy of additional must-haves, it’s easy to see why we can’t stop raving about the Sony WH-1000XM5.
Sony WH-1000XM4The runner-up
While the WH-1000XM5 may be Sony’s latest and greatest headphone option, the WH-1000XM4 still holds up well as an alternative pick with a slightly lower price but many of the same excellent benefits.
In terms of battery life, the WH-1000XM4 deliver up to 30 hours with active noise cancellation on and 38 hours without. The XM4 also use advanced software algorithms and hardware when it comes to active noise cancellation, powerful tools that essentially eliminate any distracting environmental noise.
Like the XM5s, the XM4s also include Bluetooth multipoint connection, allowing them to be connected to two different devices at the same time. Essentially, you could be watching Netflix on your laptop, field a phone call on your mobile device, then effortlessly return to your streaming enjoyment.
The XM4 also features a wear sensor to automatically pause content when you remove the headphones, as well as Sony’s music upscaling tech, DSEE Extreme.
If you’re looking for a way to silence the outside world so you can be left alone to enjoy your favorite music, we highly recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4 as well as its newer upgrade. If you want to compare a similar noise-canceling option that’s not from Sony, you could also take a look at the Bose QuietComfort 45.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8The most extravagant noise-canceling headphones
The Px8 offers an interesting proposition for those with deep wallets: Pay about twice as much as other high-end headphones cost, and get a unique, luxurious experience that includes incredible wireless audio and effective noise cancellation.
Of course, at this price, you also get a comfortable design with massive ear cushions, leather padding, and aluminum notes that combine for a durable, beautiful fit that can last for hours without any discomfort. And the Carbon Cone drivers put in the work to deliver exceptional sound, with support for Bluetooth aptX Adaptive wireless tech for the best possible wireless experience (just keep in mind that iPhones don’t support aptX yet).
Battery life is also quite good for headphones this size, lasting up to 30 hours on a single charge. Are all these features combined worth the super-high price tag? That’s up to you to decide, but these headphones look amazing while delivering the high-end audio experience you’d expect, so style points can count for a lot. And if you like these and are willing to drop a little extra cash, check out the McLaren Edition version of the Px8s that Bowers & Wilkins created in collaboration with the supercar maker.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 WirelessThe best for battery life
Sennheiser may not collect the same fanfare as other titan headphone names, but when it comes to craftsmanship and performance, there’s no doubt that your listening experience is going to be stellar when you invest in a set of Sennheisers, and the Momentum 4 Wireless are no exception.
Comfortable to wear and rocking only one button for all of your Bluetooth headphone needs (play/pause, answering calls, and adjusting noise-cancelation settings), the Momentum 4 comes out on top in two major categories — sound quality and battery life.
In terms of the former, you can expect to hear all kinds of details in songs you may have heard a million times over. This is thanks to Sennheiser’s dedication to giving its listeners the most complete soundstage possible. Mids and highs are on point, with plenty of articulation and next to no distortion, and the bass is some of the best low-end we’ve heard from any set of headphones.
Now, are you ready for the crowning laurel? The Momentum 4 Wireless is rated for up to 60 hours of battery, and that’s with active noise-cancelation enabled. This beats the Sony XM5 by a long shot, and frankly, competitive brands should use the Momentum 4 Wireless battery specs as a benchmark for future product designs.
