Tune in and tune out with the best noise-cancelling headphones.
The best noise-cancelling headphones are essential for any music lover, whether you’re using them while working from home or listening on the go.
A great pair of noise-cancelling headphones can help you slip into a state of pure audio nirvana whenever you want to listen to your music without any distractions º and the best noise-cancelling headphones offer unmatched audio quality, design, and smart features.
Noise-cancelling headphones are true wonders of the modern era because they can totally tune out any unwanted sounds and ambient noise while making your music sound even better than any old pair of earbuds (except for fantastic noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM3s and the Apple AirPods Pro, of course).
This high-end tech isn’t just reserved for a few models. There are also so many styles and brands to choose from these days, from the ultra-premium to budget-friendly cans – and our latest entry, the JBL Tune 750BTNC prove that you don’t have to spend loads to achieve truly accomplished noise cancellation.
Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve rounded up the very best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy right now, based on value for money, design, and sound quality – read on for our top picks.
[Update: We’re busy testing the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2. Stay tuned for our full review and to find out whether they deserve a place among the best noise-cancelling headphones of 2020.]
Acoustic design: Closed| Weight: .8.99 oz| Cable length: 3.94 ft| Frequency response: 4Hz to 40kHz| Drivers: 40mm Dual-Layered Diaphragm| Driver type: Dynamic| Sensitivity: 104.5 dB| Impedance: 47 ohm| Battery life: 30 hours| Wireless range: 30 meters (98ft)| NFC: Yes
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are the best noise-cancelling headphones in the world for two years running now. Sure, they might have had only a small refinement after last year’s excellent WH-1000XM2, but subtle tweaks like using USB-C instead of microUSB and adding padding along the bridge help make Sony’s award-winning cans even better.
So why does everyone love these Sony headphones so much? Well, it’s exceptionally good at cancelling outside noise. Put a pair on while vacuuming and you’ll barely hear the motor running.
For music lovers, the Sony WH-1000XM3 features aptX HD and Sony LDAC, two of the best ways to listen to Hi-Res music from your phone without a wire. Finally, all of Sony’s flagship headphones offer both Google Assistant and, starting in 2019, Alexa support, making them not only the best noise-cancelling cans on the market but some of the smartest, too.
We could see the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones in the near future; rumors of an imminent release date have been circling since an FCC filing from Sony revealed the model number of the new noise-cancelling headphones. For now though, the WH-1000XM3s are still the cream of the noise-cancelling crop.
If you can get hold of the older, second-gen Sony WH-1000XM2, they’re still very much worth a look as a more affordable (if slightly lower-spec) model.
Read more: Sony WH-1000XM3 review
Acoustic design: Closed| Weight: 25g| Cable length: N/A| Frequency response: N/A| Drivers: N/A| Driver type: N/A| Sensitivity: N/A| Impedance: N/A| Battery life: 20 hours| Wireless range: 33 ft| NFC: Yes
They don’t quite beat the Sony WH-1000XM3s in terms of battery life and price, but the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are still a brilliant pair of over-ear cans – and the best Bose headphones we’ve reviewed.
Traditionally, noise-cancelling headphones have been designed to block out the environmental sounds around you, so that you can hear your music more clearly (or catch some shut-eye on a noisy flight).
This can be really effective if you’re listening to music. If you’re making a phone call however, the person you’re speaking to can still hear everything that’s happening around you.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 seek to remedy this, by applying noise-cancellation to phone calls as well as music, which is fantastic feature – that’s why these are the best noise-cancelling headphones for making calls.
The sound quality is undeniably good, with a vibrant, lively character and well-balanced soundstage.
If you’re trying to decide between buying the Sony WH-1000XM3s and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, we’d recommend going for the former because of that lower price and better battery life. That being said, you wouldn’t be making a mistake if you opted for the Bose cans instead (and we wouldn’t blame you if you did) – they sound great, look stunning, and the noise-cancellation is out of this world.
Read more: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review
Acoustic design: Closed| Weight: 0.68 pounds| Cable length: 3.94 feet| Frequency response: N/A| Drivers: N/A| Driver type: N/A| Sensitivity: N/A| Impedance: N/A| Battery life: 20+ hours| Wireless range: N/A| NFC: Yes
Coming in at number four are the Bose QuietComfort 35 II — a nearly identical product to the already-excellent Bose QuietComfort 35 but updated with Google Assistant. This means you still get the class-leading noise cancellation Bose is known for, good sound quality and incredible comfort, plus a convenient assistant to answer any inquiries you might have while traveling.
Taken as a whole, the Bose QC35 II NC are an excellent pair of headphones for travelers and commuters. Bose has found a good balance of features that will satisfy most mainstream listeners. While we don’t love them as much as the better-sounding Sony WH-1000XM2, they’re still top of the class for noise cancellation.
Despite the popularity of the QC35s, Bose has shaken things up by releasing a totally new wireless noise-cancelling headphones model, with a focus on sleek design and “breakthrough” audio tech: the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. They may not have pipped Sony to the top spot of the best noise-cancelling headphones, but they’re still a fantastic pair of over-ear headphones, coming in at number two.
Read more: Bose QuietComfort 35 II review
Acoustic design: Closed| Weight: 70g| Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz| Drivers: 6mm| Driver type: Dome Type| Sensitivity: N/A| Impedance: N/A| Battery life (on-board): 6 hours| Battery life (charging case): 18 hours| Wireless range: 30ft| NFC: Yes
It’s not often you’ll find a pair of wired earbuds, let alone a pair of true wireless earbuds on a list of the best noise-cancelling headphones; considering it’s still rare to find the technology in earphones at all, the Sony WF-1000XM3s are very impressive indeed, and fully deserve a place in this roundup.
