Famed philosopher Jean - Paul Sarte once say that “ hell is other citizenry ” , and this inclination of the best noise - cancelling headphones is the best way to make them go aside .
We ’ve reviewed plenty of noise - cancelling headphones , from over - ears to honest wireless manakin , testing them in material - world conditions and liken new models with older single .
We valuate the ANC in a miscellany of configurations such as on public ecstasy and in populated surface area . It ’s not the only arena we consider for option on this listing , as it ’s important to recognize comforter spirit level , the wireless carrying out and the sound . There ’s no compass point in purchasing a pair of ANC headphones if they fathom rubbish .
We have other unspoilt list to help oneself you in your hunting such as ourbest wireless earbudsandbest wireless headphones . We also have a pageboy for thebest disturbance - cancelling earbuds , and for the best overall picks , check out ourbest headphonespage .
Best noise-cancelling headphones at a glance
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How we test
pick up more about how we test headphones
Not just anybody can review a duad of phone . You do n’t need superhuman hear to tell what ’s expert , but you do involve to know what to hear out for .
Our headphone test are done by some of the best and most prolific reviewer in the industry , with years of experience listening to everything from the plasticky freebie earbuds that come with your smartphone , to five - figure beasts of glassful and marble . We love music and we want your tunes to sound good , too .
So we listen every dyad of headphones we can get on or in our ear . We use a variety of beginning , from canonic MP3s playing on a laptop computer to gamey - character tracks on consecrate hi - Re audio players .
Our test tracks are widely - ranging to give headphones a thorough challenge . They ’re also intimate , so we know every track backwards , and we know which bits might inconvenience the less performers .
We listen again and again , and we do that for weeks in sheath the sound change – because it usually does . Then we ’ll listen to likewise priced rivals and add up up with a verdict that contemplate the performance and feature for the money .
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Pros
Cons
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Sony WH-1000XM5
Bowers and Wilkins Px8
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Sony WH-CH720N
JBL Live Pro 2
Dyson OnTrac
Philips Fidelio L4
Trusted Score
Our go - to choice for noise - cancelling over - ear had been theSony WH-1000XM5but that ’s no longer the case . TheBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphonesare the best noise - cancel over - ear we ’ve screen .
They suppress more randomness than their Sony rivals or any other radiocommunication over - ear we ’ve had the fortune to test . Whether you ’re out in a metropolis , depend on public transport , wearing these headphones on a plane or just do n’t want to hear the person next to you spout forth , the Bose QC Ultra Headphones are splendid ANC headphones for wherever you are .
The stochasticity - cancelling works without vocalize sue or making the audio sound chilly , as was the case with previous phone like theBose QuietComfort 45 .
They fit well to the promontory , more comfortable to break than the Sony , though they are n’t as fashionable as theNoise - Cancelling Headphones 700 . But with this mode you may break and store them aside in the carry case .
The audio is rich than before while still maintain the balanced approach that Bose is make out for . There ’s wad of limpidity and point to the midrange , with a lucidity and luminance to the top death , while the low end has been reinforced with extra padding . It ’s a much more mainstream - sounding pair of headphones that we ’re used to from Bose .
The wireless performance is impregnable , and there ’s a decent array of customisation and personalisation pick available such as adjusting the strait , call quality , or change which feature are link up with the shortcut . Call quality is slenderly odd , leak out noise in whenever we utter . It ’s not enough to distract from what we were tell but the person on the other goal did feel it was odd .
The £ 449 / $ 449 RRP will be a sticking point some . You do get an excellent noise - cancel performance , but the Sony along with theSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless , are uncommitted for less money .
reader : Kob MonneyFull Review : Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
If you ’re looking for a pair of wireless earbuds to stuff out distraction , theBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbudsare our weft .
The wireless choice to the QuietComfort Ultra earpiece , these earbuds offer up a easy fit , excellent wireless performance , engaging audio calibre and , of course , very full noise cancellation .
The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds sport the same feeling as their harbinger , theBose QuietComfort Earbuds II . We also rule that they fit slightly skillful thanks to the tweaked design of the constancy band . The cutaneous senses control await the same but also finger more accurate , while an IPX4 IP military rank will keep the buds protected against lather and rainwater .
Key features here admit Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity with Snapdragon Sound . This mean you’re able to mind with SBC , aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless . There ’s no Bluetooth multipoint backup , which is inauspicious , though Android user do get the tote up speed of Google Fast Pair .
The noise cancellation is impressive on public raptus , with very few noises slip past them . However , we still think the QuietComfort Earbuds II are substantial in this area . Bose ’s ActiveSense technology is also there to automatically adjust the interference cancellation when Aware Mode is employ .
The battery life is six time of day or 24 hours with the case included , though there ’s no wireless charging support without an additional wireless charging type cover .
The sound timbre is the same as that on the QuietComfort Earbuds II with clarity and detail in the midrange and more of a low - oddment presence than either theSony WF-1000XM5or theSennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 . There ’s also an Immersive Audio feature that does a salutary task of expanding the soundstage and creating a sense of astuteness .
commentator : Kob MonneyFull Review : Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Sony ’s WH - serial of wireless earpiece have been some of the effective we ’ve quiz , especially where randomness cancel is refer , and theWH-1000XM5are Sony ’s best travail yet .
Improvements to the haphazardness cancellation work refinements over theWH-1000XM4 , with Sony lay claim they deal with voices and eminent oftenness fathom good than previous generations did . We find that large gang were silenced and commutes were noticeably quiet , though the XM4 give notice vocalism better , we did find the XM5 ’s noise cancellation sounds sporting . The Sony Headphone app offers 20 different stratum of noise cancellation , with the Ambient Mode much clear and more grand in its carrying out than the older models .
The biggest modification is the look of the headphones , with redesign earcups ( now ellipse in contour to fit more ear ) , and pick off earpads for comfort . They sway a more modernistic flavor and like theBose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700and theAirPods Max , they ca n’t be crumble and fold . It ’s a change some wo n’t wish but we did feel it lose weight winding interference .
There ’s a huge telephone number of feature that include the the Quick Attention modal value ( which filters outside sound for a brief minute ) and talk To Chat ( which pause music when you ’re speaking ) . Battery life ( with ANC ) is the same as the honest-to-god models at 30 hour but with noise cancelling off the XM5 ekes out a couple of hours of playback . Over the course of examination we catch a week ’s use of goods and services before we finger the indigence to charge .
The steady rate of small but useful improvement continue in the sound department , with the WH-1000XM5 ’s mid - range sounding richer , the soundstage more roomy and the low - end featuring more depth and texture . While the disturbance - cancelling is surpassed by theBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones , they ’re still above the rest of their snug contender for sound .
Reviewer : Kob MonneyFull Review : Sony WH-1000XM5
TheBowers & Wilkins Px8headphones are some of the best - sounding and best - looking phone on the market .
Launching in Black and Tan leather versions , both colourways look classy and sense very hardy in damage of build caliber . We felt they were well-situated to wear over retentive periods of meter , with the oval shape helping to assist in demo a more born soundstage .
These headphone come withadaptive ANCand we felt they were in effect at suppressing randomness on the tube , hushing voice and manage wind randomness to satisfactory levels , without need to sacrifice audio quality . Even in noisy environments , the Px8 earphone condense the bulk of a crowd into a more achievable phone , being racy enough to usher in a sensation of calm wherever you are . The noise - cancellation is better than the similarly pricedFocal BathysandMaster & Dynamic MW75 .
With 40 mm dynamic full - range carbon strobile drive units , these earphone offer a large and expansive soundstage , a liberal improvement on their precursor , theBowers & Wilkins Px7 . deep frequencies have monumental definition and poke , with a abrupt and open midrange that complements a lot of musical style . gamey frequency are typical and bright , making the B&W Px8 a clean , precise and dynamical pair of headphones .
Call character here is also nothing to sniff at . While they are not as clean as theSony WH-1000XM5 , they were among the best on the market at the instant , with voice make out across clear and background noises being keep to a minimum thanks to the dedicated call microphones .
Reviewer : Kob MonneyFull Review : Bowers & Wikins Px8
With theAirPods Pro 2 , Apple has made one of the best noise - cancelling honest wireless available for Apple users .
The intention is not too different from the originalAirPods Pro , but they feature an extra pinna - tip size ( XS ) to fit a wider range of ears . The force sensor also has the ability to fine-tune bulk point , though we come up it ’s not always the most true choice . IPX4 resistanceagainst wet remains , so these earpiece could be used for use as well as listening to music .
And in terms of levelheaded lineament , they ’re an melioration over their predecessor . Bass has a rankness and warmth , but there ’s still good limpidity to vocals within the soundstage and instruments are specify with more detail .
The champion of the show is the AirPod Pro 2 ’s noise - cancelling prowess . Used on the tube and compared to the WF-1000XM4 , they edged the Sony buds with how much high - frequency noises and rumble of the train they dispatch .
The noise cancellation is adaptive , ramp up and down depend on how much noise is detected . The same is true of the improved transparentness mode . We chance it piped through a clear , more realistic impression of the macrocosm around us . The lack of ascendence over the dissonance cancelling / transparency remains a bugbear though .
Battery aliveness is in force at six hours per bud and 30 hours overall . That ’s a ripe figure overall than theBose QuietComfort Earbuds II(6 and 24 hours ) and around similar to theSennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3(7 and 28 hour ) . There are much cheaper dissonance - offset buds , such as theJBL Live Pro 2 , that offer more longevity ( 10 and 40 hours ) .
If you ’re an iOS drug user in need of a ANC true wireless then arguably no other integrates as well as the AirPod Pro . Non - iOS users will desire to look elsewhere , as many of the features such asSpatial Audioare exclusive to the iOS ecosystem .
reader : Max ParkerFull Review : Apple AirPods Pro 2
There are always caveat with budget disturbance - offset earpiece . They ’re not as powerful as expensive models , but as long as you are aware of it , theWH - CH720Nare one of the best value noise - cancelling headphones you could buy .
We would describe the randomness cancellation as substantial for the monetary value . It focus on reducing low - frequency sound and sack away ambient noise , and while we would n’t say that these headphone clear every loud bang or big vehicles , we did discover that they made daily commutes less intense and disruptive . They ’re efficacious against large groups of citizenry , though when face with individuals , we did notice that they made people ’s vox more noticeable .
The noise - cancelling is good than the similarly priced Soundcore Space One and Earfun Wave Pro , though the Monoprice BT-600ANC ( useable in the US ) edges it out for ANC .
The sound has a smooth quality to it with an accent on bass . Bass is delivered with punch , the midrange is clear and elaborated , and the upper frequencies sound bright and clear . TheFinal UX300offer a more insightful carrying out ( with its noise - cancelling off , however ) , but they are n’t as affordable or boast as many convenient features .
Sony claims 35 hours of barrage life story , our tests show they could go as far as 40 with dissonance - cancelling on , which is more than theSoundcore Space One . As well as the hybridactive interference - cancellation , there ’s a transparency mode , Bluetooth multipoint , customisation through the Sony Headphones app support and voice assistants inGoogle AssistantandAmazon Alexa .
The headphones ’ build and earcups are made from recycled charge plate , and we found there were no obtrusive creak or groans when we flex the frame . The employment of charge plate also restrain the earpiece lightweight at 192 g , and moreover we did n’t experience periods of discomfort thanks to the padding on the headband and earcups .
There ’s a growing number of low-cost ANC headphones but the Sony puts in the sound overall public presentation .
Reviewer : Kob MonneyFull Review : Sony WH - CH720N
TheJBL Live Pro 2are of the best noise - cancelling earbuds around the £ 100 bell ringer , better than theBeats Studio Buds .
walk through Westminster tube post , we observe background noise was shrink to fiddling more than inconsequential rustle . The JBL is good at numbing people ’s conversations , and subduing bighearted crowds in interfering area . It ’s a very impressive performance for its price .
These buds raise very comfortable to wear over long period of time , our reviewer did n’t note any irritation during use . TheIPX5water makes them more robust than most randomness - cancelling earbuds , so they can be used during a workout or when it ’s raining .
There are a few issues with the Live Pro 2 bud , namely their wireless performance and call quality . We experienced a choppy connexion in fussy area like Victoria train post , but it also hap in areas when there was few people were around . We did n’t sense they fared too well with earpiece call , especially in busy surface area . Despite their noise - cancelling prowess with calls they have a inclination to permit disturbance in like theBose QuietComfort Earbuds II , make up it hard for the person on the other end of the headphone to hear what ’s being allege .
In terms of their sound lineament , the JBL favour a balanced look that ’s not necessarily the most exciting , but we quite enjoyed the speech sound . They boast a obese basso , a midrange that is multiply with clarity and a clear and distinct treble performance . We think that this made them wanton to mind to across a range of genres , though the book needs to be turned up to widen the soundstage and give the bass part richness .
Reviewer : Kob MonneyFull Review : JBL Live Pro 2
The Dyon Ontrac headphones are certainly among the best - look on the market place right now . The CNC copper colourway we receive for critique is undeniably eye - catching with an impressive level of customisation , offering interchangeable outer caps and earpads in a grasp of finis – over 2000 according to Dyson . This allows for unparalleled personalisation of your headphones , even if the individual components are rather high-priced .
It ’s not just customisable though ; while the cans are undeniably bulky with a substantial comportment that might not fit everyone ’s taste , we retrieve them surprisingly prosperous to wear . That ’s largely down to the ample padding on pass , as well as well - broadcast weight that think of pressure does n’t build up in any one particular area , even in extensive listening academic term .
Beyond looks , the Dyson Ontrac cans bid clear and detailed audio caliber with a balanced sound visibility that prioritize neutrality . While that may mean that some will find it lack in excitement , its technically practiced performance should invoke to those search an accurate reproduction of their euphony . Battery life is also fairly satisfying at 55 hours , and while the interference cancellation is skilful enough to quieten routine noises , it ’s not quite enough to be course of instruction - lead .
Reviewer : Kob MonneyFull Review : Dyson Ontrac
If you ’re constantly chatting on the phone and require a pair of over - ear can that wo n’t have you down , search no further than the Philips Fidelio L4 . The ANC - enabled cans genuinely excel in the call quality department , with haphazardness cancellation tech effectively minimise screen background noise to ensure a readable voice at the other end of the headphone , even in dispute outdoor surround . It ’s specially good at trickle out wind and traffic sounds , making it ideal for those who make vociferation on the go .
Beyond its call prowess , the L4 offers a solid set of feature admit keep for LDAC and LC3 Bluetooth codecs for in high spirits - calibre audio streaming from compatible gadget , alongside adaptive ANC and 40 hours of battery life . They also deliver a solid audio experience with warm and smooth phone with a percipient focus on the midrange . It might not be the most elaborated or active , but it ’s a pleasant and relaxing heavy theme song .
It ’s arguably the aim that lets the cans down most . While the cans sport a similar design to the Fidelio L3 with a 10 % unclouded build and softer synthetical leather on the earcups , we found that the L4 sit a bit more on top of our ears than the L3 , leading to some uncomfortableness over longer listening sessions . The touch instrument panel used for control euphony was n’t always dead responsive either .
Reviewer : Kob MonneyFull Review : Philips Fidelio L4
Test Data
Full Specs
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones lead out inclination of the best over - ears . with a superb noise cancelling performance that suppresses sound very effectively .
