When you’re in the market for headphones, you’ll see that noise-cancelling headphones are becoming the most popular variety. There’s a good reason for that: They block out ambient noise that can distract from you enjoying your favorite tunes. While they’re particularly useful for air travel and daily commutes—especially via mass transit—they’re also great at isolating you from at-home noise pollution, whether that be the whoosh of your HVAC system, the whir of your computer’s cooling fans, or your neighbor’s lawn mower. Many people don’t like active noise cancellation. If you’re in that group, you’ll find our top picks in conventional headphones at the preceding link.
Updated January 31, 2022 to add a link to our Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 earbud review.
Sony WH-1000XM5 — Best over-ear noise-cancelling headphone
Pros
New carbon fiber driver delivers intoxicating sound
Best-in-class noise cancellation is better than ever
Outstanding adaptive noise-cancelling performance
Beam-forming mics make near-perfect calls in noisy environments
Cons
Noise cancellation subject to the occasional audible artifact
No support for aptX codecs
MSRP:
$399.99
Best Prices Today:
$398.00 at Amazon$399.99 at Sony
Sony didn’t just refine its previous generation of noise-cancelling headphones, they redefined what was possible. The WH-1000XM5 are the finest noise-cancelling headphones Sony has ever made, and they’re the best noise-cancelling headphones we’ve ever reviewed. They’re supremely comfortable to wear for long listening sessions, they deliver unparalleled noise cancellation, and–most importantly–they sound absolutely fantastic. These are the noise-cancelling over-ear headphones to beat.
Read our full
Review Sony WH-1000XM5
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 — Best over-ear noise-cancelling headphone, runner-up
Pros
Exceptional audio performance
aptX Adaptive support for hi-res audio
Very good active noise cancellation
Excellent build quality
Cons
B&W trails Sony in terms of glitzy features
No support for surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos
Slightly bulkier than the Sony WH-1000XM5 they compete with
MSRP:
$399.00
Sony takes the crown in terms of whizbang features, support for surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos and its own 360 Reality Audio, and superior active noise cancellation. But B&W’s cans sound every bit as good, and they’re certainly no slouch when it comes to active noise cancellation.
Read our full
Review Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 noise-cancelling headphones
Apple AirPods Max — Best over-ear noise-cancelling headphone for Apple users
Pros
Clear, well balanced sound
Solid noise cancellation and stellar transparency mode
Terrific controls for volume, playback, and ANC
Tightly integrated with Apple ecosystem
Cons
Still uses Lightning rather than USB-C
Wired listening requires a pricey adapter
Smart Case offers minimal protection from the elements
Relatively short battery life
MSRP:
$549
Best Prices Today:
$499.9
When you’re in the market for headphones, you’ll see that noise-cancelling headphones are becoming the most popular variety. There’s a good reason for that: They block out ambient noise that can distract from you enjoying your favorite tunes. While they’re particularly useful for air travel and daily commutes—especially via mass transit—they’re also great at isolating you from at-home noise pollution, whether that be the whoosh of your HVAC system, the whir of your computer’s cooling fans, or your neighbor’s lawn mower. Many people don’t like active noise cancellation. If you’re in that group, you’ll find our top picks in conventional headphones at the preceding link.
Sony didn’t just refine its previous generation of noise-cancelling headphones, they redefined what was possible. The WH-1000XM5 are the finest noise-cancelling headphones Sony has ever made, and they’re the best noise-cancelling headphones we’ve ever reviewed. They’re supremely comfortable to wear for long listening sessions, they deliver unparalleled noise cancellation, and–most importantly–they sound absolutely fantastic. These are the noise-cancelling over-ear headphones to beat.
No support for surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos
Slightly bulkier than the Sony WH-1000XM5 they compete with
MSRP:
$399.00
Sony takes the crown in terms of whizbang features, support for surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos and its own 360 Reality Audio, and superior active noise cancellation. But B&W’s cans sound every bit as good, and they’re certainly no slouch when it comes to active noise cancellation.
There’s a lot to love about Apple’s AirPods Max, including the elegant design, the best-in-class physical controls, the solid ANC, and the superb transparency mode. Most importantly, the sound is sublime. Then there’s the quirks, including the silly-looking and minimally protective Smart Case, Lightning instead of USB-C, no out-of-the-box wired listening, and so-so battery life. But if you’re deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Max will be a thrill for your ears.
Very good active noise cancellation nonetheless takes a backseat to audio fidelity in Focal’s exquisite Bathys wireless headphone, and we’re just fine with that.
If you’ve got it, flaunt it–knowing that the lofty price Mark Levinson expects to fetch for its 5909 noise-cancelling headphones is justified by its performance and exquisite craftsmanship. These headphones sound as luxurious as they feel wrapped around your ears.
It’s hard to believe how inexpensive these noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones are, but that’s par for the course for Wyze Labs, a company that never seems to fail to package the most bang for the buck in every product they make. While their audio quality doesn’t compete with the higher-end models, and they might not be as durable as some of the more expensive brands, you won’t be too upset if they break and need to be replaced after a few years.
With CustomTune sound calibration, best-in-class noise cancellation, and a smaller, smarter physical design, Bose isn’t just reaching for the crown with the QuietComfort Earbuds II, it’s already seized it.
Sony’s true wireless headphones are a phenomenal choice for anyone looking for active noise-cancellation from a high-end in-ear headphone. Boasting exceptional performance with music and phone calls, an impeccable fit, and–of course–best-in-class active and adaptive noise cancellation, no other manufacturer can beat Sony’s effort today. Let’s see how long that situation lasts.
Android users envious of the tight integration that Apple AirPods Pro offer iPhone users will be overjoyed with the flawless integration and solid audio performance that Google delivers with its best in-ear noise-cancelling headphones.
The original AirPods Pro were pretty decent for their time, but the second-generation version tops the original in almost every way, boasting greatly improved sonics and bass response, twice the ANC, a new Transparency mode that blunts excessively loud exterior noises, better battery life, and a MagSafe-enabled carrying case that now works with Apple Watch chargers. Of course, the best AirPods Pro features will only work within the Apple ecosystem, which means Android users would be better off looking elsewhere.
Headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) identify sound waves associated with noise and electronically generate an inverse sound wave that cancels it out. Here’s what we mean: A sound wave is similar to the ripples in a pond. Toss a pebble in the pond, then introduce ripples of the opposite pattern, and you’ll smooth the pond’s surface. Active noise cancellation (ANC) works in a similar manner. Microphones mounted on the headphone analyze ambient sound waves and then produce inverse sound waves that will cancel them out.
Most ANC headphone manufacturers, including Sony, provide a mobile app that lets you tailor their headphone’s noise cancellation to your preferences.
As you might expect, the ANC technologies from some manufacturers are incredibly effective; others, less so. We’ve tested models from AKG, Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, JBL, Libratone, and Sony and found them to be very good.
Adaptive noise cancellation is the most sophisticated type of ANC. It operates on the same principles, but adapts to your surroundings to apply more or less of the effect and to even bring in sounds from the outside world.
There’s more than one way to block ambient noise, closed-back over-ear headphones and in-ear headphones like the iMore Triple Driver shown here, can perform the task without introducing inverse soundwaves. And in many cases, without batteries.
Some adaptive noise-cancelling solutions even take into account how fast you’re moving, the air pressure around you, and whether you’re likely in a plane, taking a walk, or holding a conversation. Many operate in conjunction with a mobile app on your smartphone.
Some individuals find that ANC headphones exert pressure on their ears, creating a similar sensation to being under water. If you find ANC headphones to be uncomfortable, you’ll prefer a model with good passive noise cancellation. That type of headphone deliver other benefits, too: They’re the least likely to color the music you’re listening to, and they don’t need batteries. On the other hand, not all headphones with passive noise cancellation are wireless.
