Best Noise-Canceling Headphones 2021; by Smwipl

If you are a commuter or work in a busy environment, you are likely to have some of the best noise-canceling headphones on the market. Exclude all that background with Active Noise-Canceling (ANC) technology, which has become one of the most in-demand features that is no longer exclusive to expensive headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM4's ANC led a group of class-leading headphones through their outstanding performance and battery life, making them the top choice. But this list has a lot of other options for different types of lifestyles and budgets.

Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM4

Source: Sony

Sony ranked first with its WH-1000XM3, which was the best ANC headphones on the market before being replaced by the WH-1000XM4. Sony's flagship bins have become the benchmark for the industry as a whole, forcing others to hold on. What makes them so good is the unique QN1 processor and a dual noise sensor that work together to block ambient sound. For a daily commute on a bus or train, walking on a busy road, or sitting on a flight, the WH-10000XM4 works.

  If you're confused about why they look like their predecessors, don't be. It just doesn't bother to change anything about Sony's overall design. These headphones are almost carbon copies of their predecessors, although this is not necessarily a bad thing.

  What is different is that you get better ANC performance as well as the ability to pair with two devices. In this way, you can listen to music on one device and make a call on another, for example. Phone calls also sound better thanks to Sony's precise voice pick and speak to chat features that optimize sound and volume during conversations.

  Otherwise, what the WH-1000XM3 did for this pair is good. They will last up to 32 hours per charge, fast charging is always an option when they die. You cannot hear the WH-1000XM4 even when you are charging, however, whether wired or wireless.

  Sony chose not to tweak or replace the sound signature, so the same bass-heavy sound comes. It can sometimes sink mids and highs, but Sony's Connect app has a reliable equalizer that you can use to offset it. It also has a "clear bass" slider to affect the overall thump of the bass. With those devices, you can make these headphones sound more to your preference.

  Now the WH-1000XM4 is Sony's flagship, watch the WH-1000XM3 eventually drop in price and become more as a price option. Sony's noise canceling tech has been so good that you can find it in wireless earbuds as well.

Pros:

• Class-leading ANC performance
• Long battery life
• Customizable sound
• Fast charging capable
• Great phone call quality
• Pair with two devices at once

Cons:

• No simultaneous charging & listening
• No difference in design
• No improvement in overall audio quality

Best Runner Up: Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

Source: Bose

Bose has positioned itself in a conversation among the best in the business in this category, where the NCH700 belongs to. Taking over the highly acclaimed QC35 II, these bins are equal or better in almost every way. First, the sound quality is boosted by Boeing with Boeing dialing back sibilance to make them sound less piercing, without changing anything else about the rest of the sound signature. Needless to say, the NCH700 lacks sound.

  It is not sad that the ANC performs very well. They don't quite affect Sony's level, but they are a solid option that does a solid job of blocking the most frequent noise, like engines, and some mid-range sounds like the ones people are talking about. High-sounds are a challenge for any pair of ANC headphones, and this is where the NCH 700 is a bit unstable. However, you can access 11 stages of ANC, making it one of the most versatile ANC experiences.

  The NCH700 is one of the most comfortable pairs to wear. A soft headband and ear cups don't feel too constricting, so you can't even see how long you've been wearing them. Bose's business was to make these headphones really bigger than the QC35 II. They also do not fold, which can be an issue when taking up more space in your bag or traveling or traveling.

  Up to 20 hours per charge, battery life is above average. A 15-minute fast charge via USB-C will provide up to two hours of playback, ensuring that you can hear some tunes in a pinch.

Pros:

• Superb ANC performance
• Excellent sound quality
• Very comfortable
• Great battery life
• Fast charging

Cons:

• Non-foldable, bulky design
• Competitors beat battery life
• More expensive than top pick

Best Sound Quality: Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless

Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central

Senhiser's pedigree is renowned in sound quality, and the Momentum 3 Wireless carries the same torch. A rich soundstage helps deliver the definition associated with the brand. The bass has been given a slight boost, with clear midrange and smooth treble to balance it all out. It suffices to suit almost every musical genre - instruments, vocals and electronic elements never seem out of place.

  The most advanced ANC performance does not always match the audio fidelity of the company, and the contrast is somewhat apparent here. This is not to say that the ANC here is bad. They at least prevent a decent amount of noise, but struggle to completely block out every sound around you. You can reduce it by playing the music a little louder, although for this reason you do not harm your ears.

  The Momentum 3 Wireless is actually comfortable to wear even after a long time. You feel a lot of a squeeze with these, thanks to a well-made headband and ear cups that feel soft enough to enjoy whenever you listen to audio.

  Senhizer is not the industry leader in battery life, which is a clear limitation for Momentum 3 Wireless in this list. You can expect up to 17 hours on a single charge, which is at the lower end of ANC headphones in this price range. A saving grace is that you can use the USB-C port for simultaneous listening and charging when connected to an Android phone or tablet.

Pros:

• Great, slightly bass-boosted sound
• USB-C for charging
• Simultaneous listening & charging
• Excellent comfort
• Decent ANC performance

Cons:

• ANC isn't the best
• Battery life should be better

Best Budget Over-Ear Headphones: COWIN E7

Source: COWIN

Good ANC headphones do not have to be expensive to sound good, and this is a point that QEN E7s make at a very low price due to their great battery life and solid ANC.

  It seems almost culpable for the E7 to manage up to 30 hours on a single charge when a more expensive pair sometimes doesn't even come close. To play with a time like this, you would play music for days without becoming a juice issue. The ANC's performance isn't too bad, either. They compare favorably to expensive models that are good at preventing frequent noise but struggle with more inconsistent ones.

  Sound quality is average, which is expected. The bass gets a boost, but it sometimes finishes with a slight rumble and thunder. COWIN did the same with the mid-range to compensate, which is why they feel louder out of the box. It won't do much for triplets - as it is.

  The E7s are a bit heavy, but won't suffer too much at rest. They will sit comfortably on your head, so fatigue or rest issues should not be a problem.

Pros:

• Good ANC performance for the price
• Long battery life
• Great comfort
• Affordable price

Cons:

• Treble is subdued
• Heavier than most over-ears

Best Battery Life: Jabra Elite 85h

Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central

Jabra is good at making headphones, and the Elite 85H is a solid pair that does a lot of things right. Long battery life is definitely one of the features that you get up to 35 hours on a single charge. They also feel comfortable for long stretches, complementing the battery's outstanding performance. It's also a nice touch that they can play and charge all at once via a USB-C connection.

  The sound quality is also good, but when you tinker with the profile you will get the best results. The default sound signature plays it safe keeping the entire spectrum at a sluggish level. Jabra's Sound + app has an equalizer that can replace it, helping to bring out more of these sounds. The app also has options for using ANC, which is not surprising but not terrible either. The grief they feel is the audible hum that constantly works to cancel sounds, such as what you would hear on a plane, train, or bus.

  Elite 85h are very clever in other useful ways. They will stop automatically when they are removed. Rotating the right ear cup closes the headphones. Onboard controls are very easy to manage, and they can still work with a wired connection if Bluetooth is not an option.

Pros:

• Ridiculously long battery life
• Customizable sound
• Excellent comfort
• Smart features
• Play and charge simultaneously

Cons:

• ANC is average at best
• Default sound needs tweaking

Great Battery Life on a Budget: Anker Soundcore Life Q30

Source: Anker

Budget headphones sometimes go above their weight, or pick up on a particular feature or performance aspect. For the Anchor Soundcore Life Q30, this is battery life. lots of it. These can play for up to 40 hours on a single charge - and it is ANC enabled. Disable it, and they can play for one game for 60 hours.

  The ANC on the Life Q20 was slightly better than the Life Q20, and with some additional support via the excellent Soundcore app. There, you can adjust ANC between three modes: Indoor, Outdoor and Transport. While the Life Q20 was adept at mimicking surprisingly high-pitched noises, the Life Q30 improved to block consistent consistent background sounds like engines, fans, heaters and more.

  Not surprisingly, bass are still abundant in how they sound. This is extended to a point where it can be an acquired taste, but anyone looking for an extra boom will not be disappointed by how low these are. At least the midrange is fairly balanced which helps to add some depth and carry the treble, which is only slightly enhanced. Also, the Soundcore app has an EQ, with many presets already available. If you wish, you can also set your own.

  You should be comfortable wearing these for a long time, including large heads. From what stands out, Anchor has done a much better job with the Life Q20 than them. They are stronger, with a more premium look and feel that they have confidence in the price.

Pros:

• Ridiculously long battery life
• Comfortable fit
• Made for bass-lovers
• Solid ANC performance for the price
• Affordable price
• Great app support

Cons:

• Too much bass for some
• ANC could be better

Most Stylish: Bowers & Wilkins PX7

Source: Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins is a luxury brand, and its products come with the expectation of looking good. The PX7 is easy to see, even if you don't consider yourself the type of design being put on everyone else.

  On top of the clever aesthetic, they also come with a very unique feature set. A standout is the ability to use the headphones' USB-C port for audio. Just plug them into your phone's USB-C port, and not only will you get audio, but power as well. This is right! A single cable lets you listen and charge simultaneously.

  The PX7 has a decidedly balanced sound signature that plays well with each genre, making it ideal for most listeners. The sound is spacious and pronounced while the instruments and vocals feel warm, resonating and full. There is a lot to like about how these headphones perform in the audio arena.

  Unfortunately, this is not really the case with the ANC. It is decent, but should not be at the level of noise-canceling headphones at this price range. When it is on it greatly affects the sound signature and conflicts with high-pitched background noise. Ironically, passive isolation is excellent, meaning that you don't always have to turn on the ANC to drown in music. Keep in mind that the likelihood of rest may be more subjective because of how tight they usually feel.

  Battery life is excellent, up to 30 hours per charge. The USB-C port is always convenient, as is fast charging support. If the PX7 is dead, a 15-minute charge will give you a good six hours.

Pros:

• Superb sound quality
• Great passive noise isolation
• USB-C for charging and listening
• Great battery life
• Premium build / stylish design

Cons:

• Can get uncomfortable after longer periods
• ANC performance could be better
• Expensive

Best Earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM3

Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central

More true wireless earbuds are coming with the ANC at different price points, but pair up to defeat the Sony WF-1000XM3. They benefit from the same ANC tech found in Sony's over-year WH-1000XM3, which is a big reason why they are so effective. Despite their size, they prove to be more than capable of blocking a good amount of noise, with the constant sounds that you come across.

  Sony preferred to go with a more neutral soundstage, leaving a lot of room to customize it through the equalizer settings in the Headphone Connect app. The mids come with more detail, while the highs feel warmer, stand out independently. The bass is less pronounced than the box, and therefore the EQ may be required to further deepen and balance the sound.

  Not everyone can fit because of the bulkier form factor, while the adaptive sound control mode is not as effective as Sony claims. Furthermore, it is not worth using them when the water is too close with no official water or sweat resistance. To reverse the ANC, the WF-1000XM3 has an ambient sound mode that uses an onboard mix to filter ambient sound and listen to its surroundings without turning them off.

  Battery life is excellent. You will get six hours alone and an additional 18 hours with your charging case. The USB-C port is convenient, as is the fast charging capability. A quick 15-minute charge can provide a few hours of playback in a pinch.

Pros:

• Class-leading ANC
• Solid sound reproduction
• EQ in companion app
• Long battery life
• USB-C for charging

Cons:

• Buds are a bit large
• Lacks wireless charging case
• Adaptive Sound Control is just OK
• No official water resistance rating

Best for Apple Users: AirPods Pro

Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central

The AirPods Pro join the Sony WF-1000XM3 as among the best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds available. They're not as good as Sony's pair, but do a solid job of blocking out most low and mid-range ambient noise. They will struggle with higher-pitched tones. But that's typical of ANC headphones and earbuds.

Sound quality is solid, with noticeably better bass and mids than the regular AirPods 2 can ever manage. The soundstage focuses more on the mids to create the illusion the sound is moving closer to you. Consequently, the highs suffer, creating an uneven profile that may be more pronounced with certain genres. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't offer an EQ to tweak the sound further, but you could try third-party ones.

Comfort is nice, due in large part to the unique design at play here. The proprietary ear tips attach directly to the bud's speaker through a special locking mechanism. That makes the tip more malleable to mold itself into the shape of your ear for a proper fit.

Battery life is pretty pedestrian for something at this price. They can go up to 4.5 hours of playback with ANC on — five hours with ANC off — though that's at the default volume level. Thankfully, the charging case can offer another 20 hours of additional listening time. Apple users won't mind that it charges over its proprietary Lightning connector, whereas Android users certainly might. You could get around that, to some degree, by making use of the wireless charging support.

Pros:

• Superb comfort
• Great sound
• Excellent ANC performance
• Wireless charging case

Cons:

• Lack of convenience features on non-Apple devices
• Bud battery life could be better
• Proprietary ear tips

Best Neckbuds: 1More Dual Driver ANC Pro

Source: 1More

Neckbuds are not as easy to find nowadays, but they are still there, and the best available now would be the 1More Dual Driver ANC Pro. With solid ANC onboard, these neckband earbuds are equipped with two levels of noise cancellation that can operate in loud or quiet and limit as much of the environment as possible to block. You can also apply it to a phone call - as long as you turn it on before making or answering the call. Just keep in mind that the neckband does not vibrate for incoming calls.

  They are also comfortable because part of the neck rests on the neck, leading to loads of cables going up to the earring. For this reason, they are easy to wear for long periods of time, and when you're listening, they can cause a little fuss around your neck.

  1More prioritized sound quality by incorporating support for good Bluetooth codecs such as AAC and LDAC. Overall, you get a balanced sound signature with a small boost to the bass. Solid playback is also included when ANC is turned on. What's interesting is the IPX5 rating, which is fully usable for running or gym workouts.

  Battery life is good at 16 hours on ANC and up to 20 hours with it. Your mileage will vary depending on the level of volume you are listening to, not to mention which codec you are listening to. For example, if it is a purely LDAC track, the battery life is cut in half. Either way, they should easily hold on for a day. With USB-C charging, a 10-minute quick charge can get you up to three hours of playback.

Pros:

• Solid ANC performance
• Superb sound quality
• Comfortable design
• Good battery life
• Water and sweat resistance
• Codec support

Cons:

• Smartphone app could be better
• Neckband doesn't vibrate for notifications

Consolation

The headphone jack has been pulling off a fading action over the years, putting ons on wireless Bluetooth headphones to keep the audio flowing to your ears.

  If you're willing to pay the price, Sony's WH-1000XM4 is the best noise-canceling headphones you can get right now. They are fully loaded with superb noise-canceling technology, great sound, long battery life, easy controls and a comfortable fit. Finding great wireless headphones or wireless earbuds with equally good ANC performance is not as easy as it may seem, despite how popular this feature is becoming now.

  The Sony duo is so good that the ANC supports whatever is good about the WH-1000XM4. They don't look or sound different from all of their predecessors, but phone calls are better, as is the case with any average uproar once you can get out all that background chatter and boring noise.

Source: androidcentral.com