honorable mention
Now that most new headphones and earbuds offer at least one form of noise cancellation, it would be impossible (and unproductive) to list all of our favorites above. If you still haven’t found your perfect fit, here are more options to consider.
Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 for $180: These simple-looking earbuds are a great way to enjoy quiet luxury. They have 10 hours of battery life and noise canceling engaged, and they have the best-sounding drivers for vocals I’ve heard in any earbud.
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds for $328: Sony’s fifth-generation flagship earbuds get progressively thinner at the bottom. These buds are smaller and snappier than previous XM4 buds (they can be very snappy to hold). As ever, they provide excellent sound and noise cancellation that outperforms many alternatives, with costs to match. In true Sony style, they serve up a truckload of adaptive features and EQ controls, keeping up to eight hours of playback time per charge with ANC and 12 hours without it. – Ryan Waniata
Soundcore Life Q30 for $60–$85: Anker’s Soundcore line is nothing if not value-conscious, and the Life Q30 offers an embarrassing list of extras for their bargain-basement price. You get clear and warm sound, great features, plenty of battery life and noise canceling that gets the job done even on long flights, though it can’t quite keep up with the flagship pair. It’s hard to complain when their prices are hundreds less, especially with sale prices that sometimes drop to around $50.
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM4 for $195: Sony’s WH-1000X lineup has produced some of the best noise-canceling headphones for nearly a decade, and the aging WH-1000XM4 is no exception. They periodically sell for under $300, but it’s getting harder to find them below full price, which is tough for a five-year-old model.
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Earbuds for $400: Bowers & Wilkins’ Pi8 offers a sleek, comfortable design, solid (though not Bose-beating) noise cancellation, and great sound. Call quality is also excellent, making these perhaps the perfect business-class earbuds, though their hefty price won’t appeal to everyone.
Bowers and Wilkins PX7 S2e $400: The Px7 S2e features upgraded audio quality for great sound in a stylish and sophisticated design. They’re also among the most comfortable headphones we’ve tested, but their noise cancellation doesn’t rise to the level of the top players for the money.
Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 for $280: These over-ears from Beyerdynamic feature the brand’s classic studio sound, with a tight crisp high range and punchy lows. The downside is that they don’t cancel quite as well as the Sony, Bose and other models above. Still, they sound great and are worth considering, especially if you can sell them.
Soundcore Space A40 for $60: Another top-value buy from Anker’s Soundcore brand, the Space A40 are some of our favorite cheap earbuds, especially since their prices keep dropping. You’ll find a classy design, tons of features, quality sound, and great noise cancellation for their class.
Apple Beats Fit Pro for $170: The Beats Fit Pro is an aging but still knockout pair of wireless buds, great sound, easy-access physical buttons, and solid noise cancellation to boot. Add to that six hours of battery life, spatial audio compatibility with Apple Music and other services, and you’ve got one of the best pairs of earbuds “designed in California.
$301 for the Epos/Sennheiser Adapt 660: Want great sound, a comfortable fit and high-quality noise-canceling technology for less than what you’d pay for Sony or Bose headphones? Check out this collaboration between Epos and Sennheiser. The Epos/Sennheiser Adapt 660 sound fantastic and are some of the lightest noise-canceling headphones I’ve ever worn. They also feature great microphones for great silence on calls and zooms.
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