The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Every Budget
The best noise-cancelling headphones seem to work like magic. But really, it’s just simple physics. When an audio signal is paired with the inverse waveform, the two waves cancel each other out, and silence is the result. Noise-cancelling headphones use tiny microphones mounted on their exterior to constantly eavesdrop on the world around you; advanced audio processing then generates an opposite signal, cancelling out the unwanted noise—and letting you focus on enjoying your music. Just as importantly, it lets you listen to music at a lower volume, without needing to crank it up to blot out the unwanted sonic interference. And that, in turn, protects your ears.
Most noise-cancelling headphones offer a variety of modes, whether pairing music playback with noise cancellation or using them for pure noise cancellation—something any frequent traveler might appreciate. And even with noise cancellation turned on, most headsets offer various levels, from “transparent” sound, which lets the world in, to a completely isolated experience. Of course, to go full hermit, the seal between the phones and the ears needs to be tight, to allow for what’s known as passive isolation—that is, the amount of unwanted outside noise that’s naturally blocked. (Again, this lets you listen to music at a lower volume; a decade or two down the line, your ears will thank you.) So it’s crucial to find the headphones with the right fit for you.
We spoke to a number of music professionals about the noise-cancelling headphones they use when they’re traveling, commuting, and studying, or simply trying to find some peace and quiet. According to them, these are the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy.
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Apple AirPods Max ($520)
Like lots of things that the Cupertino company produces, Apple’s AirPods Max will cost you, but in design and quality alike, these new headsets, released in December 2020, are some of the best noise-cancelling headphones out there.
They don’t just look spectacular; they’re a top-to-bottom fusion of form and function. Even while the breathable knit mesh canopy of the headband promotes comfort, the over-ear cups create a tight acoustic seal meant to work on various shapes and sizes of head. There’s no fumbling for buttons; a single spinning knob lets you play or pause audio, select or skip tracks, answer or end phone calls, and more. Adaptive EQ alters the mix of low and mid frequencies depending upon the fit and seal of the ear cushions. The noise cancellation uses six outward-facing microphones to detect background noise and two inward-facing mics to measure what the listener hears; for phone calls, two beamforming mics zero in on the user’s voice and filter out unwanted noise, making for crisp, clear calls. Though the technology is still in its early days, what might be most intriguing is the incorporation of spatial audio, which uses built-in gyroscopes and an accelerometer to follow the movements of the listener’s head, and translates that into a dynamic surround-sound experience when watching select films and shows on certain iOS devices.
“The AirPods Max are an almost perfect technical achievement,” says Benoît Carretier, editor at France’s Tsugi magazine and a self-described headphone obsessive. “They are probably the best-built headphones on the market. These are premium quality materials, not your average plastic. The sound quality is impressive, the Active Noise Cancellation is by far the best available on the market, and the transparency is just astounding.”
But users looking for Active Noise Cancellation at a lower price point would do well to investigate Apple’s AirPods Pro, which compress noise-cancellation technology into an earbud form with a customizable fit. “I think what Apple does with tiny headphone speakers is incredible,” says Chicago drummer/producer Spencer Tweedy. “I don’t necessarily like having earbuds in my ears all the time, but I can’t believe how full-ranged and clear AirPods Pro sound. They even have decent low end. I’m completely happy listening to music on AirPods most of the time.”
All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Bowers & Wilkins PX5 ($300)
The UK’s Bowers & Wilkins are renowned for their loudspeakers—for years, their 120,000-watt sound system was at the heart of Primavera Sound’s dance tent—but they've also been winning fans for their headphones for over a decade now. After launching the line in 2010 with the P5, they updated that model to the wireless PX5, which features adaptive noise cancelling and 25 hours of playback. (In an emergency, a 15-minute charge can produce five hours of listening time.) Nabil Ayers, journalist and U.S. general manager of 4AD, is a fan: “On subways and flights I like Bowers & Wilkins PX5 wireless headphones. They sound great without being clunky.” Where the PX5s rest on the ears, the PX7s feature over-ear cups—and the largest drivers in Bowers & Wilkins’ headphone collection. One benefit of bigger headphones means more room for the battery: The PX7 promises 30 hours of playback. Both models allow you to pause the music by simply lifting an earcup.
Sony WH-1000XM4 ($298)
Sony’s WH-1000XM4 are among the most consistently top-reviewed noise-cancelling headphones on the market. This fourth-generation model (hence “M4”) is lighter in weight than the WH-1000XM3 and includes an improved sound processor (DSEE Extreme). Sony has made improvements to the way the unit blocks out background noise, while an improved microphone means clearer calls. The adaptive noise cancelling and related smart technologies can adjust for changes in airplane cabin pressure, and the Speak to Chat feature pauses the music automatically when you start talking. Audiophiles will appreciate the fact that they support LDAC, Sony’s new Bluetooth-compatible wireless technology, said to triple the amount of audio information transmitted via the SBC codec. They’re great for travels, with 30 hours of battery life, while a 10-minute quick charge yields five hours of listening time. All that, and “they’re really comfortable for extended listening sessions—plus they’re stylish,” says Pitchfork’s Noah Yoo.
Stepping down in price, the Sony WH-CH700N wireless noise cancelling headphones make a solid alternative. While they don’t have all the features of the WH-1000XM4, they do have 35 hours of listening time, one-touch Bluetooth connectivity, and AI-driven noise cancellation that scans and adjusts to ambient background noise, along with Sony’s DSEE Digital Sound Enhancement Engine. “They’re lightweight and not ear-crushing for longer use, which is a bonus,” says Brooklyn producer and engineer Daniel J. Schlett, whose work includes records for Arto Lindsay, DIIV, and the War on Drugs. “I love the noise cancelling on the subway. It allows you to keep the volume down so you aren’t keeping your device at full volume all the time—save your ears and your battery life. They even sound pretty good, too!”
Nuraphone ($399)
No two sets of ears are alike, so why should headphones be any different? That’s the philosophy of Australia’s Nuraphone, founded in 2016 by an electrical engineer and a hearing scientist. The principle is a little bit like technologies like Sonos’ Trueplay, which automatically “tunes” your speakers according to the dimensions of your room. Nuraphone works by playing a range of tones into your ear when setting up the headphones, then measuring the otoacoustic emission that the cochlea produces in response. (It’s a similar process to the hearing tests given to infants.) Nuraphone’s software uses that otoacoustic emission to generate a customized “hearing profile” for the user, which adjusts playback according to the physiological particularities of their ears. Fans of the technology swear that it’s a listening experience unlike any other. Just as unusual is the use of dual speakers in each ear—one over the ear and one inside the ear canal—that provide an unusually immersive, spatialized experience. In addition to the Active Noise Cancellation and passive isolation, the Nuraphone offers a range of features that audiophiles will appreciate, like Bluetooth aptX HD and multiple wired options (Lightning connector, USB-C, micro-USB, and analog mini-jack), for even better sound.
Sennheiser HD 450BT ($150)
Germany’s Sennheiser is beloved by audio professionals; their HD 600 and HD 650 headphones are standards in recording studios, while you’d be hard-pressed to find a DJ booth without a pair of HD 25s laid across the mixer. Sennheiser’s noise-cancelling models bring similar quality and durability to the consumer market. In addition to Active Noise Cancellation, the HD 450BT features multiple Bluetooth codecs (AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency), USB-C charging, and a 30-hour battery life, plus a configurable EQ (via Sennheiser’s Smart Control App). “They’re great noise-cancelling headphones,” says producer Willie Green, a producer and engineer whose credits include Armand Hammer, the Roots, and Wiz Khalifa. “They come with an app to adjust the sound, but they sound great out of the box.”
Sennheiser’s PXC 550-II noise-cancelling headphones boast a similar foldable design and 30-hour charge, along with features like Smart Pause, which stops the music when you take off the headphones and lets you pick up seamlessly where you left off. The triple-mic array makes for crystalline voice calls, while the wide frequency range (17 Hz - 23kHz) means rich, full audio. “I’m a snob for how Sennheiser sounds,” says Pitchfork editor Anna Gaca. “The balance just hits better than other brands, to my ears. Ease of use is important to me, so I appreciate the intuitive touch controls and the option to turn off noise-canceling if someone is talking to me. They also work just as well as wired headphones if you need to save battery power.”
Then there’s the Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless. Don’t be fooled by the retro design: These high-tech cans feature three different modes of Active Noise Cancellation, allowing you to adjust the level according to your environment, plus Transparent Hearing, Bluetooth 5 compliance, and additional features like Smart Pause. Rounding out the bass-friendly range (6 Hz - 22 kHz) with leather head strap and earcups, the MOMENTUM Wireless feels as luxurious as it sounds.
Bose Noise Cancelling 700 ($379)
For years, noise-cancelling headphones were virtually synonymous with the Bose brand. As the story goes, a thwarted attempt to listen to headphones on a noisy flight gave Dr. Amar Bose his “eureka” moment in 1978, inspiring an invention that would take more than a decade to perfect. Bose released the world’s first noise-reduction headset to the aviation industry in 1989, and introduced its consumer-oriented QuietComfort Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones in 2000; the world of business class has never been the same since.
These days, the company’s flagship is the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. Introduced in 2019, the 700 are intended as a step up from the QuietComfort 35, introduced in 2016. They’re pricey, but the design is sleek and the build extraordinary. (One downside: Though the cups swivel for storage, the headphones themselves aren’t foldable, so you’ll have to carry them in their accompanying case if you want to keep them protected.) A touch-sensitive system of taps and swipes controls playback, volume, and answering calls; you can also pair them with two devices at a time, in case you want to switch between phone and laptop. The secret sauce, of course, is the noise cancellation itself, which relies on an array of six microphones to detect outside noise. (Two of these pair with two additional mics for voice recognition, leading to unusually clear phone calls.) The ability to adjust Active Noise Cancellation on a scale from 1 to 10 means you can precisely tailor it to your surroundings and preferences. “I love my Bose QuietComfort noise-cancelling headphones,” says Mat Schulz, director of Poland’s Unsound festival. “They’re amazing for plane travel, when I used to do a lot of that, and for getting rid of background noise while working. I have the last model, but the 700s are even better. They’re also great for phone calls and Zooms—an essential item.”
The QuietComfort 35 II, released in 2017, is still in production, and it still has plenty of fans. Some reviewers find that it has a slightly more comfortable fit than the 700, and its battery life is a respectable 20 hours, same as on the 700. It only supports AAC and SBC codecs, so obsessive audiophiles might want to look elsewhere. But the noise cancellation is strong enough that the QuietComfort 35 II aren’t just for listening to music. “I don't go anywhere without them anymore,” says Katerina Émotsiya, a Bulgarian-born, Helsinki-based DJ and producer. “I think they’re especially helpful for highly sensitive people—when the noise level is lower, I feel less stressed.”
Barcelona native Pedro Vian, head of Modern Obscure Music, actually uses the QuietComfort 35 II in the studio. “They help me shut everything out,” he explains. “When I’m producing music, they help me define the small details in my music, since I can perceive such a wide range of frequencies.”
For those who don’t like the feel of over-ear headphones, Bose QuietComfort 20 noise-cancelling in-ear monitors might be the way to go. “On flights, I still rely on the old standby Bose QuietComfort 20s,” says Portland, Oregon, web developer Matthew McVickar. The molded StayHear+ tips naturally block out noise, while noise-cancelling technology filters out whatever makes its way in. In short, says Stockholm-based producer, mixer, and live engineer Daniel Rejmer,“If there is better noise-canceling than the Bose, I want to know about it!”
AKG N60NC Wireless ($130)
AKG’s over-ear and on-ear headphones come highly recommended by producers and DJs alike, and the N60NC Wireless brings the same acclaimed sound to a noise-cancelling unit. These on-air phones support both AAC and aptX Bluetooth codecs and 15 hours of playback with Bluetooth and Active Noise Cancellation (or 30 hours of pure ANC); they can also be used wired, in passive mode, until the end of time. The folding design makes them a cinch to travel with—no wonder Lufthansa used to supply these in business class.
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