Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones in 2023

Sony WH-1000XM2

The Sony WH-1000XM2 is a superior set of headphones with excellent acoustics and highly effective noise cancellation technology.

Noise-Cancellation

The Sony WH-1000MX2 is a set of premium travel-grade technology best used on long travels and blocking out noise. It’s also packed with features that make it arguably the best set of noise-canceling headphones on the planet.

Its ambient noise mode lets in mid-to high-frequency tones such as announcements over a PA system. It also has the Quick Attention feature that lets all outside noise through without removing the headphones, useful if you need to have a quick chat with a coworker or ordering a drink from a flight attendant.

Audio Playback

A unique and winning feature is its LDAC codec. Alongside the widely used aptX HD standard, the LDAC codec enables Hi-Res Audio playback for as long as your device supports the codec such as Android Oreo devices (sorry, iPhone users). Nevertheless, it still has two Sony-specific technologies, DSEE HX and S-Master HX, that convert audio from any source and converts it to near hi-res.

Hardware

There are four microphones located inside the headphones and on outer earcups. The Power/Bluetooth button is on the left earcup. Beside it is a button to toggle the noise-cancellation setting between on, ambient mode, and off. This is also where you’ll find the auxiliary jack, while the micro USB to charge the earphones is on the right earcup.

The bridge is made of metal with a padded bottom that sits comfortably on the top of the head. However, the arms that connect to the earcups and the hinges that connect to the earcups themselves are made of plastic. The earcups have a faux leather cover that is comfortable to wear and cool to the skin.

The right earcup is touch-capacitative. Here, you can control playback and volume. It’s not the most intuitive design, but it can be useful once you get used to it. Unfortunately, if you connect the headphones with the 3.5mm cable to your device, the touch controls don’t function. You’ll have to pull your phone out every time you need to control the music.

The headphones have a very sleek and business-like design and come in black and white.

Battery Life

The headphones are expected to last on battery for 30 hours of playback. It also has a quick charge, needing only 10 minutes for every 70 minutes of playback.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is a wildly popular pair of headsets for many travelers. It boasts of top-of-the-line noise cancellation technology and balanced audio quality. Some people prefer the older model which does not have all the features, you can see the full comparison here.

Noise Cancellation

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is a top-of-the-line pair of headphones that offer both wireless operation and active noise cancellation.

The headphones are not exactly jampacked with tons of features, but its noise-cancellation is still best-in-class. Switching it on is like walking into a vacuum, drowning out any noise from passing vehicles to nearby voices. There is a bit of pressure with the noise-cancellation on. It’s not a problem for many, but those sensitive to ear pressure might find it irritating.

Audio Playback

Audio quality is good, but not the best. Compared to the Sony WH-1000MX2, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II falls behind in audio quality. Tonal balance is neutral, dynamic range is limited, and resolution is good but not hi-res. Audio sounds soft compared to its Sony competitor, but still performs superbly compared to other headphone brands.

Most travelers and regular users will find the sound quality of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II more than great. Audiophiles will not be as satisfied.

A great feature added to the headphones is the Google Assistant. One long-press of a button and you can activate Google Assistant for hands-free operation. Google can also read back to your notifications or messages so you don’t have to take your phone out of your pocket.

Hardware

Even with the noise-cancellation off, the headphones themselves already do a good job of blocking out ambient noise. This is a testament to how well-designed the ear pads are.

Controls are also fairly simple and easy to use. Power, pairing, volume, and playback buttons are on the right earcup. On the left is the Google Assistant button, which you can remap to toggle other controls via the Bose app.

The design is quite generic and subtle. The build is made of plastic, which is a bit disappointing in terms of quality and looks but at least makes the unit lightweight. To make up for this, the set comes with a hard case for portability.

Battery Life

The headphones can last 20 hours with noise-cancellation on and moderate volume levels. You can save a bit more battery when listening wired, but it comes with a 2.5mm jack instead of the more common 3.5mm. It’s a bit more inconvenient to find a replacement, but not a dealbreaker.

Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC

The Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is a travel-friendly option without a hefty price tag.

Noise Cancellation

The Sennheiser HD 4.5 BTNC’s NoiseGuard noise-canceling technology electronically cancels out outside noise through two omnidirectional microphones. It’s not going to obliterate noise as well as the Sony and Bose competition, but it’s effective and delivers quality sound without any distortion. This function is activated by holding a button on the earcup for three seconds.

Audio Playback

The headphones perform surprisingly well when it comes to audio delivery. The sound is clear and detailed even when connected via Bluetooth. It’s not as crisp as high-end headphones but the audio is rounded and performs well with music and movies.

The bass doesn’t rumble and the audio loses a little quality when NoiseGuard is on, but it’s not out of character for most noise-canceling headphones.

Hardware

The headphones look a little flimsy with its plastic body and brushed aluminum accents, but it’s much sturdier than it looks. The design is made with travelers in mind, making the headphones both light and flexible. Of course, With their affordable price tag and superb performance, these headphones are popular across all kinds of users.

The earcups are narrower than usual, making them more comfortable to wear around the neck. However, they fit snuggly around the ears and lack ventilation, which can be a problem for long usage. The right earcup has controls for volume and playback plus a micro USB port for charging.

It also comes with a travel pouch that’s smaller, softer, and lighter than other headphones. This is the perfect pair to get if you want to travel light.

Battery Life

Despite the affordable price tag, there is no compromise in terms of battery life. It can last 20 hours of continuous playback and at par with high-end headphones.

AKG N60NC Wireless

The AKG N60NC Wireless is an affordable accessory that delivers on its noise-canceling promise with a much better-looking design.

Bowers & Wilkins PX Wireless

The Bowers & Wilkins PX Wireless has impressive noise-canceling technology with a stylish design and innovative motion sensors.

Noise Cancellation

The PX Wireless noise-cancellation feature is highly effective. Its default mode is “Flight”, but you can toggle between three different noise-cancellation modes through its companion app. Each mode lets through different frequencies depending on where you’re traveling. “City” mode lets through traffic noise, “Office” lets through high-frequency voices, and “Flight” eliminates engine rumble.

Audio Playback

B&W has rolled out an impressive line of headphones in recent years, and this is their first attempt in the noise-canceling arena. While its noise-cancellation technology is impressive, the sound quality doesn’t quite come at par with what we’ve come to expect from B&W.

The mids and trebles have a fuzzy sound to them, which is not a problem for tracks but music with larger soundstages can sound squashed. Busy songs sound noisier than they should be.

Sound quality is still not the worst anyone will experience, but disappoints alongside its high-end price. There is a loss of detail in the music playback. However, the B&W pair somehow makes up for it with its delivery of driving bass lines.

Hardware

The matte finish of these headphones is a departure from B&W’s typical black leather and silver. The look is a little understated, but the build quality is superb. There’s a chunky look to its metal parts, but it still looks very sleek and feels sturdy.

In terms of all the standard features of excellent noise-canceling headphones, B&W’s pair delivers on all. It has a standard 3.5mm jack, full physical control buttons, and Bluetooth aptX HD support.

What sets it apart is its intuitive motion sensor that can tell whether you’re using the headphones or not. Taking them off turns off the headphones and lifting one earcup pauses the music. It’s a very useful feature and helps conserve battery life. You can adjust the sensitivity of the sensor.

Battery Life

The B&W PX Wireless lasts a total of 22 hours of continuous use. Catching up with innovation, these headphones feature USB-C charging as well.