Good Over Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise cancelling headphones placed over the ear are crucial in order to lower the volume of your surroundings while focusing on your music. If you're flying or on your commute, or working at home.
We've reviewed the best options to help you pick. These are our top choices in accordance with the criteria we and our testers value most:.
1. Comfort
The best over-ear headphones for noise cancellation will comfortably fit your head and stay in place as you move around. The ear cups must be well-padded to block out background noise. This is particularly important for those who listen to music, audiobooks or podcasts while on the move or at home. The ear cup pads should be supple and flexible to accommodate different sizes and shapes, while the headband should be padded to ensure it is comfortable to wear all day long.
The best noise-canceling headphones depend on your budget and the requirements. There are a few longtime heavyweights on the market, such as Bose and Sony, but Apple has quickly carved out a share of the market by offering its premium AirPods Max. There are also budget-friendly models from brands like monoprice which include many of the features of higher-end models for less than half the cost.
For example, the monoprice BT-600ANC offer active noise cancellation and ambient awareness modes, touch controls and high-quality audio codec support for all your favorite audio apps. Their ear cups are also smaller than Bose's most recent models, therefore they're a good fit for most people. They're also quite affordable at around the same price as a decent pair of wired noise-canceling headphones.
If you're willing a bit more than the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 will impress you with their quality of construction and sound. They marry subtlety with flair in a way that no other headphones can. They feature die-cast aluminum arms and diamond-cut metal detailing that makes the headphones look as gorgeous as they feel.
The noise-canceling capabilities of these headphones are less powerful than those of the Bose QC35 and QC45. However, our Lab Assistant found that they were extremely comfortable to wear over long periods of time. In our tests, they eliminated much of the rumble of trains and engines on an airplane track, but they didn't cut out the screeching brakes or the roar of fellow passengers on public transport. The headphones lacked passive isolation which is a characteristic we look for when selecting the best headphones to block out office chatter and other distracting background noises in your home.
2. noise cancelling headphones wireless cancelling headphones can block out the noise around you and help you focus in a noisy office or to get some sleep on a flight. However, the quality of audio that is produced by the headphones is equally important. You'll want to be able listen to podcasts and music with as much clarity and volume as you can in your quiet place.
The earcups or bud that seal your ears in the headphone also play an important part in this. Good isolation is the best method to keep outside sounds from disrupting your audio experience. You can achieve this by wearing headphones that have active noise cancellation with built-in microphones that create opposing sounds to block out ambient sounds. Earbuds do not use active noise cancellation technology, aren't as efficient at isolating but offer excellent noise isolation thanks to their design and the seal you can get when they fit well to your ears.
We test for a range of elements to determine the top over-ear headphones for noise cancellation, including their ability to block low-frequency ambient sounds like the sound of a train engine, or the drone of an airplane and also high-frequency continuous noises like chatter or conversation. We also assess the sound quality of headphones, such as bass, midrange, and treble clarity, and whether or not they offer a natural distinction between instruments and voices.
The Sony WH1000XM5 is our top pick. It offers excellent noise cancellation that effectively dampens a plane's roar or the rumble from a subway car, without taking the sound out of your movie or playlist. They provide great passive isolation and come with many useful extras like the capability for your media to automatically paused when you remove it from your ears.
Bose's QuietComfort headphones have a similar sound quality, with crisp highs and mids. They're a bit more expensive than the XM4s but not enough that they aren't worth considering. The headphones have some minor issues they don't let you alter the amount of active sound cancellation. It's either turned on, or off. You can also't enable a transparent mode that allows in outside sounds and they don't have an on-ear detection that prompts your phone to switch to the headset when you remove them.
3. Noise Cancellation
Noise cancelling is a crucial feature for anyone who plans to wear headphones for long periods of time, whether they're working at home remotely, catch up on reading or podcasts, or simply listen to music and movies on a plane or train. The best noise-canceling headsets need to do more than just block out ambient sound. That's why we looked at audio spectrum analysis and subjective listening tests to evaluate the noise-canceling capabilities of headphones in our review.
We also searched for headphones that were comfortable, had high-quality construction, and provided superior audio quality. We also evaluated the extent to which they could block out sounds of a short duration, like the whirrr of a lawnmower or computer next door, or sounds with a higher frequency. We also analyzed the level of isolation provided by headphones, and if they could be effective in blocking out the sound by covering your ears with earcups.
Over-ear models tend to offer better noise cancellation than earbuds, since they're designed to completely protect your ears and shield your ears from noise. We have compared the ANC performances of several different over-ear headphones including models from Bose, Sony and more to determine which one most effectively block out external distractions while still providing excellent audio quality.
In our review of the Sony WH1000XM5 headphones we discovered that they combine of excellent sound quality and comfort along with superior noise cancellation. The headphones also support the high-resolution audio codec LDAC for a more immersive listening experience. They also come with a physical button which allows you to switch between three preset levels of ANC on any device.
The Monoprice BT-600ANC are lightweight affordable headphones for over-ear use that provide an excellent quality of audio and noise reduction. They're not the most comfortable to wear for extended durations of time, but they are capable of shielding your ears from the surrounding noise and allowing you to become lost in your favorite music.
The Sony WH-910N headphones are a fantastic pair of noise-canceling cans at a reasonable price. The "XB" in their name, refers to extra bass. While they deliver the promised sound however, we prefer the Bose ANC performance and overall feel of the WH1000XM5 headphones.
4. Battery Life
If you're planning to spend a couple hundred bucks on a pair of noise cancelling headphones, you'll want to ensure they'll last. The best over-ear noise cancelling headphones come with a battery lifespan that will last through an extended flight or week of commuting. We always test wireless headphones to see how long they last on battery.
During our testing we've found that the top ANC headphones have at least 30 hours of battery life. This is more than enough for a long trip or a week of meetings and commutes. Many models can go beyond the limit with some models even achieving 60 hours of active noise cancellation.
While there are headphones that last for longer, you should be aware that the quality of your sound will decrease as the battery of your headphone decreases. This will be noticeable when the sound becomes muffled, and the bass is less pronounced. However, the majority of people don't be able to tell the difference, particularly if you are only listening to quiet music or podcasts.
The updated Sennheiser Momentum over-ear headphones are designed to deliver the features that top-of-the-line audio headset buyers look for. They focus on design, comfort and essential features. They come with a better ANC as well as a helpful application for controlling the headphones and excellent sound quality. The headphones are half the cost of Sony's flagship models, which means you can enjoy top-quality ANC without the hefty price cost.
Monoprice BT600ANC headphones are another pair worth considering. They're affordable, yet provide excellent performance. They're lightweight and comfortable, with a well-designed headband that's easy to wear. Touch controls and AAC and aptX support are available for high-quality audio. They're compatible with iOS and Android devices. They're not as well-received as the Bose QuietComfort 45, but they're an excellent choice for anyone on a tight budget.
Noise-canceling headsets are an excellent purchase for frequent travelers, office employees and anyone who wants a quiet and peaceful environment to listen to their podcast or audiobook. While they can be more expensive than normal headphones, they are well worth the investment for those who are constantly in motion.