What are the best noise-canceling headphones to help you drown out the world around you? Here’s our list!
Flip the switch, the sound of the engines drops away, and you’re flying in peace. Hit the button, the din of the coffee shops disappears, and you’re working or studying with focus. Turn them on and whatever it is your roommate, significant other, or kids are up to goes buh-bye and you get to hear what you want to hear.
All you need to make those beautiful dreams a reality is a great set of over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones like these.
Bose QuietComfort 35
The Bose brand has been the gold standard for active noise-cancelling headphones for years, and it’s Bluetooth QuietComfort 35 (QC35) over-ear model that carries the torch.
Though other brands have come close to matching Bose’s quality, I still think Bose is the headphone manufacturer to beat, and I’m not the only one.
iMore’s own Serenity Caldwell has used the QC35s everywhere you can imagine and continues to be impressed.
” I’ve used them on planes and on the bus. I’ve used them to drown out animal noises and small children. I am never taking off Bose’s QC 35 noise-cancelling wireless headphones.”
I know battery life is of extreme concern when it comes to anything that runs on Bluetooth, but the QC 35 has a 20-hour battery life. Plus, even if you do run out of power, you can use the included AUX cable to still listen to the audio. The noise-cancelling feature, however, will not function if the battery is dead.
Sennheiser PXC 550
If you’re looking for a pair of noise-canceling headphones that have a slightly better sound quality than the Bose QC 35’s and can afford to pay a little more, Sennheiser’s PXC 550 is an excellent option.
With touch controls on the side of the ear pieces and the ability to turn on the headset with a simple twist of the cans, Sennheiser’s PXC 550 is also a little more feature-laden than other headsets in its class.
Mobile Nations’ own intrepid video reviewer Mr. Mobile was impressed with the performance and style of Sennheiser’s PXC 550.
“The Sennheiser’s PXC 550 get so much right in such a classy package that I can’t give it anything but a thumbs up.”
The PXC 550’s are also Bluetooth enabled with a projected battery life of 30 hours.
Bose QuietComfort 25
When is comes to listening to audio, some people enjoy sticking with the old tried-and-true wired connection. If you fall into that camp Bose QuietComfort 25 (QC25) is an excellent choice.
The QC25’s get to enjoy all the positives of the QC35, just without Bluetooth connectivity.
They are comfortable, compact, and offer the same superior noise-canceling Bose is known for, making them perfect for wired audio enthusiasts everywhere.
The Wirecutter has selected the QC25’s as their top noise-canceling headphone for three years running.
“The Bose QuietComfort 25 headphones offer the best noise cancellation of any wired headphones available. They’re also comfortable, decent-sounding, and collapsible.”
Plus, QC25’s are quite a bit lighter than their Bluetooth counterparts, which means you can wear them even longer without any fatigue in your head or neck.
B&O Play H8
For fans of on-ear headphone who don’t mind shelling out the big bucks for quality, the Bang & Olufsen Play H8 fits the bill.
When it comes to Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones, the B&O Play H8 is as stylish and impressive as they come; CNET agrees.
“The Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H8 has a sleek, sturdy design, with a metal/leather headband and plush earcups, and very good sound for Bluetooth.”
The B&O Play H8 also have touch controls on the side of the right can, making it easy to control volume and skip tracks with a swipe of your finger.
Although battery life is slightly disappointing — roughly 14 hours — you can use the included 3.5mm cable to enjoy them through a wired connection.
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B
If dropping hundreds of dollars on a pair of noise-canceling headphone is out of your capabilities I don’t blame you. Lucky for you, the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B is a great budget option.
In a headset that costs $99, you’re going to make some sacrifices. The sound quality isn’t as impressive as the other headphones listed here, but as the The Wirecutter explains the noise-canceling capabilities are impressive for its price.
“They offer a lot more noise cancellation than the competition that costs the same and even more. They averaged 15.6 dB reduction in the “Airplane Band,” which is more than several $300 and $400 headphones we tested.”
The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B’s are a wired over-ear headphone, and the padding is nice and thick on the cans, so wearing them on a long flight should be no problem.
Your favorite noise-canceling headphones?
If you’ve tried any of these noise-canceling headphones, let me know what you think. If I missed any of your favorites, tell me all about them in the comments!