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A man in a blue shirt listens to the all-white Sony WH-1000XM5. It's a bright, sunny day. The immediate setting is a residential street, but there are palm trees in hte distance. Credit: Reviewed / John Higgins

The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

A man in a blue shirt listens to the all-white Sony WH-1000XM5. It's a bright, sunny day. The immediate setting is a residential street, but there are palm trees in hte distance. Credit: Reviewed / John Higgins

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Editor's Choice Product image of Sony WH-1000XM5
Best Overall

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones offer significant upgrades over the WH-1000XM4, with a higher price to match. Are these the best wireless headphones? Read More

Pros

  • Lush, powerful sound
  • Top-notch comfort and features
  • Incredible noise canceling

Cons

  • Same battery as XM4
  • Less portable than rivals
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Sony WF-1000XM5
Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds

Sony WF-1000XM5

The Sony WF-1000XM5 deliver class-leading noise-canceling performance with excellent sound quality and an app that offers a bunch of customizability. Read More

Pros

  • Class leading ANC
  • Excellent, balanced sound
  • Works for both Apple and Android

Cons

  • Fit takes fiddling
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Best for iPhone

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Apple’s updated AirPods Pro may look the same, but features like Adaptive Transparency and next-gen noise canceling make them the best buds around. Read More

Pros

  • Next-gen noise canceling
  • Adaptive Transparency mode
  • Sound and battery boost

Cons

  • No EQ or ANC adjustment
  • No separate app for Android
4
Editor's Choice Product image of Anker Soundcore Space A40
Best Value

Anker Soundcore Space A40

The Soundcore Space A40 set a new mark for earbuds under $100 thanks to great sound and noise canceling that outperforms many pricier options. Read More

Pros

  • Amazing ANC for the price
  • Customizable sound profiles
  • Great battery life

Cons

  • Little sizzly out of the box
  • Lows can cover vocals
5
Editor's Choice Product image of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

The Bose QuietComfort II Earbuds have some of the best active noise canceling we've ever heard, but aren't the best for making calls. Read More

Pros

  • Incredible noise canceling
  • Clear sound
  • Secure and light fit

Cons

  • Lackluster call performance
  • Missing some standard features

These days, noise-canceling is almost a headphone necessity. Active Noise Canceling (ANC) headphones can’t eliminate all the noise around you. However, they can drastically reduce the worst of it, from managing crowd murmur to canceling out airplane noise. Add a little music into the equation and you've got some much-needed peace and quiet.

After testing dozens of headphones in our labs and in the real world, we’re confident the Sony WH-1000XM5 (available at Amazon for $348.00) are the best noise-canceling headphones available. They combine top-tier noise crushing with phenomenal features, comfort, and sound quality.

But there are plenty of great options, from over-ear models to noise-canceling earbuds, so you can find the perfect pair for you.

Sony WH-1000XM5 white and black models sit on a black desktop.
Credit: Reviewed/Ryan Waniata

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are premium noise canceling masters.

Best Overall
Sony WH-1000XM5
  • Ambient sound modes: ANC via QN1 and V1 chips, Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: No IP rating
  • Battery life: 30 hours

Sony’s WH-1000XM5 are a sharp upgrade in an already-fantastic family of headphones. The WH-1000XM4 headset was already a strong performer. This successor is a full redesign and the best overall performer we’ve ever seen.

The oval-shaped ear cups are more similar to Apple’s AirPods Max than to the XM4. The plush-padded cups and headband are protected with ultra-smooth synthetic leather. The result is a more comfortable, durable headset.

There’s a lot to love here, but first and foremost is the XM5’s incredible active noise canceling. Two ANC chipsets and eight microphones help the adaptive ANC react to your environment quickly and thoroughly. Most ANC deals well with lower drones, but the XM5 deals well with higher frequency chatter, too.

You can find stronger noise canceling performance, but it’s rare. The only options we’ve found are Bose’s QC45 and QuietComfort Earbuds II, and the new Apple AirPods Pro. But none of those offer such a strong overall package. None of the XM5’s noise-canceling competition are as customizable, and the Bose sets just can’t compete on sound quality. Beyond being brilliant active noise canceling headphones, this set delivers crisp, rich audio across every genre of music. That’s especially true after adjusting the EQ in the Sony Headphones app.

Speaking of the app, it also provides easy controls for Sony’s 1000XM series’s almost-overwhelming array of features. Multipoint pairing, transparency mode, and more are at your fingertips and easy to tailor. The touch controls and battery life are the same as their predecessor, the XM4, but they do charge much more quickly.

The biggest downside is portability. The long ear cups don’t fold, making them harder to store and carry. They’re also definitely on the pricier side.

If you’re on a budget or do a ton of traveling, another option may suit you better. But if you want stellar noise canceling in a great package, it’s worth the investment.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review.

Pros

  • Lush, powerful sound

  • Top-notch comfort and features

  • Incredible noise canceling

Cons

  • Same battery as XM4

  • Less portable than rivals

The Sony WF-1000XM5 in their charing case being held in someone's fingers above green grass.
Credit: Reviewed / John Higgins

Not only do the Sony WF-1000XM5 deliver the best noise-canceling performance, they sound excellent, too.

Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM5
  • Ambient sound modes: Noise canceling, adaptive transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: IPX4
  • Battery life: 8 hours with ANC; up to 24 hours with the case

When Bose released its QuietComfort Earbuds II at the end of 2022, Sony and the WF-1000XM4 were bumped from the top of our best noise-canceling list. But Sony has now responded to reclaim the throne with the WF-1000XM5.

While the ANC improvements over the Bose QCEII and Apple AirPods Pro 2 are minor, the WF-1000XM5 do a better job at attenuating the troublesome midrange frequencies. Ambient conversations are duller and easier to tune out. The small bit of high-end hiss that could creep through with the Bose and Apple is gone as well. Overall, the ANC performance ekes out a win over those two heavy hitters.

The WF-1000XM5 beat out the QCEII and AirPods Pro 2 in two other important ways. The sound quality for both music and calls far exceeds the performance of the Bose, and unlike the AirPods Pro 2, the XM5 function just as well with Apple products as they do with Android. The only thing keeping the WF-1000XM5 from the Best Overall selection on this list is their fit. Getting a solid fit can take some effort, but overall there isn’t a better pair of earbuds available.

Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review.

Pros

  • Class leading ANC

  • Excellent, balanced sound

  • Works for both Apple and Android

Cons

  • Fit takes fiddling

An image of the Apple AirPods Pro in a case on grass.
Credit: Reviewed / Ryan Waniata

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) deliver significant upgrades to noise canceling, transparency mode, and sound.

Best for iPhone
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
  • Ambient sound modes: Noise canceling, Adaptive Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: IPX4
  • Battery life: 6 hours with ANC (up to 7 without), up to 31 hours with the case

Apple took the success of the shockingly popular AirPods Pro and pushed it even further with the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). They may not look different, but inside you’ll find powerful upgrades to the noise canceling, battery life, and sound quality.

The noise canceling is top-tier, beat out only by the Sony WF-1000XM5, but not by much. Apple’s even beaten out our overall top pick for sheer noise-canceling performance. They’ve also delivered a clear, natural Adaptive Transparency mode that has the added bonus of limiting incoming sounds to 85dB. (Note that while this is handy, it’s no substitute for proper ear protection.)

Other standout features include clearer audio quality, great call quality, and better bass response. And all of that performance is wrapped up in a shockingly light package.

They haven’t done an awful lot to the design itself, but there are a few new features folded in. The case has a speaker in it to make noise so you can find it through the Find My app.

Perhaps the biggest drawback here is that these earbuds are obviously fairly locked in to Apple’s ecosystem. You can use them with other devices, but you won’t have the support of an app or settings menu. Even with the settings menu, we wish there was more EQ and ANC control. And while the battery life is alright, it’s not amazing.

Still, provided you’ve got an iPhone and the cash to spare, the Apple AirPods 2 are a powerful pair that you won’t regret buying.

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) review.

Pros

  • Next-gen noise canceling

  • Adaptive Transparency mode

  • Sound and battery boost

Cons

  • No EQ or ANC adjustment

  • No separate app for Android

A man wearing the Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds while standing outside in front of a tree.`
Credit: Reviewed / John Higgins

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds deliver the best ANC performance you can get for under $100.

Best Value
Anker Soundcore Space A40
  • Ambient sound modes: Adaptive ANC, Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: IPX4
  • Battery life: 10 hours, up to 50 hours with the case

Anker’s cemented themselves as a go-to for inexpensive noise-canceling earbuds and headphones. But they’ve gone above and beyond with their Space A40 earbuds. These earbuds list for $100 and offer noise-canceling at least as good as $150 earbuds like the Jabra Elite 5.

They handle low drones well, but a lot of noise canceling does. The A40 sets itself apart by also taking the edge off of midrange conversations. It can’t completely remove chatter, but it’ll take the edge off to the point that adding in a little quiet music should keep you focused. The app offers two different Transparency Modes, a full-range option and one that allows voices through for quick conversations.

While the high end is a little sharp and the mids can get lost in the base, the A40 offers a decent default sound profile. They also offer an 8-band EQ in the app so that you can find your ideal profile.

The included HearID Sound will even profile your ears and generate a personalized EQ curve. It works pretty well, and is certainly better than the out-of-the-box sound. These buds also support hi-res audio via LDAC.

The touch controls aren’t overcomplicated and they are customizable. Three options for simple taps and holds in each ear can be assigned to control options like volume, track controls, voice assistant activation, choosing an ambient sound mode select, and more.

The feature set, noise canceling, and customizable sound are all phenomenal options. Once you add the wireless charging case, you’ve got a new gold standard for $100 set of earbuds.

Pros

  • Amazing ANC for the price

  • Customizable sound profiles

  • Great battery life

Cons

  • Little sizzly out of the box

  • Lows can cover vocals

Other Noise-Canceling Headphones We Tested

Product image of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
  • Ambient sound modes: Noise canceling, Adaptive Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: IPX4
  • Battery life: 6 hours with ANC, up to 24 hours with the case

Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II offer some of the absolute best pure noise canceling performance we’ve ever heard. It’s exceptional against low drones, but it’s also incredibly effective in areas where ANC headphones typically suffer. Even midrange chatter is cut to a level where even quiet music can cover it up.

The QuietComfort II’s sound performance is enhanced as well, with the addition of a 3-band EQ in the Bose Music app. There are certainly more fine-tuned EQs out there, but it suffices to wrangle harsh sounds in certain registers. You can customize the touch controls as well, using them for volume, tracks, voice assistant activation, and ANC tweaks.

Their biggest downside is their call sound quality, especially for the person on the other end of the line. for whoever you’re speaking to, doesn’t measure up. Even a mild breeze can become an overpowering whoosh that ruins phone calls. We’d also like to see more customization, and the active transparency mode isn’t as well-honed as those of the AirPods Pro 2.

But despite those drawbacks, Bose’s improved take on their earbuds features solid sound and the best noise canceling performance you can buy.

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II review.

Pros

  • Incredible noise canceling

  • Clear sound

  • Secure and light fit

Cons

  • Lackluster call performance

  • Missing some standard features

Product image of Bose QuietComfort 45
Bose QuietComfort 45
  • Ambient sound modes: Active noise canceling, Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: No IP rating
  • Battery life: up to 24 hours with ANC

The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are the latest from a legendary line of audio products. They aren’t perfect, but they have powerful noise canceling performance that more than earns their spot on the list. They demolished our typical noise canceling tests, landing very close to our Best Overall pick, Sony’s WH-1000XM5.

On top of Bose’s excellent ability to block sound waves, they’re also sleek enough to travel easily. There are only two sound modes—”Quiet” for noise canceling and “Aware” for transparency mode. Meanwhile, the Bose Music app is easy to navigate. All in all, it’s a similar seamlessness to the Apple AirPods, but not tied to one platform.

Of course, that simplicity can also be a drawback, especially at this price. Compared to rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and XM4, you’re getting a pretty limited experience. With no way to change the EQ settings, there’s nothing to do about the occasionally sharp treble of the QC45’s sound signature.

If sound quality and advanced features are as important as squashing the noise, there are better options out there. But if your top priority is just world-class noise canceling in a simple, stout package, Bose’s QuietComfort 45 headphones are tough to beat.

Pros

  • World-beating noise canceling

  • Detailed sound

  • Ample battery life

Cons

  • Limited features

  • No adjustable EQ

Product image of Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony WH-1000XM4
  • Ambient sound modes: Adaptive noise canceling via QN1 chip, Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: No IP rating
  • Battery life: up to 30 hours

Sony's WH-1000XM4 over-ear headphones are popular for their top-notch sound and impressive features. But they’re also solid at noise cancellation. Newer models may have surpassed them in the years since their release, but even today they hold their own.

The highly adaptive noise canceling here adjusts to your environment and activity. It responds to changes in barometric pressure, and whether you’re sitting, walking, or running to recalibrate its noise canceling for maximum effect.

Sony confidently sent a huge, noise-making box alongside our review pair as a kind of "stress test" for them. Their confidence is well-placed. The XM4 eliminates a ton of ambient noise, alongside being luxuriously comfortable and marvelously lightweight.

Other benefits include adjustable EQ in Sony’s headphone app and up to 30 hours of battery life. Handy features like Speak-to-Chat pauses the music when you speak, and multipoint pairing lets you bounce from your phone to your PC with ease.

No set of headphones are perfect, and the asking price here is steep. But these headphones have earned their strong reputation. They may have been supplanted by Sony’s latest, but they’re still a strong contender on their own.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM4 review.

Pros

  • Excellent audio quality

  • Top-notch noise cancelling

  • All day comfort

Cons

  • Effective operation has a learning curve

Product image of Sony WF-1000XM4
Sony WF-1000XM4
  • Ambient sound modes: Noise canceling, Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: IPX4
  • Battery life: 8 hours with ANC (12 without), up to 36 hours with the case

Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds are another powerful entry in their 1000XM line. With a brilliant mix of incredible sound quality, innovative design, IPX4 waterproofing, and great noise canceling, these are an expensive, but excellent choice.

They may have been supplanted for best noise-canceling, but they’re still a strong contender. Their small profile, solid battery life, and luscious sound help keep them in the ring.

The sound is one of the high points here; it’s among the best in its class. It’s sweet and smooth, with a world of subtle detail rendered easy to hear. Throw in the extra clarity provided by the powerful noise canceling and you’ve got a fantastic listening experience that beats out plenty of over-ear headphones.

Sony’s Headphones Connect app enables a host of features. There’s a robust EQ with manual adjustments and presets. Audio options include cycling from ambient mode to noise canceling based on your location and routine. The comfy foam tips provide a stable seal and the touch controls are intuitive.

Unfortunately, the touch controls raise our main complaint. They’re limited enough that you have to choose between volume controls or other crucial functionality. Likewise, other features we’d like to see for this price point like multipoint pairing or Find My Earbuds are missing.

Still, this is a powerful pair of noise-canceling earbuds that offers a great combination of robust features and smooth usability.

Read our full Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds review.

Pros

  • Fantastic noise canceling

  • Superb sound

  • Next-gen battery life

Cons

  • No good solution for volume control

  • Missing some features

Product image of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
  • Ambient sound modes: Active noise canceling, Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: IPX4
  • Battery life: up to 6 hours with ANC, up to 18 hours with the case

Bose upped the game with the QCEII earbuds, but the original QuietComfort Earbuds are still top-notch noise cancelers. They were designed from the ground up for active noise cancellation, and they succeed wildly. Despite their age, they offer sharp noise canceling, a premium design, clear sound, and a secure, comfortable fit.

Unfortunately, not every aspect has aged well. The price tag is fairly high, and on top of that, the chunky charging case only offers only two recharges, for a relatively low 18 hours of total battery. Bose’s trademark sound quality is present, but with no EQ in the app, you’re locked into the default.

These frustrations are offset by some neat convenience features, including several noise cancellation adjustments and the ability to adjust parameters like the volume of your own voice in phone calls.

Successors have come along to offer a little more at a similar price point, but this is still an objectively great set of earbuds. For the right sale price, they could be a solid way to get excellent noise cancellation.

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review.

Pros

  • Top-notch noise canceling

  • Comfy, secure fit

  • Tight, present audio

Cons

  • Chunky design

  • Case has mediocre battery

  • Middling features for the price

Product image of Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II
  • Ambient sound modes: Active noise canceling, Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: IPX4
  • Battery life: up to 20 hours

Bose has a long history at our near the top of the noise canceling competition. They’ve advanced a long way since the QuietComfort 35 Series II. But this headset was so far ahead of its own time that it still holds up, cutting out deep train rumbling, high-pitched air conditioner humming, and plenty in between.

The headphones are light and comfortable enough for hours of wear. The only drawback is you may get some heat or sweat where the cushy leather pads meet the sides of your head. The 20-hour battery life is less than the newest Bose or Sony pairs, but it'll get you through a flight to just about anywhere in the world.

One tricky point is that the ANC and the Bluetooth connection share an on/off switch. If you decide you don’t want ANC on for any reason, you’ll have to plug these in and use them as wired headphones.

With Bose having launched QC45 as a successor, The QC 35 II is a solid option at a more affordable price—especially if you can find them on sale.

Pros

  • Light & comfortable

  • Outstanding noise cancellation

  • Works with Google Assistant

Cons

  • Expensive

Product image of Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
  • Ambient sound modes: Adaptive noise canceling, Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: IPX4
  • Battery life: ~5.5 hours with ANC (7 without), up to 28 hours with the case

Sennheiser’s latest true wireless earbuds offer everything we love about the previous iteration and drastically improves the active noise canceling. The TW 3 boast responsive, powerful ANC that holds its own with the best in the business.

Of course, they also feature Sennheiser’s standout sound quality, our favorite feature of their predecessors. The more stylized soundstage is a bit brighter than before, but also clearer, with more attention to detail. If you don’t love the default sound, the three-band EQ makes it easier than ever to adjust. (Admittedly, we wouldn’t have minded more control there).

Other notable features include adjustable controls, a wireless charging case, and standards like auto-pause and the ability to use one earbud at a time. The battery life is competitive, if not groundbreaking. They also offer advanced audio codecs like aptX Adaptive and AAC for improved sound on Android or iPhone respectively. As of a November 2022 firmware update, they also feature multipoint pairing

They still feature IPX4 water resistance, but their new design makes them sportier and comfier. Multiple ear tips and fins help ensure a good fit. They may not be your go-to running buds, but they’ll work in a pinch for most any activity. Perhaps the best news is that all these improvements come with a lower MSRP than Sennheiser’s previous pair.

As for downsides, these buds aren’t quite as comfortable as semi-open pairs like the Jabra Elite 85t and Apple AirPods Pro. Their charging case is also heftier and bulkier than most competitors. Finally, there’s no “find my earbuds” feature available.

That said, Sennheiser’s delivered a winning combination of lots of features, a slimmer and sportier design, and powerful noise cancellation to go along with their trademark excellent sound.

Read our full Sennheiser TW 3 review.

Pros

  • Fantastic sound quality

  • Much improved ANC

  • Smaller footprint

Cons

  • Bulky, heavy case

  • No multipoint pairing

Product image of Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
  • Ambient sound modes: Active noise canceling, Transparency mode
  • Water resistance: IPX7
  • Battery life: Up to 5 hours with ANC (8 without), up to 30 hours with charging case

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are the go-to choice for Android users, especially alongside a Samsung Galaxy phone. Their six audio presets sound great—Normal, in particular, has excellent midrange response and vocal clarity. The ANC performance delivers great low-end cancellation of airplane drone and modest midrange handling of clicky keyboards and coffee shop conversation.

The design is 15% smaller than the original Galaxy Buds Pro. The slimmer profile offers a solid fit, and the IPX7 water resistance makes them a good workout companion. Samsung has also changed from a gloss finish to matte, and we prefer the new look.

Of course, there’s no iOS app, so the advanced features are limited to Android phones. However, Android users will find features like Bixby Voice control, spatial audio, Easy Pair and Auto Switch, and 24-bit high-res audio. The 5-hour battery life isn’t amazing, and our testing actually saw them come in a little under that number. Still, they can provide another hour after just a five-minute charge in the case.

For anyone entrenched in the Android ecosystem, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro deliver a package that’s hard to beat.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review.

Pros

  • Small, lightweight, comfortable

  • Excellent audio performance

  • Solid ANC

Cons

  • No multipoint pairing

  • Samsung-only features

Product image of Jabra Elite 85t True Wireless
Jabra Elite 85t True Wireless
  • Ambient sound modes: Noise canceling, Transparency mode
  • Dust and water resistance: IPX4
  • Battery life: 5.5 hours with ANC (7 without), up to 25 hours with the case

Jabra’s Elite 85t have been around for a little while. Still, they offer plenty to love: smooth and balanced sound, comprehensive controls, a compact form factor, decent battery life, and a barrel full of other top-flight features. They’ve held up well in the face of technological advances.

The Elite 85t have solid noise canceling, especially considering their open-style design. It may not squash background noise as completely as our top picks, but it’s darn good for almost any situation.

The more bulbous design means the fit isn’t as stable as workout headphones like Jabra’s own Elite 4 and Elite 7, or Beats’ Fit Pro. Still, the oval ear tips provide a proper seal without plugging up your ears, similar to the comfortable AirPods Pro.

These device-agnostic buds work with any of the major voice assistants (or none). Jabra’s app provides useful features, including customizable sound and controls, an earbuds finder, and much more. While the noise canceling isn’t top of the class, if you’re looking for great all-around earbuds that are comfortable for hours, Jabra’s Elite 85t are a brilliant choice.

Read our full Jabra Elite 85t review.

Pros

  • Outstanding features and design

  • Rich, balanced sound

  • Impressive noise canceling

Cons

  • Not as sport-friendly as other Jabra buds

How We Test Noise-Canceling Headphones

The Testers

John Higgins is Reviewed's Managing Editor for Tech. Before Reviewed, John covered all manner of electronics including TVs, projectors, AVRs, speakers, monitors, and computer peripherals for ProjectorCentral, IGN, Sound & Vision, T3, and Home Theater Magazine, among others. He also spent time as a sound editor and re-recording mixer for films, was a music teacher and music director at a private school in Los Angeles for 10 years, and recorded albums and played shows with a rock band.

Other testers who contributed to this guide include Reviewed's former Managing Editor Ryan Waniata, former A/V Editor Lee Neikirk, Reviewed Contributor Nick Woodard, Reviewed Contributor Nicole Carpenter, and Reviewed's former Director of Content Production TJ Donegan.

The Tests

While we focus here on noise cancelation, we ultimately cover every angle on each headphone set we test with a mix of real-world and lab testing. That includes data collection and A/B testing on factors like max volume, active noise cancellation, and more.

For every set of headphones, we use a wide variety of test tracks, ranging from classical to hip-hop, rock, jazz, and more. We A/B test noise cancellation performance against our top picks using simulated sounds like airplane drone, crowd chatter, and pink noise. The tests feed into a scoring system designed to get us as close as possible to an objective overall ranking.

In addition to noise cancelation, we want to make sure the headphones we recommend excel at the other factors that make headphones worth buying. We test for key factors like battery life, ease of use, controls, wireless range, comfort, and more to determine overall performance.

We also go beyond the lab to test every feature we can in real-life situations. We measure sweat-proofing, short- and long-term comfort, battery life, microphone quality, and connectivity over distances and through obstacles like doors and walls.

And while the testing cycle makes it impossible to measure how a set of headphones holds up over the long haul, we do what we can to compensate. While we don’t factor them into our scores, we look to customer reviews to see if we need to make any notes about how a set may hold up.

We also keep using these headphones over time. If firmware updates add new features, or if we find they hold up exceptionally well (or poorly), we update our reviews and rankings with that information.

In-Ear vs. On-Ear vs. Over-ear Headphones

In-ear vs. on-ear vs. over-ear headphones.
Credit: Reviewed

Three popular types of headphones: in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear.

Generally speaking, there are three major types of headphone: in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear. On-ear headphones, with cups that sit atop your ears, are becoming far less common. Over-ear headphones use large cups that envelop your ears, helping insulate you from outside noise. In-ear headphones, more commonly called earbuds, nestle into place within your ear itself.

Active Noise Cancellation vs. Passive Noise Cancellation

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) minimizes external sound by using small microphones to analyze incoming frequencies and then flipping their polarity to "cancel" them out. On the other hand, Passive Noise Cancellation (also referred to as passive noise isolation), uses materials and design to physically muffle or block outside sound. A strong mix of both is generally preferred to create the most effective noise cancellation.

Noise Cancellation and Sound Quality

Because active noise cancellation may introduce additional sound when engaged, it can affect the sound quality of what you’re listening to. Thankfully, this is becoming less of an issue among newer models.

Most noise cancellation headphones let you turn ANC on or off. More advanced models even allow for different levels of cancellation or feature Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation that automatically adjusts for the scenario and environment.

Does Noise Cancellation Block All Noise?

Noise cancellation is best at low, steady sounds like airplane engine drones. Even higher, steady sounds like air conditioning hums get dispatched fairly easily. The biggest test of noise cancellation comes with variable, midrange sounds like nearby conversations.

Since that’s the most distracting kind of sound for many people, shelling out for top-tier noise cancellation can be a big benefit when it comes to focusing on work in a crowded space.

Noise Cancellation


Meet the testers

Michael Garrett Steele

Michael Garrett Steele

Contributor

@MGarrettSteele

Michael Garrett Steele has been writing and editing professionally since 2013, and has been a part of Reviewed since 2020. An MFA in music composition, Garrett has lent audio expertise to everyone from Independence Community College to Bethesda Softworks, informing reviews of audio equipment and services. Garrett also covers tech, drawing on experience working everywhere from IT helpdesks to enterprise architecture sales. Steele has also become a go-to reviewer for minor plumbing fixtures since covering bidets for Reviewed in early 2020.

See all of Michael Garrett Steele's reviews
John Higgins

John Higgins

Managing Editor, Tech

@johntmhiggins

John is Reviewed's Managing Editor of Tech. He is an ISF Level III-certified calibrator with bylines at ProjectorCentral, Wirecutter, IGN, Home Theater Review, T3, Sound & Vision, and Home Theater Magazine. When away from the Reviewed office, he is a sound editor for film and musician, and loves to play games with his son.

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Nick Woodard

Nick Woodard

Contributor

@nwoodard25

Nick Woodard is a tech journalist specializing in all things related to home theater and A/V. His background includes a solid foundation as a sports writer for multiple daily newspapers, and he enjoys hiking and mountain biking in his spare time.

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Ryan Waniata

Ryan Waniata

Former Managing Editor - Electronics

@ryanwaniata

Hailing originally from Montana, Ryan parlayed his time working as a musician and audio engineer into a career in digital media in 2012. Since then he's had extensive experience as a writer and editor, including everything from op-eds and features to reviews on TVs, audio gear, smart home devices, and more.

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Lee Neikirk

Lee Neikirk

Editor, Home Theater

@Koanshark

Lee was Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products from 2012 until early 2022. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance.

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