What Hifi Noise Cancelling Headphones?

A lot of Bluetooth headphones are on the market today, but only a few will make the list of being a top contender for hi-res and noise-cancelling. All of the noise cancellers below impressed reviewers enough to earn four or five stars. Many of these models have extensive reviews online, so you could consider them before making a short list. The answer is never straightforward — many of the best headphones will come down to your budget, styling, and features.

Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones by Price

Sony WH-1000XM6 — $458–$459.99

Sony's flagship wireless headphones are fabulous all-rounders and set a new benchmark. Features the new QNC3 chip that is 7x faster at processing ANC than the QNC1 chip in the XM5. Battery life is 30 hours plus quickcharge (3 minutes charge gives 3 hours playback). Reintroduced the folding design, master audio engineered sound, 3 color options. The sound is a flat tuning with slightly boosted bass right in line with Sony's house sound. It works well with all genres, and the ability to fine-tune output is right there in the Sony headphone app. Call quality is fantastic, ambient modes seamless, and quick charge is super useful. Outstanding app support with many custom options. Bluetooth multipoint: yes.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) — $369.99

Bose's 2nd gen pair improve on the original's sound quality while boosting ANC performance. Noise cancellation is up there with the best. Battery: 24 hours plus quickcharge. Multiple noise canceling modes; touch controls. The most comfortable headphones — lightweight, with excellent padding in all the right places. Anyone familiar with Bose's famous house sound will be happy to find the same tuning here, but driver tweaks over time have also led to more detail retrieval, soundstage, and better imaging over its predecessors. A very robust app allows you to fine-tune the headphones. Bluetooth multipoint: yes.

Sennheiser HDB 630 — $499.95

A bundled accessory helps these Sennheisers set new standards for sound quality. A USB-C dongle improves Bluetooth audio for iPhone and other devices. Battery: 60 hours plus quickcharge. Supports hi-res Bluetooth codecs. Bluetooth multipoint: yes. Rated 5 stars. Best for audiophiles.

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE — $299

The cheapest of a non-exhaustive list of premium ANC headphones. Punches above its weight. Battery: 30 hours plus quickcharge. Features adaptive transparency modes.

Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 — $799

A highly sought-after headphone that delivers both in sound quality and style. The audio quality features punchy bass and airy highs for a wonderfully dynamic and balanced sound signature. The sound reproduction has a more fun tuning to make tracks entertaining and come through with more detail. The material choices look and feel classy; it's clear this is a luxury product with a far higher standard of finishing and aesthetic design. ANC is still very good and drowns out loud spaces, planes, and commutes very well. Battery: 30 hours plus quick charge. 24-bit DSP audio.

Focal Bathys MG — $1,110–$1,499

A wireless headphone with a focus on advancements in quality and performance. Sound is class-leading; it's a real audiophile-grade experience that competes with wired headphones around the $500–600 mark. ANC is on Sony's level, battery life is 30 hours, and there are real physical button and switch controls. Driver: dynamic aluminum-magnesium cone. Real leather headband and earpads. The Bathys MG comes in with a bit wider soundstage and a profile that is a little more laid back for more immersion compared to the original Bathys.

DALI IO-12 — $1,750

Offers a unique customization experience with "Hi-Fi" and "Bass" modes, allowing users to tailor their sound preferences without relying on a companion app. Balanced "V-shape" sound signature, where bass and treble harmoniously coexist to deliver booming yet controlled bass and natural-sounding mids with excellent clarity and separation. The headphones maintain clarity even with ANC activated. Users can expect even more clarity and detail while using these with a wired connection. Battery: 35 hours. Driver: patented SMC driver. Bluetooth aptX. While lacking a robust noise cancellation feature suitable for busy environments, its subtle noise canceling still manages to enhance fidelity.

T+A Solitaire T — $1,990–$2,140

Stands out with its ambitious highs and rich, warm bass. ANC feature subtly complements its overall sound reproduction without detracting from audio quality. Makes voices and details distinct amidst complex mixes. Offers exceptional battery life (30 hours) and includes all necessary accessories to optimize performance. Driver: titanium dynamic drivers 40mm. The collapsible design makes it an easy travel accessory, allowing you to store the headphones in your bag or wear them around your neck.

Noise Cancelling Earbuds

• Sony WF-1000XM6 — Top pick. Ranks among the best buds tested, attenuating everything from rumbling plane engines to high-pitched electrical noise. Warm tuning supplements a generous helping of bass with a balanced mid and treble range. Graphic EQ and presets in the app. Eight hours of battery life. Ergonomic redesign with a slightly chunkier teardrop-shaped design. Foam ear tips and a deep fit in the ear canal deliver stellar noise isolation. Those with smaller ears might find it awkward to achieve a solid, stable fit.
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) — Bose's top-tier earbuds lead the noise-cancelling field. Streamlined design and shallow in-ear fit make them more likely to fit comfortably regardless of ear shape. Well-built, IPX4-rated. Stabilizer fins provide enough stability for jogs and moderate-intensity exercise. Bass-heavy sound profile well-suited to genres like hip-hop and dance hall. Built-in mic will do the job for phone calls. Battery: 8.5 hours (31 hours total with case). Bluetooth multipoint: yes. Immersive audio is Bose's take on spatial audio; it works with any stereo music to try to add a layer of extra spatialisation.
• Sony WF-C710N — The best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy on a budget. Affordable wireless ANC earbuds that deliver sensational value for money. Sound musical, mature, refined and detailed. Impressive levels of comfort, 8.5 hours of battery life, a rechargeable carry case. The case and earbuds are bulkier than before. Battery: 8.5 hours (30 hours total). Bluetooth multipoint: yes. Rated 5 stars.
• Anker Soundcore Space A40 — Best budget ANC earbuds. Adaptive ANC easily reduces bass-range noise like plane engine rumbles. Excellent job of eliminating mid- to high-pitched sounds like background chatter or a humming computer fan. Multi-device pairing and LDAC codec support for streaming hi-res content. Does not support a low-latency codec like LC3 or aptX Adaptive.
• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — Best for iPhone users. ANC system goes toe-to-toe with the top pick. Many features are only available to Apple users, including built-in heart rate sensors and spatial audio. Battery: 40 hours with 10-minute quick charge. Adaptive environment controls.
• Technics EAH-AZ100 — Upper mid-range pick. Attenuates noise across the whole frequency spectrum from low rumbles of a train engine to the high-pitched whirring of a nearby fan. Battery lasts 12.2 hours with ANC on (the longest in this category). Carrying case holds an extra 1.5 charges. Supports up to three-device Bluetooth multi-point and LDAC and LC3 codecs for high-fidelity listening.

ANC Performance by Use Case

Noise-cancelling headphones are different from noise-isolating headphones in that they actively use technology to cancel unwanted external noise. They use a series of chips, algorithms, and microphones to capture the unwanted noise and play an opposing sound wave in real-time to cancel out the noise effectively. Isolating headphones try to reduce the external volume by blocking that sound via insulation, using a combination of padding, an enclosed design, and a pressurized seal against the head.

1. Flying — The best use case for ANC headphones. The algorithm can latch on to the constant hum of the engines and block it out almost entirely.
2. Train or bus travel — ANC headphones are a great addition for public transport and are also great at reducing city hum.
3. Office use — Noisy co-workers can be distracting but are easily drowned out. ANC headphones work to reduce consistent and predictable noise in set frequency bands.
4. Sudden sounds — Contrary to popular belief, ANC headphones do not cancel out all external noise. If someone suddenly shouts or drops something, you will probably hear it because the cancellation algorithm cannot catch up to implement a cancelled sound wave in time.
5. Direct speech — If someone is speaking to you one-on-one, you will most likely still be able to hear them. It may sound a little muted or distorted, but you should be able to follow a conversation. In a busy city, you might not hear the rumble of traffic, but you would hear a horn blast.

Comparison Table

• Sony WH-1000XM6 — Rating: ★★★★★ | Best for: Overall | Battery: 30hrs | Multipoint: Yes
• Sony WH-CH720N — Rating: ★★★★★ | Best for: Cheap | Battery: 25hrs | Multipoint: No
• Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) — Rating: ★★★★☆ | Best for: Bose | Battery: 30hrs | Multipoint: Yes
• Sennheiser HDB 630 — Rating: ★★★★★ | Best for: Audiophiles | Battery: 60hrs | Multipoint: Yes
• Sony WF-C710N — Rating: ★★★★★ | Best for: Cheap Earbuds | Battery: 8.5hrs (30hrs total) | Multipoint: Yes
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) — Rating: ★★★★★ | Best for: Premium Earbuds | Battery: 8.5hrs (31hrs total) | Multipoint: Yes

Wired vs. Wireless and Passive Isolation

For ANC you will most probably end up with a wireless model. If you can survive without ANC and Bluetooth, and you are using headphones at home, closed-back wired headphones are a strong alternative, especially for gaming because wired won't have lag. The passive noise isolation on a good closed-back wired headphone can be good enough for home use. Many ANC headphones also include a wired option for passive listening, allowing you to listen to your favourite tracks at top quality for as long as you want, without drawing on the battery. Users can also expect even more clarity and detail from models like the DALI IO-12 when using a wired connection. A USB-C dongle, such as the one bundled with the Sennheiser HDB 630, can also improve Bluetooth audio quality for iPhone and other devices when a fully wired connection is not practical.