If you want to immerse yourself entirely into what you're listening to, noise-canceling headphones are the only option. They are not limited to a particular situation; instead can be utilized in any circumstances. No matter if you are traveling, studying, working out, flying, or sleeping, the noise cancelling headphones can always enhance your experience. Only if you know which one to chose and what's the best noise cancelling headphone for you. But how would you know what to look for while buying one? Well, I'm going to share all the details along with the list of the top nine best noise cancelling headphones in 2021.
Quick Answer: Top-Rated Best Noise Cancelling Headphones in 2021
- Sony WH1000XM3 – Best Overall Noise Cancelling Headphones
- Bose QC 35 II – Best Noise Cancelling Headphone for Flying
- Mpow H5 – Best Budget Noise Cancelling Headphone
- Bose QC 20 – Best Wired ANC Headphone For Gym
- Nuraphone – Best Over Ear Noise Cancelling Headphone
- Sony WF-1000XM3 – Best In-Ear True Noise Cancelling Headphone
- Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2 – Best For Studying
- Soundcore – Best Travel ANC Headphones
- Bose 700 – Best Noise Cancelling Headphone For Office
Sony WH1000XM3 - Best Overall Noise Cancelling Headphones
Ratings: 4.4 | Type: Bluetooth/Wired
Amazon's Choice 
Sony has been consistent in terms of the quality and performance of the headphones for the last two years. The new Sony WH-1000XM3 is a dominant pair and can compete with any rival when it comes to noise cancelling, no matter if it's from Bose, Jabra, or Plantronics.
Design & Build
There have been significant improvements in the design of WH-1000XM3. It's lightweight as compared to the previous versions as well as contains excellent padding along the bridge. Moreover, it offers USB Type-C port to charge along with fantastic touch controls. As compared to the last version, these headphones are around 1 ounce less, which matters the most when you wear the headphones for extended sessions.
When it comes to comfort, the new version is excellent as it has extra cushioning. The headband has two-tone finish and contains softer pads as well as looks premium. Moreover, it comes in two colors, including all-black and grey-silver. Just like most of the closed-back over-ear headphones, the WH-1000XM3 is not excellent at handling the airflow resulting in mediocre breath-ability, which might be a problem during longer sessions. In contrast to WH-1000XM2, the WH-1000MX3 have a slightly lower profile headband and can be folded into a compact form which enhances the overall portability of headphone. Along with the premium look and feel, the headphone offers great build quality. The headband is flexible, as well as sturdy, along with dense ear cups.
The control scheme is not OS-specific and is pretty easy to use. It allows you to control calls, music, volume, ANC, and talk-through feature. You can control the volume by swiping up and down as well as the left and right allow you to rewind and skip tracks. Moreover, double tapping allows you to pause or resume calls. It also allows you to control the ambient noises using the activate and aware mode button. It's a system that is easy to use but certainly requires some effort at the start. In the package along with the headphones, you'll get an audio cable, a USB-C cable, an airline adapter, a manual, and a carrying case that is sturdy and protects headphones from scratches as well as minor falls.
Performance & Features
When it comes to the performance of the headphones, WH-1000XM3 offers strong noise cancellation. It doesn't matter if you are on trains, buses, subway, planes or walking in the crowd. Also, the noise cancellation is on par with the Bose's QC35, and sometimes it just gets so much better. However, there are moments when you might want to hear what's going on around, and for that, you just have to tap the right ear cup with your palm, and it'll activate the hearing of ambient sounds. The QN1 processing chip enhances the cancellation of background sounds while keeping the audio quality in check.
The headphones will sound excellent if you're using the Android devices which support the aptX HD standard, and it's fantastic for iPhone as well. The mids are even and straightforward meanwhile; the highs are crystal clear. It offers deep, punchy, and powerful bass, and it might get a little bit overpowering on the heavy side. Moreover, the bass accuracy and frequency response consistency are excellent. Additionally, it's a perfect noise canceling headphone for calls as the built-in microphone delivers clear sound.
If you want to get a rough idea of battery life, then the headphone can last for up to 30-hour, but it depends on different factors. It also offers quick charge mode, which allows you to get five hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging. In case you want to enhance the battery life, you can use the app to reduce the sleep-time and other useful features such as the equalizer.
| Headphone Type: | Closed, dynamic |
| Drivers: | 40mm, Dome (CCAW Voice coil) |
| Impedance: | 47Ohms |
| Sensitivity: | 104.5 dB/mW |
| Frequency Range: | 20Hz-40kHz |
| Battery: | 30Hr |
| Noise Cancelling Range: | N/A |
| Charge Time: | 3Hr |
| Cord: | 1.2m |
| Weight: | 0.56 lbs |
| Dimensions: | 7.31 x 2.94 x 10.44 in |
Bose QC 35 II - Best Noise Cancelling Headphone for Flying
Ratings: 4.4 | Type: Bluetooth/Wired
Amazon's Choice
Bose is an American company and doesn't need any intro when it comes to headphones. It's among the top brands which produce excellent noise-canceling headphones and is on par with the Sony WH1000XM3. Their new release of Bose 700 is making rounds, but QCII is still on top and is an all-time favorite.
Design & Build
The QCII is an upgrade to its previous model, although the design didn't change much, it has significant improvements which make it excellent noise canceling headphone for flying, traveling and commuting. It's considered one of the most comfortable headphones in the market and all for good reasons. Even if you ear them for hours, you won't feel like taking them off or any sort of fatigue. Also, the ear cups can swivel and can be jammed into your bag easily, but using the carrying case is recommended as it protects the headphones from damages. Moreover, the headband and earcups are well-padded, and the headphone doesn't push too hard on your head.
The control scheme of the QCII has been slightly improved, and it allows you to control calls, music, volume, and ANC. As compared to the previous model, the QCII has an additional button on the left ear cup, which allows you to activate Alexa or Google Assistant as well as to switch between ANC modes. On top of that, the breathability of the headphones has improved significantly, which is due to excellent airflow. Also, the QCII is quite stable but is not recommended for intense exercises for that you can check out excellent headphones for running. The headphones come in two colors, including a silver/grey scheme as well as you can design your custom color scheme for QCII, which will cost you a bit more. In the package along with the headphones, you'll get an audio cable, airline adapter, a carrying case, and a USB charging cable.
Performance & Features
The QCII offers excellent sound quality along with top-notch noise cancellation, which will make you feel like you're in a quiet room even though you're walking in a busy street. The bass of the headphones is consistent, punchy, and deep along with the right amount of thump, which makes these headphones perfect for podcasts too. The mid and treble ranges are perfectly balanced. Moreover, these headphones have a fairly neutral response, and you can always equalize the headphones to suit your taste.
The performance of the microphone is mediocre and is almost similar to Sony's WH1000XM3. The recording quality of the headphones is sub-par, and the recorded speech will sound noticeably thin. Also, the noise handling of the headphones is average, which makes them excellent for quite environments.
The battery life of Bose QuietComfort II is around 20 hours, which is less than Sony's WH-1000XM3. It also comes with an auto-off timer power-saving feature. The headphone can take about two hours to charge fully and contains a micro-USB port for charging. This makes the headphones excellent for long flights and road trips. The App Support, known as Bose connect, offers attractive features. It allows you to connect, set auto-timer, rename, and update the headphones. However, the app is not as good as Sony's connect app or Sennheiser's captune app.
Mpow H5 - Best Budget Noise Cancelling Headphone
Ratings: 4.3 | Type: Bluetooth/Wired
Amazon's Choice
You might have heard about MPOW at some point if you are into headphones. They manufacture Bluetooth accessories for smartphones, and usually, these products are budget-friendly as well as top quality. The MPOW H5 is one of the best budget-friendly noise canceling headphones.
Design & Build
The MPOW H5 is a stylish headphone, which is due to the glossy aluminum plating on bot ear-cups. Most of the headphone is built from matte plastic which is excellent for its price and has an over-ear design with a slim headband. The headphone has a low profile on your head and is relatively wide. In terms of looks, they don't feel cheap and instead look premium.
The H5 is decently comfortable but not as good as Sony's WH-1000XM3 or Bose's QCII in the given price range. The headphones are lightweight and might be a bit tight on your head, resulting in better fit but at the same time, not excellent for extended sessions. The tight-fit loosens over time and fits according to your head size, but at the start, it's not that comfortable. Moreover, the headband and the ear cups are well-padded. In terms of the airflow and breathability, it's similar to Bose's QCII. In the package along with the headphones, you'll get a carrying case, an audio cable, a USB cable and a manual.
Performance & Features
.If you consider the price tag H5 comes with and then test the sound quality, you'll be amazed at what it has to offer. Also, the headphones have a heavy, punchy, and consistent bass along with excellent mid-range and decently balanced treble. Additionally, it's kinda weird, but the H5 performs better when noise cancellation is turned on; it's because the driver seems to perform better with ANC.
The most inexpensive way to get active noise cancellation is Mpow H5. It's capable of reducing most of the low-frequency sound, such as the AC unit in office and noises on public transport. Moreover, sound leakage performance is excellent and lies within a broad range of 400Hz to 4kHz.
The battery of the H5 can last for up to 12 hours with ANC and Bluetooth enabled, which is excellent in the given price range. You can improve the battery timing if you disable the noise-canceling feature or use wired version, but still, it's good enough to last a full workday of heavy use. Moreover, it takes around two hours to charge fully, and you can use the headphones passively when the battery dies. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with any app support and microphone. The control scheme is not OS-specific, and it allows you to manage calls, music, volume, and noise cancellation. Furthermore, the performance of the microphone is mediocre and offers average performance in terms of recording and noise handling. Overall, it's an excellent noise cancelling pick.
Bose QC 20 - Best Wired ANC Headphone For Gym
Ratings: 4.1 | Type: Wired
Amazon's Choice
If you are not into over-ear headphones, the Bose Q20 is for you. It's a mixed usage earphone with excellent noise cancellation for travel and loud environments. Also, if you don't mind wired earphones, then this one is a perfect noise canceling headphone for workout out as it's stable enough for intense workouts.
Design & Build
The QC20 is lightweight and comfortable earbuds. Moreover, they offer a cozy and stable fit due to "StayHear+" tips, and unlike most of the in-ear headphones, they don't enter in your ear canal. This makes them suitable for extended sessions without any listening fatigue. Additionally, the cable is rubberized and black with stylish blue accents. Among all the headphones in the list, these offer the best of the breathability due to perfect airflow, so no sweating. On top of that, these are portable and can be carried easily in the pocket.
Furthermore, the build quality of the earbuds is excellent and is dense enough to withstand multiple drops. Also, the cables are thick so they can bear significant wear and tear. In the box along with the QuietComfort 20 headphones, you will get three pairs of StayHear+ tips (Small, Medium, Large), a USB cable, and a carrying case that protects the earbuds from significant damages.
Performance & Features
The sound reproduction is powerful, and the earbuds offer extended bass capable of producing rumbles and thumps. Moreover, the mid-range of the earphones is excellent and well-balanced. On top of that, the frequency response consistency is better than most of the earbuds, and weighted harmonic distortion is tremendous. When it comes to canceling out the ambient noises, QC20 does an excellent job. It's perfect for traveling and noisy commutes. Unlike many headphones, the QC20 doesn't leak much sound and provides a secure fit.
Moreover, the in-line microphone of the QC20 is better at recording and performs mediocrely overall. The mic sounds thin but quite clear and intelligible. Additionally, the battery could last for around 20 hours, which is the same as Bose's QC35 II, and it takes about two hours to charge fully. It offers passive playback and audio while charging. However, there's no power-saving feature or app support for QC20. Overall, it's a perfect earphone if you don't want to go for over-ear options.
Nuraphone - Best Over Ear Noise Cancelling Headphone
Ratings: 3.9 | Type: Bluetooth/Wired
Nura is well-known for its two-in-one headphones, Nuraphone. It has over-ear as well as in-ear design, which takes noise cancellation to the next level and offers a great reduction in the ambient noises. Moreover, the personalized sound and app of the Nura are just exceptional.
Design & Build
All the hype about Nuraphone is because of it's design and all that for a good reason. Its design makes it unique from it's most competitors. The headphones have got a plastic matt black design that would fail to stand out in the crowd, but the two-in-one combo is something which makes it fantastic. It has an over-ear design with earbuds suspended into the broader cup. On top of that, the earbuds inside have the capability to flex enough to adjust according to your needs, which makes them extremely comfortable. Their form factor means that you just don't have an earbud sitting in your ear canal but a cup covering your ears at the same time. Isn't that cool?
To be clear, I'd like to mention that the Nuraphone's are not noise-canceling headphones, but their form factor makes them able to block out high-frequency sounds such as chatter on the commute, and it's excellent. However, there's no Active Noise Cancellation, which means you can't cut off low-frequency ambient noises.
The Nuraphone's are not very portable as the over-ear design is bulky and can't be folded into a compact format. It's hard to put them in a bag, but you'll get a protective carrying case for the headphones, so no need to panic. The headband of the Nuraphone is made of the metallic frame, which is flexible and sturdy and enhances the overall build quality. In the box, along with the headphones, you'll get a USB charging cable, a cable case, and a traveling case.
Performance & Features
There's no power button for Nuraphone, and they just wake up as soon as you put them on your head. One of the vital aspects of Nuraphone is its ability to adjust the sound so that you can hear the maximum amount of detail as some people might have ear sensitives to lower frequencies or vice versa. Moreover, sound profiling allows you to personalize everything according to your needs, and it does sound a lot better than the generic version.
Furthermore, the sound reproduction is excellent with fantastic frequency response consistency due to the in-ear tips. The bass produced by the over-ear part of the headphones adds great thump and rumble, which also makes it bass-heavy. The sound leakage is minimal for the headphone, so if you are looking for something which doesn't leak sound at all, you should go for Nuraphone.
If you are up for buying something which has an excellent battery life, then Nuraphone is the option to go for. The battery could last for up to 35 hours and has a recharge time of around two hours. It also supports audio while charging, but there's no power-saving feature. The Nura App is a necessity when using the Nuraphone, and it lets you do wonders. The integrated microphone is decent and offers mediocre recording quality and noise handling. Overall, due to the design of the Nuraphone, the performance is excellent as well, and it has a lot to offer, but it costs a lot as well.
Sony WF-1000XM3 - Best In-Ear True Noise Cancelling Headphone
Ratings: 3.6 | Type: Bluetooth
Sony has launched its new member of 1000X family to challenge Airpod & Powerbeat's headphones. The true wireless earbuds were released to live up to your expectations, but it costs a lot.
Design & Build
The design of WH-1000xM3 is slim and flat, which gives it a sophisticated mystique. It comes in two colors, black and white, with excellent contrasts. The earphones are built for casual listeners and are not targeted towards fitness niche, that's why the casing isn't water-resistant, but it's sturdy enough to handle several blows. Additionally, these are one of the most comfortable in-ears noise canceling headphones. If you want to enhance the stability, you'll need to enter them into the ear canal deeply, unlike the QC20.
Moreover, just like most of the earbuds, these offer excellent airflow, resulting in fantastic breath-ability. On top of that, they are lightweight, so you won't feel any sort of fatigue even after listening for hours. The buds are very compact as well as portable, and thanks to the stylish case, you don't have to worry about any kind of damage. In the box along with the earbuds, you'll get three silicone tips, three foam tips, a charging case, a USB-C charging cable, and a manual.
Performance & Features
The earbuds have excellent sound reproduction with perfect bass, mids, and treble ranges. Additionally, the 6mm drivers exude rhythm and clarity. It doesn't matter if you are using podcasts or you prefer to rock out as well as like to go for guitars, it does a fantastic job at delivering the best.
The control scheme is easy to use and has excellent feedback. It allows you to manage calls, music, noise cancellation, and will enable you to use the talk-through feature. If you hold down the left earbud, you can enter the talk-through mode, and once you release it, you'll be back to active noise canceling mode. On the other hand, if you hold down the right earbud, it will trigger the voice assistant of your device. The best part about this control scheme is that it can be mapped through the app.
The microphone's performance is mediocre, with the excellent recording quality and average noise handling. Also, the sound leakage is minimal, with a significant part lying in the treble ranges. The continuous battery life of the earbuds is up to seven hours, and the total battery life is around 30 hours. Moreover, the earbuds also come with auto-off power-saving features and have a charge time of about 1.5 hours. On top of that, the app is excellent and allows you to customize the earbuds according to your needs. It offers room effects, playback control, equalizer, and button mapping. For more details, you can check out the Sony WF-1000XM3 review.
Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2 - Best For Studying
Ratings: 4.0 | Type: Bluetooth/Wired
Amazon's Choice
The upgraded version of BackBeat is sleek and is a mixed usage headphone with major fixes, which is perfect noise cancelling headphone for students.
Design & Build
The BackBeat Pro 2 has a better control scheme and offers a comfortable over-ear fit along with durable and sturdy design. They are slightly bulky in size and contain the left and right ear cup indication inside. Moreover, the oval-shaped ear cups fit perfectly around your ears, resulting in better fit and seal. On top of that, the ear cups and headband are well-padded along with excellent breathability, making them suitable for extended sessions.
Moreover, if the battery dies, it can be used as wired, and the ear cups can swivel, which makes it a bit portable, but I wouldn't say it's excellent in terms of portability. However, you'll get a protective carry case along with the headphones, which protects them from significant damages. Additionally, the ear cups are dense, and the headband has a metallic and plastic frame, making it flexible and durable. In the box along with the headphones, you'll get a carrying case, an audio cable, a Micro USB cable and a manual.
Performance & Features
Platronics has carried on the sound signature of the original BackBeat, which most users will find pleasing. The headphones offer thumpy, deep, and consistent bass along with well-balanced and neutral mid-ranges. This results in clear-sound vocals and excellent treble. Moreover, just like the previous version, the bass is overly heavy, and the headphones could sound a little sharp at instances.
The active noise cancellation feature works brilliantly, even when you're using the wired version. Also, the sound leakage is minimal, and a significant portion of the leakage lies between 0.5kHz to 8kHz, which is broad. Additionally, the microphone's performance is mediocre, with the average recording quality and noise handling. Furthermore, the battery of the headphones can last for up to 30 hours, which is the same as Sony's WH1000XM3. It takes around two hours to charge fully and has an auto-off power-saving feature as well. The headphones also offer audio while charging and passive playback. The app known as Plantronics Hub allows you to enhance the overall listening experience by customizing the audio.
Soundcore - Best Travel ANC Headphones
Ratings: 4.0 | Type: Bluetooth/Wired
The soundcore space NC by Anker is mixed usage, travel-friendly noise cancelling headphones. The noise cancellation, along with connectivity, is impressive for these headphones.
Design & Build
The Anker Soundcore Space NC is well-built and comes with excellent padding on the ear cups and headband. Most of the composition is plastic with a shiny metallic finish, giving them excellent looks. These are the best noise cancelling headphones for travel and flying as they can be folded into a compact form, making them highly portable and easy to carry. On top fo that, they are relatively lightweight and apply minimal pressure on your head so you can go for extended listening sessions. Unlike most of the advanced headphones, they don't offer excellent breathability.
Moreover, the build quality of the headphones is excellent, considering the price point. The ear cups feel dense and can survive several blows. In the box along with the SoundCore Space NC headphones, you'll get 1/8" TRRS audio cable, a Micro-USB charging cable, a hard carrying case, and manuals.
Performance & Features
The sound reproduction and bass of the headphones are excellent. It offers powerful, punchy, and deep bass with an overly thump. Moreover, the mid-range is even, and overall, the headphones are excellent for bass-heavy genres such as hip-hop and EDM. Also, the frequency response consistency and weight harmonic distortion are impressive, but it lacks in terms of the excellent soundstage.
If you are looking for a perfect noise cancelling headphone under 50, I'd say you should go for these cans. The ambient noise cancellation offered by these headphones at the given price is just an exception. On top of that, the sound leakage is minimal, so what else do you want? The microphone performs excellently, better than most of the expensive headphones out there. It offers excellent recording quality and noise handling. Moreover, the battery could last for up to 20 hours, which is more than the headphones priced over $200's. It takes around two hours to charge and offers passive playback fully. Overall, I'd say it's one of the best noise cancelling headphones you can get for such a budget.
Bose 700 - Best Noise Cancelling Headphone For Office
Ratings: 3.9 | Type: Bluetooth/Wired
Amazon's Choice
Everyone knows that Bose is one of the go-to brands when it comes to headphones, and the 700 by Bose has been called the king of noise cancelling headphones.
Design & Build
The 700s have the most stylish design in the market, and I'm not a fan of QCII's design, so for me, the looks of the 700 are just out of the world. I'd say it's the most stylish and premium looking headphone in this list. Although the ear cups of both the headphones look the same, 700 has a different vibe to it with unique headband design and excellent finishes. It's everything that has been renewed, starting from the signal processing to the NC chip. The headphone features an eight-microphone system, which is a perfect combination to achieve excellent noise cancellation and voice pick-up.
Moreover, the comfort level of these cans is just excellent. The looks and comfort make them an excellent noise cancelling headphone for office use as you won't feel any fatigue even if you use it for hours. On top of that, they are lightweight weight just 0.58lbs, which is less than most of the top competitors in the market. Inside the ear cups, you'll see the left and right indications. Additionally, the ear cups and headband are well-padded, the headband is padded by an air-filled pocket which enhances the overall comfort level.
Furthermore, the breathability of the headphones is mediocre with sufficient airflow. Unlike the Soundcore, these cans are not that portable, but you will get a protective carrying case to protect the headphones from significant damages. The headband of the cans is made out of stainless steel, making them durable and sturdy. In the package along with the headphones, you'll get a USB-C charging cable, 1/8" to 1/16" audio cable, a Hard carrying case, and a quick start manual.
Performance & Features
The sonic character of the cans is upfront, bright, and bold. On top of that, the headphones offer deep, powerful, and punchy bass and well-balanced mids. The 700 lies between QC35II and WH-1000XM3, as they are not bass-heavy like 1000XM3 but not as balanced as QC35II. The soundstage is vibrant, lively, and well-balanced.
Traditionally the headphone companies have tried to cancel out ambient noises when it comes to noise cancellation, but the 700 has tried a unique and new approach towards solving the bigger problem,. The cans apply noise-cancellation to phone calls as well as music too, using the eight-microphone system, in which six are used to enable typical noise cancellation while the two work together to isolate your voice and reject environment noise during calls.
Moreover, the battery life of the cans is excellent but not as good as the WH-1000XM3, as it can last for about 20 hours with all active features. It takes around two hours to charge fully and supports passive playback. Additionally, the power saving feature, auto-off timer, enhances life. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer audio while charging. The app known as Bose Music is compatible with Android and iOS. It allows you to customize everything according to your needs, but it's not that advanced. Overall, the Bose 700 is excellent, but considering the price, they are somewhat expensive.
Things You Need To Know Before Buying Noise Cancelling Headphones
There are certain things you should be aware of before buying a noise cancelling headphone as it can help you choose the right one for your needs, and you can manage your budget in a better manner as well.
How Noise Cancelling Headphones Work?
Before buying a noise cancelling headphone, you should know how it works. It all revolves around the physics of waves and majorly focused on constructive and destructive interference. The ANC headphones work on the Destructive Interference phenomenon where they cancel out the outside sound waves. When the sound is traveling in the form of waves, it has an airy part, and when it establishes a connection with the ANC headphones, the headphones fill the airy part leaving no gap, which destructs those waves resulting in silence. All this is done by microphones in the headphones which listen to ambient sounds and calculate the sound wave, later cancel it out.
CrutchfieldMoreover, the technology wouldn't get rid of all the noises and works best with consistent noises such as airplanes. On the other hand, the sounds which are not consistent such as honking a car or baby crying, are hard to cancel out for the headphones. Overall, the cans can cancel around 70% noises, which is excellent.
How to Choose Noise Cancelling Headphones?
When buying a noise cancelling headphones, you should take in to account various aspects such as battery life, connectivity, comfort, quick access to outside, control scheme, voice control, and performance of the headphones.
- Battery Life:
In the world where you can get headphones with a battery that can last for up to 30 hours, such as WH-1000XM3, then why not go for that. It's excellent for long flights and extended listening sessions as you don't have to worry about the battery as well as don't have to charge your headphones again and again. When buying an ANC headphone, you should look for a headphone that offers battery life more than 10 hours at least. On top of that, if they offer power-saving features that are excellent. - Connectivity:
One of the most important things to consider when buying any kind of headphone is the connectivity, whether it's wired or wireless. I prefer extra freedom, so personally, I always go for Bluetooth headphones, but it depends on personal preference. The wired headphones debatably offer better sound quality and extended battery lift; meanwhile, the wireless offers extra freedom and no wire tangling. - Comfort:
When you're buying a noise cancelling headphone, I presume you are going to use it for extended listening sessions such as flights or commuting, and if you buy something which is not comfortable, then it can ruin everything. Look for extra cushioning and excellent padding as well as extra-sized tips if it's an earbud so you can have a perfect fit. These things matter a lot at the end of the day; otherwise, you could end up facing listening fatigue. - Quick Access to Outside World:
Many headphones offer talk-through features, and it's an excellent advancement as you don't have to pause the music to listen or talk to someone. When buying an active noise cancelling headphone, it becomes crucial to listen to the outside world sometimes, so it's an excellent approach to go for a headphone that offers the talk-through feature. - Control Scheme:
Well, that's something which can be ignored, but for a person like me, I want an excellent headphone which is easy to use. So you should also look for an easy to use control scheme which allows you to manage your tasks easily. - Voice Control:
It's a feature that most of the advanced noise cancelling headphones offer, and you should look for it as well if you want to make your life much easier like me. The voice control with google or phone assistant can make everything smooth and quick for you. - Performance:
It's a must-have feature, but I'd still like to mention it to remind you to never forget about the audio reproduction of the headphones. Always, check out reviews and authentic details about the headphones in terms of sound and performance before buying one.
FAQs
Is noise cancelling safe?
Unlike mobile phones, the active noise cancelling headphones do not emit low-level radiation, so they don't pose any potential hazard that could ultimately lead to significant problems. I've explained the working of the noise cancelling headphones, so if you consider that these cans are just canceling out ambient noises and there's nothing harmful about it. In some cases, the ANC headphones can be beneficial as loud or constant-low noises can lead to health problems, which are canceled out by noise cancelling headphones.
What is better noise cancelling or noise isolating?
If you want to cancel out the ambient noises to the extreme I'd say you should go for the noise cancelling headphones rather than noise isolating headphones. As the active noise cancelling makes use of both cancellation and isolation so it can enhance your overall listening experience. On the other hand, if you prefer to listen to outside conversations, then you should go for noise isolating cans. Although modern ANC headphones offer the outside listening experience, they can be expensive.
Can you still hear with noise cancelling headphones?
As I've mentioned earlier, the noise cancelling headphones can't cancel out all the noises, especially the ones which are not constant, so yes, you can hear with noise cancelling headphones as well. Moreover, if you are taking it in the sense of deliberately listening, then the talk-through feature in modern headphones allow you to listen and talk to others while using noise cancellation.
Are headphones safer than earbuds?
Over-ear headphones are a relatively better option when choosing the right set for listening. Unlike the in-ear design of the earbuds, which mostly go into your ear canal, the over-ear cans offer a buffer zone that won't cause much damage. However, if you want to choose a headphone for working out, then you should go for earbuds as they can provide a secure fit. Also, you can check the top earbuds on Headphones Aholic.
What are the best cheap noise cancelling headphones?
The best budget friendly noise cancelling headphones include Cowin E7 and Taotronics.
Which is better active or passive noise cancelling headphones?
The Destructive interference technology, which I've explained earlier, lies in the active noise cancellation category where headphones create their own sound waves to cancel out the ambient noises. Meanwhile the passive noise cancellation is insulation between the ears and the ambient noises. The ANC is relatively expensive but provides better cancellation experience as compared to passive noise cancellation.
What are the best noise cancelling headphones in 2021?
It depends on what you want the headphones for and what's your budget. However, the top three on our list include Sony WH1000XM3, Bose QC 35 II, and Mpow H5.
Contents
- 1 Quick Answer: Top-Rated Best Noise Cancelling Headphones in 2021
- 2 Sony WH1000XM3 - Best Overall Noise Cancelling Headphones
- 3 Bose QC 35 II - Best Noise Cancelling Headphone for Flying
- 4 Mpow H5 - Best Budget Noise Cancelling Headphone
- 5 Bose QC 20 - Best Wired ANC Headphone For Gym
- 6 Nuraphone - Best Over Ear Noise Cancelling Headphone
- 7 Sony WF-1000XM3 - Best In-Ear True Noise Cancelling Headphone
- 8 Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2 - Best For Studying
- 9 Soundcore - Best Travel ANC Headphones
- 10 Bose 700 - Best Noise Cancelling Headphone For Office