What are good headphones for sound isolation?

The research

• Why you should trust us
• How noise-cancelling headphones work
• Who this is for
• How we picked and tested
• The best wireless noise-cancelling headphones: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
• The best noise-cancelling earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM5
• Best budget noise-cancelling headphones: Soundcore Space One
• The best budget noise-cancelling earbuds: Soundcore Space A40
• Other good noise-cancelling headphones
• What to look forward to
• The competition

Why you should trust us

I hold a bachelor’s degree in both music performance and audio production from Ithaca College, and I’ve reviewed high-end home audio equipment for publications such as Home Entertainment and Sound & Vision. I also spent several years in terrestrial radio before becoming a professional voice actor in Los Angeles—so I’ve been in and out of recording studios for over a decade.

Senior staff writer Brent Butterworth also tested all of the finalists and performed the noise-cancelling measurements. Brent has been reviewing audio gear professionally since 1990. He previously worked as an editor or writer for Sound & Vision, HomeTheaterReview.com, Home Theater Magazine, and numerous other publications.

Whenever possible, we also engage the ears of experts, including audio reviewers, musicians, and composers.

How noise-cancelling headphones work

It’s a popular misconception that ANC headphones cancel out all noises equally. They don’t. Active noise cancellation is generally more effective on lower frequencies of sound, such as the hum of a jet engine or an air conditioner. It’s not as successful with human voices and other higher frequencies.

The technology never works perfectly, but it can work well enough in certain environments to make listening more enjoyable. The best noise-cancelling headphones combine this “active†noise cancelling with passive noise reduction—that is, physical barriers and dampers built into the headphones that help block or absorb noise. If you want to learn more about how ANC works and what sounds it works on, check out “What Your Noise-Cancelling Headphones Can and Can’t Do.â€

Additionally, more active noise cancelling doesn’t necessarily lead to a better experience. We say this because of a phenomenon we refer to as “eardrum suck,†which seems to produce the same uncomfortable reduction of pressure on the eardrums as you’re likely to experience when riding a high-speed elevator in a very tall building. And this sensation can lead to headaches or queasiness, especially in people who have sensory processing differences that involve the vestibular system. Typically, the headphones that create the most intense eardrum suck have a combination of very effective noise-cancelling circuitry and ineffective passive sound isolation. You can read more about this phenomenon in this blog post.

Who this is for

If you travel on airplanes a lot, or if you commute every day on a bus or subway, you’ll benefit from having a set of ANC headphones. If, on the other hand, you just want something that reduces chatter of your office colleagues or fellow Starbucks patrons, conventional headphones will probably do about as good a job as noise-cancelling headphones—and they’ll often cost less.

How we picked and tested

The four main things to consider in a set of noise-cancelling headphones are:

• efficacy of the noise cancelling
• sound quality
• battery life (in wireless models)
• overall comfort

Since we first published this guide, we’ve tested more than 270 active-noise-cancelling headphones and considered many more. In today’s market, almost every new pair of wireless headphones and earbuds has ANC capabilities, so the products we test for our wireless earbuds guide and our Bluetooth wireless headphones guide are considered for this guide, too.

Although most noise-cancelling headphones today are Bluetooth, many over-ear wireless headphones still support a wired connection, which is important if you want to connect to some in-flight entertainment systems.
We recognize that sustainability issues are important to many of our readers. Unfortunately, until manufacturers create earbuds with rechargeable batteries that owners can replace, or offer broader refurbishment systems, most wireless earbuds—especially true wireless earbuds—are trash once their batteries die. You can read more in our piece about sustainability concerns related to wireless earbuds.

To evaluate sound quality, we listen to the headphones with a variety of musical tracks, with noise cancelling on and off—because some headphones sound great in one mode and not so great in the other. You can read more about how we evaluate and test for sound quality in these articles:

We also test the microphone call quality in quiet, noisy, and windy environments. We check battery life, control sensitivity, and Bluetooth signal reliability/compatibility. We go through the manufacturer’s app (if there is one) and check the effectiveness of any bonus features and settings.

Testing the noise cancelling is more complicated. We do this both by ear and by using test equipment. To test the noise cancelling by ear, I play airplane noise at a loud level through a JBL L16 wireless speaker and try each set of headphones, moving my head and adjusting settings to see which mode cancels noise most effectively. I stand in front of a fan to check the effect of wind noise on the microphones and take the top performers on walks outside near busy streets.

Brent does his subjective tests in his audio lab, using a mix of cabin noise recorded in four different airliners, fed through eight speakers and a subwoofer at a level of 80 decibels, which is about the level you’d experience in the fairly loud cabin of an older jet such as a Boeing 737 or a McDonnell Douglas MD-80.

Brent then performs lab tests, measuring the degree to which the headphones block different frequencies of sound. To do this, he places each set of over-ear headphones on his GRAS 43AG ear-and-cheek simulator connected through an M-Audio USB interface to a Windows laptop, plays pink noise through the same speaker system described above, and uses TrueRTA audio-spectrum analyzer software to see how much sound leaks through the headphones.

To test noise-cancelling earbuds, Brent places the right-channel earpiece of each set of in-ear headphones into a GRAS KB5000 anthropometric pinna mounted on the GRAS 43AG ear-and-cheek simulator fitted with a GRAS RA0402 high-resolution ear simulator. He connects this fixture through an M-Audio USB interface to a Windows laptop, plays pink noise through the same speaker system, and uses the TrueRTA audio-spectrum analyzer software to see how much sound leaks through the earbud.

To provide a simple way of looking at these measurements, Brent calculates the average amount of noise (in decibels) that the headphones cancel in the 100 Hz to 1,200 Hz frequency band, which is where more airplane-cabin noise occurs, based on his analysis of the four recordings he made in the cabins of different airliners. The higher the number, the greater the average noise reduction. Here is a rundown of our top performers, compared with a couple of pairs of headphones that lack active noise cancellation:

Headphone model	Average noise cancellation (dB; more is better)
Apple AirPods Max	29.4
Sony WF-1000XM5	28.7
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones	27.2
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700	22.5
Soundcore Space One	22.0
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds	21.7
Soundcore Space A40	20.8
Bose QuietComfort Headphones	20.0
JBL Reflect Aero TWS	18.3
Sony WH-1000XM5	16.5
Nothing Ear (2)	14.5
Final E4000 (no ANC)	11.4
Sony MDR-7506 (no ANC)	3.2

The best wireless noise-cancelling headphones: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Our pick

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 is our favorite pair of over-ear ANC headphones because it provides the best combination of effective, adjustable noise cancellation, comfort, audio performance, build quality, and price.

The adjustable noise cancellation guarantees the right amount of quiet. Many noise-cancelling headphones are limited to ANC on/off or maybe high/low/off, but the Bose 700 allows you to choose a reduction level from 0 to 10, so you can dial in the ideal setting for your comfort or activity. At the maximum setting, this pair measured among the highest levels of reduction for over-ear headphones while costing significantly less than the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra or the Apple AirPods Max.

The adjustability is especially helpful for people who experience “eardrum suck.†You can simply adjust the intensity down in small steps until you no longer feel discomfort. Through the Bose Music app, you can assign three favorite levels, after which you can toggle between them using the button on the left earcup.

The sound is consistently pleasant. If you’re a fan of Bose’s signature sound, you won’t be disappointed with this set. We heard a smidgen of extra bass, a little roll-off in the high-frequency range, and forward-sounding upper-mids. As a result, male vocals and bass lines were a bit more prominent in the mix than snare-rim clicks and consonants in words.

Audiophile critics might say that the Bose 700 lacks crispness and detail—if that’s you, consider the Sony WH-1000XM5, which has more high-end detail. Other folks may actually prefer this lack of high-end intensity. The Bose Music app includes EQ settings that enable you to adjust the bass, mids, and treble regions. The changes apply a little broadly, but they allow for some personalization of the overall sound profile.

Bose has done a fantastic job of ensuring that the sound quality remains nearly the same no matter what setting or method you use to listen: via Bluetooth or cable, with noise cancelling on or off, low or high. This is impressive stuff, as most headphones have mild to very noticeable sound-quality differences across their listening methods.

The 20 hours of battery life is sufficient. Of course, this number will vary based on how you use the headphones. But even when your headphones run out of power, it won’t be too long before they’re back up and running: The quick-charge feature gives you 2 hours 30 minutes of battery life after 15 minutes of charging time.

The controls are easy to learn and use by feel. Bose employs a combination of physical buttons and a touchpad to provide all the control options you need. It’s compatible with Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa, and you can program the system (via the app) to be always listening for the wake word associated with your favorite voice assistant. For quick conversations, you can hold the ANC toggle button on the left earcup to turn off the active noise cancellation, pause your music, and turn on the microphones to hear your surroundings better.

The design is especially comfortable to wear for long periods of time. This pair is lightweight, with supersoft memory-foam padding on the earcups and headband. Covering the padding on the underside of the headband is an unusual, silicone-esque material that’s softer than solid plastic or metal yet feels as though it would be less likely to degrade over time in comparison with the fabric or leatherette material covering the headbands on much of the competition.

The earpads are made of protein leather (higher-quality fake leather), and they’re replaceable and spacious enough to accommodate larger ear sizes. The earpad foam is pliable enough to work well with most glasses, though wider arms may cause some gaps that result in sound leakage. The fit felt secure on our heads, and most of our testers thought the clamping force wasn’t too tight.

Calls and video chats are clear, but the mics pick up some room noise. The microphone sound feeds into the noise-cancelling headphones themselves, so you get your own vocal feedback; this effect is helpful in reducing the instinct to yell when your ears are covered, but it can be distracting if you’re taking a call in a busy office and the mics pick up some chatter or keyboard clicks from your surroundings. If you prefer to reduce the amount of your own voice that you hear, or if you want to completely turn off this effect, you can do so in the Bose Music app.

The protective case is slimmer than average. Although over-ear noise-cancelling headphones can’t compete with earbuds in portability, the Bose 700’s case does a decent job of minimizing the space these headphones take up in a bag. The headphones themselves fold flat, and the semi-firm case uses the gap between the headband and the earcups for cable storage. At about 2.5 inches thick, the case will slip easily into a briefcase or a plane’s seat-back pocket.

How the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 has held up

We’ve been really happy with how the Bose 700 headphones have held up over time. No major complaints concerning their performance have surfaced so far. The only vulnerable point seems to be the earpads, which, depending on your situation, can start to break down over time. Fortunately, the pads are replaceable.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The app can be frustrating to set up. The Bose Music app is required to do a whole lot of things, including altering which digital assistant you use, turning on the always-listening wake word for your digital assistant, changing the assigned ANC preferences, adjusting how much of yourself you hear during calls, and setting the auto-off timer.

It can be downright annoying to get the app to recognize your headphones. Both Brent and I had difficulty pairing them, and after speaking with Bose representatives, we can offer the following tips. When you first power on the headphones, if they don’t show up in your Bluetooth list, there are two possible things you can do. First, if you use a VPN, turn it off; once the initial pairing is complete, you can turn your VPN back on again. Second, you may need to reduce the number of Bluetooth devices that are in your device’s paired-items list. Remove or “forget†as many unnecessary gadgets as possible and try the setup again.

A Bose account is required to use the app. Privacy advocates may find this troublesome. You can use a throwaway email address for the account, but we know that some folks would prefer not to need an account just to use their audio gear.

The cable lacks a mic and is not a common size. The Bose 700 set has a 2.5 mm input. A 2.5 mm–to–3.5 mm audio cable is included, but it has no remote or mic. Depending on your device, you may have trouble taking phone calls when your headphones are tethered via the cord.

The best noise-cancelling earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM5

Our pick

Superlative noise cancellation, impressive microphone clarity, excellent sound quality, and a bevy of bonus features make the Sony WF-1000XM5 true wireless earbuds a standout in a very large crowd of competitors. But if you have ears that are very small or sensitive to pressure, you may want to consider alternatives.

These are the best earbuds for blocking noise. This pair takes the most-effective ANC of any earbuds we’ve measured—28.7 dB in the airplane range—and pairs it with specially designed ear tips that passively block the higher-frequency sounds that ANC can’t reduce. The result is an enjoyably quiet experience that reduces low-frequency engine noise and muffles people talking.

Although this pair technically doesn’t have the ability to adjust the amount of active noise cancellation, the added passive isolation may help to reduce the sensation of eardrum suck.

The XM5 lets in outside sounds on your terms. This pair offers adjustable ambient hear-through, which can function as a less-intense noise-cancellation mode. The lowest hear-through settings are essentially the ANC mode dialed down. Higher modes start piping in outside sounds.

If you only want to hear your surroundings for a brief moment, you can simply hold a finger to the left earbud to engage the hear-through mode until you let go, or you can enable the “speak-to-chat†feature that switches it on when the earbuds sense you speaking. This is very handy if you are someone who can’t reach up every time you need to have a quick conversation.

Though the hear-through mode is perfectly fine for conversation, it isn’t as natural sounding as what we heard from the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds.

Simply put, the XM5 sounds great. These earbuds are capable of delicate, clear high notes and deliver an appropriate amount of refined bass. We were satisfied with the sound right out of the box, but we found our sweet spot by adjusting the EQ in the Sony app.

To reduce background and wind noise, Sony employs a combination of multiple microphones, AI software, and bone-conduction sensors to recognize when you’re speaking. Traffic sounds are diminished, and wind noise is nearly gone. While in these noisy scenarios, your voice may sound more compressed to your caller, but your conversation partner will be spared the assault of whooshes and other annoying interruptions.

This pair has the full complement of touch controls, with Alexa and Google compatibility. The touch controls are large and relatively resistant to misfiring, and the gentle beep that confirms your touch makes it easier to navigate the series of taps and holds needed for different tasks.

Amazon and Google users can access their digital assistant by speaking. Apple users can still call-up Siri by tap-holding on the right earbud. If you frequently switch between a phone and laptop, the XM5 offers dual-device connectivity, so you don’t need to fiddle with the Bluetooth menu to take a call.

The earbuds are small but packed with bonus features. Both the buds and the charging case are tinier than we expected for true wireless earbuds that have so much processing power. The earbuds hold anywhere from six to eight hours of battery life when fully charged (depending on whether you have ANC on or take calls), the case provides two additional full charges, and it can be charged wirelessly or via USB-C. IPX4 water resistance will protect the buds from a bit of rain.

We love that the left earbud has a raised braille mark to make left and right easier to distinguish without looking, and that the app supports a phone-screen reader. In addition to these basics, the Sony app is filled with a cornucopia of bonus features and beta applications that range from pretty helpful to mostly superfluous.

The fit may not be right for people with small ears, sensitive ears, or very active lifestyles. The diminutive earbuds don’t have stabilizing wings or hooks, which is often needed to hold true wireless earbuds in smaller ears for high-impact activities. Instead, the XM5 relies on the grippy quality of the tips to keep the earbuds in place, and the unique flexible foam and silicone material ensures the entire tip molds to your ear canal shape.

The design is great for noise isolation, but folks who don’t like a feeling of “fullness†in the ear will probably dislike the outward pressure. Seated properly, the XM5 buds felt secure in our ears, but we wouldn’t wear these for intense workouts—both for fear of losing one and because the IPX4 water resistance isn’t rated for profuse sweating.

Additionally, people with very large ear canals may find the largest tips to be inadequate. However, swapping in a pair of Comply tips resolved that issue for us. If you lose an eartip, Sony sells replacements through Authorized Parts Distributors.

Best budget noise-cancelling headphones: Soundcore Space One

Budget pick

If you only have around $100 to spend on headphones, check out the Soundcore Space One earbuds. The noise cancellation is price-defying, the sound quality enjoyable, and the fit comfortable. Plus, the extra features make this set feel far more expensive than it is.

The ANC is competitive with that of our pricier picks. In our tests, the noise cancellation came pretty darn close to the Bose 700’s. And like the Bose pair, the Space One has adjustable levels, or you can switch on the adaptive noise cancellation that will adjust based on your surroundings. If you like to plug into in-flight entertainment, the Space One’s ANC stays on when you use the supplied cable.

To have a quick conversation, you can hold a finger on the left earcup to enable “easy chat†mode—a hear-through mode with an emphasis on the human vocal range. We thought it sounded surprisingly natural. If your hands are frequently occupied, the optional speak-to-enable hear-through can prove useful.

The adjustable sound is enjoyable to listen to—but a little coarse. Out of the box, this pair has some blurriness in the male vocal range and harshness in the high frequencies. However, the Soundcore app offers various methods of EQ, so you should be able to find a sound you fancy.

Though we found a balance we preferred, astute ears will notice that there is still some coarseness to these drivers that you won’t hear in pricier pairs, and no matter how much we fussed, the bass still had a slightly bloated quality. Minor quibbles for a pair this affordable.

We love that this set has optional volume limiting so that your listening levels stay in safer ranges.

These headphones have a lightweight design and long battery life. The large, roomy earcups and plush memory foam ensure that you can wear this pair all day. The memory foam is pliable enough that it conforms to thin glasses arms to help keep a seal around your ears.

Though the body is largely plastic, the design feels sturdy and looks posh. We had to pull our recommendation of previous Soundcore budget headphones due to build-quality complaints, but it looks as though the company has addressed that with this new pair. If something does go wrong, Soundcore backs the Space One with an 18-month warranty.

Fully charged, the Space One will play for 40 hours with ANC on (and longer with it off.) If you run out of power, five minutes of charging will provide about four hours of listening time.

Using the controls may take practice. Though the layout of the physical control buttons makes sense, their size is small, and it takes some practice to get the muscle memory of where they’re located. Folks with large fingers or who struggle with dexterity might find this frustrating.

Three microphones remove a good bit of traffic noise or cafe clatter, but it also gives your voice a reedy and distant quality. In windy conditions, your caller won’t be blasted by air noise, but your voice is often ducked in stronger gusts.

The best budget noise-cancelling earbuds: Soundcore Space A40

Budget pick

The Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are a great affordable alternative to the Sony WF-1000XM5. This true wireless pair is the top pick in our guide to wireless earbuds because it packs great sound, 10 hours of battery life, good microphone quality, dual-device connectivity, and excellent noise cancellation into tiny earbuds—all for around $100 or less.

The ANC ranked among the best we measured for earbuds. This Soundcore pair was not as effective in the airplane band as the Sony WF-1000XM5, but it still reduced an average of 20.8 dB. That means it can reduce lower-pitched noises like the rumble of air conditioners or plane engines well, and the included ear tips do a decent job of dampening higher-pitched sounds, such as babies crying or dogs barking.

Using the Soundcore app, you can adjust the intensity of the noise reduction or choose an adaptive mode that automatically shifts the ANC to match the kind of sounds around you. For people who are bothered by eardrum suck, the ability to choose a comfortable ANC level is a nice benefit.

The smooth, ergonomic design allows them to sit comfortably in a variety of ears. Not only are the earbuds small, but they’re also lightweight—so the design isn’t fighting gravity and tugging at your ear canal. We were able to wear the Space A40 pair painlessly through an entire workday. However, people with very active lifestyles or smaller ears may appreciate a pair with stabilizing wings.

Other good noise-cancelling headphones

If you work in an open office or from home: The Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones have great passive noise isolation to block out voices around you, and they have the same adjustable speak-to-chat feature as the WF-1000XM5. The ANC isn’t as potent in the airplane range as that of the Bose 700, and it’s not adjustable. But the XM5’s isolation makes this pair better than the Bose at muffling higher-pitched sounds like voices. Read more in our Bluetooth wireless headphones guide.

If your computer or audio player doesn’t have Bluetooth: The JLab Epic Edition earbuds come with a USB-C Bluetooth transmitter that can be stored neatly inside the charging case. This pair’s adjustable ANC is effective, and the microphone sounds super clear on calls, even in wind. The sound is fantastic, especially the “Knowles signature†EQ setting. The earbuds have nine hours of battery life, IP55 water/dust resistance, and a two-year warranty. The Epic Edition would be a pick if the earbuds were more friendly to small ears (they’re a touch chunky with no additional stabilization).

If you’re willing to pay more for the absolute best active noise cancellation and a more-luxurious design: The Apple AirPods Max over-ear headphones sound great and reduce the most noise in the airplane band of any set we’ve tested. However, the intense ANC isn’t adjustable, so it can cause eardrum suck. Plus, the headphone design is hefty with a snug clamping force. If you wear headphones all day, the added weight and pinch are a literal pain.

The baffling case design doesn’t protect the headband or keep debris out of the earcups, but you need the case to put the headphones into standby mode (third-party cases are available). This restriction is problematic because if the battery dies, you can’t listen to these headphones at all—they must have some charge to function, even corded. We love the sustainability of the replaceable battery; the service fee of $79 could be worth it financially to keep these working for many years.

If you want to spend a little less for a great all-purpose set of headphones: The JBL Tour One M2 is our top overall pick for Bluetooth wireless headphones, with an intuitive design, a comfortable fit, and great battery life. The sound is good right out of the box, and it can be further improved with the use of the EQ settings in JBL’s app. The ANC is useful, but not as good as what we got from the best noise-cancelling headphones.

If you want a durable pair for the gym: The JBL Reflect Aero TWS set is the top pick in our guide to workout headphones because the winged earbuds stay securely in place, have simple controls, and are waterproof and sweatproof, with an IP68 rating. But this pair goes beyond workouts, as it offers the option to choose either Alexa or Google Assistant wake-word functionality, and the ANC is quite effective (you can compare its performance with that of our picks here in the chart above). The sound is good out of the box, and you can fine-tune it to your preferences using the EQ in JBL’s mobile app. This pair’s eight hours of battery life is solid for true wireless earbuds.

If you are an Apple fan looking for true wireless earbuds: A pair of Beats Fit Pro takes all the features you might find attractive in a pair of AirPods Pro—easy Apple pairing and device swapping, touchless “Hey Siri†control, and so forth—and puts them in a smaller, more secure pair of earbuds with physical button controls.

We couldn’t override this set’s wear sensors, so we were unable to use our usual ANC measurement equipment. Instead, we set up a perception-based test, comparing the Fit Pro with the Soundcore Space A40. We determined that the ANC is useful for airplane noise, but for higher pitches such as voices, the Fit Pro set is only about as good as any pair of passive earbuds. People prone to eardrum suck may discover that the ANC triggers that feeling, and the level of reduction is not adjustable. Even though the Beats Fit Pro is one of our favorites for Apple fans, it’s not worth the extra money if ANC is your most valued feature.

If you are looking for earbuds that provide hearing protection: Although active noise cancellation reduces lower-frequency sounds, it isn’t effective enough to provide adequate protection during very loud activities like mowing the lawn or operating a jackhammer. For that, consider the Elgin Rebel true wireless earbuds, which are NRR-rated and OSHA-compliant, and will keep your ears safe when worn properly. These are the first protective earbuds we’ve tested that are comfortable, sound good, and easy enough to use that most people should be able to find an effective (and safe) fit.

Twelve hours of battery life per charge should get you through a full workday, and the IP65 dust- and water-resistant rating means you can work up a sweat without worry. The microphone works well for taking calls (though you’ll need to do so in a quieter environment), and the charging case doubles as a flashlight. Elgin includes several pairs of tips; however, the standard black pair is not protective and only for day-to-day activities—be sure to use the yellow triple-flange or foam tips when on the job.

The only flaw is that the Rebel lacks a hear-through function, which would be really helpful for job-site conversations. But considering there literally isn’t anything else available that comes close to the Rebel’s performance, we will just have to hope it’s included in the next version.

What to look forward to

Sonos is releasing its first pair of headphones, the Sonos Ace. The Ace’s over-ear design has a streamlined look, and the pair features head-tracking, spatial audio/Dolby Atmos support, noise- and wind-reducing microphones, lossless audio via the USB-C cable, and the ability to transfer your TV sound from the Sonos Arc soundbar to the headphones with the push of a button. Sonos says the Ace will have 30 hours of battery life with ANC enabled, and the quick-charge function provides three hours of listening after three minutes plugged in. The Ace is currently available for preorder for $450, with a ship date of June 5th. We have a pair en route and will update with our testing results as soon as possible.

JBL launched two noise-cancelling headphones that have very similar features and specs. The on-ear Tune 670NC ($100) and over-ear Tune 770NC ($130) both offer adaptive noise cancellation, a smart ambient mode, and up to 70 hours of battery life (44 hours with ANC on). Both have Bluetooth 5.3, which is compatible with Auracast.

On the earbuds side, JBL’s Live Buds 3 earbuds ($200) will feature a smart charging case, adaptive ANC, Bluetooth 5.3, support for LDAC, an IP55 dust/water rating, customizable sound, multipoint connectivity, and a 10-hour play time. The Live Beam 3 earbuds ($200) have a closed-ear, stick design and offer nearly identical specs as the Live 3, but with a slightly longer battery life of 12 hours per charge.

JLab’s JBuds Lux ($80) over-ear headphones offer an awareness mode, multipoint capabilities, and Google Fast Pair/Find My functions.

EarFun released its first over-ear ANC headphones, the Wave Pro. This pair reportedly offers up to 80 hours of battery life, quick-charge capabilities, multipoint connectivity, and support for LDAC for $80.

EarFun also announced updates to its ANC earbud lineup: The Air 2 and Air Pro 4 offer an upgrade in battery life and features, as well as Bluetooth 5.3. We don’t know exact pricing on the Air Pro 4 yet, but EarFun anticipates it will be under $100.

1More’s SonoFlow over-ear headphones, our former budget pick, will get an update this spring. The new version reportedly offers improved performance, a more substantial metal chassis, a physical dial control, and wireless charging via a charging stand.

Phiaton released the BonoBuds Plus earbuds ($80), featuring an IPX4 water/dust rating, support for up to 24-bit/96-kHz audio resolution, six hours of battery life (with ANC on), and 14 additional hours of battery in the charging case.

The competition

We’ve tested more than 250 pairs of headphones for this guide. That’s a lot to cover, so we focus below on the newest and most high-profile competitors. However, if you’re curious about a specific model, we’ve archived many of our previous testing notes in a spreadsheet.

Over- or on-ear headphones

1More SonoFlow: This pair is our former budget headphones pick. The noise cancellation is effective, but it was bested by that of the Soundcore Space One headphones. The sound quality is pleasant and adjustable, and the design is lightweight and comfortable, though not as sturdy-feeling as the Space One. The 50-hour battery life with ANC on (70 hours with it off) is impressive for a model in any price range. However, the ANC does not work in wired mode, so if you’re on a plane that requires a wired connection to the in-flight entertainment system, you’ll have to either go without ANC or pick up a Bluetooth transmitter.

1More SonoFlow SE: A bare-bones edition of the SonoFlow, this set has similar battery life/quick-charge capabilities, app-adjustable tuning, and a lightweight design. But the SE lacks the water resistance, software-driven noise-cancelling microphone, and ability to listen wired. The noise cancellation doesn’t sound as effective as the original, and we noticed that facing the source of a noise resulted in less reduction than when we turned to the side. The hear-through mode sounds muffled, but the microphone does a good job of reducing background noise for phone calls. If you want to spend the least amount possible for decent ANC headphones, this pair is light and comfy, sounds good, and reduces some noise, but we think spending a bit more for our budget pick is worth it for the extra functionality.

Beats Studio Pro: For every positive, this pair has an equally disappointing downside. The noise cancellation and hear-through modes sound great, but neither is adjustable. It’s easy to use the larger physical buttons, but the power/ANC toggle button is inexplicably small. The foam earpads are soft but not replaceable. Android users get a dual-device connection feature; Apple users do not. There are three EQ settings, but they’re only accessible when listening via USB-C. But most importantly, the sound quality is dramatically impacted by use of the spatial audio: When it’s turned on, the lower bass is emphasized, and higher-pitched sounds have an artificial sharpness. With spatial audio off, the bass is notably diminished.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones: These are good headphones, but they aren’t remarkable enough to justify the $350 price—especially while the Bose 700 still exists. The ANC is not as effective as what the rest of the current Bose line can deliver. In fact, at the highest intensity, these headphones reduced less noise in the airplane band than our budget pick. Despite this, the amount of reduction is still effective and useful, and the ANC intensity is adjustable. The build is very comfortable, with a lightweight feel and squishy earpads that should accommodate many glasses arms. These headphones utilize physical buttons rather than the touch controls, and the buttons are easy to learn and find. The hear-through mode sounds natural, and music sounds good, albeit slightly bass-forward out of the box. The Bose app provides an EQ feature that can adjust the tuning, but it consists of only three faders, which is too simplistic. The microphones sound very clear in a quiet room, but background noises in the human vocal range, like a sink running nearby, will be pronounced. We love that Bose includes a cable with a three-button remote and mic––a rare old school nicety.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: Bose’s newest premium over-ear pair, the Ultra headphones use a test tone to calibrate the noise reduction to your ear shape. It works well, reducing a lot of noise in the airplane band (second only to the Apple AirPods Max). However, people who are susceptible to eardrum suck should know that this pair induced that feeling more strongly in us than any other headphones we’ve tested. This is especially noteworthy if you’ve had challenges concerning your vestibular system. Of course, you can always use the app to dial down the ANC intensity, but really the powerful noise cancellation is the only compelling reason to buy these headphones. While the Ultra sounds good and is constructed in the lightweight, comfortable style Bose is known for, we’d like to see more bonus features to justify the steep $430 price tag. Many headphones that cost under $250 are similarly comfortable and offer better sound customization, longer battery life, always-listening wake words, voice-activated awareness modes, a higher IP rating, and better microphone noise reduction. So, as long as the lower-priced Bose 700 is still available, we suggest that most people save the money and go with that model.

Edifier W820NB Plus: The noise cancellation is moderately effective, but the overall reduction is marred by the design’s lack of passive isolation. You might not hear the lowest pitches of an engine, but you’ll hear the upper whine, as well as people talking. The sound quality is decent, and the padding on the earcups is comfortable, but with so many other great options, this pair just fell a bit short.

Edifier WH950NB: This pair is a mixed bag. Like the W820NB Plus, this Edifier pair is lacking in passive isolation. So although the noise cancellation is effective in a band of lower frequencies, you can still hear things like babies crying or dishes clinking. This combo of intense ANC and lack of isolation can exacerbate eardrum suck if you’re sensitive to it. Sonically, the bass is a touch bloated in the upper lows, and the highs have a slight coarseness to them, but neither flaw makes listening unenjoyable. The fit is lightweight and comfortable, and the earcups are deep, which can be more comfortable for people who have prominent or sensitive ears. However, the control buttons are small and tricky to feel, especially if you have larger fingers or challenges with dexterity.

Phiaton BonoBeats Lite: It has been a while since we’ve tested a new pair of on-ear headphones, so we were hopeful that the BonoBeats Lite would be recommendable for someone who prefers that style. Sadly, this pair wasn’t what we’re looking for. The headband is small with a lot of clamping force. The noise cancellation is middling, the sound quality has recessed vocals, and the hear-through mode has a hissing quality. Bummer.

PSB M4U 9: This set’s noise cancellation takes the edge off of low frequencies, but the intensity isn’t competitive with even our budget pick. PSB is known for excellent bass reproduction, and the M4U 9 is a great example of why. The bass is slightly forward in the mix, but the notes have actual pitch, even at volumes that might cause distortion in other headphones. Out of the box, the highs have a slight icy spike, and male vocals are slightly recessed, but it’s subtle enough to be a matter of preference. Taking the time to complete the hearing-test-based EQ test can improve the experience, and unlike many wireless headphones, this pair sounds just as good wired as it does wireless. The headband transfers a lot of noise, so a small bump or scratch resonates noisily. On a more affordable pair, we might be able to overlook this given the great sound quality, but for $500, we want better.

Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2: This pair is an evolution of studio headphones and may be considered by people specifically for that purpose. It retains the Shure sound (narrowly boosted high frequencies and extra energy in the lows around 60 Hz) when you listen passively. However, via Bluetooth, the sound out of the box is very boomy, and the three preset EQ modes all go too far in their application of filters. The sound can be customized in the app, but the interface is not user-friendly for beginners and not dexterous enough for experts. We eventually got to a sound that was “close enough†to what we wanted, but it wasn’t easy to get there. The noise cancellation is intense and restricted to lower frequencies, so for those sensitive to eardrum suck, you’ll want to make adjustments. The microphones are clear but pick up external noise and are easily overwhelmed by wind.

Skullcandy Crusher ANC XT 2: The noise cancellation is minimal, and the isolation isn’t great. But that’s not why someone would be drawn to this pair. This is for someone who wants the experience of a car-trunk subwoofer in a wearable format. The bass is loud and boomy, and a small motor vibrates the headphones so that you can feel the bass. It’s not our thing, but if you’re into that, we won’t yuck your yum. We’ll just say, don’t get these if you want effective ANC or balanced sound.

Earbuds

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation): This set offers a few neat features for Apple fans, such as the ability to charge the case with your Apple Watch charging cable. But most of the major specs—including six hours of battery life, always-listening Siri voice control, head-tracking spatial audio, and an IPX4 water-resistance rating—are similar to those of the Beats Fit Pro pair, which has a smaller design, a more secure fit, easier-to-use controls, and a lower price. The AirPods Pro controls are frustrating to use compared with the more-straightforward button design on the Beats Fit Pro set. And the active cancellation isn’t nearly as effective in the airplane band as our picks (you can read more about this pair’s ANC in this piece). We recommend these earbuds only for people who use Apple devices exclusively and who prioritize the niceties of staying in the Apple ecosystem above all else. Otherwise, you have better options for the money.

Astell & Kern UW100MKII: Astell and Kern is a brand known for high-end audio equipment, so we were excited to try these true wireless earbuds. The earbuds are large—around the size of a nickel—so people who have medium or small outer ears will likely find that their ears feel stuffed. The noise cancellation is mild, but is good enough for reducing an air conditioner. Although the drivers are capable of reproducing low frequencies, the sound is heavily tilted to the mids and highs. There are bass notes present, but even the most thumping hip-hop feels unsupported. There also seems to be a spike around 7 kHz that adds a twang to grand pianos, plus a sizzly quality to snares.

Beats Studio Buds +: The upgraded version of the Studio Buds, this pair offers better battery life (nine hours), Android customization, and noise cancellation compared with the original—and a stylishly transparent shell. But the core earbud design remains the same. This is a solid pair of earbuds overall and shares a lot of iOS-friendly features with the Beats Fit Pro set—but we like the Fit Pro earbuds better because they’re more secure in the ears, they still offer better noise cancellation, and their button design is more ergonomic.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: This pair replaces the QuietComfort Earbuds II and is excellent at reducing noise. These earbuds measured second only to the Sony WF-1000XM5 at reduction in the airplane band. But the way the reduction functions can cause a lot of eardrum suck, so if you’re susceptible, you may need to dip the ANC intensity for comfort. The fit is secure, and the sound is consistent with the quality and tuning Bose is known for. In other performance areas, Bose said that the Ultra pair remedied some issues that marred its predecessor, but that wasn’t our experience. Phone calls are still problematic. Though the microphones perform well in quiet settings, the sound falls apart with any level of background noise. On one test call, ordinary street sounds rendered our caller unable to understand us. Plus, the Ultra Earbuds still lack dual-device connectivity. The hear-through mode is designed to automatically duck the volume when you’re in a noisier area, but the effect is way too heavy-handed. We also weren’t impressed with the Immersive Audio mode, which made music sound like a speaker playing from a specific point in a metal hallway. Six hours of battery life per charge (four with Immersive Audio active) is low for earbuds that lack an always-listening assistant. For a pair that’s originally priced at $300, we expect better and more.

Devialet Gemini II: The Gemini II has high-quality drivers capable of producing excellent low-bass notes with clear pitch, attack, and decay—a far cry from the thudding, tone-less boom of many true wireless earbuds. Out of the box, this pair showcases that bass a bit too much for our taste, with a hyped tuning that also has a spike in the highs. Fortunately, there is a six-fader EQ system in the Devialet app that can restrain the boosted frequencies and make this pricy ($450) pair sound fantastic. However, the Gemini II is lacking in features. The hear-through mode makes it sound like you have a head cold, and the controls are limited.

Edifier TWS1 Pro 2: If you’re on a tight budget, this is the only under-$50 pair of noise-cancelling earbuds we’ve tested that won’t immediately inspire buyers remorse. While this pair doesn’t have the level of performance of the Soundcore Space A40, it nonetheless reduces noise in a useful way, and the sound quality is excellent for the price. We like the IP54 water/dust resistance, and the adjustable awareness mode, too. But the battery life of four hours with ANC on is too short, and the suite of touch controls is limited.

EarFun Free Pro 3: The Pro 3 is a very good pair of budget earbuds, but our budget pick has a smaller, more comfortable fit, slightly better ANC, and a longer battery life.

Google Pixel Buds Pro: These colorful, true wireless earbuds feature ANC, spatial audio, dual-device connectivity, a hear-through mode, and always-listening “Hey Google†capabilities (on Google devices). The earbuds themselves have IPX4 water resistance, and the case is IPX2-rated. The battery life of 11 hours of listening time (up to seven hours with ANC turned on) is impressive for true wireless earbuds. However, the earbud design, while smooth and comfortable in larger ears, is likely to be tricky for people with medium to small ear canals to keep in securely—and the touch-control sensor is easy to activate accidentally when you’re pushing the earbuds back into place. In our tests, the sound was decent, but we found the peak in the cymbal and consonant range to be fatiguing, especially when the volume was turned up a bit. Overall, if you have bigger ears and want to stay in the Google ecosystem, these earbuds are fine but not excellent.

HiFiMan Svanar Wireless: This $500 pair focuses on audio performance, not noise cancellation. As such, its ANC was below average. As for audio performance, the earbuds use high-quality drivers, but the balance leans heavily toward high frequencies. So unless you prefer a top-heavy sound, these aren’t for you. It’s a shame that the Svanar lacks an EQ function, because this set might have broader appeal if tuned a little differently.

HyperX Cirro Buds Pro: This pair is middle-of-the-road in most ways. The noise cancellation is effective on very low frequencies but not not much else, the sound is a little bloated in the lows and dull in the highs (but not offensively so), and the fit is on the larger side. The tap controls can be finicky, and the case is large. None of these flaws alone is a dealbreaker, but the sum total disqualified this pair from being a pick.

Jabra Elite 4: Though the earbud design is comfortable and the full suite of controls is intuitive, active users might feel as though these earbuds aren’t secure enough in their ears. The noise cancellation is minimally effective, and the sound is just okay—the highs have a sizzling aspect that the five-band EQ can’t fix. Five and a half hours of battery life is decent, but is only half the playtime of the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds.

Jabra Elite 10: When used for work, the Elite 10 pair is fantastic: These earbuds sound good, feature dual-device connectivity, have clear mics for calls, and are perhaps the most comfortable earbuds we’ve tested. You can read about how they compare overall in our Bluetooth earbuds guide. However, the six-hour battery life may not be enough for long days, and the noise cancellation isn’t competitive with the picks in this guide.

JBL Tour Pro 2: There isn’t much bad to say about the Tour Pro 2; this pair was simply edged out by our earbud picks. These earbuds come with a control-panel case that duplicates app functionality without a phone, which is nifty. The noise cancellation is well above average, but not the best we tested. The fit is comfortable, and the six microphones reduce wind noise on calls better than just about anything we’ve tested. The nine hours of battery life is excellent, the IPX5 rating a benefit, and the sound quality is very good after you adjust the EQ. We wish the touch controls included the full suite (you have to choose one to leave out, be it volume, track forward/back, etc.). But overall these are fantastic, albeit pricey, earbuds if you don’t need the absolute best in noise cancellation.

JBL Tune Buds: We love the 12 hours of battery life and the sound quality (once we adjusted it a tad in the app to reduce the high highs). However, the somewhat bulky shape might pose a fit challenge for smaller ears, and the noise cancellation and passive isolation, while above average, aren’t competitive with our picks.

JBL Tune Flex: This pair is designed to be worn either sealed or unsealed, depending on which tips you choose. However, the ANC is limited to a narrow band of low frequencies. And all of the tips are small. Because the buds aren’t fixed in place by the tips or wings, the earbuds can shift, causing the sound to change drastically depending on the angle at which the sound tubes aim at your ear canal. When they are positioned perfectly, the Tune Flex can sound quite good. But once the buds shift, the experience is less enjoyable. Open/closed earbuds is an interesting idea, but to swap on the go, you need to carry the tips with you separately (there isn’t a place to store them in the case), and we didn’t feel either style was excellent enough to recommend these as a pick.

LG Tone Free T90: This set has some interesting features, including a UV light that LG says disinfects the earbuds and a case that doubles as a Bluetooth transmitter. However, these earbuds and the included tips are very small, so folks with medium to XL ears may find them tricky to keep in place. The noise cancellation is decent, but the sound quality isn’t worth the higher price tag. While the idea of a transmitter case is somewhat neat, we’d say to get a better, less expensive pair and a separate inexpensive transmitter for travel.

Motorola Moto Buds 600 ANC: The noise reduction is above average, but the sound has boomy bass, and the chunky earbud design can make it difficult to get a seal. The controls are limited and, like many touch-control earbuds, can be fussy. Even with the added benefit of wireless charging, this pair doesn’t meet our high standards.

Nothing Ear (2): Although not on a par with our top picks, this pair’s average of 14.5 dB of ANC reduction is quite good. Nothing’s app is very well designed, with some beneficial personalization of ANC and EQ that make the listening experience quite pleasant. The fit is comfortable, the microphone quality is clear, and the futuristic design could be appealing to some. However, the squeeze-style controls are limited and very frustrating to use. Not only are they prone to misreading your squeeze, but the act of squeezing can dislodge the earbuds and is likely to be difficult for people with dexterity issues.

Poly Voyager Free 60 + UC: If you work in an office environment, especially one where you work regularly on desktop computers that lack Bluetooth, this pair could be worth the expense. The case has a touchscreen that mimics features generally found in a mobile app, which is helpful for desktop users, since app features like EQ and control customization aren’t accessible to people connected to a desktop. The charging case also stores a USB Bluetooth transmitter that enables these true wireless earbuds to connect to computers that otherwise lack wireless capabilities. The microphones are designed for voice clarity and background noise reduction, which reduces the frequency ranges it picks up, so don’t be surprised if colleagues think you sound like you’re calling from an old-school landline. Importantly, the noise cancellation is only average.

Raycon The Everyday Earbuds Pro: This pair is comfortable, and the ANC is helpful at reducing low-pitched hums. However, the bass is blobby and incredibly loud. Even acoustic guitars sound formless and boomy, and there is no way to EQ this pair.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: The fit is comfortable, the case is adorably small, and the sound is flawed yet still pleasant. But the noise cancellation is significantly less successful than we’d like, and the Buds 2 Pro pair doesn’t offer dual-device connectivity. The touch controls are easy to inadvertently activate when you’re adjusting the earbuds in your ears. And the voice-activated hear-through mode isn’t as seamless as that of the Sony WF-1000XM5.

Sennheiser Momentum TW4: This is a good but expensive set of earbuds. The ANC and isolation work well to reduce distractions around you, and the transparency mode sounds relatively natural. The touch controls are easy to use. Out of the box, the sound is somewhat bass heavy, but you can adjust the intensity using the manual EQ in the app. Although the earbud design is comfortable for medium and large ears, people with smaller ears may struggle with the fit. Also, high frequencies become sibilant if you boost them more than 2 dB or so in the EQ, and the case is on the chunkier side—like a twinkie cut in half. If the TW4 earbuds weren’t $300, we would give these minimal flaws a pass.

Skullcandy Rail ANC XT: The standout feature is the inclusion of the “Hey Skullcandy†suite of voice controls (which is also available in the Grind Fuel). It functions separately from your phone’s digital assistant and works even if you are in a service-less or Wi-Fi–less location. Aside from that, these are middle-of-the-road earbuds. The sound quality is decent, but a bit bloated in the bass no matter how you fuss with the EQ. The ANC is comparatively mild, and the hear-through mode is somewhat unnatural and compressed sounding. The touch controls are easy to accidentally trigger when adjusting the earbuds in your ears.

Sony LinkBuds S x Olivia Rodrigo: If you like Olivia Rodrigo or find the lavender earbuds and case to be charming, this is a perfectly good pair of earbuds. We’ve tested the LinkBuds S before, and you can read our thoughts and why they aren’t a pick in our competition spreadsheet. This pair offers two special EQ settings, both of which sound very good.

Soundcore Liberty 4 NC: This pair has noise cancellation that sounds to be on a par with that of the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds, but there’s slightly less passive isolation, which can create the sensation of eardrum suck. The Liberty earbuds also has an overabundance of bass that can’t be tamed even by dropping the lowest EQ fader to the very bottom, so it’s challenging to hear male vocals, especially on hip-hop tracks.

Soundcore P40i: Overall, this is a nice pair of earbuds with some notable flaws. First, the orientation of the stem on the earbud is such that larger ears may have trouble getting the earbuds deep enough to get a seal. The touch controls are customizable but limited. We liked the bass-forward sound once we adjusted it using the EQ feature in the app. However, the sound loses clarity and balance when played at lower volumes. The ANC is adjustable and performs well, but the “smart†adaptive feature was divisive. Some testers found it to be helpful, and others found it disorienting.

Status Audio Between 3ANC: This pair has above-average noise cancellation and can sound quite good if you are willing to spend the time meticulously adjusting the EQ. The controls are a combination of touchpads and physical buttons, which we generally don’t mind. However, the tiny buttons are placed too close to the microphones, so every time you press them, you also get a loud brushing sound if the hear-through mode is enabled. Additionally, the volume adjustments jump in dramatic chunks, which can quickly become too loud or quiet.

This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.