Best noise canceling headphones

Sometimes, listening to the sounds of nature or the sounds of the people around you can be an enlightening experience, but sometimes, you just need a vacation from the world. As people who ride subways and buses every day, we know how necessary it is to block out the world sometimes just to keep your sanity—and hearing—intact. Whether you’re always in crowded areas, working at your desk, or a frequent commuter, noise canceling can be a much-needed feature. Here are the best noise canceling headphones currently on offer based on our experience and testing.

At SoundGuys, we understand the importance of features that allow you to listen to music free of noise. As part of our testing process for every pair of headphones we review, we play a sample of shaped noise over loudspeakers and record with our artificial head. We do this with each set of headphones with ANC enabled, ANC disabled, and the headphones off the head. After subtracting each curve from the control sample, we can display the data in a way that makes sense. In our charts below, you will see exactly how well the isolation and the ANC perform, with a percentage of the perceived loudness of audible noise around you reduced.

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The short answer:

If you just want to see our picks, below is our staff’s shortlist. Each entry has a link to the full review (if it’s published), and we go over the finer details there.

The best for most:

The best sound quality:

The best ANC:

The best budget ANC:

The best features:

The detailed answer:

Of course, no subject as complicated as headphones and noise canceling is as straightforward as “hey, buy this thing!” There’s all sorts of tradeoffs to consider, and potential buyer’s remorse if you rush to hit that purchase button without the whole picture in mind. Below, we hash out some of the finer points to help you find any potential dealbreakers before going too far on your shopping research journey.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 has the best ANC for most people

Released in mid-2025, the Sony WH-1000XM6 leapfrogged its predecessor, the WH-1000XM5, for the crown of best ANC headphones. With very strong ANC performance, solid features, and decent sound: it’s hard to argue against the latest Sony offering taking the top spot in our list. However, it may not stay for long, given that its connection options are going to feel a little dated as more models come out in the next few years. In the interim, though, you’ll see a lot of these headphones out in the wild, and for good reason: they’re solid.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 ties the JBL Tour One M3 and Apple AirPods Max for raw ANC performance and slightly edges out the Bose QuietComfort Ultra—though not by any obviously audible amount. It does so off the back of extremely good isolation. If you find the sound objectionable, the app does a fairly good job of allowing you to tailor things to your preferences. However, a spike at 10kHz is very difficult to EQ away.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen.) is a close runner-up

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) offer outstanding noise cancelation capabilities that make them a top choice for the best noise canceling headphones. In our testing, we found the headphones were able to reduce loud sounds like bus engines, train screeches, and airplane noise significantly and block out a great amount of ambient noise across the entire frequency range.

The large, dense ear pads create an excellent seal on the head, providing excellent passive noise isolation as well. With their exceptional noise cancelation along with premium audio quality, a competitive price, and wireless connectivity features like support for Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are one of the more compelling options on the market. The main downside is that the app is a bit simplistic, but that’s not really a major concern for most.

The Sennheiser HDB 630 offers the best sound quality

If you’re an audiophile who bemoans the fact that many ANC headphones sound inferior to your headphones at home, consider the Sennheiser HDB 630. These headphones are brand-new and offer better ANC capabilities than the community darling Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. Additionally, it sidesteps the issue of codec compatibility by including the BTD 700 USB-C adapter, which can plug into any USB-C port that offers a data connection. Using this accessory, you can unlock the higher-bitrate Bluetooth performance that the headphones offer.

Notable drawbacks include the price ($50 more than the Sony and Bose offerings), comparatively weaker ANC, and the less beginner-friendly nature of the headphones. Though the features of the Sennheiser headphones will definitely appeal to anyone picky about audio quality, those needing to absolutely delete their surroundings will have issues. Additionally, the older Bluetooth 5.2 standard might become pretty dated for some power users, though it’s not a liability unless you absolutely need LE Audio.

The Apple AirPods Max offer the best noise canceling

Apple’s first and only set of over-ear headphones are one of the best pure noise cancellers you can buy. However, the AirPods Max may not be the ones to buy owing to their high cost and relatively poor flexibility. Unless you own an iPhone and have a large budget, there are too many competing models out there that offer a similar level of ANC performance and comparable sound quality. Audio performance is right where you’d expect it to be for an Apple product, with much better performance than some of the cheaper options on this list. However, the headphones use only SBC and AAC — meaning no higher-bitrate codecs like LDAC.

As top-tier noise canceling headphones, the AirPods Max use hybrid active noise cancelation for optimal noise attenuation. As we’ve seen from the Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation), the AirPods Max supports Adaptive EQ, which adjusts the frequency response in real-time, adjusting for how the headset fits.

The JBL Tour ONE M3 offers the best features

If you’re less worried about sound quality and more concerned with having headphones that will stay current for many years, you should look at the JBL Tour ONE M3. Though these headphones are quite odd, they offer many connectivity perks that should interest you. For example, the SMART Tx accessory can act as a transmitter, sharing an audio stream over Auracast to multiple devices — or just your headphones whenever you need to connect to something over analog.

These headphones are among the best noise cancelers on the market, hanging tough within a percent or two of the Apple AirPods Max. However, the sound quality leaves something to be desired. Thankfully, you can tinker with this in the app or using the SMART Tx accessory. You can often find them on sale at a lower price than the other front-runners, too — but not by enough to be a pure value buy.

The Edifier W820NB Plus has great ANC for cheap

The Edifier W820NB Plus presents a compelling budget choice for those seeking decent noise cancelation without breaking the bank. While not the most premium ANC experience, our tests show the W820NB Plus provides good passive noise isolation thanks to the well-fitting ear pads that help reduce ambient noise. The active noise canceling mode is also quite effective at nullifying low-frequency sounds like engine rumbles when commuting.

Beyond the capable noise canceling, the W820NB Plus offers a well-balanced, natural-sounding default audio tuning that scores impressively well in our perceptual tests. Other strengths include a comfortable fit with plush padding, a long battery life exceeding 31 hours, and versatile connectivity with support for LDAC codec and a wired USB audio option.

However, the non-folding design is a notable drawback for travelers and commuters. The headphones also lack a customizable EQ for fine-tuning the sound. But for casual listeners on a tight budget seeking solid all-around noise canceling performance, the Edifier W820NB Plus emerges as a value-packed option that gets the job done without much fuss.

The best noise canceling headphones: Notable mentions

• Anker Soundcore Space Q45 ($149 at Amazon): Although they fall short in terms of frequency response, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 deliver solid active noise canceling for a low price ($149 at Amazon). They are a decent option for anyone looking for an inexpensive headset that still handles loud environments with a deft touch.
• Anker Soundcore Space One ($99.99 at Amazon): These are the latest noise canceling cans from Soundcore by Anker, stated to reduce outside noise by 98%. We are still in the process of testing these, but based on the majority of user feedback, it looks like another success in the brand’s value headset lineup.
• Bose QuietComfort Headphones ($349 at Amazon): These headphones sound decent enough and offer solid ANC, but are a bit dated.
• Bowers & Wilkins PX8 ($699 at Amazon): The successor to the venerable PX7, these headphones throw everything but the kitchen sink at you. However, the price tag is enormous.
• Focal Bathys ($699 at Amazon): We have these tested, and they’re great—but they’re also $699 and only cancel noise as well as the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, so they’re a tough sell to a general crowd. For an audiophile, however, they’re definitely worth a look.
• JLab JBuds Lux ANC ($79.99 at Amazon): The JLab JBuds Lux ANC is a decent set of ANC headphones for the budget-conscious. With between 10 and 20dB of noise cancelation under 700Hz, you can expect between 50 and 75% of outside noise in the lows. But the JLab JBuds Lux ANC shines with high-frequency noise, as the ear cups do an outstanding job of creating a seal to your head. Because of this, the headphones isolate your ears from outside noise and physically block up to 46dB of outside noise the higher in frequency you go.
• Marshall Monitor III ANC ($349.99 at Amazon): If you travel often, the Marshall Monitor III ANC are worth considering thanks to their connectivity options, great travel case, and good noise canceling.
• Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet ($139 at Amazon): An affordable and sleek pair of active noise canceling headphones for children. The design fits smaller heads and limits the maximum volume to help protect your kiddo’s hearing.
• Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless ($289.23 at Amazon): If you’re looking for a slightly more affordable set of ANC headphones in comparison to the Bose or Sony offerings, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is not a bad way to go. While its ANC is technically behind the other top-tier headphones, its sound quality is ahead of the pack—as is its battery life.
• Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus ($217.95 at Amazon): If you are looking for a middle-ground ANC headphone to last you a few years, these are great for the price.
• Sony WH-CH720N ($799 at Amazon): If you’re looking for a decent set of noise canceling cans but don’t want to shell out the top-tier headphones, consider these as a good in-between option. They balance app support, good battery life, and solid functionality.

What you should know about the best noise canceling headphones

How do noise canceling headphones work?

Active noise cancellers attempt to increase the quality of your music by using destructive interference to eliminate noise. By using active noise cancelation tech (ANC), you can simultaneously make your music sound better in noisy environments. Still, you can also reduce how much sound your inner ear is subjected to, staving off hearing loss. Even if you use noise canceling headphones, you’re still at risk for noise-induced hearing loss because it doesn’t block out all noise. Be sure to limit your exposure to all sounds above 85dB SPL if possible.

Can a firmware update make the noise canceling worse on your headphones?

Many people have reported ANC performance declining after an update; we’ve seen this with the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and others. When you experience worse noise canceling after an update, try to factory reset the headset. After resetting the headset, try to install the latest firmware again, but only after your source device and headset are fully charged.

Do Bluetooth codecs matter for noise canceling headphones?

Additionally, you may find that you may need to upgrade your phone if you haven’t in the last few years to get the most out of your audio. Remember how I just said Bluetooth is messy? Well, that’s because its great irony is that despite its namesake, it’s a fractious and varied set of standards that don’t work on all devices. aptX Adaptive won’t work on iPhones, and sometimes AAC isn’t as good as it could be on some Android phones. But the situation is far better today than it once was.

How SoundGuys tests headphones

How well headphones and earphones attenuate noise is simple to test. Using our Bruel & Kjaer 5128 test head, we can offer accurate measurements of what a human would experience. Basically, we measure how much the headset attenuates our test signal (shaped noise) with and without ANC enabled.

While ANC is certainly getting a lot better, it won’t always be perfect at getting rid of every noise out there. In those instances, passive acoustic isolation will serve you better (shown as a solid pink line on our charts).

How SoundGuys chooses candidates and winners

We’ve been covering the consumer audio industry for some time, and we’re aware of what’s happening in the market. However, we give everyone their fair shot because we’re not all-knowing gods of consumer audio or anything, and there are always some surprises out there; yes, even for this best noise canceling headphones list.

The criteria we chose were as follows:

1. Noise attenuation (ANC plus isolation).
2. Sound quality.
3. Features.
4. Price.

It’s also important to check our ideas about what people want at the door because we’re not the ones buying; you are. So, from time to time, we take to social platforms to publish polls to see just how people are actually buying these headphones and what matters most to them.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

The writers at SoundGuys have accumulated years of experience reporting on the consumer audio market, testing audio products, and helping consumers find the right audio product for them. Our staff adheres to a strict ethics policy, and no writer will gain anything from recommending one brand over another.

We pride ourselves on transparently outlining objective facts and measurements while accounting for the subjective experience to contextualize an audio product’s performance. When we do misspeak, we correct and own up to it.

Frequently asked questions about the best noise canceling headphones