Top 10 Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to noise-canceling headphones nowadays. Choosing the right one with the right features AND fits your budget can be a challenge. We’ve done the scouting for you and put together a list of the best noise-canceling headphones for every budget and needs.

Top 10 Noise-Cancelling Headphones 

To make our list comprehensive, we chose noise-canceling headphones priced at least $100 and have all the necessary bells and whistles of a modern noise-canceling headphone. We won’t be listing out all their features, as there are many overlaps, and if you’re interested in a more in-depth review, check out our independent reviews of each one.

1. Sony WH-1000XM3 

Sony needs no introductions. If you want outstanding noise-canceling headphones packed with features and versatile for both classroom and living room use, then the Sony WH-1000XM3 is a safe bet. Its active noise-cancellation technology is among the best in the industry.

The design is clean, minimalistic, and functional. The earcups are generously big and comfortable enough to use all day without feeling ear-fatigue. The headset offers a precise sound that’s a step above anything you’ve ever used before. It also features touch controls on the side so you can swipe to skip songs.

The Sony WH-1000XM3 has a clever design that lets you listen to your surrounding just by covering one of the earcups with your hand. Gone are the days when you have to pause your music and take your head off to listen to oncoming traffic.

Battery life is also outstanding and manages to squeeze 36+ hours of use before needing to recharge. With that kind of battery life, you’ll be able to sit through an entire trans-Atlantic flight without plugging in.

Price: $348 | BUY IT HERE

2. Bose 700

This list wouldn’t be complete without at Bose headset would it? Some hail the Bose 700 as the perfect noise-canceling headphones. While I’m not bold enough to make that claim, I absolutely agree that it’s one of the best noise-canceling headphones of 2020.

Similar to the Sony WH-1000XM3, the Bose 700 features intuitive touch controls, aluminum constructions, and a whole list of features to elevate your listening experience. What separates the Bose 700 from everything else on the list is its augmented reality audio technology that promises the best listening experience.

At $399, it’s not an affordable option, however a worthwhile investment for enthusiasts and audiophiles.

Price: $399 | BUY IT HERE

3. Skullcandy Venue

Marketed towards students and aspiring artists, the Skullcandy Venue gives you exceptional noise-canceling performance at less than half the cost of rivaling headphones on this list. The budget-friendly gadget features ANC (active noise cancellation) technology that works reasonably well for the price.

It can last up to 40 hours on a single charge and features quick-charge that can give you 2 hours of listening for every 10 minutes of charging. One of Skullcandy’s best features is the Tile integration. Never worry about losing your headphones again with the integrated Tile chip. You’ll need to download and install the Tile app separately, but it’s a nifty little feature that gives added security.

Price: $129 | BUY IT HERE

4. Beats Solo Pro

Beats Solo Pro is a headphone made for people who are always on the run. It offers exceptional ANC technology that’s on par with more expensive headsets. The Beats Pro also comes with Bluetooth 5.0 built-in for fast and reliable connections.

The “Fast-fuel” charging also lets you enjoy 3 hours of music for just 10 minutes of charge, similar to the Skullcandy Venue. The sound quality is still heavy on bass. But that’s already expected from a Beats product. The Beats Pro will play nicely with all your Apple devices if you’re married to Apple’s ecosystem. The downside is that it doesn’t come with a Mic, so you won’t be able to make any calls with this headset.

Price: $299 | BUY IT HERE

5. Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II

We did try to keep Bose from having more than one product on this list, but we couldn’t help it. The Bose SoundLink is a fantastic value proposition from Bose. Think of this as their “budget” headphone.

The headphone offers bose-quality ANC and delivers crystal clear audio playback. The sound packs quite a bit of punch considering its size. It’s perfect for smooth sounds but not the ideal for hip-hop or bass-intensive playlists.

Its battery life is recorded at only 15 hours, so it’s nothing to write home about. It regularly charges via USB without any quick-charge tech. It can be used as a regular headphone if the batteries run out. However, the sound quality is greatly diminished, and ANC won’t work as well running from 3.5mm jack.

Price: $229 | BUY IT HERE

6. Lindy BNX-60

You’ve probably never heard of Lindy before, and that’s for a good reason. The company doesn’t have a strong presence in the United States, but they do make excellent quality ANC-enabled headphones at an affordable price. Probably one of the cheapest headphones you can get with a decent ANC.

Price: $59 | BUY IT HERE

7. AKG N700NC

There is so much to love about AKG N700NC. It has a smart design that can fold completely flat for secure storage. Build quality is impressive, especially at this price range. The sound quality and ANC are also no slouch, either. And unlike some headphones twice its price, the AKG comes with a decent set of mics for you to make calls with if you ever need to.

Price: $99 | BUY IT HERE

8. JBL Live 650 BTNC

Looking for a quality pair of headphones that you can comfortably wear all day? The JBL Live 650 BTNC offers comfort, sound quality, features, AND build quality of premium headphones at half the price. It offers good ANC. The generously sized earcups deliver punchy and dynamic audio, perfect for tracks with a lot of bass.

It’s also an excellent looking headphone that looks more expensive than it is. At $199, you’re getting a lot more bang for your bucks than competing brands.

Price: $199 | BUY IT HERE

9. Bowers & Wilkins PX Active

The Bowers & Wilkins PX Active is an expensive headphone that offers decent performance. It features adaptive noise cancelation instead of active and has a handful of useful features. If you lift the earcups up to listen to someone talk, the headphone will automatically pause your music and instantly resume when you put the earcup back.

What makes the Bowers & Wilkins PX Active stand out is its design. It’s a gorgeous pair of headphone that looks and feels premium. Expect to turn heads when wearing this on your next trip.

Price: $219 | BUY IT HERE

10. Audio-Technica ATH-ANC9 QuietPoint

The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC9 has a ridiculous name that’s impossible to remember. But it makes up for it by being comfortable, spacious, and well built. It’s not the sexiest thing on the market, but it’s a pair that will last you. It comes with every feature you’d expect, including a mic. The one function that’s missing is a rechargeable battery. I’m not quite sure why the engineers at Audio-Technica opted for AAA batteries instead of lithium ions, but it’s a technical choice that might not sit well with younger audiences.

Despite the flaw, it’s still a solid set headphone that made the list because you can easily get this $199 headphone for about $70 – $100 on a sale.

Price: $199 | BUY IT HERE