The Best Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones
If you’re fighting the sound of jet engines, or just want to block out the hum of your HVAC system at home, you’ll need the top noise cancelling headphones for over-ear use. The latest Sony WH-1000XM5s are the new kings of active noise cancellation and their predecessors are also excellent.
We’ve analyzed the adjustability of ANC and touch controls and also on-ear detection to stop music when your headphones are removed. Our top picks have high-quality audio, comfortable earcups and spacious ear cups.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5
The fifth generation of Sony’s flagship headphones is a major upgrade over the previous model, featuring better noise cancellation and improved audio quality. Its impressive ANC creates a virtual cone on top of your head, suffocating a surprising amount low-frequency sound. The ear cups block out sounds in the mid-to-treble range, such as passenger chatter and creaking metal.
The WH-1000XM5s sound very natural, in contrast to noise cancelling headsets that can sound hollow. They can reproduce the rising and falling of the drums of Billie Eilish with incredible depth and clarity, while also keeping edges clean and crystal clear. It’s enjoyable listening to them on an extended flight or on a commute.
A capacitive touch-screen on the right earcup handles the most commonly used controls, including play/pause volume up/down, skip forwards/backwards and skip. It can also stop and answer calls, and switch between ANC mode and ambient sound. Alternatively, you can press and hold the power button for several seconds to hear a voice warning of the battery’s remaining life.
Another significant improvement to the XM5s is its new QN1 microphone that is designed to capture high-quality audio while making podcasts and videos. The microphone is more sensitive than previous models and has a larger audio range that makes it easier for you to hear your voice.
The XM5 also carries certain features that were XM4’s including the adaptive ANC system which automatically optimizes performance based on the environment. The ‘Wearing Detection» feature detects when the headset is removed and pauses video or music. It will resume it when they are put back on. It’s compatible with Sony’s DSEE Extreme Engine, which increases the quality of compressed music to nearly high-res resolution.
2. Sony WH-1000XM4
The WH-1000XM4s are the most recent version of Sony’s market-leading over ear headphones, and even though they don’t feature the same amount of active noise cancellation as the WH-1000XM5s, they offer class-leading performance. The WH-1000XM4s feature a more powerful Bluetooth connection as well as a more efficient noise cancellation algorithm. They also feature an upgraded audio chip that upscales music to HD quality, as well as advanced voice controls.
Sony has improved the WH1000XM4s in the latest version by adding padding to the headband, and extending the microphones to the outside. This makes them more comfortable for long listening sessions.
You can also select between five different sound settings depending on the surrounding. You can also customize your EQ settings by using the Sony headphones app. They’re a great option for travelers, and the app lets you track your activity and automatically adjust their settings on the fly.
Another major improvement is the WH-1000XM4’s noise cancellation, which has been improved by enhancing the sensitivity and improving how it filters out low frequencies. You can check this out by taking a look at a graph similar to the one below, where higher peaks indicate that more sounds are being blocked out. The WH-1000XM4s also better attenuate low-frequency sounds like the hum of an air cooling unit or the constant rumble of an airplane engine than any other pair of noise-canceling headphones we’ve tried.
The WH1000XM4s come with a variety of excellent features, including a 30-hour battery life and a USB-C charge port. They also have Quick Alert, a feature that lets you press the right earcup and dampen music to enable transparency mode. Speak to Chat, meanwhile, pauses media when you speak (and it works well however it sometimes fails to recognize taps) in addition to Sony’s Smart Listening Technology, which can detect your environment and deliver better audio.
3. Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II
The Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II headphones (or QC35 Wireless 2018, as they’re also known) were released in September 2017. Although they’ve been replaced by the 2021-released Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, they remain popular and affordable and are worth a look if you’re looking for a noise-cancelling active headphone.
The QC35 II are a great pair of wireless headphones that offer a comfortable fit, a neutral default sound profile, and outstanding jbl live 660 noise cancelling over ear headphones white; Recommended Website, isolation. They can be used for travel or in noisy environments and last for more than a day on a single battery charge. They can also be used with most smart assistants, and can be activated with the use of a specific button. You can ask them to play music and answer trivia questions or read notifications from your smartphone.
They have a wide opening in the ear padded that can fit most ears and shapes. They are light. The housings’ hinges can be folded down to make them easier to store in a bag or a backpack. The controls on the right side of the headphones are intuitively placed and feel good to use. Playback is controlled by a series of taps which include rewinding or skipping songs.
For an example of the quality you can expect from these Bose headphones, we played The Beatles’ Let It Be and listened to the drum beats wireless noise cancelling headphones and piano notes. The QC35 II deliver crisp, clear sound that is well-rounded and detailed. They can pick up subtleties such as Paul McCartney’s unsteady timing as he builds to the chorus, or Gerard Way’s snarl when he laments teenage personalism in Teenagers.
The QC35 II is compatible with the majority of smart assistants and can connect to up to 2 devices at once. The QC35 II comes with a carry bag and a USB charging cable.
4. Sony WH-CH720N
Sony is a household name for its great headphones for a low cost. The budget-friendly WH-CH720N headphones from Sony are not an exception. These headphones have many of the same features of the flagship WH1000XM5 headphones, but in a more budget friendly design. These headphones offer a lot of active noise cancellation for a low cost.
These headphones feature dynamic drivers of 30mm that deliver crisp high frequencies and a full bass. These headphones have an even sound that blends well with various genres of music. They also feature a large, immersive soundstage.
The WH-CH720N headphones have buttons for controls instead of the gestures and touch controls of the XM5 headphones. This could be a bit of an issue as the buttons initially seem confusing. The controls are strategically placed and have clear labels. Double press of the ‘+’ button can pause and play audio. A single press reduces the volume. Pressing and holding the button will launch voice assistants and blocks calls.
These headphones last for up to 35 hours with ANC on. This is among the best battery performances we’ve seen in over-ear headphones. They have a standby function to help conserve battery.
Bluetooth allows users to connect the WH-CH720N headphones to Android and iOS devices. They support LDAC which allows them to play high-quality audio on compatible devices. The headphones are also compatible with PlayStation consoles with an analog 1/8″TRS cable. They can also be used on computers using the included USB dongle. The Sony Headphones Connect App lets you customize your headphones using an EQ slider, presets and multipoint connectivity.
5. B&W PX7 S2
The PX7 S2 follow on from a successful predecessor but are by no means an unfinished update that rides on ear noise cancelling headphones its own. They feature a more sleek design and a brand-new application. They fulfill their promise of high-end build quality with audio that faithfully conveys artistic intent. They’re also incredibly comfortable and enjoyable to wear all day long.
They don’t offer the same noise cancellation as the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II, or the Sony WH1000XM5, but they do a good job of blocking out ambient noise so that you can focus on your podcasts or music. They have a six-microphone setup (four for the noise cancellation and two for voice pick-up) and a new algorithm that cut down on ambient noise by 30dB. They’re also one of the few Bluetooth headphones we’ve tested that can be used in passive mode, allowing you to listen to your content on your own without power being connected to the drive units.
They also work with the B&W Music app, a free download that delivers an array of features to complement the excellent noise cancellation. The Quick Action button can be set to activate your device’s voice assistance and cycle through three settings for the environment and display the battery’s life. It’s annoying to have to press and hold it for a long time. A single press would be more intuitive and jbl live 660 Noise cancelling over ear headphones white simpler.
The PX7 S2 is an excellent pair of headphones that will delight music lovers. They’re not quite as appropriate for the high-quality music of genres such as rock and metal that are known to favor heavy bass and muddy low frequency, as they are for classical, folk and acoustic music, but can still impress those who appreciate audiophile credentials which is also practical and easy to use.