Best-in-Class Noise Canceling Headset Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar, which brings together the best noise canceling headphones you can buy in 2018.
Traveling, by all versions, is one of the best rewards of life. Traveling, seeing the world, whether for work or pleasure, is not only an admirable adventure, but also one of your best searches. Agustín de Hipona, a theologian from about 400 AD put it best: "The world is a book and those who do not travel only read a page".
While we fully agree with Augustine, one thing has changed since then, and that is the way we travel. We have gone from horses and cars to the jet engine and Boeing 737, and the world has never been the same.
To that end, just as the nature of travel has changed, so has the technology we use to make the trip more comfortable. Take, for example, wireless headphones with noise cancellation. Put them on, and all the outside noise vanishes.
So what makes a really excellent pair of headphones with noise cancellation? High resolution audio is a good start, batteries offer several days of use, comfort and the best and most advanced noise cancellation algorithms to keep outside noise away.
To help you choose a pair of headphones that deliver all of the above in spades, we have compiled a list of the top 10 noise-canceling hearing aids, listed below and rated according to their price / performance ratio.
1. Sony WH-1000XM2
Transparent noise canceling headphones that are better than Bose
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 23g | Cable length: N / A | Frequency response: N / A | Drivers: N / A | Controller type: N / A | Sensitivity: N / A | Impedance: N / A | Battery life: 10 hours | Wireless range: 33 feet | NFC: Yes
Excellent noise cancellation
Sound great sound
Battery life of 30 hours
Hinges are fragile
Touch controls
Sony WH -1000XM2 is an excellent review of a pair of already great headphones: they sound great, they handle dexterity noiselessly and cost as much as a pair of Bose QC35. They might have a slightly shorter battery life than the Bose headset, but the Sony WH-1000XM2 outperforms the QC35 in terms of performance and feature set.
You should choose these Sony headphones over the Bose because they not only provide the same level of noise cancellation, but they have three tricks that Bose simply does not have in their headphones: one is an ambient noise mode that only allows frequency tones medium to high (for example, announcements through a loudspeaker) and another that is the quick attention mode that allows you to enter all the external noise without removing the headphones. (The latter is perfect when you give a drink order on an airplane or talk to a co-worker for a brief moment before diving back into your work.) The last trick Sony has up his sleeve is the LDAC codec. Along with the widely adopted aptX HD standard, LDAC allows high-resolution audio playback with the 1000XM2.
Fantastic sound, full of features and as affordable as the competition? The Sony WH-1000XM2 is our favorite for the best cans with noise cancellation.
Read the full review: Sony WH-1000XM2
2. Philips Fidelio NC1
Executive appearance and great sound reproduction
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: .74 lbs. | Cable length: 3.9 feet | Frequency response: 7-25,000Hz | Drivers: Two neodymium drivers 1.5 " Controller type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: 107 dB Impedance: 16 ohm | Battery life: More than 25 hours | Wireless range: N / A | NFC: No
Bright electric sound
Great build quality and battery life [19659003] Some sound leaks
Still wired
Philips presents a more elegant noise cancellation solution with its NC1 These in-ear headphones are not wireless as our main selection, but that's not a reason To knock them out at $ 299 / £ 195, the NC1 is a compact set with great comfort and battery life.
Here you earn a lot of money.In the box come the headphones, a hard case to store and headphones with a rechargeable battery. It would provide noise cancellation for about 30 hours. But best of all, the sound performance is extremely balanced and warm.
(A quite noteworthy sound for our Australian readers: unfortunately, Philips no longer sells the NC1, so you will have to import a pair if interested.)
Read the full review: Philips Fidelio NC1 [19659031] 3. Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Intelligent noise canceling headphones for voice assistants
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 0.68 lbs | Cable length: 3.94 feet | Frequency response: N / A | Drivers: N / A | Controller type: N / A | Sensitivity: N / A | Impedance: N / A | Battery life: more than 20 hours | Wireless Range: N / A | NFC: Yes
Wide and clear sound
Amazing noise cancellation
Active EQ, an acquired taste
Boring aspect
Entering the number three position is Bose QuietComfort 35 II: a product almost identical to the already excellent Bose QuietComfort 35, but updated for 2018 with the Google Assistant. This means you still get the leading noise cancellation in your class known by Bose, good sound quality and incredible comfort, plus a convenient assistant to answer any questions you may have while traveling.
Taken together, the Bose QC35 II NC is an excellent headset for travelers and travelers. Bose has found a good balance of features that will satisfy most conventional listeners. While we do not love them as much as the Sony WH-1000XM2, which sound better, they are still the best in the class for noise cancellation.
Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 35 II [19659019] Bose QuietComfort 25 "class =" lazy-image lazy-image-loading lazyload optional-image "onerror =" this.parentNode.replaceChild ( window.missingImage (), this) "sizes =" auto "data-normal =" https://vanilla.futurecdn.net/techradar/media/img/missing-image.svg "data-src =" https: // cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/042de4edf0666d3f338b0a2dcfb3ed85-320-80.jpg "data-srcset =" https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/042de4edf0666d3f338b0a2dcfb3ed85-320-80.jpg 320w, https: // cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/042de4edf0666d3f338b0a2dcfb3ed85-650-80.jpg 650w "data-sizes =" auto "data-origina
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4. Bose QuietComfort 25
Headphones fit for a king and an excellent value for all
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 0.68 lib ras | Cable length: 3.94 feet | Frequency response: N / A | Drivers: N / A | Controller type: N / A | Sensitivity: N / A | Impedance: N / A | Battery life: more than 20 hours | Wireless Range: N / A | NFC: Yes
Impressive noise cancellation
Simple and seamless design
Complete and robust sound
Since 2014
Colors cost more
Wired headphones [19659003] A Some years ago, the Bose QuietComfort 25 are the best noise-canceling headphones we've used. The low, medium and highs passed clear as day, never treading. Music of all kinds sounded predictably amazing. With activated noise cancellation, we never feel more immersed and concentrated than when we allow the QC25 to engulf us.
But that was a few years ago and time has passed since then. Bose has released not only a sequel to these headphones, but two: the QC35 and the QC35 II with the built-in Google Assistant, both of which we would recommend above the QC25.
But, not everything is bad. If you do not mind using the older wired headphones, the QC25 is a finely tuned set of cans that provides more than 35 hours of very good noise cancellation performance with an AAA battery.
Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 25
5. Bowers and Wilkins PX Wireless
Noise-canceling headphones with a couple of tricks up their sleeves
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 335 grams | Frequency response: 10Hz – 20kHz | Drivers: 40 mm | Controller Type: Full range | Sensitivity: 111dB | Impedance: 22 Ohms | Battery life: 22 hours | Wireless range: 30 meters | NFC: No
Noise Canceling impresses
Paused Auto Play works fine
USB-C Load
Sound lacks definition
Bowers and Wilkins arrive Little late to the noise cancellation game, but his first foray impresses.
PX Wireless are not just a great pair of headphones that sound, they also have many other cool tricks up their sleeve. They will turn on and off automatically depending on whether you wear them or not, and also have the future-proof USB-C charging standard.
In our opinion, its only drawback is the quality of the sound, which we feel lacks the depth of the Bose and Sony flagship headphones.
That said, if you liked B & W headphones in the past, it's worth listening to the PX Wireless.
Read the full review: Bowers and Wilkins PX Wireless
6. AKG N60NC Wireless
Wireless noise cancellation from the mid-range master
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 199.4 g | Cable length: N / A | Frequency response: 10-22,000Hz | Drivers: N / A | Controller type: N / A | Sensitivity: 111dB SPL / V @ 1kHz | Impedance: 32 ohms | Battery life: 15 hours | Wireless Range: N / A | NFC: No
Excellent sound
Compact design
The shape factor in the ear becomes uncomfortable
Initially confusing controls
If you prefer noise cancellation in the ear , the AKG N60NC Wireless is a great pair of headphones.
At its mid-price point, the headphones offer excellent value for money, with great sound quality and a level of performance noise cancellation that is at the height of the much more premium entries on this list.
These are a pair of incredibly compact headphones, and they offer a very complete package for the price.
Read the full review:
7. Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
Noise canceling headphones with many functions
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 238g | Cable length: N / A | Frequency response: 18 – 22,000Hz | Drivers: N / A | Controller type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: 113dB SPL / V @ 1kHz | Impedance: 18 ohms | Battery life: 20 hours | Wireless Range: N / A | NFC: Yes
Great noise cancellation
20-hour battery
Travel-friendly design
NoiseGuard complicated to activate
Headband lacks cushioning
With technology Noise cancellation as effective as that of rival Bose headphones and with a more musical sound capability, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is a definitive candidate for the noise canceling crown. More affordable and easier to transport, these lightweight headphones are a versatile option of great value, whether for fl
ights, commuter trains or busy offices.
From the design point of view, Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC seems a smaller, lighter and more focused effort than the bulky and expensive alternatives of Bose and Sony; and, what is more important, BT BT HD 4.50 are equally good with audio and almost as good with noise cancellation. Whether you're looking for noise cancellation for long-distance routing, for daily commute, or just to stay more productive in a noisy office, it's worth considering the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNCs.
Read the full review: Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
8. Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
The best friend of a traveler
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 1.9 lbs | Cable length: 3.94 feet | Frequency response: 5-40,000 Hz | Drivers: 1.57 inch | Controller type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: 103 dB / mW | Impedance: 32 ohms | Battery life: more than 20 hours | Wireless Range: N / A | NFC: Yes
Incredible battery life of 24 hours
Bluetooth multipoint
Friendly sound
Overwhelming sometimes
Style not suitable for all
With the second generation Plantronics BackBeat Pro, Plantronics returned to the design board to solve many of the problems that owners complained about the original. The BackBeat Pro 2, therefore, manages to keep all the good things about the original and improves its defects, such as its volume and weight.
In terms of value, BackBeat Pro 2 is basically a steal. With the BackBeat Pro 2, you get a travel headset with incredible battery life, supreme comfort, the ability to pair two devices as one time and, most importantly, good sound quality at cost. If you do not want to place $ 350 (£ 290, AU $ 500) on Bose QuietComfort 35 or $ 400 (£ 330 or AU $ 700) on Sony's flagship MDR-1000X, Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 should be on top of Your shopping list.
Read the full review: Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
9. Sennheiser PXC 550
Great sound quality and noise cancellation, but at what cost?
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: .7 lbs. | Cable length: 3.6 feet | Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz | Controllers: 40 mm double layer diaphragm | Controller type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: N / A | Impedance: N / A | Battery life: 8 hours | Wireless range: 30 meters (98 feet) | NFC: Yes
Excellent sound
aptX connectivity
Touch controls that do not respond
Noise cancellation could be better
The greatest strength of the PXC 550 is its sound. Other wireless noise canceling headphones could offer a better user interface or better noise cancellation technology, but ultimately none of the above matches the sound quality of these Sennheisers.
However, having said that, there are a couple of irritations that prevent us from recommending them completely and without reservation, like tactile controls that do not respond. These annoyances are not very disruptive, but there are definitely other noise canceling headphones that do not suffer the same problems.
Read the full review: Sennheiser PXC 550
10. Samsung Level On Pro Wireless Headphones
Samsung Blocks Wireless Noise Canceling Function
Acoustic Design: Closed | Weight: .7 lbs. | Cable length: 3.6 feet | Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz | Controllers: 40 mm double layer diaphragm | Controller type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: N / A | Impedance: N / A | Battery life: 8 hours | Wireless range: 30 meters (98 feet) | NFC: Yes
Comfortable synthetic leather pads
Additional features for Samsung owners
Brittle plastic bridge
Short-range wireless
The Samsung On Pro wireless level It is one of the few headphones that we have tested that seem to be designed as a package for another device. Yes, they will work with all Bluetooth devices and headphones with a 3.5mm connector on the market, but it is better to keep a Samsung device to squeeze every ounce of goodness from the Ultra High Quality (UHQ) audio codec.
It is one of the most comfortable pairs of cans on the market, and it is also much cheaper than a large part of the competition. If I had better sound quality for the vast majority of cell phone users, it would be an easy recommendation but, in its current form, it makes more sense when purchased together with Samsung's Next Big Thing.
Read the full review: Samsung Level On Pro Wireless Headphones
Can not decide which headset to buy? Check out our video guide below.
We constantly review the new headphones with noise cancellation, but let us know on Twitter if there is a set that you want us to take a look at.
