Good Over Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones
If you want to turn the world off and concentrate on your music, then good over ear noise cancelling headphones are essential. They can be used for traveling, your commute, or even working at home.
We've analyzed the top choices to help you pick. These are our top picks based on the criteria that matter most to us and to our testers:.
1. Comfort
The best noise-cancelling headphones for over-ears will be comfortable to wear and remain in place even when you move. The earcups should be adequately padded to block out background noise. This is essential when listening to music, podcasts and audiobooks while on the move or working at home. The earcup padding must be soft and flexible to accommodate different head shapes and sizes, and the headband padding should be ample to ensure comfort for all day wear.
The best pair of noise-canceling headphones boils down to your particular needs and budget. Apple's AirPods Max has quickly taken the market share away from long-standing market leaders like Bose, Sony and Sony. There are also budget-friendly options from brands like monoprice which include many of the features found in more expensive models at less than half the cost.
For example the monoprice BT600ANC offers active noise cancellation and ambient awareness modes, touch controls, and high-quality audio codec support for your most popular audio applications. Their earcups are lighter than Bose's latest models which means they'll be an ideal fit for most people. They're also affordable, costing about the same as a pair good noise-canceling wired headphones.
If you're willing to spend a bit more, the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 will impress you with their design and sound quality. They blend elegance with subtlety in a way that few other headphones can. They feature die-cast aluminum arms and diamond-cut bright metal detailing that make the headphones appear as stunning as they feel.
Their noise cancellation capabilities are a little less robust than the top-rated Bose QC35 II and QC45 however, our Lab Assistant found them extremely comfortable to wear for prolonged durations of time. They were able reduce the noise of an airplane engine, train tracks and other loud sounds, but not the screeching of brakes or the squealing of other passengers. They also didn't have the passive isolation that we seek in our best headphones to block out office chatter and other distracting background noises at home.
2. Sound
Noise cancelling headphones allow you to block out the noise and focus in a noisy setting. They can also help you sleep on a plane, or focus more effectively at work. The quality of sound coming through the headphones is also important. The ideal scenario is to enjoy music and podcasts in your quiet spot with the sound coming through as clear and full as possible.
The ear cups or bud that seal your ears in the headphones also play a role here: good isolation is the most effective way to prevent outside sounds from disrupting your audio experience. You can get this done by wearing headphones that have active noise cancelation with built-in microphones which actively produce opposing sound to neutralize ambient sounds. Earbuds that don't have active noise cancellation are not as isolating but they do provide good sound isolation because of their design and the snug fit that can be achieved when they fit well.
We look at a variety of elements to determine the best over ear headphones that cancel out noise, such as their ability to suppress low-frequency ambient noise like the noise of a train engine, or the drone of an aircraft and high-frequency continuous noise like chatter or conversation. We also consider the quality of the headphones' sound quality, evaluating things like bass, mid-range and treble clarity and whether they can provide an unnatural separation between instruments and vocals.
Our favorite is the Sony WH-1000XM5, with outstanding noise cancellation that dampens the sound of a plane, or the rumble of a subway car without suffocating the sound of your movie or playlist. They also offer excellent passive isolation and come with a number of useful features including the ability to automatically stop your music when you remove the headphones from your ears, or multipoint Bluetooth pairing for listening to multiple devices simultaneously.
Bose's QuietComfort 45 headphones have similar sound quality, with crisp highs and clear mids. They're slightly more expensive than the XM4s but not enough that they're not worth a look. The headphones have some minor issues they don't let you alter the volume of active sound cancellation. It's either on or off. You can also't enable a transparent mode that lets in some outside sound and they do not have on-ear detection that prompts your phone to switch to the headset when you remove them.
3. Noise Cancellation
Noise cancelling is an essential feature for those who plan to use headphones for extended periods of time, whether they're working remotely from home or read or listen to podcasts, or listen to movies and music on a plane or train. The most effective noise-canceling headphones need to do more than just block ambient sound. This is why we examined audio spectrum analysis and subjective listening tests to evaluate the noise-canceling capabilities of headphones in our review.
We also searched for headphones that were comfortable, had high-quality construction, and offered excellent audio performance. We also analyzed the extent to which they could block out the sound of a short duration such as the whirr of a lawnmower or computer next door, and noises of higher frequency. We also evaluated the level of isolation offered by a pair of headphones, and if they are effective in reducing the sound by covering your ears with earcups.
Over-ear headphones are better at noise cancellation than earbuds since they completely cover your ears and block out external noise. We looked at the ANC performance of a variety of over-ear headphones including models from Bose, Sony and more to see which pair most effectively block out external distractions while still providing excellent audio quality.
In our review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphone we discovered that they provide a mix of high-quality sound and comfort, as well as superior noise cancellation. They also support the high-res audio codec LDAC, which delivers a much more immersive experience than regular Bluetooth headphones. They also feature a an programmable physical button that lets you choose between three different ANC levels to get the best sound quality on any device.
The Monoprice BT-600ANC are lightweight low-cost headphones that offer a high quality of audio and noise reduction. The headphones are not comfortable to wear over long periods of time but they do an excellent job of separating you from the surrounding noise.
The Sony WH-910N headphones are a fantastic pair of noise-canceling cans at a reasonable price. The "XB" in their name is for bass, and although they can fulfill their promise, we would still recommend Bose's ANC performance and overall design of the WH-1000XM5 headphones.
4. Battery Life
If you're going to drop hundreds of dollars on headphones that block out noise headphones, you need to be sure they'll last. Over-ear noise cancelling headsets should have a battery that can last up to a week or even a long flight. We test all wireless headphones for battery life.
During our testing We found that the top ANC headsets have batteries that last at least 30 hours. This is enough for a long-distance flight, or a week of commutes and meetings. Many models exceed that threshold. Some models even have 60 hours of active noise cancellation.
You should be aware that although some headphones can last longer but the quality of audio will diminish as the battery drains. You'll notice this when sound is muffled and the bass becomes less punchy. Most people will not be aware of the difference, particularly when listening to podcasts or other quiet music.
The latest Sennheiser Momentum 4 over-ear headphones focus on style and comfort while offering the essential features high-end shoppers look for in their audio headsets. They come with a better ANC as well as a helpful app to control the headphones, and a superb sound quality. They're also half the price of the most recent flagship Sony headphones that means you can enjoy a great ANC experience without the hefty Sony price cost.
Monoprice BT600ANC over-ear headphones are another pair to consider. They're budget-friendly, but offer outstanding performance. The headphones are lightweight and comfortable with a headband that is easy on the ears. Touch controls and AAC and aptX support are provided for high-quality audio. They work with iOS and Android devices. They're not as great-sounding as the Bose QuietComfort 45, but they're a great option for anyone on a tight budget.
Noise-canceling headphones make a great investment for frequent travellers, office workers and anyone looking to block out distracting noises while listening to their podcast or audiobook. They are more expensive but they're worth it if you are constantly moving.