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Best Noise-Canceling Headphones: Sony, Bose, Apple, and More
Product Reviews

Best Noise-Canceling Headphones: Sony, Bose, Apple, and More

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Honorable Mentions

Now that the majority of new headphones and earbuds offer at least a modicum of noise canceling, it’d be impossible (and unproductive) to list everything we like above. If you haven’t yet found your fit, here are more favorites worth considering.

Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 for $280: These simple-looking earbuds are a great way to experience quiet luxury. They have 10 hours of battery life with noise canceling engaged, and they have some of the best-sounding drivers for vocals I’ve heard in any earbuds.

Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds for $298: Sony’s fifth-generation flagship earbuds slim down while stepping up. These buds are smaller and slicker (maybe too slick when it comes to grabbing them) than the previous XM4 buds. As before, they provide great sound and noise canceling that outduels plenty of options, with a cost to match. In true Sony style, they serve up a truckload of adaptive features and EQ controls while retaining a solid eight hours of playback time per charge with ANC and 12 hours without it. —Ryan Waniata

Soundcore Life Q30 for $60–$85: Anker’s Soundcore line is nothing if not value-conscious, and the Life Q30 provide an embarrassing list of extras for their bargain-basement pricing. You’ll get clear and warm sound, great features, tons of battery life, and noise canceling that gets the job done even on a long flight, though it can’t keep up with flagship pairs. It’s hard to complain when they cost hundreds less, especially with sale pricing that sometimes drops to around $50.

Sony WH-1000XM4 for $250–$350: Sony’s WH-1000X lineup has produced some of the best noise-canceling headphones for nearly a decade, and the aging WH-1000XM4 are no exception. They periodically go on sale for under $300, but it’s getting harder to find them below full price, which is tough for a five-year-old model.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Earbuds for $400: Bowers & Wilkins’ Pi8 offer a sleek, comfortable design, solid (albeit not Bose-beating) noise canceling, and great sound. Call quality is also excellent, which makes these perhaps the perfect business-class earbuds, though their hefty price won’t appeal to everyone.

Bowers and Wilkins PX7 S2e for $400: The Px7 S2e feature upgraded audio quality for fantastic sound in stylish and sophisticated design. They’re also among the most comfortable headphones we’ve tested, but their noise canceling doesn’t rise to the level of the top players for the money.

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 for $400: These over-ears from Beyerdynamic have the brand’s classic studio sound, with a tight crisp high range and punchy lows. The downside is that they don’t cancel noise quite as well as models from Sony, Bose, and others above. Still, they sound great and are worth considering, especially if you can snag them on sale.

Soundcore Space A40 for $60: Another top value buy from Anker’s Soundcore brand, the Space A40 are some of our favorite cheap earbuds, especially as their price continues to fall. You’ll find a classy design, lots of features, quality sound, and great noise canceling for their class.

Apple Beats Fit Pro for $199: The Beats Fit Pro are an aging but still knockout pair of wireless buds, with great sound, easy-access physical buttons, and solid noise canceling to boot. Add to that six hours of battery life, spatial audio compatibility with Apple Music and other services, and you’ve got one of the best pairs of earbuds ever “designed in California.”

Epos/Sennheiser Adapt 660 for $210: Want excellent sound, a comfortable fit, and high-quality noise-canceling tech for less than what you’d pay for Sony or Bose headphones? Check out this collaboration between Epos and Sennheiser. The Epos/Sennheiser Adapt 660 sound fantastic and are some of the lightest noise-canceling headphones I’ve ever worn. They also feature excellent microphones for great silence on calls and Zooms.

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Bowers & Wilkins says the Px8 S2 are the best headphones it’s ever made
Gaming Gear

Bowers & Wilkins says the Px8 S2 are the best headphones it’s ever made

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British audio brand Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) is launching the second generation of its flagship Px8 wireless headphones, which claim to have better sound, noise cancellation, and maintenance. The $799 Px8 S2 is available starting today, featuring an aluminum and Nappa leather design in black or grey-beige color options. B&W says the new flagship is slimmer than its predecessor, with the ear cushions and headband now replaceable to help preserve its premium appearance.

The Px8 S2 promises 24-bit / 96 kHz resolution sound quality, and supports aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless for hi-res audio streaming over Bluetooth. The headphones also support both 3.5mm jack and USB-C for wired connections. Eight microphones are located around each earcup for active noise cancellation (ANC) and calls, two more than the older Px8 model. B&W says you can expect 30 hours of battery life with ANC enabled, and that a 15-minute charge provides up to seven hours of listening time.

“We are incredibly proud to launch the Px8 S2, the best headphone we have ever created,” B&W brand marketing head Giles Pocock said in a press release statement. B&W is one of several audio brands that have just been acquired by Samsung subsidiary Harman. A software update for the Px8 S2 that adds support for spatial audio will be released later this year, with Bluetooth LE audio to follow.



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3x Cheaper Than Apple Headphones, This HP Laptop with Windows 11 Is Flying Off the Shelves

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With hundreds of laptops available today, it almost feels like there’s one model for every person out there. But if you’re working with a tighter budget and don’t want to settle for a Chromebook without Windows, there’s a solid option to consider: This HP 14-inch laptop (64GB storage) is packing Windows 11 Home and ranks among the top 5 bestsellers on Amazon—and right now, it’s hitting its lowest price for a Windows laptop we’ve seen at $171, down from $229.

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A Budget Windows Laptop for Everyday Use

It has a razor-thin and light design along with a 14-inch HD micro-edge bezel display of only 6.5mm and provides an immersive viewing experience with a 79% screen-to-body ratio. That is, you are nearly entirely viewing screen when you look at it which is ideal if you want a laptop that is up-to-date in terms of appearance without the clunky body. The 1366×768 screen resolution offers sharp images that will play nicely for streaming and the thin bezel renders the machine compact enough to carry around all day long.

Internally, the Intel Celeron N4020 dual-core processor strikes a balance between energy efficiency and power. It’s not meant for heavy users doing intensive tasks like video editing or all-day gaming sessions but it’s good enough for everyday use and does it while monitoring battery life to take you through the day. Intel UHD Graphics 600 offers streaming capabilities for 4K media and light games, so it satisfies light media needs with ease. The laptop’s 4GB of RAM enhances multitasking abilities and speeds up app switching, making it less frustrating during those hectic moments.

Storage is acceptable considering the price with a 64GB embedded multimedia flash card providing quick access to your files and software, though you might want additional external or cloud storage if you’re creating high-definition video or large sets of photography. Windows 11 Home edition comes pre-installed, which gives you the updated features and interface improvements, which make the device run quicker and easier to navigate than older releases of Windows or limited systems like Chromebooks.

If your laptop needs aren’t fancy but you want something that runs Windows just fine, this one’s worth a look.

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The AKG N9 on a wooden floor.
Product Reviews

AKG N9 Hybrid review: feature-packed headphones with a high price that’s almost justifiable

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We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

AKG N9: Two minute review

As someone who tests headphones for an income, I’ve got a roster of “X headphones” for specific tasks. I’ve got my best headphones for music, my running headphones, a gaming headset, a pair of the best earbuds when it’s too hot for headphones, and a set-up for movies and TV shows too.

The new AKG N9 from Samsung’s sub-brand’s sub-brand, AKG, didn’t slot into this line-up as much as they replaced half of them, and it’s largely down to one handy feature which we also saw in their contemporary earbuds equivalent, the AKG N5.

I’m not going to do that clickbait headline thing of alluding to a feature and then dancing around the topic, only specifying it 20 paragraphs in: this feature is a dongle which comes build into the AKG N9, and if you plug it into any USB-C slot, it overrides that device’s audio output into the N9.

Borrowing a partner’s laptop for a quick video call? Dongle it. Don’t want to play games out loud for fear of annoying a flatmate? Dongle it. Really can’t be bothered to set up Bluetooth on every device you own? Dongle it. That’s not to mention that this dongle has a higher quality connection than Bluetooth, affording higher-quality music and entertainment.

Within days of me realising the potential of this dongle, I’d begun using the N9 for a range of tasks that I usually afford to bespoke speakers or headphones; I was watching movies from my iPad, playing video games on my PC and taking calls on my girlfriend’s tablet. And now you can take a break from reading the word ‘dongle’ for a bit.

A handy way to instantly and temporarily connect to any device is a killer feature, but it’s not the only one the AKG N9 offer. The AKG Headphones app is full of extras like dynamic EQ, spatial audio, L-R panning and a hearing test to create you a bespoke audio profile.

There’s also a battery life that stretches up to a staggering 100 hours if you listen on Bluetooth with noise cancellation off, but lasts for over a day even if you turn on all its power-hungry features.

Of course, I wouldn’t be commending headphones like these if they sounded bad; they don’t, with AKG’s staple neutral audio mix delivering detailed music and an expansive sound stage.

I’m not used to writing so many positives in an introduction, so it feels weird to keep going, but one more thing: the AKG N9 are some of the best-designed headphones I’ve ever tested. Not only do they look premium but lots of the features are smartly incorporated into the design, with the dongle nestled in a little nook in one cup and volume being controlled by easily twisting one side of the cans. AKG clearly treats design as an important part of the headphone-making process, instead of an afterthought to hold a few drivers and buttons together, and it’s appreciated.

Unless you’re Sir Mix-a-Lot, you probably don’t like big “but…”s, and unfortunately the AKG N9 have a major one: the price. There’s no two ways about it: these are premium headphones and many buyers’ budgets won’t come close to reaching them. That said, they’re expensive, but they’re not four-figure-cost expensive like many of the true best headphones are, so perhaps sales will bring them within reach if you’re interested.

Since I have to list three ‘cons’: I also feel like the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) could have been a little bit more robust, as it doesn’t compare with top dogs on the market right now. Plus, you can’t fold up the headphones for increased portability, which made transporting them in my bag a risky proposition.AK

AKG N9 review: Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Component

Value

Water resistant

NA

Battery life (quoted)

100 hours (ANC off) 55 hours (ANC on)

Bluetooth type

Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

281g

Driver

40mm

AKG N9 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

  • Announced in October 2024
  • Priced at $399 / £299 / AU$499
  • Expensive… but competitive to rivals

After making their debut in October 2024, the AKG N9 went on sale that same month. They’ve been on sale for roughly a year, by the time of this review.

The AKG N9 don’t come cheap. They’ll set you back $399 / £299 / AU$499, which firmly cements them as premium cans that you need to consider carefully before you buy.

They cost more than some of our favorite rivals including the iconic Sony WH-1000XM4 and Cambridge Audio Melomania P100, but then again, they undercut (to a decent extent) the B&W Px8, Dali IO-8, the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra.

I should point out that a year on shelves seemingly hasn’t affected the headphones’ usual price (outside of sales)… except in Australia, where they were easy to find for as little as AU$309 which is an absolute steal.

AKG N9 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

  • Premium-looking sleek cans
  • Features incorporated into design
  • Doesn’t fold down and no IP rating

On the surface, the AKG N9 might look like any old pair of headphones, but there are a few refinements and polishes that go a long way in making these look both premium and feel ultra-functional.

I’m talking about the soft fabric of the headband (either leather or a close imitator), the comfortable earpads, the sparkling sheen of the speaker covers, svelte fashion of the headband connectors. It all comes together to make it obvious to onlookers just how much you paid for these cans. They come in either white or black.

The headphones weigh 281g so despite some option extras that we’ll get to, they’re on the lighter side of things, and I found them comfortable to wear for long music bouts and entire movies. There’s no IP rating, as far as I can tell, but they felt sturdy enough that I wasn’t worried wearing them out and about.

I also had no qualms in wearing them for long periods of time, as they’re comfortable and lightweight.

Evidence of how easily-bendable the hook is. (Image credit: Future)

The headband connectors are extendable by about two inches each, letting you change your headphones’ size. One thing to note is that the headband can’t be folded, so you can’t reduce the size of the N9 to fit in a bag. Instead they can be transported in a rather large carry case that comes included in the price.

As with all the best headphones, each cup provides some useful controls. On the right side we’ve got a slider which lets you turn on the headphones as well as put them into Bluetooth pairing mode, as well as a pause/play button and USB-C charging port – and, in one of my favorite implementations of a volume rocker, the entire headphone cover can be rotated clockwise or anticlockwise to change the volume. This was incredibly easy to use, to save me fiddling with small buttons on the headphone.

The left cup has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a toggle for Ambient Aware noise cancellation, and I thought that was it at the beginning of my testing… until I realized that you can partially slide the headphone cover off to reveal a USB-C dongle underneath. Some may be annoyed that they’re carrying the extra weight of this dongle on the head but it’s only a few grams, and these are still nice and lightweight headphones.

AKG N9 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

  • Hugely long battery life
  • App brings loads of features
  • Useful dongle connector

The dongle is one of my favorite features of the AKG N9; you can plug it into any device with a USB-C port to instantly (and, vitally, temporarily) connect to said device without having to go through the laborious pairing method.

I used this to connect to my iPad, my laptop and my PC at various times in order to quickly watch a video, take a call or do some work, and it’s incredibly convenient – in fact, for a while during testing the N9 became my go-to gaming headset. One thing to note is that once during testing the connected device still played music out of its speakers instead of using the N9, and I never really worked out why – like the N5, it worked 90% of the time, but there were a few teething problems.

Another thing I absolutely love is the battery life of the AKG N9, which if you play your cards right lasts for an entire 100 hours. ‘Playing your cards right’ involves listening via Bluetooth with ANC turned off and if you want ANC on, that figure drops by 45 hours; likewise using the dongle cuts about 15% of your listening time over Bluetooth.

(Image credit: Future)

However AKG’s lowest battery expectation, specifically talk time over the dongle, is still 30 hours, which beats quite a few competitors. So the battery life is great whatever you do, and it’s fantastic that people who need a lot of listening time on one charge have the option of dialling down the features to get that fantastic figure.

Let’s touch on that active noise cancellation, which so dramatically affects the battery life. AKG has given the N9 a range of ANC modes: Ambient Aware which cuts out ambient background sound but allows in important nearby ones, TalkThru which does the same but just for voices, and a standard ANC mode which has extra modes for Adaptive ANC which changes the noise cancellation strength depending on your surroundings and Auto Compensation which does the same based on how you’re wearing the N9.

It’s a pretty overwhelming array of options for non-audiophiles but it does let you get into the nitty-gritty of what you can and can’t hear. However even at its strongest tier the ANC is only good, never great, and quite a few rivals are better for removing background sound.

Those aren’t the only overwhelming options in the feature set, because the AKG Headphones App has an absolutely huge roster of perks, including the ability to balance your sound to the left or right, change how voices sound on calls and play with a 10-band equalizer.

As in the AKG N5, the app lets you choose between listening to high-res audio, or enabling a few other features including spatial audio, dynamic EQ for low volumes and Personi-Fi. This latter is a hearing test that provides you with a custom audio mix.

AKG N9 review: Sound performance

(Image credit: Future)

  • 40mm drivers
  • Balanced sound profile
  • Textured audio in high-res mode

The AKG N9 pack 40mm dynamic drivers with what the company calls “liquid crystal polymer diaphragms” which are designed to improve the detail and clarity across the board.

It works because the N9 have a beautifully balanced sound profile, which doesn’t dominate your mix with too much treble or overblown bass (though it also gives you a nice springboard to use the equalizer to change this if you like a wonky sound mix).

Instead you’re getting a detailed glimpse across the bow of an entire orchestra or band, full of texture and detail. You can hear the scoop of a bass guitar string, the strike of fingers on piano keys – I almost felt like I could tell which guitar strings were being strummed during chords.

There’s an audible sound spread too, and I noticed mids in several songs holding a distinct space that many rival cans lose. It’s an effect that makes these just as great for movies and gaming as for music, and I went so far as to use these headphones instead of my gaming headset during the testing period.

At times I did feel like songs lacked a an extra ounce of energy, with the bass in particular missing a touch of momentum, but these aren’t huge issues – I’m only nit-picking here to justify the score below not being a full 5 out of 5.

  • Sound performance score: 4/5

AKG N9: Value

(Image credit: Future)

If you’ve read the price section already, you’ll know that the AKG N9 have an uphill battle in proving themselves in the value department (and if you didn’t read that section, they cost $399 / £299 / AU$499).

Basically no headphones costing that much present a real value proposition, not when you can get great alternatives for a third of the price, but for what it’s worth the AKG N9s come closer than most.

The inclusion of the dongle, the useful cup controls, the range of features and high-quality audio all come together to make it clear that AKG is giving you some value for money… just not as much as if you’d paid a lot less money.

I will say, though, that these are primed for deals in Black Friday and Amazon Prime Days. So if you don’t think you can afford them, it could be waiting to see how low the price goes.

AKG N9 review: scorecard

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Category

Comment

Score

Value

AKG goes some way in justifing the price of the N9, but they’re easily beaten in this department.

4/5

Design

Not only do the cans look great, but the design neatly incorporates many of the headphone’s features.

4.5/5

Features

From the Bluetooth dongle to the range of app features to the long-lasting battery, everything’s working here.

5/5

Sound

The N9 has a nice balanced sound profile that will please most listeners, if not owners of the real top dogs.

4/5

AKG N9: Should I buy?

(Image credit: Future)

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Component

AKG N9

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100

Sony WH-1000XM6

Water resistant

NA

NA

NA

Battery life

100 hours (ANC off) 55 hours (ANC on)

100 hours (ANC off) 60 hours (ANC on)

40 hours (ANC off) 30 hours (ANC on)

Bluetooth type

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

281g

330g

254g

Driver

40mm

40mm

30mm dynamic

How I tested

I tested the AKG N9 for two weeks, doing so alongside their contemporary siblings the AKG N5 (which are earbuds).

As you’ll know from reading this review I tested them on loads of devices: Bluetooth from my smartphone, 3.5mm on an iPod Classic and 2.4Ghz dongle on a Windows PC, Windows laptop, iPad and Android tablet.

This was done for a range of functions; mainly listening to music and streaming audio but also gaming, movies and video calls. I tested at home, in the office and around my neighborhood, including on a several-hour-long trip.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: September 2025



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Marshallheadphone
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Marshall Major V On-Ear Headphones Crash to Lowest Price Ever, Over 5x Cheaper Than AirPods Max

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Looking for the right pair of headphones? The three most important factors are do they look good do they sound good, and will they not empty my bank account? Well, you can go right ahead and check off all three boxes with the Marshall Major V on-ear wireless headphones. These Bluetooth headphones are stylish as heck, produce great sound, and pretty dang affordable. They’re normally listed at $160. However, Amazon has them as part of a limited time deal at the moment. They’re going now for as low as 38% off which drops the price by a solid $61. You’ll only be paying $99.

With the Marshall Major V headphones, you can expect to hear the signature sound Marshall is known for. You get a thunderous bass, smooth mids, and a crisp treble. Marshall is not like Samsung or Apple. They are exclusively in the audio business — a business they’ve been in for over 60 years, mind you. The brand has developed so many iconic product from huge amplifiers to headphones such as these. They’re priority is meeting the needs and expectations of musicians and anyone else who deeply cares about sound quality.

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Long Listening Time

A pair of Bluetooth headphones won’t really be worth that much to you if they can’t hold a charge, so how doe the Marshall Major V hold up? Well, these on-ear headphones are capable of lasting over 100 hours on one charge. You can listen to your music non-stop for over four days before you need to plug them in again. And when they do finally die on your, you can even choose to charge them wirelessly. You’ll get from zero percent back up to full is just about three hours.

The Marshall Major V are engineered knowing you’ll be schlepping them around with you wherever you go. That’s why they’re ruggedly durable. They can handle getting roughed up a tad. When they’re not in use, they fold up easily to nice, portable size so you can toss them in a bag without taking up much room.

These headphones even features a side button which you can customize to trigger a number of different actions. By default, this button will launch Spotify on the connected device.

Right now, Amazon has the Marshall Major V wireless Bluetooth headphones marked down by a solid $61. That 38% discount is bringing the price down from $160 to just $99 for a limited time. Pick between black, brown, cream, and midnight blue. Currently all are on sale, but the black and cream are sitting at the lowest price.

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Product Reviews

Bose overhauls the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones with lossless audio and longer battery life

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Bose announced a refresh of its QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds over the summer and now it’s back with an overhaul of its flagship noise-canceling headphones. The company has employed the second-generation moniker once again on the new QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but this time the list of updates is a bit more substantial. Bose says it made tweaks to audio performance, active noise cancellation (ANC), battery life, power efficiency and more. Surprisingly, the company managed to make its upgrades without raising the price.

The biggest changes for the QC Ultra Headphones come in the sound department. First, lossless audio is now available over wired USB-C connection. Bose says you can expect 16-bit/44.1kHz or 48kHz playback and the setup doubles as a low-latency option for desktop or mobile gaming. When it comes to Immersive Audio — Bose’s take on spatial audio that doesn’t require specialized content — the company has added a new Cinema mode.

By “spatializing and balancing background sound with other audio effects,” Bose says it creates a “movie-like experience” thanks to a wider soundstage that’s placed in front of the listener. As a result, dialogue clarity is enhanced, which makes Cinema mode an option for podcasts and audiobooks in addition to movies and TV shows. For general listening, the company provides deeper bass at high volume, more natural sounding treble and consistent clarity even when the content is loud. It also reduced the sound created by the ANC tech so that it’s less apparent in quieter environments.

Speaking of ANC, Bose made the same update here that it did on the QC Ultra Earbuds. In Aware or transparency mode, the headphones better handle sudden changes in environmental noise (like sirens) with smoother changes to noise-canceling levels. On the QC Ultra Headphones, you can now disable ANC completely or manually adjust it to suit your needs.

Bose extended the battery life to 30 hours of ANC use or up to 45 hours with noise cancellation disabled. If you opt for that spatial Immersive Audio all the time, you can expect up to 24 hours of use now. If you run out of juice before you want to take a break, the QC Ultra Headphones can be charged during use via the USB-C port. To help you conserve battery power, the headphones will now enter a standby mode when you lay them flat or fold them into their case. And when the time comes to resume listening, improved wear detection automatically turns on the headphones when they’re placed on your head.

Lastly, you’ll notice that Bose opted for polished metal on the headband where the yokes used to have a flat finish. There are also two new colors: Driftwood Sand (tan) and Midnight Violet (purple).

The second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are available for preorder today from Bose in black, white, tan and violet color options. The price remains $449, same as the original version, and general availability is scheduled for October 2.



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Gaming Gear

Save up to 25 percent on headphones, speakers and other gear

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The Labor Day and back-to-school season isn’t only a good time to save on things like a new laptop. Case in point: Sonos’ latest sale. Whether you want to upgrade the sound in your dorm room or home office, you can save up to 25 percent on Sonos speakers and other gear right now. Included in the sale is the Era 100, which has a 10-percent discount at the moment.

Our choice for midrange smart speaker is down to $179 from $199 as part of a larger Labor Day sale on the Sonos website. The same price is available on Amazon, as are some more deals on Sonos products.

Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

Sonos Era 100

$179$199Save $20

Get it now for 10 percent off. 

$179 at Sonos

Sonos debuted the Era 100 speaker in 2023 as a replacement for the Sonos One. It offers great sound quality and has built-in mics for Trueplay tuning and voice control. It’s worth mentioning that the Sonos Ace headphones are also on sale for $299, down from $399 — a 25 percent discount. The headphones have come a long way since they first launched, including the introduction of TrueCinema, which works with a Sonos soundbar to create the best spatial audio experience.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.





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Gaming Gear

Get up to 25 percent off headphones and speakers

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No matter how old you get, the back-to-school season will always bring a desire to shop. So, sales at this time of year are always more than welcome — especially when they’re on some of our favorite devices. Such is the case with the 10 percent discount currently available on the Sonos Era 100.

Our choice for midrange smart speaker is down to $179 from $199 as part of a larger Labor Day sale on the Sonos website. The same price is available on Amazon, as are some more deals on Sonos products.

Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

Sonos Era 100

$179$199Save $20

Get it now for 10 percent off. 

$179 at Sonos

Sonos debuted the Era 100 speaker in 2023 as a replacement for the Sonos One. It offers great sound quality and has built-in mics for Trueplay tuning and voice control. It’s worth mentioning that the Sonos Ace headphones are also on sale for $299, down from $399 — a 25 percent discount. The headphones have come a long way since they first launched, including the introduction of TrueCinema, which works with a Sonos soundbar to create the best spatial audio experience.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.





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Game Reviews

Sony’s XM4 Headphones Restocked at Nearly 50% Off, Perfect for Listening to K-Pop Demon Hunters Soundtrack

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What is good noise? “Golden” by Hunter/X from K-Pop Demon Hunters is good noise. New episodes of Jamie Loftus’ Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) podcast is good noise. The guns firing in the bank heist scene of Michael Mann’s Heat is good noise. What about bad noise? The couple on the bus with you arguing is bad noise. The turbine engines on flight is bad noise. Your cubicle’s neighbor punching away at their mechanical keyboard is bad noise. Wouldn’t it be swell if we could just cancel out the bad noise so we can focus in on the good noise? Well, you can do just that with the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless noise cancelling headphones. For a limited time, Amazon has them for a whopping 43% off this labor day weekend. Normally priced at $348, you can currently pick them up for a solid $150 off. That means you only have to pay $198.

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The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones utilize digital noise cancellation to ensure you can hear each and every note or word clearly with no disruptive sounds from your environment coming through. Two microphones in each earcup work together to capture and eliminate surrounding noise when listening to your music, podcasts, or audiobooks, removing it in real time with the help of the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1.

The noise-cancelling tech also works to amplify your voice during calls. Five microphones work to deliver clear voice quality. They isolate your voice from any background noise so the person on the other end hears you and just you.

The headphones are designed for all day listening. You can expect a full 30 hours of battery life on a single charge. That’ll last you the whole workday, your commute, and beyond. If you ever find yourself having forgotten to charge it, no need to worry. Just plugging it in for 10 minutes will let you listen for a solid five hours.

Multipoint Connection

One standout convenience with the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones is that they can be paired with two Bluetooth devices at once. This is great as it allows you to be connected to your phone and a gaming console at the same time. It’s perfect for wanting to listen to your own music or podcasts through Spotify or something while playing a game on your Nintendo Switch. You can take a call without disconnecting and reconnecting anything.

Through Labor Day weekend, you can grab yourself a pair of the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless noise-cancelling headphones for $150 off. The price is down to just $198 for a limited time.

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Product Reviews

The best noise-canceling headphones for 2025

by admin


Whether you’re working in a noisy office, commuting on a packed train or just trying to focus at home, a good pair of noise-canceling headphones can make all the difference. The best noise-canceling headphones block out distractions and let you enjoy your music, podcasts or calls in peace — all while delivering great sound quality and all-day comfort. From models with plush cushions to wireless cans with loads of extra features, there’s something here for every style and budget.

Table of contents

Best noise-canceling headphones of 2025

Billy Steele for Engadget

Connectivity: Bluetooth | ANC type: Hybrid Adaptive | Customizable ANC: Yes | Max battery life with ANC: 30 hours | Transparency mode: Yes | Weight: 254 grams | Collapsible: No (ear cups swivel flat but do not fold inward)

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM6 review

Sony’s 1000X line has been our top pick for best wireless headphone for a long time now. Until another company can pack in as many premium features as Sony, and do so with a mix of excellent sound quality and effective ANC, the crown is safe. With the WH-1000XM6, Sony subtly redesigned its flagship headphones, making them way more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. This is an important factor to consider when purchasing over-ear headphones. We also noticed in our tests that the company made noticeable improvements to the active noise cancellation, thanks to a new QN3 chip. There are now 12 total ANC mics as well – the previous model only had eight. This all combines to better block background noise at medium and high frequencies, including human voices.

The M6 also has improved sound quality, thanks to new drivers, some help from mastering engineers and spatial audio upmixing. Its battery life remains the same 30 hours as its predecessor, which is more than enough to get you through several days of work or long international flights. Speak-to-Chat still reduces volume and activates ambient sound when you talk and the M6 can automatically change noise settings based on your location or activity. The only real downside is that they’re $50 more than the WH-1000XM5 at full price ($450).

Pros

  • Improved sound
  • Better ANC performance
  • Tons of handy features
  • Supremely comfy

Cons

  • Price has increased again
  • Speak-to-Chat still needs work
  • Call quality suffers in loud environments

$448 at Macy’s

Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

Connectivity: Bluetooth | ANC type: Hybrid Adaptive | Customizable ANC: Yes | Max battery life with ANC: 24 hours | Transparency mode: Yes | Weight: 254 grams | Collapsible: Yes (folds both flat and inward)

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra review

Bose’s unique take on spatial audio may be the headline feature on its QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but the company didn’t overlook ANC on this model. Described as “the quietest quiet” available on any of its headphones yet, the ANC here is noticeably better than the Bose 700 and iconic QuietComfort Headphones. This is due in part to microphone enhancements that also improve call quality. The changes are especially apparent when dealing with the hard-to-combat frequency range of people talking. The company also offers presets that mix ANC, transparency mode and its spatial Immersive Audio, allowing you to quickly switch the sound to match your surroundings. And if that wasn’t enough, the touch controls make these over-ear headphones a breeze to use — so you get good noise cancelation, good sound and extra convenience bundled in this package.

While the spatial sound feature is a bit of a mixed bag, the stock tuning on the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is still good – even before you switch on Immersive Audio. Bose has generally lagged the competition in terms of sonic prowess, but these over-ear headphones show that gap is narrowing. There’s a dash more bass to enhance a default sound profile that’s warmer, clearer and more inviting than previous Bose models, resulting in good sound overall. When Immersive Audio hits, it’s amazing and the audio quality is truly remarkable. But, the company is relying on signal processing rather than specially crafted content so the results vary.

Pros

  • Excellent ANC
  • Improved audio
  • Clearer transparency mode
  • Comfy

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Immersive Audio is inconsistent
  • No USB-C audio

$449 at Macy’s

Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

Connectivity: Bluetooth | ANC type: Hybrid | Customizable ANC: Yes | Max battery life with ANC: 35 hours | Transparency mode: Yes | Weight: 192 grams | Collapsible: No (ear cups swivel flat but do not fold inward)

Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review

The WH-CH720N won’t win any design awards with these over-ear headphones, but what you get for the price is well worth some aesthetic sacrifices. Due to their all-plastic construction, the CH720N are super lightweight and comfy, allowing you to wear them for hours at a time. The ANC isn’t as robust in these budget headphones as that in more expensive headphones, but it’s above average for products in this price range. Toss in customizability and a handy transparency mode, and you’ve got a solid device that costs only $150 — and regularly goes for around $100.

In addition to decent noise reduction for a small investment, the CH720N has 35-hour battery life, physical controls, DSEE upscaling and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio. You can also adjust both the EQ and the level of ambient sound. Plus, the company’s ever-present Adaptive Sound Control can automatically switch the sound settings based on your activity or location. Last but not least, the overall sound quality is really impressive for headphones at this price. There’s plenty of detail and subtlety in the audio; you can really hear the gritty texture of distorted guitars and near-pristine acoustic instruments.

Pros

  • Affordably priced
  • Lightweight and comfy
  • Great sound quality
  • Some handy features

Cons

  • ANC struggles in certain environments
  • Lots of plastic
  • No automatic pausing
  • Advanced features reserved for pricier models

$150 at Amazon

Billy Steele for Engadget

Connectivity: Bluetooth | ANC type: Adaptive | Customizable ANC: No | Max battery life with ANC: 30 hours | Transparency mode: Yes | Weight: 300 grams | Collapsible: No (ear cups swivel flat but do not fold inward)

Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review

If you seek to pair excellent sound quality with capable ANC performance, the Px7 S3 are the best option. Sure, you can find more impressive noise-blocking abilities elsewhere, but if you want pristine audio as well, Bowers & Wilkins is the way to go. An adaptive ANC setup uses eight microphones to capture unwanted noise and automatically adjust to any changes. 40mm dynamic full-range bio cellulose drivers pipe in balanced tuning that provides you with the finest detail of any song.

You’ll also get up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC enabled, although you will probably surpass that figure. Plus, handy tools like transparency mode, multipoint Bluetooth and an adjustable EQ cover the basics on the Px7 S3. You won’t find more advanced features than those, but what Bowers & Wilkins does offer here is finely tuned and carefully polished.

Pros

  • Excellent sound quality
  • Comfy fit
  • Sophisticated design

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Awkward button locations
  • A lack of advanced features

$449 at Macy’s

Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

Connectivity: Bluetooth | ANC type: Hybrid Adaptive | Customizable ANC: Yes | Max battery life with ANC: 60 hours | Transparency mode: Yes | Weight: 292.9 grams | Collapsible: No (ear cups swivel flat but do not fold inward)

Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review

Sure, there are headphones that will last longer than Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless, but they don’t offer the combo of great battery life, ANC and good sound quality you’ll find here. On this model, the company made big improvements to its active noise cancellation, catching up to rivals like Bose and Sony. Specifically, the ANC on the Momentum 4 handles constant distractions more effectively than previous models in the series.

I don’t care for the design Sennheiser introduced on the Momentum 4 as the company ditched what was a quite novel look for something much more generic and plastic. However, the change comes with the bonus of increased comfort. You’ll also get excellent sound quality, in fact, it’s some of the best you’ll find in wireless headphones. There’s noticeable depth to the audio profile with a wide soundstage that complements all genres. You might even discover finer details you previously missed. And, of course, its 60 hours of battery life with ANC on is double what a lot of flagship headphones offer these days.

Pros

  • Impressive 60-hour battery life
  • Better ANC performance
  • Great sound quality
  • Improved comfort

Cons

  • Pinch gesture feels unnecessary
  • Standout design is gone
  • Auto on/off needs work

$380 at Adorama

How to choose the best noise-canceling headphones for you

Design

When you’re shopping for the best wireless headphones, the first thing you’ll need to decide on is wear style. Do you prefer on-ear or over-ear headphones? For the purposes of this guide, I focus on the over-ear style as that’s what most noise-canceling headphones are nowadays. Sure, you can find on-ear models with ANC, but over-ear, active noise-canceling headphones are much more effective at blocking outside sounds since your ears are completely covered.

For gamers, there are also gaming headsets that feature noise cancellation — some even have detachable microphones, so they can double as over-ear headphones. However, for the purpose of this article, we’re only going to be focusing on noise-canceling headphones rather than headsets. Look for models with a comfortable headband and memory foam ear cups to ensure you can wear them for long periods without discomfort.

Many headphones also come with a range of color options, so if aesthetics matter to you, you’ll find plenty of choices beyond just black or white. Whether you’re looking for something neutral or a bold pop of color, brands now offer a variety of styles to match your personal taste.

Finally, if you’re planning to wear your headphones for long periods of time, it’s important to pick a model with a comfortable fit. Memory foam ear cups, an adjustable headband, and lightweight materials can make all the difference during extended listening sessions. After all, great sound is only part of the equation; comfort matters just as much.

Type of noise cancellation

Next, you’ll want to look at the type of ANC a set of headphones offers. You’ll come across terms like “hybrid active noise cancellation” or “hybrid adaptive active noise cancellation,” and there are key differences between the two. A hybrid ANC setup uses microphones on the inside and on the outside of the device to detect outside noise and cancel it out. By analyzing input from both mics, a hybrid system can combat more sounds than “regular” ANC, but it does so at a constant level that doesn’t change.

Adaptive ANC takes the hybrid configuration a step further by continuously adjusting the noise cancellation for changes in your environment and any leakage around the padding of the ear cups. Adaptive noise-canceling also does a better job with wind noise, which can really kill your vibe while using headphones outdoors. Some high-end headphones also support Dolby Atmos, which enhances spatial audio and makes everything from music to movies sound more immersive. For the purposes of this best headphones list, I’m only considering products with hybrid ANC or adaptive ANC setups because those are the most effective at blocking noise and improving your overall listening experience.

Customization

You’ll also want to check to see if the ANC system on a prospective set of headphones offers adjustable levels of noise cancellation or presets. These can help you dial in the amount of ANC you need for various environments, but it can also help you save battery life. Master & Dynamic, for example, has ANC presets that provide both maximum noise blocking and more efficient cancellation that is more energy efficient. Other companies may include a slider in their companion apps that let you adjust the ANC level to your liking. Some high-end models even allow you to fine-tune the ANC for specific types of environments.

How we test noise-canceling headphones

The primary way we test headphones is to wear them as much as possible. I prefer to do this over a one-to-two-week period, but sometimes deadlines don’t allow it. During this time, I listen to a mix of music and podcasts, while also using the headphones to take both voice and video calls.

Since battery life for headphones can be 30 hours or more, I drain the battery with looping music and the volume set at a comfortable level (usually around 75 percent). Due to the longer battery estimates, I’ll typically power the headphones off several times and leave them that way during a review. This simulates real-world use and keeps me from having to constantly monitor the process for over 24 straight hours.

To test ANC performance specifically, I use headphones in a variety of environments, from noisy coffee shops to quiet home offices. When my schedule allows, I use them during air travel since plane noise is a massive distraction to both work and relaxation. Even if I can’t hop on a flight, I’ll simulate a constant roar with white noise machines, bathroom fans, vacuums and more. I also make note of how well each device blocks human voices, which are a key stumbling block for a lot of ANC headphones.

ANC-related features are something else to consider. Here, I do a thorough review of companion apps, testing each feature as I work through the software. Any holdovers from previous models are double checked for improvements or regression. If the headphones I’m testing are an updated version of a previous model, I’ll spend time getting reacquainted with the older set. Ditto for the closest competition for each new set of headphones that I review.

Other noise-canceling headphones we tested

AirPods Max

Apple’s AirPods Max are premium, well-designed over-ear headphones that incorporate all of the best features you find on standard AirPods: solid noise cancellation, spatial audio and easy Siri access. However, their $550 starting price makes them almost prohibitively expensive, even for Apple users. There are better options available at lower prices, but if you can pick up the AirPods Max at a steep discount, they might be worthwhile for the biggest Apple fans among us.

Dyson On-Trac

The On-Trac headphones have an almost infinitely customizable design, and that’s what’s most unique about them. The sound profile offers some nice detail, but lacks dynamic range overall. ANC is average at best and there aren’t any advanced features that will make your life easier. Well, except for the hearing health monitor, which is actually handy. All told, that’s not a lot for a set of $500 headphones.

Sonos Ace

The Sonos Ace is an excellent debut for the company’s first headphones. The combination of refined design, great sound quality and home theater tricks creates a unique formula. However, ANC performance is just okay and key functionality is still in the works for many users.

Sony ULT Wear

If most headphones don’t have the level of bass you desire, the ULT Wear is an option to consider. The low-end thump isn’t for everyone, but there are also plenty of handy features and a refined look to make the $200 set more compelling than many in this price range.

Beats Studio Pro

The Studio Pro lacks basic features like automatic pausing, and multipoint connectivity is only available on Android. Moreover, they’re not very comfortable for people with larger heads. Overall sound quality is improved, though, and voice performance on calls is well above average.

Master & Dynamic MH40 (2nd gen)

The MH40 are a great set of headphones if you favor crisp, clear and natural sound that isn’t overly tuned. This pair showcases the company’s affinity for leather and metal too, but limited customization and short battery life for non-ANC cans kept this set from making the cut.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8

The company’s trademark pristine sound is on display here, but the Px8 is more expensive and not nearly as comfortable as the Px7 S3.

Noble Audio FoKus Apollo

While this is my top pick for overall sound quality in our main guide to the best wireless headphones, the ANC performance is less impressive than the Px7 S3. Bowers & Wilkins gets the nod here for its improved noise cancellation over the Px7 S2 and Px7 S2e, and its overall excellent audio quality.

Noise-canceling headphones FAQs

Does noise cancellation block all noise?

Noise cancellation doesn’t block out all noise, though it does drastically reduce the volume of most external sounds.

Is there a difference between wired vs wireless noise-canceling headphones?

In terms of sound quality, if you have two headphones — one wired and one wireless — with similar specs, the difference is going to be very minimal. However, wireless headphones offer more convenience, allowing you to move around more freely with your headphones on, which is why they often feature noise cancellation to minimize external sounds.

Does noise cancellation impact sound quality?

ANC does bear some weight on sound quality, but the impact of this often doesn’t outweigh the benefits. Noise cancellation reduces ambient noise, allowing a greater focus on audio detail. For audiophiles, however, there may be a small difference in sound fidelity when ANC is turned on.



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