The Best Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones

Whether you're battling the roar of jet engines or simply want to block out the hum of your HVAC system at home, you'll need the most effective noise-cancelling headphones for over-ear use. The latest Sony WH-1000XM5s have become the new leaders in active noise cancellation and their predecessors are equally excellent.

We've looked at the possibility of adjusting ANC and touch controls, and also on-ear detection for pausing music when your headphones are removed. Our top picks have high-resolution audio and comfortable, spacious earphones.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

The fifth generation of Sony flagship headphones provides an impressive improvement over the previous generation, Noise Cancelling Over Ear Headphones featuring enhanced quality of audio and noise cancellation. Its remarkable ANC creates a virtual cone over your head, suffocating the most shocking amount of low-frequency sound. The ear cups block out sounds in the mid-to-treble range, such as passenger chatter and creaking metal.

Unlike some noise cancelling headphones that sound hollow or unnatural, the WH1000XM5s are extremely natural sounding. They're able to render the rising and falling of the drums of Billie Eilish with astonishing depth and clarity, while also keeping edges clean and crystal clear. It's a pleasure to listen to them on long flights or during commutes.

A capacitive touch-screen on the right earcup handles the most common controls, including play/pause volume up/down, and skip forwards/backwards. It also lets you end and answer calls, and switch between ANC mode and ambient sound. You can also press and hold the power button for a few seconds to hear a warning of the battery's remaining life.

The new QN1 microphone is a significant improvement over the XM5s. It was designed to capture high-quality audio while recording podcasts and videos. The microphone is more sensitive and has a larger audio range than the previous models, making it easier to recognize your own voice.

Other features from the XM4s have been incorporated into the XM5, such as its adaptive ANC system that automatically optimizes performance based on your surroundings. The "Wearing Detection" feature detects when the headset is removed and stops playing video or music. It will restart it once they return to. It also works with Sony's DSEE Extreme engine, which claims to boost compressed music to near-high-resolution quality.

2. Sony WH-1000XM4

The WH1000XM4s by Sony are the most recent version of their industry-leading over-ear headphones. They offer class-leading performance, even though they don't feature the same active noise cancellation features as the WH1000XM5s. The WH-1000XM4s have a stronger Bluetooth connection as well as a more efficient noise cancellation algorithm. They also come with a new audio chip which increases the sound quality to HD quality, and advanced voice controls.

Sony has improved the WH1000XM4s of the most recent version by adding padding to the headband, and moving the microphones outwards. This makes them more comfortable for long listening sessions.

You can also choose between five different sound settings depending on the environment. Sony headphones have an app that lets you to alter your EQ settings. They're a great choice for travelers and the app lets you track your activity and automatically optimize their settings on the fly.

Another big improvement is the WH-1000XM4's sound cancellation which has been made more effective by increasing the sensitivity and improving how it eliminates low frequencies. This can be tested by looking at graphs such as the one shown above. Higher peaks indicate that more sounds are canceled out. The WH1000XM4s are also better in reducing low-frequency noises, like the hum of an air conditioning unit or the constant rumble of a plane engine.

The WH1000XM4s come with a variety of amazing features, including a 30-hour battery life and a USB-C charging port. They also feature Quick Alert, which lets you tap the right earcup in order to deflect the music and turn on transparency mode; Speak To Chat can pause media when you raise your voice (and is effective, even though it can sometimes fail to detect taps), and Sony's Smart Listening technology, which can analyze and detect your environment to deliver superior audio.

3. Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II

The Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II (or QC35 Wireless 2018) are over the ear noise cancelling headphones-ear headphones which were released in September 2017. While they've been replaced by the 2021-released Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 They are still popular and affordable and are well worth a look if you're looking for a noise-cancelling active headphone.

The QC35 II is a great pair for mixed-use wireless headphones. They provide a comfortable fit as well as a neutral sound profile by default. They also provide exceptional noise isolation. They can be used in noisy settings or while traveling and they last for more than a full day on a single charge. They also work with most smart assistants and can be turned on by a dedicated button. You can ask them to play music, answer trivia questions or read your smartphone notifications.

The padding around ear noise cancelling headphones the ears is large and will fit most ear shapes. They are also lightweight. The hinges of the housings can be folded down to make them easier to store into a bag or backpack. The controls on the right side of the headphones are well placed and feel good to use. Playback is controlled by a series of taps, including rewinding or skipping songs.

We listened to The Beatles' Let It Be and the drum beats and piano. The QC35 II delivers crisp, clear audio with a well-rounded and detailed sound. They can pick up subtleties like Paul McCartney's inconsistent timing as he builds to the chorus, or Gerard Way's snarl as he laments teenage personalism in Teenagers.

The QC35 II is compatible with the majority of smart assistants and is able to connect to up to 2 devices simultaneously. The QC35 II also come with the carry case as well as a USB cable that is quick to charge.

4. Sony WH-CH720N

Sony is known for making top-quality headphones at a affordable price. The WH-CH720N budget headphones are not a different. They have many of the same features as the flagship WH1000XM5 headphones, but with an affordable design. They offer a great deal of active noise cancellation at an affordable price.

These headphones have powerful drivers that measure 30mm in size. They offer crisp high-frequency sound and a full bass. These headphones have an even sound that blends well with different genres of music. They also feature an expansive, immersive soundstage.

The WH-CH720N headphones feature buttons instead of the gestures or touch controls that are used by the XM5 headphones. This can be a bit of a disadvantage, as the buttons initially seem confusing. Fortunately, the headphones have clear labels and the controls are arranged in a smart way. A single pressing of the '-' button lowers the volume, and double pressing pauses and plays audio. By pressing and holding the button, voice assistants are launched and calls are rejected.

With ANC enabled, these headphones can last for about 35 hours before they run out of juice. This is one of the most efficient battery performance we've seen in over-ear headphones. They come with a standby feature to save battery.

The WH-CH720N can be connected to Android phones and iOS devices using Bluetooth. They support LDAC, Noise Cancelling Over Ear Headphones which lets them play high-res 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 personalize your headphones with an EQ slider, presets and multipoint connectivity.

5. B&W PX7 S2

The PX7 S2 follow on from an extremely successful predecessor, but are not an unfinished update that rides on its own. They feature a more sleek design and a new application. They live up to their promise of high-end build quality and sound that accurately communicates artistic intent. They are also extremely comfortable to wear throughout the day.

Although they aren't as good as the noise cancellation of the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II or the Sony WH-1000XM5 but they do a good job of keeping out environmental sounds and ensuring you can focus on your music, podcasts or gaming on your handheld without distractions. They have a six-microphone setup (four for noise cancelling over ear headphones cancellation and two for voice pick-up) and a redesigned algorithm that reduce ambient sound by 30dB. They're also one of the few Bluetooth headphones we've tested that can be used in a passive mode, allowing users to listen to content by themselves, without putting power to the drive units.

The B&W Music app is also compatible with a free download that includes a variety of features to complement the great noise cancellation. The Quick Action button can be set to turn on the voice assistant on your device and cycle through three settings for the environment and display battery life. It's annoying to have to press the button and hold it for a long time. A single press is more intuitive and easier.

The PX7 S2 are a very impressive pair of headphones which should delight most music lovers. The PX7 S2 headphones aren't suitable for extreme music genres like metal and rock, which favor bass-heavy productions and muddy low frequency as they are for folk, classical and Acoustic. However, they will still be awe-inspiring to those who appreciate audiophile credentials, and are practical and convenient.