Good Over Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

If you're looking to shut the world down and focus on your music, good over ear noise cancelling headphones are essential. You can use them for your commute, travel, or even working at home.

We've reviewed the best options to help you select. These are our top choices according to the criteria we and our testers appreciate the most:.

1. Comfort

The best noise-cancelling headphones for over-ears will be comfortable to wear and stay in position even when you move. They should have enough padding to seal the earcups over your ears, ensuring that you are completely insulated from any noise. This is especially important for those who listen to music, audiobooks or podcasts on the go or at home. The earcups should be flexible and soft to accommodate different head sizes and shapes and the headband should be padded to ensure it is comfortable for all-day wear.

The right pair of noise-canceling headphones comes down to your particular needs and budget. There are longtime heavyweights on the market, such as Bose and Sony but Apple has quickly taken a share of the market with its opulent AirPods Max. And then there are affordable options from monoprice and other brands that provide many of the same features as pricier models for a fraction of the price.

Monoprice BT600ANC, for instance has active noise cancellation, ambient awareness, touch controls, and high-quality audio codesc support for your favorite audio applications. The ear cups are smaller than Bose's most recent models, therefore they're a good fit for most people. They're also quite affordable and are about the same price as a decent pair of noise-canceling wired headphones.

The Bowers & Wilkins S2 will impress with its build quality and sound quality if you're willing to invest a bit more. Few headphones blend subtlety and flair like these. They have die-cast aluminum arms, diamond-cut detailing, and a beautiful design.

The noise-canceling capabilities of their models aren't as robust than the most highly-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 trains, an airplane engine tracks and other loud sounds but not the screeching of brakes or the hissing of fellow passengers. They also did not have the kind of passive isolation we seek in our best headphones to block out office chatter and other distracting background noises at home.

2. Sound

Noise cancelling headphones can cut out the din around you and make it easier to concentrate in a noisy office or get some rest on a plane. The quality of the sound that comes through the headphones is crucial. Ideally, you'll be able to listen to music and podcasts in your quiet spot with the audio being as clear and full as possible.

The ear cups or buds that seal your ears in the headphone also play a part in this: a good isolation is the best method to ensure that outside noises are not interfering with your audio experience. This can be achieved by a snug fit or by using headphones with active noise cancellation which have built-in microphones that actively create opposing sound waves to neutralize the background noise. Earbuds that don't have active noise cancellation aren't as isolating however they provide good sound isolation due to their design and the snug fit you can achieve when they fit properly.

We evaluate a range of factors to find the top over-ear headphones that cancel out noise, such as their ability to block low-frequency ambient sounds like the sound of a train engine, or the drone of an aircraft, as well as high-frequency continuous noises like chatter or conversation. We also consider the quality of the headphones' sound, taking into account things like bass, mid-range and clarity of treble, and whether they provide a natural separation between the instruments and vocals.

The Sony WH1000XM5 is our top pick. It has excellent noise cancellation, which effectively blocks out the roar of a plane, or the rumble from subway cars, without taking the sound from your movie or playlist. They also deliver great passive isolation and come with a number of handy extras including the ability to automatically stop your music when you take them from your ears. They also have a multipoint Bluetooth pairing For Sleeping listening on multiple devices simultaneously.

Bose's QuietComfort headphones have the same sound, with crisp highs and mids. They are a bit more expensive than the XM4s, but not by a lot. They do have minor issues, however. They don't allow you to adjust the level of active noise reducing headphones cancellation; it's either on or off. You can also't enable a transparent mode that lets in some outside sound, and they lack on-ear detection that prompts your phone to switch to the headset when you take them off.

3. Noise Cancellation

Anyone who uses headphones for long periods of time will benefit from noise cancellation. This is true whether they are using headphones for work, to listen to podcasts or read, or listen to music or films on a train or plane. The best noise-canceling headsets need to do more than just block ambient sound. That's why we looked at audio spectrum analysis and subjective listening tests to determine the ability of headphones to block noise in our review.

We also searched for a pair of 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 like the whirrr of a lawnmower or computer next door, as well as the higher frequency noises. We also looked at the isolation that headphones provide and whether the ear cups effectively block out sounds.

Over-ear models typically offer better noise cancellation than earbuds since they're designed to completely protect your ears and shield your ears from outside noise. We have compared the ANC performance of a variety of pairs of over-ear headphones such as models from Bose and Sony to determine which ones best eliminated noise from the outside while still providing you with high-quality audio.

In our review of the Sony WH1000XM5 headphones we discovered that they offer a combination of high-quality sound and comfort with superior noise cancellation. They also support the high-resolution audio codec LDAC, for a more immersive listening experience. They also come with a physical button that lets you toggle between three levels of ANC on any device.

The Monoprice BT600ANC is a lightweight, inexpensive pair of headphones for over-ears that offer a high degree of noise reduction and audio fidelity for the price. They're not the most comfortable pair to wear for prolonged period of time, however they do a great job of shielding your ears from noise and allowing you to get lost in your favorite music.

If you're looking for a fantastic set of noise-canceling headsets at an even more attractive price point look into the Sony WH-XB910N. The "XB", in their name, For Sleeping stands for extra bass. While they do offer that promise however, we prefer the Bose ANC performance and overall feel of the WH1000XM5 headphones.

4. Battery Life

If you're investing a couple hundred dollars on a pair of headphones that cancel out noise, be sure they'll last. Good over ear noise cancelling headphones will have a battery longevity that can get you through a long flight or a week of commutes. That's why we always take a look at the battery life during our testing of wireless headphones.

In our tests, we found that the best ANC headsets have battery life of at least 30 hours. This is enough for a long-distance flight or a week's worth of meetings and commutes. Many models go over that mark. Some models can even provide 60 hours of active noise cancellation.

While there are headphones that can go longer, you must be aware that the quality of your audio will diminish as the headphone's battery dwindles. This is evident when the sound becomes muffled and the bass becomes less pronounced. Many people don't be aware of the difference, particularly when listening to podcasts or acoustic music.

The updated Sennheiser Momentum 4 over-ear headphones focus on style and comfort while delivering the core features high-end shoppers look for in their audio headsets. These include improved ANC as well as a user-friendly control app and excellent audio quality. They're also less expensive of the most recent flagship Sony headphones which means you'll be able to enjoy a fantastic ANC experience without the expensive Sony price cost.

Another pair of excellent headphones to consider is the Monoprice BT-600ANC over-ears that are low-cost and have excellent performance. They are light and comfortable, with a headband that is easy to wear. They have touch controls as well as AAC and aptX support to provide high-quality audio on iOS and Android devices. They're not as good as the Bose QuietComfort 45 but they're still a great choice for anyone on a budget.

Noise-canceling headsets are a great purchase for frequent travelers, office workers and anyone who would like an unobstructed environment to listen to their audiobook or podcast. Although they are more expensive than regular headphones, they're worth the cost for those who are constantly in motion.