The Best Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones

If you're fighting the engine noise of jet engines or just want to block out the sound of your HVAC system at home, you'll need the most effective noise-cancelling over-ear headphones. The new Sony WH1000XM5s are the best in active noise cancellation. Their predecessors were also great.

We've analyzed the adjustability of ANC and touch controls, and also on-ear detection to stop music when your headphones are removed. Our top picks include high-quality audio as well as comfortable, spacious earphones.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

The fifth generation of Sony flagship headphones provides significant improvements over ear headphones noise cancelling the previous models, offering improved noise cancellation and superior audio quality. Its remarkable ANC performance creates an illusion of silence over Ear headphones noise cancelling bluetooth your head and over ear headphones noise cancelling bluetooth blocks out a shocking amount of low-frequency sounds. The earphones block out mid- and treble-range sounds such as passenger chatter, creaking metal and clanging dishware.

Contrary to some noise cancelling headphones, which can sound hollow or unnatural, the WH1000XM5s sound very natural. They're able to reproduce the rising and falling of Billie Eilish's drums with remarkable depth, over ear headphones noise cancelling bluetooth while keeping edges clean and pristine. They're a joy to listen to on an airplane ride or on a commute.

The most commonly used controls are controlled by a capacitive touchscreen surface on the right earcup, including play/pause and volume up/down, aswell as skip forwards and backwards. It can also call and end calls, and switch between ANC and ambient sound mode. Alternately, press and hold the power button for several seconds to hear a voice warning of the battery's remaining life.

The QN1 microphone is a significant improvement over the XM5s. It was designed to capture high quality audio when recording videos and podcasts. The microphone is more sensitive and has a larger audio range than the previous models which makes it easier to pick up your own voice.

Other features from the XM4s are been transferred to the XM5 and include an adaptive ANC system that automatically optimizes performance based on your environment. The "Wearing Detection" feature detects when the headset is removed and stops playing music or video. It will resume it as soon as they return to. It's compatible with Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine, which increases the quality of compressed music to nearly hi-res quality.

2. Sony WH-1000XM4

The WH1000XM4s from Sony are the latest version of their top-of-the-line over the ear noise cancelling headphones-ear headphones. They provide top-quality performance, even though they don't feature the same active noise cancellation as the WH1000XM5s. The WH-1000XM4s have a stronger Bluetooth connection and an improved noise cancellation algorithm. They also feature an upgraded audio chip that increases the sound quality to HD quality, as well as advanced voice controls.

Sony has upgraded the WH1000XM4s of the latest version by adding padding to the headband, and also moving the microphones forward. This makes them more comfortable to listen to for longer periods of time.

You can also select between five different sound settings depending on the environment. You can even tailor your EQ settings with the Sony headphones app. They're a great option for those who travel and the app lets you monitor your activities and automatically adjust their settings on the fly.

The WH-1000XM4 has also improved its noise cancellation. It is now more effective thanks to the higher sensitivity and better filtering of low frequencies. It can be evaluated by looking at graphs similar to the one above. The higher the peaks, more sounds are being blocked out. The WH-1000XM4s also better attenuate low-frequency sounds like the sound of an air conditioning unit or the constant rumble of an airplane engine than any other pair of noise-canceling headsets we've test.

The WH1000XM4s have a number of excellent features, including a 30 hour battery life and a USB-C charge port. They also come with Quick Alert, a feature that allows you to tap the right earcup and then dampen the sound to enable transparency mode. Speak to Chat, in turn it stops media when your voice is raised (and it works well but sometimes it fails to recognize taps), as well as Sony's Smart Listening Technology, which can detect your environment and provide better audio.

3. Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II

The Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II headphones (or QC35 Wireless 2018, as they're also referred to) were released in September 2017. They were replaced with the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 701 to be released in 2021. However they're still very popular and affordable.

The QC35 II is a great pair of wireless headphones for mixed-use. They offer a comfortable fit as well as a neutral sound profile by default. They also provide exceptional noise isolation. They can be used for traveling or in noisy environments and last for more than a day on a single battery charge. They also work with most smart assistants, and can be activated with an individual button. You can ask the assistant to play music, answer trivia questions or read your smartphone notifications.

The padding around the ears is wide and will fit most ears. They are also light. The housings' hinges can be folded down to allow them to be easily packed into a bag or backpack. The controls on the right side of the headphones are intuitively placed and feel good to use. A series of taps can be used to control playback, like the ability to rewind and skip songs.

To show the quality you can expect from these Bose headphones, we played The Beatles' Let It Be and listened to the piano parts and drum beats. The QC35 II deliver crisp, clear sound that is well-rounded and detailed. They reveal subtleties in the vocals, such as Paul McCartney's irregular timing when building up to the chorus or Gerard Way's snarl when he laments teenage individualism on Teenagers.

The QC35 II can be connected to up to two devices simultaneously and is compatible with the majority of smart assistants. The QC35 II comes with a carry bag and USB charging cable.

4. Sony WH-CH720N

Sony is known for making high-quality headphones that cost a small amount. The WH-CH720N budget headphones are not a different. They carry a lot of features that make the top WH-1000XM5 models so good but in an affordable design. They offer a great deal of active noise cancellation at a low cost.

These headphones have powerful drivers that measure 30mm in size. They provide crisp high frequencies and plenty of bass. These headphones have an even sound that blends well with various genres of music. They also feature an expansive, immersive soundstage.

The WH-CH720N headphones have buttons for controls instead of the touch controls and gestures of the XM5 headphones. This can be a an issue as the buttons are initially confusing. Luckily, the headphones come with clearly labeled controls and are arranged intelligently. A single press of the button '-' lowers the volume, and double presses pauses and plays audio. When you press and hold the button, voice assistants are launched and calls are canceled.

These headphones can last for up to 35 hours with ANC on. This is the highest battery life we've seen in headphones that are over-ear. They come with a standby feature to help conserve battery.

The WH-CH720N can be connected to Android phones and iOS devices via Bluetooth. They support LDAC which allows them to play high-quality audio on compatible devices. The headphones also work with PlayStation consoles that use 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 customize your headphones using an EQ slider, presets and multipoint connectivity.

5. B&W PX7 S2

The PX7 S2 follow on from the success of their predecessor, but are by no means an unfinished update riding on its coattails. They feature a more sleek design and a brand-new application. They live up to their promise of premium build-quality and sound that accurately conveys artistic intent. They're also incredibly comfortable and are a delight 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 removing environmental sounds and ensuring you're able to focus on your music, podcasts or handheld gaming without distractions. They feature a six-microphone setup (four for the noise cancellation and two for voice pickup) and a new algorithm which reduce ambient sound by 30dB. These are also one of only a handful of Bluetooth headphones we've tested that can be used passively which allows users to listen to their music without having to power up the drive units.

The B&W Music app is also compatible, a free download which provides a variety of features to complement the great noise cancellation. This includes a Quick Action button that cycles through three different modes of environmental and displays battery life. It can be configured to activate your device's voice assistant. It is annoying to have to press and hold it for a while. A one-press would be more intuitive and easier.

The PX7 S2 is an excellent pair of headphones that will delight music lovers. They're not quite as appropriate for the high-quality music of genres like metal and rock that are known to favor heavy bass and muddy low frequencies, as they are to classics, folk, and Acoustic music, but they will still be awe-inspiring to those who appreciate audiophile cred which is also practical and easy to use.