The Best Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones

Whether you're battling the engine noise of jet engines or simply want to block out the sound of your HVAC system at home, ear noise cancelling headphones you'll require the most effective noise-cancelling headphones for over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones use. The new Sony WH1000XM5s are the top of the line in active noise cancellation. The predecessors were great.

We've analyzed the adjustability of ANC and touch controls, as well as on-ear ear detection to stop music when your headphones are removed. Our top picks have high-resolution audio, comfortable earcups and large earcups.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

The fifth generation of Sony flagship headphones offers significant improvements over the previous generation, featuring improved noise cancellation and superior audio quality. Its remarkable ANC performance creates an enveloping cone of silence that covers your head and blocks out a surprising amount low-frequency sounds. The ear cups block out sounds in the mid-to-treble range including chatter from the passengers and creaking metal.

The WH-1000XM5s sound very natural, unlike some noise cancelling headsets that can sound hollow. They can render the beats of Billie Eilish in stunning detail, while keeping the edges clean and clear. They're great to listen to during an airplane ride or on a commute.

The most popular controls are operated by a capacitive touch surface located on the right earcup that can play/pause and volume up/down, aswell being able to skip forwards and backwards. It also lets you end or answer calls and switch between ANC mode and ambient sound. You can also hold the power button for several seconds to hear a voice telling you how much battery capacity is left.

Another notable improvement on the XM5s is its new QN1 microphone that is designed to capture high-quality audio when recording podcasts and videos. The microphone is more sensitive and has a larger audio range than earlier models which makes it easier to pick up your own voice.

The XM5 has also carried over some features from the XM4s, such as the adaptive ANC system that automatically optimizes performance based upon the environment. Its 'Wearing Detection is now able to detect when you take off the headset and pauses music or video, and restarts it when you put them back on. It's compatible with Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine, which increases the quality of compressed music to nearly high-res quality.

2. Sony WH-1000XM4

The WH-1000XM4s are the most recent version of Sony's top-of-the-line over-ear headphones, and although they don't have as much active noise cancellation as the WH-1000XM5s, they still provide top-of-the-line performance. In addition to stronger Bluetooth and a more efficient noise-canceling algorithm, the WH1000XM4s feature a new audio chip that upscales music files to HD quality and more advanced voice controls.

The biggest improvement in this latest generation is that Sony has made the WH-1000XM4s more comfortable than before by putting padding on the headband, and moving the microphones closer to the outside of the ear. This makes them more comfortable for long listening sessions.

You can also switch between five different sound settings based on the surrounding. You can also customize your EQ settings using the Sony headphones app. The app allows you to track your activity, and then automatically adjust the settings. They are a great choice for those who travel.

The WH-1000XM4 has also improved its noise cancellation. It's now more effective thanks to the greater sensitivity and improved filtering of low frequencies. You can examine this by looking at a graph like the one above, with the higher peaks mean that more sounds are being cancelled out. The WH-1000XM4s also better attenuate low-frequency sounds, such as the sound of an air conditioning unit or the constant rumble of a plane engine more than any other pair of noise-canceling headsets we've tested.

The WH-1000XM4s are still equipped with a many great features such as a battery that lasts up to 30 hours and an integrated USB-C charging port. They also have Quick Alert, which lets you tap the right earcup to reduce the sound and activate transparency mode; Speak to Chat can pause media when you raise your voice (and works well, although it can sometimes fail to register 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 headphones for over the ear headphones with noise cancelling-ear use that were released in September 2017. While they have been succeeded by the 2021-released Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 They're still a hit and affordable and are worth a look if you're looking for a noise cancelling headphone.

The QC35 II is a great pair of wireless headphones for mixed-use. They offer an incredibly comfortable fit and neutral sound quality by default. They also provide exceptional noise isolation. They are suitable for traveling or in noisy environments and last more than a full day with a single charge. They are also compatible with a variety of smart assistants and can be activated with the use of a specific button. You can ask them to play music and answer trivia questions or read notifications from your smartphone.

They have a large opening in the ear padded that will fit most types of ear sizes and shapes. They also are extremely light. The hinges on the housings fold down and make them easy to pack into a bag or backpack. The controls are located on the right-hand side of the headphone and are simple to use. A series of taps can control playback, like rewinding and skipping songs.

We listened to The Beatles' Let It Be as well as the drum and piano beats. The QC35 II delivers crisp, clear audio that is smooth and detailed sound. They can detect subtleties such as Paul McCartney’s inconsistent timing as he builds to the chorus, or Gerard Way's snarl as he rants about the teen-like persona in Teenagers.

The QC35 II is compatible with the majority of smart assistants and is able to connect to up to two devices at once. The QC35 II also come with the carry case as well as a USB cable that charges quickly.

4. Sony WH-CH720N

Sony is renowned for making high-quality headphones that are priced at a reasonable price. Its budget-friendly WH-CH720N headphones are not an exception. These headphones come with many of the same features of the flagship WH1000XM5 headphones, but in an affordable design. These headphones provide a lot of active noise cancellation at an affordable price.

These headphones have dynamic drivers of 30mm that deliver crisp high frequencies and ample bass. They also have a balanced tuning to make them sound great with various music genres, and they have a large soundstage that allows you to be immersed in your music.

The WH-CH720N headphones use buttons for controls instead of the touch controls and gestures of the XM5 headphones. This is a little of a drawback because the buttons can be confusing at first. The controls are intelligently placed and clearly labeled. One pressing of the button with the '-' lowers the volume, and double presses pauses and plays audio. When you press and hold the button the button, voice assistants are activated and calls are rejected.

With ANC enabled the headphones will last for around 35 hours before they run out of juice. This is one of the best battery performances we've seen on over-ear headphones. They also have a standby mode to assist in preserving battery.

Bluetooth allows you to connect the WH-CH720N headphones to Android and iOS devices. They support LDAC which allows them to play high-quality 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 by no means a half-baked update riding on its own. Featuring a sleeker look and a new app that delivers on the promise of premium build quality and sound that is designed to faithfully express the artist's vision. They're also extremely comfortable and a treat to wear all day long.

While they don't match the noise cancellation of the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II or the Sony WH-1000XM5 but they do a excellent job of blocking out environmental sounds and ensuring you are able to concentrate on your music, podcasts, or gaming handheld without interruptions. They use a six-strong microphone setup (four to cancel noise and two for voice pickup) and a redesigned algorithm that cuts ambient sound by 30dB. They're also one of the few Bluetooth headphones we've tested that can be used in passive mode, allowing you to listen to your content on your own without power being connected to the drive units.

The B&W Music app is also compatible with the free download that provides a variety of features to complement the great noise cancellation. It includes a Quick Action button that cycles through three different modes of environmental, displays battery life and can be configured to launch your device's voice assistant. It's a pain to press and hold the button - one press is more convenient and intuitive.

The PX7 S2 are an impressive pair of headphones, which will delight all music lovers. They're not as well appropriate for the high-quality music of genres like rock and metal that are known to favor bass-heavy production and muddy low frequency, as they are for classics, folk, and acoustic music, but will still be awe-inspiring to those who appreciate audiophile credentials that's also practical and comfortable.