A good pair of noise cancelling headphones will block out background noise you don’t want to hear, while playing the audio you do want to hear beautifully.
They do this through a type of technology called active noise control (ANC), or noise cancellation. ANC uses microphones built into the headphones to listen to the background noise in the user’s environment. It takes this input and converts it into an opposite soundwave, which is played through the headphones. Remarkably, this opposite soundwave cancels out the sound of the background noise, in an effect known as destructive interference.
Clever noise cancelling tech delivers the simple benefit that you’ll hear less noise while your headphones are turned on. This can come in handy in all sorts of contexts, from noisy flights or train journeys where you’re trying to get some rest, to day-to-day situations where you really want to focus on your music, or whatever else you’re listening to.
Noise cancelling headphones have evolved in recent years, with most models now offering wireless connectivity via Bluetooth, as well as a wired connection via an AUX cable. And while most noise cancelling headphones are over-ear models, as has traditionally been the case, there are now some great earbud options on the market. You can even find the occasional pair of budget noise cancelling headphones these days, as advanced ANC technology continues to become better-known and more in-demand. We’ve aimed to represent the diverse range of noise cancelling headphones available in 2020 in our reviews.
Over-ear noise cancelling headphones
Sony WH-1000X M3
The Sony WH-100X M3s are widely regarded as the world’s best noise cancelling headphones. It only took a few moments’ testing for us to start realising why they have such a great reputation.
The sound produced by these headphones is exceptional, with spot-on equalisation and superb detail. From the mellow beauty of Khruangbin’s new album Mordecai, to the eternally futuristic synth of Gary Numan, these speakers brought out the best in all sorts of music during our testing.
Another strength of the WH-100X M3s is their noise cancelling, which is right up there with the best. With ANC turned on, these headphones gave you the sense of being in an acoustically treated space – like a recording studio or an anechoic chamber – with your favourite band, podcaster, or whatever else you care to listen to. They’re just brilliant.
Marshall Headphones Monitor II A.N.C. Over Ear
We found these headphones an absolute delight to use, and an even greater joy to listen to.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Monitor IIs is their looks. With branding borrowed from Marshall Amplification, a snazzy coiled auxiliary cable and a great mix of textured materials, these headphones are surefire head-turners for head-bangers.
That’s not to say the Monitor IIs are just for rock fans. We thought they sounded great when used to play a huge variety of artists, from the wistful post-punk of Land of Talk to the microtonal disco-funk of Tootard.
The ‘M’ button on the headphones toggles through three EQ presets, so you can easily play around with how your music sounds. It’s also simple to toggle noise cancelling on/off using the ‘ANC’ button on the other side of the headphones. Moderate background noise is filtered out effectively when ANC mode is on.
Puro Sound Labs PuroPro Hybrid ANC Volume Limited Headphones
The PuroPro Hybrids are comfortably our favourite ANC headphones you can buy for under £200.
They have excellent sound quality, with a sense of separation between frequencies that helps parts of the audio mix stand out. This makes for a visceral listening experience.
The headphones’ Bluetooth connectivity seems very strong. We experienced no breaks in audio while wandering around the house away from the connected device, which tallies with the headphones’ advertised 40ft wireless connection with BT 5.0.
Toggling between the two noise cancelling settings is made simple with recorded voice feedback from the headphones, which tells you which setting you’ve selected. The ANC does a good job of filtering out background noise below 32dB.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have some of the very best noise cancelling tech on the market. They seemed to remove more background noise than any of the other headphones we tested, reducing even loud conversation to a murmur.
It’s not all about the quiet: the 700s do noisy well too, with excellent audio quality that retains the clarity of music and recordings, even at high volumes. They perform smoothly and reliably – just as you’d expect a Bose product would. The one downside is that there’s a fair bit of sound leakage from the headphones, so the people around you might end up listening along with you if you play your music quite loud.
These headphones pull off the rare feat of being comfy to wear while having a striking, angular design.
Sennheiser HD 450BT
Sennheiser’s HD 450BT headphones are a lovely thing. The design is smart and elegant, and the ear padding is really comfortable. The pronounced arch of the headband would probably make the HD 450BTs best suited to listeners with a small-to-medium-sized head.
In terms of audio experience, these headphones have a really clear, close sound that stands out for the detail it brings out in higher frequencies. Excellent performance is maintained right through the headphones’ considerable volume range.
One drawback in our experience was that the HD 450BTs occasionally seemed to pick up a tiny bit of audio interference – but this was really quite faint, and probably wouldn't have bothered most listeners. The headphones’ noise cancelling mode proved highly effective in our testing, blocking out even quite loud background noise.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 3rd Gen
You’d expect very high-end headphones like these to offer more than a hint of luxury – and the Beoplay H9s do not disappoint on that score. Lightweight, highly adjustable and with a very plush headband, they are among the most comfortable headphones we’ve tested.
Listening with these headphones can be a remarkable experience. They’ll help you hear things you normally wouldn’t notice in audio, down to details you might not even have been meant to hear, like the squeaking of a YouTuber’s swivel chair. We found this made for a heightened experience of listening to films and TV shows in particular. In terms of audio quality and noise cancelling, the Beoplay H9s are close to the very best.
Kokoon Relax Sleep Headphones Second Edition
With good noise cancelling capabilities, chilled out tone and remarkably comfy earphones, the Kokoon Relax are that rarest of things: a pair of headphones that are really well suited to rest and relaxation. We found them perfectly comfortable to wear while laying on a pillow. They really are cocoon-like, with a design that pleasantly envelopes you in soft fabric and sound.
While the Kokoon Relax headphones offer very good all-round audio performance, we thought their main area of strength was playing back the human voice, from podcast episodes to the guided relaxation exercises included in the Kokoon app. Their acoustic character is mellow and balanced, in-keeping with their sleep-focused specialisation.
In-ear noise cancelling headphones
Panasonic RZ-S500WE-K True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Chic and distinctive in design, the Panasonic RZ-S500WE-Ks are a fine addition to the noise cancelling earbud market.
These headphones are particularly good at getting across the dynamic contrasts in audio – the louds and the quiets. They bring through the emphatic moments in music especially strongly, which makes for exciting listening even at a low volume setting.
We were impressed with these headphones’ noise cancelling mode, which did a good job of filtering out moderate background noise. There’s also a feature that filters in ambient sound, which lets you tune into sounds outside of your headphones without interrupting your listening.
The earbuds themselves are water resistant to the IPX4 standard, so they could make a great choice for runners who frequently brave the elements.
Technics EAH-AZ70W Digital Wireless Stereo Earphones
Aren’t these smart? The Technics EAH-AZ70Ws are the most appealing in-ear noise cancelling headphones we’ve tested, with an attractive minimal design and super-comfortable buds. As you’d expect of Technics headphones, the EAH-AZ70Ws sound excellent, with powerful bass and plenty of detail.
In many ways, these headphones are similar to the Panasonic RZ-S500WE-Ks. Both brands are made by the same company, and both headphone models have similar controls, features and noise cancelling performance. With that said, the Technics EAH-AZ70Ws are a step up in terms of audio quality. They sounded just as great playing the detailed art rock of Charlotte Gainsbourg as they did playing Identified Patient’s low-end-heavy techno.
Budget noise cancelling headphones
Kitsound Immerse75 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
We’re unsure about referring to an £80 pair of headphones as “budget”, but the Kitsound Immerse75 are certainly a great example of what’s available at the more affordable end of the noise cancelling headphones price spectrum.
Kitsound’s headphones offer an ideal combination of detail and oomph – the stuff of good music. The bass is clear and powerful, and there’s a nice sense of separation between frequencies.
In terms of noise cancelling, the Immerse 75s are capable of filtering out background sounds such as engine noise, but they won’t cancel out anything over 22 dB. If you’re looking for a very good listening experience with a little bit of noise cancelling thrown in for good measure, they’d be a fine choice.
X by Kygo Xenon
The eye-catching Xenon headphones from X by Kygo are some of our favourite noise cancelling headphones available at a more affordable price. They look great in a range of colours from black to burgundy, with a distinctive X-shaped logo and thick, squishy earpads.
If you like your music powerful and bassy, you may well be a fan of the Xenons. They really pack a punch, with lots of low end and the capability to retain detail even when you push the volume. We would have liked the earphones to have a bit more flexibility to accommodate different head shapes, but on the whole this is a great pair of headphones for the price you pay.
Verdict:
Sony WH-1000X M3 noise cancelling headphones are legendary for good reason. Their sound is the best of the best, clear and dynamic, and their noise cancelling performance is up there with the likes of the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. Add to that a smart design and comfy earphones, and there you have a recipe for the perfect ANC headphones.
