AlbertThese days a lot of noise isolation and noise cancelling headphones are available. The noise isolation headphones generally put pressure on the ears with the cushioning they have. These are good for the gym, running and training. But if you are a frequent traveler and want to enjoy music without being disturbed by the engine noise or other loud sounds, you will be needing a noise cancellation headphone. These days these products are flooding the mainstream market and loved by the music lovers. These headphones use the newest technology to produce noise rejecting facility. The unwanted ambient noises are canceled by the active noise control system. While you are using a noise cancelling headphone you can hear the music without using excessive volume. Also if a passenger wants to sleep in a noisy vehicle or airplane they can use noise rejecting headsets. These headsets look same as the normal headphones but will cost you more and also give better service.
Top List of Noise Cancelling Headphones
The reason for this product’s popularity is very simple. With the help of noise-cancelling headphones, you can now enjoy your music without the rumbling of train, bus or airplane engines. Other benefits include-
- Clearer, dynamic and exciting sound.
- Can be played at a low volume so it is also very safe for your ears.
- No comprise on the sound quality while the unwanted noise is canceled.
- Best sound at the office or on a trip.
- Reduced ambient sound.
In this article, I will be discussing the Top Noise Cancelling Headphones that are available on the market –
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
This is the No.1 on my list. The Bose QC35 II is the best wireless noise cancelling headphone. This fantastic headphone comes in two colors. With the superb noise cancelling technology turned on, it has a battery life of 20 hours. So it is great for traveling. The lithium-ion battery provides a great runtime for this superb headset. The only problem with this battery is it is not replaceable. The design is very original and similar to that of the previous version of this series. But there is a huge improvement in the noise cancelling ability. Now the noise cancellation is top notch.
It also has a dedicated button for google assistant. So that the Bluetooth connectivity is smooth. The google assistant button is integrated into the left ear cup. By pressing that action button you can directly connect to the google assistant. This is available for both Android and IOS. The free app is needed to be downloaded to your smartphone for using this feature. With the built-in google assistant action button, you can access google assistant without touching your phone and can give voice command like playing music, accessing news or calling your mom. With the new Bose connect app you can also select the noise cancellation levels from low, medium to high. The volume optimized equalizer system gives you best quality sound while you are in trip or in office. There is also the same arrangement for control on the right ear cup and you can use them for accessing Siri on iPhones. The noise-rejecting microphone system provides clear voices while receiving calls or commanding Siri.
This little piece of gem has somewhat higher price than other wireless noise cancellation headphones. It has a retail price of $349.
So it is time for scoring. So for design works it can get a 10 out of 10, for sound quality 9/10, for its features it will get a 10 on 10 and for the value 8/10. Overall it will have a score of 9 out of 10.
Bowers and Wilkins PX
One of the most sophisticated design is incorporated in this expensive headphone. It is the first Bowers and Wilkins noise cancelling design. It is sold for $400.
Its design material has a combination of metals and Ballistic Nylon. The B&W noise cancellation headphones come in two colors (space grey and gold) with the sleek design. The ear pads are connected magnetically and provide the advantage of replacing them easily. The price of the replaceable ear pads is not known yet. For introducing this replaceable ear pads and to ensure durability the weight of the ear pads has to be increased.
With the flawless noise cancellation ability, it gives excellent sound quality, superb battery support and premium cases to carry it with sophisticated design works.
It is very comfortable to use but fails to match the comfort level of Bose QC35 series. With noise cancelling mode on you can run it for 22 hours. But the battery is not replaceable. The USB C type is included in this series. The noise cancellation is not as fantastic as the Bose but gives you 3 options of noise cancellation in both IOS and Android devices.
So for design works it can get a 10 out of 10, for sound quality 9/10, for its features it will get a 9 on 10 and for the value 8/10. Overall it will have a score of 8.8 out of 10. It is a great competitor for both Bose QC35 II and Sony WH1000 XM2.
Sony WH1000 XM2
This one is the premium headphone from Sony. It also got the reputation of bestselling noise cancelling headphone produced by Sony. It has the best background distraction removal system Sony has ever produced.
The design is excellent but looks quite similar to the previous versions of the series. The number of buttons is now less to make the headphone look simple and elegant. The sound is so comforting. Battery life is improved, it is not replaceable though. In this new model, the noise cancelling is improved by the optimization of pressure. It has equalizer and sound positioning control system which provides a better noise cancellation, especially on flights. It has a quick charging which will give you a 70 minutes battery life with only 10 minutes charge. It is providing a micro USB whereas Bose new model headsets are equipped with C type USB ports. According to Sony, it will be having a 30 hours battery life when used with wireless and noise cancellation enabled. But if it is used with a wire it will be giving a 40 hours run time. I am not sure if those figures will be accurate or not when you are using the headphone at a higher volume. It comes in two colors black and white. It has an adapter for airplane travel. The box includes manual, adjustable earphones, airplane adapter, and cables.
The price is almost same as the Bose QC35 II. But people are still preferring the Bose QC35 II over it for some “comfort” reasons. It will be giving a tough competition to Bose. Its present price is $348. This headphone is superior to Bose QuietComfort 35 II in aesthetic considerations but in respect of comfort to the ears, Bose is the best.
For design works, I will give it a 9 out of 10, for sound quality it should get 8.5/10, for its features I will give 10 on 10 and for the value 8/10. Overall it will have a score of 8 out of 10. Not a bad score.
Beats Studio3 Wireless
This product is my personal favorite. It is the best headphone beats has made till now. It has a price of $349 and it is very much worthy.
The design is almost same as the previous designs but the sound quality, noise cancellation ability, durability as well as battery life is far better. With some tweaking in the ear pads, Beats has made it softer than the previous 2014 version. So it is quite a comfortable to use than its predecessor. It has a battery life of 22 hours with the wireless noise cancellation on which is double than the previous version. So in all respect, this new headphone is on different level comparing to the earlier versions. It can give a good competition to the new Bose, Sony and B&W headphones for sure. It has a good base but as exploding as the Sony headphones. The treble quality of beats is much better than other brands. This high end beats headphone has a heavy carrying case.
Another improvement it has is the integration of Apple chip. It has Apple’s W1 chip so no problems in connecting with the Apple devices. This chip also improves the noise cancellation without draining out the battery.
So for design and color works it can get an 8 out of 10, for sound quality 9/10, for its features it will only get an 8 on 10 and for the value 8/10. Overall it will have a score of 8.0 out of 10.
Bose QuietComfort 25
These are made with extra comfort design for the ears. This mid-level Bose QC noise cancelling product is not as robust or comfortable as the QC 35 II but it is worthy of buying as the price is reasonable. The present price is $170 (on Amazon). If you are on a budget and want to buy a brand product than this model is perfect for you.
With extra comfortable design, it adds some additional features like great folding ability which makes it perfect for the travelers. It has a one AAA battery which gives support up to 35 hours. The sound is exciting and clear. It can be connected to the wire if the battery is dying. The most lucrative option is it has a 30-day risk free trial at home. So even if the headphone is dying you have the option to resurrect within the 30 day home trial period. The circuitry is somehow better than the previous versions. As a result, it gives a more dynamic, clearer and effective noise cancellation. The ear pads are re-engineered for a better fit in the ears. The headband is nicely designed with a special fabric found in the top level automobile systems. Bose has tried their best to make the design as light as possible so it will be excellent for using at long travel periods. The design could have been much robust but you have to sacrifice one or the other to make the design perfect.
Design works will get a big 8 out of 10, for clearer and dynamic sound quality 8/10, for its features it will get a 9 on 10 and for the value 8/10. Overall it will have a score of 8 out of 10.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
It is not as comfortable as the Bose QC series. But the quality and design are robust. You cannot get a better noise cancelling headphone in that price. This two hundred dollars ($200) noise cancelling headphone has a straightforward design.
This is a pretty noise-cancelling headset for the budget conscious people. This doesn’t come in any fancy boxes but with the simple folding design, it can be easily kept in the provided synthetic leather bag. No trouble during pairing with the phones. The noise cancellation is strong enough. The sound quality is quite good. Not everyone is willing to buy a headset for 400 dollars. If you want an excellent quality with the lesser price then this will be a great choice. Its feature includes all plastic made materials with matt black finish. The ear pads are covered with synthetic leather. The ear pads are well cushioned for the comfort of the users. The bass is quite strong with natural sounds. But it weak at upper treble level. When you are using Bluetooth and noise cancellation it can run up to 19 hours. But if you want to save battery then use it with wire which will go up to 25 hours. The sound quality with the wire is quite same with the wireless one.
For design works it can get an 8 out of 10, for sound quality 7/10, for its features it will get a 7 on 10 and for the value 8/10. Overall it will have a score of 7.5 out of 10.
Bose QuietControl 30
Another Bose product in the discussion!! This is very comfortable and suitable for travelers as well as the runners because it is sweat proof. It can produce various levels of noise cancellations. The noise cancellation is not as effective as the Bose QC 20 or 35 but it can be used for passive noise cancellation. The price is $300.
With some passive noise cancellation, it can be used as a sports headphone. This well-built headphone provides various level of noise cancellation which is great for a Bluetooth head or earphone.
It is pricey and no match for the Bose QC20 or 35. It doesn’t have any wiring options for connecting it to the other music systems. It can be considered as a successor of the Bose SoundSport. But it can be a great headphone for regular use. It is also great when you are working out in the gym.
7 out of 10 for the design works, for sound quality 8/10, for its features it will get a 7 on 10 and for the value 7/10. The overall score is 7.0 out of 10.
Mpow 059 Bluetooth Headset
Well, I am including this item in this list because I wanted to add something which will be very effective if you are maintaining a budget. This Bluetooth headphone comes in $ 35. Yes! You heard it right. And it comes in 6 colors. Though it is not Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled it is pretty good. It provides passive noise isolation and sounds cool enough. If you want to listen to this device comfortably for a long time taking off the headphone every 1-2 hour will be a great option.
So don’t expect much from it. It uses the passive voice cancellation system. The noise cancellation is not at the great level of Sony, Bose or beats but it works. But it will give you service for a few years. The battery backup will be up to 15 hours and you can continue to listen to music while charging the battery. So it is not bad! But its microphone only works when the wireless mode is enabled. Hands-free calling works perfectly. The Bluetooth connection is quite stable and smooth. It can be connected to all the Bluetooth enabled devices.
The design is simple and can get a 6/10 score, for sound quality 7/10, for its features it will get a 7 on 10 and for the value 10/10. Overall it will have a score of 7.0 out of 10.
So at the end, I can say that huge number of noise-cancelling headphones are available in the market ranging from $20 to $900. You can buy according to your budget and requirement. These headphones are quite good and will be useful for using in travel as well as in at the time of the workout. There are some other brands like Samsung and Philips which are also good. Hopefully, this list of best noise cancellation headphones will meet your requirements.