What do you want in this thunderous age? Maybe just a little silence. Living in a boisterous environment is always troublesome. If you are on a 12-hour flight with a crying baby or trying to take a nap through the snoring from the hotel room next door, all you desire is calm. So here I’ve listed the 5 Best Noise Canceling Headphones that can put you in deaf mode!
Choosing the best noise canceling headphones is not a piece of cake because they are expensive. However, with my reviewing team, I have combed through more than 150 pairs of Active Noise Canceling (ANC) headphones and given our recommendation below.
After an in-depth evaluation, here are the 5 best noise canceling headphones you can buy for under $1000.
So let’s buckle down!
In a Hurry? Here are Our Quick Picks.
Overall Best: Sony WH1000XM5
Best Value: Bose QuietComfort 45
Most Effiencet: Bose NCH 700
Most Premium: Apple AirPods Max
Battery King: Sennheiser PXC 550-II
| Rating Metric | Sony WH1000XM5 | Bose QuietComfort 45 | Bose Noise Canceling Headphone 700 | Apple AirPods Max | Sennheiser PXC 550-II |
| Sound Quality | 8.1 | 7.5 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 7.9 |
| Bass | 8.4 | 8.2 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 7.4 |
| ANC | 7.9 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| Durability | 8.6 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 7.9 |
| Battery Life | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.3 |
How to buy the Best Noise Canceling Headphones?
It is a fact that there is a plethora of ANC headphones in the market and that’s how choosing them is somewhat tricky. So here is the basic guide for selecting the best noise-canceling headphones because we don’t want you to spend a dime on useless products.
Ear-cups Size
Choosing relatively big headphones can be good for you. For example, over-the-ear cups provide a better chance to block unwanted noise. So go for more oversized ANC headphones.
Battery Life:
People mostly use ANC headphones in traveling to avoid noise from their surroundings. A long-lasting battery gives you a better chance to prevent clamor around you. We recommend you not go with a battery of less than 20 hours.
Comfort
You can only use your ANC headphones if they are comfortable. People generally wear ear-overs for hours. If the cushions are not cozy or the headphones are heavy, you will ultimately feel discomfort weaning them. Therefore, consider comforting your first and foremost priority.
Sony WH1000XM5
The Sony WH1000XM5 forerunners were the king of the hills. And now, with its redesign, drivers, and features, this latest version has taken that crown. Our team recognizes Sony WH1000XM5 as an intriguing flagship ANC headphone available in the market.
Furthermore, Sony WH1000XM5 has 2 processors with 8 microphones, providing a revolutionary noise check. It also has a battery life of 30 hours with fast charging support. On the left earcup are dedicated buttons for power, pairing, and ANC.
While on the right earcup is tracks for swiping up & down volume handles, swiping forward & backward, and call management. In addition, this flagship headphone can cost you $398 and is given 4.4 stars out of 5 in 1,242 global ratings.
Pros:
- Fast Charging (3 minutes charge with 3 hours use)
- Stylish and comfy
- Bluetooth 5.2 with LDAC, AAC, SBC, and wired connectivity options
Cons:
- Expensive
- It does not fold down
Bose QuietComfort 45
As the name suggests, Bose QuietComfort 45 is quiet and gives you comfort. Our testing team wore it for hours and concluded that if you were looking for a sheer ANC performance, Bose QC 45 is one of the best over-ear headphones on the market.
Bose QC 45’s ear cups are decorously large and have a well-distributed weight of 240 grams. Additionally, Bose gives you a USB Type A to C charging cable with a battery life of 24 hours. The controls of this model are straightforward to use. On the right earcup, there are three buttons.
The central button handles call management, track navigation, playback, and voice assistant, conditional on how many times you tap it. And there are dedicated buttons for volume up and down. On the other side, the left earcup has an ANC mode button, which Bose has named Quiet ad Aware modes.
In addition, customers on Amazon have given this model 4.6/5 stars in 5,981 global ratings. This beauty will cost you $329 on Amazon.
Pros
- USB C port
- Exceptionally comfortable
- Remarkable noise-canceling performance
Cons
- It doesn’t support aptX Bluetooth.
- Unadjustable ANC
Bose Noise Canceling Headphone 700
Bose NCH 700 is a stylish and minimalist headphone with a headband connecting beautifully to cushioned circumaural earcups. In addition, this model has faux-leather over-ear earpads. Therefore, this headphone is a perfect fit for a long listening session.
An outer panel on the right earcup housing a power/pairing button, a voice assistant button, and a status LED. Additionally, there is also a touch-sensitive control pad that plays, pauses, or swipes the music. Finally, the left earcup roofs the ANC button.
In 26,988 global ratings, the customers gave it 4.5 stars out of 5. While Bose NCH 700 prices at $379.
Pros:
- Good microphone clarity
- 11 ANC level
- Lightweight and sleek design
Cons
- Not as loud as its rivals
- It doesn’t have folding hinges
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is the most premium headphones our reviewing team has tested. Unfortunately, the AirPods have large aluminum earcups with undecorative outer panels. So if you want a sleek and high-end experience, these headphones can be your pick.
Moreover, the earpads of these over-ears are memory foam and lined with an appealing cloth. This model has a voluminous look and weighs 386 grams, yet they are reported to be comfortable. In addition, apple has offered a battery that can perform ANC for up to 20 hours in this model.
Lastly, these premium headphones can cost you an arm and a leg as they price at $479. And on Amazon, customers have given it 4.7 stars in 1365 global ratings.
Pros
- Fabric headband
- Good battery life
- Spatial audio and adaptive EQ
Cons
- Heavy and bulky looking
- No USB Type C port
Sennheiser PXC 550-II
Sennheiser PXC 550-II is an ANC high-value pair of headphones. If you do not use voice assistant so often or care less about AAC support, these over-ears can be your traveling companion. Sennheiser considers simplicity and performance the alpha and omega of this model and puts them before design.
Although the plastic earcups do not give you a premium feel, they serve the purpose well. However, the earcups are comfortable, yet they sometimes feel tight even after adjustment. After continuously wearing it for 2 hours, I felt sore at the crown of my head. Our review team calls it the battery king as it has a 30 hours long-standing battery.
Lastly, on Amazon, it has been given 4.2 stars in 2883 global ratings.
Pros
- Amazon Alexa support
- Long-lasting battery
- Fast charging support
Cons
- Tight ear-cups
- MicroUSB charging port
Conclusion-The 5 Best Noise Canceling Headphones
After trials and tests, we have recommended the 5 best noise canceling headphones we think are best for you. Of course, not all the products have everything, but asking yourself what you actually want in the form of ANC headphones can solve a lot of confusion. Visit audioambition to learn more.
