Best Noise-Canceling Headphones: Sony, Bose, Apple, and More

It bears repeating: Bose is the absolute master of active noise-canceling technology. The QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are just the latest demonstration of the company’s expertise. Get these earbuds positioned just so, set them up to your satisfaction using the excellent control app, and the outside world need never bother you again. It almost goes without saying that the sound you’ll enjoy is big, bold, and vivid—which is something else Bose knows all about. —Simon Lucas

Sony may rule the “premium wireless noise cancelers” roost, but that doesn’t mean it’s ignored the less well-off among us. The WH-CH720 are sensational value for the money: properly built and finished, with accomplished active noise-canceling skills and big, burly sound quality. Yes, it would be nice if they folded up and/or came with a protective case, but you can’t expect everything when you’re paying such a competitive price. If you want more than a taste of the high end of the market without actually having to pay for it, you really can’t go wrong here. —Simon Lucas

JBL’s third pair of Tour One headphones (8/10, WIRED Recommends) have a lot going for them, from a crazy comfy fit to a powerful mic system for top-notch call quality. JBL’s noise canceling has always been solid, but its latest ANC headphones are special, matching some of the best pairs I’ve tested, with only our top two picks as notable upgrades. They pair that with clear and stylized sound, LDAC streaming, and plenty of EQ presets. JBL piles on the features, with options like spatial audio, Smart Talk voice pausing, and volume limiter settings to promote hearing health.

The most intriguing get is the new Smart Tx transmitter, which transmits audio over virtually any plugged-in source. You can stream to the M3, of course, but Auracast lets any compatible speaker or pair of headphones join in, which could be handy for a long flight with your SO. Auracast is still rare, and the M3 demand a high price compared to the M2, but their loaded layout and future-proofing features make them a unique option at the front of the noise-canceling pack. —Ryan Waniata

(Note: These headphones have recently risen from their $400 launch price to $450. We’ve reached out to JBL for more information.)

The Powerbeats Pro 2 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are a full-scale update, which includes modern touches like a heart rate monitor based on the Apple Watch and standards the original lacked, like transparency mode and—of course—noise canceling. Their solid cancellation skills can’t match the best like Bose’s QC Ultra buds, but they hold their own against plenty of rivals at this price and above, including Sony’s WF-1000XM5.

Thanks to the H2 chip, they work brilliantly with Apple gear with features like iCloud device switching, Find My functionality, and hands-free Siri, while extras for Android devices include a dedicated Bluetooth app and one-touch pairing. You’ll also get convenient (if touchy) controls, excellent battery life, and brash sound with a side of hi-fi. Maybe most importantly, their ironclad fit is graciously comfy, making them excellent for working out, checking out, and everything in between. —Ryan Waniata

If you use an iPhone and you are willing to pay a premium, the Apple AirPods Max (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are a fantastic choice. They are probably among the best wireless headphones you’ll have ever heard, but astonishing fidelity isn’t the only reason to buy the company’s flagship cans. Excellent pairing and connection with Apple devices, top-notch noise reduction, and some of the finest build quality you’ll find this side of $1,000 make these a great pair for most people.

The USB-C version recently added lossless audio transmission over a wired connection, though after testing it, we think most folks will get more from plugging in, including with Spotify streams, than from the hi-res tracks themselves. Either way, you’re getting a great package. The only thing not to like? The included soft case does very little to protect the headphones when they’re not on your head.

AirPods are middling, but the AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are a different story. This is the second generation of the buds, and they have the same great fit and noise-canceling tech as the first generation, with better audio quality. One of their best traits is constant improvement, including OTA additions like Adaptive Audio, which transitions between noise canceling and transparency mode based on background noises, and a new hearing aid feature. This version also has an improved codec, in case you end up using it with your new Vision Pro headset, as well as USB-C charging.

These retro-futuristic headphones from Nothing are some of the best-looking headphones I have ever tried. Whether you’re going with the flashy Storm Trooper white or the subtle see-through black, they are extremely stylish, and come with a set of the finest buttons I have ever used on a pair of headphones. A scroll wheel on the right earcup helps you adjust volume and play or pause tracks, with a switch below it that lets you flip between songs, or even scroll through commercials in a podcast. Noise canceling is solid, with these headphones offering some of the best passive noise isolation that I’ve seen, coupled with high-tier active sound reduction. Sound is by the British audio brand KEF, which allows these headphones to punch above their weight on audio, especially in the low end.

The Sonos Ace (8/10, WIRED Recommends) launched with lofty expectations, yet their mix of luxe comfort, smooth sound, and top-tier noise canceling still caught us off guard. Their significant skills put them in regal company with the likes of Bose and Sony. Those points aside, their most intriguing feature, the ability to instantly swap TV audio from a Sonos soundbar, was buggy at launch (along with the rest of the Sonos app).

Since then, Sonos has put in the work, and I’ve been able to seamlessly “swap” sound between the Ace and the Sonos Arc and Arc Ultra soundbars with minimal latency. The natural transparency mode and head tracking effectively mimic a home theater experience, and Sonos has added support for the Beam and Ray soundbars. It’s still not the Wi-Fi experience we were hoping for, but even on their own, the Ace’s serious skills make them well worth considering. —Ryan Waniata

If money is no object, this pair from French hi-fi brand Focal (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best. The magnesium and aluminum headphones—with custom French-made drivers and super soft earpads and headband—offer listeners some of the best wireless audio I have ever heard. From deep lows to crisp highs, these resemble their more expensive, corded brethren but allow you to listen in planes, trains, and automobiles without toting along an external digital-to-analog converter or special audio player.

Noise canceling is great, as is comfort while traveling, with the soft leather ear cups keeping me cozy for everything from short trips out of town to long international flights. The included DAC mode is a great option for higher-end listeners who don’t want to bring accessories for a fantastic listening experience on the go. I even like the adjustable lights on the outside of each ear cup.

Technics’ AZ100 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) offer middle-rung noise canceling for their price point, but that’s still more than enough for most situations. They effectively quell annoyances like construction clamor, lawn mowers, and HVAC hum. They have a bit more trouble with higher-register noises, but their fabulous sound quality makes up for it, thanks to new ferro-fluid magnetic drivers that dig deep into instrumental textures and plenty of bass. Features like three-device multipoint pairing and up to 10 hours of playback with noise canceling make these stylish buds a sweet ride. —Ryan Waniata

These unassuming buds from Soundpeats offer surprisingly good noise canceling and features for the money. That’s a great start, but their real superpower is stellar sound quality, which helped earn them a perfect 10/10 review score. Using a combination dynamic driver for bass and a next-gen xMEMS driver for the midrange and treble, you’ll find gloriously rich, clear, and balanced fidelity across your catalog. They fill things out with solid battery life and a helpful app for a great experience at a surprisingly low price. —Ryan Waniata

The fifth-generation Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are still among the best wireless headphones around, now often found at a killer discount. These headphones offer excellent noise cancellation, super customizable sound, and fantastic battery life. The sound is more absorbing than most options in their class, with a more energetic feel than the less dynamic models that came before. They’re simple yet stylish and comfy for all-day wear.