The appeal for a distraction-free environment has been increasing significantly in recent years. Our sense of sound is the most prone to causing distractions. The idea of noise cancellation to increase productivity or reduce stress and anxiety is not new. There undoubtedly would have been times when you were annoyed. Annoyed to the point of not being able to get any work done.
Not all noise cancellation is created equal. The research and testing into each model from any company takes some really expensive equipment. This extra work is why noise cancelling headphones are more expensive than standard headphones. Since the company doesn’t only have to make the headphones sound good but also provide you with a calming experience.
Many big brands have come up with their implementation to make my great noise-cancelling headphones. However, many restrict you to a specific ecosystem, cost too much, or both. Today we will look at the three best noise-cancelling headphones worth your money.
Our Top 3 Best Picks For Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones In 2022
Here are the three best Noise canceling headphones. They are all very impressive in terms of comfort, design, functionality, and price. But finalizing your decision will depend on which of these three matches your needs better.
- OneOdio A10 ANC Bluetooth Headphones – Overall Best Noise Canceling Headphones, Editor’s Pick
- Boltune BT-BH011 Headphones – Most Recommended & Highly Rated Rated Brand For Wireless Earbuds
- Phiaton 900 Legacy – Wireless Pair Of Noise Cancelling Earbuds
#1. OneOdio A10 ANC Bluetooth Headphones: Overall Best Noise Canceling Headphones, Editor’s Pick
Many people want the best features that the latest and greatest technology offers. However, almost no one wants to pay the premium it costs to obtain that cutting-edge technology. Many people get ripped off and are sold subpar products. A lot of headphones on the market claim to have active noise cancellation. But most of these are not tested well and are not optimized. Some have extremely low battery life, weak connections, no comfort, or bad sound quality.
OneOdio is one of the few brands that give their customers amazing audio products at a budget-friendly price point. While a lot of companies struggle to make their own ANC headphones, Oneodio has many to choose from. The quality and features OneOdio can provide in the sub-100 dollar price range are mind-boggling. Good materials, decent sound quality, and long warranty periods are some of the greatest things about OneOdio headphones.
This company also has its web store where you can purchase the product directly. The brand also lists all the customer reviews of its products on its website. OneOdio has great customer service because they know they provide good quality products to their customers.
Now let’s take a look at their A10 Bluetooth headphones and why these are the ones that made it to our list. The A10 ANC Bluetooth headphones come at a very low price point, and the unboxing experience leaves nothing more to be desired. The headphones come with everything you will need right out of the box. Although these are very good headphones, let’s look at their features. This detailed view will help you decide whether these OneOdio A10 ANC headphones are the ones for you.
Highlights
The OneOdio A10 ANC Bluetooth headphones have a lot of features and qualities that you would want in a good pair of headphones. Let’s discuss the most prominent details about the A10 ANC that make it the best budget noise-canceling headphone. Starting with the elephant in the room, the price.
Price: Price is the biggest factor that pushed these headphones to the top of the list. The A10 ANC headphones are one of the most inexpensive noise cancelling headphones. But even at this low price point, they haven’t cut any corners.
In the active noise cancelling headphone market, major brands ask for a huge premium to get the ANC feature. However, the need for peace and comfort while working or commuting is more of a necessity than a luxury. This reasoning has given birth to the budget-friendly nature of brands like OneOdio.
The A10 ANC headphones still provide all the necessary features for any good pair of headphones. Features like type c connectivity, a good sound profile, long battery life, Bluetooth 5.0, decent comfort, and warranty.
Unboxing: The unboxing experience isn’t exactly anything special. However, what is special is the inclusion of all the necessary items in the box. The A10 ANC headphones come packaged in a carrying case with foam padding inside to protect your headphones on the go. You also get a charging cable. OneOdio has also included a type c to 3.5mm cable and a plane audio adapter to ensure all your needs are taken care of. Lastly, a detailed user manual and a warranty card come in the box.
Connectivity: The A10 ANC Bluetooth Headphones have several different connectivity options. First, as the name suggests, These headphones pair with your devices via Bluetooth 5.0. This option allows for a smoother connection that is also very power efficient. Bluetooth 5.0 allows the headphones to have a longer battery life while connected to your phone.
The other connectivity method is the USB type c port. It not only functions to charge your headphones but also allows a wired connection to all your devices. This method reduces latency and makes for a better gaming experience. However, the wired connection can become annoying, and for the best comfort experience, we recommend using Bluetooth mode.
Battery and Charging: The battery life on the A10 ANC is nothing short of amazing. If you only need these headphones for their active noise cancellation, they can last 40 hours. A USB charging port is an amazing addition since you don’t have to worry about keeping a micro USB cable with you all the time. However, the included type C cable is relatively short. Hence, using your phone’s cable is a good idea. You can charge these headphones completely in a little over 2 hours.
Active Noise Cancellation: The main selling point of these headphones is the inclusion of ANC at such a low price point. This headphone uses what OneOdio calls hybrid ANC. It is still not as good as the ANC from Sony XM4 or Bose Noise cancelling headphones. However, it is pretty comparable to Bose QuietComfort earbuds. The A10 uses both feedforward and feedback microphones. The feedforward mics tell the headphones what noises are around you that need to be filtered out. In comparison, the feedback mics inside the ear cups tell the headphones what you hear. You can turn the ANC mode on with a single switch outside the left ear cup.
These headphones also come with a transparency mode that allows you to hear the ambient sound better while you wear these headphones.
Comfort: The OneOdio A10 headphones feature soft ear cups and a padded headband. This padding, along with the very light weight of the headphones, gives it most of its comfort. The little things like an expandable headband and rotating ear cups take the comfort from good to great.
Build Quality and Design: The OneOdio A10 has a very elegant design. A lot of cheap headphones on the market have a cheap looking blacked out body. On the other hand, these have stylish chrome accents and OneOdio branding on the top of the headband. The addition of the chrome accents around the ear cups gives these a premium look. They are entirely made of plastic but do not feel cheap by any means. The headphones are foldable and can easily be packed into their carrying case to ease commuting and occupy less space.
Warranty: Inside the box, you also find a warranty card that has a QR code on it. Scanning the code activates your two-year warranty, and you can also get a gift from OneOdio. This adds to the fact that OneOdio cares about its customers and their peace of mind.
All these features make the OneOdio A10 headphones a great purchase and one of the best noise cancelling headphones on a budget.
Pros
-
Budget-friendly
- Long battery life
- Type C and Bluetooth connectivity
- Good noise cancellation and transparency mode
- 2-year warranty
- Carrying case and travel adapter included
- Lightweight and highly adjustable
Cons
- Charging cable too short
- No spatial audio
- Mediocre audio quality
=> Click here to visit the official website of OneOdio A10 Headphones
#2. Boltune BT-BH011 Headphones: Most Recommended & Highly Rated Rated Brand For Wireless Earbuds
Boltune is another famous brand in the budget audio market. They make a lot of different headphones and earphones. Boltunes products are well known for being very stylish and functional while also maintaining a decent price point. Their offerings in the Bluetooth headphones department, especially Noise cancelling headphones, are outstanding.
If an all-rounded pair of headphones is what you need, Boltune has a lot of good offerings for you. Things like good enough audio quality, ambient sound rejection, a good battery, and quick charging times are the necessary features that you can expect from these headphones. The BT-BH011 headphones follow this trend of stylish look and functionality. If you are tired of seeing all-black headphones with little to no personality, the brown and silver BT-BH011 are sure to catch your eye. They have amazing battery life, quick charging, and a lot of other features we will discuss in detail. They also come with a bunch of accessories in the box.
Although these are the best all-rounded Noise cancelling headphones according to us, they still have some shortcomings in their audio quality. Now let’s take a look at all the features of the Boltune BT-BH011.
Highlights
Build Quality and Style: These Boltune headphones have a lot of physical features that no other headphones in this price range can beat. Firstly the build quality is outstanding. Boltune has used very thick memory foam ear cups that help greatly in noise isolation. The entire headband is padded with contrasting colors on the brown and white model. The headband extension mechanism feels very sturdy and solid. The buttons all lie on the same ear cup. Boltune has also used a relatively new processing chip that improves these ANC headphones’ audio quality and noise cancellation.
The styling on these headphones looks and feels extremely premium compared to the all-black theme all other budget headphones love to follow. Boltune also includes a hard plastic carrying case that also feels very premium and adds to the style and aesthetic of these headphones.
Connectivity: These headphones have the latest Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, which reduces the latency and battery life of these headphones. Moreover, these headphones also have a 3.5mm jack, and they come with a travel adapter for use on your flights.
Battery: The battery life on these headphones is 30 hours if you are only using these for audio playback. Although, if you are using headphones with active noise cancellation, the time is decreased to 20 hours. However, Boltune has come up with a solution. That solution is a quick charging time. You can get up to 2 hours of playback by only charging your headphones via USB C for 5 minutes.
Noise Cancellation: The noise cancellation on these headphones leaves much to be desired. When you turn the ANC on, these Noise-canceling headphones only manage to cancel out low-frequency sounds such as an engine or heavy machinery. It fails to filter out medium-frequency sounds such as speech. This can also be a good thing, considering they do not have a transparency mode. So being able to listen to the people around you can be a blessing in disguise. In short, these headphones do not have excellent noise cancellation.
Audio quality: The audio quality on these headphones is miles ahead of other headphones in the same price range. This improved sound quality comes from the use of 45mm drivers. These drivers improve the bass and low-end audio spectrum while also having a balanced medium and high-end sound profile. If you enjoy bassy music and punchy treble, these headphones are for you. However, their sound quality is still much lower than that of tier one active Noise-canceling headphones like the ones from Sony or Bose Noise cancelling earphones. You do hear a slight hiss when you play any audio on these headphones while ANC is turned on. However, with ANC turned off, they sound natural with little to no digital audio artifacts. This natural sound and lower latency almost make them feel like wired headphones.
Comfort: The thick foam ear cups and highly padded headband makes these very comfortable. You can wear them for hours before feeling any kind of strain. This comfortability makes the Boltune BT-BH011 great for flights and long commuting.
These are all the major factors that play a role in making the BolTune BT-BH011 the best all-rounded headphones.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Stylish design, especially on the white version
- Quick charging
- Carrying case
- Travel adapter included
- Amazing audio quality.
Cons
- ANC only works on low frequency
- No transparency mode
- No spatial audio
=> Click here to visit the official website of Boltune
#3. Phiaton 900 Legacy – Wireless pair of Noise-cancelling earbuds
It’s always a good idea to spend the least amount of money to try out new technology to see how it suits you. However, when it comes to active noise cancellation, the more you spend, the better the experience. But only well-known brands follow this trend. Some random brands might be charging way too much for subpar headphones.
Phiaton 900 Legacy is one of the best Noise cancelling headphones. It offers the latest and greatest features like multiple device connectivity and proximity detection, and much much more. However, unlike major brands like Apple, these headphones won’t cost you half a grand. The Phiaton 900 Legacy is an easy upgrade to Bose Noise canceling headphones like the QC 25. But without having to pay extra.
There are a lot of reviews available on Sheraton’s website that prove that the build quality, audio quality, and active noise cancellation work marvelously while also providing quality of life features like long battery life and fast charging times.
A lot of people that have used Phiaton’s PS500 headphones already know how good of a sound profile and audio quality Phiaton products are capable of. But this time, all that crispy clear audio is matched with wireless functionality and active noise cancellation.
These headphones are the only ones of their kind. All the features listed below prove just how good of a deal the Phiaton 900 Legacy really is.
Highlights
There are a lot of good things about these headphones. However, we are only listing the most important ones. Starting off with the extremely premium build quality.
Build Quality: These headphones cost a lot more than the other two best Noise cancelling headphones we have listed. However, the difference in price is not as big as the difference in performance and build quality. Once you pick these headphones up, you will realize just how well built these headphones are. There are no gaps or seams in the build; everything fits together perfectly. Phiaton has used really high-quality foam for the ear cushions. Even though the padding on the headband is only on the bottom, it doesn’t feel any less premium. In fact, that’s the only part of the headband that will come in contact with your head. The headphones are mostly made out of plastic but that doesn’t decrease the premium feel or the sturdiness of these headphones one bit. Lastly, the buttons are placed firmly and do not wobble when you press them.
Design: The design of these headphones is pretty tame compared to the BolTune BT-BH011. But compared to something like a Sony XM4, these definitely stand out. The carbon fiber design on the outside of the ear cups gives this headphone a much-needed flare of personality. The foldable design of these headphones means that you can easily carry them around in a compact case when you are not using them. The input buttons also blend nicely into the bottom part of the ear cup giving the headphones a more premium look. Phiaton has also included removable ear cushions. If they are damaged or worn out, you can easily replace them.
Battery Life: Compared to other headphones on the market, these have one of the best battery life. These are the only pair of headphones on the market that can last you two days easily with active noise cancellation on. On the contrary, something like a sony XM4 will only last around 30 hours with ANC turned off. As a result, the Phiaton 900 Legacy beats one of the best pairs of ANC headphones available on the market.
Secondly, the charging time is amazingly fast. You can get 4 hours of playtime with just 10 minutes of charging time.
Audio Quality: This category is another one where the Phiaton 900 Legacy takes a win against the Sony XM4. The medium frequencies are very prominent, whereas the high and low-end frequencies are very balanced. If you are someone that enjoys podcasts or audiobooks, these will make them sound a lot better. This audio performance puts less of a strain on your ears.
Ambient Noise Performance: The Sony wh 1000XM5 is the staple of active noise cancellation at an affordable price. However, when compared side by side with the Phiaton 900 Legacy, the 900 Legacy takes a clear lead. This outcome is because the Phiaton 900 does not make any digital hiss while playing music with active Noise canceling turned on.
The transparency mode is also extremely well optimized and does not make your ears hurt after long periods of use.
Case: The carrying case for the Phiaton 900 Legacy is extremely well built. It has a small compartment inside to place some small items like your AUX cable or your charging cable, along with a travel adapter.
All these features are only the most prominent ones, and there are a lot more. There are other features like the headband adjustment, the folding mechanism, or the proximity sensor that pauses music when you take the headphones off. All these help to make these the best pair of Noise cancelling headphones on the market. This, in turn, earns them a spot on our list of the best Noise cancelling headphones.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Extremely long battery life
- Premium build quality
- Stylish design
- Good carrying case
- Works well with google assistant and Siri
- Responsive touch controls
Cons
- No app support
- Microphone quality is not amazing
=> Click here to visit the official website of Phiaton
How We Made This List of Best Noise Canceling Headphones?
We have observed a lot of noise cancelling headphones on the market that just don’t do anything right. They don’t sound great and don’t provide enough noise cancellation to make any difference in your day-to-day life. Instead of providing you calmness and freedom from your annoying surroundings, all they provide is buyer’s remorse for spending money on a product that just doesn’t work.
To help you choose the best noise cancelling headphones, we have considered the following things.
- Reputable Brands: Noise-canceling headphones from Sony, Bose, or Apple would burn a gaping hole in your pocket. Hence, we have chosen to stick to budget-friendly brands that still offer good features. All the brands we have chosen for our list of the best noise cancelling headphones are very well known.
- Features: Any headphones can improve your noise isolation to some extent. However, to be on our list, all the products at least have active noise cancellation or ANC for short. But that alone doesn’t paint the entire picture. The headphones must also cover your ears completely and not let any noise bleed in from the sides. They have to achieve all this while also being comfortable to wear, sound good, and simultaneously look good.
- Customer Reviews: Thousands of buyers of a product must have positive reviews for the product. Any brand needs to be reputable for its products to be trusted. Similarly, having a great customer review helps any headphone jump up the list of the best active noise cancelling headphones.
We used these three factors as a basic guideline to formulate a list of the best noise cancelling headphones. We think these three active noise cancelling headphones are the best for all your active noise cancellation needs.
Factors to Consider Before Buying ANC Headphones
Before you decide on what headphones from our list you want to buy, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind. These will make sure you make the best purchasing decision possible. Here are all the factors you should consider when buying the best Noise cancelling headphones ever.
Headphones vs. Earbuds
Headphones are the ones that introduced active noise cancellation technology in the market. The extra space on headphones to place more microphones made it possible. However, the soft tips on earbuds have been providing good passive noise cancellation for a long time. In recent times, a lot of good brands have introduced earbuds that have amazing active noise cancellation paired with their passive noise cancellation.
If you like the low-profile look of earbuds, you can now get the calmness and comfort of active noise cancellation. However, earbuds can never provide the battery life or the rich audio quality that headphones can. Hence, choosing Noise-canceling headphones is a no-brainer for audiophiles that love listening to music and want to use their audio device for a longer time.
Feature vs. Gimmicks
A lot of brands use gimmicks like spatial audio or virtual surround to sell their headphones. However, these sometimes don’t even work that well. For example, in the case of sony XM4, the 360 spatial audio does not perform as intended.
Features like transparency mode. Long battery life and good build quality, along with good ambient noise performance, are what you need to go for when purchasing a new pair of Noise cancelling headphones. While gimmicks are great for looks, it is better to sacrifice looks for features and performance. In the end, if you won’t get quality audio, the money you spend on earphones will be wasted.
On the other hand, if you want to enhance the overall look of your studio or gaming room, you can opt for RGB earphones as they’ll perfectly blend with the overall look.
ANC Headsets FAQs
What does active noise cancellation do?
Active noise cancellation is the latest advancement in the field of noise cancellation. As the name suggests, it actively tries to remove Noise.
Even though implementing the technology is extremely difficult, the basic concept is fairly straightforward. An array of microphones sense the environment and identify the frequencies that are most common in the surrounding area. This information is processed by a computing unit that produces a wave pattern that counters the incoming Noise from the environment. This sound wave is then played through the speakers. The interaction of the incoming Noise and the sound produced by the system cancels each other out. Hence almost absolute silence is achieved.
However, developing a system that can first actively recognize all the incoming frequencies and then accurately create a negative sound wave is impossible for digital systems. That is why good active Noise cancelling headphones are very few and far apart. Some of them can only cancel out low-end frequencies. In comparison, others can only filter out the higher-end frequencies.
When implemented correctly, active noise cancellation can create calmness. Hence, it improves productivity, reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes relaxation.
What is passive noise cancellation?
Passive noise cancellation is a product of material Sciences. The special quality and thickness of the foam in certain shapes and sizes help keep out unnecessary Noise of a certain frequency.
This ability of foam has been used in headphones for a long time. Both over-ear and in-ear headphones can be designed with such ear cups to keep a certain frequency of sound from entering your ear. High-end Noise cancelling headphones use this technique to keep low-end frequencies out while active noise cancellation does the rest.
However, to make a good transparency mode, the speakers need to overcome the passive effect. Hence, the passively canceled frequency needs to be brought in using the Active noise cancellation system.
Are good Noise-canceling headphones worth it?
There are a wide variety of Noise cancelling headphones available on the market. Only some of them function as intended. If you want to buy good quality headphones, the ones we mentioned in our list are totally worth it. The time spent wearing good active Noise-canceling headphones is relaxing and calming.
If you are an audiophile, being about to listen to music without it getting ruined by background noise is a great experience. Are you tired of the annoying noises around you while you work or the weird feeling you get from the Noise of an airplane? Then yes, you should definitely invest in some good quality headphones for your mental health.
Should I choose wireless earbuds or wireless headphones?
Headphones and earbuds exist for very different use cases. The larger drivers in headphones function to provide better sound quality and deeper bass. On the other hand, small form factor earphones exist to be easy to use and carry around. If you love to listen to songs and music as the artist intends, go for headphones.
In contrast, you should only go for earphones if you don’t care much about sound quality. And you just care about the ease of use. Noise-canceling wireless earbuds can also function in a similar way to headphones to block out background noise. However, they have limited effectiveness in canceling Noise.
Can active Noise-canceling headphones block out voices?
Yes, active noise cancellation is capable of filtering out all background noise if implemented correctly. Most good headphones have a transparency mode that you can turn on in case you wish to listen to someone. This feature of being able to choose when to listen can improve focus and reduce distractions while working.
Do you travel a lot and other passengers irritate you with their chit-chat? Using active Noise-canceling headphones can help you relax on planes, buses and trains. Just make sure to turn the transparency mode on in case you need to listen in on conversations around you.
Some of the best active Noise cancelling headphones allow you to set the level of noise reduction you need. This feature can help you when you want to know if someone is talking to you.
Do Noise-canceling headphones protect hearing?
Using Noise cancelling headphones is a good way to protect your hearing. The most common way hearing gets impaired is exposure to unexpected loud noises like a tire exploding or a car crash. However, if you wear good active Noise cancelling headphones, you can reduce the stress on your ears in everyday life. Hence have a healthy hearing for a longer period of time.
Another common way your hearing gets impaired is by listening to music at a loud volume. However, using good active Noise-canceling headphones. You can listen to music on lower volumes. This will help your hearing in the long run. Moreover, using headphones instead of earphones means you won’t be putting anything inside your ears which is very dangerous.
Are Noise-canceling headphones better than earplugs?
A lot of airlines offer their passengers earplugs on their flights. However, the earplugs only reduce Noise at a specific frequency. On the other hand, active Noise cancelling headphones filter out all frequencies of sound to give you a relaxing and calming environment. In this way, active Noise cancelling headphones are a much better alternative to earplugs.
Moreover, there is also that added bonus of listening to music or watching movies without the distorted sound. Wireless noise cancelling headphones are a great option for comfort, while noise cancelling earbuds are excellent while you exercise or walk.
Earplugs are not more expensive as headphones but can cause headaches as you need to keep them inside your ears. Headphones easily rest on your head, causing comfort and easy grip, but they are not good for running and exercise.
Conclusion: Which Headphones Is Best For Noise Cancellation?
Many different Noise cancelling headphones and earbuds have flooded the market. However, only a handful of them are actually worth spending money on. Make sure to have a clear picture of what your needs are so you can choose the headphones that fit your use case perfectly. We hope the best Noise cancelling headphones list has helped you make your decision on what headphones you should purchase.
You will finally be able to travel, work, and rest in silence without the annoying noises around you ruining your mood and productivity. Remember to read the reviews of any headphones you purchase; those reviews will give you an idea of what to expect from a noise-cancelling earphone. On the other hand, don’t go for the renowned brands for such earphones as you can find better quality in cheaper earphones.
