The Best Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones
If you're fighting the roar of jet engines or simply want to block out the hum of your HVAC system at home, you'll require the best noise cancelling over-ear headphones. The latest Sony WH-1000XM5s are the new top of the line in active noise cancellation and their predecessors were equally excellent.
We've looked at the possibility of adjusting ANC and touch controls, and also on-ear detection for pausing music when your headphones are removed. over ear headphones noise cancelling feature high-resolution audio, comfortable ear cups and large earcups.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5
The fifth generation of Sony's top headphones is a major upgrade over the previous model, featuring better noise cancellation and improved audio quality. Its remarkable ANC performance creates a virtual cone of silence that covers your head and blocks out a surprising amount low-frequency noise. The earphones also block mid- to treble range sounds like passenger chatter or the creaking of metal, as well as clanging dishesware.
Contrary to some noise cancelling headphones that can sound hollow or unnatural, the WH1000XM5s are extremely natural sounding. They can render Billie Eilish’s drums with remarkable detail while keeping the edges clean and clear. They're an absolute pleasure to listen to on an airplane ride or on a commute.
A capacitive touch-screen on the right earcup handles the most common controls, such as play/pause, volume up/down, skip forwards/backwards and skip. It also lets you end and answer calls, and switch between ANC mode and ambient sound. You can also hold and press the power button for several seconds to hear a prompt of remaining battery life.
The new QN1 mic is another notable improvement to the XM5s. It is designed to capture high-quality audio when recording videos and podcasts. The microphone is more sensitive than the previous models and also has a wider audio range that makes it easier to pick up your voice.
Other features from the XM4s are carried over to the XM5 and include an adaptive ANC system that automatically optimizes performance based on your surroundings. Its "Wearing Detection is now able to detect when you remove the headset, and then pauses videos or music, and restarts it as soon as you put them back on. It's compatible with Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine, which enhances compressed music to close to hi-res quality.
2. Sony WH-1000XM4
The WH-1000XM4s are the most recent version of Sony's market-leading over-ear headphones, and even though they don't feature as much active noise canceling as the WH-1000XM5s, they provide top-of-the-line performance. In addition to stronger Bluetooth and an improved noise-canceling algorithm, the WH-1000XM4s also feature a new audio chip that upscales music files to HD quality and offers more advanced voice controls.
Sony has upgraded the WH1000XM4s of the latest generation by adding padding to the headband, and moving the microphones outwards. This makes them more comfortable for long listening sessions.
They're also more versatile with the ability to switch between five sound modes depending on your environment. Sony headphones come with an app that lets you to customize your EQ settings. They're a great choice for travelers and the app lets you track your activity and automatically optimize the settings as you go.
The WH-1000XM4 also has improved its noise cancellation. It's now more effective due to the higher sensitivity and better filtering of low frequencies. It can be evaluated by looking at graphs similar to the one above. The higher the peaks, more sounds are canceled out. The WH-1000XM4s also better attenuate low-frequency sounds, such as the hum of an air conditioning unit or the constant rumble of a plane engine more than any other pair of noise-canceling headsets we've test.
The WH1000XM4s come with a variety of excellent features, including a 30-hour battery life and a USB-C charge port. They also have Quick Alert, a feature that lets you press the right earcup and then dampen music to enable transparency mode. Speak to Chat, meanwhile, pauses media when your voice is raised (and it works well however it sometimes does not recognize taps) in addition to Sony's Smart Listening Technology, which can detect your environment and deliver better audio.
3. Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II
The Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II (or QC35 Wireless 2018) are over-ear headphones which were released in September 2017. They've been replaced by the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 701 that will be available in 2021. However they remain popular and affordable.
The QC35 II is a great pair of wireless headphones for mixed-use. They provide a comfortable fit and a neutral sound quality by default. They also provide exceptional noise isolation. They can be used in noisy settings as well as while on the move and last for more than a full day on one charge. They are also compatible with most smart assistants and can be activated by pressing an individual button. You can ask the assistant to play music, answer trivia or read your smartphone notifications.
The padding around the ears is large and can fit most ear shapes. They are also lightweight. The hinges on the housings fold down and make them easy to fit into backpacks or bags. The controls are on the right-hand side of the headphone and are simple to use. Playback can be controlled by tapping repeatedly which include rewinding or skipping songs.
For an example of the quality you can expect from these Bose headphones we played The Beatles' Let It Be and listened to the piano parts and drum beats. The QC35 II delivers crisp, clear audio with a smooth and detailed sound. They can pick up subtleties such as Paul McCartney’s inconsistent timing as he builds up to the chorus or Gerard Way’s snarl when his lyrics praising teenage-personalism in teenagers.
The QC35 II is compatible with the majority of smart assistants and can connect to up to 2 devices at once. The QC35 II also come with a carry case and a USB cable that charges quickly.
4. Sony WH-CH720N
Sony is known for making top-quality headphones at a low cost. The budget-friendly WHCH720N headphones by Sony aren't any different. They have many of the features that make flagship WH-1000XM5 headphones great however, they have an affordable design. They offer a great deal of active noise cancellation, but at an affordable price.
Similar to the WH1000XM5 headphones, these cans feature 30mm dynamic drivers which provide great bass and crisp high frequencies. They also have an even tuning that makes them sound great with a variety of genres of music. They also have a wide soundstage that allows you to be immersed in your music.
The WH-CH720N headphones utilize buttons instead of the gestures and touch controls of the XM5 headphones. This is a little bit of a downside, as the buttons are at first difficult to understand. Fortunately, the headphones have clear labels and the controls are arranged in a smart way. Double presses of the '+' button will pause and play audio. A single press reduces the volume. By pressing and holding the button, voice assistants are launched and calls are rejected.
These headphones last for up to 35 hours with ANC on. This is the best battery performance we've ever witnessed in over-ear headphones. They also come with a standby mode that can help conserve battery.
Bluetooth allows you to connect the WH-CH720N headphones to Android and iOS devices. They are compatible with LDAC which allows them to play high-quality audio on compatible devices. The headphones are also compatible with PlayStation consoles that use an analog 1/8"TRS cable. They can also be used on computers with the included USB dongle. The Sony Headphones Connect App lets you customize your headphones using an EQ slider, presets and multipoint connectivity.
5. B&W PX7 S2
The PX7 S2 follow on from an extremely successful predecessor, but are not a half-baked update riding on its own. Featuring a sleeker look and a brand new app that delivers on the promise of top-quality build, delivering audio that is designed to accurately express the artist's vision. They're also extremely comfortable and a treat to wear throughout the day.
While they're not as effective as the noise cancellation of the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II or the Sony WH-1000XM5 however, they do a good job of removing the sounds of the environment and ensuring you can focus on your music, podcasts or gaming handheld without interruptions. They use a six microphone setup (four for the noise cancellation and two for voice pick-up) and a revised algorithms that reduce ambient sound by 30dB. They're also one of only a handful of Bluetooth headphones we've tested that can be used passively, allowing users to listen to their music without the need to power the drive units.
They also work with the B&W Music app, a free download that provides many features that go along with the great noise cancellation. This includes the Quick Action button that cycles through three modes for environmental use that display battery life and can be configured to launch your device's voice assistant. The annoying thing is that you have to press and hold the button for a while - a single press would be easier and more intuitive.
The PX7 S2 are an impressive pair of headphones that will please the majority of music enthusiasts. They're not quite as appropriate for the high-quality music of genres like metal and rock, which tend to favour bass-heavy production and muddy low frequency, like they are to classical, folk and acoustic music, but will still impress those who appreciate audiophile cred which is also practical and easy to use.