that that the Bose Ultra clamped down on sound better across all frequencies, while the Sony cans leaked in a little more hiss, although again I'm talking about very minor differences.

I love the design of the Bose Ultra too they've very light, very comfortable for long periods, and fold up for travel use, which I always appreciate.

There are good reasons to choose the other two big competitors over the original Bose Ultra, though: the main two are battery life, and your sound profile preference.

Battery life is simple: theBose Ultra only manage 24 hours with active noise cancellation turned on, compared to 30 hours each for the Bose Ultra 2nd Gen or the Sony XM6. And let me clear: the 24 hours of the Bose is a real-world figure that I've tested you won't secretly get more out of them.

If you're good about staying on top of charging your devices, this won't be a problem; but 30 hours leaves more margin for error, in my experience, and generally means you won't find they need charging halfway through a lengthy session of use.

The sound profile issue is more complicated. I love the sound of the Bose Ultra they're so dynamic, they have a huge range, with every frequency well-represented and offering plenty of detail, and they're punchy and fun. But they lean on having more energy in the bass and treble, and some people prefer a sound that's a closer to neutral.

Both the Bose Ultra 2nd Gen and the Sony lean more this way I think the Sony is the superior option when it comes to sound fidelity, especially with its tighter representation of lower mids and the detail within them, creating a slightly more cohesive soundstage than the Bose Ultra, just without the extra bass depth the Bose offer.

(Though I'll mention here that the best sound in this kind of price range is offered by the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 , which blows away the Sony in this regard but the noise cancellation is far behind the three options I'm
talking about, which is why I dismissed it from my testing list after early comparisons. The AirPods Max are also incredibly strong for people who like a neutral sound, and have great ANC that's a bit weaker than these in the high frequencies.)

The other reason you might choose the Sony WH-1000XM6 are the superior smart features compared to Bose's headphones. Both have a spatial audio option and the ability to customize your levels of noise cancellation, but the Sony have a few other useful options one we particularly love in practice is the ability to just hold a hand over the earcup to active transparency mode temporarily, so you can speak to someone quickly without finding the button. And speaking of buttons, the controls are a little easier to use on the Sony, in my opinion, but Bose's are fine.

Despite all this, for me, it comes down to bang for your buck. I regularly
see the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones drop to around $300 / 300, and I think the huge saving of up to $150 compared to the newer models more than negates any small advantages those have. For elite noise cancellation at a reasonable price, these are my favorites after testing all the options. The best noise cancelling headphones under $250 / 250 Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 5 of 5 (Image credit: Future) 2. Bose QuietComfort Headphones

High-end noise cancellation for a step down in price Acoustic design: Closed
| Weight: 240g | Frequency response: Not listed | Drivers: 40mm | Battery life: 24 hours (ANC on) Excellent noise cancellation Light and very comfortable Easy to use and control Below average battery life Mids need a boost in the EQ Design is kind of plain

At full price, the Bose QuietComfort are arguably a little too expensive. But there's no reason to pay full price having originally been released in 2023, these are now generously discounted throughout the year. I've picked them for an 'under $250' category, but I'm playing it safe there you will almost certainly find them available for more like $200 / 200 during the sales season.

In my noise-cancellation tests, I scored these only a couple of points lower than far more expensive models, including Bose's own Ultra models, plus the Sony XM6, and the Sonos Ace. In fact, I rated them higher than the pricey AirPods Max when weighting the real-world tests higher. When it comes to the quality of noise cancellation for the price, nothing beats these especially at a lower sale price.

These headphones pretty much match more premium headphones when it comes to noise cancellation, but it's the sound quality and the design that makes them feel like they're a step down.

They sound good, don't get me wrong rich bass, strong detail and clear highs all stand out but there's a thinness to the mids that betrays the fact that these aren't Bose's highest-end offering. I found that you can improve the sound noticeably by playing with the EQ settings in the app and boosting the mids just a couple of points, giving a more well-rounded soundstage. If sound is your focus at this price, I'd steer you towards the Cambridge Audio P100
SE , but their noise cancellation is a step down.

The design, again, isn't bad in any way; it's just more utilitarian than the Bose Ultra, or the Cambridge Audio P100 SE. It's got more seams, and more square edges. This leads them to be superior to fancier sets in some ways, I have to say for example, the on/off slider is a simpler thing to deal with than a button, and makes it easy to see at a glance if you've left them on but it still won't excite aesthetes.

Crucially, though, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones are really light and comfortable for long-term use, matching the venerable (and similarly priced) Sony WH-1000XM4 in this regard. The Cambridge P100 SE are among the heaviest here, and are 38% heavier than the Bose, and so to keep stable and
comfortable they use a much stronger clamping force. Some people don't like this (and it tends to affect glasses users like me more than the non-bespectacled), though some don't mind it I tend to think it makes them more fatiguing for long-term use (such as flights) in particular.

I also prefer headphones that fold up, which is another reason I'd lean towards the Bose or Sony over the Cambridge. And I think the Bose are
probably superior to the Sony in every way, even if it's not by a huge margin in some areas. Where it counts though the noise cancellation they're undoubtedly better.

The clear downside to these headphones is the 24-hour battery life. Sony's
XM4 give you 30 hours, while the Cambridge P100 SE offer a colossal 60 hours. So if you're forgetful when it comes to charging, these may be preferable, since you're less likely to run out of power when you're in the middle of using them.

As someone who a) prefers a lighter pair of headphones that fold up, and b)
is prioritizing noise cancellation in this guide, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones beat the competition for me, though there's a chance you'll find the Sony WH-1000XM4 for less during sales events, and I'd happily recommend them if price is a deal breaker for you. The best noise cancelling headphones under $100 / 100 Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 5 of 5 (Image credit: Future) 3. 1More Sonoflow Pro
HQ51

The best budget-friendly noise cancelling cans Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 246g | Frequency response: 20Hz-40kHz | Drivers: 40mm | Battery life: 65 hours (ANC on); 100 hours (ANC off) Noise cancellation punches above its weight Satisfying and customizable sound Fantastic battery life App situation is a bit messy Button controls appear a little cheap Build feels slightly flimsy

Having tried competitors from the likes of Sony and Soundcore, I think the 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51 stand out they could cost twice their price, and I'd still say they were excellent value.

The money you're spending here is all going into into the sound, both in
terms of music quality and the active noise cancellation. I rated these at basically the same level of ANC power as the Sony XM4 or Cambridge Audio P100 SE, but those headphones cost more than twice as much.

What's so impressive here is how well they lock down the sounds across the whole frequency range as noise-cancelling headphones get more budget, they tend to get weaker at blocking higher-pitched noises. That's not the case here; whatever you throw at the 1More, it's ready to respond.

Similarly, cheaper headphones are usually weaker if you're trying to listen
to spoken-word content, because their mid-range is less expressive, so not only is more sound leaking in, the headphones are also less able to overcome it when the frequencies are similar. Again, that's not the case here the mid-range is full-chested and capable of overcoming background sound without you needing to crank the volume to silly levels.

The sound is pretty bassy, but in a good way the bass is controlled, and gives the headphones great energy. Keeping the bass in check helps that mid-range to come through fully, and despite the low price these are capable of expressing all the elements of really dense and complex tracks.

It's mostly the expansive of the soundstage here that lets you know you're listening to cheaper headphones it's a little more compressed than better headphones, with less space between the instruments, and the feeling that the sound is coming from a set of headphones, not from the space around you. But for the price, that's absolutely normal.

It's a similar story for the design they look fine. They feel fine. But you won't mistake them for anything premium. However, they're among the lightest pairs here, and so are very easy and comfortable to wear now matter how long you wear them for.

And that might be a long, long time because these are capable of 65 hours of continuous use with noise cancellation turned on, which is the best of any headphones here. If you like the idea of something you'll very rarely need to remember to juice up, look no further. That makes them ideal for travel, as does their folding design and case included in the box something that gets more rare as the price drops.

While we like options such as the Soundcore Space One and Sony WH-CH720N a
lot and have slightly better apps if you're into customization the 1More
are simply a step above in terms of value. The best noise cancelling headphones under $50 / 50 Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 5
(Image credit: Future) Image 5 of 5 (Image credit: Future) 4. Amazon Basics Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

The best super-cheap noise cancelling headphones Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 260g | Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz | Drivers: 40mm | Battery life: 35 hours (ANC on); 45 hours (ANC off) Good noise cancellation across all frequencies Well-rounded and accurate sound Nice design for a low price Compressed sound with limited bass 1More is a clear leap in audio power Body marks easily, and no case included

Amazon's snappily titled Basics Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones (at least there's no confusion over what you're getting here) were only release
in the second half of 2025, so I didn't know what level of quality to expect here at all. It didn't take long for them to impress me.

Obviously, for around $40 / 30 full price, my expectations were pretty low to begin with but in basically every respect, these make you nod your head and make your 'hey, that's pretty good!' face. You know that one you make.

Build quality is good it doesn't exceed the likes of the similarly priced Soundcore Q30, here, but they both feel like they basically match the quality of the more-expensive 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51. The pattern on the earbuds is nicer than pretty much any other cheap headphones (though the Soundcore Q30 has classier buttons).

I'm always happy with headphones that fold small for travel, though these don't come with a protective case, and I found that the headband scuffed very quickly from being carried around in a back with other headphones while I was doing my tests. Not in a way that ruined them, but you can see the effect, so bear that in mind.

They're comfortable to wear they have more clamping force than the Soundcore Q30 (or 1More SonoFlow Pro), so you feel them a little more, but they're very lightweight, so I didn't find it fatiguing even as a glasses wearer, they stayed comfortable. They just made the area around my ears a little warmer than other headphones generally do.

When it comes to sound, the balance is impressively good, the soundstage is well-organized, and treble is clean and clear. The latter element stands out because it's admittedly a compressed soundstage overall, as is usually the case with cheaper headphones.

Super-dense musical mixes is one area where you'll hear this limitation there's generally a loss of precision in detail compared to the 1More Sonoflow, while bass is lightweight in impact and doesn't dig very deep. However, the bass is tightly controlled, and I'll take that as a fair trade off for the price accuracy over scale.

I can live with all of this the songs may not sound audiophile, but they do sound correct and pleasing. And with the strong noise cancellation, you can really hear them.

This is another pair of headphones set apart by how well it tackles noise cancellation across all frequencies in the real-world tests in particular. I was especially impressed with how well it handled the noise of a caf, where its noise-stopping power was only a tiny bit weaker than not only the 1More SonoFlow HQ51, but also far more expensive headphones such as the Sennheiser Accentum Plus .

Compared to the cheaper headphones I tested the Soundcore Q20i and Runolim WH301A the Amazon Basics were a major step up and worth spending the small amount extra. The Q20i were way better at pure noise cancellation than I expected (and very close to the Amazon and Soundcore Q30 overall), but their actual sound quality is so poor that I couldn't recommend them. And the Runolim are just too cheap for their own good they try, bless them, but choosing them over the Amazon would be a major false economy.

There's not much between these and the Soundcore Q30, but these seem to generally come in a little cheaper, and I marginally preferred their sound balance and noise cancellation skills, especially in the real-world tests. A noise-cancelling headphones glossary

There's a lot of jargon associated with tech-focused headphones, so it's helpful to understand some of the key terms when you're browsing different options. I've collected some of the most useful and common terms below.

Active noise cancellation (ANC): A technology that reduces unwanted background noise. It works by using external microphones that can measure ambient sounds. The headphones then generate an opposing soundwave (often called anti-noise) to cancel out the background noise, which is mixed into whatever you're listening to. With ANC, you can listen to your audio at lower volumes and with improved clarity, especially in noisy environments, like on planes or in a busy cafe.

aptX: A Bluetooth audio codec designed for higher-quality streaming. aptX comes in different forms, with aptX Adaptive being the most common in newer headphones. It adjusts sound quality based on the strength of your
connection. aptX Lossless delivers top-tier, high-resolution audio. Theres also aptX Voice, which enhances call clarity, especially when you're in noisy surroundings.

Auracast: A new Bluetooth technology that allows for easy, seamless connections without pairing. Auracast enables you to connect your headphones directly to public audio sources, like TVs in bars or announcement systems at airports. Originally developed for hearing aids, its expected to become
widely supported in upcoming headphone models for its user-friendly approach.

Read more

Bluetooth: The wireless technology used by nearly all modern headphones for connecting to devices. Bluetooth supports various audio streaming technologies, including aptX, LDAC, and LHDC. The most widely supported
codecs are SBC and AAC, these are found in most wireless earbuds. Bluetooth versions vary, with higher versions like Bluetooth 5.3 and 5.4 offering improved features such as Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast. However, not all headphones with newer Bluetooth versions support these advanced features, so always check product specifications.

Bluetooth LE Audio: A next-generation Bluetooth audio standard, known as
LC3, designed to deliver higher-quality sound while consuming less power than previous codecs like SBC or AAC. LE Audio is expected to become more widespread, but right now only a few headphones and devices support it.

Dolby Atmos: A 3D audio format used in music and movies that creates immersive, spatial sound. Instead of traditional channel-based audio, Dolby Atmos encodes sounds as objects that can be positioned in a virtual 3D space, delivering a listening experience that feels more real and dynamic.

Drivers: The components responsible for producing sound in headphones, often referred to as mini speakers. Most headphones use dynamic drivers, which function similarly to loudspeakers but are much smaller, from around 20mm up to 50mm in over-ear headphones, like the ones covered here. Audiophile-grade headphones may use planar magnetic drivers, which offer greater precision but tend to be more complex to manufacture and are expensive.

EQ (Equalizer): EQ, short for equalizer, lets you adjust the sound profile
of your headphones by boosting or reducing specific frequencies, like bass, mids, and treble. Many modern wireless headphones sync up to an app with preset EQ modes for different genres (like rock, classical, or pop) or manual sliders that allow you to fine-tune the sound yourself. EQs are divided into "bands," with a three-band EQ offering control over bass, midrange, and treble, while a nine-band EQ gives more precise control over a broader frequency range.

In-ear: In-ear headphones, also known as earbuds, have tips that sit snugly in your ear canal. You might also see the term "IEM," or "In-Ear Monitor," which refers to high-quality in-ear headphones often used by professionals. IEMs typically offer excellent noise isolation and are designed to deliver superior sound quality.

Find My: A feature that helps you locate lost headphones through your smartphone. Apples version is called Find My and Android users have Find My Device. Some headphones offer their own "find my" feature within their apps, but the built-in phone versions are generally more reliable and easier to
use.

Head tracking: An advanced feature in spatial audio-enabled headphones that adds to immersion by detecting head movement. With head tracking, sounds stay in their virtual position, creating the effect of being in a room with speakers, even as you move your head. This technology is used in formats like Dolby Atmos to make the audio experience feel more realistic.

Hi-Res Audio: High-resolution audio (Hi-Res) refers to music files with greater detail and less compression than standard formats, like MP3. These files bring you a more expansive dynamic range and are closer to the original studio recordings. While many headphones are "Hi-Res Certified," this label only ensures they technically meet certain standards, not necessarily high-quality playback. Hi-Res files are larger and typically streamed over Wi-Fi on streaming platforms like Tidal, Qobuz, or Amazon Music HD. Check our our what is Hi-Res Audio guide for a more detailed definition.

LDAC: A high-quality audio streaming codec from Sony. LDAC enables Bluetooth devices to stream music at higher resolutions than standard codecs like SBC. LDAC is supported across Sony products and is compatible with many Android devices and best portable music players .

LHDC: Similar to LDAC, LHDC is another high-resolution Bluetooth streaming codec designed to deliver better sound quality. It competes with LDAC and aptX, and is supported on some Android devices.

Lossless: Lossless music retains all the original audio data from a recording, unlike compressed formats like MP3, which lose some detail to reduce file size. Lossless formats, such as FLAC (used by Tidal) and ALAC (used by Apple Music), offer higher-quality sound but take up more storage space.

Multi-point Bluetooth: Multi-point Bluetooth allows your headphones to connect to two or more devices simultaneously, so you can switch between them without needing to manually disconnect and reconnect. This feature is convenient for multitasking, like taking a call on your phone while staying connected to your laptop.

Noise isolation: The ability for a pair of headphone to block external
sounds passively, without electronic processing. In-ear headphones achieve this by fitting snugly into your ear canal (acting a little like earplugs to reduce outside noise.), while over-ear models create a seal around your ears.

Over-ear: Over-ear headphones have large earcups that fully cover your ears, creating a seal for the best noise isolation. This design, especially when combined with active noise cancellation, makes over-ear headphones the best choice for blocking out external sounds and enhancing audio quality.

Snapdragon Sound: A suite of wireless technologies designed to enhance audio quality when both your phone and headphones support it. It combines aptX high-quality streaming with features that reduce Bluetooth latency, improve voice call clarity, and boost connection stability. Snapdragon chips, developed by Qualcomm, power many Android devices. For more details, check
out our Snapdragon Sound explainer .

Spatial audio: A broad term for 3D sound technologies that create an immersive listening experience. Apple uses it to describe its integration of Dolby Atmos with head tracking, but other brands also offer similar 3D sound effects using technologies like Dirac Virtuo, DTS. , THX, and Dolby Atmos.
The goal is to make audio feel as though it's surrounding you, rather than playing directly in your ears, providing a more cinematic experience, especially when watching movies.

Transparency mode: A feature that blends ambient sounds with your music, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings without turning off your audio. Its ideal for hearing announcements, having conversations, or staying alert to traffic. Various brands have different names for this feature, such as 'Aware Mode,' 'HearThru,' or 'Ambient Mode,' but we often refer to it as Transparency mode for consistency across our guides and reviews.

USB-C Audio: Some headphones can play high-resolution digital audio via a USB-C cable connection from a phone or computer, offering superior sound quality compared to Bluetooth. For audiophiles, headphones with both wireless capabilities and USB-C audio support are ideal, providing the convenience of wireless listening and the high fidelity of wired playback when desired.

3.5mm jack: A standard wired connection for headphones, often found in traditional devices. Not all modern wireless headphones include a 3.5mm jack, so its an essential feature to look out for if you prefer or need a wired connection. FAQs about noise cancelling headphones What is active noise cancellation?

Active noise cancellation involves creation of an antiphase soundwave

This signal counteracts and 'cancels out' the external noise you hear

It is created using mics on (and in) your headphones alongside a software algorithm

Noise-cancelling headphones use both analog and electronic methods to block out the environmental sound around you, allowing you to listen to your music in peace without distraction.

Active noise cancellation technology was originally implemented in a product (a headset for pilots) by Bose over 30 years ago, and the company has
remained synonymous with it since. We asked John Rule, Senior Engineer at
Bose Corporation, to explain noise cancellation.

"Today, noise cancellation in the majority of headphones and earbuds is achieved through a combination of both active and passive technologies. For active noise reduction, sophisticated electronics work with microphones both inside and outside the ear cups to sense the sound around you and then measure, compare, and react instant by instant to produce an opposing cancellation signal," says Rule.

Because noise is just a signal, it's possible for ANC headphones to analyze the unwanted sound around you, and create an opposite version of that signal, which is then added into the music using clever processing. If done well,
this will cancel out those unwanted extra sounds, but leave your music sounding just like you expect it to.

Bose's John Rule emphasizes that it's not just the circuitry doing the work, though. He says, "Passive noise reduction also plays a role in headphone performance. When you place an earcup over your ear or an earbud in your ear, some noise is physically blocked. The cup or bud design, materials used, clamping force of the headband, shape of the ear tips, and many other factors contribute to a comfortable fit while providing a good seal against incoming noise. When active and passive elements are combined, the result is cancellation of the noise you dont want to hear, such as a plane engine or annoying vacuum. This lets you hear what you want, whether thats your music
or silence." Are premium noise cancelling headphones worth it?

Noise cancellation can be clearly more effective in more premium
headphones, but there are diminishing returns

Spending more doesn't automatically mean better noise cancellation it depends on the brand

Sound quality tends to be where premium noise-cancelling headphones shine consistently

As with most tech products, you'll get more from your noise cancelling headphones if you pay more, but the more premium you go, the smaller the differences will become.

At the cheaper end, spending more makes a huge difference in all ways build quality, noise cancellation power, sound quality but then the differences will start to plateau once you get above $100 or so.

As you go from $200 up to the $400 that the premium headphones cost, I've found that the element that most reliably improves is the sound quality.
Finer detail, richer bass, a more expressive and broad soundstage the noise cancellation quality improves slightly, but the sound quality can be a clear jump up.

However, it's important to note here that spending more doesn't automatically mean the noise cancellation will be better. Bose, Sony, Apple and Sonos are real leaders in active noise cancellation, and their premium headphones are broadly worth the price hike for improved noise-stopping power. However, Bowers & Wilkins, Bang & Olufsen, Dali and more hi-fi companies make high-priced headphones that sound amazing, but don't have as strong noise cancellation.

I've flagged the Bose QuietComfort Headphones as offering noise cancellation that's basically as good as headphones that cost $100-$200 more those other headphones sound better and look nicer, but there's limited improvement to
the ANC.

Similarly, the $90 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51 are effectively as good as noise cancellation gets until you spend over $200 but again, you can get
headphones with better audio fidelity if you spend more. What are the best headphones for commuting?

Best over $300 / 300: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Best under $250 / 250: Bose QuietComfort Headphones

Best under $100 / 100: 1More SonoFlow Pro Headphones

All the headphones I've picked are great for commutes, and will deal well
with engine and transportation noise.

They're all lightweight and comfortable, and they also all fold down, and
come with protective carry cases, so you can throw them in your bag without them taking up too much space, and without them risking any damage.

There are other great options too: Sony's headphones are excellent for commuting, and AirPods Max are popular with iPhone users (naturally) for
their easy connectivity with Apple devices. What are best headphones for call quality in noisy environments

Noise cancellation for your voice is less effective than for blocking outside sounds to your ears

A microphone close to your mouth will always be the best way to be heard clearly

The Sony WH-1000XM6 have the best call quality of standard noise-cancelling headphones

Based on testing these headphones, easily the best option for calls is the Sony WH-1000XM6, thanks to using a higher number of microphones to pick up your voice, and especially good tech for reducing background sounds while keeping your voice clear. It's a clear front-runner for this particular use.

However, all of these headphones (including the Sony) have microphones near your ears trying to pick up your voice. If call clarity is super-important, the microphone needs to be near your mouth, so you may want to look at the best wireless gaming headsets , which can often be used as regular headphones too, and can include active noise cancellation.

It's harder for headphones to cancel noise around your voice that's being transmitted to other people than it is for them to cancel outside sounds when you're listening to something. For a start, the earpads on the headphones reduce sound a lot to start with, so the noise cancellation processing gets some help there. Secondly, the sound it's trying to block is totally separate to the sound it's playing in your ears.

With your voice, the outside microphones are picking up both ambient sound around you as well as your voice all together, so they need to try to
separate the two and reduce ambient sound without making your voice unclear. Cheap models either let in all the sound around you, so you're hard to make out from the rest of the din, or they make your voice sound robotic because they can't affect the ambient sound without also affecting your speech.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 maintain your voice better than any other traditional wireless headphones we've used to date. What are the best headphones for studying?

Best over $300 / 300: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Best under $250 / 250: Bose QuietComfort Headphones

Best under $100 / 100: 1More SonoFlow Pro Headphones

There's nothing about studying that makes it different to other uses for noise-cancelling headphones ultimately, you want quiet and comfort for a
good price, and the headphones I've picked will all deliver that.

However, there doesn't tend to be quite as many loud noises if you're in a studying-friendly location, so you could choose to go with something that offers richer audio fidelity in exchange for slightly weaker noise cancellation such as the Cambridge Audio P100 SE over the Bose QuietComfort Headphones, or the Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT over the 1More SonoFlow Pro.

I'd still recommend the models above overall, though, because they'll also be the most effective when you're commuting to class. What kind of speakers do noise cancelling headphones use?

Wireless noise-cancelling headphones use dynamic drivers

These use a magnet, a voice coil and a cone-shaped diaphragm/drive unit

Other general headphone driver types include planar magnetic, electrostatic and solid-state MEMS

Every pair of headphones here uses a speaker tech called 'dynamic' drivers to recreate sound, and this is by far the most common option for all headphones, earbuds and loudpseakers. It's the classic cone-shaped design you might be familiar with from bigger speakers, but in these headphones the drivers tend to be between 30mm and 40mm in diameter.

To explain how these dynamic speakers work, and what it is that makes them so popular with manufacturers, I spoke to Andy Kerr, Director of Product Marketing and Communications at Bowers & Wilkins, which has been creating these types of drivers for headphones and speakers for over 60 years.

Dynamic drivers use a magnet, a voice coil (typically made from winds of copper wire wound around a circular form), and a diaphragm/drive unit (a thin cone of material that makes the sound). The narrow end of the diaphragm's
cone is attached to the voice coil; the wide end of the diaphragm is held in place by a rubber surround, also called suspension. When electrical current
is supplied to the voice coil, it becomes electromagnetic. This creates a push-pull interaction between the coil and the magnet, which it is coiled around, causing the coil to move up and down over the magnet rapidly. Since the coil is attached to the bottom of the drive unit, its movement pushes the drive unit up and down in response, creating sound pressure waves that your ears and brain translate into sound, explains Kerr.

A single dynamic driver can be made very compact, is light, and is highly efficient in terms of battery life, which is of course hugely relevant in the age of wireless earbuds. Dynamic drivers are also very popular in headphone designs essentially because they give companies like Bowers & Wilkins a way
to use our knowledge and experience from designing and manufacturing them
for both loudspeakers and headphones while customizing and continually improving the technology over time. For example, our approach to drive unit design combines stiffness in the material (for accuracy and fast response) plus good excursion (meaning how far the diaphragm is capable of moving, for deeper bass performance) that's equally important for both earbuds and loudspeakers."

For noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, dynamic drivers are effectively the only option for the speaker tech. While alternatives exist ('planar magnetic' and 'electrostatic' headphones drivers, for example, while 'solid-state' earbuds are also arriving), these are not generally used for ANC headphones, so dynamic driver tech powers everything in this list. Latest updates to the best noise cancelling headphones

November 12, 2025
Completely rewrote this guide from scratch, retesting the best options at different price points using a new system of consistent real-world noise-cancellation tests.

October 11, 2025
Made some big structural changes to this design, including moving the Sony WH-1000XM6 into our 'best overall' spot. Made the the Bose QCU Headphone our 'best premium' pick. Put the Sony WH-1000XM4 into our 'best mid-range' spot, the Dali iO8 to 'best for design' and made the new B&W PX8 S2 'best for audiophiles'. Moved the Sony WH-CH720 and B&W Px7 S3 that were in the guide down to the 'also consider' section.

Read more updates

August 21, 2025
Refreshed the introduction to emphasize our rigorous testing standards and experience. Added a new main image. Tweaked the Cambridge Melomania P100
entry to mention the launch of the SE version. Added the Happy Plugs Play
Pro, Focal Bathys MG and the Nothing Headphone (1) to our Also consider section. Deleted the Coming soon tab. Added 'Buy them if/Don't buy them if' tabs to each of the long entries to give readers a quick look at whether a product recommendation is right for them.

June 30, 2025
Checked all products against our latest reviews, and refreshed multiple entries based on updated features and software they've received. Added
several new entries to the list of other headphones we've tested, including the JBL Tour One M3.

May 20, 2025
Replaced the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones with the Sony WH-1000XM6 as our top premium option based on recent testing and comparison of the two headphones. The Bose are now our 'Best for Bose fans' pick, for the
die-hards.

April 24, 2025
Refreshed the introduction. Switched the older Bowers & Wilkins PX8 for the newer Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 as our 'best-looking' pick, based on our recent testing. Added the JBL Tour ONE M3 in our 'coming soon' round-up.

March 28, 2025
Refreshed the introduction. Switched the 1More Sonoflow for the recently-reviewed 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 as our 'best budget' pick. Added a brand new section called 'coming soon' to showcase all of the best ANC headphones landing imminently. Added a bunch of new products here, including the upcoming Sony WH-1000XM6s.

February 27, 2025
Rewrote the introduction. Added the Bose QuietComfort Headphones and the Panasonic RB-M600, to our 'also consider' section. Put score cards under each entry so that readers can quickly see which of the recommendations might suit them best.

January 31, 2025
Rewrote the introduction. Added the Bose QuietComfort Headphones to our
'also consider' section and mentioned them in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones entry as a cheaper alternative. Checked the whole guide for any info that needs updating.

January 2, 2025
Refreshed the introduction. Added the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 as our 'best for EQ tweaks with ANC' pick, based on our recent testing. Included the newly-reviewed OneOdio Focus A5 in our 'other ANC headphones to consider' section. Added new bios for members of the audio team.

December 3, 2024
Removed all reference to Black Friday. Added context to Sony WH-1000XM4, refreshed the intro, added information of planar magnetic headphones and
other designs in the FAQs.

November 8, 2024
Refreshed the introduction. Added extra images to each entry so readers get
a better view of the devices. Added new entries to our 'also consider' section, including the Noble FoKus Apollo. Included a new 'meet the team' section so readers can see the knowledge and expertise of the reviews team.

October 11, 2024
Added the Dali iO-8 in place of the Focal Bathys to reflect our newest
choice for high-end headphones. Updated the guide with our new glossary.

September 12, 2024
Rewrote the introduction. Added several recently reviewed headphones to our 'also consider' section, including the Dyson OnTrac and Final D7000.

August 16, 2024
Rewrote the introduction. Switched the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless for
the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 as our best noise-cancelling headphones
for battery life option based on our testing. Added the recently reviewed Edifier Stax Spirit S5 and Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI to our also consider section. Itemised our 'how we test' section.

July 17, 2024
Added the Sonos Ace as the best option for movies with spatial audio, based on our testing against the other headphones here.

May 23, 2024
Refreshed the intro to reflect current products and added more recently-reviewed models (commenting on why they aren't featured in the main roundup) to our 'Also Consider' section.

May 1, 2024
Checked all products against our latest reviews, and added new products in our Also Consider section.

March 28, 2024
Added a new 'Also consider' section covering recently reviewed products that haven't made it into this list, explaining why.

March 4, 2024
Added the Sennheiser Accentum Plus as the best option for a tighter fit (or smaller heads).

January 30, 2024
Added the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones as the best premium option, and removed the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 given current prices and availability.

January 2, 2024
Updated the information in the guide for 2024.

November 20, 2023
Checked all entries against latest reviews, and added information about
Black Friday deals.

October 13, 2023
Added a new quick menu to make it easier to see the list at a glance and introduced other formatting elements such as a navigation bar and a new lead image.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/headphones/best-noise-cancelling-headphones


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