Dance To The Beat With The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones

Music is a great way to enjoy some alone time in public, but all the noise around you can ruin the entire experience. Noise-canceling headphones actively listen to background sounds and block them out by emitting a signal that is exactly opposite to the surrounding frequencies. As a result, you enjoy clearer music and audio no matter where you are.

Finding such a pair of high-quality headphones can be difficult with so many new options in the market. Read on to learn more about the best noise-canceling headphones of 2023 and how to buy a pair.

Reviewing The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Of 2023

Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones 700 — Best Overall

Noise-canceling headphones usually come in a big stocky body, which isn't very appealing. That isn't the case with the Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones 700. This product made the top of our list because of its smart, silver luxe design and excellent performance.

The headband is made of stainless steel with soft foam cushioning covered in silver silicone. They also have comfy ear cushions covered in protein leather, while the covers have an anti-stick coating. Moreover, the headphones are lightweight and measure only 0.56 pounds, making them pleasant to use for extended periods of time.

The Bose 700 has eight microphones, six of which use noise canceling to cut out background noise, and four of which are for voice pickup to deliver clear sounds. The headphones also have a fast-charging battery that lasts for 20 hours and a touch-control gesture pad on the ear covers that replaces the physical buttons. Other notable features of this product include voice-enabled VPA, Bluetooth up to 33 feet and compatibility with Siri.

Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Noise-Canceling Headphones — Value For Money

The Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Noise-Canceling Headphones are among our favorites because of their affordable price relative to the device's specs. The product features a matte black body and ear covers with a cushion made from protein leather and soft memory foam, keeping your earlobes free from stress or fatigue. They also feature a mesh layer that allows air circulation and breathability to enhance comfort and weigh just 0.58 pounds, which makes them feel light on your head.

These headphones have four Active Noise-Canceling (ANC) microphones that block hybrid active noises of low to mid-frequency such as cars and other vehicles. They also have an external feed-forward microphone and an internal feedback microphone that filter the incoming noises.

As for their performance, the Soundcore Q20 are designed with BassUp technology, which delivers an intensifying sound quality at high volumes. These headphones also have a lithium polymer battery with a 40-hour playtime. Lastly, the product has Bluetooth connectivity up to a range of 15 meters, with a high compatibility ratio.

Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones — Collapsible Design

If you find that carrying headphones around your neck can sometimes be irritating, we recommend the Beats Studio3 Noise-Canceling Headphones. The best part about these headphones is that they feature wireless connectivity and require no entwining cables.

These jet-black ANC headphones have a high and wide headband that features an ergonomic design with flexible closings above the ear cups that support collapsibility and portability. The device's large, sturdy ear cups offer full ear coverage and have soft cushioning with leather skin for enhanced comfort. These noise-canceling headphones are also quite lightweight at 0.57 pounds.

The Beats Studio3 have two microphone controls: an internal mic that allows you to answer calls while wearing the headphones and an external mic that dims background noises. Both microphones combine to deliver superior active noise cancellation even if you're listening to low-pitched music. You can control when to switch on the noise canceling of these headphones with the multifunctional "B" button on the ear cover.

Soundcore Anker Life Q30 Hybrid Noise Canceling Headphones — Durable Battery

Although lithium-ion batteries are a more sustainable option, they're not always durable, which is why the Soundcore Anker Life Q30 is a great option if you're looking for a long-lasting alternative. These headphones feature triple-mode noise cancellation, dual connectivity support and a battery life of up to 60 hours.

The Soundcore Q30 has a stress-free headband with extra-comfortable large-sized ear covers, the base of which is a memory foam pad with protein leather that is durable and has a supple texture. These headphones offer a snug fit without compressing your ears, thanks to their light weight of just 0.58 pounds. Also, their foldable design makes them easy to carry in the device's complementary case.

These headphones have an internal and an external microphone that detects background noise  clutter and eradicates it, delivering filtered and clear audio. They also feature triple-mode noise cancellation for indoors, outdoors and transportation, which you can customize anytime. Another notable feature of the headphones is that the tactile button control is not too hard nor too flimsy.

Silensys E7 Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headphones — Most Colors

The Silensys E7 Noise-Canceling Headphones excel in sound quality and come in eight colors: black, blue, green, purple, red, white, yellow and navy blue. The headphones' body shows silver trails because of its metallic texture and has a plush wide headband with large ear covers that feature protein leather cushioning. The headphone and NFC logo are engraved on the device's right ear cover with a blue LED light for detecting connectivity.

The headphones use a single microphone to cancel out unwanted background noises and process clearly defined audio. Thanks to their large aperture drivers, they also enable clear, hands-free calling when connected to the smartphone. Lastly, the Silensys E7 comes with a strong 750mAH battery that can support up to 30 hours of playtime and calls, has Bluetooth connectivity and features universal device compatibility.

Skullcandy Hesh Noise Canceling Over-Ear Headphones — Most Comfortable

Wearing headphones for long hours can leave you with aching earlobes. The Skullcandy Hesh Noise-Canceling Headphones are on our list because of their ergonomic design that offers a high level of comfort. These headphones are extremely lightweight, measuring only 0.7 pounds, and feature a leather-padded headband with similar ear covers and cushioning.

The Skullcandy Hesh is constructed with four microphones that pair up with a powerful driver, enabling excellent sound quality. The battery is also quite powerful for its size, considering it delivers 22 hours of playtime non-stop.

You can access the volume, calls and ANC customization from the device's button panel along the edge of the ear cover. Lastly, our favorite part about these headphones is the flat-folding design that collapses for better portability.

Buying Guide: Noise-Canceling Headphones

Noise-canceling headphones are all the rage nowadays. But before you buy a pair, you should know what to look for. We have listed some of these things below in our buying guide to help you out.

Things To Consider In Noise-Canceling Headphones

Comfort

Uncomfortable headsets with hard headbands and sharp ear caps can cause ear stress and irritation on the head. We recommend choosing headphones with foam padding on both the headband and the ear cups. The soft cushioning can prevent pain and offer a soft surface to support your ears.

Microphones

Noise-canceling headphones usually have multiple internal and external noise-canceling microphones. The function of each microphone is specified and contributes to noise cancellation and precise audio delivery. When buying noise-canceling headphones, look for models with at least two microphones that block background noise and filter the sound quality.

Battery Life

Look for noise-canceling headphones with at least 20 hours of playtime. Set this as your standard battery limit while browsing, but remember that 30 to 40 hours of playtime is even better. Also, make sure that the device's battery charges quickly.

Wireless Connectivity

Most noise-canceling headphones have wired connectivity through cables, which can work just fine, but can be intrusive when you're working or jogging. Opt for a wireless ANC headphone if you want to keep your hands or workstation free from tangling cables.

Weight

Heavier headphones can burden your head and the area around your ears, resulting in headaches. Avoid such health risks by looking at lightweight ANC headphones that measure around 0.5 pounds.

Benefits Of Noise-Canceling Headphones

Sound Quality

The sound quality of noise-canceling headphones is comparatively better than regular headphones. Since ANC headphones have several microphones that cancel incoming noises, the result is constantly filtered and clutter-free. This is why ANC headphones' sound quality is much more precise and transparent.

Better Sleep Quality

Noise-canceling headphones can help improve sleep quality. If you're distracted by noises while sleeping, try putting on noise-canceling headphones with white noise, which may help you fall asleep within an hour or less.

Better Concentration

Listening to music at the workplace can be challenging and require extreme concentration. This might divert you from what you're trying to listen to and often irritate you. Noise-canceling headphones are suitable for this purpose as they block most low and mid-frequency noises, including people's voices and traffic.

Types Of Noise-Canceling Headphones By Technology

Feedforward

These headphones are constructed using basic technology and uncomplicated designs. Feedback ANC headphones and microphones are on the exterior, from where they pick up incoming noise and filter it through their circuitry.

Feedback

Feedback noise-canceling headphones are the opposite of feed-forward headphones. The microphone in these headphones is located within the device and detects incoming noises that reach the headphones. They filter those noises first before letting them pass through the headset.

Hybrid

Hybrid headphones are a mixture of feedback and feed-forward headphones. They employ better and more expensive noise reduction technology that delivers enhanced sound quality by dimming mid to mid-high-range frequency noises.

Types Of Noise-Canceling Headphones By Design

Over-Ear

Over-ear headphones usually have a stocky build and are highly durable. They cover the ears easily and deliver excellent noise cancellation, but might leak audio at high volumes.

On-Ear

On-ear noise-canceling headphones feature a compact design with smaller ear cups. They are incredibly comfortable due to the leather padding on the headband and ear cups, but their noise cancellation performance could be more powerful.

In-Ear

In-ear noise-canceling headphones are the least popular of all types because of their below-average performance when blocking out noise. They are ideal for sports because of their water-resistance and perspiration features.

Maintenance Of Noise-Canceling Headphones

Getting your noise-canceling headphones professionally cleaned can cost you a lot considering there's not much to do. You can clean your dirty headphones with paper clips, a soft toothbrush and cotton buds by following the steps mentioned below.

1. Clean the headband with a damp microfiber towel soaked in washing solution or alcohol-free wipes.
2. Use clean tissue paper to dry the slight moisture.
3. If the ear pads are removable, remove them and clean them the same way as the headband.
4. To clean the ear pads, wipe them with baby wipes and then use a cotton bud to clean the congested parts near the stitching.
5. Then use a soft toothbrush to clean the speaker or mesh area.
6. You can also use the pointed tip of a paperclip to pick ear wax if there is any.

People Also Asked

Are noise-canceling headphones worth the purchase?

Noise-canceling headphones are definitely worth the purchase in a variety of cases. They significantly reduce background noises and incoming sounds and deliver a superior audio quality than regular headphones.

Are noise-canceling headphones dangerous?

Noise-canceling headphones are safe to use and are, in fact, better than regular headphones. Unlike regular headphones, they don't emit high-level radiation. The main reason for this is that regular headphones require a higher volume threshold to deliver the sound quality that noise-canceling headphones deliver at mid-volume.

Do noise-canceling headphones mute all incoming noises?

It's impossible to block all incoming noises because the human ear can sense up to 20,000 Hertz frequency range. Noise-canceling headphones can block your ears with advanced microphones that catch the frequency and vibrations coming in your direction, declutter them and process this noise. Because of their processing pace, noise-canceling headphones can only block or mute low to mid-range frequencies, which covers noises such as traffic, typing, utensil cluttering and (sometimes) car horns.

How long do noise-canceling headphones last?

The lifespan of noise-canceling headphones or any tech piece depends on how you use and maintain them. Cleaning them regularly and keeping them away from dust and debris can help extend the device's life.

Are noise-canceling headphones and ear defenders the same thing?

Many people confuse noise-canceling headphones for ear defenders when they are completely different. The main purpose of noise-canceling headphones is to help you focus on the audio rather than incoming sounds or background noises. Ear defenders are battery-powered earmuffs that amplify comparatively louder sounds allowing you to focus on the incoming sounds, not noise. For example, ear defenders are best when you're at a shooting range and want to protect your ears from constant noise without streaming any music or audio.