20 Myths About Headphones Noise Cancelling: Dispelled

Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

Noise-cancelling headphones can be a godsend to anyone who loves to listen, whether you're at work or commuting on the train. Which ones are the best, though?

With a fresh design that is a step up in sound quality, and a wealth of features, Sony's new flagship headphones offer exceptional value. From the powerful chorus to Sinead O'Connor's shaking bridge, these headphones provide incredible clarity and real-world realism.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is the leader in noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are among the most advanced version of this series. A few well-thought-out enhancements over the XM4s make these headphones an all-around excellent pair of headphones, specifically for those who commute or travel. They're comfortable, feature multipoint technology that allows you to connect to two devices simultaneously and have the best ANC Sony has made to date. They are lightweight and can run up to 27 hours without charging. That's enough time for a week of commutes or an extended flight.

The WH-1000XM5s have a sleek, minimalist design and are made of a recycled and recyclable plastic known as acrylonitrile butadiene (ABS). The branding is minimal, although there is the tiny 'Sony' logo on the hinge of each earcup. The headband and earcups feature soft, plush material that is comfortable for all head sizes apart from the biggest. The earcups can be adjusted to be perfectly sized for you.

Unlike previous models, which were focused on reducing low frequency noise, the XM5s amplify sound waves at high frequencies to cancel out ambient noise. This improves the overall quality of sound and helps drown out cabin and engine noises on flights, for instance. The XM5s come with a second processor to dial up noise cancellation even more for airplanes, and the audio app will also automatically adjust your listening environment using the data from your air pressure.

The WH-1000XM5s also has an assistant for voice that is easy to use and works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, Siri, and more. You can also pair the XM5s to other Sony audio products for stereo and multi-room music playback separation. They are compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate streaming audio using Sony's LDAC however they do not support aptX or HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

If a company has been making headphones for longer than Sennheiser you can expect top-of-the-line sound quality and a comfy fit. With their latest over-ears dubbed Momentum 4 Wireless, they provide both. They've redesigned their design to remove some characteristic elements that gave their previous models the look of an aviator. They also enhanced active noise cancellation using their newest Adaptive Noisy Cancellation Technology. They've evaluated these headphones to last 60 hours of listening with ANC enabled, doubling the battery life of many rivals.

They're also more portable than the previous model because they fold up and are smaller overall. The ear pads and the headband are made of artificial PU leather, which feels comfortable on my head when I wear it throughout the day. There's not a lot of clamping force to keep them in place either which means they'll remain comfortable during flights and during longer workouts.

The sound is well-balanced and clear, but there are some highs that can cause a little confusion to the mixes. The bass is too loud, adding extra impact and thump to genres such as EDM or hip hop. It's not a big deal, but it may bother some listeners. The high-mid also has a sloppy balance that brings instruments and vocals forward in the mix but at the expense of bringing out a few vocals.

The Sennheiser momentum 4 wireless has all of the usual features that include Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparent mode that blends outside noises into your music to improve awareness, and mobile application support for custom and pre-set EQ options. You can also use a 3.5mm cord to connect your phone. They can connect to your device by using SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes, and they can reduce latency by up to a quarter second.

3. B&W PX7 S2

Since their introduction, the original PX7s have been featured on numerous lists of the top Bluetooth headphones, atop them in a lot of cases due to their outstanding ANC and high-quality sound.  over-ear noise cancelling headphones , as with many wireless headphones, were becoming old and needed a new look. Therefore, the PX7S2. B&W hasn't just redesigned the design for the new version, but has made substantial improvements to ANC and added more voice-call features, too.

The first thing you notice when you open the box and pick up the PX7 S2 is just how light they are, which makes them very comfortable for long listening sessions. The overall design is carried over from the previous model, like the cool oval aluminum earcup top as well as the hook-like design on the headband that glides rather than clicks when you expand it and the actual physical buttons. The earcups are smaller, and the headband is less substantial.

B&W's software lets you adjust the EQ settings for the bass and treble. However you aren't as in control as you would with higher-priced headphones. A Quick Action button on the left earcup switch on the various modes of the environment. It can also be configured in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to call the voice assistant on your device.

The PX7 S2 is a great choice for all musical styles. It offers a wide soundstage, and good separation of the different sound elements. It's particularly impressive on pieces that have acoustic instruments, such as Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata, Op. 19, composed by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capucon with woody instrumental tones and the feeling of air. It can handle heavier fare too. The bass punch and midrange clarity on Entombed's garage/deathn'roll crossover To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth The album is a wall of noise while still allowing listeners to hear vocal details like Lars-Goran Petrov’s gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose is one of the first companies that brought active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. They held the market for years but now they have to compete with newer headsets that have more features and better audio quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great option for anyone who wants to listen to their music or podcasts with no noise or rumbles.

The default sound profile is balanced, and they're comfortable to wear. The ANC does an excellent job of removing background noise, although it tends to emphasize lower frequencies more than the latest headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5.

If you're looking for a pair of headphones that can be used to listen to audiobooks or podcasts The QC35s come with an amazing passive noise cancellation feature which reduces ambient noises while keeping you adrift from the sounds of the environment around you. The QC35s also let you connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and "audio-share" so that you can listen to something with one pair of headphones while answering an incoming phone call on the other.

The Bose Connect App is decent but it doesn't offer the extensive EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode, but the quality of sound is diminished and battery life isn't as great as with wireless models.

The QC35s sport a classic Bose look that might not be as appealing to some as the sleeker designs of other manufacturers. However you can add a bit of personalization by buying a decal cover-up from companies such as SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. You can also alter the color of the earcups and headband later this year, much like you can with the older QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH-1000XM3 are the best wireless headphones that have active noise cancelling you can get today. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more ambient noise. They also come with a superior companion app that gives you many sound customization options.

The XM3s offer a fantastic sound quality, and since their release they've been improved to give the best performance. They're equipped with a little more detail in the frequency spectrum. The noise cancellation is more effective at all levels of volume. They also have improved controls like Quick Attention mode and Speak-to chat. They also have a brand new feature called Adaptive Sound Control that adjusts automatically how much external sound is let in based on where you're at and what you're doing.

However, they aren't without imperfections. The mid-range can sound recessed and the treble can sometimes be too loud. They do have the potential to boost the bass too much on certain tracks, which makes them sound too heavy and full. This can be corrected by using the Sony app or in the headphone settings.

The XM3s are an excellent pair headphones, especially for those who commute or are frequent travelers. They're more comfortable, look and feel superior and more durable than the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless and also have a far better battery and one of our favorite noise cancellation features available in the market. They are also more versatile and better-equipped to use on the go than Audio-Technica's ATH-M50X wireless, though their noise isolation is less impressive. They're also not waterproof, which could be a deal-breaker for some.