The Best Noise Canceling Earbuds
In a world with howling sirens, noisy neighbors, and a host of other grating sounds, we're thankful for noise-canceling headphones. We use them every day to help tune out the world and focus on good music instead. Indeed, noise-canceling earbuds make for excellent shields against the hubbub. To help you find the best of the best, we've compiled this list of the top noise-canceling earbuds on the market. Read on to find earbuds that can give you the peace and quiet you deserve.
What to Look For
For truly functional active noise-canceling earbuds, you’ll want the best technology available. We’ve done the research and selected our top picks for earbuds with these guiding standards: noise-canceling power, sound quality, and comfort. For the top active noise-canceling on the market, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds stood out, with powerful cancellation, a comfortable fit, and supreme sound quality. If you’re looking for something less bulky and more comfortable, Apple’s AirPods Pro earbuds are just the ticket. We’ve covered a wide range of earbuds in different price ranges, so keep reading to find the one that calls to you.
Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Choose your vibe
Sometimes it can be hard to hear the music over all the noise. These Beats earbuds can provide relief, softening outside noises to let you hear your music, take calls, and watch videos in peace. Because of this, you won’t have to turn up the volume as loud, saving your ears from harm. And if you like a bit of a bass boost, these will hit that sweet spot of rich low end without muddying the rest of the spectrum.
We’re also glad that Beats includes a transparency mode, which switches off the noise cancelation and tunes you back into the real world. These active noise-canceling earbuds are a great alternative to similar products, striking a balance between affordability and sound quality.
Pros:
- The ergonomic design keeps the tips secure inside your ears, and the exterior doesn’t protrude much. Because they don’t have any long stems, you can pull off a sweater without losing these, for example.
- The transparency mode means you don’t have to take out an earbud to hear what people are saying.
- It includes a tracking feature for finding lost earbuds. They work with the Find My app on iPhones, which can be accessed on Android devices through a web browser.
Cons:
- To the relief of some and the irritation of others, these don’t have an auto-pause feature when you take them out of your ears.
Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earphones
The cutting edge
When it comes to active noise-canceling, these are one of the top earbuds available. The Bose QuietComfort earbuds provide such strong sound isolation, they can even cover up the sound of your neighbor’s lawnmower. Yes, they’re that good. On top of that, these earbuds have pristine sound. Bose is known for its detailed, warm, balanced headphones, and the QuietComfort earbuds are no different. For music with loud drums, bass, and vocals, such as pop or EDM, these headphones shine.
Pros:
- The transparency mode reduces the passive noise cancellation, so you can hear as well as if you weren’t wearing any earbuds.
- These are comfortable to wear for long sessions. They conform to the ear and sit comfortably without digging deep into the ear canal.
- These use Bluetooth 5.1, so the connection is always uninterrupted, even over fairly large distances.
Cons:
- With the active noise cancelation activated, the max battery life is reduced to around six hours per charge.
Murpiso Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth 5.2 Wireless Earbuds
Big features, low price
Active noise canceling doesn’t have to break the bank. These earbuds feature the same specs as higher-end models, but without the extravagant cost. They have a waterproof rating of IPX6, so you can even shower with them. And with the transparency mode and active noise canceling, you can tune in or out of the world as needed. The sound can be described as crisp and balanced. The bass doesn’t overpower the rest of the spectrum, so the mids come out cleanly.
Pros:
- The side buttons control everything, including Siri. With their intuitive touch controls, you can change the volume, answer calls, skip tracks, and pause music,
- Even if one earbud dies, you can use the other one by itself. And with the quick-charging case, you can switch between earbuds as they charge until both are usable again.
Cons:
- The voice prompts are a bit on the loud side.
Apple Airpods Pro
The hype is real
No list of noise-canceling earbuds would be complete without the Airpods Pro. We use these daily for everything from listening to music, making calls, and activating Siri. They fit so securely and comfortably in the ears, you might forget that they’re even there. If you’re an iPhone, iPad, or Mac user, these work seamlessly with these devices, switching between devices automatically. That means no more unpairing and repairing. Music sounds great on these headphones, with a crystalline sound that brings out vocals and instruments with sharp clarity. The bass isn’t too prominent, but it’s definitely present and well-balanced in the mix.
Pros:
- Airpods Pro work with Apple Music lossless audio and Dolby spatial audio. This means you’re getting the highest quality digital audio that feels like a sonic soundstage from over-ear headphones.
- These earbuds are lightweight enough to wear for hours. You can wear them throughout the day and even sleep with them without discomfort.
Cons:
- The battery life is lower than its competitors, at around 4.5 hours with active noise canceling.
Soundcore Life P3 Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Fine-tune your sound
For an affordable pair of noise-canceling headphones that are small, lightweight, and bass-heavy, you’ve come to the right place. Meet the Soundcore Life P3 earbuds: they include all the same features as the pricier options, but they produce the best bass tones. Features like wireless charging, multiple microphones, and active noise canceling are all present. Something we really liked about these headphones is the app that comes with them. You can control the EQ to get your preferred balance of bass, mids, and highs. That helps tremendously, especially if you’re a bit of an audiophile.
Pros:
- These headphones automatically change from stereo to mono when one dies or is placed in the case. This feature also lets you listen to music more discreetly.
- These are comfortable and lightweight enough to stay in your ears for hours. They don’t put any pressure on your ears.
Cons:
- This doesn’t support multipoint pairing, so you’ll have to manually unpair and repair it when switching devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does active noise canceling work?
Inside noise-canceling headphones, there’s a microphone that picks up external sounds. A chip processes this signal and reverses the phase, outputting the reversed signal with a tiny speaker — essentially this means playing the reverse of the soundwave, so the crests of the wave become troughs and the troughs become crests. This reversed audio signal cancels the inputted sound, and you’re left with more silence, like one and negative one combining to make zero.
What is the difference between earbuds and over-ear headphones?
The main difference is that earbuds often offer less of a dynamic soundstage and low-end response. On the other hand, they’re usually much more comfortable and convenient to wear for long periods of time. Generally, earbuds will have less battery life as well due to their smaller size.
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.