Active noise cancellation (ANC) has long been the pinnacle of headphone technology. ANC headphones counteract electronic noise electronically – or “cancel” it by generating a mirror image sound wave in your ear. The technology works best in environments with persistent noise in the ear, such as the roar of a jet engine. For this reason, the use of Bose ANC wireless in-ear headphones has become a status symbol in airports in recent decades.
In the past, technology was limited to full-size over-ear headphones. But in recent years, it has shrunk in your ear – the size of an earphone. Sony’s 2018 models that WF-1000X and WF-SP700N pioneered noise canceling headphones, but Apple’s AirPods Pro have made noise canceling earphones mainstream. We have rounded up the best for this purpose real wireless earphones with active noise cancellation below, which I’ve all used personally. With more competitors coming after Apple in 2020, a lot more models will come onto the market and we will update this list accordingly. Read on to find out what I think are the best wireless noise canceling earphones.
Are you looking for all types of ANC headphones, including on-ear headphones or over-ear headphones? Try it out Best noise canceling headphones from 2020.
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The second-generation Momentum True Wireless 2 headphones, available now, aren’t cheap at $ 300, but they’re better than the originals all round. These wireless headphones have a slightly smaller, more comfortable design, an active noise cancellation function that can keep up with that of the AirPod Pro, improved battery life (up to 7 hours compared to the original 4), and better noise reduction and ambient noise suppression during a call. And if you don’t like them in black, a white version is also available. Most importantly, the Momentum True Wireless 2 have the same great sound – at least for real wireless earbuds – and the AirPods Pro offer a significantly superior sound quality. That makes them the best real wireless earbuds on the market today and earns them a CNET Editors’ Choice Award.
These use Bluetooth 5.1 with support for the AAC and AptX codecs (for devices with AptX such as Samsung Galaxy phones).
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – splash-proof).
Read our review of Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2.
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Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – sweat-proof and splash-proof).
Even if they don’t sound as magical as you would hope for a $ 249 model, the AirPods Pro is still a great pair of real wireless noise canceling headphones. This is mainly due to the compelling design and ear fit, improved bass performance, effective noise cancellation and excellent call quality. Yes, these high-quality headphones are priced at $ 250, but the good news is that you will be using them all the time. It is worth noting that you are likely to wear out the battery – it worsens over time and is not interchangeable – and will need to buy a new pair of earphones in 18 to 24 months if you don’t lose them first. No matter man, will you look good when you listen to your music?
Read our Apple AirPods Pro review.
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Waterproof: No.
Sony hadn’t been a big player in the real wireless headphone arena (AirPod style), but the WF-1000XM3 model has changed that. Though this pair of headphones isn’t cheap in terms of audio quality, at this price, they’re the best noise canceling wireless earbuds that match, and may even outperform, the quality and performance of Sennheiser, Beats, Master & Dynamic’s more expensive competitors. Olufsen. It also has a feature that these wireless earbuds don’t have: active noise canceling headphone technology to reduce ambient noise in your ear when you rock on your devices.
The WF-1000XM3 has a handful of disadvantages (no pair of earphones wins them all). The case is larger than that of competitors (like Apple) and not the best headset for making calls, especially in noisy environments. The biggest red mark, however, is that it is not classified as sweatproof or waterproof. That said, I used it for light workouts with a bit of ear sweat in the gym with no problems. It offers Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC, but not for aptX.
Read our Sony WF-1000XM3 review.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – sweat-proof and splash-proof).
The Libratone Track Air + has been available in Europe for several months, but has only recently been sold in the United States (it costs $ 200, Amazon currently offers a $ 10 discount coupon). It doesn’t sound as open to the ear as the AirPods Pro, but the audio is a bit clearer and they have well-defined basses (you can choose between neutral, bass boost, and treble settings in the companion app). Active noise cancellation is also decent – maybe not quite at the level of the AirPods Pro, but scarce. I liked the fit of this one – the in-ear bud stayed well in my ear (I could walk with them) and the case is only a little bigger than that of the AirPods Pro.
The Track Air + works well as a headset for making calls, but the noise reduction isn’t as good as the AirPods Pro. People said they could hear me clearly and loudly, so the microphone worked well, but the headphones didn’t dampen background noise as well as the AirPods Pro.
These wireless noise canceling headphones have touch controls – they respond – and Libratone has updated the firmware to optimize performance and add new gesture controls. A recent update has slightly improved call noise reduction. The battery life is 6 hours and they are charged wirelessly like the AirPods Pro. These support AAC and aptX (Samsung Galaxy phones support the aptX codec, but no iPhones).
This is a good AirPods Pro alternative for around $ 50 less, but I think if Libratone would do a bit more price separation – for example, let it cost $ 175 – this would help their cause. However, you should target Android owners who are unable to take advantage of AirPods Pro’s additional features, such as: B. Siri, which only works with Apple products.
Read our Libratone Track Plus preview.
Waterproof:: Yes (IPX4 protection class – sweat-proof and splash-proof)
Amazon does not call the Bose noise reduction function “active noise reduction” in its Echo Buds. However, it turns on and off and dampens ambient noise (there is also a listening or transparency function). Your ear can definitely tell the difference in audio when noise cancellation is on and off.
The other signature function is Alexa, which is always activated. You just say “Alexa” and Amazon’s voice assistant is activated (it doesn’t always work, but you can read our full review).
The Echo Buds audio is not fantastic, but it is good (a tight seal also makes a big difference here). By default, there is a presence boost (height boost), but the headphones have decent clarity, and Amazon says they are equipped with Knowles Dual Balanced Armature drivers. It won’t be headphones for bass lovers, but it had enough kick for my taste. You can tweak the sound using the EQ settings in the Alexa app – I’ve lowered the treble and raised the bass – and most people should find that the Echo Buds provide a comfortable listening experience for the ear.
Read the Echo Buds review.
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Waterproof:: No (While a PR agent says they should be fine for light workouts, 1More hasn’t given a water resistance rating yet.)
1More made a name for himself with his triple-eared wired earphones, which sound great and are good value for money when wired headphones were one thing. I gave 1More’s Stylish True Wireless earbuds, which were offered for $ 100 but sold for $ 20 to $ 30 less during the 2019 holidays, good marks for their sound at their price. This new model costs $ 199, but I suspect the price will go down in the coming months. The 1More True Wireless ANC fits fairly comfortably and securely in my ears – I was able to achieve a tight seal that is critical to the sound quality and noise suppression of these types of headphones.
It has a physical control button and touch controls. It is interesting that you can switch between four modes with the touch controls: no noise suppression; a “transparency” pass mode that lets in ambient noise; and two levels of active noise cancellation. Each mode changes the sound of the headphones.
The headphones have a small boost in height – sometimes called presence boost – when you have turned off the ANC so that they sound clearer and brighter. However, when you activate the ANC, the headphones become a bit fuller and warmer. In the end, I preferred the ANC modes – the fittest did a decent job at a noisy Las Vegas casino to muffle noise (1More says a firmware upgrade is coming to make the sound profiles more consistent when changing modes) . The battery life is 5 hours with noise cancellation activated and 6 hours with noise turned off. There is a quick charge function that allows you to work for 2 hours from a 15 minute charge.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX5 – withstands continuous spraying).
The Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus is the second generation of the company’s MW07. It has a significantly longer battery life (10 vs 3.5 hours), Bluetooth 5.0 and active noise cancellation with two microphones on each bud (the noise isolation is relatively low and not as strong as the Sony WF-1000XM3). It may not fit every ear equally well, but they definitely look good, have very good audio, and a great listening experience if you get a tight seal. These in-ear headphones are more known for an audiophile sound profile with soft, balanced audio and clearly defined bass. The MW07 Plus delivers this type of high definition audio.
These wireless earbuds come in seven color options for $ 199 and include a chic chrome charging case that comes with a secondary pouch for safe storage (yes, the pouch can be scratched if you leave it in a pocket). The housing with the built-in battery offers three additional charging processes (it is charged via USB-C). These support AAC and aptX and, according to Master & Dynamic, have an extended range of more than 20 meters.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX5 – withstands continuous spraying).
Endings, a startup, launched a new $ 150 set of true wireless noise canceling headphones – the AU stream ANC – which have the same long “stick” design as the original AirPods and have active noise cancellation. They are a little hard to find, but surprisingly good if you find the right fit for your ear.
They are similar in style to many of the so-called AirPods knockoffs, but have a slightly better premium appearance. They have 13mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, 5 hours of battery life and another 15 hours from the case, and water resistance (IPX5 certified). They also offer USB-C charging – that’s rare to find at this price.
A tight seal is not only crucial for the audio quality, but the active noise suppression does not work effectively without it. In terms of audio, the AU stream ANC is not comparable to the Sony WF-1000XM3. It doesn’t sound quite as detailed or open – and the bass isn’t quite as well defined. But it is a very decent sounding real wireless headphone with a good earbud in the lower range.
Read CNET first.