The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is just one example of headphones with robust noise-cancelling capabilities baked in. (Rick Broida/Yahoo News)
The hot headphone feature of the 21st century is active noise-cancelling, otherwise known as ANC. Flip a switch and the earpieces magically reduce outside sounds: jet engines, leaf-blowers, those chatty couples at the coffee shop. (You know who you are. Inside voices, people!) The result is that you're able to work, fly, exercise or relax in relative peace.
Or at least that's the promise. But what's the reality? Do Apple AirPods and Bose QuietComforts and Soundcore Space Ones really do any good against life's constant ear-intrusions?
Glad you asked, because this subject is near and dear: I despise uninvited noise, especially when I'm trying to write. Consequently, I've tested (and used) a ton of ANC-equipped earbuds and headphones. But before I tell you about the best ones, let's tackle a few important questions.
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This will sound strange, but these headphones fight noise with ... noise. External microphones listen to the ambient sounds, then counteract those frequencies in your ears, effectively cancelling them out. Talk about "sufficiently advanced technology that's indistinguishable from magic"! (Taking a page from sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke.)
This is now a staple feature in personal-audio products. You'll find ANC in an increasingly wide range of wireless earbuds and over-the-ear headphones, including ones priced below $100. The exception is open-ear headphones, which are designed specifically to let outside noise in. (That's in part for safety: It can be dangerous if you're outside and can't hear your surroundings, like the sound of oncoming traffic.)
Aside from the potential safety issue mentioned above, the only real negative is the impact it has on battery life. ANC uses more juice, so a set of earbuds that's rated for, say, six hours might only give you four with ANC turned on.
Audiophiles will tell you that it costs you some audio fidelity as well — and, yes, you can often hear a slight difference in music when you toggle it on — but I find the trade-off to be well worth it.
Nope! Even the some of the most affordable earbuds and headphones have this capability. The aforementioned Soundcore earbuds, for example, include ANC, and they're priced at just $100.
Of course, if you want the strongest available sound-blocking, be prepared to spend a little more. In my experience, earbuds from Apple, Sony and Bose offer the best available ANC, full stop.
It really works — and you don't even need to be listening to music or a podcast. When I board an airplane, for example, the first thing I do is pop in my earbuds and activate ANC. The nerve-rattling roar of the engines drops to a quiet, tolerable hum.
Now for the caveat: ANC works best against lower-frequency sounds, such as lawnmowers, jet engines and road noise. It's less effective against the likes of crying babies and barking dogs — though if you put some music in the mix, it definitely helps.
I've tested a lot of earbuds and headphones; the former tend to fight noise better than the latter because their silicone ear tips — which wedge into your ear canals — offer added noise isolation. Headphones, even those that clamp securely over your ears, let in a bit more outside sound.
Now for the most important question of all:
Ear detection: Yes | Spatial audio: No | Multipoint connectivity: Yes | Case charging: USB-C, wireless | Max battery life: 11 hours on a charge | Water resistance: IPX5 | Ear tips included: 5 sizes
Looking for affordable earbuds? EarFun may not be a household name, but the company has cranked out a lot of rock-solid earbuds over the years — most of them notable for delivering real value.
The Air Pro 4 represents the company's best effort to date, combining first-rate audio with a laundry list of great features, all for less than $100.
It's a no-brainer addition to this list and a particularly good option for Android users. All that's missing is spatial audio, a feature that has yet to make its way into any EarFun earbuds. That would make this a home-run product. As of now, it's a stand-up triple.
Read my full EarFun Air Pro 4 review to learn more.
Driver size: 40mm | Spatial Audio: No | Foldable: Yes | Controls: Buttons | Colors: Jet Black, Latte Cream, Sky Blue | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, wired | Weight: 9 ounces | Carrying case: Drawstring | Max battery life: 55 hours
If you're wondering whether $100 headphones can possibly rival ones costing three or four times as much, get ready for a surprise: It can. Soundcore's Space One offers sweet sound and robust ANC. On those merits alone, I'd have no qualms about recommending it.
But to quote the old commercial: Wait, there's more. Battery life is amazing, and there's a great quick-chat feature: Cup your hand over the left earcup and the headphones quickly switch into transparency mode for easier conversation. There's even a hearing test that generates a customized equalizer profile.
Bottom line: If you want comfy, capable headphones and solid ANC for below $100, look no further.
Ear detection: Yes | Spatial audio: Yes | Multipoint connectivity: No | Case charging: USB-C | Max battery life: 6 hours on a charge | Water resistance: IPX4 | Ear tips included: 3 sizes
For straight-up ANC goodness, there's no better pick than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. In my tests, they edged out Apple's AirPods Pro 2, at the same time rivaling the latter's superb sound quality and spatial-audio capabilities.
There are, however, some sour notes to endure. For starters, the $299 price tag is $50 higher than AirPods (more like $100 when you factor in the latter's seemingly permanent discounts). This despite the fact that Bose's charging case doesn't support wireless charging.
Even so, if any earbuds were to take the place of my AirPods Pro, I'd want it to be these.
Read my complete Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review to learn more.
Ear detection: Yes | Spatial audio: Yes | Multipoint connectivity: Yes | Case charging: USB-C or wireless | Max battery life: 6 hours on a charge | Water resistance: IPX4 | Ear tips included: 4 sizes
Superb sound, top-notch ANC and some amazing new hearing features, all wrapped in Apple's famed white earbuds. To my thinking there's no better choice for iPhone users, and not just because of all that: AirPods Pro's "secret sauce" lies in integration: Siri for hands-free voice commands, Find My to locate lost 'buds, seamless transitions between iPhone, iPad, MacBook and so on. And following a recent software update, AirPods Pro even offer an FDA-authorized hearing test and hearing-aid mode.
The $249 list price may seem daunting, but AirPods Pro tend to be "on sale" most of the time; you can usually find them at Best Buy, Amazon, Target and other stores for $199, and sometimes $10-20 below that during big shopping events.
If you want to know more, read our full AirPods Pro 2 review.
Driver size: 35mm | Spatial Audio: Yes | Foldable: Yes | Controls: Touch | Colors: Black, Sandstone, White Smoke | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, wired | Weight: 9 ounces | Carrying case: Zippered clamshell | Max battery life: 24 hours
Like the company's QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, these take the prize for best ANC headphones. Just as important, they're top-notch when it comes to fit, features and sound quality as well.
Indeed, with these headphones, Bose continues its tradition of beautifully balanced and richly detailed audio. I can think of no other superlatives; the QC Ultras sound great, end of story. They also deliver terrific spatial audio, with a nifty option to toggle between Still and Motion modes depending on whether you're sitting or moving.
The price tag reflects that, though, and discounts to date have been pretty modest. Premium product, premium pricing.
In case you're wondering, these are my picks for the best noise-cancelling headphones, the best open-ear headphones and the best wireless earbuds. On a budget? These are the best cheap earbuds I've tried and the best AirPods Pro alternatives under $100. Oh yeah, don't forget to clean your earbuds the right way.