5 Noise-Canceling Headphones to Quiet the Chaos

I sent out a call before writing this to all the audio nuts at Esquire to see what headphones they were rocking. I heard the most enthusiasm for the Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones, now being sold for around $300. A top tier pair of cans, for sure, but what my colleagues didn’t know was I already had the brand new 1000xM6 in my possession. Somehow, the new pair are even better.

When it comes to a balance of sound quality, comfort, and comfortable noise cancellation, Sony now has it down pat. The M6s are even lighter and have more cushioning than the last generation—making it a perfect airplane headphone. I’m wearing them on a 15 hour flight to Korea as I write this blurb. Plus, now the headphones come in an even smaller case with a magnetized clamp—no fussing with a zipper that will inevitably break. The typical issues I run into with noise cancelling, thanks to my weak inner ear, where turning ANC on makes me nauseous and dizzy have been completely absent from my experience. Something Sony has vastly improved upon since the MX4.

The only big downside is the lack of USB-C playback. If you want to hardwire these bad boys in, you will need a device that supports 3.5mm. It’s an unfortunately outdated design choice, especially since these are brand new headphones. If you’re already on board to pay top dollar for headphones, this will likely be your deciding factor between these and one of the next ones.

These bad boys might be pricey, but they are definitely worth the investment. If the Sony headphones are the ones that come expert recommended, these are the people’s choice. I can’t go anywhere in Manhattan anymore without walking past dozens of New Yorkers in their AirPods Pro. We’re not the types to give Apple praise when it’s not warranted, but when a product hits on this scale, you know someone is doing something right.

The design is nice. With metal all around, these headphones have a satisfying heft to them, but they’re still comfortable on your head. In terms of sound quality with ANC enabled and spatial audio recognition, we didn’t find anything to complain about. Plus, the adaptive EQ works like a charm, so you rarely have to fuss with settings when switching between artists or music genres.

The Apple convenience factor is present in every aspect here. Your iPhone connects in seconds; same with a MacBook. And if you’re used to the Apple Watch, using the headphones’ digital crown for volume control and track skipping will come easier to you than any touch-based interface. No more Bluetooth pairing problems. Just pure sonic joy.

Sound quality and active noise-cancellation don’t go hand in hand. In fact, one typically comes at the cost of the other. And while that’s still true on Bang & Olufsen’s headphones, the luxury audio brand slims the margin to an unbelievable degree. While they aren’t the mind-blowing $1800 H100s (price increased by $300 since my initial review), the Beoplay HX are currently a fraction of that price and about 80% of the same stuff. You still get the amazing sound quality B&O is known for, intuitive touch controls for volume, and the only headphone companion app that I find worth a damn.

With these, you’re going to get to hear your favorite artists’ music the way they intended it to be heard. With ANC on or off, it doesn’t matter. The HX is made of sturdy metals and high-quality fabrics. Aesthetically, this makes them a 10, but it does mean they can start to weigh you down after a few consecutive hours of use.

Another “power to the players” pick is the QC Ultra headphones from Bose. They aren’t my absolute favorite, but fourth place ain’t that bad and here’s why. These are the lightest, most comfortable over-ear headphones I’ve worn and that’s worth the squeeze.

The sound quality is great, but it’s where sound meets comfort that these headphones shine. Like a cloud for my ears, pumping through lossless tunes and Dolby Atmos quality audio on movies. When you need to drown out the world, the noise-cancelling does its job and all you need to do is hit one button.

The problem I have with the Quiet Comfort Ultra is the same as most other noise-cancelling headphones I try. When I hit the ANC switch, I feel like the suction like I’m underwater or my ears are about to pop from elevation. This can give me feel a bit nauseous, give me a headache, or just make me feel generally unwell. It’s the one thing about these headphones I find uncomfortable, and while it’s a common sin it keeps these just shy of the elite tier.

JBL is a great brand, and we can personally confirm its high-quality sound across all types of music and other audio. Not all of its headphones have noise cancellation, though, so we must limit our recommendation to this wonderful Tune 760NC pair, a low-cost option for wireless ANC headphones. They work just as well as pairs that cost three times as much, plus they’re easily foldable, making them one of the most portable pairs of noise-canceling headphones you can buy.

If you want light, reliable headphones without much fuss, JBL is guaranteed to please. The tactile buttons on each side really make a difference when it comes to figuring out the controls, making this pair super easy to learn.

While you won’t have multiple options for noise cancellation like the Bose 700 offers, the Tune 760NC will still block the din of even the loudest crowds. For the size and price, you’ll be getting quite the mighty sound from this trusted headphone brand.