BUYING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Choose Noise-cancelling headphones around your needs
Read the practical answer to a requirement, check the matching model reviews, or combine your own choices in the questionnaire.
Find my match →Start with one requirement
- Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential
- Connection: Bluetooth audio
- Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio
- Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected
- Battery-free analog listening: Yes, keep listening with a 3.5 mm cable when power is off
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too
- Minimum manufacturer-rated continuous playback with ANC on
Combine your requirements
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 20
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 21
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 24
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 25
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 32
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 33
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 30
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 31
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 40
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 41
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 50
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 44
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 45
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 46
- Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Battery-free analog listening: Yes, keep listening with a 3.5 mm cable when power is off
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Battery-free analog listening: Yes, keep listening with a 3.5 mm cable when power is off
- Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Battery-free analog listening: Yes, keep listening with a 3.5 mm cable when power is off
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Battery-free analog listening: Yes, keep listening with a 3.5 mm cable when power is off
- Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio
- Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected
- Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 30
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 31
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 30
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 40
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 41
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 17
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 18
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 22
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 23
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 44
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 45
- Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected
- Battery-free analog listening: Yes, keep listening with a 3.5 mm cable when power is off; Rated ANC-on playback: 30
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Battery-free analog listening: Yes, keep listening with a 3.5 mm cable when power is off
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 30
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 31
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 25
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 26
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 50
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 35
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 36
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 20
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 21
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 30
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 31
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 35
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 36
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 40
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 41
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 30
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 31
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 25
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 26
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 27
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 28
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 40
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 41
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 35
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 50
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Two-device Bluetooth switching: Yes, keep a phone and computer connected; Rated ANC-on playback: 1
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio
- Earlier model references: No, keep current-reference models only; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Battery-free analog listening: Yes, keep listening with a 3.5 mm cable when power is off
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 20
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 21
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 23
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 24
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 25
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: 3.5 mm analog cable audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 26
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 20
- Earlier model references: Yes, include earlier models too; Active noise cancellation: Yes, ANC is essential; Connection: Bluetooth audio; Rated ANC-on playback: 21
Buying guides and setup advice
- Start with your listening route, not a headline ranking
- What active noise cancellation can and cannot promise
- Check over-ear fit before you commit
- Wired listening: powered, passive and digital are not the same
- Bluetooth multipoint for a phone and computer
- Set up and care for noise-cancelling headphones
- Compare headphones without treating specifications as test results