When travelling, at work, or just at home, you may sometimes need to block the background noise. While in the past you needed something large and covers the ears to achieve noise cancellation, you can currently get impressive noise-cancelling benefits in small and portable earbuds.
The best noise-cancelling earbuds listening to music to another level by blocking the background noise and allowing you to focus on the music. If you have never tried these noise-cancelling earbuds, you're really missing out on a lot.
These earbuds use built-in mics and inverted sound waves to cancel specific frequencies. This simply means that you hear less chat, traffic, and sirens in the background, and more of the music playing. Not only does it improve the sound quality, but you can also listen to music at lower volumes too.
Noise-cancelling earbuds aren't as common as plain old wireless earbuds, so finding the best ones can be challenging. This is why we have rounded up the best noise cancelling earbuds available in the market right now and a buying guide to help you choose the best one for you.
5 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds in 2021
1. Apple AirPods Pro
- Active noise cancellation for immersive sound
- Transparency mode for hearing and connecting with the world around you
- Three sizes of soft, tapered silicone tips for a customizable fit
- Sweat and water resistant
- Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to the shape of your ear
The Active Noise Cancellation(ANC) in these high-end earbuds is the best in the game. The Apple Airpods Pro creates an excellent noise cancellation effect that has to be experienced to be appreciated. Apple uses an adaptive EQ Technology that adjusts the frequency response to your conditions, a feature that very few companies have to offer.
Apart from the ANC feature, these Apple AirPods Pro also feature a transparency mode that enhances the sounds around you so you can hear what’s going on. It’s really important when you want to listen to what someone is saying but are not willing to remove the earbud.
Pairing the Apple AirPods Pro is super-simple and uses hands-free Siri access when connecting to an iPhone. They are water-resistant and therefore great for use during workouts. The battery life is also great and can last up to 5 hours plus 19 hours from the charging case.
There's no doubt that these earbuds are expensive. Still, for the benefits they give, a combination of both noise cancellation benefits and an operating system integration system, they are the best in the market.
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2. Sony WF-1000XM3 Noise Canceling True Wireless Earbuds
- Industry leading noise canceling with HD noise canceling processor QN1e
- Product Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals...
- 24bit Audio signal processing delivers dramatically improved sound quality
- Battery life up to 24 hours with carrying case (with 10min quick charge for 90min of play...
- Easy and clear hands free calling; Leave your phone where it is, just speak with a double...
The Sony WF-1000XM3s wireless earbuds are impressive all-round and one of the best in-ear noise-cancelling devices. They have a battery life of up to 6 hours, while the charging case can charge up to 18 hours, giving a total of 24 hours. There is also a fast-charging function.
They have a great fit, and the sound quality is top-notch. These Sony wireless earbuds come with more tip sizes compared to other common earbuds. Despite them being small, they have a natural and authentic sound with plenty of details.
The intuitive touch controls and the all-important sound quality make these earbuds stand out from the rest. If you're looking for a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds for your android phone, we would recommend this one.
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3. Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling True Wireless Earbuds
- Noise cancelling earbuds – Engineered with the world-class noise cancelling. Bose...
- High-fidelity audio – An exclusive acoustic architecture brings your music, podcasts,...
- Comfortable wireless earbuds – Three sizes of StayHear Max eartips are included...
- Simple touch controls – It’s as easy as tap, swipe, or press. Control your noise...
- Noise-rejecting microphones – Tiny microphones work together to focus on your voice,...
The Bose QuietComfort are Bose's first-ever pair of noise-cancelling earbuds. They are lightweight enough to be carried around and have shown massive success in noise cancellation. They are also sweat and weather-resistant.
The QuietComfort has a battery life of six hours from a single charge, and the charging case can charge up to 2 charges, marking a total of 18 hours, which is impressive, but definitely not the best. Some features and controls are adjustable such that you can adjust the noise cancellation using Bose's handy companion app.
With these earbuds, bass notes are full-bodied, and the sense of enthusiasm conveyed by the Bose buds is impressive. The Bose earbuds have power, poise, and a fantastic sense of dynamism. In short, these pair of Earbuds squeeze out lots of details.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are sensational and show impressive musicality. They are one of the best noise-cancelling products we've heard of.
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4. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2
- Enjoy unrivaled high-end stereo sound created by Sennheiser's unique 7 millimeter dynamic...
- Product Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals...
- Switch off your surroundings and focus on the deep bass, the natural mids and the clear...
- Experience uninterrupted play time with the new 7-hour battery life that can be extended...
- In the mood for a movie marathon. With its ergonomic and lightweight design, you can...
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 is very comfortable and great for long listening sessions. It has one of the best battery life with a single charge staying up to seven hours and possible three additional charges through the charging case, making a total battery life of 28 hours.
The touch-sensitive pads on each earpiece can be customized with music playback and features. The noise-cancelling is practical and pretty impressive. Background noises are reduced, with this amazing earbud, allowing you to enjoy the excellent quality of sound.
These Sennheisers buds present an impressive sound with high and lows smooth and controlled, without affecting the dynamics. They are a little pricier compared to other noise-cancelling earbuds, but they are very impressive and give a value for the money spent.
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5. Echo Buds Wireless Earbuds with Immersive Sound
- Immersive sound – Premium speaker drivers deliver crisp, dynamic audio. Bose Active...
- Hands-free with Alexa – Echo Buds work with the Alexa app to stream music, play Audible...
- Access other assistants – Supports access to Siri or Google Assistant from a supported...
- Long-lasting battery – Get up to 5 hrs music playback per charge, up to 2 hrs with a...
- Customizable fit for better sound – 3 sizes of ear tips help form a comfortable in-ear...
The Echo Buds wireless earbuds have a little bit of everything and have shown great success. These true wireless earphones have hands-free Alexa voice control, active noise reduction, and a comfortable fit.
They are simple earpieces with plain black plastic shells. On each earpiece, there are three pairs of silicone ear tips and three pairs of ear fins. If you're planning to wear the Echo Buds at the gym, you need to be careful. This is because they have only an IPX4 rating, which means they're sweat-resistant, but you can't rinse them off.
They have one of the best fits, properly angled, and so not cause any irritation. Despite this, their audio performance isn't very strong, but if you are looking for a pair of wireless earbuds that have almost every feature, then you should consider Echo Buds.
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What to consider when buying noise cancelling earbuds
1. Noise-cancelling Efficiency
This is perhaps the coolest recent innovation for earbuds as well as headphones. Earbuds or headphones with this feature have the ability to cancel the ambient noise of your surroundings. This is common in the ANC technology. Many of these items can easily adjust their noise cancellation to fit their environment.
However, not all of them have the same efficiency when it comes to cancelling the noise. The earbuds should be able to cancel most of the noise around and leave you to enjoy the music. They should also have noise cancellation controls for sound adjustments in case a need arises.
The best these earbuds have managed to make the surrounding almost silent. If you hear some noticeable noises, to the point of distracting you, when ANC is turned on, then you probably have an earbud with older technology or low quality.
2. The Battery life
One important thing to note is that these noise cancelling earbuds may need to be charged every day, so having a good battery life will go a long way. Check the product description to find out their battery life. Nowadays, most noise-cancelling products give an average battery life of 24 hours, with some have more and some less.
If you're planning to use the earbuds more frequently, you should buy one with long battery life. Some models will let you listen with the noise-cancelling circuitry turned off. This is great, especially when the battery runs dry before you recharge it.
If you're in a place with fewer noises, you can use the "passive noise mode" to save your battery. Some models can also fast charge, giving you a few hours of power in just a few minutes.
3. Sound Quality
Most manufacturers use an EQ curve to make the earbuds sound better to most listeners. It’s common to incorporate a “smile EQ curve” where the lows and highs are boosted. However, some people want to hear what is on your music tracks without any hype.
If you want to find earbuds with the best quality of sound, chances are, you will need to spend a lot more. The best earbuds with excellent sound quality tend to be bigger because size does matter when it comes to the quality of sound of earbuds.
4. Comfortable fit
Some noise cancelling earbuds may use an over-ear design to hold on to the ear and help keep out the noise. The earbud size shouldn't be too large because it may not fit your ears. Most earbuds may come with three or four tips to help in making a good seal and thoroughly hold on to your ear canal.
If you’re looking for earbuds to use on a daily basis, then something lightweight should be your go-to. There are also some earbuds with different styles but offer powerful noise-cancellation without the bulk. Choose one that matches your needs.
5. Wired vs. wireless
Most popular noise-canceling earbuds play music wirelessly. This makes them easily portable. Wired earbuds are cheaper, so if you have a tight budget and can live with a cable connected to your phone, then you should consider buying them. Otherwise, wireless earbuds are highly recommended for easier maneuverability.
6. Voice control
Most of the common earbuds come with a companion app for volume control, while some of them come with controls on the earbud itself. Choose one that is more convenient for you.
Some have Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant to help in things like selecting songs, sending texts, making dinner reservations, etc.
7. Bluetooth versions
Some earbuds may not support the Bluetooth version of your phone. It is important to check the Bluetooth compatibility before buying an earbud. Newer ANC earbuds may support newer Bluetooth versions, and they connect faster and stay connected at longer distances. These ones might also support high-fidelity audio formats like the aptX protocol.
8. Durability
Most earbuds are prone to wear and tear, depending on how frequently you use them. There is always a risk of damage, especially if you carry them around. The more compact your earbuds are, the less likely they’ll get damaged in a suitcase, travel bag, or gig bag.
It would help if you were careful while handling them, although this is not a guarantee that they won't get damaged. So, it’s smart to look for earbuds with available replaceable parts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Noise Cancelling Earbuds
1. Which earbuds have the best Noise Cancelling?
The best noise-cancelling earbuds you can ever buy is the Apple Airpods Pro, which boasts excellent active noise cancellation effects, among other useful features. Our second best would be the Sony WF-1000XM3 Noise Canceling True Wireless Earbuds, which is also great in reducing the background noises.
2. Are noise Cancelling earbuds worth it?
Yes. If you are looking to reduce environmental distractions, and enjoy a better quality of sound, then the noise-cancelling earbuds are the way to go. Buying headphones with active noise cancelling is definitely worth their additional costs.
3. What is the best cheap noise Cancelling earbuds?
If you have a tight budget but want an excellent noise cancelling effect, you should consider buying the Echo Bud Wireless earbuds with immersive sound. This product is not only affordable, but it also has a little bit of every vital feature.
4. Which is better noise Cancelling earbuds or headphones?
Both noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds can reduce low-frequency noise better than any other device. However, the over-ear headphones are considered to be better for noise reduction, but they are too bulky. If you're looking for something lightweight and easy to carry around, then you should go for the earbuds since they are as effective as the over-ear headphones.
