"Ask Me Anything": Ten Answers To Your Questions About Headphones Noise Cancelling
Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?
On the train or at work, noise-cancelling headphones are an absolute must for anyone who likes to listen. Which ones are the best?
Sony's flagship headphones are an excellent value. They come with a fresh design and a superior audio quality and also enticing features. These headphones can capture every detail, from Sinead's shaking Bridge to the intense chorus.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony is a pro at noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are the best iteration of this series. A few well-thought-out improvements over the XM4s make these headphones an all-around excellent pair of headphones, particularly for commuters and travelers. They're comfortable, have multipoint tech to connect to two devices at once and feature the most powerful ANC Sony's ever produced. They are lightweight and can play for up to 27 hours with no charging. This is enough time to get through a week of commutes or long-haul flights.
The WH-1000XM5s feature a sleek minimalist design and are made of recycled and recyclable plastic known as acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). The branding is minimal, but there is the "Sony" logo on the hinge of each earcup. The earcups and the headband are cushioned by a plush soft material that feels comfortable on all heads. The earcups can be adjusted so you can find the best fit for you.
Unlike previous models that focused on reducing low-frequency noise the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves in order to block out background noise. This improves the overall sound quality and helps drown out the noise of engines and cabins on flights, for example. The XM5s have a second processor to dial up noise cancellation even more for airplanes, and the audio app can also automatically adjust your listening environment using the data from your air pressure.
Other features of the WH-1000XM5s include an enhanced voice assistant that's simple to use and integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and more. You can also pair the XM5s to other Sony audio products to enable stereo and multi-room music playback separation. They can support Bluetooth high-bitrate streaming audio using Sony's LDAC, but not aptX or HD.
2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
When a company has been making headphones for many years, including Sennheiser is a top brand, you can expect superior audio quality and a comfortable fit. With their latest over-ears dubbed Momentum 4 Wireless, they provide both. They've redesigned their design to eliminate some distinctive elements that gave their previous models their aviator-style headset look. They also enhanced active noise cancellation with their newest Adaptive Noise Cancellation Technology. They are designed to last 60 hours with ANC on this, which is more than double the battery life of a lot of competitors.
They're also more portable than the previous model because they fold down and are much smaller overall. The ear pads and headband are made of synthetic PU leather that feels comfortable on my head when I wear it throughout the day. They're also not extremely tight, which means you can wear them for long flights or during your workouts.
The sound is clean and well-balanced However, there are a few peaks in the low-mid and high-mid, which can cause slight muddying in the mixes. The bass is too loud, adding extra impact and thump to genres such as EDM or hip hop. It's not a major issue, but it may bother some listeners. The high-mid also has an uneven balance that brings instruments and vocals forward in the mix but at the expense of bringing out some sibilants.
The Sennheiser momentum 4 wireless has all the usual features, including Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a clear mode that blends outside sounds into your music for better awareness, and mobile app support for custom and pre-set EQ options. They can also be connected with an 3.5mm cable when connecting to your phone via wire. They can connect to your device via SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes, and they are able to reduce the latency by up to a quarter second.
3. B&W PX7 S2
Since their release in the year 2000, the original PX7s have appeared on countless lists of the best Bluetooth headphones, atop them in a lot of cases due to their exceptional ANC and high-quality sound. But like most wireless headphones, they've been getting older and required a refresh, hence the PX7 S2. B&W hasn't just redesigned the design for this new version, but has made substantial improvements to ANC and also added features for voice calls, too.
The PX7 S2 headphones are very lightweight, which makes them comfortable for long listening sessions. The design of the PX7 S2 is basically identical to the previous model. It has the stylish oval-shaped aluminium top-plate for the earcups, the hook-like accent that slides rather than clicks when you expand the headband, and the physical buttons. The earcups are smaller though, and the headband is less large overall.
The software from B&W lets you adjust the EQ settings of bass and treble. However you do not have as much control as you would with more expensive headphones. A Quick Action button on the left earcup toggles environmental modes and can be configured in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to summon the voice assistant on your device.
The PX7 S2 sounds great for all musical styles, and has a soundstages that have plenty of width and good separation between the various sounds. It's particularly impressive on music that has acoustic instrumentation like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, Op. The 19 by Yuja Wang and Gautier Capucon features woody tones with a sense air. It's also able to handle heavier fare, too, with the bass sound and midrange clarity of Entombed's fusion of garage and death-n'-roll, Ride and Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth giving a wall of sound while keeping things clear enough to hear the vocals of Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.
4. Bose QuietComfort 35
Bose was among the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. They held a stranglehold for a long time, but now they have to compete with newer headsets which offer more features and superior sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great option for anyone who wants to listen to podcasts or music without sound rumbles or hums.
The default sound profile is balanced and they're comfortable to wear. The ANC does a fantastic job of eliminating background noise, although it tends to emphasize lower frequencies more than modern headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5.
The QC35s are a fantastic pair of headphones to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. beats studio3 wireless noise cancelling over ear headphones feature a noise cancellation mode that is passive that reduces ambient noise yet still keeps you secluded from the surrounding. The QC35s allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and also "audio-share", so you can listen to a song on one pair of headphones while answering an incoming call with the other pair.
The Bose Connect app is decent but it doesn't have the vast EQ options that other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode, but the sound quality is significantly reduced and the battery longevity isn't as good as wireless models.
The QC35s are an Bose product, which may not appeal to all. Other manufacturers have sleeker designs. However, you can add a touch of personalization by buying a decal-covered cover-up from companies like SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. You'll also be able change the color of the ear cups and the headband later this year, similar to what you can with the older QC25 model.
5. Sony WH-1000XM3
Sony's WH1000XM3 headphones are the best wireless headphone that has active noise cancellation that you can buy right now. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more ambient noise. They also have a superior companion app that provides numerous sound-related features that can be customized.
The XM3's excellent sound quality is one of their biggest draws and they've been upgraded since their release to provide even better performance. They offer a little more clarity across the spectrum of frequencies, their noise cancelling works better at all volume levels and they've added improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control and Speak-to-Chat. The latest feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound allowed in, based on the location of your body and the activities you're doing.
However, they aren't without shortcomings. The midrange can sound a bit recessed and the treble can sometimes be too loud. They are still prone to boost the bass too much on certain tracks, making them sound too heavy and full. You can fix this in the Sony app or in the headphone setting.
The XM3s make a great pair of headphones, particularly for frequent travelers or commuters. They're more comfortable, comfortable, and appear premium and durable than the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless and have a far superior battery and one of our favorite noise cancellation features in the business. They're also more flexible and better-equipped for mobile use than the Audio-Technica's ATH-M50X Wireless, even though they have less impressive noise cancellation. And they're not waterproof which could be a deal-breaker for some people.