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The Absolute Best
Apple AirPods Max
A Close Second
Sony WH-1000XM5
Still Great
Sony WH-1000XM4
Best for the Office
Bose Noise Canceling 700
Shaking off the world and sinking into a new album can feel like a train ride through the countryside … unless you’re sharing that seat with two young toddlers. Or if your neighbor’s dog is barking. Come to think of it, there are a lot of sounds that can ruin a good song. That’s why we have headphones that isolate and cancel out noise. Below are the best noise-canceling headphones and earbuds you can buy, handpicked and tested by the Gear team here at WIRED.
Not seeing anything you like? Check out our other audio guides, like the Best Wireless Earbuds, Best Workout Earbuds, Best Cheap Headphones, and Best Wireless Headphones.
Updated March 2023: We’ve added the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2, Focal Bathys, and Anker Soundcore Space A40
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Photograph: Apple
The Absolute Best
Apple AirPods Max
If you use an iPhone and you are willing to pay $550, Apple’s noise-canceling over-ears (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are the best choice. They are probably the best wireless headphones you’ll have ever heard, but astonishing fidelity isn’t the only reason to buy the company’s flagship cans. Excellent pairing and connection with Apple devices, Bose-beating noise reduction, and some of the finest build quality you’ll find this side of $1,000 make these a great pair for most people. The only thing not to like about the AirPods Max? The included soft case does very little to protect the headphones when they’re not on your head.
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Photograph: Sony
A Close Second
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony redesigned the exterior of its popular flagship headphones for the fifth generation (9/10, WIRED Recommends), making them a bit sleeker and more competitive with Apple and Bose in looks. What didn’t go away is the company’s excellent noise cancellation, super customizable sound, and fantastic battery life. They’re pricier than previous generations, but the sound is more absorbing, with a more energetic feel than the less dynamic models that came before.
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Photograph: Sony
Still Great
Sony WH-1000XM4
This isn’t the newest model, but Sony’s WH-1000X lineup has produced some of the best noise-canceling headphones for nearly a decade, and the previous-generation WH-1000XM4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are no exception. Sleek, businesslike looks and a 30-hour battery life match its successor, and this version sports better noise cancellation and audio upscaling than its predecessors, both of which contribute to a cleaner overall sound signature. The high-quality microphones don’t make you sound like you’re underwater in Zoom meetings, which is an essential upgrade in the post-Covid world. It periodically goes on sale for under $300, so avoid buying it at full price.
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Photograph: Bose
Best for the Office
Bose Noise Canceling 700
The ever-popular Bose QC35 II (8/10, WIRED Recommends) remains a fantastic noise-canceling option, but Bose’s Noise Canceling 700 take our top spot for business users. They have excellent noise reduction that quiets clacky keyboards or chatty roommates better than ever, plus slightly better sound quality and battery life than the QC35 II. But the real reason to buy the 700s is for call quality. They use advanced signal processing and four microphones to limit the sound of the world around you on phone calls. The person you’re calling will think you’re in a library even when you’re in a rowdy living room.
