Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for 2018
Our editors hand-picked these products based on our tests and reviews.
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CNET's Rating
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Sony WH-1000XM2
Sony's top noise-cancelling headphone matches Bose for best
The Sony WH-1000XM2 has some small but important improvements over its predecessor, including better battery life and a lower price tag.
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CNET's Rating
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Bose QuietComfort 35 II
The already excellent Bose QuietComfort 35 II gets a touch better
The top-rated QC35 adds a direct connection to Google Assistant.
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CNET's Rating
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Beats Studio3 Wireless
Beats' best headphone looks the same, sounds better
While it's a little pricey, Beats has significantly improved its flagship headphone.
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$300 MSRP Not AvailableCNET's Rating
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Bose QuietComfort 20
Best noise-canceling in-ears
They're not cheap, but the QuietComfort 20 and 20i are top performers in the noise-cancelling earbuds category.
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CNET's Rating
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Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless
A worthy Bose competitor at a better price
The Sennheiser HD 4.50BTNC isn't as comfortable as the Bose QC35 II, but it delivers good performance for the money.
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CNET's Rating
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Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless
A full-size Bluetooth headphone with active noise canceling that rivals Bose QC3...
Sennheiser's latest wireless headphone is a very comfortable headphone that also includes active noise cancellation and works great as a headset for making calls.
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CNET's Rating
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Bowers & Wilkins PX
B&W's first noise-canceling headphone rocks high-end looks, sweet sound
The Bowers & Wilkins PX headphone has a sturdy design and impressive sound quality.
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CNET's Rating
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Bose QuietComfort 25
Top wired noise-canceling cans
Featuring a new design that doesn't kill the music when your battery dies, the Bose QuietComfort 25 got a makeover and came out even better.
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CNET's Rating
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Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
The value alternative to Bose's QuietComfort 35
Don't want to pay big bucks for a 'premium' wireless noise-canceling headphone? The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 may be your best bet.
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CNET's Rating
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AKG N60NC Wireless
A smaller alternative to Bose's QC35
AKG's excellent-sounding on-ear wireless noise-canceling headphones have one advantage over their full-size competitors: They're more compact.
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CNET's Rating
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Bose QuietControl 30
The ultimate neckband-style Bluetooth headphone
Bose in-ear wireless canceling is a great everyday headphone so long as you don't expect the most powerful noise-canceling.
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JBL Everest Elite 750NC
JBL's top wireless noise-canceling headphone
The Everest Elite 750NC is significantly improved over its predecessor.
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Sennheiser Momentum Wireless
Premium wireless sound for a premium price
If you can afford the Momentum Wireless' $500 price tag, you're getting a great-sounding and comfortable Bluetooth headphone with premium build quality.
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CNET's Rating
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Sony H.ear On Wireless NC
Sony's best wireless headphone yet
Priced to compete with Bose's QuietComfort 35, the comfortable H.ear On Wireless NC offers impressive sound and noise canceling that make it a contender in the category.
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CNET's Rating
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AKG N60 NC
Great sounding on-ear noise-canceling heapdhone
The AKG N60 NC is a compact, comfortable, noise-cancelling on-ear headphone that sounds great and has a 30-hour rechargeable battery.
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