Best noise-canceling headphones of 2016
A collection of CNET editors' favorite noise-cancelling headphones.
- Best noise-canceling headphones of 2016
- Best headphones of 2016
- Best cheap headphones of 2016
- Best earbuds (in-ear headphones) of 2016
- Best high-fidelity headphones of 2016
- Best home headphones of 2016
- Best noise-canceling headphones of 2016
- Best on-ear headphones of 2016
- Best over-the-ear headphones of 2016
- Best sports headphones of 2016
- Best wireless Bluetooth headphones of 2016
- Best wireless on-ear headphones of 2016
- Best wireless over-the-ear headphones of 2016
- Best wireless sports headphones of 2016
- Best wireless neckband headphones of 2016
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Bose QuietComfort 35
The best overall active noise-canceling...
Bluetooth meets best-in-class noise canceling: the Bose QuietComfort 35 is the ultimate noise canceling wireless headphone you can buy right now.
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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.
Read full review$299.95 MSRP Not AvailableCNET's Rating
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Bose QuietComfort 25
Top noise-canceling cans get even better
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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Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless
A full-size Bluetooth headphone with act...
While it doesn't quite eclipse the less-expensive Bose, the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless headphone is comfortable and feature packed, and performs very well.
Read full reviewCNET'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 strong contender in the category.
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AKG N60 NC
Best on-ear noise-canceling headphones
The AKG N60 NC is a compact, comfortable, noise-cancelling on-ear headphone that sounds great and has a 30-hour rechargeable battery.
Read full reviewPrice Unavailable Not AvailableCNET's Rating
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PSB M4U 2
Superior sound for a noise-canceller
PSB Speakers' $399.99 M4U 2 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones may be the company's very first pair of headphones, but the engineers' smart design choices and superior sound put the M4U 2s at the head of the pack.
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Plantronics BackBeat Pro
Affordable alternative to Beats and Bose
The Plantronics BackBeat Pro features both wireless Bluetooth and noise-canceling in a sturdy, comfortable design. The headphones sound decent, are packed with features, have excellent battery life and come with a nice carrying pouch.
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Sennheiser Momentum Wireless
Wireless sound for a premium price
The Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless is a sturdy noise-cancelling headphone that folds up for compact storage and features excellent sound over Bluetooth and wired connections.
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Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H8
Best Bluetooth noise-cancelling cans
The Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H8 has a sleek design with a metal/leather headband, plush ear cups, and very good sound for Bluetooth. It also features active noise canceling, touch controls and a replaceable rechargeable battery.
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Sony MDR-ZX770BN
Wireless Beats alternative for less
The Sony MDR-ZX770BN features both Bluetooth and active noise-canceling and is geared toward frequent travelers, because it can also be used as a wired headphone on flights that prohibit the use of Bluetooth.
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Parrot Zik 2.0
Super slick design for hardcore techies
This time around, the Zik 2.0 is lighter and more comfortable with a slick, eye-catching design and excellent build quality, plus a wealth of features like wireless audio streaming, effective noise-cancellation, and touch-sensitive controls.
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