Best Noise-Cancelling (ANC) 2021 headphones to reduce noise while operating from home.

 

(Pocket-lint) - For many of us, noise-cancelling headphones have become almost an indispensable daily item, whether they're used on your morning ride to isolate your listening pleasure or block out the jet engine drone.

And there's every excuse why you should get a pair, with so more of us working from home.

But with so many options available, it's no simple task to find the right headphones for you. Some pairs will have more efficient noise cancellation, while others will sound weaker - so finding the middle ground can be difficult.

To make the decision a lot easier, we've rounded up our favourites and picked out what we think is the best pair money we can currently buy.

Our pick of the best headphones for the ANC

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Think of headphones that cancel noise and chances are you'll think of Bose. These over-ear cans, considering the inventive name, offer very imaginative sound quality to rival the best competition out there. And the noise-cancelling multi-level is class-leading.

For the big three (Google, Amazon, Apple), a good app for different customizations (but no EQ, unfortunately), and well-integrated touch-based controls on the right earcup, there's also smart assistant integration.

We can't imagine any other pair that we'd like to carry on our journeys. When it comes to noise-canceling, Bose is the boss.

Sony WH-1000XM4

Once again, Sony has updated the 1000X headphones, taking an approach as aggressive with product releases as it is with external noise removal. Style tweaks add quality and sophistication to these headphones, whereas the grunt for cancelling out further noise is given by a new and more efficient processor.

The results are remarkable, with the 1000XM4 not only sounding fantastic as a pair of headphones, but also being some of the most powerful at more selectable levels to combat external noise.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7

The audio game is no stranger to Bowers and Wilkins; the British-based business has been running since 1966, and the PX, its older ANC pair of headphones, was a keystone on this list. And when we learned that it was upgrading them with new technologies, it was fair to say our ears were definitely pricking up. Our hopes were, amazingly, surpassed once again when we finally got them to our ears.

They look amazing with the PX7 headphones, and they sound even better. The noise cancellation of B&W is at the top of its class, and the inclusion of features such as aptX Adaptive support ensures improved listening experiences and better future-proofing. The headphones are very impressive, too, much more comfortable than ever before, making for a dreamy user experience.

Although they may not be at the very top of our list, these are a seriously impressive pair of headphones, make no mistake, and if you pick them up, you'll be sure to like them.

Beats Studio 3 Wireless

The Beats Studio 3 Wireless is likely to draw more iPhone owners than those who use an Android phone, only because they are the newest pair to benefit from the W1 chip from Apple (which has been replaced with the H1 chip, moving forward). This means that when within distance, these cans automatically attempt to pair with an iOS device, and once paired, they are accessible to attach instantly from all other Apple devices using the same iCloud account.

The Studio 3 Wireless also has some really smart onboard noise-cancellation technology. It tracks the sounds around you continuously - up to 50,000 times a second - and changes the noise-cancellation and sound profile accordingly, to ensure that your ears are blasted with the most powerful sound.

The sound is less bass-tactic than you would expect, but still impactful from this headphone company too, while the battery life just goes on and on and on and on.

Bang and Olufsen BeoPlay H9i

One of the most costly pairs of noise-canceling headphones to grace our ears is the Bang and Olufsen BeoPlay H9i, but in exchange, thanks to high-quality materials, these cans deliver a supreme degree of comfort.

The excellent sound quality is to compliment the great build quality - and these headphones are growing beyond the initial H9s. The H9i has improved the ability to noise-cancel, thus shrinking the ear cups a bit, making them a little more functional.

The BeoPlay H9i needs to do a lot to justify their asking price with a wealth of competition at lower costs, but we'd pay the extra for the construction and comfort. However, if you want very good noise-canceling, then look for that completely 'locked-in' quality to the Bose (above).

Sennheiser HD 450BT

There is something in common with most of the cans on this list so far - they are seriously expensive. Now, the great HD 450BT from Sennheiser is not exactly cheap, but it's more affordable and offers excellent sound at a reduced price point. To go with that nicely balanced listening, you get a really long battery life, and they are really easy to wear, too.

Plus, it may not be adaptive to noise cancellation, but it's still powerful and more than enough for most people to get lost in their music. We're very impressed by the HD 450BT, and are sure that anyone with a slightly tighter budget will make a great choice.

Sony WF-1000XM3

Sony has also extended its audio expertise to in-ear headphones with noise cancellation. We've seen what the company can do with a pair of over-ears, so we had high hopes for the in-ear model that was absolutely wire-free - now in its third-gen form.

These wireless in-ears have a well-balanced sound that is neither too low nor too bright; we thought it was just perfect. The noise-cancellation is just as accomplished, too, effectively blocking out the general humdrum of daily life, as well as plane and train noises.

Sony is not the only manufacturer to sell ANC with real wireless headphones - Apple is now on the scene, and we've also recently checked the Libratone Track Air+ in-ears (a little farther down) - but the WF series has a hard-to-beat look, swagger, and musicality.

Apple AirPods Pro

Apple took its time to get to noise cancellation in several respects, but the tremendous success of its AirPods without the function may have given it some time to work with. At last, though, the AirPods Pro adds the versatility, and in one fell swoop it has fixed what were likely to be the two biggest problems with its earbuds for most people.

Second, they can now accommodate a much broader range of ears, with three earbud sizes to choose from rather than the "hope they fit" approach of the older AirPods. Secondly, the excellent ANC Apple's use ensures that even on the busiest of commutes, you can genuinely rely on the AirPods Pro to be audible.

They're also less evident than ever, design-wise, and make a great option with slightly smaller stems than before, especially if you're an iPhone user. As useful as ever is the quick and effective pairing.

Libratone Track Air+

This product sounds truly excellent as in-ear headphones go, is easy to wear, provides sweat-proof construction for these active sessions, and a truly smart noise-cancellation system.

Libratone has done its best to stand out from the crowd in a world where the so-so AirPods seem to get all the coverage, or far more expensive Sony and Sennheiser goods get some of the loudest shout-outs.

The price alone is going to be a huge lure. But that's not the only reason to buy the Air+ - no, because everything on offer, from sound to comfort to capability, is provided at the highest standard, you'll want to donate them in your ears.