Noise-cancelling headphones, ranked by critic score
23 ranked by critic score · 4 more not yet ranked · 190 professional reviews
Over-ear wireless headphones, judged on noise cancelling, sound, comfort and battery.
Image: DaliDali IO-8
4 professional reviewers tested the Dali IO-8, and 4 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and comfort. Most common complaint: controls and app.
The catch: There is no app, noise cancelling trails Sony and Bose, and the price is high.
Early score: only 4 professional reviews so far. Expect it to move as more reviews come in.
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- 1Dali IO-8Top pick, narrowly4 reviews · early score93Image: Dali
- 2Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2Best for luxury sound quality5 reviews91
Image: Bowers - 3Sony WH-1000XM5Most reviewed pick17 reviews89
Image: Sony - 4Technics EAH-A1000Best for sound and comfort5 reviews89
Image: Technics - 5Soundcore Space 2Best budget over-ear noise cancelling4 reviews · early score89
Image: Soundcore - 6Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3Best for sound quality7 reviews88
Image: Bowers - 7Bose QuietComfort Ultra HeadphonesCritics agree6 reviews88
Image: Bose - 8Sony WH-1000XM6Newest Sony14 reviews87
Image: Sony - 9Nothing Headphone (1) ProBest for stylish detailed sound6 reviews86
Image: Nothing - 10Sennheiser Momentum 5 WirelessBest for sound and battery7 reviews85
Image: Sennheiser - 11Sonos Ace UltraBest for Sonos owners6 reviews85
Image: Sonos - 12Marshall Milton ANCBest on-ear headphones7 reviews85
Image: Marshall - 13Sennheiser Momentum 4Longest battery8 reviews84
Image: Sennheiser - 14Sony 1000X The CollexionBest luxury Sony sound5 reviews84
Image: Sony - 15Apple AirPods Max 2Best For iPhone owners11 reviews83
Image: Apple - 16Sonos AceBest for comfort and sound in a Sonos home16 reviews82
Image: Sonos - 17Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)Best for comfort and noise cancelling4 reviews · early score79
Image: Bose - 18Beats 360Best for workout headphones6 reviews78
Image: Beats - 19Beyerdynamic Aventho 300Best for polished sound and battery4 reviews · early score78
Image: Beyerdynamic - 20JBL Tour One M3Best for noise cancelling and calls4 reviews · early score77
Image: JBL - 21Sony ULT WearBest for bass lovers who want noise cancelling11 reviews75
Image: Sony - 22Dyson OnTracBest for long battery and customisable style11 reviews74
Image: Dyson - 23Nothing Headphone (1)Best for distinctive design10 reviews73
Image: Nothing
The highest-rated pair of noise-cancelling headphones so far, on an early score, is the Dali IO-8: critic score 93 out of 100 from 4 reviews, 4 of them positive. Most praised: sound quality and comfort. Most common complaint: controls and app.
Early reads · 4 not yet ranked
Not ranked, listed A to Z. We publish a critic score once at least 4 professional reviews of the exact model exist; with 2 or 3 we show a provisional average.
- Focal Bathys MG · provisional 90 from 3 reviews
- JBL Live 780NC · provisional 83 from 3 reviews
- Sennheiser HDB 630 · provisional 90 from 3 reviews
- Soundcore Space One · provisional 78 from 3 reviews
Common questions
What is the best pair of noise-cancelling headphones?
Narrowly, the Dali IO-8, with a critic score of 93 from 4 professional reviews. Most praised: sound quality and comfort. Most common complaint: controls and app.
Dali IO-8 vs Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: which is better?
Critics score the Dali IO-8 93 and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 91. We list the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 under “Best for luxury sound quality”. Its main drawback: noise cancelling trails Sony and Bose, and the price is very high.
Which pair of noise-cancelling headphoness do critics disagree on?
The Sonos Ace (scores from 60 to 100); The Sony ULT Wear (scores from 50 to 82); The Nothing Headphone (1) (scores from 60 to 90).