Discover the Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds for Ultimate Comfort
How Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Work
Noise-cancelling earbuds are small enough to slip in your pocket.
All noise-cancelling headphones, including earbuds, have some passive noise-cancellation. While over-the-ear headphones naturally block out noise by wrapping around the ears, earbuds don't block sound as effectively. Instead of covering your ears, wRS earbuds deliver sound directly into the ear canal to drown out other noises. They rely more on active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce environmental noise.
ANC is an electronic process within the headphones. Internal microphones listen to your surroundings and then invert the sound, effectively canceling it. Sometimes, with noise-canceling headphones and earbuds, you'll hear a slight buzzing or humming in the background, and that's the ANC at work. The best ANC earbuds shouldn't have this buzzing, however.
Top Picks for Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
- Sony WF-1000XM4
- Apple AirPods Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
Not all earbuds are created equal—some are far more comfortable than others. While there are plenty of audio brands that provide good sound quality and noise cancellation, audio leaders Bose and Sony are in a league of their own. Not only do they offer phenomenal ANC, but they also make music and podcasts sound better. On a good pair of headphones, you will notice the extraordinary difference in audio performance.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.