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ElectronicsMusic & AudioAudioHeadphonesNoise Canceling

What are the best noise-cancelling headphones around $50?

4

Options
Considered

21

User
Recs.

Dec 17, 2023

Last
Updated

4 Options Considered

Best noise-cancelling headphones around $50?	Price	Type	Connectivity
56 Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B	$99.95	On/Over-Ears	-
-- Sony MDRZX110NC	$48	On-ear / Closed-back	Wired ( 3.5mm )
-- Bluedio T4	$45	On/Over-Ears	-
-- Anker Soundcore Q20i	$39.98	Over-Ears	Bluetooth 5.0 / cable

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B

Top Pro

Good bass reproduction, warm mids and smooth highs

The bass of these headphones is pretty good. Bass drum hits have good power to them, yet they do not muddy up the sound. The mids are warm and forward, and should present vocals and mid-range sounds quite well. The highs do not have a lot of sparkle, but they are clear and present a good level of detail. See More

Top Con

Requires an amp for optimal volume/sound quality

If you really want to get the best sound quality as well as volume from these headphones then you will need a decent headphone amp. The impedance of these headphones is quite high at 300 Ohms, so these require a good bit of power to function optimally. See More

Specs

Type:On/Over-Ears

Top Pro

Exceptional mic

The microphone has good clarity and can actually be used for tasks other than talking on the phone - like recording podcasts on the go for example. See More

Top Con

Can get uncomfortable for people with larger ears

The ear cups of these headphones are quite compact, and may rub against the ears of some users, which can get quite uncomfortable. See More

Top Pro

Comes with two different cords

One cord comes with an inline mic and with controls, and the other cord is your standard audio cable. This inclusion not only allows you to pick a cable to best suit your use-case for the headphone, but this also ensures that you have a spare cable should one get damaged. See More

Top Pro

Can effectively cancel out noise

With these headphones it will be much easier for you to focus on your music, or whatever it is that you are listening to. Combined with the closed back design, airplane/train/bus engine noises are effectively cancelled out. See More

Top Pro

A good number of accessories are included

Along with the two headphone cables, you get a carrying case, an airline adapter and a 6.3mm plug. These should help make the headphones easier to transport and also make them compatible with a wider range of audio sources. See More

Sony MDRZX110NC

Top Pro

Portable

The MDRZX110NC is easy to bring on the go. It can be collapsed to a compact size, making it easy to fit in bags. The headphones are also lightweight. See More

Top Con

Bass can be underwhelming

You may find the bass to be unexciting. Even with noise cancelling turned on, you may be underwhelmed by the bass performance, which does not have a lot of thump. See More

Specs

Type:On-ear / Closed-back

Connectivity:Wired ( 3.5mm )

Impedance:45 Ohms

Top Pro

Decent noise cancellation

These headphones can filter out a decent amount of ambient noise. The closed back, on-ear design has okay passive noise isolation qualities, while the noise cancelling works great at filtering out mid to high frequency sounds. See More

Top Con

Subpar comfort

These may be uncomfortable to wear for long hours. There is no padding on the headband, while the cushioning on the ear pads are not very thick. See More

Top Pro

Average sound quality

With noise cancelling off, the sound is focused on the highs with lean mids and bass. With noice cancelling activated, the low end is improved, giving you punchy bass, though it is not very powerful. See More

Bluedio T4

Top Pro

Great build quality for the price

These headphones should last you quite a while, as they are built well. The hinges and the headband adjustment are made of metal, with sturdy plastics on the earcups. These should survive being thrown into a bag and minor drops without issue. See More

Top Con

You’ll still hear high pitched noise clearly

You may still hear high pitched noise like female voices and sudden bursts of laughter. The noise cancelling is not very effective at filtering mid to high frequencies. See More

Specs

Type:On/Over-Ears

Top Pro

Fairly neutral sound

The sound is on the neutral side instead of boosted bass or highs. Overall the sound has good clarity with okay details on the treble along with tight and low-end. The mids are slightly recessed though. See More

Top Pro

Okay noise cancelling performance

You won’t easily hear engine noise and the like. The active noise cancelling is quite effective at filtering out low-pitched, droning noise. See More

Top Pro

Can function as Bluetooth or wired headphones

You can continue using these headphones even when the battery runs out. Aside from Bluetooth connectivity, these also come with a USB Type C to 3.5mm cable, so these can be used as wired headphones. You won’t get active noise cancelling without battery power though. See More

Anker Soundcore Q20i

Top Pro

Wired usage

Also supports wired listening. See More

Top Con

Switching issues

Switching between devices, e.g. between TV and phone by clicking the power button 2 times, does not seem to work as it should. Maybe this will be fixed in a firmware upgrade. See More

RickZeeland's Experience

"Even the normal $70 asking price is a bargain. But if you're quick, you won't have to pay it" according to CNET review in 2023. See More

Specs

Connectivity:Bluetooth 5.0 / cable

Top Pro

Long battery life

Top Con

Too much bass

The default bass is too much, it can be reduced with the equalizer in the app. This is a matter of taste of course. See More

Top Pro

Double connection

When working on your laptop and need to pick up your phone, the headphones will automatically switch to the device you need. See More

Top Con

Only 2 colors

While the older Q20 was available in three colors, the Q20i is only available in black and navy-blue. See More

Top Con

Awkward control buttons

The buttons for volume up/down and the power button are combined and a bit too small to use comfortably. See More

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