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What are the best high-end, noise-cancelling headphones?

6
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The Best 4 of 6 OptionsWhy?

6 Options ConsideredPriceWeightConnectivity
Excellent
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
234 gBluetooth 4.1 / 3.5mm Wired
Excellent
Bose QuietComfort 35
235 gBluetooth 4.1
Excellent
Sony WH-1000XM2
275 gBluetooth 4.1, 3.5mm Wired
Excellent
Sony MDR-1000X
275gBluetooth / 3.5 mm
Sennheiser PXC 550
227gBluetooth 4.2
See Full List
Excellent

Bose QuietComfort 35 II

Paolo
Top Pro

Great sound performance, effective noise cancelling, long battery life and Google Assistant smart features in a compact package

•••
Most full-sized, wireless over the ear headphones are quite heavy and bulky. The QC 35 IIs on the other hand are relatively compact and light, yet still deliver great performance, battery life and top notch noise cancelling. The integration of Google Assistant is also a first in headphones, and g...
Paolo
Top Pro

Great active noise cancelling

•••
Bose's noise cancelling tech is quite effective at blocking ambient noise. This will help you fully enjoy the music by virtually eliminating outside noise.
Paolo
Top Pro

Fairly balanced sound signature with slight boosts to the mids and highs

•••
Bass is full and punchy. While the sub-bass is not pronounced, there is good and fast bass extension, and this is what gives the music punch and a sense of tightness. The mids are full and slightly forward so vocals and guitars can be clearly heard. The highs are clear and do not distort at high...
Paolo
Top Pro

Very good Google Assistant integration

•••
These headphones are much more convenient to use and functional thanks to the Google Assistant upgrade. Press the long, flat button on the left ear cup to activate the feature, and you’ll be able to make voice commands to search for music, start calls, set reminders, get weather updates and many ot...
Paolo
Top Pro

Has wired and Bluetooth connectivity

•••
Aside from Bluetooth connection, you can also connect the QuietComfort 35 II to a source using a 3.5mm cable. This makes the headphones usable even with the battery depleted.
Paolo
Top Pro

Ear cup buttons allow easy control

•••
You can easily control playlist functions using the buttons on the right ear cup. These functions include volume control as well as the play, pause, next track and previous track commands. The on/off switch for the headphones is also on this ear cup.
Paolo
Top Pro

Very good battery life

•••
The QC35 IIs can play music continuously for up to 20 hours. This should cover most of your trips' duration before needing to recharge.
Paolo
Top Pro

Mic produces great voice quality

•••
Multiple microphones are strategically located on both ear cups, allowing for great voice quality when taking calls. The noise cancelling also helps to clean up the voice quality that goes into the headphones.
Paolo
Top Pro

Built in mic allows hands-free calls

•••
You can simply press a button on the right ear-cup to answer a call. This reduces the hassle of having to remove the headphones to take a call.
Paolo
Top Pro

Not straining on the head/neck

•••
Despite having internal batteries, these headphones are still fairly lightweight, coming in at under 300 grams. This makes the headphones really easy to wear for extended periods, even when you are on the go.
Paolo
Top Pro

Feels soft and comfortable

•••
The QC 35 II's ear cups and headband feature quality memory foam material which are soft and supportive so they do not pinch on your ears or apply too much pressure to the top of the head. These contact points are also covered with a quality leather material which feels nice and smooth on the s...
Paolo
Top Pro

Great for on the go use as they are wireless

•••
With these, you won't have to deal with long and dangling cables that can be difficult to manage.
Paolo
Top Con

Noise cancelling may cause ear discomfort

•••
Some experience a feeling of extra pressure into the ears when noise cancelling is on. Many find this to be unpleasant.
See 9 more ProsSee 11 more Pros
Excellent

Bose QuietComfort 35

Paolo
Top Pro

Great sound performance, effective noise cancelling and long battery life in a compact package

•••
Most full-sized, wireless over the ear headphones are quite heavy and bulky. The QC 35s on the other hand are relatively compact and light, yet still deliver great performance, battery life and top notch noise cancelling.
Paolo
Top Pro

Great active noise cancelling

•••
Bose's noise cancelling tech is quite effective at blocking ambient noise. This will help you fully enjoy the music with little to virtually no outside noise interfering.
Paolo
Top Pro

Fairly balanced sound signature with slight boosts to the mids and highs

•••
Bass is full and punchy. While the sub-bass is not pronounced, there is good and fast bass extension, and this is what gives the music punch and a sense of tightness. The mids are full and slightly forward so vocals and guitars can be clearly heard. The highs are clear and do not distort at high...
Paolo
Top Pro

Has wired and Bluetooth connectivity

•••
Aside from Bluetooth connection, you can also connect the QuietComfort 35 to a source using a 3.5mm cable. This makes the headphones usable even with the battery depleted.
Paolo
Top Pro

Ear cup buttons allow easy control

•••
You can easily control playlist functions using the buttons on the right ear cup. These functions include volume control as well as the play, pause, next track and previous track commands. The on/off switch for the headphones is also on this ear cup.
Paolo
Top Pro

Very good battery life

•••
The QC35s can play music continuously for up to 20 hours. This should cover most of your trips' duration before needing to recharge.
Paolo
Top Pro

Mic produces great voice quality

•••
Multiple microphones are strategically located on both ear cups, allowing for great voice quality when taking calls. The noise cancelling also helps to clean up the voice quality that goes into the headphones.
Paolo
Top Pro

Built in mic allows hands-free calls

•••
You can simply press a button on the right ear-cup to answer a call. This reduces the hassle of having to remove the headphones to take a call.
Paolo
Top Pro

Not straining on the head/neck

•••
Despite having internal batteries, these headphones are still fairly lightweight, coming in at under 300 grams. This makes the headphones really easy to wear for extended periods, even when you are on the go.
Paolo
Top Pro

Feels soft and comfortable

•••
The QC 35's ear cups and headband feature quality memory foam material which are soft and supportive so they do not pinch on your ears or apply too much pressure to the top of the head. These contact points are also covered with a quality leather material which feels nice and smooth on the ski...
Paolo
Top Pro

Great for on the go use as they are wireless

•••
With these, you won't have to deal with long and dangling cables that can be difficult to manage.
Paolo
Top Con

Noise cancelling may cause ear discomfort

•••
Some experience a feeling of extra pressure into the ears when noise cancelling is on. Many find this to be unpleasant.
See 8 more ProsSee 10 more Pros
Excellent

Sony WH-1000XM2

Paolo
Top Pro

Fun-sounding with good details to the audio

•••
The bass has good punch and control which works really well with most genres of music. The mids are slightly forward at just the right levels, which ensures that vocals can be clearly heard. The highs are emphasized and sound great with a lot of clarity and detail, especially on the upper register...
Paolo
Top Pro

Right ear cup functions as touchpad remote

•••
Swiping or tapping on the right ear cup's surface can pause or play track, go to the next track or go back to the previous one and can control volume levels as well. Also, the right ear cup has more of a textured surface compared to the old MDR1000x model's smooth, leather-like surface. Th...
Paolo
Top Pro

Quick Attention mode allows easy conversations

•••
If you need to talk while using these, all you need to do is to cover the right ear cup with the palm of your hand. This activates Quick Attention mode which cuts off the music and amplifies voice for easy conversation. To get back to listening to music, all you need to do is to remove the palm fr...
Paolo
Top Pro

4 noise cancelling modes to choose from

•••
Aside from just turning noise cancelling on or off, users can set it to Ambient Sound which offers 2 further options.Normal Mode allows some outside noise through, while Voice Mode allows voice frequencies through the noise cancelling.
Paolo
Top Pro

Mobile app grants extra functionality and easy tweaking of the headphones

•••
The WH1000XM2 comes with a companion mobile app that allows you to easily tweak the various settings of the headphones including EQ and noise cancelling levels. The app can also take advantage of the accelerometers in your smartphone as you move, adjusting noise cancelling and audio settings on the...
Paolo
Top Pro

Good noise isolation

•••
These have great noise isolating properties and can block out a good amount of sound even with the noise cancelling off. The ear cups are closed back, while the ear pads go over the ear and seal well, awhich effectively minimizes sound leakage to and from the headphones.
Paolo
Top Pro

Can fold down to a more compact size

•••
The ear cups can be folded into the headband. This reduces the headphones' size so that it can easily fit inside bags.
Paolo
Top Pro

Active noise cancelling is very good

•••
The WH-1000XM2's active noise cancelling is one of the best in the market today. With the mode activated, a significant amount of outside noise is blocked, allowing you to really enjoy your music with minimal distractions. The Bose QC 35 II slightly edges out the Sony in this aspect though.
Paolo
Top Pro

Built in mic makes taking calls very easy

•••
There is a built in microphone which negates the need to remove the headphones to answer a call.
Paolo
Top Pro

Can be used wired or wireless

•••
You can use these headphones wired using the detachable 3.5mm cable or you can go wireless with Bluetooth.
Paolo
Top Pro

Very long battery life

•••
The internal battery can last up to 30 hours of listening to music in wireless mode with noise cancelling on. This number goes up to 40 hours in wired mode with noise cancelling activated.
Paolo
Top Pro

Carrying case allows for easy and secure transport

•••
This comes with a carrying case that is made from high quality materials. It should provide extra protection to the headphones against scratches and minor impacts, which are quite common when taking these while traveling.
Paolo
Top Con

Highs can be too piercing

•••
The boosted highs add a lot of detail to the sound that these headphones produce. This also makes it too harsh for some.
See 9 more ProsSee 11 more Pros
Excellent

Sony MDR-1000X

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Paolo
Top Pro

Fun-sounding with good details to the audio

•••
The bass is impactful and controlled which works really well with most genres that are popular today. The mids are slightly forward at just the right levels, which ensures that the vocals can be clearly heard. The highs are emphasized and sound great with a lot of clarity and detail, especially on...
Paolo
Top Pro

Right ear cup functions as touchpad remote

•••
Swiping or tapping on the right ear cup's surface can pause or play track, go to the next track or go back to the previous one and can control volume levels as well.
Paolo
Top Pro

Quick Attention mode allows easy conversations

•••
If you need to talk while using these, all you need to do is to cover the right ear cup with the palm of your hand. This activates Quick Attention mode which cuts off the music and amplifies voice for easy conversation. To get back to listening to music, all you need to do is to remove the palm fr...
Paolo
Top Pro

4 noise cancelling modes to choose from

•••
Users can set the feature to enabled or disabled, or set it to Ambient Sound which then offers 2 more options. Normal Mode allows some outside noise through, while Voice Mode allows voice frequencies through the noise cancelling.
Paolo
Top Pro

Good noise isolation

•••
These have great noise isolating properties and can block out a good amount of sound even with the noise cancelling off. The ear cups are closed back, the ear pads go over the ear and seal well, and this effectively minimizes sound leakage to and from the headphones.
Paolo
Top Pro

Headphones can fold down to a more compact size

•••
The ear cups can be folded into the headband. This reduces the headphones' size so that it can easily fit inside bags.
Paolo
Top Pro

Active noise cancelling is very effective

•••
The MDR 1000x's active noise cancelling is one of the best in the market today. With the mode activated, a significant amount of outside noise is blocked, allowing you to really enjoy your music with minimal distractions.
Paolo
Top Pro

Built in mic makes taking calls very easy

•••
There is a built in microphone which negates the need to remove the headphones to answer a call.
Paolo
Top Pro

Can be used wired or wireless

•••
You can use these headphones wired using the detachable 3.5mm cable or you can go wireless with Bluetooth.
Paolo
Top Pro

Long battery life

•••
The internal battery can give up to 20 hours of listening to music.
Paolo
Top Pro

Carrying case allows for easy and secure transport

•••
This comes with a carrying case that is made from high quality materials. It should provide extra protection to the headphones against scratches and minor impacts, which are quite common when taking these while traveling.
Paolo
Top Con

Highs can be too piercing

•••
The boosted highs add a lot of detail to the sound that these headphones produce.This also makes it too harsh for some.
Paolo
Top Con

Weight can cause comfort issues

•••
If heavy headphones are not your thing, then these may not be for you. The use of quality yet hefty and the internal battery contributes to the overall weight. As such, these can put a little extra strain on the head and neck when worn for long periods.
See 8 more ProsSee 11 more Pros & Cons
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2 Other Options Considered

Sennheiser PXC 550

Paolo
Top Pro

Effective noise cancelling

•••
The feature works really well in preventing outside noise from intruding into your music listening experience. Also, there are very little to no reports of a feeling of pressure in the ears when the feature is active.
Paolo
Top Pro

Noise cancelling levels can be adjusted

•••
You can set just how much noise is cancelled by the headphones, from maximum active noise cancelling, to an ambient mode which allows some sound into the headphones. You can also turn the feature off entirely.
Paolo
Top Pro

Powerful bass with good detail on the mids and highs

•••
The sound tuning of these headphones is focused on the lower frequencies. The bass is quite powerful with good sub-bass extension. Users who listen to a lot of hip-hop, dance and bass-heavy music will certainly enjoy the oomph that these headphones can give. The mids sound natural and smooth, yet t...
Paolo
Top Pro

Carrying case gives headphones extra travel protection

•••
The case is made from a tough fabric material which should protect the headphones from minor bumps and scratches.
Paolo
Top Pro

Right ear cup functions as remote

•••
When in wireless mode, you do not need to use buttons in order to control the functions of the headphones. The right ear cup lets you control the headphones through touch gestures. You can swipe left or right for next or previous track, swipe up or down to increase or decrease the volume or tap on...
Paolo
Top Pro

Great passive noise isolation

•••
These headphones are quite effective at preventing sound leakage, and also passively block out noise really well. This is achieved by the closed ear cup design along with the effective seal from the leather-surfaced ear pads.
Paolo
Top Pro

Can fold down for easier travel

•••
You can twist the ear cups and then fold them into the headband for a smaller, more travel friendly size. In this state, it should take up a lot less space inside your bag for less hassle when used on the go.
Paolo
Top Pro

Headphones automatically pause/play when put on/removed

•••
The Smart Pause feature detects if you are removing or putting on your headphones. These gestures will trigger the music to pause or play automatically.
Paolo
Top Pro

Comfortable to wear for long periods

•••
Soft foam and leather are used in the interior and exterior of the ear pads respectively which makes them feel really soft and smooth on the head. The same material choices can be found in the headband.
Paolo
Top Pro

Companion smartphone app offers extra functionality

•••
Sennheiser offers the CapTune smartphone app which allows users to see the battery level of the headphones, adjust the headphones' EQ, and control other functions.
Paolo
Top Con

Gesture tracking can be too sensitive

•••
Simply brushing your finger onto the right ear cup can trigger a command for the headphones. This can be annoying for some people.
See 9 more ProsSee 9 more Pros

Bose QuietComfort 25

Paolo
Top Pro

Active noise canceling is very good

•••
With the feature switched on, you can really zone in on the music. Noise canceling is very effective at blocking out ambient noise, especially the lower frequencies. On a flight for example, engine noise is drastically reduced, as well as most of the sound from the conversations in your vicinity.
Paolo
Top Pro

Noise canceling levels can be adjusted

•••
You have a number of options as to how you want to use these headphones' active noise canceling feature. You can either have the feature on or off while you are listening to music, or have noise canceling on without audio. This is a nifty feature if you just want to enjoy some peace and quiet w...
Paolo
Top Pro

Good portability

•••
The traveling case is small and provides room for spare batteries and other components. This makes it pretty portable, for those that can't or don't want to leave their headphones at work.
Paolo
Top Pro

Plenty of comfort features

•••
The QC25 feels comfortable even after wearing it for several hours. The pads go over the ear and feel soft, as the ample cushioning is covered with supple and high quality synthetic leather. Aside from the usual headband padding, it also has an inner Alcantara lining that feels really nice on the s...
Paolo
Top Pro

Battery is easily replaceable

•••
These headphones use a triple-A battery to power noise canceling. Should it run out of charge, it can easily be replaced.
Paolo
Top Pro

Light and easy to wear

•••
These headphones will not tire your head or neck out, even if you wear them for quite some time. These are pretty light at around 196 grams.
Paolo
Top Pro

Fun sound with boosted highs

•••
Sub-bass is a bit laid back, but the overall low-end production is punchy and with good extension. Mids are clear and forward so vocals, guitars and keys sound good with these. The upper treble is boosted, which results in good detail, but can also give harshness to the sound. Overall, this is a r...
Paolo
Top Con

High frequency noise may still mix with audio

•••
While low frequency sounds are effectively blocked, high frequency ones can still be heard. Female voices and high pitched noises may still get in the way of your music.
Paolo
Top Con

No noise canceling auto shut-off

•••
The feature continues to drain battery even if the headphones are not used. Turn this off before storing.
Paolo
Top Con

Noise canceling is uncomfortable for some users

•••
A number of users complain about the headphones' noise canceling having a feeling of pressure in the ears, which they find to be quite uncomfortable.
See 8 more Pros & ConsSee 8 more Pros & Cons

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