10 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds
The best earbuds are those which reduce the background noise allowing you to enjoy the music while still hearing a sound that is highly pitched. The devices can be useful especially when you travel on a plane. It makes a massive difference as you can listen to your favorite soundtracks without interference from the surrounding noises. These earbuds not only hinder the ambient noise but also comes with unique features that produce high-quality music. It is important to determine the features which make up the best earbuds as it gives you an idea of what to expect when shopping around. The technology behind these devices has developed over the recent years with several manufacturers coming up with various models.
It becomes difficult to determine the best given that most of them are a replica of the others having similar features and varying sound qualities. In this review, we have highlighted the ten best noise canceling earbuds that stand out above the rest. They are efficient and deliver incredible audio performance with a superior comfort. It is necessary to purchase earbuds that are worth your spending. Most of them are manufactured from reputable companies which give an assurance of quality and unique performance.
Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds Reviews for 2018
| Picture | Brand Name | Battery Life | Connection | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Sony MDRNC13 | 100 hours | Wires | |
| Bose QuietComfort 20 | 16 hours | Wires | |
| AKG K391 NC | 35 hours | Wires | |
| Bose QuietControl 30 | 10 hours | Bluetooth | |
| Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 | 60 hours | Wires | |
| Phiaton BT 220 NC | 10 to 16 hours | Bluetooth | |
| Huawei AM185 | 7 hours | Wires | |
| Sennheiser CXC 700 | 16 hours | Wires | |
| Polk Audio Ultra Focus 6000i | Unspecified | Bluetooth | |
| TaoTraonics TT-BH06 | 5 hours | Bluetooth |
1. Sony MDRNC13
Sony MDRNC13 is one of the best noise canceling earbuds that having a classic outlook and great features. It is manufactured by Sony Company which has gained a reputation over the past years for delivering quality products. The Sony MDRNC13 has an extended life battery capacity and can last for about 100 hours before the next charge. The fact that it has a Dual-use capability makes it easier to listen to music without interference from the background noise. The Sony MDRNC13 provides you with a secure fitting being made of hybrid silicone. Its unique features guarantee a durable wearing comfort and ability to reduce the ambient noise to a greater extent.
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2. Bose QuietComfort 20
The Bose QuietComfort 20 stands out as the best noise canceling earbuds available in the market. It has incredible features that deliver high performance in noise cancellation. If you want to enjoy your music in comfort without interference from background noises, the Bose QuietComfort 20 is the right earbud for you. Most users have found them useful in reducing the sound of plane engines, human conversation and street traffic.
They might not be perfect by removing the sounds completely but work at their level best when compared to most of the brands in the market. The Aware mode is one of the powerful features which is useful in lowering the level of noise canceling if you want to hear anyone around you. You only need to click the button to activate and deactivate the feature. It has 16 hours battery life that can be charged via a USB cable to 500 full charges.
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3. AKG K391 NC
The AKG K391 NC has great features which are highly competitive against the other brands of earbuds. They can be used in busy public areas or while traveling abroad as they deliver a good performance in noise cancellation. It has a longer battery life of up to 40 hours which makes it better compared to other reputable models such as the Bose earbuds. They have a top notch build quality the fact that they are made of aluminum. Other durable properties include the thick rubberized cables and aluminum casing. They have a standard in-ear design that will remain intact inside your ears provided you do not move at higher speeds. You can also replace the ear tips with the foam brands to improve the comfort of the device and high performance in sound quality.
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4. Bose QuietControl 30
The Bose QuietControl 30 is an ANC earbud that is efficient and delivers an excellent performance. It has one of the best sound qualities. They have undergone a series of upgrades from the previous versions, incorporating the latest technology. It has a lightweight neckband which houses the noise canceling circuit, with dual microphones. You can select various levels of noise cancellation since it has the Bose Connect mobile app. It helps you to fine-tune the performance of the device in any environment. The Bose QuietControl 30 has a better performance compared to most of the other models the fact that it uses a unique type of ANC technology.
It has durable properties such as the strain relief of the cables and a flexible neckband making it efficient for daily use. The lightweight neckband fits perfectly around the sides of the neck which makes it comfortable. It also matches a variety of your wardrobe choices and can also be hidden below the collar depending on an individual.
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5. Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 Noise-Cancelling Earbuds
The Audio-Technica is a reputable brand that can minimize the distracting background noise up to 95%. It also delivers a superior sound quality making it one of the best noise canceling earbuds. The ambient noise is adequately reduced since the device is equipped with active electronics in the control box that create a noise-cancelling wave. The ATH-ANC23 are effective in keeping out the sound from the plane engines and noisy public streets. However, it is important to know that they do not prevent the noise 100% in places where the music is deafening.
The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 has an impressive sound quality with a good base response. You can listen to your favorite soundtracks comfortably without distractions from the background noises. According to the several tests performed on the ATH-ANC23, it was found to make the flights extremely comfortable by filtering out the engine noise. What makes it unique is that they deliver good audio performance and provide a stunning noise cancellation. It is one of the high-quality noise canceling earbuds that are affordable and match the desired expectations.
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6. Phiaton BT 220 NC
The Phiaton BT 220 NC is one of the best Bluetooth noise canceling earbuds and provides great comfort. It is manufactured by a company that has gained much reputation because of its high-quality ANC headphones. The Phiaton BT 220 NC comes with unique design and incredible features that perform at their level best to deliver a better sound quality. It has an excellent noise canceling circuitry that enables you to control music, activate the Bluetooth connection and the ANC. It might not have many features compared to Sony MDRNC13 and Bose versions but still, maintains a high performance of the noise canceling. The battery life is almost similar compared to the Bose QuietComfort 20 since one charge takes you for about 16 hours. It can last longer depending on how frequent you use the noise canceling technology.
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7. Huawei AM185 Noise Cancelling Earbuds
If you are looking for an affordable earbud with an excellent noise cancellation, one of your great choices will be the Huawei Am185. It has an impressive audio quality and provides great comfortability. The noise cancellation circuitry is installed in a small and rectangular in-line enclosure. It has a great design with a build quality that gives it a fantastic outlook. It is also shallow in the ear, very light and fit perfectly. The Huawei AM185 earbuds can be used for long hours without discomfort from pressure points. To maximize the comfort experience and secure fit, you are provided with extra ear tips of different sizes. How entirely their fit in your ears will depend on an individual's preferences on the size of ear tips.
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8. Sennheiser CXC 700
They are one of the earbud brands that are affordable and categorized among the best because of their comfortability and quality of audio performance. They are capable of blocking the surrounding noises to a larger extent once fitted perfectly in the ear canal. It claims to prevent about 90% of sounds at low frequencies. According to the texts that were performed on the Sennheiser CXC 700, it showed great results when both the fan and NC were switched on. The constant irritating noise of the fan automatically disappeared proving the effectiveness of this model of earbuds.
It comes with three modes of cancellation making it unique compared to other cheaper brands. The first mode prevents sound frequencies that are very low while the second blocks sound at a higher set of frequency above the first. The third mode combines both the first and the second and is mostly used to prevent the ambient noises. Other people would use the first and the second modes when they want to listen to someone speaking or the surrounding activities.
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9. Polk Audio Ultra Focus 6000i Noise Cancelling Earbuds
It is ranked among the best noise canceling earbuds because it delivers a high sound performance focusing much on the details. Its salient features enhance the comfort and effectiveness of the Polk Audio 6000i earbuds. They have active controls and high-quality materials that give it a great appearance. It comes with a variety of earbud tips, and you can always choose one that fits perfectly. It has a small phone jack with a nice flexible rubber bend allowing you to use it without hooking up things. After testing the Polk Audio 6000i, it showed amazing results as it minimized the surrounding noises to a greater extent. You could hardly hear other people talking or even the noise from the bus engine. Their speakers have a superior output compared to the other brands of earbuds and have a sensitivity of close to 115db.
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10. TaoTraonics TT-BH06
If you have been looking for earbuds that are affordable and deliver quality music, you should check out the TaoTraonics TT-BH06. It is categorized among the best earbuds because of their unique designs with a well-balanced clear sound. They are lightweight and fit perfectly in the ear canal enhancing their comfortability. It also has an excellent noise cancellation technology estimated to reduce the noise to about 90%. Unlike most of the brands offered on the market, the TaoTraonics TT-BH06 have a 4.1 advanced Bluetooth technology. It allows you to connect your smartphone to the headphones. It is effective as you can make and receive calls while on the go. It still delivers a decent sound quality during communication. It is one of the affordable earbuds that has wireless Bluetooth connectivity and gives you a great experience when listening to your favorite music.
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Conclusion
It is always important to determine the features that make up the best products before you make the final decision. Most of these models have been manufactured by reputable companies while some have undergone a series of upgrades from their previous versions. The Bose Quiet Comfort 20 has been a top-end product from the Bose Company for quite some time. It has received a high competition from the Sony MDRNC13 which can last up to 100 hours before the next charge. The longer life battery capacity distinguishes the two giving much prominence to Sony MDRNC13. However, the Bose QuietComfort is also dominant in various aspects such as Aware Mode and StayHear+ tips.
They deliver a decent performance in the quality of sound and the ability to block out interference from the outside noises. The Audio-Technica and AKG K391 NC also have great features that are worth your spending. It should be your priority to find earbuds that deliver the best performance, as they give you an exciting experience when listening to your favorite soundtracks.