INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:

The best noise-canceling headphones buying guide: Welcome to TheIndianSubcontinent's round-up of the best noise-canceling headphones to buy

in 2019.The best noise-canceling headphones can help you slip into audio nirvana in all kinds of situations, whether you're commuting and

trying to escape the sound of traffic and sniffling fellow commuters, on a long-haul flight and need to drown out the sound of kids

screaming or just want to get away from everything and get comfy with your favorite music at home.Noise-canceling headphones are true

wonders of the modern era because they can totally tune out any unwanted sounds, while simultaneously making your music sound even better

than any old pair of in-ear earbuds (except for the fantastic Sony WF-1000XM3s, of course). If you're yet to try a pair, we bet you'll be

truly blown away by just how well they can cancel out the outside world so you can focus on your favorite music, audiobook, podcast or

anything else with zero distractions.Plus, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday fast approaching, it's a great time to start researching which

pair of headphones you're going to buy at a discount during the massive sales event. [Update: Bowers - Wilkins have launched two new

noise-canceling headphones, the PX7 and the PX5 Wireless Headphones

The Bowers - Wilkins PX7 Wireless Headphones are an over-ear model, offering fantastic audio fidelity, while the Bowers - Wilkins PX5

Wireless On-Ear Headphones provide a compact on-ear solution for commuters

We're impressed by both models so far, but stick around to see if they make it into the best noise-canceling headphones following our full

reviews.]What you need to know about Black Friday 2019It's no secret that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to

find fantastic wireless headphone deals

Usually you'll find that mid-range brands like Optoma and Jaybird get the biggest discounts at retailers like Amazon, but it's worth bearing

in mind that Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser have all recently released new noise-canceling models – and that means older models could be

discounted

Make sure you bookmark our Black Friday deals page for the best noise-canceling headphones deals as they come in.Noise cancelation

explainedWhat is noise cancelation?Noise canceling headphones use analogue and electronic methods to block out the environmental sound

around you, allowing you to listen to your music in peace without distraction

Most noise-canceling headphones make use of the following two approaches:Passive noise cancelationThis is when the headphones physically

block outside sound from reaching your ears, and this can be achieved in a number of ways

Noise-canceling over-ear headphones typically have heavily padded earcups to achieve this, while in-ear headphones need to fit snugly in

your ear to create a tight seal, stopping environmental sounds from entering.Active noise cancelationThis method uses inbuilt microphones to

analyze environmental noise and create 'anti-noise' frequencies that are mixed in with your music playback

This effectively cancels out the sound of your surroundings using analogue or digital filters.Things to look forHow to choose the best

noise-canceling headphonesWe believe that noise-canceling headphones are just as vital as your laptop, TV or mobile phone when it comes to

tech that'll change how you live, work and play – especially if you have a long commute each day or a flight ahead of you

That means that choosing the right pair for you is important – the demands of a good pair of headphones for a flight are different to

those you'll only ever use at home.Design is hugely important, as a good pair of noise-canceling headphones need to be comfortable for long

listening sessions – look out for padded earcups and headbands in materials like memory foam for ultimate comfort. Padded earcups also

help with passive noise cancelation – in other words, they physically block sound from entering your ears

This works in tandem with active noise cancelation, with the best noise-canceling headphones using a combination of the two methods to get

rid of outside noise. As with any pair of headphones, the sound quality needs to be good, even if your focus is blocking out the world

around you

How you define good sound quality depends on your personal taste

Do you like a warm, well-rounded sound, or do you prefer ultra high-fidelity that allows you to hear every single detail of your music? Are

you a dedicated bass head or a classical music junkie?Luckily, to help you pick out a pair of over-ear headphones (or in-ear headphones)

that deliver all of the above in spades, we've put together a list of our favorite noise-canceling headphones, listed below and ranked by

their price-to-performance ratio.Best noise-canceling headphones at a glanceSony WH-1000XM3Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700Sony

WH-1000XM2Bose QuietComfort 35 IISony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless EarbudsJabra Elite 85HPhilips Fidelio NC1Bose QuietComfort 25Bowers and

WIlkins PX WirelessSennheiser HD 4.50 BTNCJBL Live 650BTNCMicrosoft Surface headphonesOur favorite modelsWhat are the best noise-canceling

headphones?(Image credit: Sony)1

Sony WH-1000XM3The best noise-canceling headphones in the world, two years runningAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: .8.99 oz | Cable length:

Impedance: 47 ohm | Battery life: 30 hours | Wireless range: 30 meters (98ft) | NFC: YesOutstanding noise cancelationFantastic sound

quality30-hour battery lifeSmall tweaks from 1000XM2Mediocre call qualityThe Sony WH-1000XM3 are the best noise-canceling headphones in the

world two years running

Sure, they might be a small refinement of last year's excellent WH-1000XM2, but subtle tweaks like using USB-C instead of microUSB and

adding padding along the bridge help make Sony's award-winning cans even better.So why does everyone love these Sony headphones so much?

Well, it's exceptionally good at cancelling outside noise

Put a pair on while vacuuming and you'll barely hear the motor running. For music lovers, the Sony WH-1000XM3 features aptX HD and Sony

LDAC, two of the best ways to listen to Hi-Res music from your phone without a wire

Finally, all of Sony's flagship headphones offer both Google Assistant and, starting in 2019, Alexa support, making them not only the best

noise-canceling cans on the market but some of the smartest, too.Read the full review: Sony WH-1000XM3 review(Image credit: Bose)2

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700Class-leading noise cancelation, but not the best battery lifeAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 25g |

Wireless range: 33 ft | NFC: YesOutstanding noise cancelationFun, lively soundElegant designBattery life could be betterMore expensive than

the Sony WH-1000XM3sThey don't quite beat the Sony WH-1000XM3s in terms of battery life and price, but the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

700 are still a brilliant pair of over-ear cans – and the best Bose headphones we've reviewed. Traditionally, noise-canceling headphones

have been designed to block out the environmental sounds around you, so that you can hear your music more clearly (or catch some shut-eye on

a noisy flight). This can be really effective if you’re listening to music

If you’re making a phone call however, the person you’re speaking to can still hear everything that’s happening around you, whether

you’re standing on a busy street or trying to speak on a rumbling train.The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 seek to remedy this, by

applying noise-cancelation to phone calls as well as music, which is fantastic feature.The sound quality is undeniably good, with a vibrant,

lively character and well-balanced soundstage.If you’re trying to decide between buying the Sony WH-1000XM3s and the Bose Noise Cancelling

Headphones 700, we’d recommend going for the former because of that lower price and better battery life. That being said, you wouldn’t

be making a mistake if you opted for the Bose cans instead (and we wouldn’t blame you if you did) – they sound great, look stunning, and

the noise-cancelation is out of this world. Read the full review: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review (Image credit:

TheIndianSubcontinent)3

Sony WH-1000XM2If you can find them, Sony's second-gen WH-1000XM2 are still greatAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 23g | Cable length: N/A |

ft | NFC: YesSuperb noise cancelationGreat-sounding audio30-hour battery lifeHinges are fragileTouch controlsIf you can find a pair, the

Sony WH-1000XM2 are still some of the best noise-canceling headphones around: They sound great, deftly wield noise cancelation technology

and cost just as much as a pair of Bose QC35s. They might have a slightly shorter battery life than Bose’s flagship over-ear headphones,

but Sony’s WH-1000XM2 outclass the QC35 in terms of performance and feature-set

You’d want to pick these Sony headphones over the Bose because not only do they provide the same level of awesome noise-cancellation,

but they have three neat tricks that Bose just doesn't have on its older headphones: one is an ambient noise mode that only lets in

mid-to-high frequency tones (announcements over a loudspeaker, for instance) and another being Quick Attention mode that allows you to let

in all outside noise without taking off the headphones

(The latter is perfect when giving a drink order on a plane or speaking to a coworker for a brief moment before diving back into your

work.) The last trick Sony has up its sleeve is the LDAC codec

Alongside the widely adopted aptX HD standard, LDAC enables Hi-Res Audio playback using the 1000XM2.Great-sounding, feature-packed and just

as affordable as the competition? The Sony WH-1000XM2 are a solid all-around pick for noise-canceling cans.Read the full review:Sony

WH-1000XM2 review(Image credit: Bose)4

Bose QuietComfort 35 IISmart noise-canceling headphones for voice assistant diehardsAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 0.68 pounds | Cable

| Wireless range: N/A | NFC: YesBroad and clear soundstageAmazing noise cancelationActive EQ an acquired tasteBoring looksComing in at

number four are the Bose QuietComfort 35 II - a nearly identical product to the already-excellent Bose QuietComfort 35 but updated for 2018

with Google Assistant

This means you still get the class-leading noise cancelation Bose is known for, good sound quality and incredible comfort, plus a convenient

assistant to answer any inquiries you might have while traveling. Taken as a whole, the Bose QC35 II NC is an excellent headphone for

travelers and commuters

Bose has found a good balance of features that will satisfy most mainstream listeners

While we don't love them as much as the better-sounding Sony WH-1000XM2, they're still top of the class for noise cancelation.Despite the

popularity of the QC35s, Bose has shaken things up by releasing a totally new wireless noise-canceling headphones model, with a focus on

sleek design and “breakthrough” audio tech: the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

They may not have pipped Sony to the top spot of the best noise-canceling headphones, but they're still a fantastic pair of over-ear

headphones, coming in at number two.Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 35 II review(Image credit: Sony)5

Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless EarbudsNoise-canceling true wireless headphones that made our dreams come trueAcoustic design: Closed |

(on-board): 6 hours | Battery life (charging case): 18 hours | Wireless range: 30ft | NFC: YesEfficient noise-cancellationInconspicuous

looksGreat fun to listen tooNo volume control on earbudsNot suitable for sportsIt's not often you'll find a pair of wired earbuds, let alone

a pair of true wireless earbuds on a list of the best noise-canceling headphones; considering it's still rare to find the technology in

earphones at all, the Sony WF-1000XM3s are very impressive indeed, and fully deserve a place in this roundup. The Sony WF-1000XM3s manage

to offer a level of noise-cancellation that's very good for a pair of earbuds – they won't offer the same isolation as a pair of over-ear

cans, but if you're after a sleek form factor then the compromise is worth it. Not only are these hands down the best-looking true wireless

headphones out there, but they combine serious noise-canceling tech with fist-pumping musicality

If you don’t want the inconvenience of carrying full-size cans, they’re a persuasive alternative.Read the full review: Sony WF-1000XM3

review(Image credit: Jabra)6

Jabra Elite 85HJabra's new noise-canceling headphones give Sony and Bose a run for their moneyAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: .65 pounds |

life: 36 hours | Wireless range: 10 meters (33ft) | NFC: N/AClass-leading battery lifeExcellent ANC performanceLacks support for high-end

codecsBass could be punchierOffering class-leading battery life, terrific style and plenty of personalization when it comes to sound

profiles, the Elite 85h is easy to recommend

That said, purists will bemoan the lack of high-end codec support and there are punchier headphones on the market at this price point. When

you consider that Jabra’s Elite 85h headphones are the company’s first attempt at premium wireless ANC headphones, the result is quite

commendable

We can’t wait to see what the company’s next premium ANC headphones will accomplish. If you want an alternative to Sony's WH-1000XM3,

these are a great option.Read the full review:Jabra Elite 85H review(Image credit: Philips)7

Philips Fidelio NC1Executive looks and great sound reproduction Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: .74 pounds | Cable length: 3.9 feet |

Battery life: 25+ hours | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: NoBrilliant, electric soundGreat build quality and battery lifeSome sound leakageStill

wiredPhilips presents a more elegant noise-canceling solution with its NC1

These on-ear headphones aren't wireless like our top pick, but that's hardly a reason to knock them

Coming in at $299/£195, the NC1 are a compact set that's high on comfort and battery life.You get a lot for the money here

In the box comes the headphones, a hard case for storage and the headphones rock a rechargeable battery that provides noise cancelation for

close to 30 hours

But best of all, the sound performance is extremely well balanced and warm.(A quite note for our Australian readers: Philips sadly no longer

sells the NC1's down under, so you'll need to import a pair if you're keen.)Read the full review: Philips Fidelio NC1 review(Image credit:

Bose)8

Bose QuietComfort 25Headphones fit for a king and an excellent value for allAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 0.68 pounds | Cable length:

Wireless range: N/A | NFC: YesStunning noise-cancellationSimple, seamless designFull, robust soundFrom 2014Wired headphonesA few years ago,

the Bose QuietComfort 25 are the best noise-canceling headphones we've ever used

The lows, mids and highs came through clear as day, never stepping over each other

Music of all sorts sounded predictably incredible

With the noise-cancellation turned on, we never felt further immersed and concentrated than when we let the QC25 engulf our ears.But that

was a few years ago and time has moved on since

Bose has released not just one sequel to these headphones, but two: the QC35 and QC35 II with Google Assistant built in, both of which we'd

recommend above the QC25.But, it's not all bad

If you don't mind using the older, wired headphones, the QC25s are a finely-tuned set of cans that provide over 35 hours of very good

noise-canceling performance with one AAA battery. Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 25 review(Image credit: Bowers - Wilkins)9

Bowers and Wilkins PX WirelessNoise-canceling headphones with a couple of tricks up their sleeveAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 335 grams

hours | Wireless range: 30 meters | NFC: NoNoise-cancellation impressesAuto pause-play works wellUSB-C chargingSound lacks definitionBowers

and Wilkins are a little late to the noise-cancellation game, but their first foray impresses. The PX Wireless aren't just a great sounding

pair of headphones, they've also got a number of other interesting tricks up their sleeve

They'll turn on and off automatically depending on whether you're wearing them or not, and they also feature the future-proof USB-C charging

standard. In our opinion their only downside is the sound quality, which we felt lacks the depth of the flagship headphones from Bose and

Sony. That said, if you've been a fan of the look of B-W's headphones in the past then the PX Wireless are certainly worth a listen. Read

the full review: Bowers and Wilkins PX Wireless review(Image credit: Sennheiser)10

Sennheiser Momentum Wireless (2019)Headphones that don't skimp on smart featuresAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Cable length: N/A |

Wireless range: N/A | NFC: YesBrilliant audio qualityCool designCustomizable settingsBattery life isn't greatMore expensive than rivalsIn

terms of sheer sound quality, the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless (2019) headphones sound brilliant, with high levels of detail, warm bass, and

natural-sounding highs. The customizable noise cancelation on offer here is also good, but it doesn’t quite reach the class-leading

standards set by the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless headphones.They have nowhere near the battery life of Sony’s headphones, and are more

expensive – which begs the question, why buy the Sennheisers when you could have the WH-1000XM3?Well, if built-in Tile tracking appeals to

you, and you like the industrial design and premium materials of the Momentum Wireless, that could be reason enough – and if you do opt

for them over the Sony model, you won’t be missing out on any audio quality

In that respect, they’re truly matched. Read the full review: Sennheiser Momentum Wireless (2019) review(Image credit: JBL)11

JBL Live 650BTNCGreat noise-canceling headphones for those on a budgetAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 249g | Cable length: 3.93ft |

life: 20-30 hours | Wireless range: 30ft (10m) | NFC: NoGreat soundCompact designOn-ear form-factor gets uncomfortableInitially confusing

controlsFor the money, the JBL Live 650BTNC punch above its weight in terms of sound quality, build, and features

They offer your choice of either Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, and can have their EQ customized by the JBL Headphones

app

Battery life is rated at 20 hours with ANC and wireless enabled and if you use the JBL Live 650BTNC with a wire with ANC enabled, you can

get upwards 30 hours on a single charge.If you don’t want to splurge on the Bose QC35 II or Sony WH-1000XM3, you’ll be satisfied with

the JBL Live 650BTNC knowing that you’re getting 80% of the performance at 50% of the price tag.Read the full review:JBL Live 650BTNC

review(Image credit: Microsoft)12

Microsoft Surface headphonesImpressive bass and great noise cancelation from Microsoft cansAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 0.64Ibs | Cable

Impedance: N/A | Battery life: 15 hours | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: YesBrilliant sound qualityEffective noise cancelationIntuitive

controlsDesign won’t appeal to allSound may be too warm for someWhile they're not quite up to par with the flagship noise-canceling cans

from Sony and Bose, Microsoft’s Surface headphones are surprisingly good, with a stunningly warm sound, and generous bass

frequencies.Problematically, the active noise-canceling works pretty well, although it won’t block out all ambient noise in your

environment, especially if you're somewhere noisy

That being said, if you have the noise-canceling turned on while listening to music, you can pretty much get lost in the experience without

being disturbed by your noisy shared office of the rumbling of the train on your commute. Although we were initially unconvinced by the

high price (particularly when you can buy quality cans from heritage audio brands for less), most of the Surface Headphone's features work

so seamlessly that it feels justified.Read the full review:Microsoft Surface Headphones review(Image credit: Nuraphone)BONUS: Nura

NuraphoneThe strange in-ear, over-ear hybrid boasts decent ANCAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Cable length: N/A | Frequency

NFC: YesRich, full soundExcellent noise isolationLimited controls on headphonesForm factor can be restrictingIf you haven't found something

quite to your liking so far, we have one last option for you to look at – the all-new Nura Nuraphone over-ear/in-ear hybrid

Their form factor means you’ve not only got an earbud sitting at the entrance of your ear canal, but also an over-ear cushion sitting over

your entire ear

This effectively means you’ve got two physical barriers meaning that the noise from the outside world can’t get to your ears. While

more traditional over-ear headphones do a better job offering useful features at a reasonable price, the Nuraphone will appeal to the more

experimental audio crowd looking to be on the bleeding-edge of the next big thing.Read our full review:Nuraphone Headphones

reviewNoise-canceling headphones deals2SqPQj4CcRktWmw2YAWbSH.jpg?#