Active noise cancellation earbuds help you get an immersive audio experience. In this post, we have listed the best noise cancelling earbuds you should look at in 2020.
Noise cancellation helps you hear every beat, instrument and nuance in the music because it blocks off the background noise helping you focus and enjoy the music.
Whether you are looking for earbuds to wear while travel, gym or work, these earbuds are some of the best noise cancelling earbuds available in 2020.
Top 3 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds
1. Sony WF-1000XM3
What We Like
- Bass is good
- Smart listening
- Active noise cancellation
What Is Missing
- Looks bulky
2. Apple AirPods Pro
What We Like
- 6 hours of playback
- Transparency mode
- Active noise cancellation
What Is Missing
- Bass is average
3. Sennheiser Momentum
What We Like
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Transparent hearing
- Active noise cancellation
What Is Missing
- Bass is low
7 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds
- 1. Sony WF-1000XM3
- 2. Apple AirPods Pro
- 3. Sennheiser Momentum
- 4. Sony WF-SP800N
- 5. Bose QuietComfort 20
- 6. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E4
- 7. Echo Buds
- 7 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds
- 1. Sony WF-1000XM3 – Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds
- 2. Apple AirPods Pro – Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
- 3. Sennheiser Momentum – Best Noise Cancelling Earphones
- 4. Sony WF-SP800N – Best Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
- 5. Bose QuietComfort 20 – Bose Noise Canceling Earbuds
- 6. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E4 – Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds
- 7. Echo Buds – Best Budget Noise Cancelling Earbuds
- Quick Recap On 7 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds
- Ending thoughts
1. Sony WF-1000XM3 – Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM3
The Sony M3’s are the best noise cancelling earbuds available in 2020 because of their noise cancelling processor QN1e.
These Sony earbuds provide up to 24 hours of playback along with the charging case. A quick 10 min charge provides up to 90 minutes of playback due to the USB type C charging which is fantastic.
While talking on calls, the mic blocks of the background noise.
Thus you can be in loud environments and the person you are communicating with would be able to hear you clearly.
Hence, these earbuds are one of the best noise cancelling earbuds you should consider in 2020.
With Alexa enabled, you can activate Alexa with a touch and control your songs and volume with your voice
If you want to hear songs and communicate with your colleagues at the same time, you can do so with the Quick Attention Mode where the earbuds provide ambient sound which makes it easy to communicate.
Sound Quality
The bass on these earbuds is deep resonating and booming without overpowering the mids.
The mids on these earbuds are detailed and accurate.
On the high notes, these earbuds are clear without causing any hearing fatigue which is impressive.
In addition, these Sony earbuds include Smart listening mode where it switches automatically to ambient mode depending upon your activity.
The Sony connect app included for Android and Ios devices, allows you to control and tweak the ambient sound settings as per your preferences.
The touch controls on these earbuds allow you to control your music, volume and many other functions without having to use your phone which is worth mentioning.
Overall the earbuds are one of the best earbuds you can get in 2020.
Pros
- Bass is good
- Alexa enabled
- Smart listening
- USB type C charging
- Active noise cancellation
- 24 hours playback with charging case
Cons
- Looks bulky
- Not water resistant
2. Apple AirPods Pro – Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Apple AirPods Pro
Airpods pro have been one of the best releases by Apple till date.
These earbuds are lightweight and have an airy fit due to which you can wear these earbuds for long hours without feeling any weight.
The Airpods pro includes IP4 rated which makes these earbuds water resistant.
The force sensor on these Airpods allows you to control your music without having to use your phone.
The earbuds include Bluetooth 5.0 which provides a strong coverage.
While watching Netflix and youtube videos there were no syncing delays which is worth mentioning.
The Airpods Pro can connect to multiple devices at the same time and can be switched seamlessly.
Furthermore, these Airpods Pro provides up to 5 hours of playback time which can be a let down for many users.
However, along with the charging case, the Airpods pro can provide up to 24 hours of playback which is good.
A 15 minute quick charge provides 3 hours of playback due to fast charging which is included.
The transparency mode on these earbuds provides background noise which makes the music experience natural.
Sound Quality
The bass on these Airpods Pro is well balanced and smooth.
The mids on these earbuds including vocals and instruments are clear and distortion-free.
The sound stage of these earbuds is wide. The high frequencies on these Airpods Pro are smooth and clean which is why these earbuds are popular.
The “Active noise cancellation” on these Airpods pro blocks off background noise which provides a premium hearing experience thereby making it one of the best noise cancelling earbuds.
The mic on these Airpods Pro blocks off the background noise while communicating on calls which allows you to communicate on calls clearly in loud environments as well due to which these earbuds can be considered as one of the best noise cancelling earbuds.
Overall the earbuds are ideal for someone who prefers quality sound signature.
Pros
- Good fit
- 6 hours of playback
- Transparency mode
- Premium build quality
- Active noise cancellation
- Mic blocks background noise
Cons
- Bass is average
- Volume cannot be managed with the earbuds
3. Sennheiser Momentum – Best Noise Cancelling Earphones
Sennheiser Momentum
Sennheiser Momentum earbuds are known for their premium sound signature.
These Sennheiser earbuds allow you to switch off your surroundings because of its active noise cancellation feature which allows you to focus on the music thereby making it one of the best noise cancelling earbuds.
The Momentum earbuds offer 7 hours of playback on a full charge. Along with the charging case it provides up to 28 hours of playback which is impressive.
In addition, these earbuds allow you to control your music with the touchpad technology which is installed in both the earbuds.
The ergonomic design provides a secure fit which makes these earbuds ideal for gyming, working, commuting and daily activities.
Apart from that, these earbuds allow you to tailor sound as per your preference with the help of the app which is included for Android and Ios users thereby providing every user a customized experience.
The mic on these earbuds blocks off background noise while communicating on call which can be very useful if you are in a loud environment thereby making it one of the best noise cancelling earbuds you should consider in 2020.
Sound Quality
The mids on these earbuds are detailed and clear. The bass on these earbuds is well balanced.
The highs on these earbuds sound crisp and accurate which makes the hearing experience pleasant.
Thus it allows you to communicate clearly without any background disturbances.
The Momentum earbuds include Transparent hearing where you can hear background noise which can come handy while walking on the streets or communicating with others without having to remove your earbuds.
The Momentum wireless earbuds come with IPX4 rating which makes these earbuds water resistant.
The Bluetooth connectivity of these earbuds are impressive which provide strong connectivity.
Overall the earbuds are worth the dollars in terms of the sound quality they provide.
Pros
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Water resistant
- Transparent hearing
- Premium build quality
- Active noise cancellation
- Usb type C for quick charging
Cons
- Bass is low
- App needs improvements
4. Sony WF-SP800N – Best Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Sony WF-SP800N
When it comes to bass and active noise cancellation, Sony still remains the best because of its superior noise cancellation technology and punchy bass.
The Sony earbuds come with an IP55 rating which makes these earbuds sweatproof and splashproof.
These Sony earbuds provide up to 9 hours of playback on a full charge which is stunning.
Along with the charging case, these earbuds can provide upto 18 hours of playback along with active noise cancellation which makes these earbuds one of the best active noise cancellation earbuds.
In case you want to communicate without removing your earbuds, you can do so with their Smart listening technology.
Thus, the earbuds provide ambient noise to keep you aware of the surroundings.
With Alexa enabled you can control your music with your voice which is worth mentioning.
Apart from that, the touch sensor controls added on these earbuds allow you to change tracks, play, pause and control volume.
Sound Quality
The bass on these earbuds is powerful and strong which makes the hearing experience fun.
The mids on these earbuds are accurate and clear without sounding too forward.
The high notes on these earbuds are detailed and clean without causing hearing fatigue.
The mic of the earbuds blocks off background noise while answering calls which allows you to communicate clearly in loud environments thereby making these earbuds one of the best noise cancelling earbuds.
The active noise cancellation of these earbuds blocks off background noise which helps you hear every beat of the music.
The noise cancellation level and sound settings can be controlled within the app that is available for Android and Ios devices.
Overall the earbuds do provide premium audio with powerful bass which makes the hearing experience immersive.
Pros
- Bass is good
- App included
- Smart listening
- Premium build quality
- Active noise cancellation
- Mic blocks background noise on calls
Cons
- Appears bulky
- App needs improvements
5. Bose QuietComfort 20 – Bose Noise Canceling Earbuds
Bose QuietComfort 20
When we talk about sound, Bose is hard to ignore because of their premium headphones.
The Bose QuietComfort 20’s are one of the best earbuds released by Bose.
The QC 20’s includes noise cancelling technology which eliminates background noise to help you focus on every beat of the music, making it one of the best noise cancelling earbuds.
In addition, it includes Aware mode as well in case you wish to communicate with others without removing the earbuds.
The QC 20’s are available in two versions, one for Ios and the other for Android users.
The ear tips are soft and comfortable with a secure fit which makes these earbuds ideal for regular use and workouts.
The QC 20’s come with Active eq which allows you to control your music as per your preference.
The inline microphone allows you to switch between calls and music seamlessly without having to use your phone thereby making it one of the best noise cancelling earbuds.
Sound Quality
The bass on these earbuds is clear and thumping which makes the hearing experience premium.
The mids on these earbuds are detailed and bright without any distortion.
The high notes on these earbuds are smooth without causing any hearing fatigue or ear irritation.
In terms of sound quality, the earbuds are top notch. However, the build quality of these earbuds seem average especially for their price point.
The active noise cancellation on these earbuds are phenomenal due to which these earbuds are by far one of the best noise cancelling earbuds available in 2020.
Pros
- Mic is clear
- Aware mode
- Bass is good
- Eartips fit well
- Inline controller
- Active noise cancellation
Cons
- Wired earbuds
- Build quality is average
6. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E4 – Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Bang & Olufsen
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E4 is known for their minimalist design along with their immersive music experience.
The E4 earbuds come with advanced Active noise cancelling technology which lets you disconnect from the background helping you focus on every nuance of the music thereby making it one of the best noise cancelling earbuds.
Along with active noise cancellation, it also includes transparency mode where you can hear background noise which can be helpful in office environments.
These earbuds are lightweight which makes it comfortable to wear them for extended periods of hours without any discomfort.
The microphone of these earbuds are clear and crisp which makes it easy to communicate on calls.
The inline controller helps you answer calls and control music without having to use your phone.
Sound Quality
The bass response on these earbuds is smooth and well balanced without being loud.
The highs on these earbuds are crisp and clear.
The mids are precise and accurate without sounding too forward.
The E4 earbuds provide up to 20 hours of active noise cancellation playback on a full charge which makes these earbuds one of the best noise cancelling earbuds.
The earbuds need to be charged only for the active noise cancellation feature since there are two mics that actively block background noise.
Overall the earbuds are ideal for someone who is looking for active noise cancellation with premium audio quality.
Pros
- Mids are detailed
- Minimalist design
- Mic quality is good
- Transparency mode
- Premium sound quality
- Active noise cancellation
Cons
- Bass is low
- Better options in this price range
7. Echo Buds – Best Budget Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Echo Buds
The Echo Buds provide premium sound at an affordable price.
These earbuds include Bose active noise reduction technology which blocks background noise allowing you to enjoy every beat of the song thereby, making it one of the best noise cancelling earbuds.
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The Echo buds are Alexa enabled due to which you can control your music with your voice.
Furthermore, these Echo Buds offer 5 hours of playback on a full charge which is decent enough. A quick 15-minute charge provides up to 2 hours of playback.
Along with the charging case, the earbuds can provide up to 20 hours of playback which is enough for most users.
The Echo buds are sweat-resistant which makes it ideal for regular use including workouts and jogging.
The Passive listening mode allows you to hear background noise which can come handy while communicating with others or while walking on the streets.
You can activate the Passive listening mode simply by double tapping your earbuds.
The Echo Buds include touch-sensitive controls which makes it easy to control your music without having to use your mobile device.
Sound Quality
The bass on these earbuds is decent without sounding too loud.
The mids on these earbuds are accurate and precise.
The high notes on these earbuds sound a bit recessed however they still sound clear and distortion-free.
The Bluetooth 5.0 version included in these earbuds provides strong connectivity and minimum dropouts which is phenomenal.
The mic on these earbuds blocks background noise while communicating on calls which can come handy when you’re in loud environments thereby making these earbuds one of the best noise cancelling earbuds.
Overall the earbuds offer way more than their price. These earbuds are great for someone who has a limited budget but still is looking for quality sound.
Pros
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Alexa enabled
- Water-resistant
- Mic quality is good
- Active noise reduction
- Can use single earbud independently
Cons
- USB 2.0 for charging
- Alexa doesn’t work in loud environments
Quick Recap On 7 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds
- 1. Sony WF-1000XM3
- 2. Apple AirPods Pro
- 3. Sennheiser Momentum
- 4. Sony WF-SP800N
- 5. Bose QuietComfort 20
- 6. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E4
- 7. Echo Buds
Ending thoughts
This was an in-depth review of the best noise cancelling earbuds. Amongst the many earbuds that we tested, we found these 7 to be the best noise cancelling earbuds.
As per our review and testing, we found the Sony WF-1000XM3 ‘s to be the best active noise cancelling earbuds.
Since every user’s needs could vary hence, we have listed 7 earbuds that we find to be the best noise cancelling earbuds in 2020.
All of the earbuds stated in this review provide premium sound, just the noise cancelling levels of each earbuds would vary.
Let us know your views about the best noise cancelling earbuds in the comment section.
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