We buy our own products and put them under the same testing methodology so that you can easily compare them. Unlike most websites, we do not get our products directly from the manufacturers, which means our units aren’t handpicked and actually represent what you would buy yourself. We spend a lot of time comparing the products side-by-side to validate our results and we keep them until they are discontinued so we can continually go back and make sure our reviews are always accurate.
Earbuds have some great advantages over larger on-ear or over-ear headphones. They are more compact, portable, and many of them are more comfortable for longer listening sessions. Their smaller size means they usually aren’t as feature-packed as larger models, but there are still some great earbuds with good active noise cancellation (ANC) that are good for commuting, using at the office, or while going for a quick jog.
Bose QuietControl 30: Comfortable, effective noise cancelling earbuds
Type: Earbuds
Enclosure: Closed-back
Wireless: Yes
If you’re looking for comfortable noise cancelling earbuds with great isolation, get the Bose QuietControl 30. They have a wireless neckband design with an earbud fit that doesn’t enter the ear canal as deeply as that of in-ears, making them a more comfortable choice for longer listening sessions.
The Bose QuietControl 30 have a well-balanced sound, suitable for most music genres. They have very good noise cancelling and if ever you need to mask out even more noise, you can play your music at high volumes without distracting the people around you. They have a decent 11.4-hour battery life and have an auto-off timer that you can adjust in the Bose Connect app.
Unfortunately, their neckband is not as flexible or durable as that of other similarly designed headphones, like the Jabra Elite 65e. Their companion app also doesn’t have an EQ for you to adjust their sound. That said, they’re still good noise cancelling headphones thanks to their comfortable fit and great isolation.
Sony WI-1000X: Customizable noise cancelling in-ears
Type: In-ear
Enclosure: Closed-back
Wireless: Yes
If you like being able to customize your listening experience with your smartphone, get the Sony WI-1000X. They’re well-built wireless noise cancelling headphones with a neckband design similar to that of the Bose QuietControl 30. They have a premium look and a complete, efficient control scheme on the neckband that’s fairly easy to use.
The Sony WI-1000X have very good audio reproduction as soon as you power them on, but if you feel like you want to weak their sound a bit, you can download the Sony | Headphones Connect app to customize their sound with a graphic EQ. The app also gives you access to room effects and lets you adjust the amount of ANC.
Unfortunately, the Sony WI-1000X don’t have the greatest battery. They provide 10 hours of battery life, which is decent. However, they take 3 hours to fully charge, which is quite long. Thankfully, they can be used passively with their included audio cable without ANC. This is quite rare for wireless in-ears, so this feature is a welcome surprise which helps make the WI-1000X a solid choice overall.
Bose QuietComfort 20: Wired noise cancelling earbuds with remarkable noise isolation
Type: Earbuds
Enclosure: Closed-back
Wireless: No
If you like the Bose QuietComfort 30, but would prefer a wired option, check out the Bose QuietComfort 20 instead. They’re as comfortable as the QC30 with excellent breathability, perfect for longer listening sessions. They also don’t have a bulky neckband like the QC30, which means they’re more portable.
Since the Bose QuietComfort 20 are wired headphones, they have a 19-hour battery life, which makes them great for long road trips. You can also use them without ANC when their battery dies, so you’ll never be without music as long as you have an audio source with a headphone jack. Their earbud fit hardly leaks any sound at all too, so even if you use them without ANC you can still get decent noise isolation by increasing your volume.
Unfortunately, the QuietComfort 20 don’t have the best sound. Their bass and mid-range sound good, but they have sub-par treble performance which makes them sound a bit dark overall. They have a control module that adds a bit of bulk to their design, they’re still compact enough to keep in your pockets.
Sony WI-SP600N: Compact noise cancelling in-ears for sports
Type: In-ear
Enclosure: Closed-back
Wireless: Yes
If you want more discreet noise cancelling earbuds to wear while working out, get the Sony SP600N. They have a stable fit that’s still reasonably comfortable and they come with a couple of different in-ear tip sizes to help you find the right fit. They have a compact, portable design and great breathability, which is ideal for sports.
The WI-SP600N have very deep, powerful bass which makes them better-suited for bass-heavy genres like dubstep than more vocal-centric music. If you’re not a fan of their default sound profile, you can customize their sound profile with the Sony | Headphones Connect app.
Unfortunately, they have a mediocre battery. They only last for about 6 hours of continuous playback, which isn’t much compared to the other recommendations on this list. Their in-ear fit also isn’t as comfortable as that of earbuds for use over longer listening periods. That said, their more compact and have a less intrusive design than the Sony WI-1000X or the Bose QuietControl 20, which makes them a better option overall for sports.
Jabra Elite 65e: Decent mid-range noise cancelling earbuds
Type: Earbuds
Enclosure: Closed-back
Wireless: Yes
If you like the Bose QuietControl 30 but want something a bit cheaper, check out the Jabra Elite 65e. They have a similar design with an earbud fit that most find more comfortable than in-ears. They also have a better, more flexible neckband design that can even fit in larger pockets, which makes them a bit more portable than the QC30.
The Elite 65e have a decent default sound profile that you can further tweak thanks to the EQ available in the Jabra Sound+ app. They have reasonable noise isolation, which makes them a fair choice for use while commuting. They don’t isolate the low rumbling of bus or airplane engines as well as the Bose QC30, but they cancel out noises in the mid-range effectively, which is great for blocking out office chatter.
Like most Bluetooth-only headphones, they won’t be the best option for regularly watching videos due to their high latency, which can be disappointing if you like to watch videos on the bus home from work. That said, they still provide pretty good value for their price, thanks to their comfortable design and competent active noise cancelling feature.
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This guide may have been updated. To see all our measurements and our current recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds, please go here.
