#noise-cancellation

#noise-cancellation

The Beats Studio Pro headphones support active noise cancellation, so you can filter out distracting background noises when you really want to focus in on whatever it is you're listening to. This is great for when flying to overcome the loud noise of the plane engine as well as when just trying to ignore nearby conversations in a chatty office. Then when you do want to engage with the world once more, you can switch over to transparency mode to let outside noises come through.

The new devices are an update to the Fairbuds XL with noise cancellation, first launched in 2023 and designed with repairability in mind. On these headphones, owners can replace the battery, cushions, speaker covers, headband, and drivers on both the new and older models. To make repairs, you can easily open up the headphones with a guitar pick or a credit card and a basic screwdriver. The company has tutorials on its YouTube channel to guide you through the process.

Wireless earbuds are better than ever in 2025, but there's no substitute for a pair of big, beefy, wireless over-ear headphones. With over-ear audio, you get (ideally) active and passive noise cancellation, a bigger battery, and added comfort with cushy cups that don't plug up your ear canal. Just like wireless earbuds, though, there are lots of different wireless headphones out there, and even the best of the best have different strengths and weaknesses.

DJI - one of our favorite go-to brands for cameras - also has a solid lineup of wireless microphones and we just spotted an option going for less. The DJI Mic Mini, which typically retails for $119, is now going for just $74 at Amazon, after a generous 38% discount. It's the lowest price we've seen in the past 30 days; even Prime Day didn't bring it this low. We recommend grabbing it sooner rather than later, as the offer might wrap up anytime now.

The orignal Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are aptly named, offering plush comfort, good sound, and the best noise canceling we'd ever tested upon their release. They stood as the unequivocal noise-canceling masters until Sony rivaled their dominance with the WH-1000XM6, which brings new tech like a crazy-fast chipset to inch past the Ultra in some scenarios. The QuietComfort Ultra 2 improve upon the original, though this is a minor update with very similar noise-canceling and audio performance.

The four environmental modes can be of some help here, but the best in my experience was the default Comfort mode, which "reduces the sharpness of high-frequency sounds and overall intensity, creating a more comfortable, balanced listening experience." The Atom X's Conversation mode was too sharp for much use, while the Crowd and TV modes didn't make a big impact in comparison to the Comfort mode.

The QC Ultra 2's defining theme is that it doesn't attempt to rewrite Bose's legacy but rather tidies it up. They look identical to the first generation, except for the yokes, which swap a matte aluminum finish for shiny polished metal. The QC Ultra 2's earcups are slightly shallower than those of their predecessor, which can cause fit issues for people with larger heads and ears.

They're usually a little expensive at $250, but Amazon has them marked down to just $200 in a variety of colors. While ear hooks might sound a little odd coming from the world of more traditional wireless earbuds, there's no need to worry. These are among the most comfortable earbuds we've tested, with our reviewer Ryan Waniata noting that he "wore the buds for several hours a day over a full week with barely a pinch."

The Wave T5 isn't just another wireless mic - it's engineered to perform under pressure. With a 120dB maximum SPL and an 80dB signal-to-noise ratio, the device captures everything from whispered narration to dynamic vocal projection with remarkable clarity. Its 48kHz/24-bit resolution delivers the kind of studio-level sound you'd expect from bulky, high-end rigs, all in a package that clips discreetly onto your shirt.

As a seasoned commuter, headphones are an essential.

The 30mm drivers here are the same as Sony's WH-1000XM6 headphones, so you're getting rich audio as a baseline, with some EQ presets designed specifically for effects you'll encounter in FPSs, like footsteps, gunshots, and directional sound effects. Notably, however, they're smaller than the 40mm drivers in the H9, supporting Sony's goal here in allowing for clearer, more detailed sound.

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are available for $46.99, their best price ever. They offer good sound and impressive noise cancellation along with a comfortable fit.

The AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) tops ZDNET's best AirPods list because they offer impressive sound quality, immersive noise cancellation, all-day comfort, and a wireless charging case.