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Many smart devices are currently on the market and ANC headphones stand out among them. Due to the removal of the 3.5mm audio jack in smartphones, wireless headphones have become a lot more popular than ever. The adoption of wireless audio devices has introduced an additional factor that people take into account when purchasing headphones – the quality of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). You may want to use ANC for various reasons, and in this article, we have compiled a list of headphones that deliver top-tier ANC performance.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Each earcup is equipped with 4 microphones, and Sony cleverly utilizes these microphones to provide an excellent ANC experience. Sony WH-1000XM5 features Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 and NC Optimizer, allowing for personalized tuning of the ANC’s processing. As a result, Sony WH-1000XM5 delivers impressive ANC performance in both outdoors and indoors.
With a total of 8 microphones, the Sony WH-1000XM5 delivers a very good ANC performance, making it especially well-suited for cutting out the wind noise and handling loud outdoor environments. If you already own the WH-1000XM4, the newer model is definitely worth considering.
Bose QuietComfort 45
We can certainly say that the Bose QuietComfort 45 is one of the best reasonably priced ANC headphones, but it’s worth noting that it doesn’t have audio quality as good as Sony WH-1000XM5.
If you don’t have the budget for the Sony WH-1000XM4 or WH-1000XM5, the Bose QuietComfort 45 will be the perfect option for you, but if you can afford the WH-1000XM4 or WH-1000XM5, go with Sony headphones.
Sony WH-1000XM4
We know, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is not Sony’s most recent headphone, but it’s important to highlight that it maintains a high level of performance, even in the year 2023.
One of the reasons why we recommend Sony WH-1000XM4 is that it actually has a more flexible design compared to WH-1000XM5, for example you can rotate the earcups freely on WH-1000XM4 whereas WH-1000XM5 has a slightly more solid design. If you want excellent ANC, you should go for the WH-1000XM5, but if you manage to get the WH-1000XM4 on sale, it might also be a good option.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
We have also included Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in our article as well. It is an in-ear earphone and one of its key specs is ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). Galaxy Buds 2 Pro was introduced in 2022 and it still does a very good job.
You may prefer to buy Sony’s in-ear headphone series like Sony LinkBuds or other Sony earbuds, but if ANC is your top priority, then you should definitely go for the Buds 2 Pro. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro boasts a distinct design in comparison to other earbuds. To ensure a good ANC experience, it’s essential that Buds 2 Pro fits well in your ear. Once you’re confident about the fit, you can make your purchase with ease. How Samsung will do in the Buds 3 series is still a matter of curiosity but the Buds 2 Pro is one of the best ANC earbuds in today’s market.
Sony WF-1000XM5
We don’t believe that Sony WF-1000XM5 has better ANC than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, but it should still give a satisfying experience. If you don’t own a Samsung phone, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is also a good option for good ANC experience.
We suggest Sony WF-1000XM5 as a Galaxy Buds 2 Pro alternative because the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro limits high-bitrate audio to Samsung devices only. If LDAC codec is crucial for you, consider buying Sony WF-1000XM5.
What do you think about ANC headphones or ANC earbuds? Would you prefer to buy an in-ear one or on-ear headphones if your top priority is the ANC?
