The best noise-cancelling headphones money can buy

BEST OF THE REST

Getting away from the world for a bit of ‘you time’ is easier said than done. Babies, colleagues, that idiot on the bus talking too loudly on his phone. That’s where a pair of noise-cancelling headphones come in. They use active noise cancellation technology (ANC) to quieten the hubbub of your surroundings and leave you at one with your thoughts… and your music of course. A commuter’s companion, then, and a traveller’s must-have – but with so many to choose from, where do you start? Well right here, of course. We’ve tested nine of the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market, at varying prices, to help you choose your quiet-time compadre. Here are the top three.

AKG N60 NC WIRELESS – $229

What’s particularly striking about these headphones is the clarity through the midrange and treble. The detail that comes from vocals and instruments is superb, and a particular effort is given to making sure the high end is clean without any harsh edges. This helps to give it an upfront and enthusiastic sound, that really get your toes tapping. Dynamics are great too, and we’re impressed by the amount of space on offer as well – for a compact pair of closed back headphones, there is plenty of room that instruments and vocals don’t sound squeezed. It’s hard to imagine any headphones at this price coming close to what the N60 NC Wireless offer. In fact, they hold their own against headphones $100 more expensive. A very tempting buy indeed.

BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 35 – $349

The QC35s deliver a clear, crisp and balanced sound. Other headphones might be bassier or more attacking, but the QuietComforts are tuned to stay pretty neutral and deliver the kind of clarity and spaciousness that makes them suited to both movies and music. There is a slight zing in the treble, but that shouldn’t prove much of a problem as long as you avoid overly compressed tracks. For this very reason, the lack of the superior aptX variant of Bluetooth is a bit of a shame, but only Android users will miss this as the iPhone doesn’t support it anyway.

SENNHEISER PXC 550 – $320

If the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless are for the style conscious traveller, their cheaper PXC 550 siblings are for those that put functionality first. But while the Momentums go for a popular full-bodied balance, the PXC 550s are a little leaner. There’s still enough bass to make itself known, but it’s not the rich rumble you’ll get with the Momentums. It makes for a clean, clear and precise sound, with a midrange that’s king. The treble sits on the bright side of neutral but keeps itself reigned in enough that it’s never annoying – if anything, it helps to give the PXC 550s an upfront and enthusiastic tone.