Stiftung Warentest
Noise-cancelling headphones in the test: These are the best models
Updated 10/13/2024Reading time: 4 min.
Listen to your favorite music without noise or annoying noises: headphones with active noise reduction ensure peace and quiet and impress with their high sound quality. Stiftung Warentest tested headset headphones and in-ears. We present the test results.
For a long time, headphones with active noise cancellation were particularly practical in open-plan offices or when traveling. On the train, plane or elsewhere, the clever technology eliminates ambient noise and monotonous noise. The headphones are also practical in the home office and isolate you from domestic noises and other residents. Well-known models come from major manufacturers such as JBL and Bose. And even small in-ears are available with Active Noise Canceling (ANC).
In the “test” issue 04/2024, Stiftung Warentest took a close look at current Bluetooth headphones and added eleven new models to its selection in September 2024. We show the best in-ears and over-ears with active noise cancellation. These are the test results:
Stiftung Warentest has already tested 340 pairs of Bluetooth headphones, 189 of which have active noise cancellation. The headphones are examined according to the criteria of sound, active noise reduction, wearing comfort and handling, battery, durability and harmful substances. All models are wireless and connect to your cell phone or tablet via Bluetooth.
The in-ear headphones offer the best noise cancellation of the headphones currently tested Galaxy Buds FE von Samsung with the “test” quality rating “good (1.7)”. The currently tested headband headphones with the best noise cancellation and the “test” quality rating “good (1.8)” are the ones QuietComfort Headphones von Bose.
The headband headphones also scored “good (1.8)”. Tune 770NC from JBL away. The model also has the best battery of all the headphones tested. With a purchase price of less than 100 euros, the in-ear headphones are impressive Soundcore Liberty 4 NCin the overall ranking they scored “good (2.0)”.
The test result: The Galaxy Buds FE in-ear headphones from Samsung offer the best noise cancellation of all the Bluetooth headphones tested with the “test” quality rating “good (1.7)”. Not only in the overall ranking, but also in noise canceling, they achieved the top grade and scored “very good (1.5)”. The battery is rated “satisfactory (2.9)”, but its durability stands out with the top rating “very good (1.0)”.
Product details: The Galaxy Buds can be charged using the included case and have a running time of around six and a half hours. You can answer and end phone calls using the headphones; However, volume controls, the function to skip forward and back in tracks and voice control are not integrated. Practical: The fit of the Galaxy Buds FE can be adjusted using ear pads in two different sizes.
The test result: The QuietComfort Headphones from Bose achieved the “test” quality rating of “good (1.8)” in the overall rating and received a sub-grade of “very good (1.5)” in the “Active Noise Reduction” category. When it comes to wearing comfort and handling, they score a “good” rating, and their durability is even rated “very good (0.8)”.
Product details: The headphones are foldable and have a lot to offer in terms of user-friendly operation: They come with volume control, voice control, the function of skipping back and forth on tracks and you can use them to accept and end telephone calls. The total running time is around 26.5 hours, which is significantly longer compared to the in-ears, but compared to all other headphones tested, the value of the Bose model is at the lower end.
The test result: The JBL Tune 770NC headphones also impress with an overall grade of “good (1.8)”. They perform “good” to “very good” in all categories, but the verdict is particularly above average when it comes to battery life: Here the headphones score the top grade of “very good (0.9)”.
Product details: The wireless Galaxy Buds2 from Samsung impress with strong sound and compact design in four modern colors. The noise suppression blocks out disturbing ambient noises, and background noises are also filtered out when making phone calls.
The test result: The Liberty 4 NC earbuds from Soundcore by Anker scored “good (2.0)” in the overall rating of Stiftung Warentest. They impress with “very good” durability and a “good” battery. Above all, they are significantly cheaper than competing products that receive similarly good ratings.
Product details: According to the manufacturer, the wireless in-ears from Soundcore by Anker offer noise cancellation of up to 98.5 percent. The audio drivers ensure consistently clear and detailed sound, while six microphones and built-in artificial intelligence get the most out of your phone conversations.
Listen to music in peace or simply block out the noise and don’t play any songs at all: the headphones with active noise cancellation bring significant advantages when you’re on the move or in the home office and almost all of them received “good” grades in the test.
The in-ear headphones Galaxy Buds FE von Samsung and the QuietComfort headphones from Bose are clear test winners in terms of their noise suppression. However, both models are not exactly cheap. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, we recommend the Earbuds Liberty 4 NC from Soundcore by Anker. In any case, it’s pleasing that you can’t really go wrong when buying noise-cancelling headphones: almost all of the tested models scored “good” in the overall rating.
ANC stands for Active Noise Canceling and suppresses annoying outside noises. There are microphones on the headphones that detect sounds. A processor inside then generates a counter-sound that cancels out the noise. This technique works best with monotonous outside noises such as those on a plane or train.
Only with Active Noise Canceling (ANC) the noise is canceled out with counter-sound and is significantly more effective than passive noise canceling, for which only particularly thick ear cushions are used.
The different variants indicate the design of the headphones. Over-ear models completely enclose the ear. This is the best way to block out external noise. However, in summer it can get warm under the cushions. On-ear headphones rest on your ears. With these models it is particularly important that they fit optimally and do not press. In-ear headphones are the small plugs that you put in your ear.
A comfortable fit of the headphones is crucial. This is not only important for comfort, the sound quality also decreases if the fit is poor. Practical features also include a long battery life and individual noise reduction settings. Most models allow you to adjust the strength of the ANC.
However, your personal perception of sound varies. So check what is important to you and what music you listen to: Do you prefer particularly strong bass or clear hearing?