Best Budget Noise-Canceling Headphones
Our tests show that you don't need to sacrifice performance to find headphones at a great price
By Thomas Germain
A great pair of noise-canceling headphones can be life-changing, whether you’re trying to tune out the sounds of traffic or playing children while working from home or just want some distraction-free music while running on the treadmill. But noise-canceling models are often expensive. The very best-performing options in our ratings can cost more than $300.
However, Consumer Reports has tested budget noise-canceling headphones with solid performance that cost much less. The headphones below, from Anker, Monoprice, and 1More, are all fantastic choices if you want good quality at an affordable price. We’ve found a few great models for around $50 to $60, and every pair on this list runs for around $100, and some are far less.
Each of the headphones connects over Bluetooth and gets high marks for sound. A few even match the best headphones in our tests for noise-reducing ability. They are listed in order of Overall Score in CR’s ratings, starting with the best-performing model.
Consumer Reports doesn’t accept samples from manufacturers for our ratings; we buy every product we test and rate at retail, just like you would. If you’re a Consumer Reports member, you can check out the full test results for the more than 150 headphones in our ratings.
Here’s our list of the year’s best budget noise-canceling headphones.
Monoprice BT-300ANC
This over-ear wireless model from Monoprice is usually available for around $50—a steal, given its superb noise-canceling performance and dependable sound quality. These headphones don’t sound quite as good as the Anker model listed below, but Monoprice sweetens the deal with a solid rating for predicted reliability and an outstanding owner satisfaction score. Both are based on a survey of Consumer Reports members.
The BT-300ANC features integrated controls for calls, volume, and playback, and the ear cups fold in and swivel flat for easy storage and transport. According to Monoprice, the battery will run for 8 hours between charges with Bluetooth and noise cancellation turned on. (CR doesn’t test headphones for battery life.) You can keep the music going even longer by switching off Bluetooth and using the detachable audio cable, which is included.
Monoprice BT-300ANC
Anker SoundCore Life Q20
You’ll have a hard time finding a better value in noise-canceling headphones than the Anker SoundCore Life Q20. Our tests show that they beat out other models that cost hundreds more.
The SoundCore Life Q20 has great audio quality and outstanding noise cancellation. It doesn’t sound quite as good as top-rated models, and you won’t get sought-after features like adjustable levels of noise cancellation. But at this price, that’s a sacrifice worth making.
Anker does include some appealing features, though, such as the ability to work over Bluetooth or an audio cable, and a free app that adds capabilities, including a bass boost EQ setting. According to Anker, the SoundCore Life Q20 has a generous 40-hour battery life when Bluetooth and noise cancellation are both turned on. Anker’s reliability score is mediocre, but the brand does well for owner satisfaction.
Anker SoundCore Life Q20
1MORE ColorBuds 2
This set of noise-canceling earbuds from 1MORE may be an even better deal. The 1MORE ColorBuds 2 offer the no-cords convenience of truly wireless earbuds, great sound quality, and superb noise cancellation, often for less than $80—though prices fluctuate. They don’t score quite as high as the pair listed above but they’re close, so let price be the deciding factor if you’d like.
1MORE advertises a 6-hour battery life backed by a charging case that holds enough power for two full cycles.
1MORE ColorBuds 2
Sennheiser CX Plus
This is the most expensive item on this list, but these earbuds are still a phenomenal deal. A relative newcomer, the Sennheiser CX Plus beats all but the very best noise-canceling earbuds in our ratings, including competitors that cost more than twice as much. It has top-tier sound-blocking ability, above-average audio quality, and a slew of handy functions.
It includes an auto-pause feature that stops and starts playback when you take them off and on, and an ambient sound monitoring mode to let in noise from the outside world when you want it. The touch controls include a way to adjust the volume, which is usually missing on earbuds. According to Sennheiser, you can expect 8 hours of playback backed up by an extra 16 hours of battery life in the portable charging case.
Sennheiser CX Plus
The Science Behind Noise-Canceling Headphones
Whether they’re for concentrating on work or blocking out undesirable sounds in other situations, noise-canceling headphones can be a huge help. On the “Consumer 101” TV show, Consumer Reports experts Elias Arias and James Dickerson explain to host Jack Rico the tech behind these handy devices.
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Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.
