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11 best noise-cancelling headphones in Singapore for all budgets
From brands such as Bose, Apple and Sony
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True active noise cancelling (ANC) and wireless capabilities used to be premium features for pricier and higher-end headphones. Thanks to the advancements in technology, especially in the last few years, these features are now more commonly available.
Like noise-cancelling earbuds
Depending on your needs from budget to portability, here are some of the best noise-cancelling headphones in Singapore to buy.
In this article:
Our top picks for best noise-cancelling headphones
Best noise-cancelling headphones: What to look out for
Best noise-cancelling headphones to shop now
Best noise-cancelling earbuds: Alternatives to ANC headphones
Our top picks for best noise-cancelling headphones
Overall best ANC headphones:
Sony WH-1000XM5
Best affordable noise-cancelling headphones:
Audio Technica ATH-S300BT
Splurge for best ANC headphones:
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
Best ANC headphones for Apple users:
Apple Airpods Max
Best noise-cancelling headphones: What to look out for
These are some features to look out for before choosing the right ANC headphones that best fits your lifestyle and needs.
Comfort, fit and portability
Headphones come with a thick headband and ear cups. They can come in on-ear or over-ear designs.
Most noise-cancelling headphones are over-ear headphones and cover the ears completely. While over-ear headphones tend to provide better sound quality, the trade-off is they are heavier.
If you intend to wear your noise-cancelling headphones for long periods, look into lightweight models, padded ear cups and adjustable headbands to reduce ear and head strain.
For easy portability, consider foldable designs or over-ear headphones that come with a carrying case.
Type of noise cancellation
Active Noise Cancellation: Reduces distracting ambient sounds through anti-noise signals from microphones and speakers.
Passive Noise Cancellation: Utilises physical features of the headphones like snug ear cups to block out ambient sound.
Sound quality and battery life
Good sound quality can be subjective to personal preferences. Look out for reputable brands for decent and reliable sound.
Especially for wireless models, good battery life is a useful feature to look into so you don’t have to worry about charging your device constantly.
Build quality and additional features
To use your headphones for a longer period of time, choose one that is made of durable materials like metal and replaceable ear pads.
For convenience and ease of use, check out the control features available such as touch sensors and buttons.
If you’re using your headphones for conference calls at work or picking up calls on your phone, choose a model with a built-in microphone that has good sound quality.
Best noise-cancelling headphones to shop now
Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Headphones, $384.90
Original price: $499 (23 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: AMAZON
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with ambient sound mode option
Wireless: Yes
Battery life: Up to 24 hours with ANC on
Mic: Yes
Weight: 238g
For something with good noise cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones is a model that combines noise-cancelling technology with passive physical features that further block out external distractions.
Users can choose between having full noise cancellation on Quiet Mode or letting in ambient sounds with Aware Mode. These headphones also provide control of the bass, treble and more with the adjustable EQ, so you can customise the sound to your listening preferences.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones, $350.10
Original price: $575 (39 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: AMAZON
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with ambient sound mode option
Wireless: Yes
Battery life: Up to 30 hours with ANC on, 40 hours with ANC off
Mic: Yes
Weight: 250g
The popular Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones are lightweight, comfortable to wear for extended periods and provide superior sound and call quality.
The smart detection when the headphones detect you speaking and automatically stops the music that’s playing temporarily.
There is a newer Sony WH-1000XM6
Edifier W830NB, $69
Original price: $89.99 (15 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: AMAZON
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with customisable ambient sound controls (high, medium, wind reduction, ambient sound and noise cancellation off)
Wireless: Yes
Battery life: Up to 54 hours with ANC turned on, 94 hours with ANC turned off
Mic: Yes
Weight: 267g
If you’re looking for a pair of affordable headphones with good sound under $100, consider the Edifier W830NB headphones. The ear pads are made of soft cushioned memory foam so it rests comfortably on your ears for longer periods of time.
There are also features such as the ambient mode that allows external sounds in and dual device connectivity for seamless switching between devices. You can personalise EQ controls, sounds and more through the Edifier ConneX App.
Audio Technica ATH-S300BT, $98
Original price: $149 (34 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: LAZADA
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with ambient sound mode option
Wireless: Yes
Battery life: Up to 60 hours with ANC turned on, 90 hours with ANC turned off
Mic: Yes
Weight: 258g
As one of the more affordable noise-cancelling headphones on the list, the Audio Technica ATH-S300BT balances being wallet-friendly and delivering great performance.
The affordable audio treat has good bass and clarity and offers a realistic sound stage. Having a longer-than-average battery life is another plus.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, $669
Original price: $699 (4 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: LAZADA
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with ambient sound mode option
Wireless: Yes, wired connectivity option also available
Battery life: Up to 30 hours with ANC turned on
Mic: Yes
Weight: 300g
As one of the pricier options on this list of best noise-cancelling earphones, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 remains worth the splurge. Arguably, it delivers the best sound quality for noise-cancelling headphones in its price category.
Of the available Bowers & Wilkins models, it has one of the best bass responses. Beyond its superior sound quality, the Wilkins Px7 S3 has a solid build quality and offers excellent wearing comfort.
Soundcore Space One, $107.61
Original price: $179.90 (40 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: LAZADA
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with customisable ambient sound controls
Wireless: Yes, wired connectivity option also available
Battery life: Up to 40 hours with ANC turned on, 55 hours with ANC turned off
Mic: Yes
Weight: 265g
Another option on the ‘best affordable noise-cancelling headphones’ list is the Soundcore Space One. It has a great battery life and cancels noise well while delivering crisp sound quality.
With 8° rotating ear cups made to fit the shape of any head and a soft headband designed to evenly distribute pressure, this model is comfortable to wear over long durations. The Soundcore Space One comes in black, white and blue.
Beats Studio Pro, $317
Original price: $453.16 (30 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: SHOPEE
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with ambient sound mode option
Wireless: Yes, wired connectivity option also available
Battery life: Up to 24 hours with ANC turned on, 40 hours with ANC turned off
Mic: Yes
Weight: 260g
The Beats Studio Pro wireless headphones have a head tracking function and features such as Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos which creates a more immersive soundscape. Overall, the treble-forward sound and comfortable design provides listeners with a pleasant listening experience.
For added safety during night runs or workout gym sessions, switch to Transparency mode to let ambient sound in and stay aware of your surroundings.
Sony WH-CH720N, $140.06
Original price: $249 (44 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: AMAZON
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with ambient sound mode option
Wireless: Yes, wired connectivity option also available
Battery life: Up to 35 hours with ANC turned on, 50 hours with ANC turned off
Mic: Yes
Weight: 192g
As one of the lighter over-ear headphones on this list, the Sony WH-CH720N is worth purchasing purely for its lightweight comfort. But the mid-tier models also presents itself as an affordable alternative to the popular Sony WH-1000XM5.
This durable set of headphones carries the usual features from noise cancellation to ambient mode and comes with great sound too. It’s a good option to consider if you’re looking to get a quality set that is not too expensive.
Apple Airpods Max, $687
Original price: $749 (8 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: SHOPEE
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with ambient sound mode option
Wireless: Yes, wired connectivity option also available
Battery life: Up to 20 hours with ANC turned on
Mic: Yes
Weight: 384.8g
The Apple Airpods Max is a premium pick for those with bigger budgets. You can expect a rich surround sound that’s good for listening to music or watching videos, and a build quality that is both solid and comfortable.
A main draw of this model is the ability to seamlessly connect your headphones across all your existing Apple devices from your iPhones and iPads to your MacBooks. It is available in 5 colours.
Sonos Ace, $614
Original price: $649 (2 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: AMAZON
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with ambient sound mode option
Wireless: Yes, wired connectivity option also available
Battery life: Up to 30 hours with ANC turned on
Mic: Yes
Weight: 312g
If you are not completely plugged into the Apple ecosystem, the Sonos Ace Wireless Headphones presents as a compelling alternative to the Apple AirPods Max.
They are slightly lighter noise-cancelling earphones while offering similarly powerful noise cancelling and great sound quality and voice-calling capabilities. The spatial audio with head-tracking function makes you feel surrounded by sound coming from every direction.
Sennheiser Momentum 4, $294.26
Original price: $499 (41 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: AMAZON
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with ambient sound mode option
Wireless: Yes
Battery life: Up to 60 hours with ANC turned on
Mic: Yes
Weight: 293g
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 packs a number of features in a lightweight and foldable design. Apart from the adaptive noise cancellation, there’s an adjustable transparency mode that enables external ambient sounds to filter through.
You can also personalise the sound according to your preferences through the Sennheiser Smart Control App with the integrated equaliser, presets and sound modes available.
Best noise-cancelling earbuds: Alternatives to ANC headphones
If you are an audiophile, you may prefer headphones over earbuds for their more secure fit, better noise cancellation and sound quality. But some may find it uncomfortable to wear heavier headphones for extended periods.
Should you want to switch between noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds, you can consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), $379
PHOTO: AMAZON
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are considered to be one of the best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market. The model’s sound quality and ANC abilities go neck-to-neck with the popular Apple AirPods Pro 3.
Want more options? Browse the list we have put together on the best noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy in Singapore
All prices are correct at time of publication
FAQs: Best noise-cancelling headphones
1. Are active noise-cancelling headphones worth it?
The best ANC headphones can block out most sounds and have good performance and sound quality. If you are easily distracted by noise, buying noise-cancelling headphones can be a good way to reduce sensory input.
2. What is active noise-cancelling in headphones?
Active noise-cancelling headphones, or ANC headphones, uses an in-built microphone to pick up ambient sound. An internal processor creates an inverse sound wave that cancels out unwanted surrounding noise.
3. What is the difference between adaptive noise-cancelling and active noise-cancelling?
Active noise-cancelling headphones provide a fixed noise-cancelling experience. On the other hand, adaptive noise-cancelling headphones take it a step further by constantly and automatically adjusting noise cancellation levels, based on your surroundings.
4. What are the disadvantages of active noise cancellation?
Active noise-cancelling headphones may struggle to block out sounds with inconsistent volumes. For example, if you are walking by a busy road, the best ANC headphones can remove the noise of traffic and car engines but a sudden siren or car honk will probably cut through.
5. Can you hear people talking with noise cancelling headphones?
Noise-cancelling headphones can reduce the sounds of most people talking. But if someone is shouting, you might be able to hear snippets of their conversation.
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