The Want List: Noise-Cancelling Headsets
Tune out the world in style with personal surround sound, wireless and compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled device.
You can’t close your ears, but a cushy set of headphones is the next best thing. Whether you’re looking to escape in song or in silence, here are six fashionable sets of noise-cancelling headphones to block out life’s distractions.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
Started by two Royal Corps of Signals veterans during the golden age of British rock and roll, Bowers & Wilkins has long been synonymous with crisp, hi-fi audio, and these over-ear wireless headphones deliver the brand’s founding promise on today’s terms. The Px7 S2e sounds as good as it looks. Offered in five fun colors, it’s is a splendid example of form following function at an approachable price point. Four mics for active noise control, plus two for taking calls when paired to your phone, guard seamless listening. Per the specs, you’ll get 30 hours of battery life, and they live up to the test — Redditors seem impressed by just how long they last.
Sony WH-1000XM6
Studio-quality sound on your head with style that turns heads. That’s the Sony 1000x series, which aren’t just the official headphones of the NFL; they’re the basis for the league’s own coach headsets. You can be confident your plays should go just as smoothly. With these high-performance MVPs, you’ll be packing some of the most sophisticated noise cancellation technology on the market, tackled by an HD processor and 12 adaptive microphones that adjust in real time. An adaptive noise cancellation optimizer monitors air pressure and external noise to go on defense accordingly. There’s even a built-in sensor to pause the tunes when you start speaking.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
On a 1978 flight from Zurich back to Boston, audio pioneer Dr. Amar Bose, a tenured MIT professor for half a century, realized he’d had enough of the standard issue pneumatic tube headsets airlines were handing out at the time. Determined to find a better way, he, in less than a decade, perfected and released the first commercially available noise-cancelling headphones: the Aviation Headset Series I. His spirit of innovation lives on through the QuietComfort Ultra series, which the company describes as “obsessively engineered.” This exceptionally plush pair of headphones offers four distinct modes: Quiet, Aware, Immersive Audio, or Cinema, making them as versatile as they are comfortable. As an incentive to buy direct, Bose offers a 90-day risk-free trial with purchase, along with a price match promise and free shipping.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX
When Scandinavian design conspires with the pinnacle of audio engineering. Bang & Olufsen, the century-old Danish audio atelier, spared no expense in crafting the Beoplay HX, offering up to 40 hours of listening time with timelessly good looks. Metal accents and cushions crafted from New Zealand lambskin leather make these headphones some of the most fashionable on the market. More than mere aesthetics, they’re grounded in custom 40mm drivers for unmatched sound clarity. And since user-friendly setup is prerequisite for truly good design, they’ve covered that base, too: Bluetooth 5.1 and various integrations ensure fast pairing with your phone, speakers, and more, plus the ability to stay paired with multiple devices at once.
Beats Solo 4
When it comes to all-around value, it’s tough to beat Beats, which in 2026 celebrates 20 years since its launch by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Priced just below $200, the Solo 4 represents the latest generation of noise-cancelling, over-ear technology from the brand, powered by a proprietary chip platform for high-performance sound in any application. Lightweight for comfort with a flex-grip headband that stays on your head, they’re equally versatile for exercising, commuting, or sedentary use at your desk or on the couch. “Fast Fuel” feature guarantees five hours of play time with just a 10-minute charge — though with up to 50 hours of total battery life, you’ll have time for the next episode, and the next, and many more after that.
JBL Tour One M2
Enter: beast mode. You knew the name synonymous with professional-grade DJ speakers would make headphones that mean business, and JBL understood their assignment. Robust, tech-loaded, and offered in one no-nonsense color: black, JBL’s personal audio flagship is equal parts immersive sound experience and “Do Not Disturb” sign. 50 hours of playtime Proprietary Spatial Sound engineering drops theater-quality sound on both sides of your head, while a 4-mic crystal call algorithm blocks background noise for calls that might come between (or in the middle of) tracks. Smart Ambient setting ensures you’ll be able to enjoy next-level noise without compromising your situational awareness.
