The best wireless ANC headphones to buy now

Note: This feature was first published on 1 December 2022. It was updated and republished on 7 June 2024 with new recommendations.

The sound of music is just as valuable as the sound of silence. But with how inconsiderate and noisy our island’s denizens can be, both are scarce luxuries in Singapore. 

That is, until you invest in a pair of headphones capable of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). 

ANC headphones are for users who want minimal compromise, where they accept bulk and heft in favour of shutting out even more noise, having a more robust audio profile, and longer battery lives than their true wireless earbuds counterparts. 

With so many options to choose from, which are the ones that are truly worth your money? That’s what this buying guide is for. 

That’s enough noise. Let’s see what’s on the shopping list.

Sonos Ace – The newest kid on the block

Not only is the Ace the newest high-end wireless headphone to hit the market, but it is also Sonos’ first-ever headphone. The design is simple but attractive. It also looks and feels expensive. Our only major gripe is that it doesn’t fold to become more compact. The ANC is strong, but the transparency mode is the real standout because it sounds very natural. Being a Sonos product, the Ace sounds good. The sound signature is mostly neutral but with a significant bass boost to keep things exciting. Battery life is a claimed 30 hours with ANC on. Moreover, it has a unique TV Audio Swap feature that's beneficial if you own more Sonos products at home. Overall, this is a solid first effort from Sonos

The Sonos Ace costs S$699 and can be purchased on Shopee, Lazada, Amazon, and the TC Acoustic online store.

Read our coverage of the Sonos Ace here and our full review for the details.

Sony WH-1000XM5 – The best ANC performance

Questionable design aside, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are almost perfect after we had our run with them. It comes with a slight price increase next to its predecessor, but you get so much more in return.

WH-1000XM5 packs two noise-cancellation processors (where rivals normally offer only one), and its NC is automatically available at all times. The additional chip not only improves its overall cancellation abilities but also improves ambient sound handling. In the real world, it's eerily good. You will be shocked at how much noise it can cancel out.

There are eight microphones (double from before) for better noise and voice pickup, and the 30mm drivers are made to reduce distortion in music. Sony has made it very easy for you to pick its XM5 if you’re somebody who can’t compromise on ANC or sound quality.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a list price of S$569, and you can find them at the Sony online store, Amazon Singapore, iShopChangi, Lazada, and Shopee.

Check out our full review here. 

Sennheiser Accentum Plus – The best battery life with ANC on

A big concern with wireless gadgets is their longevity and uptime when untethered. On this list, our battery beast is none other than the Sennheiser Accentum Plus, which clocked in 50 hours on a single charge from our experience. Furthermore, battery life was achieved with ANC turned on.

If you're a stickler for sound quality, Sennheiser Accentum Plus also fulfils that requirement with rich and clear treatment of instruments and vocals. The audio quality isn't at the same tier as the brand's Momentum series, but you can fly directly to New York and Singapore and return without charging these headphones, all while dampening commute noise. We have all the details in our review if you'd like a closer peek.

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones come in both Black and White colours, and are now available at S$349 from these retailers:

• Buy from Amazon  
• Buy from Lazada
• Buy from Shopee
• Buy from the Sennheiser Online Store

Technics EAH-A800 – Best sound quality

Technics, the hi-fi brand of Panasonic, has ANC headphones tuned for audiophiles in the form of Technics EAH-A800. In our findings, the drivers are capable, with balanced tuning, and support for higher-res wireless codecs like LDAC.

It also helps that it comes with functional ANC capabilities and a class-leading battery life of up to 50 hours – and that’s with ANC powered on. What makes it even more palatable for audiophiles is the amount of sound customisation you get from its accompanying app, and its audible voice prompts that add to its overall user experience. 

Technics EAH-A800 retails at S$499, and you can find them at Lazada and Shopee. 

Read our full review here. 

4. Apple AirPods Max – Best for Apple users

Despite being older than most alternatives on this list, the Apple AirPods Max are still one of the most competent wireless ANC headphones you can find – and that rings more true if you’re a native of Apple’s ecosystem.

That's because of its automatic switching feature that seamlessly hops between iPads, Macs, Macbooks, and iPhones. It's Apple "Multipoint" on steroids, which is why it's the best ANC headphones for cross-device Apple users.

From a components perspective, AirPods Max headphones are fully kitted out with 40mm drivers, nine microphones, nine sensors, and two H1 audio processing chips. It’s also stylish and touts a high-quality construction, unlike many alternatives that fall back on lighter, but cheaper plastics. 

Where the headphones excel is what made users tolerate its brassiere-shaped carrying case: even today, its ANC function is still one of the best in the market, and it brought forth Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking to the masses. It even offers three ANC modes (On, Off, and Transparency) if you value ambient awareness, too.

Though it launched at S$849, age has brought the Apple AirPods Max’s asking price down to S$799 on the official Apple Store. But old is gold, as they say. 

You can also find it on Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon.

Read our Apple AirPods Max review here. 

Focal Bathys – Best for wireless and wired listening

Focal’s very first wireless ANC headphones are the Focal Bathys. What’s not a first, is the brand's focus on high-quality, high-end audio products. 

The 40mm headphones’ construction combines an aluminium frame, magnesium yokes, and genuine leather for the earpads and headband. They offer wired USB-C listening befitting of their audiophile-grade branding (at 24-bits/192kHz) and support for high-quality audio codecs like AptX and AptX Adaptive.

With Bluetooth 5.1 and ANC enabled, this heavy-duty pair still offers 30 hours of music playback. All in all, it’s made to impress you. Maybe your friends, but you first and foremost.

Support for 3.5mm audio rounds it off, making it a well-rounded option for high-quality listening, no matter which wired or wireless mode you choose.

The Focal Bathys retail at S$1,199 via its official Singapore retailer, Zeppelin & Co.

Find out more here and check out our full review assessment here.

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