Event Coverage

HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2018: Editor's Choice - Part 1

By Team HardwareZone - 21 Feb 2018

Best Noise Canceling Headphones

Best Noise Canceling Headphones

Whether it’s to get some sleep or watch a movie in peace, good noise-canceling headphones are a god-send when you’re trying to drown out the drone of the plane on a flight.But they’re not just for travel, as good noise-canceling allows you to enjoy your music at lower volumes too, saving your ears in the process. This year's top contenders vary greatly in size and shape across the brands, with some using improved passive noise-canceling (i.e. better cushioning) in conjunction with the ANC systems for better effect.

 

Nominees:

  • AKG 60NC Wireless
  • Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H9
  • Beats Studio 3 Wireless
  • Bowers & Wilkins PX
  • Meters OV-1
  • Sennheiser PXC480
  • Sony WH-1000XM2

 

And the winner is...

Sony WH-1000XM2

This year saw a mix of old and new, with a good number of the headphones adding wireless capabilities and improved battery lifespans. Sony keeps the title this year with the WH-1000XM2 building on the capabilities of last year's MDR-1000X. You now get app support which gives improved control over your noise-cancellation. The difference in noise canceling capabilities between this and the next-best QuietComfort 35 is slight, but it’s definitely there. In terms of audio quality though, the WH-1000XM2 was only seriously challenged by the Bowers & Wilkins PX, which wasn’t as strong on the noise-canceling front. 

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria
/Model

AKG N60NC Wireless Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H9

Beats Studio 3 Wireless

Bowers & Wilkins PX Meters OV-1 Sennheiser PXC480 Sony WH-1000XM2
Performance 8.0 8.0 8.0 9.5 8.5 9.0 9.5
Design 8.0 9.0 8.0 9.0 8.5 8.5 9.0
Features 8.5 8.0 8.0 9.0 8.0 8.0 9.5
Value 8.0 7.5 7.5 8.5 8.0 8.5 8.5
Overall 8.0 8.0 8.0 9.0 8.5 8.5 9.5
Price S$449 S$699 S$478 S$569 S$500 S$459 S$549


For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed in the References section at the end.

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