Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) headphones have become one of the most important tech devices in modern life. Whether you work in a noisy open-plan office, travel on planes and trains, or simply want to enjoy music without being disturbed by surrounding noise, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones can completely transform your experience.

From Sony, Bose, Apple to Sennheiser and many other brands, the noise-cancelling headphone market is incredibly diverse, with prices ranging from 500K to over 15 million VND. How do you choose the headphones with the best noise cancellation, the best sound quality, and the best fit for your needs? This article breaks it all down.

What to Know When Buying Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Four factors determine your noise-cancelling headphone experience: ANC quality, sound quality, comfort, and battery life.

ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) uses external microphones to capture ambient sound, then generates inverse sound waves to cancel out noise. ANC technology can be divided into three tiers: Adaptive ANC (auto-adjusts to environment), Manual ANC (on/off with multiple levels), and Basic ANC (on/off only). Sony and Bose lead in ANC technology.

Sound quality depends on the driver, supported codecs, and digital signal processing (DSP). High-end noise-cancelling headphones typically support LDAC (Sony), AAC, aptX Adaptive, and come with EQ for sound customization. The sound of noise-cancelling headphones is often tuned for noisy environments — more bass and a wider soundstage.

Comfort is especially important since you may wear headphones for hours at a time. Over-ear headphones with memory foam ear cushions wrapped in protein leather or mesh fabric are the most comfortable. Weight under 300g is ideal. Clamping force should be moderate — not too tight causing headaches, not too loose causing them to fall off.

Key Technical Specifications

Specification	Description	Recommendation
Driver	30-50mm dynamic driver	40mm+ for full sound
ANC	Adaptive ANC, Manual ANC, Basic ANC	Adaptive ANC for best experience
Codec	SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC, LC3	LDAC (Sony) or aptX Adaptive for Android
Battery life	20-60 hours (ANC on)	30h+ for daily use
Quick charge	5-10 min charge = 3-5 hours use	Very useful when traveling
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.0-5.4, Multipoint	Bluetooth 5.2+ Multipoint for 2 devices at once
Weight	200-350g	Under 280g is most comfortable
Water resistance	IPX4-IPX5	IPX4 for outdoor use, IPX5+ for sports

Types of Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Over-Ear Headphones

This is the most common and effective type of noise-cancelling headphone. The ear cushions fully enclose your ears, combining with ANC for the best sound isolation. They typically have large drivers (40mm+) for powerful sound and long battery life (30-60 hours). Suitable for work-from-home, air travel, and listening at home. Examples: Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Max.

True Wireless In-Ear (Earbuds)

These are compact and easy to carry, but ANC isn't as strong as over-ear due to the smaller design. However, ANC technology on earbuds has improved significantly in recent years. Flagship models like the AirPods Pro 2, Sony WF-1000XM5, and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II deliver ANC close to over-ear levels. Suitable for sports and daily commuting.

On-Ear Headphones

These rest on your ears rather than enclosing them. They're lighter and more breathable, but offer less isolation and are generally less popular for noise cancellation. Fewer ANC options are available on the market today. Suitable for people who don't like the enclosed feeling of over-ear headphones.

Price Ranges

Segment	Price	Features	Examples
Budget	500K - 1.5M VND	Basic ANC, decent sound, 20-30h battery	Soundcore Life Q30, Edifier W820NB, Xiaomi Buds 3
Mid-range	1.5 - 4M VND	Good ANC, decent sound, multipoint, app EQ	Soundcore Space Q45, Sony WH-CH720N, Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Premium	4 - 8M VND	Excellent ANC, great sound, premium build	Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose QC Ultra, AirPods Pro 2
Flagship	Over 8M VND	Audiophile sound, peak ANC, luxury design	AirPods Max, Focal Bathys, Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Top Brands

Brand	Known For	Segment
Sony	Leading ANC (WH-1000X series), detailed sound, LDAC, great battery life	Premium - Flagship
Bose	Smooth ANC (QC series), most comfortable for long wear	Premium - Flagship
Apple	Apple ecosystem integration, Spatial Audio, powerful H2/H1 chip	Premium - Flagship
Anker Soundcore	Best value for features, many segment options	Budget - Mid-range
Sennheiser	Neutral sound, audiophile quality, premium design	Premium - Flagship
Bowers & Wilkins	Luxury design, premium materials (leather, metal), class-leading sound	Flagship

Comparison with Other Options

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) vs Passive Isolation

Passive isolation headphones use ear cushion design and shell construction to block sound — no battery, no electronics required. They work well with high-frequency sounds like speech, but are ineffective against low-frequency sounds like airplane and vehicle engines. ANC combines both: blocking high frequencies with passive isolation and canceling low frequencies with anti-phase waves. If you frequently travel by plane or train, ANC is indispensable.

Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra

This is a classic rivalry. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has slightly stronger ANC, more detailed sound with LDAC, and longer battery life (40h vs 24h). The Bose QC Ultra is more comfortable to wear (lighter, softer ear pads), has more natural-feeling ANC (no pressure sensation), and features Immersive Audio (head-tracking). Choose Sony if you want the strongest ANC and longest battery. Choose Bose if you prioritize long-wear comfort and natural ANC.

Over-Ear vs True Wireless for ANC

Over-ear delivers significantly better ANC — larger ear cups provide better passive isolation, and bigger drivers enable stronger DSP. Battery life is also longer (30-60h vs 6-10h). However, true wireless earbuds are far more compact, easier to carry, and can be used during workouts. If ANC is your top priority, go over-ear. If you need flexibility, choose premium true wireless.

Common Mistakes When Buying

• Buying cheap ANC headphones with high expectations — Cheap ANC under 1M VND often just produces white noise (hiss) and reduces very little actual noise. Truly effective ANC starts at around 1.5M VND and up. If your budget is tight, choose good passive isolation headphones instead of cheap ANC.
• Not testing comfort before buying — Over-ear headphones weighing 300g+ can cause headaches after 2 hours. Strong clamping force can cause jaw pain. Visit a store and wear them for at least 15 minutes before deciding.
• Buying headphones without Multipoint — Multipoint allows connecting to 2 devices simultaneously (e.g., laptop and phone). If you frequently switch between devices, this feature is essential. Sony WH-1000XM5 added Multipoint, while older models lacked it.
• Ignoring codec support — Buying Sony (LDAC) but using an iPhone (AAC) means LDAC won't work. Conversely, buying AirPods Max but using Android means no stable AAC and you lose Spatial Audio. Choose headphones that match your ecosystem.
• Not checking wind noise performance — Some ANC headphones pick up significant wind noise when riding a motorcycle or walking in windy conditions. Sony and Bose handle wind better than other brands.
• Buying without checking Transparency/Ambient mode — This mode lets you hear surrounding sounds without removing your headphones. AirPods Pro has the best Transparency Mode — almost indistinguishable from not wearing headphones.

Conclusion

Noise-cancelling headphones are one of the most worthwhile investments for your daily quality of life. With a budget under 2M VND, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 or Edifier W820NB are good choices. From 3-5M VND, the Sony WH-CH720N or Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro offer impressive ANC experiences.

Above 5M VND, the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are the two top choices you can't go wrong with — Sony for the strongest ANC and longest battery, Bose for comfort and natural ANC. For Apple users, the AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Max are the perfect integrated choice. Identify your priority — strongest ANC, best sound, or most comfortable — and choose accordingly.

Further reading: RTINGS Headphone Reviews, Sony Headphones, Bose Headphones