Which ANC Headphone Cancels The MOST Noise? (Scientifically Tested) 

As someone that has done some sound engineering for a few years (no where near professional) i love your inclusion of the pink noise to show full spectrum reduction!

Damn, what an incredibly thorough ANC analysis and test mate, your. Truly merged easily digestible reviews and highly technical information together. Keep up the great work!

An absolutely excellent video! The only remaining variable really can't be measured, that being the acoustic "seal" between the headphones and the individual user. Your inclusion of a "legacy" device for context was icing on the cake. Great job!

Thank you so much for making an objective comparison! This is probably the best headphone comparison video I have ever seen and your quality is off the charts. Great work!

Really, the best comparasion in terms of top tier ANC i've ever seen. Really good work. I would love to see other ANC performance comparasions between mid-tier to budget headphones and earbuds!

Joshua doesn't miss! Loved this video. I've seen many reviews like this but this was the first one that was aesthetic, informative, and actually scientific.

This is such an excellent comparison, exactly what I was looking for . A proper objective ANC test

This is exactly what I was searching when looking for a benchmark of ANC performance, thank you for this very qualitative content !

Best noise cancelling comparison. Clean and smooth presentation, no geeky nerdy stuff yet backed up with easy to understand figures, charts and audio samples. Subscribed

Bro this is exactly the kinda testing NC should get, you earned my sub man

Great job. Easily the best and most comprehensive ANC test there is. Graphs, sound samples, different cases. Other channels do not do even fraction of this. Please consider doing the same video but for ANC earbuds: e.g. Sony WF1000XM5, Apple Airpods pro 2, Bose Ultra earbuds, and some cheaper one to be a control/baseline earbud.

One thing about noice is that even at the same db reduce, the combination of frequencies or pitches’ annoyances are different and should be taken into account. Like how most hair dryer measured equally as loud but one might sounds less loud and most importantly less annoying, like Dyson, it is also calculate-able. In level 3 higher frequencies test while Sony reduce the noice the most, the sound remaining is definitely more annoying.

im loving the content of this channel

You just took ANC testing to the next level. I've never seen a review like this. Huge thanks

Thank you! The best headphone comparison on RU-vid. As a pro woodworker I use ANC headphones every day, and I have actually used all the tested models in my shop, performing A-B (and C!) testing. Your measurements correspond with my experiences: the Airpods Max and the Bose QC Ultra are superior in the bass and mid area, but the Sony XM5’s filter out more highs, which is relevant in a woodshop. The Sony XM4 are in my opinion almost equal to the XM5, and for woodworking they actually perform better; the XM5 struggle with the sound from air blow guns and a few other high pitched woodshop noises. It sounds like the ANC glitches, and you get loud terrible crackling noises. In my opinion the Airpods Max rule on both sound and ANC, but I found the heavy and uncomfortable, so for daily use and travel I would go for the Bose QC Ultra. Thanks again!

I enjoyed this a lot. Thanks a lot. I wonder if there is something similar for voice calls. Anyway, great stuff

Best overview! I hate when the reviews are subjective. This informs the potential buyer way better. Thanks for the work.

this is FIRE bro really well done

This is super informative! As someone using the 700, it's looking like if i ever upgrade to a new flagship it'll be worlds better. Also, would love to see a similar roundup for the top end earbuds (AirPods pro 2, bose ultra, Sony xm5, Samsung buds 2 pro etc.)

Wow, this was the best ANC test that I have watched, thanks for making this video.

Best ANC review I’ve seen. Thanks mate.

Best ANC review i've ever see! Great!

This was awesome! Thank you for including the 700s.

The Best test i have seen for ANC I hope we can see the same test for the top earbuds as well Much love man

Great analysis!! I appreciate your testing approach and attention to detail

Hi, I loved this review, the most thorough and straightforward anc review I’ve come across. I was wondering which of these three would be your own personal choice as everyday headphones?

Amazing video ! Subscribed !

Great job on conducting the time consuming test! However, your results differ from the VERGEs test (conducted by HAI Labs). They also evaluated Airpods Max, XM5, Bose 700, Bose QC 45, and Bose QC 1 (20-year-old), and found that XM5 performed significantly better than Airpods Max. I'm not sure how two different test setups could yield such different results, but I didn't expect such a large difference. During the video (for example 2:55), I expected the sound to come directly from the center. However, the sound appeared to be coming from different directions on each headphone. This could suggest an unequal fit on both sides, which might skew the test results and make the ill-fitted headphones appear worse than the good-fitted.

Wow- thats next level testing 💪

One of the best videos i have seen about the subject, thanks

Nicely done!!

love these straight forward comparisons (watching videos of things I cannot buy is fun)

Nice comparison. Looking forward for more reviews

this video is so helpful thank you!!!

Awesome video man. I knew you were legit the moment you mentioned the XM5 being better for laptop keyboard sounds. Keep up the good work.

This review was so interesting and comprehensive!

This is an extremely well made video

Thanks for including the 700!

Hi there! I recently got the famous Bose QC Ultra Headphones, and I can confirm that despite the drivers (speakers) being similar to the Bose NCH 700, this very recent model sounds even better than its predecessor. I also have the Sony WH-1000-XM4, and find that the QC Ultra's sound signature is much clearer than the Sony model. What's more, a little adjustment of the well-rounded bass, and the midrange drive the point home even further. *As a preventive measure, I'd advise you *not to exceed 65% volume, and to take a few listening breaks for the sake of your ears (e.g. 15 to 20 minutes for 1 hour's listening).* Indeed, these headphones have a lot in reserve, and I didn't notice any major sound distortion, which is very good quality. But be careful with your ears, because they're really powerful! And yes, the sound is very clear! Lightweight (257 grams), it folds neatly and has a wider, more comfortable headband. The depth of the speakers (especially for big ears - you don't sweat as much as with Sony headphones) and its active noise reduction are truly impressive! Somewhat superior to Apple's Air Pods Max, that is! For the moment (2023), in concrete terms, *it's the best noise-canceling headset!* At the same time, it's the most recent. We'll see how it fares next year (2024), with the future Sony WH-1000-XM6 and Apple Air Pods Max 2. The "attentive" (transparent) mode is a real success! A notch below the Air Pods Max, and a good notch above the WH-1000-XM4/5. You can clearly hear everything around you. The immersive mode is a bit of a gimmick, as it gives the impression that the soundstage is getting bigger, but I still find it well worthwhile, especially for films and video games! That's another world! I also note that this mode is a little more energy-hungry in terms of this product's autonomy (around 19h35 for me, as opposed to the 18 hours announced by Bose). In fact, as far as battery life is concerned, I think that Bose has underestimated its headphones, because without the immersive mode, and staying at 60~65% maximum volume, I've actually gone up to around 30 hours. The official press release claims 24 hours' autonomy. . What's more, a mode (even two) designed to cleverly save battery power has been integrated: _ Like Apple and Sony, the sound stops when the QC Ultra is removed... And restarts once the device is placed back on the head. _ Automatic sleep mode, when the headset is removed for a long time. It restarts automatically when put back on. Automatic pairing, no headaches, it works like a charm. Multipoint is amply correct, and the solid Bluetooth is certified in 5.3 (the latest available), which is much better in terms of wireless connection stability. A very good point in itself. The WH-1000-XM4 (which is in bleuetooth 4.2) that I've owned since 2021 can cut out from time to time for no reason at the moment... I don't know why. Maybe it's due to my smartphone being almost full of internal memory? I don't know. In any case, I no longer have this little inconvenience with the Bose QC Ultra. The application is nice and quite rich! It's straight to the point, and somewhat less sophisticated than Sony's, whose geekiness is its specialty. As for the buttons, they're all located on the right speaker, behind the ear. A touch-sensitive surface for volume, and incidentally a personalized touch-sensitive button (press for 2 seconds in the middle of the touch-sensitive surface and that's it), either to obtain a voice assistant, or to indicate battery level or something else, for example... Personally, I opted for the battery level. How convenient! And in terms of physical buttons, there are only 2. . The first, at the bottom of the right-hand speaker, is reserved for switching on the headset. . The second button is located a little higher up, towards the rear of the speaker. . The second button is located a little higher up, towards the back of the speaker. This button allows: _ 1 short click: play / pause; 1 long click: change mode (immersive, attentive, silent - additional modes can be added and/or removed, such as the outdoor mode with its more or less successful optional "windbreaker" function, for example); _ 2 quick clicks: next track; _ 3 quick clicks: previous track. Personally, I find these two physical buttons rather instinctive and less headache-inducing (100% subjective, of course). As for the tactile part, I find it better thought-out than the NCH 700 and the Sony WH-1000-XM4/5, in the sense that there's no tactile conflict when unwanted rubbing occurs, such as fabric rubbing when you're in bed, or when you're putting on a hood. The left speaker features a USB-C input for headphone charging only, and an input for... A 2.5 mm jack!... The 2.5 mm jack... I'll never understand why that is... Especially as the headphones must be switched on to be effective(!)... I really don't understand this choice... As far as phone calls are concerned, the people I'm talking to can hear me clearly, even when there's a lot of noise around me! It's not as sophisticated as the Air Pods Max, but it's still one of the most effective. My voice is clearly audible, and it's possible to adjust the volume of the voice when telephoning via the headset. I write this because none of the testers mentioned this detail generally. Unfortunately, it's impossible to obtain lossless sound via a wired USB-C cable (which is quite incomprehensible to me, especially given its high price at the moment). The French Batys headphones, for example (albeit more expensive than the QC Ultra), make this possible. Finally, the price is high (499€) for the moment, but will inevitably drop in the coming months (logically). And then the bargains will start rolling in over the coming year. It has to be! So, I've tried to be as complete as possible about my pleasant experience with these Bose Quiet Confort Ultra Headphones. Expensive, yes, it's undeniable, but very pleasant to hold, not at all uncomfortable on the head, light and very comfortable, this top-of-the-range headset (2023) does quite well, if not very well. A special mention for the active noise reduction, which so far puts it ahead of Apple and Sony. All in all, this headset is a success, far from flawless, let's be honest, but what it does, it does really well. Very satisfied overall. Oh yes, I almost forgot: *the ear pads are detachable and therefore replaceable, in case of any long-term wear and tear.* Hoping for interesting updates (USB-C wired sound, I dream of it! x) ) to come! Thanks for your remarquable work sir! Looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks Joshua

Hey thanks for the great video! I was wondering if you can do a test on the same set of headphones against intermitten low frequencies range, like, stomping/thumping sound, snoring, etc.

Thank you so much for this video!! Bose is the current ANC king so far, but they are also the most recent headphone.

Well done and nice and simple

thanks for the great vid!

Excellent video! Have you considered making a video on Eight Sleep?

would love to know how the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds compare... good video

amazing video thank you so much!!

Great content!

Thanks for the video. Question: which noise cancelling headphones would be best for cancelling road noise while driving an eighteen wheeler?

Great vid! I wanted to pick up the XM5s but I might look into Bose 😅.

Listening to this video with my Xm5 and totally didn’t disappoint.

did you ever test the xm4? just wondering how the noise of those compare to the competition but good video. as now i wont be looking at the xm5.

Bose is clearly the king of ANC. It's really disgusting how many RU-vid reviewers claim the Sony XM5s are better, like paid parrots. Both the Air Pods and the Bose QC Ultra just stomp Sony in these tests. Sony did win one category, but it is the category that has sounds that no one ever encounters in real life. When it comes to the real world, Bose is simply the best. I was quite surprised how well the Apple Air Pods did. Most reviewers don't praise their ANC performance.

That is a great test and information. Which frequency range would a computer server/data center room with lots of computer fans and ac running will fall into?

Now that you have this apparatus, can you do a similar thing for mid range headphones. Like for soundcore headphones or wyze headphones maybe. Throw the bose in there for a good benchmark point

You should also rank the issue of the cabin pressure by using NC. At the Airpods Max its terrible.

How long were the Sony Xm5s tested for each test? Or were they one after the other? They are sometimes quirky with their adaptive ANC and can take a few seconds or more to adjust its ANC to work correctly which I'm not sure was taken into account like the first test with the bass.

¡Gracias!

Hey you guys! I recently got the Bose Quietconfort Ultra and their volume is ok but it doesn't give me that punch that i could picture in my mind before i got them even at high volume. This is my first headphones, i have experience with true wireless with bose quietconfort earbuds first generation and the volume, the bass and the punch Is soooo cool. So that's why i picked the Bose headphones. The Momentum 4 was my boy for a long time but finally i decided for the Bose because i have the QC Earbuds 1st generation and they are my sunshine haha. But as i said, the volume in the Bose headphones ones is not as loud as the earbuds and that makes me wonder sennheiser Momentum 4 sounds louder? I just want to know if i decided correctly 🥺 My priority is the volume anyways. PS: I know the sound quality in the M4's are better than Bose. I don't considerate myself as an audiophile, i just enjoy to listen music with these features: Volume, Bass, Punch and a good sound quality.

it's amazing ANC... am in love

Good video thanks

Wish you'd compare the headphone vs iem ultra's.

Wish the test sounds included things like delivery van backup alarms, dogs barking, leaf blowers etc.

How's the Bose app? I had a very bad experience with the Bose app on my qc earbuds II

would've been interesting to see the sennheiser Momentum 4 too

aaaand you gained a subscriber

I'm curious about the xm4. Xm3 also performed better than xm4, but they are quite old

Excellent video, thanks for all the analysis. I have both Bose QC Ultra & Airpods Max, I can confirm that in every day life, both perform extremely well regarding ANC, thus in terms of sound quality there's practically no match, Airpods Max sounds way better, and compared them in both (Spatial / immersive) and without this modes, the sound is more engaging, more detailed, I hear details and layers especially in mids, voices & high end that I never experiend before on Airpods Max. And in this regard, that matters to me. I guess when the Max gets the H2 chip, they'll blow all the competition out of water.

i kinda think the apple airpods max r really good at canceling noise but i got to say the bose qc did amazing and definitley deserved the win

One point you didn’t mention: a decrease of 10 dB is about a 50% reduction from the starting point in perceived sound.

Off topic. You have a beautiful voice 😍

I own a pair of QC-15 with new ear pads plus Air Pod Pros. In an airplane, I find the Air Pods are not good enough to prevent fatigue but give me great mobility. The QC-15 are effective but bulky and have no Bluetooth. Wearing both at the same time gives me excellent noise reduction and Bluetooth. I’m not recommending a person run out and buy both as a solution, but if you have both, give it a try.

Most accurate anc test ever

From what I can tell the the "Noise Canceling" only applies to the microphone. What about people with sensory overload to sounds. And want to drown out that same noise while wearing the headphones. "Sound sensitivity refers to a phenomenon where individuals have a heightened, often uncomfortable, response to sounds that most people can tolerate or ignore. A specific form of sound sensitivity is misophonia, where sounds-like the clanging of dishes or the constant clicking of a pen-cause distress, regardless of their volume. This discomfort can persist even when these sounds are not particularly loud or harsh. On the other hand, some individuals experience discomfort from any sound at or above a certain volume threshold, sometimes as low as that of a typical conversation. These reactions to sound can vary greatly, from mild annoyance or discomfort to feelings of disgust, and in severe cases, can even manifest as physical pain. Understanding the intricacies of sound sensitivity is crucial as its impact extends beyond the auditory realm, influencing individuals’ emotional well-being and daily functioning." Make a pair of headphones that aid those who have sound sensitivity. Essentially an earpad that blocks out distractions and noises for a full and richer immersion.

Very in depth, the best ANC review I have seen. It was decisive that you mentioned what range my keyboard and mouse clicking was. It made me decide not to buy the bose and keep my sonys.

Which one does have the best sound quality out of curiosity?

You are my hero u helped me alot I wish i can just at least try to buy bose cq ultra in middle east bcs Im afraid I cant find them

I wonder when the next airpods come out if we’ll see significant differences

Hard to see that QC ultra are better than the XM5 in the low range. I bought a pair of QC ultra, went for my daily walk and i could hear the cars passing me very easily. I had a pair of XM4s before which cut out more of the passing car noise by far. I returned the QC ultra because of this about bought the XM5, Which in turn cut out far more noise than the QC ultras.

Im actually very disappointed by the Sony's in this graph, considering NC. Can you also do a comparison about the sound quality?

was the anc turned on with sony? mine wasnt that noisy

Quality video! (This is my first comment in youtube in probably 5 years)

1:19 what is that program?

Nice video.

can you compare the sony xm3 to the xm5?

Just a tip, you should have recorded the baseline for each test with the noise off.

Hi could you do the same for earbuds ? airpods bro, bose earbuds, xm5 etc. thanks ! :D

At the same price, let’s say 200 euros, which one would u choose between AirPods Max and Sony xm5? Thanks ✌🏼🇮🇹

Interesting just saw another video that showed xm5 being the best. This looks pretty thorough but the other video was done by a lab. In better get third opinion. The Sony has better ear cups for passive which greatly helps the overall effect.

Can you provide the FR eq file for Bose qc ultra

Please do testing on B&W PX8 😅

these headphones cost way too much for me so i just got the Edifier W820NB Plus instead. it would be interesting to see how these compare to budget ANC headphones.

Do you know of any wired headphones that do this ?

For the badd i wouldn't use 15 hz to 800 hz the speakers seem to b3 strong

What about air pod pro

@Joshua Chang: At Level 4 you say: "the Bose QuietComfort Ultras are the clear winners followed by the Airpods, then the Sonys" There two mistakes in this statement: The Bose NC 700 are not QC Ultras, and the Sonys are outperforming the Airpods...

I am not a professional but what i see on your graphic, is the quality of you audio file have been drop to a lower spectrum than your speakers that is the first thing i notice as to your , audio samples before and after on each headset they sounded softer to ,

I think the price vs performance needs to be taken more into consideration. Considering how much cheaper the Sonys are they are definitely a better purchase than the airpods at least

The other popular scientific test video by The Verge actually came to the opposite conclusion, recommending the Sony xm5 as the best and the bose the worst. This video however concludes Sony xm5 is the worst and Bose is the best. And both are scientifically done. I'm so confused... Also, I wish this video would have included real life noise in the test, like passing of cars, doors slamming, etc.

Which headphones can cancel out thumping of bass from across the street? It's not that it's loud, it just permeates my body and disrupts my existence to the point that I have to leave my house or turn on super loud brown noise videos and have the volume so loud that it isn't something I want to listen to for a long time either. I don't have any headphones right now. I just listen to the brown noise sitting at my desktop computer with Volume Master turned up to 600%. Do you have any suggestions?