Top Affordable Noise-Cancelling Headphones for 2025: Quality Sound Without Breaking the Bank

Explore the best affordable noise-cancelling headphones of 2025 that provide exceptional sound quality without the hefty price tag.

The Rise of Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)

Active noise cancelling (ANC) used to be a feature exclusive to high-end headphones, but that’s no longer the case. Nowadays, even budget models come equipped with this technology. Even tech giants like Apple have acknowledged the demand for accessible ANC by introducing models like the AirPods 4 with noise cancelling capabilities.

While the AirPods 4 might not fit into our budget list, you’ll find several affordable models priced under 13,000 rubles below. We’ve narrowed it down to just four pairs, covering a range of options: in-ear earbuds, over-ear styles, and sporty variants. It’s worth noting that truly great budget-friendly noise-cancelling headphones are a rare find!

We’ve spent considerable time testing each of the pairs mentioned, immersing ourselves in various music genres and content in different environments to genuinely assess their performance. We’ve compared them against competing models in a similar price range to pinpoint their standing in the market, and our verdicts are made after thorough discussions with fellow reviewers to ensure fairness.

Best Affordable Noise-Cancelling Headphones: Quick Overview

Best Over-Ear Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Sony WH-CH720N

These headphones are well-built, comfortable, and deliver excellent sound quality, alongside crucial noise-cancelling capabilities. They are the best budget headphones with noise cancellation for most people.

Best In-Ear Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Sony WF-C700N

These award-winning earbuds are like premium Sony headphones at a much lower price point. They strike the right balance with necessary compromises to create a compelling package.

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Battery Life

JBL Live Pro 2 TWS

With eight hours of battery life from the earbuds and a total of 30 hours with the charging case, JBL Live Pro 2 TWS keeps you entertained all day long. Few noise-cancelling headphones can match their performance—especially at this price.

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Sports

Jabra Elite 4 Active

These small, lightweight, and vibrant noise-cancelling headphones are perfect for athletes who don’t want to compromise on sound quality.

In-Depth Look at the Best Affordable Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Best Over-Ear Noise-Cancelling Headphones

The Sony WH-CH720N is ideal for anyone seeking reasonably priced over-ear headphones that excel in sound quality and noise cancellation.

Specifications

• Bluetooth: 5.2
• Battery Life: 50 hours (ANC and BT off); 35 hours (ANC/BT on)
• Charging: USB-C
• Built-in Microphone & Controls: Yes
• Transparency Mode: Yes

Pros:

• Lively sound presentation
• Solid ANC for the price
• High build quality

Cons:

• Bass may be slightly overwhelming
• No case or folding capability

The WH-CH720N headphones are designed as an affordable option with a comprehensive set of features, emphasizing budget-friendly noise cancellation. For a reasonable price, you get reliable headphones that produce decent sound. While they may occasionally overdo it with the bass, they effectively cancel out external noise and distractions. This is why they have been awarded by What Hi-Fi? two years in a row.

The noise cancellation is commendable. While pricier models like the WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra block external sounds more effectively, these budget Sony headphones manage to suppress, if not eliminate, outside noise well.

In terms of sound, the CH720N excels for its price. “They don’t shy away from delivering a weighty and convincing sound, immediately showcasing a bold sound with an emphasis on powerful, deep bass,” we noted in our review. “At this price point, we can’t picture in-ear headphones that could rival their energetic sound.”

Indeed, as you climb the price ladder, the sound becomes more refined and balanced, but these headphones seem to spoil you for the price. Sony has focused on features, but the sound produced by these over-ear headphones is detailed, powerful, and engaging, impressing across the board.

Best In-Ear Noise-Cancelling Headphones

The exceptional Sony WF-C700N wireless earbuds combine comfort, active noise cancellation, and stunning sound quality.

Specifications

• Bluetooth: 5.2 (AAC, SBC)
• Battery Life: 15 hours (earbuds: 7.5 hours; case: 7.5 hours)
• Charging: USB-C
• Built-in Microphone & Controls: Yes
• Transparency Mode: Yes

Pros:

• Very comfortable fit
• Impressive sound presentation for the price
• Detailed, dynamic, musical sound

Cons:

• Charging case lacks battery capacity
• No aptX or LDAC support

These great wireless earbuds occupy a middle ground between budget-friendly WF-C510 (without active noise cancellation) and premium WF-1000XM5 models (which are significantly pricier).

They excel in noise cancellation at a more accessible price point. The earbuds are small and lightweight, making them very comfortable to wear. They offer a battery life of seven and a half hours (15 hours with the charging case).

While they lack aptX HD and LDAC, they feature several other handy functions. The Adaptive Sound Control automatically switches listening modes based on your location, and Sony’s DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) enhances low-resolution digital audio files. The software update also introduced Bluetooth Multipoint, allowing simultaneous connection to two devices.

They also sound impressively balanced, with deep, detailed bass, expressive mids, and appealing highs. For their price, they deliver a musical experience that is clearly superior to the cheaper WF-C510.

Even more complex classical arrangements prove to be no challenge for the WF-C700N. Testing them with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony conducted by Herbert von Karajan and the Philharmonia Orchestra revealed their capability in handling the dramatic opening. “High and low notes, descending string parts leading into a thrilling crescendo—everything is reproduced skillfully. It requires precise tempo adherence and excellent organization, and the Sonys pass this test with flying colors. Impressive at this level.”

What are the drawbacks? The charging case offers just one additional charge, which feels slightly inconvenient. But the superb sound and excellent features at this price make these headphones some of the best affordable noise-cancelling options available.

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Battery Life

JBL Live Pro 2 TWS provides excellent sound quality, a multitude of useful features, and long battery life.

Specifications

• Bluetooth: 5.2 (AAC, SBC)
• Battery Life: 30 hours (earbuds: 8 hours; case: 22 hours)
• Charging: USB-C
• Built-in Microphone & Controls: Yes
• Transparency Mode: Yes

Pros:

• Punchy, lively sound
• Robust, meaty bass
• User-friendly app and setup

Cons:

• No aptX HD or LDAC
• Control setup could be better
• Only three ear tip options

If you’re looking for affordable noise-cancelling headphones with excellent battery life, JBL Live Pro 2 TWS is what you need. Their eight-hour battery life might not seem extraordinary (it’s just 30 minutes longer than the Sony WF-C700N), but with an additional 22 hours from the portable charging case, it’s clear that this is impressive. The total battery life comes to 30 hours, doubling the performance of the Sony WF-C700N. Say it out loud!

But it’s not just about battery life. They come with all the features you could dream of, including noise cancellation and IPX5 waterproof rating, a user-friendly app for control and customization, and a comfortably designed profile. While a few more ear tip options for the perfect fit wouldn’t hurt, this is nitpicking.

The top of each stem features touch controls, along with multi-point Bluetooth, allowing simultaneous connections to two sources and seamless switching between them.

The sound quality is the cherry on top, with JBL delivering vibrant, engaging sound. The bass is well-defined and articulate. The detail at this level is impressive, as is the dynamics. As we wrote in our review: “If you’re looking for quality and powerful sound, JBL Live Pro 2 TWS delivers it and more.” They don’t hesitate to push forward, especially in low frequencies where energy abounds.

If you’re ready to transition from cheap headphones to something more premium and want better sound than the competition, JBL should be on your list.

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Sports

Are you active? Want to block out the outside world? These are your perfect headphones.

Specifications

• Bluetooth: AAC, SBC, aptX
• Battery Life: 7 hours (earbuds), 28 hours (total)
• Charging: USB-C
• Built-in Microphone & Controls: Yes
• Transparency Mode: Yes

Pros:

• Compact and lightweight
• Energetic, organized sound
• Good app for control

Cons:

• May sound somewhat narrow
• Physical controls can hinder fit
• Strong competition

The Jabra Elite 4 Active originally retailed for £119, but you can now find them for around half that price—a phenomenal deal for such quality headphones.

They are small and lightweight, making them very comfortable—always a plus when used for workouts. Despite the lack of fins or wings, they fit securely during exercise, and their IP57 rating means they can withstand full immersion in water up to 1m for 30 minutes, along with dust protection. Good to know.

They’re packed with features. Bluetooth 5.2 means they’re compatible with SBC, AAC, and aptX codecs and can connect to six devices simultaneously. The Sound+ app offers five presets, a six-band equalizer, as well as controls for noise cancellation and transparency modes (the latter allows you to hear the surrounding environment better, which can be helpful during workouts).

With the charging case, the battery life totals 28 hours, which is really good and on par with top models. That should suffice for several runs. Plus, a quick 10-minute charge gives you an hour of playback—more than enough for most workouts.

The sound quality is just as energetic and forward as expected, and that’s a good thing. But they aren’t just energetic; they’re refined too. In fact, they’re quite balanced across the frequency range, showcasing mids without sacrificing detail, making them very clear.

The bass guitar possesses enough power and energy to keep you moving. “Jabra enthusiastically reproduces bass sounds yet maintains good control over their attack and decay, providing a convincing rhythmic expression and sufficient dynamics,” we noted in our review.

“Ultimately, the bottom end might lack some finer details, meaning variations are fewer than in the ideal case, but that’s more of a characteristic than a clear flaw.”

The upper frequency range might seem congested, but it’s not; it remains balanced throughout. And while the soundstage may be a bit narrow, what it lacks in breadth, it compensates for with detail.

How to Choose the Best Affordable Noise-Cancelling Headphones for You

So, should you go for wireless headphones? In short, yes. They offer convenience, and sound quality has significantly improved over the years, even if they still can’t compete with wired headphones at the same price point. Plus, you’ll have plenty of options—wired headphones with active noise cancelling (ANC) are becoming rare these days.

Most pairs with active noise cancelling feature microphones that suppress external sounds as well as those that allow sound in so you can better hear your surroundings or even chat without removing your headphones. This “ambient mode” (or “listening” as it’s also called) was once reserved for pricier models but is now spreading to budget options.

Some pairs also come with adjustable noise cancelling, either set by you to a specific level or adapting to your environment as it changes. Bluetooth Multipoint allows pairing with multiple devices and seamless switching between them, so you can go from listening to music on your phone to taking a Zoom call on your laptop without the hassle of reconnecting. Multipoint is indeed found in budget pairs, but adjustable ANC is typically reserved for pricier models.

An important question: in-ear or on-ear headphones? The former are smaller and easier to carry in your pocket, making them more suitable for workouts, while the design of the latter—completely covering the ears—provides more effective noise cancellation.

Battery life should also be a key factor. Budget models can’t compete with their more expensive counterparts, but you should still expect at least 20 hours of use to avoid frequent recharging.

F.A.Q

• Are noise-cancelling headphones worth it? We think so. If you want to drown out background noise to fully concentrate on what you’re listening to or simply enjoy silence and peace, noise-cancelling headphones are the way to go. And as this list shows, they don’t necessarily have to be expensive.
• Which budget noise-cancelling headphones are the best? That depends on what you’re looking for. We consider the Sony WH-CH720N the best all-around headphones, making them suitable for most users. However, if you prefer in-ear headphones, then the Sony WF-C700N might be the right fit for you. Check our list and choose what works best for you.
• Which is better—noise-cancelling over-ear headphones or in-ear ones? In terms of pure noise cancellation, over-ear headphones are generally more effective, as they cover the entire ear, creating an additional barrier against external sounds. But you might be surprised at how well noise-cancelling in-ear headphones can block out noise. Generally speaking, over-ear headphones provide a richer sound, but some people prefer the more compact in-ear style—just stash them in your pocket when you’re done.
• Can you wear noise-cancelling headphones safely? Absolutely! In fact, they may even protect your hearing. By suppressing external noise, you can hear your music better and won’t have to crank up the volume.

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