Sony vs Bose vs Sennheiser: Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Sony, Bose and Sennheiser make the three over-ear noise-cancelling headphones most shoppers compare, and all three flagships are on sale on Amazon right now. All three cancel noise well, connect over Bluetooth and have companion apps. The differences are in comfort, sound tuning and battery life, and in which cheaper model makes sense if you don't need the flagship.

The short answer

• [Sony](/brands/sony) WH-1000XM6 if you want an all-rounder with strong noise cancelling and lots of app features.
• [Bose](/brands/bose) QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) if comfort for long flights is your priority; it also has spatial audio.
• [Sennheiser](/brands/sennheiser) Momentum 4 if you care most about sound and battery life: it is rated for up to 60 hours.

Sony WH-1000XM6

Sony's 1000X series is the line most reviewers measure the others against. The XM6 is the latest generation, sold here in Olive Gray.

−18%

Audio/Sony

Sony WH-1000XM6 The Best Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones, Olive Gray

4.2(3,987)

Sony over-ear Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones with up to 30 hours of battery life, in Olive Gray.

$378$459.99

Save $81.99 as of Nov 10, 6:28 PM UTC

400+ bought in past month

Sony's app lets you adjust the noise cancelling and EQ, and the headphones support LDAC, a higher-quality Bluetooth codec that works with many Android phones.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)

Bose built its name on noise cancelling and comfort. The QuietComfort Ultra headphones add spatial audio, which places sound around you like speakers in a room.

−20%

Audio/Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones (2nd Gen), Wireless Headphones with Spatial Audio, Over Ear Noise Cancelling with Mic, Up to 30 Hours of Play time, Black

4.2(3,157)

Over-ear Bose wireless headphones with noise cancelling, spatialized audio and up to 30 hours of play time.

$359.99$449

Save $89.01 as of Nov 10, 6:28 PM UTC

2K+ bought in past month

The standard QuietComfort headphones keep the noise cancelling and comfort for less:

−29%

Audio/Bose

Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones, Wireless Headphones with Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, Deep Bass, Up to 24 Hours of Playtime, Cypress Green - Limited Edition

4.5(22,749)

Over-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancelling, Quiet and Aware modes and up to 24 hours of battery.

$254.10$359

Save $104.90 as of Nov 10, 6:28 PM UTC

4K+ bought in past month

Sennheiser Momentum 4

Sennheiser is a German audio company known for studio and hi-fi gear. The Momentum 4 is tuned for detailed, warm sound and is rated for up to 60 hours of battery with noise cancelling on.

−37%

Audio/Sennheiser

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless Headphones, ANC, 60 Hr Battery, Black

4.0(14,302)

Over-ear Bluetooth headphones with adaptive ANC, transparency mode and up to 60 hours of battery life.

$187.95$299.99

Save $112.04 as of Nov 10, 3:43 PM UTC

Cheaper noise-cancelling picks

You don't need a flagship for the bus or the office. Sony's WH-CH720N has noise cancelling in a lighter, simpler design:

−51%

Audio/Sony

Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones, Pink

4.3(17,358)

Sony WH-CH720N wireless over-ear noise cancelling headphones in Pink, 192g, with up to 35 hours of battery life.

$88$179.99

Save $91.99 as of Nov 10, 6:28 PM UTC

3K+ bought in past month

And Soundcore's Q20i uses hybrid active noise cancelling at a budget price:

−29%

Audio/Soundcore

Soundcore by Anker Q20i Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Taupe

4.5(79,529)

Hybrid active noise cancelling headphones with 40-hour battery life and dual-device Bluetooth 5.0 connection.

$49.99$69.99

Save $20.00 as of Nov 10, 3:41 PM UTC

2K+ bought in past month

How to choose

• Comfort: if you wear glasses or fly long-haul, comfort matters more than small differences in sound. Bose is usually the most comfortable.
• Battery: all three flagships last a long workday and more; the Momentum 4 lasts the longest between charges.
• Phone: LDAC (Sony, Sennheiser) only helps with Android phones that support it; iPhones use AAC.
• Calls: all three have microphones for calls; if you take many calls outdoors, read reviews about wind noise.

See every headphone, earbud and speaker discount in audio deals.

FAQ

Which is better, Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? Both are top noise-cancelling headphones. The Sony XM6 is the better all-rounder with more app features, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is usually more comfortable and adds spatial audio.

Which noise-cancelling headphones have the longest battery life? Of these three, the Sennheiser Momentum 4, rated for up to 60 hours.

Are cheaper noise-cancelling headphones worth it? For commuting and offices, yes: models like the Sony WH-CH720N or Soundcore Q20i cancel steady noise well. Flagships cancel more noise, especially voices, and have better microphones.

Do these headphones work with iPhone? Yes. All of them connect to iPhones over Bluetooth; iPhones use the AAC codec rather than LDAC.