The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under 200 in 2018- Complete Guide
Noise cancelling headphones under 200 are becoming more and more popular, given that an increasing number of people are now looking for a top-notch audio-performance. With hundreds of headphones with on the market, the decision of buying a pair of quality noise-cancelling headphones can be quite challenging. In selecting a pair of headphones it is important to look at a variety of factors related to functionality and style in order to choose the most suitable headset. We have researched and ranked the top ten headphones in this category by taking into consideration a wide array of resources and factors. So let’s start with the basics of noise-cancelling headphones first..
What you should be considering when buying headphones with a noise-cancelling capability?
When selecting a pair of noise cancelling headphones under 200 it is important to consider numerous factors which are basically divided under the categories of style and functionality.
When deciding on what kind of style numerous factors are taken into consideration such as portability and even what kind of requirements you have. There are a number of different headphone styles available in the market, one of them being active noise cancelling headphones which use active noise control (ANC) also known as noise cancellation which reduces unwanted sound by the addition of a second sound specifically designed to cancel the first. The best option for you under this category is an over ear headphone style. Other options are earbuds however the popularity of noise cancelling headphones is growing greatly and people are starting to favor over ear headphones more than earbuds as they provide greater comfort and sound quality.
Key types of functionality
Noise cancellation Vs. noise isolation - Comparing and contrasting..
The next step involves differentiating between active noise cancellation headphones and passive noise isolation headphones. Even the pickiest of audiophiles sometimes confuse the two and we have done the job of properly distinguishing between the two.
- Noise isolation headphones work passively, these headphones prevent noise from entering the ears via cushioning and creating a physical barrier as these seal the ear from outside commotion and noise.
- Noise cancelling headphones work actively as they use microphones to detect noises and sound in a listener’s environment by working to electronically counter the sounds occurring in the outside world. Inverse waves are used to counter ambient noises in the outside environment. However it is to be seen that noise cancelling headphones are far from perfect. They are good at muting monotonous background noise however are not fully equipped to block out several sounds such as crying, screaming or loud conversation. However despite this flaw they are the best at neutralizing low pitched noises such as engine noises and such headphones require battery operation to work and hence need to be charged.
Key types of Design of noise-cancelling headphones - Closed, Open or Semi Open Backs
Headphones are also differentiated on the basis or whether they are close backed or open backed or are semi open backed and basically this determines how much noise may leak out of your headphones to the outside world.
- If you don’t want people within earshot of you to hear what you’re listening to on your headphones you should opt for closed back headphones as these prevent sound from leaking and are ideal at both sealing off outside noise and stopping whatever you’re listening to from getting out.
- However if you’re looking for a fuller and richer sound and aren’t concerned about your music leaking to the outside world and the surrounding environment you may consider open or semi open backed headphones. These headphones function the same way as close backed headphones but aren’t as effective as close backed headphones at sealing in sound.
To sum up the kind of headphones you are about to buy should be suited to your listening environment. If you want to use your headphones in an environment where you require greater privacy it is better to go for closed headphones. However if you do not have any issues with others hearing your music you may consider open or semi open backed headphones.
We have compiled a list of 10 of the best headphones available that fall under the price range of 200 U.S. Dollars by taking into account their design / build and durability, sound quality and noise cancellation capability, and comfort.
Top 10 best noise cancelling headphones under 200 in 2018 - Comparison table
1. Audio Technica ATH-ANC9 QuietPoint Noise-Cancelling Headphones
The Audio Technica -ANC9 QuietPoint Noise-Cancelling Headphones have made it to the top of our list due to the superior features that these headphones have on offer along with the very positive customer reviews for this product. Coming in packaging with many credible sources backing the product along with using features such as QuietPoint technology and offering Tri-Level Cancellation along with high fidelity audio reproduction they are the best choice available at the moment. These headphones come equipped with a special case to hold the headphones and numerous wires to suit your needs.
The features of this product include the fact that these are preferable for people who prefer privacy when listening to music as they are close backed headphones that are offering superior sound to predecessors by using better bass technology and active noise cancellation to drone out noises such as engines humming. The QuietPoint technology that we repeatedly mention is extremely important as it boasts the ability of these headphones being able to reduce environmental noise by up to 95%. They also use tri-level cancellation as these offer 3 noise cancellation modes to customize performance for airplane, office and study along with 40mm audio drivers for crystal clear high fidelity audio reproduction. One of the most amazing features of these headphones that most headphones with active noise cancellation do not have these days is that they offer the ability to function in passive mode without battery if it runs out on the go. Finally the luxurious memory foam padding on the earcups and the headband make using this pair of headphones a very enjoyable experience along with providing the ultimate level of comfort. Finally along with the product the inline remote offers users the ability to skip tracks at the push of a button. However the only con of these headphones is that the inline remote does not offer the option of adjusting volume.
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Audio Technica ATH-ANC9 QuietPoint Noise-Cancelling Headphones>>
2. Ausdom ANC7 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
This pair of headphones makes number 2 on our list for a variety of reasons. Firstly the headphones come in a combination of the colors black and red that adds greatly to the beauty of the headphones. Along with offering a great color scheme the headphones also come with a number of functional capabilities as the headphones have buttons for choosing whether to turn the active noise cancellation on or off and a LED indicator along with the option of changing tracks directly from the headphones. Secondly the active noise cancellation is a huge plus point.
Compared to our previous choice one of the benefits that this pair offers is that they can be used both wired via the 3.5 audio cable and also via the premium Apt-X Bluetooth 4.0 which allows you to stream music to your headphones from any device such as your PC, your phone or your tablet. The range of the wireless function stretches to 33 feet which is a lot. The ANC (Automatic Noise Cancellation) system along with the powerful headsets range of 20Hz-20KHz frequency range leads to the headphones being able to significantly reduce noise when travelling, working and anywhere in between. Other features include the portability of the headphones as these are one of the most lightweight headphones available today which in turn also makes them one of the most comfortable headsets that you can wear all day long and the built in advanced microphones ensure system ensures that in windy and noisy environments your calls are crystal clear in terms of audio. The 400 mAh durable Lithium battery provides over 18 hours of battery life for both playing and talk time while also offering 120 hours of standby time. Along with these features going back to the looks the black and red coloring along with the stylish carbon fiber design comes with a stylish case and with a 12 month warranty in case you run into any issues.
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Ausdom ANC7 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones>>
3. Parrot Zik Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with Touch Control
The third pair on our list are the Parrot Zik Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with Touch Control which are currently available in the market in 3 colors namely black, black gold and yellow gold witheach one of the colors having their own unique features in terms of looks with our personal favorite being the black gold version that combines two colors magnificently to create a very classy looking pair of headphones. However looks aren’t everything and this pair of headphones has a host of other features that are too good to not be known. They come with new technology such as the bone conduction sensor and five microphones with spatialized music image.
One of the primary advantages of these headphones is that they have one of the best active noise control systems in the world and offer the user the option of a “spatialized” music image. Another very special feature of these headphones that is not present in other headphones is that they come with a tactile touch panel that enables sensual movements and senses these while also coming equipped with a head detection sensor. Also boasts one of the strongest digital signal processors and a bone conduction sensor. Bone conduction is basically the conduction of sound to the inner ear through the bones of the skull and can be used to enhance the hearing of people with hearing problems.
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Parrot Zik Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with Touch Control>>
4. Hammo GO NOONTEC Airplane Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
These headphones that have come in at number 4 on our list come have an impressive and stylish design, and their main color is black /red. These headphones boast some of the most advanced ANC technology and are specifically crafted for airline passengers who frequently fly.
The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system in these headphones utilizes unique technology from NOONTEC
and along with Hammo GO’s earmuffs that are handmade of protein cotton and are specially optimized to fit the head providing users with easy wear for comfortable listening in long flights for up to 8 hours of constant listening. The headphones offer Ultra long battery life with up to 60 hours of battery life and are one of the few noise cancelling headphones with ANC technology that come with high fidelity sound quality and are made specifically for travel as they can be folded to be extremely portable and take up 50% less space than when fully unfolded.
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Hammo GO NOONTEC Airplane Active Noise Cancelling Headphones>>
5. August EP650 Bluetooth Wireless Stereo NFC headphones with 3.5mm, Rechargeable Battery and built in Microphone
This August headset has been chosen for an assortment reasons and just by looking at the headphones you get an impression that these are one of the classiest headphones around. Coming in 5 different colors black, red, blue, gold, silver and white, each of the colors looks good in its own way. These headphones use the aptX system and offer enhanced music reproduction and the looks along with the features make this one of the best wireless headsets that is currently present in the market.
These headphones use Bluetooth 4.1 as a Bluetooth system and are compatible with any device with Bluetooth enabled and along with the NFC and aptX systems combine together to make one of the richest listening experiences without any cables. Next up the built in microphone is one of the most advanced in terms of call clarity and offers you a great option to use the headphones for calls as well. The volume, call and track control buttons allow you to switch between tracks, adjust the volume to your liking and take or reject calls at the push of a button. Lastly the internal Lithium ion battery is rechargeable battery that gives over 10 hours between charges and in the case where you don’t have a Bluetooth device or if the battery is low the headphones use a 3.5mm standard audio-in socket which ensures compatibility with non Bluetooth devices.
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of August EP650 Bluetooth Wireless Stereo NFC headphones with 3.5mm>>
6. BÖHM Bluetooth Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with Inline Microphone
These headphones make our list for being a very strong set of headphones when it comes to wireless Bluetooth headphones in terms of sound quality. Currently available in the market two color combinations of black+ silver and in the combination of brown, tan and gold. These headphones have a unique retro style look about them despite being one of the best headphones in the world. They use active noise cancellation and boast a very strong battery to support the ANC system (active noise cancellation)
These headphones use the advanced Bluetooth versions 4.0 which is one of the best today while also supporting A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP for a fully wireless experience and allow compatibility with all Bluetooth devices over a 33 foot range. These headphones boast advanced premium 40mm Stereo drivers which can operate on a wide frequency range of 20 Hz - 20 KHz. As mentioned before these headphones use active noise cancellation and are supported by battery that boasts a very long battery life of 18 hours. The battery boasts 16 hours of play time and 18 hours of talk time after 3 hour charging. Lastly the headset enables automatic resume after a call is ended straight from where the music was interrupted.
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of BÖHM Bluetooth Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with Inline Microphone>>
7. Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling In-Ear Headphones
This pair of headphones is the first set of in-ear headphones on our list and come from the same company that is currently at the top of our list. These in ear headphones boast of QuietPoint technology and are battery operated with an inline remote that controls whether to turn on the QuietPoint technology.
These headphones come equipped with the innovative QuietPoint technology that reduces distracting noise by 90 percent while offering superior sound as well. The headphones are made in such a way to create a comfortable listening environment in areas with high ambient noise to ensure you have no issues. The earpieces each have miniature microphones that pick up ambient noise and the electronics in the inline control box that create a noise cancelling wave that is 180 out of phase with ambient noise-wave acts as noise eraser. Finally the headphones come equipped with an airline plug adapter, case and different sized earbuds to allow for customization.
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling In-Ear Headphones>>
8. Philips NC1 Noise Cancelling Headphones 40-mm drivers closed-back
Number 7 on our list are the closed backed masterpiece from Philips that offer the best features in terms of sound precision by using a standalone acoustic chamber. One of the most compact headphones offering the greatest portability this creation from the Philips Fidelio line is one of the best headphones available simply based off of its features.
These come equipped with 40mm drivers and are closed backed to ensure privacy and that sound does not leak to the outside world. Offer compact folding and the deluxe memory foam cushioning is one of the staples of Philips Fidelio line ensuring a great amount of comfort when listening to songs. Come with a n inline remote that allows for mic control and also switching between music as well as calls.
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Philips NC1 Noise Cancelling Headphones 40-mm drivers closed-back>>
9. Beats by Dr. Dre executive Over Ear Noise Cancelling headphones
This pair of headphones is available in two colors of black and silver and judging simply by the reputation that this brand has in the market these headphones make our top ten and have come in at number 8 because of their superior sound and portability combined with the style statement that these headphones offer. Combined with the features these headphones plainly show why they are one of the best.
These Beats headphones are made with lightweight but sturdy materials and the unique folding design make these Beats headphones extremely easy to carry around and coupled with the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) system and custom EQ deliver pure audio that is free from external disruptions and makes sure the sound you listen to is exceptionally clear. The Beats Executive sound profile reproduces clear highs, deep bass and makes for the best music experience. These headphones come with AAA batteries, audio cables, airline and audio adapters and inline control along with a hard shell carrying case.
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Beats by Dr. Dre executive Over Ear Noise Cancelling headphones>>
10. Naztech i9BT Over-Ear Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
The last entry on our list is Naztech’s over ear pairt of headphones that use Bluetooth 4.1 technology for HD quality stereo sound. Currently available in black these headphones come with a variety of different features to ensure the user has the ultimate listening experience.
The headphones come from a trusted American brand with the headphones offering universal compatibility as being able to connect with any Bluetooth enabled device and the professional quality standard using memory foam and Noisehush technology makes these a very good pair of headphones to have. These headphones are able to reduce distracting ambient noise to a hum with active noise cancelling. The enhanced bass system in these headphones is another plus point as the 40mm neodymium drivers provide the ultimate HD sound with the deepest enhanced bass available. Finally the battery life of 15 hours allows for both Bluetooth connectivity and ANC and the wind resistant mic makes sure your call quality is always clear.