# Noise cancelling headphones that actually work

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/tech/headphones/noise-cancelling-works/
Category: Tech > Headphones. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 283 counted first-hand reports from Target shopper reviews, Sep 2014 to Oct 2026.

**Question:** Which noise cancelling headphones really block out noise?

**Short answer:** Bose QuietComfort Headphones has the best record for noise cancelling: 26 of 32 shoppers who mentioned it said it blocked out the noise around them. Beats Studio3 comes second at 25 of 32, but Beats has discontinued it, so Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (13 of 16) and Sony WH-1000XM5 (15 of 20) are the next ones to look at.

**What stands out:** Both Bose pairs land in the first three, at 26 of 32 and 13 of 16. The discontinued Beats Studio3 also does better than the Beats Studio Pro that replaced it, 25 of 32 against 22 of 34.

## Ranking (shoppers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Blocks noise | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bose QuietComfort Headphones | 26 of 32 | 81% | yes |
| 2 | Beats Studio3 | 25 of 32 | 78% | no |
| 3 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | 13 of 16 | 81% | yes |
| 4 | Sony WH-1000XM5 | 15 of 20 | 75% | yes |
| 5 | Beats Solo 4 | 22 of 31 | 71% | yes |
| 6 | Beats Studio Pro | 22 of 34 | 65% | yes |
| 7 | JBL Tune 520BT | 7 of 11 | 64% | no |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Bose QuietComfort Headphones

72% of its reviews praise the noise cancelling and 33% the sound. Bose's own site is even more positive at 9 of 10, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Good sound (33%), Comfortable (31%), Good battery (17%)
- Complaints: Uncomfortable (6%), Connection issues (6%)
- Reports counted: 36

### 2. Beats Studio3

Second place on the record, 25 of 32, but Beats has stopped making it. 10% found it overpriced and 8% said theirs broke.

- Praised for: Good sound (41%), Comfortable (33%), Good battery (15%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (10%), Broke (8%), Uncomfortable (5%)
- Reports counted: 39

### 3. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

50% of reviews praise the sound, more often than for the regular QuietComfort (33%). Its noise cancelling record, 13 of 16, comes from a smaller group.

- Praised for: Good sound (50%), Comfortable (35%), Good value (10%)
- Reports counted: 20

### 4. Sony WH-1000XM5

Noise cancelling held up for 15 of 20, and 46% also call it comfortable. Price (12%) and breakage (12%) are the complaints that come up.

- Praised for: Good sound (50%), Comfortable (46%), Good battery (8%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (13%), Broke (13%), Uncomfortable (8%)
- Reports counted: 24

### 5. Beats Solo 4

46% praise the sound, but 23% say it doesn't block enough noise and 18% found the on-ear fit uncomfortable.

- Praised for: Good sound (46%), Comfortable (15%), Good battery (10%)
- Complaints: Uncomfortable (18%)
- Reports counted: 39

### 6. Beats Studio Pro

More shoppers weighed in on the Beats Studio Pro than on any other pair here, and 12 of 34 said the noise cancelling was weak. Comfort gets praise in 33% of reviews.

- Praised for: Comfortable (33%), Good sound (23%), Good battery (18%)
- Complaints: Weak sound (5%), Broke (5%), Connection issues (5%)
- Reports counted: 39

### 7. JBL Tune 520BT

The weakest record here, 7 of 11, and from a small group. It's an on-ear pair whose listings don't mention noise cancelling, and 25% call it good value.

- Praised for: Good sound (31%), Comfortable (25%), Good value (25%)
- Complaints: Weak sound (19%), Broke (19%), Uncomfortable (13%)
- Reports counted: 16

## Questions

**Which headphones have noise cancelling that really works?**

Going by shoppers who mentioned it, Bose QuietComfort Headphones has the best record at 26 of 32. After the discontinued Beats Studio3, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (13 of 16) and Sony WH-1000XM5 (15 of 20) are next.

**Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra better at noise cancelling than the regular QuietComfort?**

Not on this record. Both land at 81% of shoppers who weighed in, though the Ultra's share comes from 16 reviewers against 32 for the regular pair. Choose on sound and price.

**Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 good at noise cancelling?**

Mostly yes: 15 of 20 shoppers said it blocks noise well. Reviews copied from Sony's site are positive too, at 7 of 7, which we show but don't count.

**Do Beats Solo 4 headphones have noise cancelling?**

The Solo 4's Target and Amazon listings don't advertise active noise cancelling. Even so, 22 of 31 shoppers said it blocked out noise. If quiet is the goal, the Bose pairs and Sony WH-1000XM5 have better records.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/