10 Best Noise Canceling Headphones Under $100

If you've been looking for the best headphones with noise canceling, you may have stumbled across Cowin before. COWIN's range of headphones make for the best wireless noise-cancelling headphones for those shopping on a budget. These budget noise-canceling headphones employ some relatively good technology. Though many of the models are equipped with older Bluetooth versions, they are still perfectly functional and provide a well-made, durable choice. They're relatively cheap for headphones.

The E7 model manages to pack a lot in for its low price-tag, and we have included three separate E7 iterations today. This first set is an older upgrade which harbors 40mm diaphragms driven by neodymium (an industry go-to magnet) they serve up well-balanced stereo audio with excellent dynamic performance.

These headphones are kitted out with one of the industry's best low-priced noise cancelling chips and an external sound detection mic. This allows the electronics to cancel out interfering sound while you're on the move, providing a better listening experience. They are constructed from sturdy materials. The cups can swivel 90 degrees and are suitably cushioned with a memory protein to keep them comfy. The headband adjusts and allows you to fold them away for storage purposes.

The built-in microphone is high quality and assisted by the ANC technology. It provides a very clear line-in/out for communications and good sound quality. They capably run for up to 30 hours at a time, which is an excellent battery life.

Pros:
+ Folding model.
+ Comfy cups.
+ High-quality microphone.
+ Effective noise canceling.

Why We Liked It - These budget noise-canceling headphones provide solid ANC which effectively combats day-to-day noise. However, they don't adjust quickly enough for sudden high impact sounds, such as car horns.

These over-ear headphones boast the latest active noise cancelling technology, reducing noise whether you're out and about amongst the busy streets, in the middle of a chattering office, on a rumbling bus, or in a flight cabin.

Like the Mpows on our list, the Boltune over-ear headphones boast a whole 30 hours of battery life, meaning you'll never run out of charge when you're on the go - these are some of the best noise cancelling headphones for commuters. Not only that, but these headphones only take 1 hour to charge to the full battery life. Five minutes will get you a whole two hours of battery life.

The earmuffs sit comfortably on the ear, so you can listen for a long time.

The audio quality is excellent for a pair of budget headphones. These headphones have an accurate bass and a great frequency response for excellent sound.

Pros:
+ Good active noise cancellation.
+ Well made and comfortable.
+ Great sound quality.
+ 30 hour battery life.

Why We Liked It - Even though they're under $100, the Boltune headphones have a 30 hour battery life. Pair that with the sound quality, and you're onto a real winner.

Avantree is another competitive product which does an excellent job at reducing external sound while you listen to your playlists. They have a hidden cup mic, which effectively looks for outside waves and cancels them, reducing levels by 18 decibels.

These Bluetooth headphones feature precision-engineered drivers which are well made from functional quality components. They are, once again, 40 mm in diameter, which is a sufficient size for excellent audio performance. They serve up smooth dynamic stereo audio and significantly reduce consistent low-frequency interference.

They are kitted with an advanced Bluetooth CSR chip to provide a stable stream and can work for 10 hours with cancellation turned on, or 18 hours of unaided, general wireless use. They are equipped with FST low latency response, which provides zero lag when used with one of their additional products such as their AudiKast, Leaf, or Private Bluetooth transmitters.

These cheap noise-canceling headphones have a very lightweight design despite their rugged construction. They have swivel-mounted cups that help give a custom fit. The ear cups are cushioned with super-soft ear-pads. The headband is adjustable and foldable, making them a compact, portable option.

Pros:
+ Fold-up set.
+ Strong construction.
+ Good ANC capabilities.

Why We Liked It - While they aren't the strongest decibel reducing set on the market, they provide a perfect day to day solution.

Next up we have another innovative fold-away over-ear set of bluetooth headphones under $100 which are passively and actively noise cancelling for an immersive personal audio solution.

They are a well-manufactured, with a sturdy but lightweight headband that features durable folding mechanics. It's flexible and adjustable. The ear-cups are generously padded and lined with a skin-friendly fabric. They are swivel-mounted for additional flexibility, making for a comfortable fit - you can keep them comfortable to wear for long periods.

Their drivers provide excellent full frequency response. They measure 40mm and employ rare earth magnets to move the air, creating accurate sound-wave reproduction. The company's own waveguide processing codec enhances their audio performance.

These noise cancelling headphones capably deliver clear audio with rich mid-ranges and crystal highs. The bass has a great presence, making for excellent sound quality. They actively noise cancel in real-time, deadening the outside world to keep your listening experience optimal.

They provide an ample battery life, functioning for up to 30 hours of use. This battery life is more than enough for a full day. They come with a carrying case designed for transit.

Pros:
+ Durable folding design.
+ Great audio mix with dynamic texture.
+ Ample 30-hour battery life.
+ Come with a carrying case.

Why We Liked It - The folding mechanism is a robust feature, paired with the other innovative engineering decisions, giving these noise cancelling headphones the edge over their closest competitors. We love that this set comes with a carrying case.

This is one of the newest reincarnations of the E7 model we opened today's article with. The E7 Pro model has been revamped to provide a more original Bluetooth version. It's been bestowed with one of the most current ANC chips, making their processing all the more effective.

They are very well designed and executed; some of the materials used have been rethought after the success of their flagship model. These noise cancelling headphones are now lightweight for portability, comfort, and ease. Don't get us wrong - they also have stronger properties.

This pair of headphones features hardworking, dynamic combination drivers with have a great response, processing signal loads effortlessly. They deliver audio with great balance, depth, and clarity. The bass has an excellent presence, which is free of distortion; the trebles are crisp.

Their active noise cancellation technology is professional, efficaciously reducing external noise. They are, once again, a closed-back circumaural set, so audio is very enveloping. This helps passively mute the outside world, as well.

The integrated microphone has seen a complete overhaul; the communication clarity is superior to many similarly priced sets of noise cancelling headphones.

This pair of headphones provides a 30 hour battery life with ANC when fully charged.

Pros:
+ Pro level ANC.
+ Upgraded microphone.
+ Comfortable design fit.
+ A generous 30 hours battery life.

Why We Liked It - These noise cancelling headphones have been well-upgraded, the electronics are far more advanced. The mic transmission is pristine, and they provide an excellent affordable alternative to a premium model - not bad for a pair of wireless headphones under $100.

The WaveSound 3 is another newly upgraded pair of headphones with excellent ANC properties .

They work wirelessly and now boast Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, working in conjunction with AptX tech, keeping their latency nominal. This means they can perform far better when streaming and aren't subject to any signal loss or lag.

These noise cancelling headphones have 40 mm dynamic drivers that utilize premium quality beryllium magnets to stimulate their large apertures. They have good sensitivity and a broadened, accurate frequency response, which allows them to deliver audio quality with gratuitous dynamic detail.

Their processing is custom-tuned to the company's patterns, optimizing, and enhancing the audio reproduction capabilities.

These noise-cancelling headphones keep signals clear and reduce outside interference by around 50%. They are well-made and have swivel-mounted, protein padded earcups for a comfortable fit.

Pros:
+ Beryllium driven array.
+ Bluetooth version5.0.
+ Low latency.
+ ANC.

Why We Liked It - These are one of the best noise cancelling headphones under $100. They provide a premium listening experience; the driver engineering is tremendous and incorporates some components we typically see in higher-priced regions. The ANC is very capable.

Budget not quite as tight? Try some noise canceling headphones under 200 bucks.

We've examined the H5 model from Mpow before. This isn't only one of the best noise cancelling headphones under $100 - they're less than fifty bucks.

This is another recently upgraded model that has been made far more durable than before. The headband has been tested and certified by a 10,000+ bending machine. It's robustly constructed but lightweight, still managing to be sufficiently comfortable.

The cups feature super-soft, memory-protein cushions, and are swivel-mounted to help withstand wear and tear. They naturally adjust to bigger and smaller head circumferences.

They have an up to date ANC chip which helps to maintain more visible communication lines and filters background ambiance for a better listening experience.

The Bluetooth is a little older (4.1) but current enough to provide a stable transmission.

The rechargeable lithium-ion battery is impressive, offering up to 30 hours of listening if your ANC is not in constant use.

Pros:
+ Good ANC capabilities.
+ Highly durable headband.
+ 30 hour battery life which doesn't drain slowly when ANC is in use.

Why We Liked It - These noise cancelling headphones provide good value for money, and their price is almost unbeatable in terms of what they bring to the table. The older Bluetooth is still widely compatible so it's not much of a sacrifice if you're short of cash. These are some of the best noise cancelling headphones in terms of battery life - 30 hours is amazing.

This next set of headphones features the same cutting edge noise cancellation chip as the E7 model by COWIN. They capably analyze and differentiate between the internal and external sound, working hard to produce inverse waves which significantly reduces the infringing ambiance around you.

These wireless headphones are well-constructed from sturdy materials that are suitably lightweight and flexible. They have comfortable around-ear cushioning and a softly padded headband - all of this makes for a comfortable fit.

The drivers once again measure 40 mm and muster-up powerful bass-driven audio with well-defined vocals and dynamic accuracy.

These headphones can be used wired or wirelessly. They provide 24 hours of ANC in wired mode. They have an adequate microphone for the handsfree operation, maintaining clear signals, thanks to the ANC.

Pros:
+ Sturdy but Lightweight.
+ Powerful audio.
+ Ample battery capacity while running ANC.

Why We Liked It - These are some of the best noise cancelling headphones under $100 if you're looking for well-balanced audio quality with excellent dynamics. The ANC chip provides complete immerson in your sound.

This is another Cowin pair, so we'll keep this review short and sweet - you'll know the deal by now. These noise cancelling headphones differ very little from the other Cowin ones on this list. That is, apart from its Bluetooth capabilities.

They have the same build quality and materials of choice as the others mentioned. While they're not quite up to scratch when compared directly with the pro-model, these noise cancelling headphones will more than suffice. They're durable enough for day to day use.

Sometimes, when shopping on a budget, you have to sacrifice some features to get your hands on something you can afford.

Given that BT version 4.0 is not yet wholly obsolete, this set presents a good deal that sits somewhere smack-bang in the middle of the other two sets we have chosen to include today.

They provide the same generous 30 hours of battery life as the original model. Most importantly, they have impressive upgraded ANC technology, which can defeat the outside decibel levels efficiently by up to 28dBs.

Pros:
+ Durable and inexpensive.
+ Great audio.
+ Effective ANC.
+ 30 hour battery life.

Why We Liked It - They are a step up from the original product and a good stepping stone for those who can't afford the Pro model. With ANC, these are still one of the best noise cancelling headphones under $100.

Our final choice to consider is this fantastic wireless set of noise cancelling headphones from Srhythm.

They feature a robust folding design so you can store them compactly, which makes them a feasible traveling option.

These ANC wireless headphones are lightweight. They have a fully-adjustable, comfortably-padded headband, and ear-cups to match. They boast high-quality 40mm drivers, providing hi-fi audio with deep, powerful bass.

These ANC headphones do a fantastic job of cancelling out externally received sound-waves because they're equipped with noise rejection processing. They can capably distinguish noise with their cup-mic.

They provide a 16 hour battery life and come with an optional auxiliary cable for unlimited wired use.

Pros:
+ Wired/wireless use.
+ Strong folding design.
+ Noise rejection.
+ ANC.
+ 16 hour battery life.

Why We Liked It - This ANC set is one of the best noise cancelling headphones under $100, outperforming the majority of the lower-priced options.

Noise Canceling Headphones Under $100 Buyers Guide

Let's be honest; the majority of us favor headphones over the factory stock integrated speakers in our mobile devices for their unique listening appeal. They are great for taking out and about to listen while you're on the go. The only thing is you are, of course, then at the mercy of your surroundings, whether that be a busy street, a loud bus ride, or a coffee shop of chattering people.

It can be tough for a set of headphones to combat the external noise, with many of us resorting to turning our headphone volume up to unsafe decibel levels, risking permanent, irreversible hearing damage.

Even in the comfort of our own home, background sounds can interfere with our listening pleasure, whether it's noisy neighbors, squabbling siblings, or close-by road-works.

If you're a music fan, these sounds can block the audio coming through your headphones, especially if they are at high decibels. A good set of noise cancelling headphones actively reduces the decibel levels outside of your headphones while you listen to your sound.

How Does Noise-Cancellation Work?

There are two ways in which a set of headphones can cancel noise; they're known as passive and active, though most over-ear wireless headphones are capable of utilizing both methods in unison.

Passive cancellation is mostly down to the headphone design. A set of closed-back (circumaural or around-ear) headphones will do this best. Their design encloses the ear and forms a sealed listening environment, which naturally helps to block out some of the noise from your surroundings.

While passive cancellation provides a private and immersive listening experience, they do little against high decibel levels in comparison to a pair of headphones that have active noise cancelling abilities. (Or ANC).

Active noise cancelling headphones relies on a structural barrier to block high-frequency sounds, but they also actively counter low frequencies.

How they function is a little more complicated and works by manipulating a natural phenomenon known as destructive interference to its advantage.

The headphones have to be able to differentiate between music and noise to accurately cancel sound. Music is identified by having predictable recognizable patterns, and other sounds are usually far more chaotic.

They primarily employ an extra microphone to listen out for and mimic the sounds they can hear externally. Then they reproduce them in much the same way as they reproduce audio being played to your ears.

Instead of making an entirely exact copy, they play 180 degrees out of sync or phase to use the music with the real outside audio. This is how the sound-waves become cancelled out.

The same problem can occur naturally when a speaker creates unclear audio and bass distortions, but in ANC, it's employed on purpose.

What To Look For When Buying Noise Canceling Headphones Under $100?

What to look for within this price region is somewhat limited. The active noise cancelling capabilities aren't going to blow you away like a high-end set might, but the best noise cancelling headphones under $100 will still be good.

As with any electronic audio product, you need to consider the style you prefer. When it comes to noise cancelling technology, we suggest you stick with a circumaural (closed back) set as they are superior for the task.

The most important thing to consider is how well it has been put together, and the quality of the parts used within its construction. The best noise cancelling headphones under $100 shouldn't be super cheaply made. When you're shopping on a shoe-string, you need to opt for the best durability available for your allocated budget, or you will waste money in the years to come by replacing it.

The quality of the internal components should come first, though comfort is essential, especially if you're planning to wear them on a long haul flight. You should be prepared to sacrifice aesthetics or luxury padding more than the drivers or circuitry, so long as they are robustly made.

Consider battery life. A few of the headphones on this list include a battery life of 30 hours. This type of battery life is excellent for a commuter. However, if you only plan to use your headphones to listen to sound at home, then feel free to go for something with less battery life. 15 hours of battery life is still an excellent option.

Also, consider other questions. Do you want a wired or wireless option when searching for the best headphone? Wireless noise cancelling headphones might be a little more expensive, but it's worth shopping around. However, when it comes to noise canceling headphones, Bluetooth might not be your top priority. Nevertheless, we've included a few on our list, so you know the option is out there!

Conclusion

If you're stuck for cash and could do with drowning out a little of the day to day noise around you, all the sets we have looked at make a decent investment. They're some of the best noise cancelling headphones under $100 that you'll find. The majority of them include ANC technology, which is even better.

With our fast-paced modern lives in an over-developed world, there's no doubt that some form of noise cancelling capabilities can only be a good thing. They allow for a much more private and enjoyable experience; they help to keep communication lines free with microphone-equipped headsets.

We hope today's selections demonstrate what's available without too big a commitment cash-wise.

There is a multitude of merit-worthy noise canceling sets to choose from, and we're confident that with today's in-depth buyer's guide in the back of your mind, you will find the perfect set for you.

Expert Tip

If you want to know more about how noise cancellation works, head over to our other noise canceling articles for a nose through our buyer's guide. Here, we go into greater lengths to explain how dynamic headphones and sound-waves work, as well as exploring destructive interference in a little more detail.

Did you Know

Jet-engine noise registers at 150 dB upon take-off from outdoors and around 75 to 80 dB from safely inside the cabin of an airplane. To cancel it out, you'll need a massively reducing set.

If you've enjoyed this review by Music Critic, please leave a positive rating: