Our 10 Best Cheap Noise Cancelling Headphones

Getting the best cheap noise cancelling headphones is a great way to listen to music outdoors without letting outside noises get in your way. However, they are also quite pricey.

Most of us would probably appreciate something that's both cheap and good – which is precisely what this article is about. So, without any further ado, let us get right into it!

Quick Peek

Not interested in the details? Here are the most important pros and cons of our picks as quickly as possible:

1. Mixcder E9: Probably the best budget pick on this list. It's extremely cheap yet decent sounding with a decent battery, plenty of onboard controls, and decent NC performance as well - but also a bit boomy/warm
2. Mpow H12: Relatively balanced sound and great noise cancellation for the money. This is a great alternative to the Mixcder E9 if you don't like having overwhelmingly strong bass
3. TREBLAB Z2: Offers surprisingly balanced sound for the money but relatively poor NC performance
4. Cowin E7 Pro: Intense-sounding headphones with decent noise-cancelling for the money. Hard to go wrong with this pair if you like that kind of sound
5. Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC: All-around a great performer (If you make a small exception for the underemphasized highs) but it's also one of our most expensive picks
6. Anker Soundcore Life Q20: Superb noise-cancelling performance for the money but the bass is extremely heavy (Which can be great if you are a bass lover)
7. TOZO NC9: A great budget solution that's also portable at the expense of battery life (And also comfort if you don't like earbuds)
8. Sony WI-1000X: Superb (Balanced) sound and noise cancellation. However, they are a bit pricey and their design detracts from portability – which is one of the main reasons why you'd pick in-ears in the first place
9. Sony WF-SP800N: Great for workouts but with mediocre noise cancellation and disappointing audio for the money
10. Amazon Echo Buds: Amazing noise-cancelling performance for the money. Just keep in mind that it's known for having quite a lot of bugs

Before You Buy

We could go on for hours about the things to look out for when buying headphones. Enclosure, comfort, battery life, range, ANC performance, native noise isolation, sound signature, soundstage, stability, controls, features, and more.

From all these, the one thing you should know when checking out headphone reviews is that there's no such thing as the subjectively "best" headphones. Each pick has its own pros and cons and each one of us has his own preferences and needs.

So, with that out of the way, let us check out some headphones!

1: Mixcder E9: Best On-Board Controls

At this point, this is one of the classic options when it comes to budget NC offerings. We reviewed the Mixcder E9 quite some time ago and even to this day, it remains one of the most solid budget picks.

• Battery life: 30 hours
• Wireless range: About 10 meters
• Wired connectivity: Yes (3.5mm)

Starting with noise cancelling, we'd say that this is above average on this list. It's good at blocking engine noises along with ambient noises and chatter. So, definitely consider it as a budget pick for commuting.

As for audio, the Mixcder E9 is surprisingly good at both the lower and mid frequencies. The bass is rich and packs a punch without overwhelming the other sounds. However, highs are a bit all over the place. So, that can make these headphones sound a bit muddy at times.

Mind you, the use of a software EQ can help a lot with underemphasized highs. However, we expect that it still won't make the Mixcder E9 sound as good as something that's designed for great highs.

When it comes to comfort, it doesn't look like it, but there's plenty of padding on top. That, in combination with the big and soft earpads, makes these headphones fairly comfortable. The clamping force is admittedly a bit strong. But, if you don't have sensitive temples, that's unlikely to be an issue.

One of the few downsides is that it offers mediocre wireless range compared to some of our other picks and, again, the treble performance isn't the best. But that's to be expected at this price point.

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2: Mpow H12: Best Budget Option

If you want one of the cheapest options out there with "chill"/balanced audio, we can hardly think of anything better than the Mpow H12. At just about $50, it's a miracle by itself to see that they come with noise cancelling.

• Battery life: 30 hours
• Wireless range: About 10 meters
• Wired connectivity: Yes (3.5mm)

The noise cancelling performance is surprisingly good for the money. We wouldn't say that they can compete with expensive picks. But they still manage to block most repetitive noises quite effectively.

Another impressive thing for the money is that you get both wired and wireless connectivity. However, don't forget that even if you use them with a cable, ANC is still working via the battery.

The sound is a bit less intense than the Mixcder E9, and, as a result, also a bit more balanced. This is probably not a good pick for bass lovers, but, the rest of us should find it to be just fine for the money.

The clamp is no doubt a bit tight and we could use a bit more padding on the top. But, generally, we can hardly complain for the money.

Not to mention that there are also plenty of onboard controls – so this is one hell of an offering when it comes to value.

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3: Treblab Z2: Balanced Sound on a Budget

Don't like the overwhelming bass that some of the best cheap noise cancelling headphones tend to come with? Then chances are you are going to like the Treblab Z2.

• Battery life: Up to 35 hours
• Wireless range: About 34 meters unobstructed
• Wired connectivity: Yes (3.5mm to 2.5mm)

When it comes to cheaper options, it's often easier to create something with excess bass rather than headphones that are flat all across the board. So, this is a diamond in the rough for audiophiles who need ANC headphones on a budget.

That said, do keep in mind that these headphones come with rather underemphasized bass. If you love strong bass, you can wipe the Treblab Z2 off your list.

Comfort is okay with a few side notes. While both the top and the earpad material feel nice, the earpads themselves are a bit shallow and small. If the feeling of your ears touching the drivers doesn't bother you, then that's unlikely to be a problem. But, for the rest of us, that's definitely something to keep in mind.

The overall noise cancelling performance is a bit mediocre at best. It still lowers low-frequency repetitive noises from engines – but it doesn't really block them. The microphone is also a bit muffled and doesn't handle background noises particularly well.

Still, one could say that these are the best best budget Bluetooth headphones. With a balanced audio signature and okay noise cancelling, it's really hard to go wrong with them.

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4: Cowin E7 Pro: Intense Sound

This is the exact opposite of a neutral-sounding pair. If you are out looking for aggressive bass, mids, and highs with active noise cancellation on a budget, look no further. This is your pick.

• Battery life: A bit over 30 hours (Probably with ANC disabled)
• Wireless range: About 54 meters or so
• Wired connectivity: Yes (Standard 3.5mm)

One thing to keep in mind with intense sounds is that they can get rather tiresome in extensive-listening periods. The thumpy lows in combination with the sharp highs are definitely more wearisome than more chill/balanced counterparts. But, again, it all comes down to personal preferences in the end.

Noise cancelling performance is above average – but so is the price compared to most of our picks on this list.

Comfort is a bit of a hit or miss depending on the size of your head. They don't extend too much so they may be a bit too small for smaller heads and the same goes for ears since the earpads are rather small and shallow. Still, chances are that the average person is going to be just fine.

The only real downside that the Cowin E7 Pro have is the bad microphone. Despite offering okayish background noise isolation, the actual microphone quality is like an FM radio.

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5: Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC: Our Premium Noise Cancelling Headphones

Sitting at the $150-200 range, but often also at $100 or so, these headphones can barely be called cheap. But, compared to $350+ picks, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC (The name could be better) are a solid alternative.

• Battery life: Up to 19 hours
• Wireless range: About 36 meters
• Wired connectivity: Yes (Standard 3.5mm)

Also, in case you are not familiar with it, Sennheiser is a huge name as far as headphones are concerned. In this case, you get superb base that's not overwhelming. But the highs are no doubt a bit dull without an equalizer.

Noise cancelling is decent and above the average as far as this list is concerned. We wouldn't compare it to premium picks. But it does a decent job for the most part across the board.

Comfort is not necessarily bad but it's a bit disappointing for the money. Plus, we've come to expect more from Sennheiser. They are a bit tight on the head and while the earpads are both deep and soft, the padding on top is lackluster at best.

Once again, one of the few downsides is the somewhat horrible microphone. It's barely any better than most of our picks here and, for more than $100, it is a bit of a disappointment.

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6: Anker Soundcore Life Q20: Best Budget Noise Cancelling Headphones for Bassphiles

If you love strong bass and you also need decent noise cancelling, chances are you won't find anything better than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20.

• Battery life: Up to 40 hours (Down to 30+ with ANC enabled)
• Wireless range: 75 meters
• Wired connectivity: Standard 3.5 mm

It's not just the bass that's strong. The highs are also very sharp – which is to be expected from a bass-heavy pair. However, the sound mostly emphasizes on bass. This results in thumpy kicks and a warm overall signature.

This kind of sound is obviously not for everyone. But, for those of you who are into it, it's hard to go wrong with these Bluetooth headphones.

The noise cancelling is exceptionally good for the price point. In fact, it may be even better than the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC that can cost anywhere from 2 to 4 times more.

Comfort is all-around pretty good. The earpads are spacious and deep enough for most people, there's plenty of padding on top, and the clamp is not too tight either.

And when it comes to downsides, there really is nothing major to report. Especially at this price point. The bass is no doubt very overwhelming and the same goes for the highs. But, then again, that's a matter of personal preference. If you don't like this kind of sound, feel free to pick something a bit more chill.

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7: TOZO NC9: Best Cheap ANC Earbuds

Over-ear headphones are quite possibly the best in terms of sound delivery and soundstage by design. However, they are also very bulky. If you are after something that's a bit more portable, earbuds are your best bet.

And as far as cheap noise cancelling earbuds are concerned, we'd say that the TOZO NC9 are some of the best pairs you can get!

• Battery life: About 8 hours
• Wireless range: A few meters
• Wired connectivity: No

One of the most obvious downsides of true wireless earbuds is battery life. While most over-ear headphones can easily deliver at least 20 hours of battery life. The TOZO NC9, on the other hand, will give you maybe up to 8 hours. And while that's enough for arguably everyone, it's still a downside to keep in mind.

Soundstage is also another downside of earbuds in general. Closed-back headphones generally don't make you feel like you are in an open space either. But, earbuds sound in your head as they don't interact with the outer parts of the ears at all.

Then again, as far as advantages are concerned, we are looking at one of the cheapest earbuds out there with decent noise cancelling, decent sound, and even one-step pairing. Not to mention IPX6 water resistance.

So, when everything is said and done, if you need cheap, ANC earbuds that get the job done, it's hard to go wrong with these ones.

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8: Sony WI-1000X: Best Behind-Neck ANC Earbuds

One of the bad things about true wireless earbuds is that you can easily lose them while working out or anything like that. If that's an issue for you, consider getting the Sony WI-1000X as an alternative.

• Battery life: About 10 hours
• Wireless range: 50 meters
• Wired connectivity: No

The behind/around the neck design is going to keep the headphones safe no matter what happens. Not to mention that maybe that's why they also offer close to twice the battery life of the average earbuds (The battery seems to rest on the plastic housing).

Another great thing about this design is that you get dedicated onboard controls for volume, playback, and power. Other earbuds usually only rely on one button for everything. And don't forget that the WI1000X still offers most of the portability of "standard" earbuds. So, it's a win-win situation.

That aside, the sound signature is very-well balanced while the noise cancelling performance is among the best on this list.

As per usual with earbuds, comfort is a bit of a hit or miss depending on whether you feel comfortable with having something resting inside your ears or not.

And when it comes to downsides, pricing and availability are the only things that we can think of. The only way to get the Sony WI-1000X on the cheap is with a used model – and good luck trying to find a brand-new one.

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9: Sony WF-SP800N: Best Earbuds for Workouts

A good pair of headphones for working out needs to be very stable on your head, preferrably portable, and also with enough noise isolation to keep at least chatter noises away. When it comes down to it, we can barely think of a better alternative than the Sony WF-SP800N!

• Battery life: About 9 hours
• Wireless range: 60 meters
• Wired connectivity: No

Sony may not be the best when it comes to their naming schemes. But they do make some decent headphones.

The Sony WF-SP800N, in particular, are extremely stable and portable. So, they make a great companion for workouts.

However, one thing to keep in mind here is that you may not want very good noise cancelling while out jogging. You still need to have a certain awareness of your surroundings.

In this aspect, Sony's offering is surprisingly both good and bad. It manages to mostly block high frequency sounds such as the sound of an AC or background chatter. However, its ANC does a horrible job with low-pitched sounds such as engine noises. We don't know whether Sony did this on purpose or not. But it is a very suitable ANC profile for jogging since you don't hear other people chatting but you should be able to hear cars approaching.

That aside, the sound is bassy and at times even muddy. So, a bit disappointing for the price point but definitely not too bad.

And as far as downsides are concerned, pricing is a small issue here. For the same money or less, you can get headphones that both sound better and offer better noise cancelation. But, when it comes to stability, portability, and ANC tuning, hardly anything on this list beats Sony's offering.

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10: Amazon Echo Buds: Best Cheap Noise Cancelling Earbuds

At just a bit over a hundred bucks, this isn't one of the cheapest options out there. But, as far as value is concerned, these are probably the best cheap noise cancelling headphones you can get – if you are willing to make an exception for the bugs that can come up every now and then.

• Battery life: 5 hours on average (More than 30 with the included charging case)
• Wireless range: Just over 50 meters
• Wired connectivity: No

Bugs aside, thee Echo Buds offer decently balanced sound (If only a bit sharp), great ANC, and they come with all the pros of earbuds. Things like portability, simplicity, ease of use, etc.

As per usual with earbuds, comfort is a big hit or miss. If you don't mind having something resting deep inside your ears, they are not a bad pick.

The sound is fairly balanced if only a bit sharp at times – and whether that's a bad thing or not can change depending on who you ask.

And when it comes to noise isolation, not only they are great at passively blocking outside noises, but their ANC performance is also among the best on this list.

The only downside, apart from the bugs, is the fact that they also don't offer the best battery life. With an average continuous battery life of 5 hours, they may actually be the worst on this list. However, it's worth noting that the charging case delivers a few charges, so, that's probably going to be more than enough for most people.

Also, let us not forget to mention the below-average microphone in terms of audio quality.

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FAQ

What is Soundstage?

One of the things we mentioned for the last picks is soundstage. Soundstage refers to the spatial qualities of audio. It makes the difference of having a violinist play right inside your head and maybe 10 meters apart.

When we talk about tracks that contain tons of instruments and vocals, soundstage can make a big difference as it separates everything in the distance.

What are the Best Affordable Noise Cancelling Headphones?

These are our top 10 picks:

1. Mixcder E9
2. Mpow H12
3. TREBLAB Z2
4. Cowin E7 Pro
5. Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
6. Anker Soundcore Life Q20
7. TOZO NC9
8. Sony WI-1000X
9. Sony WF-SP800N
10. Amazon Echo Buds

If you want more details, feel free to check out the full article for our quick reviews.

Is it Worth Buying Noise Cancelling Headphones?

Whether noise cancelling headphones are worth it or not depends heavily on why you want them. If it's about listening to music in your quiet room–no–there is no reason to get noise cancelling headphones.

Then again, if you like using headphones outdoors on noisy environments and commuting, sure. It's a great idea.

What Are the Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under 50?

ANC headphones are generally not that cheap. The only pick from our list of the best cheap noise cancelling headphone that costs less than $50 is the Mpow H12. And it's definitely worthy of that price tag.

Other than that, for just $9 more, you can also consider the SoundCore Life Q20 and the TOZO NC9. And while there are other ANC headphones for less than $50, these are the only ones we can recommend.

Are Noise Cancelling Headphones Worth it for Flying?

Absolutely. In fact, ANC headphones are your best pick for flying, using the bus, train, or in any other situation where you'll find yourself fighting with a constant, repetitive noise. Be it with the rumble of a bus engine, airplane engine, or anything else like that.

How Do Noise Cancelling Headphones Work?

ANC works by using a microphone or multiple microphones to capture repetitive noises and then having the headphones re-play these sounds out-of-phase. This effectively cancels out any noises that are constant and that's also why ANC often doesn't really help with sudden sounds like someone yelling.

Obviously, the details are a bit more complicated than that. But that is the gist of it.

Wrapping Up

These are our top 10, cheap ANC headphones. If you have anything else to add or another pair to recommend, feel free to post it in the comments section.

That's all for now. Feel like we forgot to mention something important? Got anythign wrong? Then let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below!

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SOURCES: RTINGS