It's happened to just about any gamer: Settling down for a new session when all of a sudden, someone seems to have cranked up the world's volume knob. The dogs won't stop barking at invisible threats, upper-floor housemates are apparently playing a game of rearrange-the-furniture, siblings have spontaneously lost their hearing and turned the TV volume up to infinity. Or maybe for a gamer on the go who often finds themselves on adventures interrupted by the din of crowded subways, busy coffee shops, and other noisy inconveniences that come with being a member of the public.

  • Black Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds
    Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Earbuds
    Best Overall Noise-Cancelling Gaming Earbuds
    $280 at Best Buy
  • A picture of gaming earbuds made by ASUS Rog Cetra
    Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Gaming Heaphones
    Best Mid-Range Gaming Earbuds with Noise Cancellation
    $100 at Best Buy
  • Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed
    Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed
    Best Wireless Noise-Cancelling Gaming Earbuds
    See at Amazon
  • A charging case and two wireless gaming earbuds, made by JBL
    JBL Quantum TWS
    Best Budget Noise-Cancelling Gaming Earbuds
    $80 at Newegg
  • Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in black
    Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
    Best High-End Gaming Earbuds With Noise Cancellation
    $250 at Best Buy
  • Sennheiser IE 2000 In-Ear Headphones
    Sennheiser IE 200
    Best Wired Noise-Cancelling Earbuds for Gaming
    $150 at Sennheiser
  • KZ ZSN Pro X in Ear Monitors
    KZ ZSN Pro X
    Best Budget Wired Noise-Cancelling Gaming Earbuds
    $24 at Walmart
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Enter the art that is noise cancellation. This describes the capability of headphones or earbuds to dim (or cancel out entirely) unwanted ambient noise and further immerse the listener into their music, game, audiobook, or phone call. Noise cancellation is a highly-sought earbud feature for players who want to achieve a higher sense of realism in their games, and many manufacturers consider that, so there's no shortage of gaming earbuds with noise cancellation out there to choose from.

How to pick gaming earbuds with noise cancellation

This list offers a diverse range of gaming earbuds with noise-canceling capabilities, but choosing which product to invest in isn't a lighthearted decision for most. These factors were taken into consideration when picking which earbuds to feature in this lineup:

  • Active noise cancellation: Active noise cancellation (ANC) is considered by many to be the most advanced and effective form of noise cancellation in wearable audio devices. Passive noise cancellation is less powerful but still effective.
  • Latency: When it comes to wireless gaming earbuds, players expect their tech to be fast and capable, with little to no issues concerning latency and connectivity. Brands and products with good reputations in this matter were prioritized.
  • Price: Noise cancellation, like many other highly compelling headset or earbud features, usually comes with higher price tags, so a few budget-friendly options made the roster.

Game ZXC's picks for the Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds for Gamers in 2024

At almost $300, the financial ask for the Sony WF-1000XM5 true wireless earbuds is... a bit daunting. However, these earbuds are relatively new (released in July of 2023, to be exact) and are the latest in the WF-1000XM series, so they offer the most advanced active noise cancellation that Sony puts in its earbuds. The WF-1000XM5 earbuds offer several other features to justify their wallet-busting price, including wireless charging, 16 hours of additional battery in the case, and water resistance. Still, the active noise cancellation is the true star of the show.

The ANC performance has been improved over the already stellar WF-1000XM4, and the upgraded ear tips make it much easier to find a comfortable fit with these earbuds. This not only helps the overall feel of the WF-1000XM5 but also helps out the passive noise cancelation quite a bit. Whether the noise around the users is high-pitched or a low rumble, these earbuds reduce noise without anything playing.

Of course, excellent noise cancelation is nothing if the earbuds also don't sound good, but thankfully, the WF-1000XM5 sounds fantastic. The frequency response will be pleasing to anyone who uses these earbuds, which is no small feat. Whether games or music, these earbuds are incredibly accurate but have enough power in the lows not to sound as dull as some reference-level headphones. Plus, the 3D audio imaging is incredible; in games like Fortnite, where it is critical to hear what direction sounds are coming from, the WF-1000XM5 is hard to beat.

If these Sony buds don't fit in the budget right now, consider their predecessors, the WF-1000XM4s. The battery life is a bit shorter, and the drivers are smaller, but they still boast a strong, active noise cancellation capability that's tough to beat — and they're more affordable than the new WF-1000XM5s, too.

The Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Gaming Headphones are a suitable choice for gamers falling somewhere between the beginner and intermediate territories, who may want to make their first gaming-specific audio tech purchase without their investment surpassing $100.

This product's hybridized active noise cancellation performs surprisingly well for its mid-tier price range. It's not going to be quite to the same level as the Sony WF-1000XM5, but for about a third of the price, it is not that bad. While playing games or listening to music, gamers should have no trouble blocking out the world around them.

With over 21 hours of battery life in the carrying case, stylish RGB lighting accents, and a wireless charging case, the ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds have everything that gamers can want in a pair of earbuds. However, although these buds are tailored for gaming, latency performance may not be as strong as in other options competing in the same tier. This is not as detrimental for gamers who prefer story-based games or less competitive titles, but for gamers who want a competitive edge, the latency of these earbuds might not be the best option.

Razer makes many excellent over-ear gaming headsets, so it makes sense that when they started making gaming earbuds, they would follow suit, and the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed True Wireless Earbuds certainly do that. With incredibly low latency, decent ANC performance, and a comfortable fit, these earbuds are a joy for any gamer, whether they want to chill out with a single-player game or get competitive in a fast-paced shooter.

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Unlike the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed ANC performance is frequency-dependent. Higher-pitched noises are nearly entirely cut out, but these earbuds struggle a bit more with lower-end noises like construction. Overall, users should notice a significant drop in outside noise that will certainly help gamers focus on their games or tune out the world.

Razer offers a couple of wireless earbud options, but gamers looking for the best low-latency performance should definitely consider the Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed. Be careful because Razer's other earbuds are also named Hammerhead. While the non-Hyperspeed version is still an excellent option, the latency is considerably higher, making it harder for competitive gamers to use effectively.

JBL packs a ton of value into the Quantum TWS Noise Cancelling Gaming Earbuds. The buds use adaptive noise-canceling technology to mute distractions, while the QuantumSURROUND surround sound turns every intergalactic battle and historic swashbuckling adventure into a next-level auditory experience. The low-latency 2.4GHz connection, charging case with 16 hours of battery backup, and IPX4 water resistance rating are all extremely appealing perks to get on a set of gaming earbuds that cost less than $100. Finding a better pair of true wireless earbuds ANC for gamers on a tight budget is hard.

These earbuds won't entirely block out the outside world, but they will make it significantly easier to tune it out. The ANC on the Quantum TWS is undoubtedly not an industry leader, but it is hard to beat for this price. Plus, users can use the JBL app to tune the ANC to their ear canal, making it more effective. However, it is worth noting that the ANC does reduce the battery life from eight hours on a single charge to five.

For a significantly lower price, these earbuds are not going to sound as good as the premium options in this guide, but they still sound pretty good. However, Game ZXC would recommend staying clear about using the QuantumSURROUND feature when running them with the USB-C dongle on a PC because they can get painfully loud. Besides that, the Quantum TWS earbuds deliver a solid sound performance that works well for gaming and listening to music.

Gamers looking for a top-notch noise cancellation performer should look no further than Bose's newest earbuds, the QuietComfort Ultras. These buds' advanced noise cancellation performance is unmatched by any other product in their class, and the earbuds' overall sound quality is next-level thanks to Bose's new Immersive Audio technology. This tech creates a virtual surround-sound stage to add a new real-world depth and complexity to in-game noises, such as footsteps, bullets, and explosions.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra fall into a very similar bracket of performance and price, but the QuietComfort Ultra delivers a bit more noise cancelation performance. With current technology, it is nearly impossible to cut out all noise with headphones, but these earbuds get pretty dang close, with 90% of outside noise being blocked out. Both high-frequency and low-frequency noises are nearly silenced, and there is just a slight dip in the mid-range where some noise can get through but not to the point where it will get distracting.

At $300, the Bose QuietComfort Ultras are certainly the heftiest investment in this ranking of gaming earbuds with noise cancellation, but they're also the strongest performers for gamers who need to silence the world around them.

Active noise cancellation is a bit rarer in wired earbuds. Still, for gamers who prefer to use wired earbuds for the guaranteed low-latency performance, the Sennheiser IE 200 delivers fantastic sound quality and pretty excellent isolation for earbuds that don't have ANC support.

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Now that ANC has become more mainstream, passive isolation is not as eye-catching, but with the right set of earbuds. It still does an excellent job of blocking out the outside world. The Sennheiser IE 200 is one of the best earbud options for passive isolation. These earbuds won't block out noise entirely like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but they definitely lower the volume of outside noise to a considerable degree. Especially with music or gaming, these earbuds make it easy to focus on the audio through the earbuds instead of everything else around.

Sennheiser has firmly established itself as a go-to source for quality audio equipment, and while they don't have quite the same reputation in the gaming space, they are worth checking out. The IE 200 will not deliver gut-punching bass like the WF-1000XM5, but it does make up for it with a very accurate frequency response that is still very enjoyable to listen to.

Relying on passive isolation like the Sennheiser IE 200, the KZ ZSN Pro X earbuds deliver surprisingly fantastic audio quality and impressive sound isolation for just $25. Gamers on a tight budget or anyone who wants a stellar pair of earbuds that holds their own, even when compared to earbuds at a much higher price tag, will not be disappointed by these little diamonds in the rough.

The in-ear monitor design not only makes these earbuds incredibly comfortable for most users regardless of ear size, but it also helps out a ton with the passive isolation performance. Now, these earbuds will not be at all at the same standard as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or even the Sennheiser IE 200, but compared to other $25 earbuds, there is nothing better. They do a decent job of blocking out the low-end, but they do even better when it comes to the high-end, where isolation is more important. The isolation performance can also be improved by picking up some memory foam ear tips.

Unlike many of these relatively newcomers to the headphone game with less-than-stellar sound performance, the KZ ZSN Pros deliver fantastic audio performance that works great for listening to music and gaming. They are not reference grade like the Sennheiser IE 200, but most users will be pleasantly surprised by the sound performance of these incredibly affordable earbuds.

Noise cancellation is an important feature for gamers

Even if none of these gaming earbuds in this roster are the right pick, the best shopping advice is that most gamers prefer their audio wearables, whether headsets or earbuds, to have some noise-cancellation feature. The Sony WF-1000XM5s are an excellent all-around option since they employ Sony's best-in-class active noise cancellation technology, but if that price tag makes gamers pale a bit, then give some consideration to the JBL Quantum TWS. JBL's true wireless noise-canceling earbuds offer a lot of solid perks, including JBL's QuantumSURROUND spatial audio and, of course, adaptive noise cancellation.

All in all, the price range for a decent set of gaming earbuds with noise cancellation is enormous, spanning less than $50 and going all the way up to $300. If gamers are wondering if top-line noise-canceling earbuds like the Bose QuietComfort Ultras or Sony WF-1000XM5s are worth it... from a noise-canceling standpoint, most users agree that they are, but be sure to look at the product's aggregate features before making a decision, especially if staying in budget is a priority.

MORE: The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between active noise cancellation and passive noise cancellation?

There are a couple different ways that ANC works, but we will cover the most common method. When a headset or set of earbuds uses active noise cancellation, that means that there are dedicated speakers for noise cancellation. These speakers play a noise undetectable to the listener that cancels out environmental sounds by matching their amplitude. This is sometimes referred to as "anti-noise." Passive noise cancellation, on the other hand, means that the earbuds do not have dedicated speakers for negating ambient sound. Instead, the earbuds' eartips make as unbreakable of a seal as possible in the ear canal to passively block environmental noises from getting in.

Q: I'm considering buying noise-canceling earbuds, but they also offer 'ambient awareness.' What does this mean?

Ambient awareness, referred to by specific brands as Ambient Aware, Ambient Mode, or Quick Aware, is a feature of earbuds that allows the listener to stay at least somewhat aware of noises in their surroundings. This is helpful when crossing a street, placing an order at a coffee shop, or walking alone at night. The earbuds still play sound, while allowing select environmental noises, such as voices or car horns, to trickle through. In some cases, there's an onboard control to quickly toggle this awareness mode on or off, and in others, it must be turned on in the companion app.