11 Best Headphones that Don’t Leak sound in 2023

11 Best Headphones that Don't Leak sound in 2023

When you listen to music in public you do not want the loud music going outside your ears to be heard by others around you. A playlist is something we like to enjoy by ourselves. So, what you need to keep in your comedy show, movie, playlist, or calls to yourself is a headphone that won’t let the sound leak.

Well, noise-canceling headphones would do that part pretty well. There are two types of noise-canceling headphones, one being active noise canceling and the other passive noise canceling. Some headphones are better known for noise isolation.

In the list below, you’ll get headphones of all three kinds and you’re free to choose whatever you want to take out of them. The headphones in the list below not only let you keep your audio to yourself but also have many great features which can help you in mixing and managing.

11 Best Headphones that Don’t Leak sound in 2023:

1. Sennheiser HD 450BT

It is a  headphone with active noise cancellation and has over-ear placement and Bluetooth connectivity technology get it says USB headphone Jack and has a huge battery life along with fast charging feature which provides you with unending music sessions.

This one is worth the price and has two different colors. It has active noise cancellation which prevents any possible way that it will leak sound. So you can use these headphones and have free movement due to their wireless connection to their music source. It provides you with superior sound quality so you have an immersive experience of music and audio without getting interrupted even if you are in a noisy crowd.

🎧 Sennheiser HD 450BT Specifications

Type: Over-ear

Enclosure: Closed-Back

Wireless: Yes

Charging time: Approx. 2 hours

Battery life (rated): 30 Hours Playback

ANC: Yes

Bluetooth range: 40 feet (12 meters)

Water resistant: Yes

Microphone: Yes

Size and weight: 7.08 x 3.93 x 10.23 inches, 238 g

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • High-quality audio with dynamic bass.
  • Excellent noise-canceling features.
  • Long battery life of up to 30 hours.
  • Comfortable fit with soft padding.

Cons

  • Can feel a bit heavy on the head.
  • No option to adjust the bass/treble levels.

2. JBL LIVE 400BT

This headphone comes in three colors. It has Bluetooth connectivity technology and on-ear placement. It is a bit thinner in its headband region and much lighter than the other headphones on this list. It supports built-in Alexa which lets you command getting weather information, news, and time and also setting up alarms. It lets you do your work hands-free and doesn’t interrupt your work.

Features

  • It gives you the JBL signature sound with the help of 40mm drivers.
  • It has built-in Alexa in it which plays your favorite playlist, tells you the weather and news, or even texts your friend. Activating Alexa on this headphone is pretty easy and it has a simple tapping button on the ear cup button on the earcup.
  • It has ambient awareness and talk-through. It switches on surrounding noise when you need it to for your safety. It blocks the noise then you need a more silent surrounding. There is a specific ambient aware button for easy access. The TalkThru mode automatically lowers the music volume level when you get a call so that you have no problem talking and also lets you handle calls hands-free.
  • It has 24 hours of battery life and comes along with fast charging feature which charges two hours of playback time for 15 minutes.
  • It helps you with the hands-free call given that it also reduces the volume of music when you get a call to the TalkThru mode.
  • It has a hidden microphone and is lightweight along with tangle free cord.

🎧 JBL LIVE 400BT Specifications:

Type : Over-ear

Wireless : Yes

Charging time:  Approx. 2-3 hours

Battery life rated: 24 Hours Playback 

ANC: No

Water resistant: No

Microphone: Yes

Size and weight: 5.2 x 2.83 x 0.75 inches, 18g

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Decent audio quality.
  • Stylish and comfortable design.
  • Affordable price.
  • Voice assistant support.

Cons

  • Mediocre noise-canceling features.
  • Battery life of only up to 24 hours.

3. Soundcore Anker Life Q30 Hybrid

This is a hybrid active noise-canceling headphone with multiple modes for better performance which provides high-quality sound. It can go ANC outdoors and indoors. The headphone reduces up to 95% of low-frequency sound with the help of its noise-detecting microphones and does wonderful work when you’re talking to someone via the headphone it has precise voice pickup so that you get uninterrupted calls or voice lag.

This is also pressure free which makes it extremely comfortable to wear the headphone for a longer period. That doesn’t mean that it will fall off your ears but instead, it will fit perfectly to your head and the lightweight along with other protein leather earcups with memory foam padding make sure to provide you with comfortability. It defends sound from leaking.

Features

  • It is active noise cancellation which cancels 95% of surrounding noise.
  • It is Bluetooth connectivity technology with over-ear placement.
  • It gives you the ultimate noise cancellation experience with the help of three different modes: the transport to minimize airplane engine noise, the outdoor to reduce traffic and wind noise, and the indoor to dampen the sound of busy offices.
  • It has 40 hours of playtime after a single full charge and has fast charging feature which produces 4 hours of playtime with the help of just 5 min of charging.
  •   It provides pressure for comfort with the help of already from padded earcups and ultra-soft protein leather.       
  • It has fast pairing and syncs perfectly with Soundcore App.
  • It has Hi-Res customized EQ.

🎧 Soundcore Anker Life Q30 Hybrid

Type : Over-ear

Wireless : Yes

Charging time:  Approx. 1 hours

Voice Assistance: No

ANC: Yes

Multi-connect point: Yes

Water resistant: No

Microphone: Yes

Size and weight: 7.68 x 7.09 x 3.07 inches, 263g

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Affordable price for noise-canceling headphones.
  • Good audio quality.
  • Long battery life of up to 40 hours.
  • Comfortable fit with memory foam ear cushions.

Cons

  • Noise-canceling could be better.
  • Design may not appeal to everyone.

4. JBL Under Armour

It is a sports wireless training headphone with over-ear placement and Bluetooth connectivity technology giving you the option of moving around you having to connect your device with wires and get into tangles. It also comes with audio cables and a case to make it portable.

It is compatible with both Android and Apple iOS. It is an aluminum-made headphone with perfect and excellent volume control. The headphone has universal phone control. The headphones are next level as it has IPX4 making them sweatproof which automatically makes them compatible with anything that’s what you do including gymming, swimming, cardio, or running. It prevents any kind of sound leak.

Features

  • It has under armor fabric technology which we just do under our most unique fabric technologies and has been built for the gym. Is Under Armour supplement lines the outer exclusions of the headphone which delivers true breathability and is light, durable and is fast drying, and is removable, and also hands washable. The material drips the inner headband and the occlusions which provide a soft feeling and extreme stability with maximum comfortability.
  • It has 16 hours of battery charge after a full charge is completed. It charges up for one hour with just five hours of charging time.
  • It has microphone technology which allows you to hear your surroundings. It also says talk through technology where music is automatically lowered when you get a call and need to talk.
  • It has rocked durable IPX4 BlueTooth capability to withstand sweat produced by the body during workouts or sorts.

🎧 JBL Under Armour

Type : Over-ear

Wireless : Yes

Battery life rated: 16 Hours Playback 

ANC: No

Voice Assistance: No

Multi-connect point: No

Water resistant: Yes

Microphone: Yes

Size and weight: 6.14 x 4.96 x 1.81 inches, 77g

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Durable and sweat-resistant design.
  • Good audio quality.
  • Comfortable fit with ear tips that stay in place.
  • Good noise-canceling features.

Cons

  • Less possibility of cutomizations
  • Battery life of only up to 8 hours.

5. Audio-Technica ATH – M50X

It comes in six different colors with over-ear placement and both wired and wireless technology. Wired and wireless models are two different models with different pricing and you might not get them in all colors except black. It is perfect Sonic performance and provides high-quality audio with no sound leak.

Features

  • It has a critically acclaimed Sonic performance praised by top engineers for best sounds.
  • Clear sound is produced for the studio, live, DJ, and personal views with exceptional clarity throughout an extended frequency range along with having a deep and accurate bass.
  • It offers excellent sound isolation and prevents any sound leak due to circumaural design which contours around the ears.
  • It has 90 degrees swiveling ear cups with one ear monitoring and collapsibility for easy traveling and portability.

🎧 Audio-Technica ATH – M50X

Type : Over-ear

Wireless : No

Frequency response: 5Hz to 30 kHz

ANC: No

Voice Assistance: No

Water resistant: No

Microphone: No

Size and weight: 12.25 x 10.25 x 8.5 inches, 95 g

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • High-quality audio with clear and detailed sound.
  • Durable and comfortable design.
  • Good noise isolation features.
  • Detachable cable for easy replacement.

Cons

  • Bass-heavy sound may not be for everyone.
  • No Bluetooth connectivity.

6. Sony MDRV6:

Introducing the Sony MDRV6 – the ultimate audio companion for your every beat. With its studio-grade sound quality and sleek design, immerse yourself in a world of pristine audio that brings your music to life like never before. Don’t just hear your favorite tracks – feel them with the Sony MDRV6.

Features

  • High-quality audio: The 40mm drivers and neodymium magnets in the Sony MDRV6 headphones produce outstanding sound quality. Your music will sound crystal clear to you, with every nuance audible, from the lowest bass to the highest treble.
  • Design for comfort: These headphones are made with comfort in mind, with a lightweight, flexible construction that’s ideal for prolonged listening sessions. The soft, long-lasting materials used to make the ear pads aid to relieve strain on your ears.
  • Foldable Design: The Sony MDRV6 headphones include a foldable design that makes them simple to pack for storage or travel. They are portable thanks to their small size, and the carrying bag that comes with them adds an added layer of security.
  • Long wire: The 10-foot cable that comes with the headphones provides you plenty of freedom to move about while listening to music. Additionally removable, the cable allows for easy replacement in the event of damage.
  • Compatibility: Wide range of devices are compatible with the Sony MDRV6 headphones, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, and audio equipment. They are simple to connect to the majority of devices thanks to the standardized 3.5mm connection, and a 1/4-inch adaptor is included for use with professional audio gear.

🎧 Sony MDRV6

Frequency response: 5 Hz – 30 kHz

Headband: Wide, adjustable, single, folding ear-cups

Cord Length (Approx):10 ft (3.0m)

Sensitivity (db): 106dB/mW

Magnet: Neodymium

Power Handling Capacity: 1.0W

Impedance:63 ohms

Weight: 10.6 ounces

Folded dimensions: 3.87 x 4.25 x 8.62 inches

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Excellent audio quality with a balanced sound.
  • Durable and comfortable design.
  • Good noise isolation features.
  • Affordable price.

Cons

  • No Bluetooth connectivity.
  • May not fit comfortably on larger heads.

7. Sony WH-1000XM4

This is a premium noise-canceling headphone that comes in three different colors. It has over ear placement with Bluetooth connectivity technology. The headphone is an intelligent one with a microphone and Alexa voice control which is built in itself to provide you with a personal reporter for all times period you can easily command to know the weather, and the news, or text a friend via Alexa.

Features

  • The headphone has a clear voice speak up with the help of 5 microphones installed in them. It provides superior call quality.
  • It has ambient sound control along with built-in Alexa and quick attention mode.
  • It upscales compressed digital music files with the help of edge AI.
  • It has adaptive sound control and smart listening.
  • It has wearing detection which pauses the music whenever contact with skin is removed and replaces it when the headphone is put on automatically.
  • It has power all day which is 30 hours of battery life after a single full charge and also has a quick charging feature which lets 10 minutes of charge give 5 hours of playback.

🎧 Sony WH-1000XM4

Type : Over-ear

Wireless : Yes

Charging time:  Approx. 1 hours

Battery life rated: 30 Hours Playback 

ANC: No

Multi-connect point: Yes

Voice Assistance: Yes

Water resistant: No

Size and weight: 7.27 x 3.03 x 9.94 inches, 255 g

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Excellent noise-canceling features.
  • High-quality audio with customizable EQ levels
  • Long battery life of up to 30 hours.
  • Comfortable fit with soft padding.

Cons

  • Can feel a bit heavy on the head.
  • Limited color options.

8. Sennheiser HD 280 Pro

This is an overhead ear headphone with wired connectivity technology. It comes in black and you have the option of buying the headphone with different combinations of additional pieces of equipment. The headphone comes for an affordable price.                    

Features

  • It has high ambient noise attenuation.
  • It produces stereo sound to give the most immersive feeling to the music.
  • It has accurate, linear, sound production.
  • It has soft earpads.
  • It has a comfortable fit.
  • It is easy to transport due to the collapsible swiveling ear cups.
  • It has a durable single-sided cable.
  • It has aggressive noise isolation.
  • It is dynamic and has a closed back.

🎧 Sennheiser HD 280 Pro

Enclosure: Closed-back

Type : Over-ear

Wireless : No

Frequency Response: 20Hz- 20KHz

ANC: Yes

Water resistant: No

Microphone: No

Size and weight: 9.64 x 7.36 x 3.3 inches,286 g

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Excellent audio quality with accurate and detailed sound.
  • Durable and comfortable design.
  • Good noise isolation features.
  • Affordable price.

Cons

  • Limited Bluetooth connectivity.
  • May not fit comfortably on larger heads.

9. Sony WH-1000XM5

It is a wireless headphone with industry-leading noise canceling quality. It also has an auto noise canceling optimizer in it for crystal clear hands-free calling along with having Alexa voice control period this combination together makes it an extremely powerful headphone. You can use it while doing your work and also pick up your call while not being interrupted and order Alexa for knowing the weather news or texting your friends.

Features

  • It is a wireless headphone with over-ear placement.
  • It comes in two colors and has active noise cancellation.
  • It is too noise cancellation processors to control 8 microphones for excellent noise cancellation. It also has an Auto NC optimizer.
  • It has an integrated processor V1 which produces magnificent sound engineered to perfection.
  • It provides you with crystal clear hands-free calling with four beamforming microphones along with precise voice pickup and audio signal processing.
  • It has 30 hours of battery life along with fast charging feature.
  • It has easy control settings which let you skip, control volume, activity, or assistant, and answer phone calls very easily.
  • Speak to chat and quick attention mode for non-stop music.

🎧 Sony WH-1000XM5

Type : Over-ear

Wireless : Yes

Charging time:  Approx. 30 min

Battery life rated: 30 Hours Playback 

ANC: Yes

Water resistant: No

Microphone: Yes

Size and weight: 8.85 x 3.03 x 10.36 inches,250 g

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Good noise-canceling features.
  • High-quality audio with customizable EQ levels.
  • Long battery life of up to 30 hours.
  • Comfortable fit with soft padding.

Cons

  • Can feel a bit heavy on the head.
  • Limited color options.

10. Apple Airpod Max

 This headphone comes with over-ear placement and wireless connectivity technology and a whole lot of others. This headphone has active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and spatial audio to give you the highest control over what you listen when. It also is very easy to control but works only on an iPhone. It comes with several colors to choose fit in all equally stylish and customizable to fit your head perfectly.

Features

  • The Siri is always activated in the headphone.
  • It is active noise cancellation which doesn’t make any environmental noise enter or any audio leakage. It also has a transparency mode which lets you choose between partial noise canceling.
  • It has a battery life of up to 20 hours after a single full charge.
  • It has adaptive EQ along with a Bluetooth facility.
  • It works well with sports and exercise and also with audio sharing and has wonderful volume control.
  • It has an in-built microphone in it which lets you take calls hands-free while you are doing your work.

🎧 Apple Airpod Max

Type : Over-ear

Wireless : Yes

Battery life rated: 20 Hours Playback 

ANC: No

Voice Assistance: Yes

Bluetooth range: 300 ft

Water resistant: No

Microphone: Yes

Size and weight: 4.41 x 3.5 x 2.13 inches,50g

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • High-quality audio with spatial audio and adaptive EQ.
  • Stylish and comfortable design.
  • Good noise-canceling features.
  • Seamlessly integrates with other Apple products.

Cons

  • High level of  price point.
  • Limited color options.

11. KRK KNS 8400

  This is a headphone with over-ear placement and wired connectivity technology. It has a 3.5mm jack. It provides you with accurate and natural audio. It provides extreme clarity and preciseness in delivering audio. It has a higher solution which prevents any sound leakage and noise rejection. The headphones provide extreme comfort along with great utility and performance. It has accurate and solid innovative engineering for professional recording engineers and artists.

Features

  • It KRK system in it which provides me some clarity and with very low distortion.
  • It has durable impact-resistant materials which are meant to build it.
  • It has a replaceable here and heads cushion along with a detachable and displaceable locking cable.
  • It has lightweight construction which helps in wearing it for a long period along with the help of ear and head cushions which are made of advanced memory foam.
  • The headphone comes along with the newly developed acoustical system which brings a new level of performance.

🎧 KRK KNS 8400

Type : Over-ear

Wireless : No

Frequency Response: 10Hz – 22KHz

Voice Assistance: No

Ambient Noise Isolation: 26dBA

Water resistant: No

Microphone: Yes

Size and weight: 10.75 x 4 x 9.75 inches,232g

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Accurate and detailed audio with a balanced sound.
  • Durable and comfortable design.
  • Good noise isolation features.
  • Affordable price.

Cons

  • No point of Bluetooth connectivity.
  • Low color options.

Things to look for before you buy a headphone that prevents sound leak

  • It has active or passive noise cancellation.
  • It has noise isolation.
  • It has good ear padding.
  • It delivers audio in all frequencies.
  • If it has different sound modes.

FAQs

What kind of headphones should I buy to prevent sound leakage?

It is best to buy headphones with active noise cancellation, buying headphones with passive noise cancellation can also do the work. These headphones block any sound from outside to enter in and vice versa thus preventing any sound leakage.

Why do headphones leak sound when playing music?

Keeping a part of the headphone open increases more soundstage. It is a part of headphone design.

Which headphones are best to prevent sound leakage?

You could go for the Sony headphones. They have many features which make them quite powerful in the field.

Conclusion

Having noise cancellation is not enough. You should also consider whether the ear pad and material used to make the headphone are comfortable for you, as headphones with pads and passive noise cancellation can often be too tight to allow sound to pass through. Furthermore, the list above will provide you with the best options for avoiding making the wrong purchases. Move along and maybe you can find the best headphones that fit your checklist.