Odi Productions
We’ve tested over 50+ pairs of wireless headphones, and these are our BEST budget wireless noise cancelling headphones under $200, $100, and even $50 for 2026. As a professional audio engineer and expert headphone reviewer with over 10 years of experience, along with running the RecordingNow YouTube channel dedicated to reviewing headphones and earbuds with over 24,000+ subscribers and over 5 million views, this is my definitive list of the best bang for the buck.
This list includes brands like Sony, Bose, JBL, Anker Soundcore, Sennheiser, Skullcandy, Nothing Tech, CMF by Nothing, and more.
This article will cover the following categories:
- Best Comfort
- Best for Working Out
- Best Headphones for Bass
- Best Noise Cancelling Performance
- Best Sound Quality
- Best Headphones Under $50
- Best Headphones Under $100
- Best Headphones Under $200
- Best Value
- Best Overall
These headphones are ALL wireless noise cancelling over-ear headphones which we’ve reviewed and thoroughly tested individually on the website for hundreds of hours in total. You can read our review for each headphone inside the individual product boxes below.
We bought EVERYTHING we tested in this article with our own money.
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Best Comfort: Sony WH-CH720N
The Sony WH-CH720N is the LIGHTEST full-sized, over-ear, noise cancelling headphone we’ve tested to date.
Sure, the cheap plastic build and lightweight makes them feel like a toy, but they actually have surprisingly fun sound quality.
The WH-CH720N is easily one of my favorite headphones I’ve tested under $100.
Read the FULL Review: Sony WH-CH720N Review
Best for Working Out: Sony WH-CH720N or Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2
When it comes to working out, I lean towards either the Sony WH-CH720N for its impossibly light comfort, or the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 for its head-rattling bass to get pumped up to hit a PR.
The Sony WH-CH720N is the lightest headphone we’ve tested, which translates it to being the least bulky or likely to get in the way during movement.
Also, even though the noise cancelling isn’t the strongest, it gets the job done and allows some ambient noise to still be aware of your surroundings, which I prefer in the gym or outdoors.
Meanwhile, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2’s sensory bass technology makes it sound like you’re in a club, which is perfect for dialing up that EDM, hip hop, or metal song to get you motivated.
Best Headphones for Bass: Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2
For the bassheads out there, look no further than the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2.
What makes these special is the proprietary “Crusher” technology, which essentially creates “sensory bass” that vibrates your skull.
This is the closest thing to having subwoofers attached to your ears.
And it’s a whole lotta fun!
Read the FULL Review: Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Review
Best Noise Cancelling Performance: Sony ULT Wear
If there’s one feature that I notice is lacking from the budget wireless headphones versus the premium $300+ ones, it would actually be noise cancelling performance.
(Followed by build quality, and then sound quality.)
One headphone that stands out for its noise cancelling is the Sony ULT Wear, which I actually think is like an improved and modernized version of the beloved Sony WH-1000XM4.
I found the ULT Wear’s active noise cancelling performance to be fairly competitive with the more expensive WH-1000XM5 even.
Read the FULL Review: Sony ULT Wear Review
Best Sound Quality: Sennheiser Momentum 4
At the time of this writing, the highly-acclaimed Sennheiser Momentum 4 is under $200 brand new.
(Albeit, it is Black Friday week.)
If you’re new to our website or YouTube channel, we’re big fans of the Momentum 4 for its sound quality that punches well above its price.
Even at around the $300 it typically sells for, I still find the Momentum 4 to be one of the best values for its superb sound quality that competes with headphones costing almost twice as much.
Throw on my custom EQ settings, invest into a Bluetooth dongle like the Sennheiser BTD 700 to unlock aptX Adaptive codec, and say hello to the best wireless listening experience for the money.
Read the FULL Review: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Review
“Best Sound Quality” Runner Up: Nothing Headphone (a)
One highly-acclaimed release of 2026 is the Nothing Headphone (a), a more budget-friendly follow-up to the Nothing Headphone (1) that made a splash in 2025.
Sharing a similar physical design to the Headphone (1), albeit with cheaper materials, the Headphone (a) was a very pleasant surprise during my testing.
I’m a fan of the more premium Headphone (1) as a flagship contender under $300, and now closer to $200 on sale.
The Headphone (a) occupies the price bracket below, retailing at $199 USD full price, but already on sale for as low as $151 at the time of this writing.
For the price, the sound quality is nearly as good as the Headphone (1), which in turn, is nearly as good as the Sennheiser Momentum 4.
This is thanks to the titanium-coated drivers that deliver excellent bass with crisp high-end detail, resulting in a more energetic and consumer-friendly sound profile versus the more “refined” Nothing Headphone (1).
See our Full Nothing Headphone (a) Review on YouTube below
Best Headphones Under $50: JBL Tune 720BT
Currently, the JBL Tune 720BT is one of the best-selling headphones on Amazon, selling over 10,000 units per month.
And we think the sales volume is warranted.
I was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality of the 720BT, similar to that of the JBL Tune 770NC.
Just one note: These do not have active noise cancelling, like the Tune 770NC.
Also, the comfort is some of the worse I’ve tested.
But if you’re cool with that, the sound quality (plus a little EQ) is easily rivaling headphones costing 3x as much.
Read the FULL Review: JBL Tune 720BT Review
Best Headphones Under $100: CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro
The CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro was a late 2025 release, but is really becoming a top contender in 2026, especially as its sale price drops down to just $65 USD currently.
This is a headphone that retails full price at $99 USD, and I’ve gotta say that even at full price, the CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro is an absolute steal.
It combines very good sound quality with decent noise cancelling performance in a fairly comfortable package.
The sound quality, especially with LDAC and a touch of EQ (see my settings in the full review below), punches so far above its weight that it’s absolutely unreal this thing costs $65 on sale.
Read the FULL Review: CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro Review
“Best Headphones Under $100” Runner Up #1: JBL Tune 770NC
We mentioned the cheaper JBL 720BT, but the real one to look out for the JBL’s Tune 770NC with the active noise cancelling.
Aside from very good sound quality after EQ, the noise cancelling is very respectable and impressive for the budget headphone class.
Sharing an identical design to the 720BT, my only gripe is that the earcups are very small and the clamping force is quite strong, limiting its comfort.
If you can get over that, it is very hard to beat the 770NC at the $80 or so asking price.
Read the FULL Review: JBL Tune 770NC Review
“Best Headphones Under $100” Runner Up #2: Sony WH-CH720N
The sub-$100 price bracket is surprisingly stacked, so much so that one of my personal favorites is the 2nd runner up.
The Sony WH-CH720N not only wins our award for comfort, but it’s surprisingly a very solid overall package when you factor in its sound quality, especially for under $100.
It also has noise cancelling, although it’s a far cry from the flagship models like the WH-1000 series or even the Sony ULT Wear.
What I love most about the WH-CH720N is its unreal comfort and charming sound profile that is vocal-forward and engaging.
Read the FULL Review: Sony WH-CH720N Review
Best Headphones Under $200: Sennheiser Momentum 4
To put it simply, the Momentum 4 is not meant to compete in the budget class, but with headphones costing in the $400+ range.
Being available for under $200, even if just on sale temporarily, is simply competing in a lower weight class than is fair.
That said, I’m not complaining.
The Momentum 4 is an all-day buy, especially at $200 to $250 brand new.
Read the FULL Review: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Review
“Best Headphones Under $200” Runner Ups: Nothing Headphone (a), Anker Soundcore Space 2, Sony ULT Wear
Best Value: CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro
Retailing at $99 USD full price, but on sale for just $65, there’s nothing that comes close to the CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro.
Our previous winner for this category is the flagship Sennheiser Momentum 4 when on sale under $200, which is objectively a better headphone overall than the CMF Headphone Pro.
But it’s definitely not worth 3x the price if we’re strictly speaking dollar-value.
I seriously cannot believe how good this $65 wireless headphone sounds with a touch of EQ and LDAC.
I’d happily pay the full $99 as well, which would still be a bargain for what you’re getting.
See our Full CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro Review on YouTube below
“Best Value” Runner Ups: Sennheiser Momentum 4, Nothing Headphone (a), Anker Soundcore Space 2, Sony ULT Wear
Best Overall: Sennheiser Momentum 4
It’s practically unfair that the Momentum 4 is priced under $200 on sale these days, as it truly competes with flagship headphones from Apple, Sony, and Bose that are in the $400+ price range.
In 2026, it has been officially succeeded by the newer Sennheiser Momentum 5, which gives another reason to continue discounting the Momentum 4 even further.
A lot of the sub-$200 wireless headphones look and feel very “budget”, so the Momentum 4 does feel a class above most of the competition in this article.
Aside from build quality, the sound quality and noise cancelling is a cut above most of these budget headphones.
I’ve owned my pair of Momentum 4 for over 3 years now, and even did a long-term review shared below.
Buy with confidence.
See our Full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Review on YouTube below
“Best Overall” Runner Ups: Nothing Headphone (a), Anker Soundcore Space 2, CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro
How We Tested and Our Methodology
RecordingNOW.com is a 100% independent publisher with over 10 years of experience testing and reviewing consumer electronics and headphones.
We currently purchase all of the products we test with our own money, and are not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
After purchasing the product, we conduct up to hundreds of hours of detailed hands-on testing in a controlled, acoustically-treated environment. Noise cancelling performance is tested in the real-world, primarily on airplane flights, coffee shops, and walking around large metropolitan city environments.
ODi Productions is our resident expert and author of this article, with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, tech journalist, and audiophile.
Post Update History
- June 2026: Updated to include newer 2026 releases such as Nothing Headphone (a) and Anker Soundcore Space 2. Also added more awards categories such as “Best for Working Out” and “Best Overall”.
- November 2025: Original publication date. Updated pricing to reflect Black Friday sales.
Conclusion
After having reviewed over 50+ pairs of wireless headphones and earbuds, I was pleasantly surprised by the hidden gems found for under $200, and even under $100.
To summarize, I do think the main difference when upgrading to the $300+ price range is going to be in build quality, noise cancelling performance, and then sound quality.
There is some truly impressive sound quality in the sub-$200 range (especially after EQ and utilizing hi-res codecs like LDAC and aptX), but the build quality and noise cancelling is typically a level below the premium offerings and flagship headphones from each brand.
That said, you can find some amazing bang-for-your-buck if you check out the recommendations above.
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