If you are looking for a good pair of noise-isolating earbuds to block out the external noise, stay tuned in.
In this guide, I'm going to review some of the best earbuds that do the job of isolating the noise very well.
The fact is that all the earbuds that I review here in this post are under $100. You don't have to shell out huge money for blocking outside noise.
# | Product | Frequency range | Sensitivity | Amazon product page |
1 | Bose QuietComfort 20 – Best noise-canceling earbuds | 20 Hz – 20 kHz | 100 dB | Check price |
2 | Shure SE215-K – Best value for money | 21 Hz – 17.5 KHz | 107 dB | Check price |
3 | ISOtunes PRO – Super comfortable | 5 Hz – 30 kHz | 85 dB | Check price |
4 | ISOtunes Xtra | 5 Hz – 22 kHz | 90 dB | Check price |
5 | Etymotic Research HF3 | 20 Hz – 15 kHz | 105 dB | Check price |
6 | ISOtunes | 20 – 22kHz | 26 dB | Check price |
7 | RHA MA750i | 16Hz – 40,000Hz | 100 dB | Check price |
8 | MEE audio Sport-Fi M6 | 100 – 10 kHz | 98 dB | Check price |
9 | Sony MDRXB50AP | 4 – 24kHz | 102 dB | Check price |
10 | Symphonized NRG 3.0 | 18 – 22kHz | 101 dB | Check price |
11 | SoundMAGIC E10 | 15 Hz – 22kHz | 100 dB | Check price |
You know this.
When choosing the good earbuds it's essential to look at sound isolation, comfort, light weightiness, and also durability.
While listing the earbuds in this post I've taken all these factors and curated them. You can also refer to, most durable earbuds.
Also, it is worthwhile to mention that, earbuds often offer superior isolation than that of over-ear headphones as they seal into the ears and have a good fit.
Let's get started.
Best Noise Isolating Earbuds – Our Top Picks
#1. Bose QuietComfort 20 – Our best pick!

Specifications:
- Active noise canceling – Yes
- Sound Output Mode – Stereo
- Active Noise Canceling – Yes
- In-Cord Volume Control – Yes
- Audio Controls – Answer/end
- Battery life Run Time (Up To) – 16 hour(s)
- Rechargeable Battery included
- Additional Features – Aware mode, StayHear+ tips, TriPort acoustic headphone structure, battery level indication, noise reduction
Overview
If you want to purchase a pair of in-ear headphones that work on a wide range of devices, the Bose QuietComfort 20 is highly recommended.
These wired earbuds are engineered for optimal performance on the iPhone, iPod, and iPad devices. This provides greater convenience for users. You can use it with Apple, Samsung, and Android devices.
The Bose QuietComfort 20 headphones sport a superior ergonomic design with advanced ear tips. They provide a secure fit thanks to their unique StayHear+ tips.
Each earpiece has a cone-shaped design that providing optimal comfort to users. You'll definitely enjoy how comfortable these in-ear headphones are.
These earphones come with a tangle-free cable. The cables are strong and durable, so you can travel with them around.
Noise isolation
These are one of the best budget in-ear headphones in the market today. It's equipped with a unique noise-canceling technology from Bose that effectively lowers ambient noise, allowing you to concentrate on listening to your favorite music.
Here is the good thing,
Thanks to two unique sound technologies – Active EQ and TriPort – users are able to experience deep, engaging sound.
It's rare to find such impressive digital sonic quality from reasonably priced in-ear headphones such as these.
Remarkably, the noise-canceling feature of Bose QuietComfort 20 can be turned on and off depending on your surroundings. If you're outside, simply turn on this feature and immerse yourself in your music. The external world will be completely shut out.
If you desire to get a better awareness of your environment, switch off the noise-canceling using a simple press of a button to activate the impressive "Aware Mode".

Mic
Incredibly, this pair of headphones comes with an in-line microphone. Most users love headphones with mic because you can pick incoming voice calls and talk uninterruptedly without having to grab your phone.
These headphones are also fitted with an inline remote that contains a few buttons to help you navigate through your music, control the volume and pick calls.

#2. Shure SE215-K – Best value for money
After knowing how to pick up the best pair of noise isolating earbuds, you may be overwhelmed by the sea of earbuds available out there.
This is why, I've done the in-depth research for you, and compiled up the best earbuds that are superior at isolating the noise.
Let's dive in.
Overview
The greatest part of these earbuds is that the wires are detachable and this ensures that you can easily replace the wires and ensure durability. The wire's build quality is rugged and offers longevity.
The earbuds come with multiple (S, M, L) sound isolating sleeves that are soft and flexible and capable of getting you rid of 37dB of ambient noise!
The only downside is that the looks are medium. If you are the kind of kid who loves the beauty of Beats, don't go for it.
Noise isolation
These noise-isolating Shure earbuds are often compared to noise-canceling earbuds by some of the audio engineers!
The amount of the external noise that these earbuds keep out is astonishing. The amazing thing is that it's even good at getting rid of sharp scream sounds that are of high pitch.
In fact, many of the users who bought these earbuds unaware of the isolation it provides, have listed the noise-isolation feature as a disadvantage that they won't be aware of the surroundings!
As these are noise-isolating, they tend to develop air pressure in your ears. So, for the health of your ears, it's better to take breaks each hour.
The sound quality is excellent. As there is true isolation, the bass is exceptional. Apart from the bass, the mids and highs are clear.
Pros
- 37dB noise attenuation
- Extremely comfortable
- Great sound
- Rugged design
Cons
- Looks are not so appealing until you get used to it.

Bottomline: If you are the one who wants top-notch noise isolation, and won't give a damn to the looks go for it.
#3. ISOtunes PRO – Super comfortable

Overview
If you're interested in getting the best noise isolating earbuds under $100, the ISOtunes Pro Bluetooth earbuds are highly recommended.
The foam tips of the ISOtunes headphones come in three different sizes: small, medium and large. This caters for different users and provides an ideal fit for a wide range of customers.
The tips are extremely light – they also fit comfortably into the ears and don't require regular adjusting even when you're working.
Its Bluetooth 4.1 technology allows you to handle calls and enjoy music from your devices that are 30+ feet away.
The ISOtunes Xtra is also equipped with a hearing protector that can be powered using Bluetooth, helping to reduce noise considerably.
You can comfortably wear these Bluetooth earplugs when working in loud environments such as mowing the lawn, weeding, woodworking, and metal fabrication.
ISOtunes offers an exquisite one-year warranty that protects you from unprecedented damages. You'll certainly love the noise isolation feature of these headphones.
Noise isolation:
These wireless earbuds are equipped with a super-soft memory foam that is activated by your body heat, providing a stunning sound quality devoid of ambient noise.
Speaking of noise, the ISOtunes PRO earphones are designed to block out noise distractions within the environment.
These intriguing wireless earbuds have an efficient 27dB noise reduction ratio which is much better than most in-ear headphones within the market. This remarkable noise rating has even earned certification from the ANSI.
Battery life
The ISOtunes Pro comes with a long-lasting battery that lasts for more than 10 hours of continuous usage on a single charge. In addition, its standby time currently stands at 240 hours. This means you can go for many days without requiring a recharge.

Mic
These in-ear headphones are also equipped with a noise-canceling inline mic that allows users to engage in clear, high-quality phone calls. Most users prefer using headphones with mic because of their enhanced convenience and ease of use.
The ISOtunes Bluetooth headphones effectively block out steady-state noises in the surroundings. This could consist of sounds made by a lawnmower, engines, fans, and vacuum pumps.
These headphones have been tried and tested in the loudest environments to ensure they uphold the existing standards of quality.
Its high-quality inline mic provides the perfect echo cancellation and noise suppression features, helping you to hold crystal clear voice conversations.
Its high-quality inline mic provides the perfect echo cancellation and noise suppression features, helping you to hold crystal clear voice conversations.

Waterproof/sweatproof:
As icing on the cake, this unique pair of in-ear headphones are IP55 water and sweat resistant. Users get a limited warranty of one year from the manufacturer once they purchase these Bluetooth earbuds.
#4. ISOtunes Xtra

Overview:
ISOtunes manufacture one of the best wireless earbuds in the market, and their Xtra Bluetooth version is no different. These unique earplugs come with memory foam ear-tips that are conveniently activated by body heat.
Once heated, these tips expand to provide the perfect in-ear fit. Ambient noise is significantly reduced as well.
If you prefer listening to music while on the go, Bluetooth earbuds are quite ideal for you. They have equipped with Bluetooth 4.1 technology that supports wireless engagements within a range of 30+ feet.
Therefore, you can select music and receive phone calls by pressing the unique buttons located along with the inline remote.

To protect your ears from damage, these earbuds are equipped with SafeMax Technology that effectively restricts the volume to 85 dB output. This way, your hearing will remain unaffected even when you crank up the volume.

Waterproof/sweatproof:
The ISOtunes Xtra Bluetooth earbuds are designed to resist water, sweat, and dust. This provides the ultimate guard against natural elements with rather destructive properties.
Battery life
Another impressive perk of this earplug is its long-lasting battery. In standby mode, this battery can store charge for 180 hours. But with continuous usage, the battery lasts for about 8 hours in full charge.
#5. Etymotic Research HF3

Overview
No matter what model of Etymotic earbuds you get, you can't go wrong with noise-isolation. It works well with iPod, iPhone, and iPad devices.
They are made especially for noise-isolation. However, as like that of most of the noise-isolating earbuds, the seal is quite tight, until you get adjusted to it.
With the tight fit, there also comes the advantage of wearing it while walking or exercising without making it fall down.
The sound quality is above-average. Its balanced armature drivers ensures that the sound production is very accurate and flat.
For the price of these earbuds, the quality is good and worth it. The significantly flat response may disappoint you if you are a bass-head. You can't expect that bumping effect.
It comes with 3 sets of tri-flange ACCU eartips for ensuring the best sound sealing fit for you. The tri-flange fit can never be poor at isolating noise as they are made for that, as I mentioned earlier in the post.
Mic
As I told you earlier it's called a headset as it also comes with an inline mic suitable for making and receiving calls.
Pros
- Great isolation
- Good comfort
- 3 sets of tri-flange eartips
Cons
- Lack of bass

Bottomline: If you need a great sound isolation with tri-flange eartips that go deep, this is the right thing for you.
#6. ISOtunes – World's first proven noise isolating earbuds
Overview
The sound quality is excellent. Unless you are an audiophile, you can barely find the quality difference between these and those above 100 bucks. The sensitivity of the drivers in these earbuds is a little less. If you are looking to blast off your ears with this one, don't go for it.
Noise isolation
The solid noise isolation feature combined with noise cancellation makes these earbuds the best Bluetooth earbuds for noise isolation.
If you are looking for the best Bluetooth noise-isolating earbuds, you can't go wrong with it.
These earbuds are made to be used especially in loud environments like in gyms, airplanes or while doing works that involve loud noises.
It comes with a noise reduction ratings of 26 dB which is great.

It is accompanied by three Comply memory foam eartips that offer great noise isolation and superior comfort.

Mic
Apart from this, the inbuilt mic that this earbud comes with also cancels out the noise. It's quite good at filtering out solid-state frequencies like the jet engine or lawnmowers.
Waterproof/sweatproof
The earbuds are rated IPX3 (partial waterproof) and sweatproof which is quite good to be used when exercising and while raining.
The fit is also great so that the earbuds won't fall out easily while running and working out.
Battery life
Being a Bluetooth earbud, the battery life is quite good. You can easily use these for 4-5 hours on a single charge. It is quite good considering it to be noise-canceling.
Pros
- Comply eartips
- Great noise isolation
- Superior comfort
- Sweatproof IPX3
Cons
- The volume is a
little less

Bottomline: If you are looking for great wireless earbuds, go for it.
#7. RHA MA750

Overview
The earbuds are made of stainless steel. The durability would not be an issue as RHA gives you 3 years of warranty. The cable is made of an oxygen-free copper core with steel reinforcement throughout. With this, you can be ensured that the cable won't snap that easily.
The earbuds have good bass and are controlled. The consistency across the various frequency ranges is good. The sound produced is vibrant and suitable for all music genres.

Noise isolation
These RHA earbuds come with 10 sets of eartips that include bi-flange silicone, dual-density silicone, and memory foam. You can try the eartips that offer you the best isolating experience among these.
The fit is over-ear. This makes the headphones best suitable to wear in the traveling, gym and running with great comfort. Also, the over-ear style offers maximum sound isolation.
However, the downside is that the rubbing for the earbud cables tends to make some noise (maybe due to low impedance), but that would not be a problem for general listeners who do not listen to music while on the go.

Mic
There are two versions of this product. One is this the RHA MA750 and the other one is MA750i which comes in with inline mic. That is suitable if you regularly answer calls while on the go.
Waterproof/sweatproof
These earbuds are water-resistant with IPX4 rating. So you can use them in moisture areas and also for outdoors.
Battery life
The battery life is quite good – 12 hours of run time if you listen at moderate volume
Pros
- Great sound isolation
- Good sound quality
- Build quality is excellent
- Comes with 10 sets of eartips
Cons
- Mild microphonics
- Little heavy

#8. MEE audio Sport-Fi M6
Overview
These earbuds feature over-the-ear style, as they are specially made for sports and also superior noise isolation. The eartips seal right into the ears to ensure that they won't fall out while running and also delivers deep bass.
These earphones come with a detachable cable hence are highly durable. It comes with an inline mic, remote and control buttons to use with smartphones and tablets.
As mentioned, these are bass-centric earbuds. Bass is excellent and certainly booming. The lows, mids, and treble are rich and well balanced.
Noise isolation
It comes with 6 pairs of ear tips to ensure that you find the tips that best suit your ears. When you just wear the earbuds, you can't really hear the background noise that is of low pitch.
The six eartips of these earbuds also include triple-flange ones, that are exceptional in noise isolation.

They are great while working out. You can easily get rid of gym noise, and the quality of the sound motivates you in your workouts.
Considering the price, it's a steal buy.
Pros
- Good bass
- Superior noise isolation
- Good sound quality
- Great price
Cons
- Less durable, need to handle with care
Bottomline: Good bass earbuds with excellent isolation and over-ear design. It's a great buy, and the cheapest one among the earbuds I reviewed.
#9. Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass Earbud Headset

Overview
Especially if you are under a tight budget, these cheap earbuds are great.
The sound quality is great. The earbuds operate at a frequency of 4 – 24,000 Hz. Considering it as bass earbuds, the lower frequency is dragged down. The sound and sound staging is balanced.
The earbuds delivers excellent sound with 12mm neodymium drivers and are designed tangle-free.
The earbuds come in various colors – like black, blue, and red. I personally like black and blue colors.
Noise isolation
The reason why I've included here is that most of the good bass earbuds are also noise isolating. The tight acoustically sealed fit that bass headphones come with for extended bass response also works like a charm in getting rid of ambient noise. That's what these earbuds do.
The pack comes with 4 sets of silicone ear-buds of various sizes. They offer you superior comfort and great sound isolation.

Mic
It comes with an inline mic and volume controller, making it ideal to be used with your smartphones. The mic allows handling calls with crystal clear audio.
Pros
- Good sound isolation
- Deep bass
- Good comfort
- Good sound stage experience
Cons
- The cable can easily tangle sometimes
Bottomline: If you want a budget earbud with great bass, you need to buy these.
#10. Symphonized NRG 3.0
Overview
If you are looking for the best budget noise isolating earbud, this Symphonized NRG 3.0 is for you.
The specialty of these earbuds is that they are handcrafted with wood, giving the headphones somewhat an artistic premium look. Earbuds are made up of dynamic 8mm neodymium magnets that offer superior sound.
The earbuds come with comfortable silicone ear tips that are of three sizes S, M, and L. You can pick up the one that offers you the maximum comfort.
Noise isolation
These Symphonized NRG 3.0 earbuds do a great job of filtering out the low-pitched noise. But certainly like other earbuds you need to crank up the volume a little bit to get rid of the louder noise.

The sound is great for the price and is well-balanced. The earbuds perform consistently over the varying frequency ranges. But the bass is boosted a little bit and is balanced.
The comfort is quite good. You can wear it for hours without getting fatigued if you find the right eartips to fit in.
Mic
These earbuds also come with inline mic for making it work for calling.
Pros
- Good noise isolation
- Low price
- Deep bass
Cons
- Some users reported having problems with volume controller

Bottomline: If you are looking for cheap earbuds that offer excellent noise isolating this maybe the right guy.
#11. SoundMAGIC E10

These cheap earphones are one of the best noise-isolating earbuds under $100 right now. The E10 drivers are carefully tuned by expert engineers at SoundMAGIC – these earplugs produce a superb sound having a "heavy but clear bottom end."
The SoundMAGIC E10 isn't like you ordinary earphones: they have a solid all-metal construction that makes them extremely durable.
In addition, this pair of earphones supports a relatively wide frequency range that lies between 15Hz and 22 KHz. Its potent bass offers vibrant tone variations and a balanced vocal detail.

The high sensitivity of these in-ear headphones allows users to enjoy crystal clear music while on the go. SoundMAGIC has been designing exquisite earpieces since its inception in 2005. These cheap earphones provide real value for money, making them highly sought-after.
The most striking feature of these SoundMAGIC earphones is their impressive E10 drivers that reproduce a superb sound with deep lows and mesmeric highs.
If you're interested in purchasing a cheap pair of earphones with a balanced musical detail, the SoundMAGIC E10 Noise Isolating headphones are quite ideal for you.
The earbud's housing is constructed using aluminum, a tough and highly durable material that withstands all types of indoor and outdoor conditions.
If you prefer using your earphones regularly, you'll love how comfortable these earphones fit into your ears. These E10s are ergonomically designed to provide the perfect fit inside the ear canal.

The cables of this pair of earphones have a twisted core, making them highly durable. This also prevents the earphones from getting tangled up. We all understand the frustration caused by mangled earbuds. Apart from these impressive perks, the E10s are highly immune from RF interference.
Tips for buying noise isolating earbuds!
Noise isolating vs. noise-canceling earbuds
People often get confused between the two terms.
Noise isolating earbuds are designed in such a way that they fit perfectly into your ears and prevent the external sound from leaking to your ears and also vice versa.
All they do is that they get rid of external sounds passively. This is also called as passive noise canceling.
Noise-canceling earbuds contain a noise-canceling mic that picks up the external noise and produces the inverted waveform of it, and then this cancels out the wave created by noise.
It works very well for canceling sounds of constant frequencies of low pitch. This is also called active noise canceling.
Why noise-isolating?
You are here to know more about noise isolating earbuds. So let's look at some of the benefits of using noise isolating earbuds.
These earbuds are best suited for wearing them in airplanes where there is constant background noise. You can also consider wearing these earbuds to the gym, thereby you can get rid of the music they play in the gym.
The noise-isolating design, combined with the volume at which you are listening to music can easily isolate the external noise.
As I told you earlier noise-isolating earbuds don't leak the sound to the surroundings, thereby it maintains your privacy. You can easily listen to your favorite music without worrying about who is beside you.
When the external noise is dampened, you hear the details of the music you are hearing more clearly. There will be an improved bass response.
Like that of noise-canceling headphones, noise isolation ones do not require extra battery power to drive the noise-canceling mic.
How noise-isolation is measured?
The effectiveness of the isolation that an earbud offers is measured in terms of decibels (dB). It is the measure of the intensity or loudness of the sound.
If an earbud is marked to block the external noise of 30dB, it means that it can block noise (when silent) of up to the sound of rainfall.
However, the noise of low pitch will be filtered out effectively than that of high pitch. If you are trying to get rid of the sound of a screaming woman near your home every day, no earbuds can fit you.

If you want to know more about the noise reduction ratings, refer to this guide.
What to look in for noise isolating earbuds?
The earbuds offer good isolation from the surrounding, they seal in perfectly into the ears. However, not all ears are normal.
Realizing this, most of the earbuds that offer good isolation comes with multiple sizes of eartips, enabling you to choose the eartips that perfectly seal your ears. When choosing earbuds to make sure that they come with multiple eartips or earplugs.
Also, the eartips play a major role in sound isolation. Often, the Comply foam eartips make your earbuds more comfortable and isolate noise effectively. But if noise isolation and durability are the main things for you – go for silicone bi-flange or tri-flange eartips.

Above is the image of tri-flange eartips that offers the best noise isolation.
For some of the popular earbuds, tri-flange eartips are available from a third party or maybe from the original headphone company itself separately. If you already have a good earbud and want isolation, just search for eartips.
There is a misconception that higher impedance results in good sound isolation. But that's not true. But the fact is that higher impedance earbuds need much higher power to drive.
To make your earbuds work well with weak amplification devices like mobile phones and mp3 players, you need to make sure your earbuds have an impedance o below 25 ohms.
Or else your device battery may drain up a little faster. Nevertheless, high impedance gets you rid of microphonics (that cable rubbing noise).
The main thing is that rather than looking at the technical specs, you need to consider the physical specs as they contribute fully to the effectiveness of passive noise cancellation.
FAQs on noise isolating earbuds
Noise isolating earbuds reduce the amount of noise coming in mostly by design. However, active noise canceling earphones go a step further by using removing external sound completely.
It is the feature that enables in-ear headphones to prevent external sounds from getting in. So, you only hear the audio coming from the earbuds.
In active noise cancellation, you need more power to drive the amps in the headphones, this is why they're typically high impedance. For passive noise isolation, impedance is not related.
Noise isolation is measured by comparing the quietness sound that can be heard when the earphones are on and when they are off. It's called the Real Ear Attenuation Threshold method.
No. Some eartips isolate noise better than others. Silicone bi-flange and tri-flange eartips are good insulators, likewise the comply foam eartips.
Conclusion:
This is all about the best noise isolating earbuds.
I hope this post has covered all your queries and made you knowledgeable to choose the best one for your needs.
Just get these earbuds and forget the world. Have fun enjoying your favorite music.
2 Comments
Thanks for the reviews! I have been considering buying the Isotunes because they are Bluetooth and this was helpful. Also, Isotunes just introduced a Pro model with double the battery life and a more secure fit. They do specifically mention on their website that they limit volume to 85 dB for OSHA compliance, so as you mentioned, this may not be the right choice for someone looking for loud music.
The shure buds sound good but the wire noise is very bad. Still waiting for a review that goes beyond the specs & hype and actually wears the buds and moves with the buds.