(Noise) cancel culture: These are the very best headphones to survive the subway and more

In the city that never sleeps, it’s nice to have a few moments of quiet.And though it’s rarely quiet here in New York City, a good pair of headphones can create that silent oasis for you.Which headphones are the most NYC-proof, though? Even if it seems simple, there are many factors that go into picking the right headphones.

Rather than comparing pairs in controlled office environments, we took to the streets.Twelve testers tried between one and three pairs each, running each pair through a series of tests.It all led to this.See our full testing criteria One of our testers noted he “feels like [he] can wear these all day.” These are our overall choice for that reason, plus intuitive controls, fantastic noise cancellation and a sleek design.

See all tested earbuds A tester remarked she “walked through a block party” wearing the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 and “maybe heard one voice.” That, plus unmatched immersive sound quality and intuitive controls, makes these our pick.See all tested over-ears The Shokz OpenDots 2 are the best open-ear style headphones we tested thanks to the great sound quality and comfort when wearing for long periods of time.

One tester said they’re “effective in blocking out most noise.” See all tested open-ears These are the headphones that stand up to subway noise, offer crystal clear phone calls even when you’re walking through Times Square and help you stay aware of your surroundings as you navigate the city. Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro has five levels of noise cancellation that can be adjusted to your preferences, with one being a step above nothing at all and five being extreme active noise cancellation.On a five, you’re getting extremely effective noise cancellation.Entertainment Reporter Eric Todisco tested these on the subway and noted that the noise cancellation was so effective he “mostly only wore one” so he could hear his surroundings. The headphones come with a full charge...