The UltraSone HFI-550There are three basic types of headphones that can provide isolation from disturbing external ambient sounds: Ear canal headphones [ECHs], closed-back (sealed) headphones, and noise-canceling headsets. Noise-canceling units use a tiny built-in microphone housed inside the earpieces to pick up external noises and then produce an electronic sound-canceling signal at the ear to block out ambient sounds. These "active-electronics" noise-cancelling designs typically provide around 10dB of isolation over a quite limited frequency spectrum.

Sealed headphones also provide around 10db of isolation, but over a significantly wider frequency range (better upper frequency attenuation), thus offering a more complete sense of overall isolation.

Ear canal headphones (ECH) earphones completely seal the ear canal, which delivers far better isolation / noise-blocking than either type of headphones listed above. ECHs commonly achieve well over 20dB of isolation throughout the ENTIRE frequency range!

For more information about sealed/noise cancelling headphones visit our sealed/noise cancelling headphone selection guide.

Sealed/Noise Canceling


photos product value rating list price our price
Product Photo

Koss UR 20

OK sounding, sealed headphones on a budget. Good for portable players / laptop computers.

3.0 out of 5

$24.99

$19.99

Product Photo

Sennheiser HD 201

NICE! Cheap, sealed, full-sized headphones that sound very good. Perfect gift 'phones (Get one for yourself first!)

4.0 out of 5

$29.95

$24.95

Product Photo

Sennheiser HD 202

Excellent value with solid sound quality & isolation. Good sealed headphone for the price.

4.0 out of 5

$29.95

$26.95

Product Photo

AKG K 26 P

Oh, yeah... Killer small rock/rap/funk sealed portable headphone. Good sound, big bass, great seal! SOLD-OUT! NEW 26p MODEL COMING SOON.

4.0 out of 5

$56.30

$56.30
Add to Cart

Product Photo

Sennheiser EH 150

A stylish & inexpensive sealed-back headphone. Good isolation, killer value!

3.5 out of 5

$59.95

$39.99

Product Photo

Jays j-JAYS White

Entry-level ECHs without breaking the bank

3.5 out of 5

$49.00

$49.00

Product Photo

Jays j-JAYS Black

Entry-level ECHs without breaking the bank

3.5 out of 5

$49.00

$49.00

Product Photo

Sennheiser HD 205

Great step-up from the HD201… Sealed-design & ultra-punchy sound.

4.0 out of 5

$59.95

$44.95
On Sale!

Product Photo

DENON AH-D301K

Inexpensive entry-level sealed/closed earcup headphone

3.0 out of 5

$49.99

$49.99

Product Photo

DENON AH-C351K

Impressive-sounding ear canal /earbud hybrids at an incredible price

4.0 out of 5

$49.99

$49.99

Product Photo

AKG K 27i

Newest member of AKG's portable headphone line. Deluxe iPod-style cosmetics, in-line volume control, great sound! PLEASE CALL FOR SALE PRICE!

3.5 out of 5

$54.95

$54.95
On Sale!

Product Photo

Sennheiser PMX 200

Hip street styling & ambient noise blocking in a 'neckband' headphone.

3.5 out of 5

$59.95

$54.99

Product Photo

beyerdynamic DT 231 Galactic

Identical to the standard DT231, but in a swanky translucent purple color.

4.0 out of 5

$59.00

$59.00

Product Photo

beyerdynamic DT 231

Well-balanced sound & superbly comfortable fit. A top choice amongst inexpensive sealed cans. SOLD-OUT! NEW DT235 MODEL COMING SOON!

4.0 out of 5

$79.00

$59.00

Product Photo

Sennheiser PX 200

Smallest sealed can available. But difficult fit giving poor isolation & bass performance is its undoing.

3.0 out of 5

$69.95

$59.99

Product Photo

Sennheiser HD 212 Pro

One of the best values in inexpensive, sealed portable-application headphones.

4.0 out of 5

$89.95

$59.99

Product Photo

Sennheiser EH 250

Punchy bass & great build-quality in a lightweight, portable sealed headphone. Killer price too!

4.0 out of 5

$99.95

$59.99

Product Photo

Ultimate Ears metro.fi 2

OK Sound -- Good Price. PLEASE CALL FOR SALE PRICE!

2.5 out of 5

$79.99

$64.99

Product Photo

AKG K 81 DJ

Strong audio performance from well-priced portable sealed headphone.

4.0 out of 5

$99.00

$69.95

Product Photo

DENON AH-D501K

Great sealed headphone for the bargain hunter

3.5 out of 5

$69.99

$69.99

Product Photo

Sennheiser CX300 Pink

PINK CX300 for Susan Komen Foundation! Help Fight Breast Cancer with these Limited-Edition Earphones.

4.0 out of 5

$89.95

$79.95

Product Photo

Sennheiser CX300-S

Silver Ear Canal Headphones from Sennheiser. Inexpensive but good.

4.0 out of 5

$89.95

$79.99

Product Photo

Sennheiser CX300-B

Black Ear Canal Headphones from Sennheiser. Inexpensive but good.

4.0 out of 5

$89.95

$79.99

Product Photo

Etymotic ER-6i White

Etymotic's cure for sickly stock-issue iPod earbuds; Great audio performance on any portable player!

4.5 out of 5

$86.99

$86.99

Product Photo

Etymotic ER-6i Black

Same exact earphone as the ER-6i but in a groovy black color scheme.

4.5 out of 5

$86.99

$86.99

Product Photo

Jays d-JAYS Black

Good quality ear-canal headphones at a reasonable price. And they're from Sweden.

4.0 out of 5

$99.00

$99.00

Product Photo

Jays d-JAYS White

Good quality ear-canal headphones at a reasonable price. And they're from Sweden. CALL FOR SALE PRICE!!

4.0 out of 5

$99.00

$99.00

Product Photo

Sennheiser PXC 150

Low-cost noise cancelling headphones for weary commuters.

3.0 out of 5

$129.95

$99.95

Product Photo

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro

High marks for this workhorse sealed headphone. Tremendous price-to-performance ratio.

4.0 out of 5

$199.95

$99.99

Product Photo

Shure SE110

Entry-level earphones perfect for iPhones, PDAs, and Mp3 players.

3.0 out of 5

$119.99

$99.99

Product Photo

Shure SE110 Black

Entry-level PDA-oriented earphones for BlackBerry, iPhone, Treo, and Mp3 users.

3.0 out of 5

$119.99

$99.99

Product Photo

DENON AH-C551K

Respectable entry-level ECH entry in an increasingly crowded marketplace

3.5 out of 5

$99.99

$99.99

Product Photo

Sennheiser CX500 - Titanium

Improved earbud/ECH hybrid for portable players; Great sound, comfy fit.

3.5 out of 5

$119.95

$119.95

Product Photo

Sennheiser CX500-Black

Improved earbud/ECH hybrid for portable players; Great sound, comfy fit.

3.5 out of 5

$119.95

$119.95

Product Photo

Sennheiser HD 25-SP-II

Simple, durable, & small plus good ambient seal. Solid 'phones for the mobile listener. CALL FOR SALE PRICE!

3.0 out of 5

$139.95

$129.00

Product Photo

AKG K 440 NC

Lightweight Noise-Canceling HeadPhones from AKG!

3.5 out of 5

$129.95

$129.95

Product Photo

Sennheiser HDR 140

Get an extra headphone for your wireless sytem. Why? Because sharing your wireless experience with others is fun!

0.0 out of 5

$149.95

$149.95

Product Photo

Shure SE210 Black

A serious ear-canal headphone for a not-so-serious price.

4.0 out of 5

$179.99

$179.99
Call for Price

Product Photo

Shure SE210

A serious ear-canal headphone for a not-so-serious price.

4.0 out of 5

$179.99

$179.99
Call for Price

Product Photo

Sennheiser PXC 250

Sennheiser's mid-line noise-canceling headphones. Better than 'big-name' noise cancelers?

3.5 out of 5

$169.95

$149.99

Product Photo

DENON AH-D1001K

High-caliber sealed headphone. Excellent price-to-audio performance ratio

4.0 out of 5

$149.99

$149.99

Product Photo

Ultrasone DJ1

Well-priced entry-level DJ/studio can. Solid ambient seal & strong performance at the price from newer German maker.

3.5 out of 5

$169.00

$169.00

Product Photo

beyerdynamic DT 250-80

Very solid all-around performer and a comfy sealed/closed headphone. Low 80-Ohm impedance model.

4.0 out of 5

$199.00

$179.00

Product Photo

beyerdynamic DT 250-250

Professional sealed headphones—durable, smallish, good sound.

3.5 out of 5

$199.00

$179.00

Product Photo

Jays q-JAYS White

Dual-driver ear canal headphone love from Sweden.

4.0 out of 5

$179.00

$179.00

Product Photo

Jays q-JAYS Black

Dual-driver ear canal headphone love from Sweden NOW IN-STOCK!!

4.0 out of 5

$179.00

$179.00

Product Photo

AKG K 271 S

A refined sound is hard to come by in a sealed headphone, but the K271 delivers. DISCONTINUED/NEW MODEL HERE SOON!

4.0 out of 5

$270.00

$270.00
Add to Cart

Product Photo

Etymotic ER-4P

Low-impedance version of ER-4S; Audiophile-grade sound directly out of any portable player.

4.0 out of 5

$191.99

$191.99

Product Photo

Etymotic ER-4S

Top ECH providing -23dB of isolation. Air travel never sounded so good! Requires head-amp to be properly driven.

4.0 out of 5

$194.99

$194.99

Product Photo

beyerdynamic DT 660

A little bright and uneven, but high efficiency makes them good use for use with portables.

2.5 out of 5

$199.00

$199.00

Product Photo

AKG K 181 DJ

Not AKG's best audiophile effort but perhaps some features for the pro DJ. CALL US FOR PRICE BREAK ON THIS MODEL!

1.5 out of 5

$249.00

$249.00
Add to Cart

Product Photo

Ultrasone HFI 580

Strong sealed headphone with slick updated looks.

3.5 out of 5

$199.00

$199.00

Product Photo

Sennheiser HD 25-1-II

Punchy clarity & secure fit make this a great headphone for DJs, studio work, or active listeners.

4.0 out of 5

$259.95

$199.99

Product Photo

DENON AH-C751K

High-end ECHs with DENON's Acoustic Optimizer system

3.5 out of 5

$199.99

$199.99

Product Photo

Sennheiser RS 140

Wireless SEALED HeadPhones With Volume & Balance Control

5.0 out of 5

$239.95

$219.99

Product Photo

Sennheiser PXC 300

Upgraded noise-canceling and a schwingy carry-bag for travelers seeking superb isolation.

3.5 out of 5

$239.95

$219.99

Product Photo

Ultrasone DJ1 Pro

A choice DJ/ club/ studio headphone with a punchy and well-balanced sound.

3.5 out of 5

$239.00

$239.00

Product Photo

Ultrasone PROline 550

German-made sealed cans for funky bass-heavy audio fiends. ON SALE! CALL FOR PRICE!

3.0 out of 5

$239.00

$239.00

Product Photo

Etymotic Ety 8 Blue Tooth Wireless

Wireless Sounds for the BlueTooth Enthusiast.

3.0 out of 5

$239.99

$239.99

Product Photo

Ultrasone HFI-700

Superb seal and crisp, well-articulated highs. Fine choice for jazz or acoustic music! DISCONTINUED. NEW HFi-780 MODEL COMING SOON!

4.0 out of 5

$249.00

$249.00

Product Photo

Beyerdynamic DT 770 M

Efficient 80-ohm DT770 Version with In-Line Volume Control.

3.5 out of 5

$249.00

$249.00

Product Photo

Shure SE310 Black

A solid step into performance ear-canal headphones, and a new world of music in your noggin.

5.0 out of 5

$299.99

$299.99
Call for Price

Product Photo

Shure SE310

A solid step into performance ear-canal headphones, and a new world of music in your noggin.

5.0 out of 5

$299.99

$299.99
Call for Price

Product Photo

Ultrasone PROline 650

Full, punchy bass & present highs in a sealed audiophile headphone. ON SALE! CALL FOR PRICE!

3.5 out of 5

$299.00

$299.00

Product Photo

Sennheiser PXC 350

Upgraded Active Noise-Canceling in a Full-Size Headphone. PLEASE CALL FOR SALE PRICE!

3.5 out of 5

$369.95

$299.95
On Sale!

Product Photo

DENON AH-D2000

Accurate, lively presentation and true reference sound rarely found in sealed headphones.

5.0 out of 5

$349.00

$349.00

Product Photo

Ultimate Ears triple.fi 10 Pro

Ultra high-end audiophile ear canal headphones with superb UE sonics.

4.0 out of 5

$399.99

$349.99
On Sale!

Product Photo

Shure SE420 Black

Dual-driver audiophilic pleasure for your deserving head

4.0 out of 5

$399.99

$399.99
Call for Price

Product Photo

Shure SE420

Dual-driver audiophilic pleasure for your deserving head

4.0 out of 5

$399.99

$399.99
Call for Price

Product Photo

Ultrasone PROline 750

Odd audio performance from a rather expensive headphone. ON SALE! CALL FOR PRICE!

2.5 out of 5

$399.00

$399.00

Product Photo

Sennheiser PXC 450

Active Noise Canceling Full-Size Headphones With 'Talk-Thru'. PLEASE CALL FOR SALE PRICE!

4.0 out of 5

$449.95

$449.95
On Sale!

Product Photo

Shure SE530

Outstanding Audiophile Performance From Category-Leading Ear-Canal Headphone.

5.0 out of 5

$499.99

$499.99
Call for Price

Product Photo

Shure SE530PTH

Outstanding Audiophile Performance From Category-Leading ECH (w/PTH Device)

5.0 out of 5

$549.00

$549.00
Call for Price

Product Photo

DENON AH-D5000

The top sealed headphone we've heard and as good as the best open cans. Yep, you read that right!

5.0 out of 5

$699.00

$699.00

Product Photo

Ultimate Ears UE-10 Pro

The perfect ear canal headphone.

5.0 out of 5

$950.00

$950.00

Product Photo

Ultimate Ears UE-11 Pro

Lush, yummy sound you can stick in your head.

5.0 out of 5

$1150.00

$1,150.00