Tired of background noise during calls or want better sound while listening to music, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones with a mic can really help. In 2025, there are plenty of options to choose from, some are budget-friendly, while others come with top features for people who don’t mind spending more.

Sony introduced its first pair of stereo headphones for sale in 1964, mainly intended for use with its popular line of reel-to-reel tape recorders. And when the company invented the portable audio category in 1979 with the very first Sony Walkman, headphones were thrown into the limelight.