Our Picks
Slightly upgraded Bose noise-canceling headphones
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
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Top mid-rage Sennheiser noise-canceling headphones
Sennheiser Accentum Plus
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Evolved Bowers & Wilkins noise-canceling headphones
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e
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Best-sounding wireless earbuds
Beyerdynamic Xelento Wireless (2nd Generation)
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What are the best headphones right now?
Choosing a new pair of headphones can feel overwhelming. From in-ear buds to over-ear headphones, there are just so many options for headphones that offer great sound quality and other benefits like active noise canceling, wired vs wireless headsets, portability and more. With all the choices out there it's hard to choose just one set of headphones to call the best overall pair of headphones. The Sonos Ace, Sony WH-1000XM5, Sony WF-1000XM5, Apple AirPods Pro 2, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones definitely have standout features worth looking into.
Over the last 20 years, I've reviewed hundreds of headphones and earbuds. I've fully reviewed or had hands-on listening time with all headphones and earbuds on this list. Although we have options at several different prices, we tend to highlight more affordable headphones or at least models that cost $500 or less. If you're looking for the best sound and have the budget for it, you can go for options like the Focal Bathys, Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and Beyerdynamic Xelento Wireless (2nd generation), which deliver outstanding sound quality.
Pros
- Design is an upgrade
- Lightweight and very comfortable
- Excellent sound and great noise canceling
- Voice-calling performance is top-notch
- Immersive Audio mode offers some sound-quality enhancements
Cons
- Higher price than the previous model
- No USB-C audio
- Immersive Audio mode hurts battery life
Battery Life Up to 24 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Water-Resistant No
Bose's new flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones may not be a huge upgrade over the company's Noise Cancelling 700 headphones, they feature a more premium design along with Bose's new Immersive Audio feature, which delivers some sound-quality enhancements. Along with excellent sound and great noise canceling, the QC Ultra Headphones are also superb for making calls, with top-notch background noise reduction. All that adds up to a worthy adversary to Sony's highly rated WH-1000XM5 and Apple's AirPods Max.
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Pros
- More refined sound and even better noise canceling
- Slightly more comfortable
- Best-in-class voice call quality
- Robust feature set
Cons
- Higher price tag than the previous model
- Larger carrying case (headphones fold flat but not up)
Battery Life Up to 32 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Water-Resistant No
When you have a product that a lot of people love, change can be risky. Such is the case for Sony's WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which were first released in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become increasingly popular as they've improved with each generation. Over the years, Sony has made some tweaks to the design, but nothing as dramatic as what it's done with the WH-1000XM5. Other than the higher $330 price tag ($80 more than the WH-1000XM4), most of those changes are good, and Sony's made some dramatic improvements with voice-calling performance, as well as even better noise canceling and more refined sound.
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Pros
- New smaller design
- Improved sound, noise canceling and voice calling
- Upgraded processors and drivers
Cons
- Pricey
- No Find My feature integrated into app
Battery Life Up to 8 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds
Water-Resistant Yes (IPX4 splash-proof)
When Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds came out in 2021, we awarded them a CNET Editors' Choice. And while they're excellent, we had some quibbles -- they're on the large side and aren't a good match for certain ears. Clearly, Sony took those gripes to heart when it set out to design its next-generation WF-1000XM5 flagship noise-canceling earbuds. Not only are the XM5s smaller, but they also offer improved performance pretty much across the board, with better noise-canceling, sound and voice calling. Are the XM5s perfect? Not quite. At $278 -- $20 more than their predecessor -- they're costly, too. Overall, they're really impressive; they are easily among the very top earbuds on the market.
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Pros
- Good value
- Comfortable fit
- Good sound for their low price
- Decent noise-canceling and voice-calling performance
Cons
- ANC disabled when in wired mode
- Lacking a bit of clarity
Battery Life Up to 55 hours
Nosie Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphones Type Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Water Resistant No
Earfun has made some very solid budget earbuds, and now it's entered the full-size ANC headphone space with its new-for-2024 Wave Pro headphones. They list for $80, but click the $10 instant coupon on their product page and add the code EWPROCNET at checkout and the price drops to $56. While they may not sound as good as premium noise-canceling headphones from Bose or Sony, they're comfortable to wear, feature decent sound with punchy bass (they're a bit lacking in clarity and bass definition compared to more expensive models), and offer respectable noise canceling (you can toggle between two levels of ANC) and voice-calling performance. I found them to be a step up from the Soundpeats Space headphones, which sometimes cost a little less.
They're rated for up to 80 hours of battery life with noise-canceling off and 55 hours with it on and support multipoint Bluetooth pairing as well as Sony's LDAC audio codec for Android smartphone and other compatible devices. I also like that they come with a hard case and a cable for wired listening (though noise-canceling is disabled when you go wired, which is a bit of a bummer).
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Pros
- Excellent sound and best-in-class noise canceling
- Fit Kit ear tips and stabilizer system gets you a secure, comfortable fit
- Immersive Audio creates a different listening experience
- Slightly improved voice-calling
Cons
- No wireless charging or multipoint Bluetooth
- Immersive Audio mode hurts battery life
Battery Life Up to 6 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint No
Headphone Type In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds
Water-Resistant Yes (IPX4 splash-proof)
While the QC Ultra Earbuds aren't a major upgrade over Bose's excellent QC Earbuds 2 that were released in 2022, they're definitely a little better. They should fit most ears very well, and they feature superb noise canceling, arguably the best out there. A natural-sounding transparency mode with a new ActiveSense feature kicks in some ANC should the sound get too loud around you (it's sort of similar to the AirPods Pro's Adaptive Audio feature). They also sound slightly better overall, with a touch more clarity, and their new Immersive Audio feature opens up the sound a bit.
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Pros
- Well-designed and comfortable
- Excellent sound and noise-canceling
- Strong voice-calling performance
- Spatial audio with head-tracking
- USB-C audio
- TV Audio Swap feature for Sonos users
Cons
- Pricey
- Not Wi-Fi headphones
- TV Audio Swap feature only works with Sonos' Arc sound bar at launch (and can be glitchy)
Battery Life Rated up to 30 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-ear wireless headphones
Water Resistant No IP rating
Several years in development, Sonos' new Ace headphones are finally available. They're mostly very impressive, though they aren't without a few downsides, including a rather high price tag of $399 and some potential glitches with a key feature. Overall they're very well designed and also deliver top-notch sound quality, noise canceling and voice-calling performance.
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Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Good sound with very good noise canceling
- Good voice-calling performance
- 35 hours of battery life
Cons
- No carrying case
- No ear-detection sensors
- No LDAC audio codec support
Battery Life Up to 35 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Water-Resistant No
Sony's improved entry-level noise-canceling headphones, the CH-720Ns, have a bit of a plasticky budget vibe, but they're lightweight and very comfortable. Part of me was expecting them to sound pretty mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised. No, they don't sound as good as the WH-1000XM5s. They sound more premium than they look (and feel), and their overall performance is a step up from their predecessor, the CH-710Ns. Are they worth $150? Perhaps for some people, yes. The good news is that, like the CH-710N and WH-XB910 before them, these should see significant discounts in the not-so-distant future, which is what you may want to wait for.
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Pros
- Improved sound quality, ANC and ear pad design
- Very good voice-calling performance
- Spatial audio with head tracking for Apple users
- USB-C audio
Cons
- No Apple H2 chip
- No ear-detection sensors
- No major design changes except for case
Battery Life Up to 40 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint No
Headphone Type Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Water-Resistant No
Love 'em or hate 'em, Beats Studio headphones are among the most popular headphones of all time, launching as wired headphones back in 2008. This is the fourth generation of them -- they carry the same list price as their predecessor and look very similar on the outside but have some big changes on the inside that make them significantly better headphones. I'm tempted to describe them as more affordable plastic versions of the AirPods Max. That's not quite accurate, due to a choice in chipsets and one notable missing feature. Read our full review to find out what makes these very good headphones, albeit with some caveats.
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Pros
- Comfortable (upgraded ear pads)
- Very good sound quality for their price
- Decent noise canceling
- USB-C audio and LDAC audio codec support
Cons
- No carrying case
- No headphone jack
Battery Life Up to 33 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (Hybrid ANC)
Multipoint No
Headphone Type Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Water-Resistant No
Edifier makes some good-sounding PC speakers and true-wireless earbuds and it's done a nice job with its W820NB noise-canceling headphones, now on their second-gen version, the Edifier W820NB Plus.
The first thing you'll notice about them when you put them on is that they're comfortable. Edifier has upgraded the ear pads with higher-grade memory foam, and the headphones fit snugly on your head. They also sound pretty good for their price, offering slightly improved audio quality from the originals, thanks to what appear to be upgraded drivers (also, they now support the LDAC audio codec for Android devices). You get a bit more clarity and a slightly better bass definition. Their sound didn't necessarily blow me away -- they lack a bit of openness -- but it's very good for what the headphones cost. Like their predecessor, they're pleasant-sounding headphones (even a bit more so now).
Other features include an ambient mode that lets outside sound in and a low-latency gaming mode. The noise canceling has been upgraded slightly, and they're decent for voice calling. Battery life is pretty impressive, with up to 49 hours of battery life on a single charge at moderate volume levels (and noise canceling off).
A couple of things are still missing: There's no carrying case or headphone jack, although it can connect them to your computer with the included USB-C to USB-A cable. The 820NB Plus headphones are still a good value.
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Pros
- Lightweight design, now with USB-C charging
- Excellent sound and noise canceling
- Powered by Apple's H2 chip
- Strong voice-calling performance
- Support for 20-bit/48 kHz Lossless Audio with Apple's Vision Pro headset
Cons
- No support for high-resolution audio with other Apple devices except headset
- Still no XL tips included
Battery Life Up to 6 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes (for Apple users only)
Headphone Type In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds
Water-Resistant Yes (IP54 splash-proof)
Apple not only swapped in USB-C for Lightning connectivity in its new iPhone 15 models, but it made the switch with the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The new AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe (USB-C) are nearly identical to their Lightning predecessor, delivering the same excellent sound, noise canceling and voice-calling performance. They offer some other small upgrades, including additional dust resistance and a new acoustic architecture that allows for Lossless Audio with the Vision Pro -- Apple's $3,499 wearable headset. Is it possible that new acoustic architecture makes the buds sound subtly different from current devices like the iPhone? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) are easy to recommend to Apple users despite their high price. Pro tip: Don't pay more than $190 for these, which is the online sale price at which they're now frequently available.
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Pros
- Fantastic battery life
- Included app is handy
Cons
- Overall design could be better
Battery Life Up to 60 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Water-Resistant No
Sennheiser's previous-generation Momentum Wireless headphones have always had a pretty distinct look that was part retro, part modern, and stood out for the exposed metal on their headband. For better or worse, that's all gone now, and the new Momentum 4 Wireless, Sennheiser's flagship noise-canceling headphones, look a bit more subdued and also a bit more like some of their competitors.
The Momentum 4 Wireless offers superior performance over the Momentum 3 Wireless in every regard, though the biggest gains are with noise canceling and voice-calling performance as well as battery life, which is outstanding -- up to 60 hours at moderate volume levels. There's also a transparency mode that allows ambient sound in, as well as the ability to create a custom sound profile in the Smart Control app for iOS and Android using the built-in EQ, sound modes and a new Sound Personalization feature that "assesses the user's listening preferences and adjusts the listening experience according to their taste."
Equipped with 42mm drivers, Sennheiser says the Momentum 4 Wireless offers "best-in-class" sound, which is debatable. I'd say the Momentum 4's sound quality is right there with other models in this price range -- they sound excellent, with the requisite well-defined, punchy bass, relatively wide soundstage (they sound pretty open) and smooth treble that brings out some of the finer details in well-recorded tracks. They're a pleasure to listen to.
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Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Very good sound quality
- Decent noise canceling
- Excellent voice-calling performance
- Lights in buds are kind of cool
Cons
- A little pricey
- Design looks a tad generic
Battery Life Up to 7 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes (for Galaxy users only)
Headphone Type In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds
Water-Resistant Yes (IP54 splash-proof)
If you're able to get a tight seal with one of the three sizes of included ear tips, there's little to complain about with Samsung's Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (read our full review). Yes, the noise-canceling might be a touch better, but the earbuds' excellent sound quality is clearly a step up from that of the Buds 2 Pro. Plus, they have a robust feature set, and their voice-calling performance is truly top-notch.
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Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Very good sound and noice canceling
- Good voice-calling performance
- Headphone cable now has integrated microphone
Cons
- Mostly the same as previous model but costs $50 more
Battery Life Up to 24 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Water-Resistant No
When Bose released its new flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, it also replaced the QuietComfort 45s with a new, slightly updated model simply called the QuietComfort Headphones. Like the QC 45s, this model carries on the very comfortable tried-and-true legacy QuietComfort design that's been around for a few generations and that a lot of people continue to love. The QC Ultra Headphones add Bose's new Immersive Audio feature and have a more refined design with some metal parts (they also have Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Bluetooth 5.1). The QuietComfort Headphones still feature very good sound (the Ultras offer a small step up in sound quality), excellent noise canceling, and strong voice-calling performance.
As for differences between these and the QC45s, Bose says it adjusted some of the electronics to improve battery life (now 24 hours vs. 22 hours) and adjusted the logos to make the products "visually distinguishable and more in line with its latest design language." It also added an inline microphone to the auxiliary cable to "help with some users who may prefer a plug-and-play solution rather than Bluetooth pairing." There's also a Wind Block feature and some additional small performance improvements due to software upgrades. Finally, the headphones come in new color options, including green and a light blue version that's only available at bose.com.
While the QuietComfort Headphones carry a $350 list price that's $50 higher than that of the QC 45s, we expect them to be regularly discounted to $250 and possibly less than over the year -- so look to buy them when they're on sale. You can read our review of the QuietComfort 45 to get a good take on the QuietComfort Headphones.
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Pros
- Surprisingly comfortable for their weight
- Impressive sound and build-quality
- Adaptive noise canceling is top-notch and so is transparency mode
- Good headset performance for calls
- Spatial audio virtual surround for iPhones and iPads is a sweet bonus feature
- Automatic switching between iOS devices on your iCloud account (multipoint Bluetooth)
Cons
- Expensive, heavy and the smart case may be too smart for its own good
- No cable included for wired use
- Android users lose a couple of key features
- People around you can hear what you're listening to if you have the volume up (they leak some sound)
Battery Life Rated up to 20 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint No
Headphone Type Over Ear
Resistance Rating No IP rating
Yes, they're expensive, but the AirPods Max delivers richer, more detailed sound than lower-priced competitors from Bose and Sony. They also feature arguably the best noise canceling on the market along with premium build quality and Apple's virtual surround spatial audio feature for video watching. They're heavy, but they manage to be surprisingly comfortable, although I did have to adjust the mesh canopy headband to sit a little more forward on my head to get a comfortable secure fit when I was out walking with them. They should fit most heads well, but there will be exceptions.
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Pros
- More affordable than Sennheiser's flagship headphones, yet they deliver very good sound quality
- Good noise canceling and voice-calling performance
- USB-C audio
- Some extras not included with the standard Accentum
Cons
- Headphones initially fit a little too tightly
In 2023, Sennheiser released a new midrange noise-canceling headphone called the Accentum that was sort of a slightly stripped-down version of its flagship Momentum Wireless 4 headphones with smaller 37mm drivers (the MW4 has 42mm drivers). The Accentum Plus, new for 2024, adds some extra features for $50 more, or $230. They include touch controls, adaptive noise canceling, support for the AptX Adaptive Audio codec, an analog port for wired listening and a hard carrying case. Although it costs more, I do recommend this model over the Accentum because of those extras.
When I first tried them, they clamped down on my head a little too snugly. But after I worked them in and stretched out the headband a bit, they fit comfortably. They're an all-around strong performer, with good noise-canceling and voice-calling performance along with excellent sound quality that offers good clarity and well-defined bass (I also appreciated that they have USB-C audio so you can connect them to a computer or USB-C enabled smartphone with a USB-C cable and listen to audio). Like the flagship MW4s, which do offer slightly better sound quality, they're a bit generic looking. Still, they're very solid midrange headphones that are an even more appealing option when they get discounted to less than $200.
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Pros
- Lightweight design with integrated wingtip that fits securely and comfortably in your ear
- Very good sound
- Effective noise canceling and excellent transparency mode
- Better battery life than AirPods Pro
- Powered by Apple's H1 chip, so they have most of the features AirPods Pro, including spatial audio
- Beats app for Android users
Cons
- No wireless charging
- Currently no enhanced My Find with proximity view (only standard Find My)
Battery Life Rated up to 6 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint No
Headphone Type In Ear
Resistance Rating IPX4
Hot on the heels of the third-generation AirPods, Apple has another new set of earbuds, this time from its subsidiary audio company, Beats. Technically, the 2021 Beats Fit Pro ($200) aren't AirPods, but they're built on the same tech platform as the AirPods Pro. Unlike Beats' earlier and less expensive Studio Buds, the Beats Fit Pro includes Apple's H1 chip and has most of the AirPods Pro's features, including active noise canceling, spatial audio, Adaptive EQ and IPX4 water-resistance (splash-proof). I'd venture to call them the sports AirPods you've always wanted. For some people, they might just be better than the AirPods Pro. Read our Beats Fit Pro review.
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Pros
- Improved comfort and sound quality
- Better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance
- Sturdy design
- Support for aptX Adaptive audio codec for Android users
Cons
- Somewhat pricey
- Slightly heavy
Battery Life Up to 30 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Water-Resistant No
Bowers & Wilkins released the PX7 S2 headphones in 2022 with some significant improvements over the first-generation version. Now it's put out a slightly upgraded version, the PX7 S2e with the "e" standing for evolved. The audio quality has been slightly upgraded thanks to improved digital processing (the headphones have been returned), which we assume involves an upgraded chip.
These headphones are more comfortable than the original PX7s -- they tip the scales at 307 grams -- and not only sound better but have better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance with improved noise reduction. I don't necessarily think they're a better option than the lighter and even more comfortable Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The PX7 S2e certainly looks and feels luxurious, with its sturdy design, and delivers excellent sound. Bowers & Wilkins also sell a step-up model, the PX8, that features even better sound but costs significantly more.
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Pros
- Excellent sound and clarity
- Comfortable for long-time wear
- Superior hardware integration
Cons
- Very expensive
- Noise canceling is only OK
Battery Life Up to 30 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating
When they were originally announced, Bowers & Wilkins swanky PX8 noise-canceling headphones were supposed to cost $549 or essentially the same price as Apple's AirPod Max headphones. When they finally hit stores, the PX8's price jumped to $699 or a full $300 more than the company's step-down PX7 S2 headphones, which are also excellent (see below).
The biggest difference between the PX8, which weigh in at 320 grams, and the PX7 S2 are the PX8's all-new 40mm Carbon Cone drive units that are "inspired" by the Carbon Dome drive units used in the company's 700 Series loudspeaker line. Bowers & Wilkins says these units help deliver superior resolution, detail and timing with even more accurate sound than the PX7 S2.
Based on my tests, that's true. While I liked the PX7 S2, the PX8 headphones do sound more special, with a touch more openness and overall clarity. They're right near the top for sound quality in Bluetooth headphones and are also comfortable to wear for long listening sessions (there's no listening fatigue with these guys). For the best sound, you can listen to lossless files on a computer in wired mode with a USB-C to USB-C cable.
As for the noise-canceling function, it's good but not quite on par with what you get from Sony's WH-1000XM5. And while the voice-calling capabilities are solid, these don't reduce background noise quite as well as some headphones like the Sony when you're on calls (the transparency mode is top-notch).
While I can't say they're worth $300 more than the PX7 S2, they're a great set of cans if you can afford them. I do prefer the sound and overall performance of the more expensive Focal Bathys, although the Bathys don't have such strong noise canceling, but the PX8 headphones are a close second.
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Pros
- Comfortable
- Truly excellent sound quality
- USB-C Audio
- Distinct design and solid build quality
Cons
- Expensive
- Active noise canceling is comparatively light
- Included cables don't seem premium enough
Battery Life Up to 30 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-Ear Wireless Headset
Water Resistant No IP Rating
French audio company Focal is known for its high-end speakers and headphones. You might call it the Bowers & Wilkins of France. Now it's finally done what a lot of high-end audio companies have had to do in this age of on-the-go wireless music listening: make active noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones.
Over three years in development, the Bathys cost $699 and feature not only wireless connectivity but a built-in DAC (digital-to-analog converter) for USB-wired listening with any computer, smartphone or tablet with USB-C. They are easily one of the best-sounding wireless headphones.
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Pros
- Great for content creators and audio mixing
- Replaceable ear pads
Cons
- Detachable cable sticks out quite a bit when in use
Battery Life NA
Noise Canceling No
Multipoint No
Headphone Type Over Ear wired
Resistance Rating No IP rating
We were fans of Beyerdynamic's earlier DT 770 Pro headphones. The new DT 700 X is easier to drive than the 770 Pro, thanks to the company's new STELLAR.45 sound transducer with an impedance of 48 ohms, so it plays better with smartphones, tablets and laptops without requiring a headphone amp.
The headphone is targeted at content creators who want accurate audio reproduction, but it's a bit more dynamic sounding and less bass-shy than many studio headphones, which tend to restrain the bass and hew toward a very neutral sound profile. The DT 700 X is a revealing, clean-sounding headphone that offers invitingly open sound (particularly for a closed-back headphone) and makes you realize what you're missing after listening to similarly priced Bluetooth headphones.
Unlike the earlier DT 770 Pro, which is being sold at a nice discount (around $160), the DT 700 X comes with two interchangeable (detachable) straight cables in different lengths, and the DT 700 X arguably has a cleaner look than its predecessor.
The solidly built headphone -- it weighs 350 grams -- is quite comfortable, featuring upgraded soft, velour-covered memory foam earpads that offer decent passive noise isolation. The earpads and the headphones' other parts are replaceable, Beyerdynamic says.
Beyerdynamic also sells the open-back DT 900 X for the same price. That model should provide slightly more open, airy sound but the big drawback is people around you can hear whatever you're listening to -- and sound also leaks in. This closed-back version is more versatile.
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Pros
- Can be Wireless or Wired
- Comes with 10 ear tips for maximum comfort
Battery Life Up to 14 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type In-ear true wireless buds
Water-Resistant IPX4 (splash-proof)
If you're willing to spend a lot of money, Beyerdynamic's 2nd-generation Xelento Wireless earbuds deliver fantastic sound quality. Note that these can be used wired or wireless, with the buds detaching from the Bluetooth 5.2 neckband so you can use them with the included traditional 3.5mm jack cable (included).
Equipped with Berydynamic's 11mm Tesla.11 drivers, the Xelento Wireless earbuds are special because of how clean and clear they sound, with no distortion and tight, well-defined bass that has excellent extension. They're very accurate sounding. What's also nice is that the earbuds come with 10 ear tips of varying sizes, as well as a mix of silicone and foam tips (I was able to get a tight seal with the 3XL size ear tips).
The neckband has a built-in DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and amplifier courtesy of AKM, and there's support for Qualcomm's AptX Adaptive audio codec for Android and other devices that support it (the LHDC codec is also supported). Like some other high-end earbuds, these feature an ear-monitor design similar to what musicians use, with the cable wrapping around the top of your ear.
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Factors to consider when choosing headphones
Budget
Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on new headphones. The quality of value-priced headphones continues to improve, so you can find good affordable headphones for less than $100. The premium models, which offer better build quality and performance, tend to cost $200 or more -- sometimes much more.
Fit (comfort)
It's key that the headphones you buy fit your head well. They should offer a comfortable fit that's snug yet not too snug. Ideally, you want headphones you can wear throughout the day with minimal breaks.
Durability
You want headphones that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality.
Maximize performance and features for your budget
You want the best-sounding headphones with the best noise-canceling, call quality and features for whatever you're able to spend.
Return policy
It's critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer's remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days and then return one.
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How we test headphones and earbuds
We test headphones and earbuds based on six key criteria. These criteria include design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, voice-calling performance, features and value.
- Design: Evaluating design, we assess not only how comfortable the headphones and earbuds fit (their ergonomics) but their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. When it comes to earbuds, we also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings.
- Sound quality: We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the earbuds to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
- Noise-canceling performance: If the headphones we're testing feature active noise canceling (ANC), we evaluate ANC performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out to the streets of New York to test the headphones in a real-world environment where we see how they muffle not only street noise but people's voices.
- Extra features: Some great-sounding noise-canceling headphones and earbuds aren't loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the companion app for the headphones if there is one and how user-friendly it is.
- Voice-calling: When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voices.
- Value: We determine value after evaluating the strength of the headphones and earbuds against all these criteria and what they're able to deliver compared to other models in their price class.
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Other headphones we tested
Mark Levinson No. 5909: The No. 5909 are premium audio brand Mark Levinson's first headphones and, yes, they're really expensive at $999. They're also really good. They have a sturdy design without managing to feel hefty on your head (read: they're substantial but not too heavy), and they're comfortable to wear over long periods thanks to their nicely padded (and replaceable) leather-covered earcups and headbands. Read our Mark Levinson No. 5909 hands-on.
Technics EAH-A800: There's a bit of an old-school vibe to the Technics EAH-A800 -- and it's not just the Technics brand, which Panasonic resurrected in the last few years. Their design is something of a throwback but the headphones are comfortable and both fold up and fold flat. They feature a big, energetic sound with powerful bass and good detail (they take a day or two to break in).
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3: Featuring excellent sound, improved noise canceling and voice-calling performance as well a smaller, more refined design that includes stabilizing fins (so the earbuds stay in your ears more securely), the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 are among the best true-wireless earbuds, giving the Sony WF-1000XM4 a run for the money. Read our Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 review.
Sennheiser 450BT: Sennheiser updated its well-regarded 4.50BTNC noise-canceling headphones in 2020. The new headphone model is called the 450BT, and it has some notable upgrades, including better battery life (up to 30 hours with noise canceling on), USB-C charging, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX support for devices like the Samsung Galaxy smartphones that support it and more comfortable earpads. The 450BT noise-canceling headphones list for $200, but usually cost around $125 although they have dipped to as low as $100 in flash sales (they're a good value at that price).
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Headphones FAQ
Which headphones are better: Sony or Bose?
Both companies make very good headphones, which offer excellent active noise canceling. Some people may argue that Sony has a very slight lead right now, but others may slightly prefer Bose. The Sony WH-1000XM5 is one of our top-rated headphones, but Bose's QuietComfort Earbuds 2 arguably have the best noise canceling at the moment.
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Are over-ear or in-ear headphones better?
Neither is better or worse, they're just different styles of headphones. If you're looking for more discreet headphones, with a charging case that can easily fit in a pocket, true-wireless earbuds (in-ear headphones) are the way to go. Many people don't like having ear tips jammed in their ears, so they prefer full-size headphones.
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Do wireless headphones sound as good as wired headphones?
They're getting close. Premium wireless headphones can easily sound better than middle-of-the-road wired headphones that cost less than $100. Going wired still is the best option for optimal sound quality, but wireless headphones often come with a cord that allows you to plug in.
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Does noise canceling matter?
If you're looking to muffle ambient sound from the outside world, active noise canceling is a feature you'll want in your headphones. Note that noise-canceling performance varies from headphone to headphone, with Bose, Sony and Apple arguably offering the best.
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