Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
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Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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Sony’s noise-canceling headphones are comfy, lightweight, and offer amazing sound. They also offer a handful of really useful features. Read More
The Sony WF-1000XM5 deliver class-leading noise-canceling performance with excellent sound quality and an app that offers a bunch of customizability. Read More
Apple’s updated AirPods Pro may look the same, but features like Adaptive Transparency and next-gen noise canceling make them the best buds around. Read More
Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones offer significant upgrades over the WH-1000XM4, with a higher price to match. Are these the best wireless headphones? Read More
The Soundcore Space A40 set a new mark for earbuds under $100 thanks to great sound and noise canceling that outperforms many pricier options. Read More
Whether you’re a fan of traditional over the ear headphones or prefer wireless earbuds, you’ll likely spend a lot of time with your chosen headset. It’s important to find the most comfortable fit and the best sound for your budget. Our team has tested hundreds of pairs of headphones over the years to measure sound quality, fit, battery life, noise canceling, features, and more in order to determine which headphones are the best of the best.
Currently, our pick for best headphones are the Sony WH-1000XM4 (available at Amazon for $198.00) . They're extremely comfortable and offer amazing sound, incredible noise cancellation, and a barrel full of modern features without an audiophile price tag, especially now that they’re regularly found on sale.
We’ve also got plenty of other options for different use cases and budgets. So whether you need nimble wireless workout earbuds, noise-canceling specialists for airplane trips, or something in between, you'll find what you’re looking for here.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 combine excellent sound, a comfortable fit, and great noise-canceling performance in an attractive, foldable package.
Not only do the Sony WF-1000XM5 deliver the best noise-canceling performance, they sound excellent, too.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) deliver significant upgrades to noise canceling, transparency mode, and sound.
The WH-1000XM5 offer some of the best noise-canceling with top-notch sound and comfort.
The Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds deliver the best ANC performance you can get for under $100.
The Beats Solo 4 are the best on-ear headphones currently available.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active are fantastic workout earbuds, and much more.
These headphones are the best choice for keeping your kids' hearing safe
Incredible noise canceling
Clear sound
Secure and light fit
Lackluster call performance
Missing some standard features
Class-leading sound
Excellent battery life
Good wind buffering
Some features need refinement
A bit heavy
Auto shutoff error
Fantastic noise canceling
Superb sound
Next-gen battery life
No good solution for volume control
Missing some features
Solid, although bassy, out-of-the-box sound
Light and comfortable
Foldable, compact design
Missing premium Sony feel
Small, lightweight, comfortable
Excellent audio performance
Solid ANC
No multipoint pairing
Samsung-only features
Snug, weatherproof design
Active noise canceling
Great features and battery
No auto-pause
Sluggish app connection
Most modern headphones are over-ear headsets that envelope and insulate your ear, or earbuds that nestle inside your ear. Price, features, and use case will all affect which option you choose, but there are plenty of great choices within each option.
Selecting a style of headphone comes down to many factors, including comfort, portability, and stylishness.
Many headsets feature passive noise cancellation by virtue of their materials or construction. Over-ear headphones that isolate your ears or earbuds with a great fit are both examples of these.
Active noise cancellation is a little more involved. ANC uses a series of tiny microphones to detect incoming sound, then sends out an inverse noise signal. This anti-noise cancels out the incoming sound waves, reducing distractions.
Of course, this is easiest to do with steady sounds like road noise or air conditioners. Nearby conversations or dropped objects will still make some noise. The big difference between mid-range and top-tier noise canceling is how effective it is at subduing those less-predictable, middle-frequency sounds.
These days it’s reasonable to look for battery life of around 15-20 hours for a set of headphones. Earbuds may have less—perhaps 8-10 hours. But a great set of earbuds will have the added benefit of being able to charge wirelessly in their case. If the case holds a few extra charges, it can drastically extend the meaningful battery life of your earbuds.
One thing to note is that running active noise canceling will drain your battery faster. That’s all the more reason to look for longer battery life: You don’t want your noise-canceling earbuds to die halfway through an international flight!
Most over-ear and travel headphones are not certified for dust or water resistance. However, most of the earbuds we test are, as indicated by an IP rating.
Resistance ratings appear as IPXX. The first X is for dust protection, and the second X represents waterproofing. The higher a number is, the better.
An X left in place of a number means that the product isn’t protected from that element. IPX7 is fairly waterproof, but not dustproof. IP57 is protected from both.
For water resistance, the highest number you’re likely to see for earbuds is IPX7. That indicates the product is certified to withstand being fully submerged in one meter of freshwater for 30 minutes. At the bare minimum, you’ll probably want IPX4, meaning the headphones can withstand splashes from any direction.
Active noise canceling can make a huge difference, which is why it’s become increasingly common. It’s great for traveling, public transit, the gym, or even working in distracting environments.
You can specifically check out the best noise-canceling headphones we've tested if you want more options.
Transparency mode could be just as important to some users, especially if you’re looking for workout headphones. Transparency mode is sort of the reverse of noise canceling. It uses the noise-canceling microphones to pass outside sound through the headphones. This can help you stay aware of your surroundings for safety’s sake.
Budget matters, especially for headphones. While we strive to include options from a variety of price points, many of the best headphones run over $200. If you’re looking for quality headphones on a budget, we recommend checking out our guide to the Best True Wireless Earbuds Under $100.
We test headphones on a wide variety of objective and subjective points, focusing on what matters most to everyday users. Our testing covers battery life, ease of use, controls, wireless range, sound quality, sound isolation, comfort, and more.
For sound quality tests, we combine both real-world listening and lab testing. We collect data and run A/B testing on factors like max volume, noise attenuation (including active noise canceling), and EQ. We use every set extensively on a wide array of test tracks across far-flung musical genres.
We also test features in real-life situations wherever possible. Sweat proofing, short- and long-term comfort, battery life, and microphone quality all get put through their paces. We also measure connectivity over distances and through obstacles like doors and walls.
The one downside of our testing process is that it’s hard to measure long-term durability. A pair may appear to have great build quality, but that’s no guarantee it’ll hold up in the long run. That’s why we note any major issues that pop up in user reviews whenever possible, though we don’t factor them into our scoring.
We also use the headphones over prolonged periods ourselves. Whenever durability issues or other problems arise, we update our conclusions and scoring as needed, to keep giving our readers the best information we can.
Lee was Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products from 2012 until early 2022. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance.
Hailing originally from Montana, Ryan parlayed his time working as a musician and audio engineer into a career in digital media in 2012. Since then he's had extensive experience as a writer and editor, including everything from op-eds and features to reviews on TVs, audio gear, smart home devices, and more.
Nick Woodard is a tech journalist specializing in all things related to home theater and A/V. His background includes a solid foundation as a sports writer for multiple daily newspapers, and he enjoys hiking and mountain biking in his spare time.
John is Reviewed's Managing Editor of Tech. He is an ISF Level III-certified calibrator with bylines at ProjectorCentral, Wirecutter, IGN, Home Theater Review, T3, Sound & Vision, and Home Theater Magazine. When away from the Reviewed office, he is a sound editor for film, a musician, and loves to play games with his son.
Michael Garrett Steele has been writing and editing professionally since 2013, and has been a part of Reviewed since 2020. An MFA in music composition, Garrett has lent audio expertise to everyone from Independence Community College to Bethesda Softworks, informing reviews of audio equipment and services. Garrett also covers tech, drawing on experience working everywhere from IT helpdesks to enterprise architecture sales. Steele has also become a go-to reviewer for minor plumbing fixtures since covering bidets for Reviewed in early 2020.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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