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Headphone & Headset Reviews

Updated: Mar 18, 2024 17:44
Brand
alaScore
#1
alaScore 100

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

With the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, Bose remains near the top of the headphone heap. While...

21 expert reviews

sound  
price  
noise isolation  
design  
#2
alaScore 99

FiiO FT5

With the FT5, Fiio is looking to challenge established brands in the planar magnetic segment...

6 expert reviews

sound  
durability  
portability  
design  
#3
alaScore 99

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

“if you’re keen to try spatial audio, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a great companion.”

14 expert reviews

sound  
noise isolation  
design  
comfort  
#4
alaScore 98

Sony WH-1000XM5

“Sony proves once again that it's the brand to beat in noise-canceling headphones.”

71 expert reviews

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noise isolation  
design  
comfort  
#5
alaScore 98

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

“Superb Sennheiser sound sets these wireless cans apart.”

54 expert reviews

sound  
design  
comfort  
price  
#6
alaScore 98

Sennheiser Accentum Wireless Over Ear

“Sennheiser's Accentum Wireless are the best-sounding noise-canceling headphones we've ever heard...

13 expert reviews

sound  
price  
durability  
comfort  
#7
alaScore 97

Sennheiser Accentum Plus Wireless

First impressions of the Accentum Plus augur well, with a more convenient experience than the...

4 expert reviews

sound  
noise isolation  
price  
durability  
#8
alaScore 97

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (2022)

“There's simply no better option for anyone with Apple devices.”

45 expert reviews

sound  
noise isolation  
usability  
design  
#9
alaScore 97

Technics EAH-AZ80

The true wireless Technics EAH-AZ80 earphones offer pleasing sound, good noise cancellation, and...

24 expert reviews

sound  
noise isolation  
comfort  
design  
#10
alaScore 97

Jabra Elite 10

“The Elite 10 are the comfiest, best-sounding Jabras so far.”

13 expert reviews

sound  
comfort  
price  
portability  
#11
alaScore 97

Denon PerL Pro

Denon’s premium true wireless earbuds look good, sound even better but suffer from average ANC...

8 expert reviews

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price  
design  
comfort  
#12
alaScore 97

OnePlus Buds 3

OnePlus Buds 3 make a value proposition that seems to hit just right -- but will you be missing...

8 expert reviews

sound  
design  
comfort  
price  
#13
alaScore 96

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

Billed as an “evolution” over the fabulous Px7 S2 that hit the market just last year, Bowers...

3 expert reviews

sound  
durability  
design  
usability  
#14
alaScore 96

Sony INZONE Buds

The Sony INZONE Buds offer a mixed experience. While providing strong sound quality and comfort...

7 expert reviews | 1 user reviews

sound  
usability  
comfort  
durability  
#15
alaScore 96

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 / QuietComfort Earbuds II

“Quiet and comfortable really are the best words to describe Bose's latest buds.”

35 expert reviews

noise isolation  
sound  
design  
comfort  
#16
alaScore 96

Sony WF-C700N

Sony’s WF-C700N earbuds sound great for their price, plus they fit well, have a long battery life...

16 expert reviews

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price  
comfort  
design  
#17
alaScore 96

Jabra Elite 8 Active Wireless In-ear

The Jabra Elite 8 Active make a very active case for themselves as bona fide wireless earbuds...

7 expert reviews

sound  
design  
comfort  
durability  
#18
alaScore 96

Huawei Freebuds Pro 3 In-ear

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 are here! Should you buy a pair? Read our review to find out!

12 expert reviews

sound  
design  
noise isolation  
price  
#19
alaScore 96

Nothing Ear (2)

“The Nothing Ear 2 have a fantastic design, and several personalization features that make a real...

35 expert reviews

sound  
design  
noise isolation  
price  
#20
alaScore 96

Beats Studio Buds+ / Plus

“Solid improvements make the Buds+ worth the extra $20.”

19 expert reviews

sound  
design  
durability  
portability  
#21
alaScore 96

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE

But for a lot of people, a comfortable fit ranks above all else. And if Samsung’s past-gen...

13 expert reviews

price  
comfort  
usability  
bass quality  
#22
alaScore 95

Focal Focal Bathys Wireless Over-ear

If there is such a thing as the holy grail of wireless Bluetooth ANC headphones under $1,000, the...

10 expert reviews

sound  
price  
design  
durability  
#23
alaScore 95

Sony WF-1000XM5

“Smaller, sleeker, and with awesome sound, the XM5 are Sony's best buds.”

9 expert reviews

sound  
comfort  
price  
noise isolation  
#24
alaScore 95

Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 flagship wireless ANC headphone review with comparisons to Px7 S2. How do B...

26 expert reviews

sound  
price  
durability  
comfort  
#25
alaScore 95

Anker Soundcore Liberty 4

“Anker's Soundcore Liberty 4 NC check every box, and then some.”

13 expert reviews

sound  
price  
noise isolation  
durability  

Compare

    Buying Guide

    Buying Guide - Headphones & Headsets

    Most people already know this, but it bears repeating – without a set of good headphones, it does not matter how fancy your audio media device is, you just won't get a satisfactory listening experience. The headphones that come pre-packaged with audio devices are often not of high quality, and it may be to your benefit to purchase a new pair. Headphones come in a wide range of types that fit in with all lifestyles – although all types of headphones are versatile, be sure to choose a set that fits in with your needs. How you intend to use your headphones – for music, gaming, or home theater – and where you plan to do your listening – on the go or at home – will narrow the range of possible types you'll want to choose.



    Contents

    Types of Headphones

     

    • Earbud – Earbud headphones fit directly into the ears, are lightweight, compact, and discreet, allowing listening on the go in a portable package. Earbud headphones are perfect for those who value convenience and portability.
    • Over the Ear – This is the traditional style of headphone, and offers the greatest sound fidelity. Because many models cover the ears completely, over the ear headphones are likely to include noise reduction technology. Over the ear headphones are for music professionals and purists who demand the best in sound quality.
    • Behind the Neck – As the name suggests, behind the neck headphones fit behind the neck, instead of over the head. This is particularly useful for people who wear hats or other head coverings. The behind the neck style is also very secure, an added benefit for those on the go.
    • Sport – Generally made in the earbud style, sport headphones are water-resistant, lightweight, soft, and durable, and are able to withstand the pounding from jogging or a vigorous workout. They also feature a resilient grip, to reduce slippage during energetic use.
    • Wireless – Cordless headphones have been around for years, but they have only recently started to approach the sound-quality standards of the better corded phones. Wireless headphones use Bluetooth technology, radio frequency (RF) or infrared to provide the ultimate listening convenience. Your mobility is guaranteed, and with wireless headphones you no longer need to worry about wires becoming tangled, snagging on exposed edges, and headphones being ripped off your head or out of your device. But the wireless headphones generally don't sound quite as good as equivalently priced wired headphones. The audio gets processed by electronics in the base unit, gets transmitted via radio frequency (or in some cases infrared) and then is converted back to an audio signal by the headset. All this processing adds extra noise to the audio signal.

        Additional Headphones Features

        Noise Reduction – Noise reduction and canceling technology comes in a number of different forms. It may be design-centric, meaning the headphones are molded to fit snuggly over the ears, with no room for outside noise to enter. Or, they may have an active noise-reduction function, which creates interference along a number of different frequencies that can cancel out extraneous noise. Since you no longer have to turn up the volume to overcome background noise, you can listen at lower levels, hear more low-level detail in your music and reducing ear fatigue. Noise reduction is an absolute requirement for music purists and frequent commuters.

    • Bass – Even at its very best, headphone bass is never the sort of driving experience you literally feel from massive speakers or subwoofers. Those systems' bass is as much felt by your body as heard by your ears. Earbuds are tiny and portable, but – except for a couple of high-end models – they can't compete with full-size, over-the-ear headphones for deep bass response or visceral dynamic range. As with speakers, headphones need at least 10 hours of vigorous use before they sound their best.

        Connectivity Options – Headphones generally use different connectors, make sure your new headphones' plug fits the jack for your stereo or portable MP3 player. The 1/4-inch (6.33-mm) plug is still the professional audio standard and may be found in nonportable AV equipment such as receivers, home stereos, and DVD players. The minijack (3.5-mm) plug is the most common headphone connector, especially for portable audio devices. Small, 2.5-mm (0.1-inch) headphones are typically used in cell phones and other small devices. Of course, if you have a good pair of headphones that don't fit your audio equipment, you can always find an adapter.

        Popular Brands of Headphones

        Whimsically-named Skullcandy headphones are a popular choice for hipsters and the younger crowd. Philips and Sony have a wide selection of headphones of all types, featuring the most up-to-date audio technology available. Sennheiser specializes in wireless headphones and accessories, also they offer a full range of headphone types which will suit your need at different prices.

        Whenever shopping for new headphones, be certain that the model you select is completely compatible with your primary audio media device. Headphones are generally priced very reasonably, so you may want to purchase a different set for different occasions (one set for travel, another set for the home, etc.).

    Popular Headphone & Headset products

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    Headphones & Headsets on alaTest

    alaTest.com has collected and analyzed millions of reviews from 2688 sources to help you choose the best Headphone & Headset from top brands like Jabra, Sennheiser, Bose, Sony, Apple and more.

    Buying Tips Read our Buying Guide
    before you make your purchase