Mark Levinson No. 5909: The No. 5909 are premium audio model Mark Levinson’s first headphones and, sure, they’re actually costly at $999. However they’re additionally actually good. They’ve a sturdy design with out managing to really feel hefty in your head (learn: they’re substantial however not too heavy) and so they’re comfy to put on over lengthy durations due to their properly padded (and replaceable) leather-covered earcups and headband. Learn our Mark Levinson No. 5909 hands-on.
Focal Bathys: French audio firm Focal is thought for its high-end audio system and headphones. You may name it the Bowers & Wilkins of France. And now it is lastly finished what a whole lot of high-end audio corporations have needed to do on this age of on-the-go wi-fi music listening: make energetic noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones. These $699 cans sound incredible and are nice general however their noise-canceling is pretty gentle, so do not buy them for his or her ANC.
Grasp & Dynamic MW09: Grasp & Dynamic headphones and earbuds have all the time featured distinctive, eye-catching designs that embrace premium supplies like aluminum, sapphire glass and Kevlar. Its newest MW09 flagship earbuds look fairly just like its earlier MW08 buds, however have some upgrades on the within that ship higher efficiency, significantly with regards to battery life and noise canceling (it is now very near what Bose and Sony provide, although not fairly at their degree for ANC).
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Professional: The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional provide improved noise canceling together with excellent sound and voice-calling efficiency, plus assist for high-resolution wi-fi audio streaming in case you’re a Galaxy system proprietor with the correct setup. That mentioned, their greatest improve could also be their new design and smaller measurement, which make them a greater match for extra ears. Except for their considerably excessive price ticket, their solely downside is that a few of their key options solely work with Samsung Galaxy units.
Beats Studio Buds Plus: Alas, for these of you who purchased the unique Beats Studio Buds, which stay available on the market for now, I am sorry to report that these new Plus buds are considerably improved, with higher sound, noise canceling and battery life. Moreover, they now ship top-notch voice-calling efficiency.
Beats Match Professional: Whereas the Beats Match Professional technically aren’t AirPods, they’re constructed on the identical tech platform because the AirPods Professional (sure, Apple owns Beats). In contrast to Beats’ earlier and cheaper Studio Buds and new-for-2023 Studio Buds Plus, the Beats Match Professional embrace Apple’s H1 chip and have a lot of the AirPods Professional’s options, together with energetic noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I would enterprise to name them the sports activities AirPods you have all the time wished.
Technics EAH-A800: There is a little bit of an old-school vibe to the Technics EAH-A800 — and it is not simply the Technics model, which Panasonic resurrected in the previous few years. Their design is one thing of a throwback however the headphones are comfy and each fold up and fold flat. They function an enormous, energetic sound with highly effective bass and good element (nonetheless, they take a day or two to interrupt in).
Technics EAH-AZ80: Panasonic has finished a pleasant job of making an all-around top-performing set of buds that provide an improved match with terrific sound, good noise canceling and a sturdy function set.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3: That includes glorious sound, improved noise canceling and voice-calling efficiency as properly a smaller, extra refined design that features stabilizing fins (so the earbuds keep in your ears extra securely), the Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3 are among the many finest true-wireless earbuds, giving the Sony WF-1000XM4 a run for the cash. Learn our Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3 assessment.
Sennheiser 450BT: Sennheiser up to date its well-regarded 4.50BTNC noise-canceling headphones in 2020. The brand new headphone mannequin is known as the 450BT and it has some notable upgrades, together with higher battery life (as much as 30 hours with noise canceling on), USB-C charging, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX assist for units just like the Samsung Galaxy smartphones that assist it and extra comfy earpads. The 450BT noise-canceling headphones checklist for $200, however normally price round $150 though they’ve dipped to as little as $100 in flash gross sales (they are a good worth at that worth).
Google Pixel Buds Professional: The Pixel Buds Professional are Google’s first earbuds to function energetic noise canceling. Whereas it is good that they lastly have a function that a whole lot of true-wireless earbuds have had for some time, what in the end units the Pixel Buds Professional aside and makes them value contemplating — significantly for Android customers — is their distinct design and profitable match. That helps improve their efficiency on each the sound high quality and noise-canceling fronts. Whereas not fairly elite for voice-calling, in addition they carried out properly as a headset for making calls. Learn our Google Pixel Buds Professional assessment.