We tried them out on Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure, and the Bowers & Wilkins PI3 ensured it sounded crisp, lively, with weighty, well-balanced low frequencies. We tried them out on Kanye West’s ‘Flashing Lights’, and we were impressed by the thumping bass and unctuous synth strings. But it’s not just about sound, we found them to be comfortable and lightweight and even though there’s no control app, there’s great, responsive touch and voice control on offer here. Comfortable to wear for long periods of time, these are an expensive investment but a smart one if you’re passionate about the best sound quality at all times. These are ideal for anyone looking for a bit of extra oomph from their listening experience. Just bear in mind they lack wingtips for extra security but you shouldn’t have a problem keeping these in your ears. All you need to do is put your hands over the right ear cup to reduce the volume.
Early Amazon Prime Day deals: see all the latest offers right here. The charging case could hold more juice, but wireless charging means these are consistently easy to charge up throughout the day. In our tests, we found that they’re comfortable to wear, too; it’s just a shame that they don’t have a waterproof rating and the inline remote is so fiddly, because otherwise they could make a decent pair of running headphones. The Bowers & Wilkins PI3 are the first neckband headphones from the brand, and they’re a great start. In terms of value, the 1MORE Triple Driver headphones remain amongst the best you can buy. They’re expensive, but the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones are worth every penny. The only reservation that we have is that the Quad Drivers face tough competition from 1MORE’s own cheaper Triple Driver sibling which costs half the price (which sit pretty at the number one spot on our list), but that may not be a problem depending on your budget.
As a result, I am adding the HE-400se to our list of best headphones to buy. Other over-ear headphones on our list may offer superior sound quality, but the WH-1000XM4 manage to offer the best balance of features and performance. In our Sony WH-1000XM5 review we said that the XM5s are “the best headphones in the world thanks to their class-leading noise-cancelling features and well-balanced audio”. Also, they are available in different styles, prices, models, and so on. Thanks to there being 10 different noise cancellation levels, these easily offer some of the best noise cancellation you’ll hear from earbuds. Otherwise, Sennheiser has pretty much knocked it out of the park with these in-ear headphones, offering great noise cancellation alongside smart, sleek looks and stunning sound. Apple’s noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds, the AirPods Pro, deliver a much better fit and an improved design compared to the original AirPods. Although we did enjoy our experience with the original AirPods, the sound quality of the AirPods Pro is a definite improvement upon their predecessors. That said, AirPods Pro deals are becoming more commonplace as the buds age. However, if you’re willing to spend a little more on build and sound quality, the 1More Quad Drivers are even better.
You don’t have to be the stereotypical sound snob to enjoy good audio, and if you’re looking for quality headphones, what’s wrong with understanding what makes them sound good? If wireless headphones suit you and are more convenient, they’re a better choice for you. These headphones are squarely targeted at card-carrying members of the Apple ecosystem, and they’re packed with nifty features for iOS users and come in an unmistakably ‘Apple’ design. The sound quality, battery life, and design of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 earbuds are truly brilliant – and they’re a great alternative to the Sony WF-1000XM4, particularly if your idea of the best earbuds are a little more flashy. They may be $30 more expensive than their predecessors, but the improved battery life and sound quality makes up for that; it also makes it worth upgrading if you have the originals and are due a new pair of wireless earbuds. In our tests, the vocals sounded clear and smooth on Fleet Foxes’ ‘Blue Ridge Mountains’, thanks to their custom-tuned drivers – as dynamic drivers they also provide a hefty amount of bass, due to the relatively large volumes of air they displace as they vibrate.