Headphone reviews
Detailed reviews of all the latest models, from earbuds to over-ears.
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Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless review
Not every audio company was quick to jump on the true wireless bandwagon. Some of the big names in headphones took their time crafting a set of earbuds before making a debut. Sennheiser was one of those, and its Momentum True Wireless model didn't arrive until late 2018. Thankfully, the wait was mostly worth it. They have some of the best audio quality I've heard on a set of earbuds like these. But there are a few complaints, and given the nearly $300 price tag, those caveats become major issues.
Bose Frames review: These might be smart sunglasses, one day
If a pair of shades had intercourse with a set of headphones, you'd get the Bose Frames. However, they're more like sunglasses that are pregnant with baby speakers rather than a proper blend of the two. The idea behind the Bose Frames is to offer wireless audio without completely obscuring your ears while providing your eyes some sun protection. Because these days, it's no longer enough for gadgets to just be one thing, I guess. The Bose Frames are already available for $200, but whether you should drop that money on them depends how badly you need to hear your surroundings and your music at the same time.
Dolby Dimension review: Excellent sound, exorbitant price
Dolby has been delivering 3D sound to people's living rooms through other companies' Atmos-equipped soundbars and systems for years. So it's no surprise the company is harnessing some of that expertise for its first piece of consumer hardware. Its first product is aimed at two very popular activities: binge watching and listening to music. The Dolby Dimension headphones pack in a lot of features and tech to power your marathon Netflix sessions, but at $599, they're a serious investment.
Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones review: Goodbye, Bose
Sony's WH-1000XM3 headphones are the sort of dream gadget I can review succinctly in one sentence: They're incredibly comfortable, and they sound amazing. That's it. End review. When the first 1000XM pair debuted in 2016, they weren't just another set of premium cans -- they were a sign that Sony was ready to take on Bose for the high-end noise-canceling crown. The company managed to deliver something that sounded better than Bose's best headsets while matching them at their own game. Now, with its third version, Sony is giving us little reason to look elsewhere. The $350 WH-1000XM3s are basically the ideal pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones.
Master & Dynamic MW07 review: Premium sound, premium price
For about a year now, the true wireless earbud craze has been in full swing. Even the holdouts introduced sets this month. At IFA, both Audio-Technica and Sennheiser debuted their belated entries in this audio arms race. Now there's another company entering the fray: Master & Dynamic. The company revealed its $299 MW07 true wireless earphones today -- a set that exhibits the company's affinity for premium materials and stellar sound. In fact, these may be the best-sounding wireless earbuds I've tested, but crafting the perfect pair takes more than audio prowess.
Jabra Elite 65t review: Put down your AirPods
Whether you like it or not, true wireless earbuds are having a moment. They actually have for a while now, and Apple's introduction of AirPods only added fuel to the fire. Most of the big names in audio have introduced models, following the path Bragi forged with the Dash back in 2016. While Bluetooth issues still plague some of the current options, the devices as a whole have come a long way since their infancy. It should come as no surprise that Jabra, a company with a solid track record for Bluetooth headsets and audio gear, has one of the best, if not the best, sets with the Elite 65t.
B&O Beoplay H8i and H9i headphones review: Diminishing returns
B&O is a name that typically evokes an image of premium audio gear. Of course, those high-end materials and typically solid sound quality almost always come with a steep price, even if the device is part of the more consumer-friendly B&O Play line. Back at CES, the company announced updated versions of its high-end wireless headphones, the on-ear H8i and the over-ear H9i, with a handful of new features. The new additions are certainly improvements, but the total package here isn't more compelling than the best Bose, Sony and others have to offer.
The best wireless headphones
Music is a necessity while I'm working. If it's not tunes from Spotify, there's at least a podcast chattering on in my ear. Of course, if you don't want to bother those around you with what you're listening to, you need a good set of headphones. The best options will also do a good job of blocking out the outside world. We've already offered some suggestions on the best wireless earbuds, so now it's time to examine the best over-ear wireless headphones. Each was selected for its mix of comfort, sound quality and effective noise cancellation. Because let's be honest: Audio is just one part of the equation when it comes to long listening sessions.
Blue raises the bar for wireless audio with its Satellite headphones
After making its name building microphones for both amateurs and professionals, Blue made the leap to headphones back in 2014. Its first model, the Mo-Fi, featured a built-in amplifier and the company followed up with three others, including a planar magnetic set that also has an onboard amp. All of those options were wired, though, and if we've learned anything about "courageous" smartphone makers these days, the headphone jack is on its way out. To cater to the wireless craze, Blue announced its first wireless headphones, the Satellite, at CES in January. While this $400 model features and amp for top-notch audio, the Satellite lacks a key selling point for headphones: comfort.
M&D's wireless MW50 headphones aren't perfect, but they sound great
Master & Dynamic has dabbled in wireless sound before, but big cans like the MW60s aren't always the most convenient to lug around. People's needs change when it's time to pack up our gear and venture out into the world, and that's why the company recently released a new set of wireless headphones: the on-ear MW50s. At $449, they're currently the least expensive wireless option in Master & Dynamic's lineup, but that's still pretty dear for a pair of wireless headphones. That said, their blend of performance and style might be worth it for some of you.
Sony's new PlayStation headset is premium in name alone
There's no shortage of gaming headsets on the market, and in an effort to distinguish themselves, manufacturers are turning to gimmicks to stand out from the competition. Sony, for example, has several PlayStation-branded pairs, and now it's adding another to the mix, in hopes that 3D audio will be enough to earn your $150. After spending some time with the new PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset, though, I'm not sure it deserves its asking price.
Bragi's 'Headphone' takes on Apple's AirPods
Almost three years ago, Bragi left an indelible mark on the headphone universe. The then-unknown company launched a pair of "truly" wireless headphones on Kickstarter that not only cut every wire, but boasted a slew of fitness-tracking features, all wrapped in a superslick design.
Jabra's Sport Coach headphones count my reps so I don't have to
Whenever I go to the gym, I immediately plug in my headphones. Last year, I graduated to wireless headphones, and while I'm happy with my current Bluetooth buds (more on those later), I was intrigued by Jabra's latest refresh of its Sports Coach series, which promises to gauge and coach not only your running (I don't do that), but also cross-training style bodyweight and dumbbell-based exercises, counting reps using built-in movement sensors so that you can concentrate on your form -- and then crank out even more.
The sweet sound of the 'world's most expensive' earphones
I imagine I'm like most people in that I'm fairly content with a leaky pair of earphones that came bundled with a phone I bought 18 months ago. Some of you will have more expensive tastes, of course, dropping a few hundred on a "nice" pair of Beats, Sonys or similar cans. But there's a whole other world out there, where money is seemingly no object in the pursuit of the perfect sound. And for roughly a week, I've been masquerading as an audiophile myself, wearing oBravo's EAMT-1 in-ear headphones that cost no less than £3,600 (roughly $4,413). Yes, you read that right.
The AirPods aren't a must-buy (yet)
The iPhone 7 goes on sale in a few days, and with it comes another nail in the headphone jack's proverbial coffin. Included in the box you'll find a pair of Lightning-tipped EarPods and a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter for your analog headphones, but to hear Apple tell it, the future of music is wireless. That's where the $159 AirPods come in: the company's totally cordless earbuds are slated for an October launch, and they promise elegance, ease of use and great sound. They deliver ... some of that, but after about a week of testing, they often felt as confusing as they did cool. Note: Our original review was conducted with AirPods that we understood to be consumer ready, but in hindsight that obviously wasn't the case. After using the originals for about three months with no issue, I received a final-production set, and was able to compare the two. We have since updated this review with further impressions. Long story short: We are bumping the score from 79 to 80, but generally speaking all of our earlier praise and criticism still applies.
Motorola's latest wireless earbuds don't live up to expectations
In June, Motorola unveiled its VerveLife line of "lifestyle" products, with the VerveOnes+ wireless earbuds being the first to go on sale. These are truly wireless, existing as two independent pods that you wedge into your ear holes, with no wires or headband to be found. Needless to say, I was excited at the prospect of ultracompact Bluetooth earbuds -- especially after reading about the Bragi Dash, a similar device. Sure, these headphones will be easy to lose (something the company addresses), but having a semi-smart audio system without tangles that's easy to stow in your pocket ... that seemed like the future. Sadly, while there are some useful features and the sound quality is indeed respectable, the form factor itself still has some lingering issues -- most notably, drops in earpiece-to-earpiece syncing. That's a problem, given the $250/£230 price tag.
Bose's best headphones are even better wireless
When it comes to headphones, it can sometimes be easy to forget about Bose. The company doesn't debut new models as frequently as the competition, choosing instead to focus on quality, comfort and its highly touted noise-canceling tech. Bose's previous noise-canceling model, the QC25, has been around awhile, and despite its popularity, there was one thing missing: a wireless edition. Announced just over a week ago, the QuietComfort 35s mix that trademark sound and feel in a $350 package. I spent a few days using the headphones to see if they met my high expectations.
Avegant Glyph review: A wearable cinema for serious movie fans
The idea behind the Avegant Glyph is pretty simple. It's a $699 portable, wearable movie theater. And if you're thinking it looks more like a pair of Beats than a cinema screen, there's good reason: It moonlights as a pair of regular headphones, of course, though video viewing is why you'd want to buy one. Inside the headband are two eye holes, behind which is some clever micromirror projection technology that beams 720p video directly into your eyes. Wear the Glyph like a VR headset, and plug in an HDMI source and you're good to go. If all this sounds familiar, it's because the Glyph has been in development for a few years now. This right here, however, is the version that's about to ship. I've spent some time with my head in one, and it's pretty neat. And, yes, a little weird.
Marshall's wireless headphones rock all night (and day) long
When will these headphones die? That's what I'm thinking two days after switching on Marshall's $150 wireless Major II. The box clearly states "30 hours of playback," but it is a humble fib. It breezed past the 30-hour mark, well, hours ago. If it carries on much longer, it'll reach a second night, and probably run out while I sleep. Then I'll never know how long they lasted. Unless ... surely ... it won't still be playing when I wake up again? I can't risk the not knowing, so I turn them off and pause the timer. I'll resume this showdown in the morning.
Axent Wear's cat ear headphones are the stuff of anime dreams
New Yorkers have perfected the art of looking but not looking. You know, where you let your eyes glaze over someone as you pass, so you can take them in without making it obvious that you're studying them. For this reason I wasn't entirely sure if anyone noticed the giant glowing cat ears on my head as I walked down the street on my way home from work.