I'm very lucky with my position here at Tom's Guide. After all, there aren't many who get to make a living trying out the best earbuds and reviewing them.
Because of my privileged position, I've been able to test out plenty of earbuds over the last year — and, now, I've ranked them all to see whether you should buy them.
1. Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
Cambridge Audio makes some of my favorite portable audio gadgetry, and the Melomania A100 cement the brand in the pantheon of earbuds makers. They aren't overly expensive, coming in far below the price of the ANC-equipped version of the AirPods 4, and bring superior sound and better noise canceling to the table.
The biggest difference is obviously the silicon tips, which might be a little divisive amongst AirPods 4 fans — but I prefer the extra security of the Cambridge Audio buds in the long run.
The sound is the very best bit. They outperform earbuds that cost $100 more, thanks to an uncommon attention to a crisp, engaging and pleasing sound signature. There's plenty of detail to get your teeth into, along with some truly ridiculous bass response. I love the way that the Melomania A100 sound.
Battery life is also very good, with 8 hours of life out the buds themselves. That extends up to 39 hours when you put them back in the case. That's 15 hours more than the AirPods 4.
The Melomania A100 wormed their way into my heart with very little issue — and, in my opinion, they're the earbuds to beat in the sub-$200 category.
2. AirPods Pro 3
While perhaps less of an update to the AirPods Pro formula than some were hoping for, the AirPods Pro 3 still bring the heat. They've got a refreshed fit that my larger ears, and up the ante in their ANC performance. We called them "the best AirPods ever" for a reason — they're a significant update over the old version, despite what many would have you believe.
Some of the newest features err on the side of gimmickry (like the heart rate sensor and live translation), however both of those are fairly easy to ignore. The buds themselves are still very good, and easily the best option for Apple users.
The ANC is really very good, getting closer to Bose's all-conquering ANC than many other options. The sound quality is good, and the AirPods Spatial Audio performance remains your best bet for surround sound music.
8 hours of ANC time is the best battery life of any pair of in-ear AirPods ever — and more than Bose's noise canceling buds. That increases to 10 hours when you use the transparency mode — battery life that no one can sniff at.
As always, you're best off avoiding them if you're an Android user, but they're the best noise-canceling earbuds for Apple users.
3. Noble Fokus Amadeus
If you've got a little more money, then I can absolutely recommend the Noble Fokus Amadeus. They're wonderful.
I love the way that they look, even if there is an element of "audio nerdery" to their shape and size. The case and the buds are slightly larger than the options from other brands, and the shape of their case suggests that they're supposed to sit on a desk rather than live in your pocket. Still, they're perfectly portable, and you'll be glad for the good ANC when you're out and about with them.
And you will want to listen to them all the time, because they sound absolutely spectacular. There's a refined sound signature here, with plenty of detail and some of the most rounded mids you've ever heard.
There's bass for days, and the soundstage is intimate and close for a more involved experience. Instrument separation is very good too. That's not to mention the Audiodo sound engine that tweaks the sound according to your hearing so that they sound, no matter your hearing ability.
They're expensive, but they are absolutely worth it.
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