Don’t get me wrong: the Aventho Y make vocals sound strong and clear, but the rest of the soundstage, not so much. It lacks openness and sounds mostly flat. You’ll need the companion app to customize the equalizer and salvage it. Call quality isn’t great either, as the headphones make you sound scratchy.

Should you still buy these cans? Read my full Beyerdynamic Aventho Y review to find out.

Beyerdynamic Aventho Y review: Specs

Beyerdynamic Aventho Y review: Price & availability

Announced at IFA in September 2026, the Beyerdynamic Aventho Y are the latest over-ears to join the brand’s extensive lineup of consumer headphones. Priced at $149 at Amazon U.S. / £129 at Polar U.K., the Aventho Y are Beyerdynamic’s cheapest lifestyle headphones, at the time of writing. The cans come in Blue Fusion, Liquid Black, Peach Blush, and Soft Jade colors.

The Aventho Y offer ANC, long battery life with user-replaceable battery packs, and are extremely comfortable. These are some of the cheapest mid-range ANC headphones we’ve tested, and they’re cheaper than the Sony WH-CH730N ($179), the Sennheiser Accentum ($179), the JBL Live 770NC ($199), and the Beats Solo 4 ($199).

Beyerdynamic Aventho Y review: Design

The Beyerdynamic Aventho Y make a strong first impression with their striking colors. The Peach Blush model I tested is certainly a looker, with light and airy accents that make them stand out in a market crowded with black and dark colors. The stylized “Y” engraved into each (large) earcup is a nice touch, and the subtle Beyerdynamic branding on the headband doesn’t draw much attention either.

The Aventho Y weigh just 11.14 ounces and even though they’re slightly heavier than my trusty Marshall Monitor III (8.8 ounces, $349), the difference isn’t that noticeable. They’re also heavier than their siblings, the Aventho 100 (7.76 ounces, $229), but the added weight is a decent trade-off if you want a user-replaceable battery and a more comfortable fit.

For easy transport, the Aventho Y are foldable so you can save some space in your day bag. A drawstring cloth bag is included in the box, too.

Weatherproofing

It’s normal for over-ear headphones to not have official IP waterproof ratings, but the Aventho Y do. These cans are IP53-rated, just like the Aventho 100, so they’re protected against dust and light water splashes. You should be just fine wearing them to the gym. In contrast, the JBL Live 770NC and the Sony WH-CH730N aren’t waterproof at all — JBL and Sony don’t specify that they are, at least.

Comfort

The Aventho Y are extremely comfortable headphones, and that’s thanks to their large, spacious earcups and cushioned headband. The ear cushions feature soft foam interiors, and they’re covered in soft leatherette. These ear cushions are magnetic so they can be twisted off and replaced if they get damaged.

Similarly, the headband’s metal frame uses the same leatherette cushioning for added comfort, and it relieves the pressure you’d otherwise feel on the top of your head. Having worn the Aventho Y for a six-hour stint, I can confirm that they’re suitable for all-day wear, as my ears didn’t overheat or feel sweaty.

Controls

Sporting a straightforward control scheme, everything, from volume to ANC, is adjusted via physical buttons and toggles on the Aventho Y’s earcups. You can increase or decrease the volume via the buttons on the right earcup. Located between these is a custom button which can be customized via the app to change tracks, enable voice assistant, and more. Controls for ANC and Bluetooth are on the left earcup. They’re all super straightforward to get a hang of.

Connectivity

The Aventho Y utilize Bluetooth 6.0 with support for SBC and AAC codecs. However, there’s no support for LC3, LDAC or aptX Lossless, and you’ll need to spend more on the Sennheiser Accentum if you want aptX. The lack of advanced codecs isn’t uncommon in this price range, though, as neither the JBL Live 770NC nor the Beats Solo 4 support them.

For those who want more versatile wireless connectivity, Beyerdynamic is planning on selling an optional 2.4GHz dongle (which can be handily stored inside one of the earcups) along with a detachable boom mic come October. Beyerdynamic is yet to officially announce sample rates for the dongle, but I’ve reached out to a representative to find out more. You can also use a USB-C cable for wired playback.

They also feature multipoint connectivity, enabling you to connect up to two devices simultaneously — I did so with my MacBook Air M2 and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. The Aventho Y say “Multipoint” out loud to you when two devices are connected at once. You also get Google Fast Pair and as soon as I put the headphones into pairing mode, my Pixel recognized and connected to them immediately.

Beyerdynamic Aventho Y review: Sound quality

The Beyerdynamic Aventho Y ulitize a 45mm driver to cover a frequency response range of 20Hz to 20KHz (so the entirety of the average human hearing spectrum). To test the headphones, I listened to my array of testing songs on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles — and I was left with mixed feelings.

Vocals are the Aventho Y’s strong suit. In ‘Cheers to Me’ by Self Esteem, Rebecca Lucy Taylor’s vocals felt raw and intimate. Each word sounded textured, every consonant felt sharp, and plosives never popped or bled into one another. The backing vocals panned wide to the far left and right, creating an immersive listening experience. As all the voices came together in the bridge, they sounded harmonious and powerful.

But unfortunately, the Aventho Y struggle with almost every other aspect of the soundstage. Without any EQ adjustments and straight out of the box, the Aventho Y sound boxy, hollow and lack openness. The dark pulsating bassline that drives ‘2515’ by Wasia Project sounded like someone had turned the bass off. The song sounded closed-in and hollow, and it felt like it had lost its three-dimensionality. While the vocals still sounded defined, the rest of the track didn’t.

I then listened to ‘One Inch Punch’ by Yin Yin to see if the treble sounded just as flat as the bass. While the electric guitar solos shimmered, they didn’t possess the same clarity and vibrancy you get when listening to the song through a more capable set of cans. It also felt like all the instruments were pushed into the background. The bassline sounded dull as did the drums. Heavy tracks like ‘Put Me in a Padded Room’ by Icon For Hire sounded muddled and like the headphones were easily overwhelmed.

Luckily, though, I was able to salvage a lot of the sound quality by adjusting the Aventho Y’s equalizer through the companion app (more on that shortly). I fixed a lot of the issues by simply playing around with the 10-band EQ and finding my ideal sound. It’s great to have such extensive customization at your fingertips, but I wish the Aventho Y sounded balanced straight out of the box — like the Sennheiser Accentum or the JBL Live 770NC.

Listen along to my review with the Beyerdynamic Aventho Y testing playlist:

Beyerdynamic Aventho Y review: App

The Aventho Y are accompanied by the Beyerdynamic app, available for free on iOS and Android. It enables you to customize the controls, adjust the level of ANC, enable Low Latency mode to minimize audio delays, choose an EQ preset, and customize the 10-band eqaulizer to your liking.

Beyerdynamic’s app is easy to use and it sports a clean interface without any intrusive pop-ups. That’s good because given that you need the app to fix the Aventho Y’s sound, I’d say it’s a necessity and not an optional download.

Beyerdynamic Aventho Y review: ANC

The Beyerdynamic Aventho Y feature effective active noise cancelation that works well indoors and outdoors. Indoors, I wasn’t able to hear the kettle boiling, the clicking-clacking of mechanical keyboards, or other people talking. My partner had to wave several times to get my attention when I was testing the Aventho Y.

On a busy bus back from work, the Aventho Y managed to drown out the sound of people talking loudly. While I could hear the sound of the bus rattling, it wasn’t intrusive or too much, and the Aventho Y did a good job of ensuring I felt immersed in my tunes.

Beyerdynamic Aventho Y review: Call quality

Unfortunately, the Beyerdynamic Aventho Y’s call quality is quite disappointing. On a Google Meet team call, my colleagues winced when I started speaking — and they’ve heard me talk before so I know it isn’t me. I asked them how I sounded, and they noted that my voice was scratchy, distant, and “not great at all.”

To rule out the possibility that this was down to an unstable internet connection, I called my partner who said that my voice sounded muffled and she couldn’t understand my words very clearly. I’d recommend the Sennheiser Accentum if you want better call quality.

Beyerdynamic Aventho Y review: Battery life

An area the Beyerdynamic Aventho Y perform formidably is battery life. Beyerdynamic says that on a single charge, the Aventho Y can last up to 90 hours with ANC off, or 60 hours with ANC on. This is excellent, and the headphones outclass the Sennheiser Accentum (50 hours), the Sony WH-CH730N (50 hours) and the JBL Tune 770NC (44 hours) when ANC is enabled.

With ANC enabled and music playing at 50% volume, I left the Aventho Y running over a few nights. After approximately 50 hours, I had just 5% battery remaining. Beyerdynamic’s battery claims are, then, fairly reliable.

The Aventho Y feature a user-replaceable battery, which increases the longevity of the headphones. The manual specifies how to remove the battery carefully and safely, should you need to do so.

Beyerdynamic Aventho Y review: Verdict

The Beyerdynamic Aventho Y check almost every box. They boast up to 90 hours of battery life, effective ANC indoors and outdoors, a comfortable fit, a colorful design, and they come with a user-friendly companion app. Vocals are clear, strong and nuanced, yes, but everything else sounds flat — and that’s no bueno for a pair of headphones.

While the sound quality is salvageable thanks to the custom 10-band equalizer, it’s a shame that the Aventho Y don’t sound great straight out of the box. The bass sounds muddy and the treble struggles to shine. Call quality isn’t great either as several people noted that I sounded scratchy on their end.

Though the Aventho Y are fun-looking, comfortable and last a long time, it’s worth spending a little more on the likes of the JBL Live 770NC if you want solid sound as soon as you unbox the cans. At the end of the day, the Aventho Y deliver on some fronts but fall flat where it matters most.

There’s also a slew of other upgrades, from Bluetooth and codec compatibility to water resistance. Most importantly, they sound utterly, and I mean utterly divine — those triple drivers aided by a clever personalized EQ that compensates for per-ear hearing loss.

Even so, they’re not perfect. At $899, these cans are competing with some serious players — your Bang & Olufsens; your Bowers & Wilkinses. While premium, the Artemis can’t quite match the luxurious build or polished companion apps of rivals.

But do the Artemis still rank as some of the best noise-canceling headphones for audiophiles? Find out in my full Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: Specs

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: Price & availability

As I mentioned above, at $899 / £799, the Artemis are pricey enough to mix it with the big boys — the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 ($1,250 / £879), and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 ($799 / £675). I own both the H95 and Px8 S2, so I’ve tested all three.

In short, if all you care about is sound, the FoKus Artemis edge it, with greater audio finesse thanks to the triple-driver array and excellent personalized EQ. If, however, you want a holistic luxury package for your close-to-a-grand, it’d have to be the H95. The Px8 S2 are the cheapest of all three but still feel more luxurious and put-together than the Artemis, plus they sound fantastic.

In the U.S., the Artemis are in pre-order at Noble Audio as I write this, although they're already becoming available via its established retailers in Britain.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: Design

There’s no denying: the FoKus Artemis are hella pretty headphones. The glorious swirling matte patina on the outer cups is borderline addictive to behold. The sliders and earcup hangers are polished to a semi-matte, with a muted, syrupy luster as the light catches them. The hangers feel reassuringly chunky, I ought to add.

But while the Artemis look charming and feel premium, they don’t convey luxury, which I’d expect at this price. As I mentioned above, when you charge $899 for headphones, there’s nowhere to hide, and some incredibly fierce competition. Noble is splashing around in Bowers’ and B&O’s paddling pool — and that means it’s a pool constructed entirely of titanium and lambskin leather.

The Artemis simply cannot match the opulence of the other two, who leave no detail without attention. The Artemis’ milled edges are just that little rougher; the etching slightly less sharp; the ear pads (while comfy) not nearly as pillowy-soft. The buttons look plasticky and cheap, while the legends look either very slightly mis- or double-printed on both my test units — you wouldn’t find a basic error like that on a set of Bowers, no siree, and I’m pretty sure someone at B&O would be facing a firing squad for it.

There’s a felt-like material on the back of the Artemis earcups, which unless cossetted will doubtless grubby up quicker than you can say ‘balanced armature’. And the headband fabric looks uncannily like that on the Jabra Evolve3 75 conferencing headset I tested recently — there’s nothing overtly wrong with it, and it’s perfectly comfortable… but $900 to look like you’re on a work call?

By $500 headphone standards, the Artemis sure are lovely. But Noble has chosen the $900 mark, so by that yardstick shall these cans be measured, and shall they ever-so-slightly disappoint.

Still, the Artemis boast some worthy design features. The earcups and battery are replaceable, theoretically benefitting longevity. IP52 dust-/water-resistance means they’ll survive a light shower and the odd workout — although I dread to think what that earcup felt will look (not to mention smell) like once sweated into. You can replace the earcups on both the Px8 S2 and H95, but only the latter is water resistant (also IP52) and neither can have their batteries replaced (not by you anyway).

The Artemis come with a hardened fabric carry case. It’s a little slimmer than the Px8 S2’s equivalent and wholly easier to travel with than the H95’s chunky, scratch-magnetic hard-shell case. I’ve travelled with all three and prefer the Artemis’ case, as it took up the least space in my bag.

Controls

Their cheap-ish looks aside, I’m a big fan of the Artemis’ buttons and controls. They’re reliable, unfussy and sensibly positioned, which is all I really want and need. I had no issues locating and operating the Artemis’s controls by touch, even while walking around Copenhagen on a press trip. Sure, I like the physical and touch controls on my Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 and H95, but how many do I really use day-to-day? Four: power, volume, playback and ANC.

Connectivity

The Artemis use Bluetooth version 6.0, providing greater connection stability and lower power consumption than earlier versions. Even the Apple AirPods Max 2 launched in 2026 with the older version 5.3, so (unfortunately) the latest iteration isn't something you can take for granted.

The Artemis support hi-res codecs, including LDAC, aptX HD, and now aptX Lossless — an upgrade from the Apollo. Again, you can’t take these for granted, as the $2,500 B&O H100 only support basic AAC/SBC codecs, meaning no hi-res wireless.

The Artemis also pack wear detection with customizable auto-off timing, multi-point connectivity and smartphone control via a (rather janky) companion app. You can also run the cans truly lossless via USB-C, and there’s a USB-C 3.5mm adapter included.

Annoyingly, multipoint didn’t work too well during testing — when taking work calls, I occasionally had to turn the Artemis off and on again for Google Meet to recognize them as an audio/mic source. Could be a Meet issue, though.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: Sound quality

I tested over Bluetooth using AAC, and over USB-C in hi-res on Qobuz. As I mentioned above, the Artemis sound insanely good. The three-driver setup comprises a dynamic driver for bass and mid-range impact; a planar magnetic driver for super fast response, particularly in the mid- and upper ranges; and a balanced armature driver for fine treble detail. It’s a heavenly ménage à trois.

Treble is ultra-precise, airy, and rarely fatiguing — I was caught out a couple of times by songs with inherently sharp treble baked into their master, although admittedly I was hungover on both occasions. For the most part, though, I found the treble comfortable enough for hours on end.

The balanced armature (BA) drivers and ultra-responsive planars offer exceptional detail. In Blusher’s Your Love Is My Drug, I heard every minute enunciation, every mouth noise, every lip smack, and the gentlest whisps of the breathy vocals during harmonies. The balanced armature drivers also help with airiness and space — the subtle pop of interference at the start of Queens of the Stone Age’s Medication was imaged perfectly, crackling upward and forward in my left ear like a firing nerve ending.

Vocals steal the show, though. They sound mesmerizing across the board, always perfectly isolated from percussion and other mid-range noise. In Stereophonics’ Just Looking, Kelly Jones’ voice commanded the track, his husky vocals floating around my head like tobacco smoke in an 80s dive bar — I almost forgot the song had a riff and drum track.

That fast mid-range response also works wonders elsewhere, with strong instrument and tonal separation. Guitars sound fantastic. I could hear the individual plucks and natural stringy timbre during the acoustic guitar bridge of Porter Robinson’s Cheerleader. Distorted stuff works, too, with bags of texture and definition in sludgy metal riffs.

The Artemis aren’t overly bassy headphones — no Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 tuning for the masses. But when you need the bass, it’s there, impactful and well-controlled. The powerful warbles of Burn Water’s Ikigai were thick, rich and velvety-textured.

Sub-bass response isn’t the strongest, at least not on my personal EQ. The last 20 seconds of Sohn's Antigravity — essentially just a wave of the deepest sub bass you can get before feeling rather than hearing it — sounded fairly thin. But that stuff is tricky for pretty much all headphones I’ve tested save the $2,200 Beoplay H100 and $4,500 Audeze LCD5-S.

As I mentioned above, these headphones are surprisingly spacious for closed-backs, but there’s an extra mode to supposedly increase three-dimensionality: Audiosphere, available in either Subtle (weak) or Immersive (strong) settings. Like most software-based 3D modes I try, it’s pretty poor, making everything sound metallic and echoey rather than actually increasing spatiality.

Listen along to my audio testing playlist on Qobuz, our favourite music streaming service for audiophiles.

Personalized EQ

The Artemis’ standout software feature is undoubtedly its personalized EQ, courtesy of the audio algo-nerds at Audiodo, a Swedish company specializing in personal EQing. The personalized EQ runs a hearing test and then adapts the EQ profile to your individual ears, compensating for any hearing loss at different frequencies in one ear or the other. As a tinnitus sufferer, motorcyclist and former DJ, this is exactly what I need!

I was blown away by the results. My personal EQ was highly effective, brightening up the treble and bringing noticeable space to the sound without compromising anything else.

There’s also a standard 10-band EQ, plus various presets. I like that your EQ is also saved onboard the headphones, too, so if your app goes kaput (which, spoiler alert, it probably will), your chosen EQ should remain on the cans... and yes, that is some not-so-subtle foreshadowing.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: App

The Artemis’ Achilles heel (staying on the mythical trend) is its app. It’s a little unpolished, with a few slightly awkward something-to-English direct translations (“Go test” and the “Setting” menu), plus a somewhat boxy, dated and disconcertingly left-justified interface.

However, a more concerning issue during testing was the app’s jankiness. It sometimes failed to recognize the headphones at all, and once thought they were Noble’s Karma open earbuds. It also crashed each time I tried to update the Artemis — not ideal given my first test set was running early firmware.

I flagged this to Noble’s representative and the manufacturer quickly patched the iOS app, which is fine, although after the update one of my two personal EQ profiles was overwritten by a duplication of the other (thankfully, the one I preferred). It’s not exactly confidence-inspiring.

At $899 and in 2026, I’d expect a little more polish given the smartphone app is so pivotal to the Artemis’ user experience — personalized EQ and updating et al. The B&O app, by contrast, is wonderful and feature-packed, while the B&W app is fairly basic but at least reliable and slick.

I should mention that, thankfully, despite the jankiness, I could still use the FoKus app fairly reliably to customize the Artemis at a fundamental level (controls, ANC levels, etc), and most importantly use the EQ. Given the EQ is saved onboard the headphones, after setting that you can mostly live without the app anyway until you need to tweak EQ or update the cans.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: ANC

The FoKus Artemis’ ANC is pretty good. I took the headphones on a flight to Copenhagen, and they cut out enough hubbub in the busy departures terminal for me to get on with some work in peace. On the plane, they competently drowned out the noisy Airbus A320 I flew on, the people behind me talking, plus a passenger on my row snoring. They couldn’t cut the noise of a screaming kid behind me on the return flight though, which the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 did last time I flew (returning, coincidentally, from Copenhagen).

The Artemis did a respectable job in daily life, too, cutting most traffic noise while walking around the Danish capital. I didn’t get along with the pressure levels at times, as the ‘High’ ANC setting occasionally made me feel nauseous, but your mileage will vary based on individual ear anatomy.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: Call quality

For the Artemis, Noble did away with the Apollo’s detachable boom mic, which is a good thing. This is a set of ANC headphones, not a gaming headset. The new internal mic does a fairly good job for calls. I called my wife, who reported my voice sounded clear and natural, if not a little bit thin.

She noted, however, that the Artemis mic picked up literally every single background noise, from rustling paper to unwrapping a parcel to merely pulling my keys from my pocket. Apparently this was very distracting, and with no environmental noise cancelation on the mic, there was nothing I could do about it.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: Battery life

Noble promises 55 hours of battery life with ANC off and 35 with ANC on. This sits between the 38-hour and 30-hour ANC figures of the H95 and Px8 S2 respectively. It’s a lot better than the 20 hours you can expect from the AirPods Max 2.

Real world results will of course vary based on your individual usage and whether you’re using USB-C for playback. In real terms, though, I used the Artemis extensively over a three-day press trip without charging them and was left with around 50% left, so there’s more than enough juice for a short trip away, and you’ll very likely be able to find a power socket in that time anyway.

The Artemis also have a neat trick up their sleeve: take off the left ear pad and you’ll see a battery held in place with a screw! That means you can replace the battery yourself, theoretically increasing the Artemis’ longevity. We’ve seen this before on the Sennheiser Momentum 5, but it’s not commonplace. Of course, it relies on Noble still making these batteries whenever in the future you need to replace yours. Despite questionable upsides, though, there are certainly no downsides to this.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: Verdict

The FoKus Artemis aren’t perfect. When you’re being charged $899, you deserve a certain level of polish that, unfortunately, isn’t quite there in places. Admittedly, most of this is fairly minor, like the Artemis’ overly sensitive mic, or their lacking the sheer opulent finish and attention to detail of similarly priced rivals. The amateurism of the companion app is more worrying, though, given its importance to the headphones’ core operation. Thankfully that’s something which can be improved over time (and really needs to be, Noble, if you’re reading).

That said, I’m still head over heels in love with the FoKus Artemis, and there’s no question that they deserve my recommendation. Because that sound — mah gawd. It's what these cans are all about. Fire them up, sort out your personalized EQ, and you’ll quickly realize what you’ve paid for. The sound is simply exquisite, with detail, space, power in abundance, yet balance. The $900 finesse lacked elsewhere is made up for in triumphant fashion by just listening to the things. And that’s a compromise I can live with.

They have amazing vocal reproduction while also delivering detailed mids performance, so you can take in your favorite guitar riffs and drum fills. I found them best for mellow music, but they perform well across the board.

But while the design is sleek and retro, I had some issues. The on-ear style of the headphones isn’t for me. I found them uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, and the cheap foam padding made this even worse. To find out more about the headphones, you can keep reading this full Grado SR325 review.

Grado SR325 review: Specs

Grado SR325 review: Price & availability

The Grado SR325 headphones are available in the U.S. on Amazon for $350 and in the U.K. on the Grado website for £349. When it comes to open-back headphones, you’re likely to be forking out a fair bit of cash for great sound, so that’s to be expected.

For around the same price, you can pick up the FiiO FT13 ($329). These cans provide a deep, rich sound with impeccable instrument separation. Similarly, the Meze 99 Classics Gen 2, which cost $349, can provide an even cleaner sound. The Mezes are over-ear headphones with a light headband, making them comfortable to wear for long periods, unlike the Grados.

The Meze Audio 105 AER are another solid choice, offering warm sound, some of the best clarity you’ll find, and much better comfort. That’s all for $299, which makes them a true no-brainer when compared with the questionable sound and $350 price tag of the Grado SR325.

Grado SR325 review: Design

The Grado SR325 are on-ear headphones with an open-back design. They have built-in wires, so there's no need to plug in each time you listen. The headphones look sleek with black aluminum details and a faux leather headband. I think they look great and more than a little retro, but the headband feels flimsy as it’s not very thick. The headphones don’t fold and don’t come with a case either, so you’d need to invest in a headphone stand to ensure they stay in tip-top condition.

Comfort

While the Grado SR325 are comfortable to wear for short listening sessions, I would much rather use a pair of over-ear headphones like the FiiO FT13 ($329) for comfort over extended periods of time. The on-ear style Grado headphones rest directly on my ears, making the cartilage ache, which is annoying if, like me, you want to listen to music for hours on end. Also, the cheap, thin foam used to cover the earcups is uncomfortable and a little bit scratchy. It reminds me of the foam covering on the Gadhouse Wesley headphones, which are significantly cheaper at $69. For $350, I expect more care to be taken with the comfort of the Grado cans.

The headphones weigh 14 ounces and didn’t feel too heavy, but the top of my head became sore where the headband was resting after about 45 minutes because there’s not much padding.

Connectivity

The Grado SR325 headphones have built-in wires connected to both earcups that merge into one aux wire. You have the choice between a 3.5mm jack or a 6.3mm adapter when connecting to your device.

While listening, I used the FiiO K11 R2R DAC to power the headphones, and my colleagues also tested the cans with the iFi hip-dac 3 and FiiO K15. While the SR325 aren’t very hard to drive and can be powered by your laptop or phone, using a good DAC ensures they’ll sound their best, and I could hear a stark difference between listening with and without.

Grado SR325 review: Sound quality

The Grado SR325 headphones have a very interesting sound profile. It’s a sound I completely enjoy, and they accentuate different areas from other audiophile headphones I’ve used, but this original sound is fuzzy, adopting an analog tone, like a cup of tea on an autumn afternoon.

I listened using Qobuz, one of the best music streaming services, and used the FiiO K11 R2R desktop DAC to amplify the sound. The headphones offer a well-rounded sound across most genres. They thrive with simpler, acoustic music, but they also enhance layers in more complex tracks.

Firstly, I listened to Music On The Radio by Empire Of The Sun to test the bass performance. While it didn’t deliver the same depth of bass I can expect from my everyday drivers, which are the Sony WH-1000XM6, I was able to appreciate all of the layers of the track without the bass becoming crackly or overwhelming. This means the headphones strike a good balance and allow me to hear more of the vocal performance. Bass certainly takes a backseat, but it’s still there, gently warming the track from the bottom up.

To test out the mid-range performance, I listened to Birds by Turnstile, as it has a prominent guitar riff complemented by heavy drums. The hi-hats stood out between the verse and the chorus, and the guitar riff was incredibly powerful when it kicked in. The soundstage wasn’t as wide as when I listen using my Beyerdynamic DT 270 Pro, but the level of detail made up for that.

Finally, to test the treble performance of the Grados, I listened to The Last Man On Earth by Wolf Alice. This song focuses on the vocal performance before exploding with the addition of harmonies, drums, and bass. The vocals were bright throughout and so detailed that I could hear every breath. When the drums kicked in, I experienced some very slight fuzziness, but that’s why I think these headphones do a better job with simple tracks.

Overall, I think the Grado SR325 headphones are a great option for detailed listening, especially for people who like detailed tracks.

Grado SR325 review: Verdict

The Grado SR325 headphones have a sleek-looking, retro design that is sure to look great next to any audio setup. My favorite thing about these cans is the amazing vocal replication. The mid-range is also exceptionally detailed, with guitar riffs taking the forefront where needed. The warm sound makes these cans very pleasant to listen to.

And while the sleek, retro design looks good, I can’t help but notice that the foam padding on the earcups feels very cheap. This doesn’t help that the on-ear style is uncomfortable for long listening periods.

Overall, these headphones are a great choice, but for $350, you may be expecting a little more comfort with your sound.

With that in mind, the iClever Q950 might be the best kid headphones I’ve ever tested. They’re comfortable and sound amazing for kids’ cans. No, they won’t replace the best headphones for adults, but a kid won’t complain, and even most grown-ups will enjoy listening to this set. Read my full iClever Q950 review to find out why.

iClever Q950 review: Specs

iClever Q950 review: Price & availability

The iClever Q950 cost $69 at Amazon, but we’ve seen them a bit lower at $59 during sales events. Even at full price, these are pretty good value for money.

The Q950 competes with other iClever offerings like its colorful Auraa headphones ($39) and the Puro Sound Lab BT2200s ($99) or the extremely low-cost $20 JBL Junior 320s. I don’t think you’d go wrong with the other options, especially if you’re trying to save a buck, but personally, I’d recommend the Q950 as the middle ground. Plus, they sound better than the other offerings.

iClever Q950 review: Design

Compared to most kid headphones, the iClever Q950 look more sophisticated while also clearly being made for children.

Compared to the usual grays, blacks and whites that make up adult headphones, the Q950 are quite colorful but not quite as garish as they could be. Largely that has to do with the bright blue or purple hues. The holders have a pleasant metallic sheen.

Outside of colors, these are pretty durable headphones; I performed a couple of drop tests and twisted the headphones around a few times and never felt afraid that I was about to break them, though I’m sure an enterprising tot could destroy them.

They’re over-ear headphones with extendable ears that fold in, but can also turn out to lay flat if you want. They won’t disappear, but it gives you some flexibility, especially when trying to store them in a backpack. For extra protection, the Q950 does come with a bulky carry case that can hold charging wires and the 3.5mm wire. The case isn’t as bag-friendly, but you can stuff some Pokémon cards in there if you want.

Comfort

With comfort in mind, one of my personal bugaboos with over-ear headphones is the headband. If I notice the band during a listening session, it becomes grating. I never noticed it with the Q950, which is one of the highest compliments I can pay.

Despite my adult ears, the ear cups didn’t squish them, and they fully cover a kid's ears, meaning there isn’t sound leakage. I was able to wear the iClever headphones for a full workday without noticing them.

At 9.9 ounces (238 grams), these are some of the heaviest kid headphones I’ve tested. As an adult, I didn’t find the weight uncomfortable, but while 8 or 9 ounces isn’t much for grown-ups, it does add up for your kid.

My son tried the headphones, and he didn’t find them uncomfortable, but he has complimented lighter headphones like the JBL Junior 320 when we’ve had them before. In comparison, those headphones only weigh 4 ounces, less than half the weight of the Q950.

Connectivity

The iClever Q950 comes with both wired and Bluetooth connectivity. I’m a big proponent of 3.5mm wired connections when they’re available. These headphones come with a 3.5mm wire that sends the audio pretty cleanly. I can’t tell how they’ll hold up in the long run but for now it seems pretty sturdy.

Q950 features Bluetooth version 6.0; the most recent version which offers better connection stability and reduced power consumption. This is a huge get for headphones meant for kids. Not every headset has this version, including major releases from this year, like Apple’s AirPods Max 2, which still use version 5.3.

I was able to cleanly connect to an iPad mini and my Galaxy S26 Ultra with no noticeable dips or drops. That’s all you need, especially if you’re on a road trip and using movies on the tablet to distract.

iClever Q950 review: Sound quality

As mentioned up top, the Q950 headphones might be the best-sounding kids headphones that I’ve tested to date. Now with that praise, if you’re dropping down from a high-end set like the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or the Sony WH-1000XM6, then you’ll notice a huge difference.

But compared to other kid headphones, the Q950 have an open, warm sound. The trebles and mids are clean without losing depth, meaning you should hear what the music is meant to sound like. Conversations in podcasts have a warmth that I found pleasant.

The bass is surprisingly punchy. No, you won’t mistake these cans for a set of Bowers drivers. But as someone who grew up on a steady diet of Paul Oakenfold passed through terrible headphones and winMX, the Q950 are pretty decent.

It’s honestly surprising how good these sound. I doubt it’ll turn your kid into an audiophile straight away, but they’ll be able to appreciate what they’re hearing, especially as they start playing their own music.

iClever Q950 review: ANC

Unfortunately, there is one big flaw you should know. Most kid headphones now feature active noise cancelling, which is marketed as a way to keep your kids from turning the sound up when outside noises get too loud. The Q950 does feature an 80 dB volume cap, which is good. However, I found that the ANC actively made the sound worse, flattening it or making it feel too quiet. It’s a surprising flaw for such a prominent feature.

As an example, I was listening to a podcast and decided to try out ANC while my partner was in a meeting. Tapping the button suddenly felt like I’d been sucked into an aural void, and I thought I’d accidentally hit a half-mute button I didn’t know existed. Music felt similarly pillowed.

Normally when I use ANC, like on the JBL Tour One M3, it just deadens outside noise. I don’t think I’ve ever felt the feature fundamentally change the sound of what I was actively hearing. It’s not necessary to use ANC, but if you or your child is bothered by too much outside stimulation, this is a significant drawback to the Q950.

iClever Q950 review: What the kids are saying?

My son tried out the Q950 over a couple different sessions with an iPad mini, once on a road trip and once at home. He liked that the headphones were comfortable, though he initially thought they were the iClever Auraas, and at first glance they do look similar.

He didn’t have much to say about the sound, though he said he liked it. He doesn’t really care about ANC, but he did say he never had to turn up the audio even despite a nagging little sister.

iClever Q950 review: Verdict

The bar can be pretty low for kid headphones when it comes to audio quality and iClever Q950 clears that bar with flying colors. Honestly, you could buy a set for yourself, and I don’t know that you’d be disappointed.

The weight and ANC are potential problems, but if your child isn’t bothered by headphone weight and doesn’t use ANC, these are good headphones. Plus, at $69, they won’t break the bank, making them one of the best pairs of kid headphones you can buy.

I’m lucky that I get to test a fair bit of the pricey stuff for my job. But alas, I don’t really get to keep much of it, and I know most people can’t afford to drop thousands on their audio gear, either.

I decided to put together my real-world critical listening setup, a set of open back headphones and a DAC, on a real world budget of $500. Less than a set of mainstream ANC cans like the $549 Apple AirPods Max 2.

Reddit had a couple of obvious suggestions, of course, namely the Sennheiser HD 650 or, for sheer budget, the HIFIMAN Sundara. But I chose to ignore both of those (sorry Reddit). Here’s what I got instead, and why.

Hot Meze, anyone?

As I mentioned above, it would’ve been easy to go down the well-trodden route of the HIFIMAN Sundara or Sennheiser HD 650. They're the darlings of r/audiophile and r/headphones (and, to be fair, for good reason).

We use a set of Sundara for comparison testing at work. They sound great: spacious, with excellent bass response thanks to their planar drivers. They’re easy to drive and cheap too. But they’re cheap for a reason: the build quality is poor. Our pair sit on a shelf and suffer not the rigors of daily use, but there are many reports online of the headband breaking, and Amazon flags them as a “frequently returned product.”

So what about the Sennheiser HD 650? These are commonly recommended online for a reason: they sound fantastic, with a warm-ish neutral tune that’s ideal for detail listening. The thing is, I’m a motorcyclist and audio tester, so my ears don’t have an easy life. For personal headphones I prefer a warmer and slightly darker tune to avoid treble fatigue — easier-listening, so to speak.

The HD 650 can be very pricey, too. I’ve even seen them go above the $500 mark in the U.S. And finally, while not horrendously tricky to drive, the HD 650 aren’t exactly easy. While writing this, one of my colleagues had to borrow one of our powerful test DACs to drive his newly purchased pair of HD 650. Nice timing!

I was also considering the HD 550, but again I wanted that warmer, tad darker tune. Plus, to me, the HD 550 resemble a particular anatomical diagram from biology class…

Anyway, instead I looked towards Romania, and Meze Audio. Specifically, the Meze Audio 105 AER. At their $399 MSRP, these cans are fairly pricey, but attainable. As I write this, they’ve been selling at $299 for several weeks at Amazon. At that price, I think these are an absolute steal, and some of the best value for money in the audiophile world.

Genuine all-day comfort

The Meze 105 AER are utterly beautiful, with bags of Romanian Art Deco flair — pizzazz you definitely won’t get from the likes of Sennheiser. They’re vastly superior in build quality to the HIFIMAN Sundara (it’s actually crazy that at times the two pairs of headphones only sit as little as $120 apart). The 105 AER feel like much, much more expensive headphones. And with the gorgeous suspended headband and vegan velour pads, the 105 AER are comfortable for hours on end, too.

In fact, the headband deserves its own shout out. You don’t need to adjust the 105 AER, as the headband is perfectly sprung. And I mean “perfectly” quite literally: it adjusts to your head as you pull the headphones on, applying juuuust enough clamping pressure to override the spring and keep the cans sitting securely. It’s. Utterly. Glorious.

I don’t like to parrot brands’ marketing, but Meze claims that you’ll forget the 105 AER are on your head, and they’re genuinely correct there. Partly that’s to do with the headband and earcups, but it’s also thanks to the extremely liveble sound profile…

Warm, easy-listening sound

Most importantly, the 105 AER boast stunning sound. The tuning is fairly warm, but strikes a nice balance between easy- and critical-listening, which I love. It’s not too clinical.

Bass is prominent and silky smooth. The 105 AER aren’t as subby as the Sundara with their planar drivers, and yeah, sometimes I miss that: Sohn’s Antigravity, for example, concludes with an enormous roll of sub bass that should be felt tingling in the temples. But I’ve got a trick up my sleeve to help with that in the DAC section below.

The 105 AER mid-range is the star of the show in my opinion. There’s so much steely texture to the distorted guitars in Metallica’s Seek & Destroy and The Smashing Pumpkins’ Siva. Vocals, meanwhile, also sound fantastic, with the 105 AER perfectly relaying the organic timbre of John Fogerty’s howling in CCR’s Fortunate Son — I could hear the rasps and crackles of his vocal cords as he roared in righteous indignation.

Admittedly, treble isn’t the brightest, so you’re missing out on the sheer top-end resolution you’d get from something like the Sennheisers — there’s not quite the same level of crispness and detail to cymbals in Fortunate Son, or the shimmering backing effects in Ikigai. That said, they’re not dark enough for things to sound stifled or distant. The roll off also makes the 105 AER supremely easy to listen to for extended periods. They don’t give me cymbal fatigue, something I often get when listening to Copeland’s drumming throughout The Police’s Outlandos D’Amour album.

The 105 AER are also effortlessly spacious, which in fairness can be said about the HIFIMAN and Sennheiser too, as they’re all open back. Sohn’s Antigravity begins with super spatial percussion springing inward and out on the horizontal plane — imaged impressively by the Mezes.

Listen along to my testing playlist on Qobuz, in our eyes the best music streaming service for audiophiles.

But how to drive them?

As well as a set of headphones, I was also after a new DAC. The Meze 105 AER are passive headphones, so they need to be powered. They aren’t difficult to drive, with an impedance of 42Ω and a sensitivity rating of 112 dB/mW — in other words, they get pretty loud without much power. You can run them from your smartphone or laptop and they won’t be too quiet.

But just because they can be driven from your phone or laptop, that doesn’t mean they’ll sound their best that way. Often, you’ll get better sound using a dedicated DAC/Amp, which can feed headphones more power.

On passive headphones with low impedance (electrical resistance) a stable, quality power source like a dedicated amp will help keep the sound in check and free from distortion — without one, power fluctuations mean drivers can struggle to start and stop as sharply as they otherwise might. There’s technically the added sweetener of more accurate digital to analog signal conversion, too.

With $200 to spare, there were options. The FiiO KA13 would be my choice on a lower budget. It offers FiiO’s typical transparency (so you’re hearing the tune of the headphones, not the profile of the DAC), plenty of power, a compact footprint and an equally small $79 price tag. But the KA13 lacks any hardware EQ or digital filters (unless using the god-awful FiiO app), which I like, as they let me play around with sound.

I also considered the $179 FiiO K11 R2R, which I’ve tested previously in the office. It’s also a transparent DAC, offers bags of power for trickier-to-drive upgrades in the future, and even has an upsampling mode, which can help give an airier sound. It’s a desktop DAC, though, so needs plugging in, which I find annoying.

In the end, I went for the $199 iFi hip dac 3, for one primary reason: subby stuff. While it lacks the K11’s advanced features, the hip dac 3 has an Xbass mode that gives up to +6dB amplification in the 20-30Hz region. Remember that temple-shaking sub bass I said I enjoy in certain songs? Xbass delivers it at the push of a button, only when you want or need it.

The hip dac 3 is also plenty powerful and compact enough to fit into my pocket — it’s shaped like a hip flask, hence the name. As a Brit, I like that buying it supports a British company, too (although, to be fair, the DAC itself is unsurprisingly still made in China).

Total spend: $498

I’m really happy with this setup. I don’t think the Meze 105 AER will please fans of that clinical, reference sound. These are decidedly warm with some treble roll-off backing off the volume of high frequencies. Personally, though, I think the balance is ideal for daily use.

The slightly darker tune isn’t to the complete detriment of top end detail or space, yet makes them a very liveable set of cans day in, day out, all day while working. You get the picture. And best of all, even with my powerful little iFi DAC included, my setup still comes in cheaper than a set of AirPods Max 2!

Let me know in the comments below - what's your favorite setup? Which cans do you wear every day? What's on your wishlist?

More from Tom's Guide

• Pound for pound, these Sennheiser open-back headphones are the best I’ve ever tested, and only cost $199 on sale
• I tested the HEDDphone TWO GT — now I can't go back to normal headphones
• I spent a month eating virtually nothing but pizza to test the Gozney Arc XL — here’s the outcome

When it comes to build and comfort, the H100 are truly a luxury product. They also pack some impressive features, boasting the last word in wear detection and a fantastic app. Sound quality is solid, although I had to do a little EQing to match my preference.

Aside from that, and some minor connectivity gripes, I really have very little to say against the H100. If you can afford them, I’m sure they’ll make you very happy. So, could these be the best headphones for millionaires? Find out in my full Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Specs

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Price & availability

There’s no getting around it, at $2,200 the H100s are eye-wateringly expensive in the States. Admittedly, the H100 are at an all-time high right now, likely thanks to tariffs, and have been hiked from $1,549 back in May 2025. We’ve since seen them drop back to around $1,750 during sales events — scant consolation, I know.

In the U.K. where I live, the H100s are still very pricey, but retail for a decidedly more palatable £1,450, although as I write this they’re on sale for £1,299. I would definitely advise waiting for a sale — or for one of B&O’s “Reloved” refurbished fire sales.

The only more expensive ANC headphones that I can think of are six-figure jewel-encrusted limited runs like the Loewe LEO x Jacob & Co. As far as consumer cans go, the closest and only real rivals to the H100 are the Loewe LEO ($1,680) and DALI IO-12 ($1,750). The IO-12 sound beautiful, but lack features like ANC modes or a companion app for custom EQ. There’s also the Focal Bathys MG ($1,299), which offer supreme magnesium build quality and gorgeous sound, although cost nearly a grand less.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Design

The H100 are built as you’d expect from $2,200 cans: exquisitely. The aluminum machining is nanometer-precise, with not a single imperfection to see. Then there are the earcups. Pillow-soft doesn’t cut it. These things are soft like a chinchilla wrapped in silk and marshmallow, sitting on a cloud. They’re not actually made from chinchilla, I ought to add. Unfortunately, they are actually made of lambskin leather, and for a vegan that’s just as bad. There are no vegan replacement options, either.

The thick, comfy headband is wrapped in good ol’ cow leather, and clicks off if you need to replace it. These cans are intended to last you a long time, so B&O has made it easy to swap out parts. I love that.

If I had one minor design complaint, it’s that, while they look utterly luxe, the H100 aren’t particularly striking. Not that it matters when they’re on your head, of course. And besides, if you’ve spent $2,200 on headphones, it’s probably best they don’t stand out.

The H100 come with an ultra-premium protective case that looks like a designer handbag. Not only does it look great and protect your cans, it’s a lot more flexible and forgiving than the solid and scratch-prone case of the younger B&O sibling, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95.

Comfort

As might be obvious from my prior gushing, the H100s are extremely comfortable to wear. You don’t get the sheer breeziness of a suspended headband design, as on a lot of open-back audiophile cans, but it’s not like the H100s are heavy enough to give your neck or noggin any real problems.

Weatherproofing

The H100 have an IP53 rating, so they’re dustproof enough for the beach and waterproof enough for the odd bit of sweat or a light rain shower. This suits them nicely to the role of daily driver — remember, most over-ear headphones have no waterproofing.

Controls

I love the H100 controls, which are very similar to those on the H95. There are two wheels for volume and ANC levels; a touchpad with taps and swipey-swipes for controlling playback; and a button for shifting between ANC modes. Once you know your way around, it’s highly intuitive. It’s also reliable — I’ve never missed an input and the controls prove surprisingly difficult to engage accidentally. Everything is also fully customizable in the B&O app, so you can make the controls your own.

The H100 also feature excellent wear detection. After a short (customizable) while off your head, though, they’ll also power off and back on automatically, saving battery. There’s also single earcup detection, so you can just raise an earcup to talk to someone if needed — very handy.

Connectivity

The H100 are a little behind the times in 2026 as I write this, sporting only Bluetooth 5.3, which offers less stability, inferior power consumption and narrower codec support than the latest version 6.0. But hey, the Apple AirPods Max 2 launched in 2026 with only 5.4, so it’s not just B&O at the back.

The H100 only support AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs. The B&O website says: “The selected codec solutions are more relevant for the Beoplay H100 design and performance profile than LDAC, which is only supported by specific devices.” Utter baloney. It’s not a binary issue: every LDAC device I’ve ever seen, tested or owned also supports SBC and AAC.

Personally, advanced codec support bothers me very little. I only use Bluetooth when out and about or working, and therefore not listening particularly critically. But I can see how the lack of hi-res codecs could be frustrating when paying $2,200.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Sound quality

I tested the H100 using Qobuz, in our eyes the best music streaming service for audiophiles. I streamed in hi-res or CD quality and over USB-C.

Putting the H100 on, the first thing I noticed was the warmth. Bass is thick and rich, but fast and well-controlled nevertheless — the surreal oscillating bassline of James Blake’s Limit To You Love was delivered with absolute precision. I was particularly impressed with the sub bass, too. I haven’t yet tested a set of closed backs with as much oomph in the subby section of SOHN’s Antigravity. It's almost high-end planar performance.

I found the default Optimal EQ a little too dark for my preference, especially with ANC on. Treble and upper mids sounded somewhat muted and hazy; vocals soft and distant. Thankfully, there’s a custom EQ in the B&O app so you can dial in the sound to your liking. It’s not the most comprehensive EQ, with adjustments made based on the sound characteristics you want, but it is user-friendly and quick. I tweaked the sound to be more energetic and the upper range cleaned up nicely.

EQ’d up, the resolution and speed of the drivers across the frequency range was on full display. Mids, especially guitars, had plenty of definition and texture in sludgy tracks like Melvins’ Honey Bucket and Siva by The Smashing Pumpkins. In bassy electronica like Dusky’s Stick By This and Burn Water’s Ikigai, the added airiness helped ethereal backing effects shine. Vocals were clean and pronounced, with natural timbre and strong separation to the harmonies in Blusher’s cover of Your Love Is My Drug.

Overall, I’m pleased with how the H100 sound. The default EQ tuning isn’t for me, as I felt it was a little too dark at the top end. But it’s fine, because if you want something else, the H100 let you get exactly what you’re after via EQ, and can handle pretty much anything.

Listen along to my testing playlist on Qobuz.

Soundstage

B&O claims the H100 are tuned with spatiality and Dolby Atmos media streaming in mind. Indeed, in the app’s Stereo Spatial mode, the springy opening percussion of Antigravity pinged inwards and outwards with an impressive amount of width for closed backs.

Using the Dolby Atmos mode, there was an equally wide soundstage on display in the two movies I watched, Dune and Dune: Part Two. In Paul’s hallucinations on Arrakis, hearing the shimmering foley effects sparkling all around my head was like being in a movie theater, especially when combined with that hammering bass.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: ANC

The H100’s ANC is extremely good. I live next to a very busy road. So, at rush hour, I opened and sat next to the window with the H100 on my head, using maximum ANC and my music volume at around 50%. I could barely hear a thing from outside. Trucks, motorcycles, cars — all blocked save the odd faint whoosh during quieter moments in songs. In the office, I couldn’t hear my colleagues talking around me, or their music being played.

Not bad at all from the H100, although I’d say my much cheaper Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are equally as proficient (they even managed to cut the noise of a screaming baby directly in front of me on a plane returning from, of all places, Denmark).

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Call quality

The H100 call quality is fairly run-of-the-mill. I called my wife over WiFi and she reported that I sounded a little quiet and distant — she had to take me off loudspeaker to hear. After that, though, she said the clarity of my voice was pretty good, and she could make out everything I was saying. It's like 3.6 Roentgen: not great, not terrible.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: App

The B&O app is excellent. It’s slick and polished, giving you full control over controls and the custom EQ. My only gripe is that the EQ is a little basic — as I mentioned earlier, it's a circle with various characteristics, rather than a proper parametric equalizer. But hey: it works, and it's quick.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Battery life

Bang & Olufsen claims the H100 will last 32 hours with ANC on, which is really strong. The Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 will all give you a respectable 30 hours, while the Apple AirPods Max 2 last just 20.

After using the headphones for around 7-8 hours over the course of two days in testing, the battery dropped to 74%, which correlates to the manufacturer-stated figure. I only had to charge the cans once during the week I tested them. Not bad at all.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Verdict

Obviously, the elephant in the room here is price. The H100 are a flagship product from a high-end audio brand, so they were always going to be spenny. And it’s not like they don’t justify their position at the top of B&O’s range. Their sound quality and custom EQ are fantastic, the ANC is top-notch, they’re packed full of features to make your life easier, and they’re literally built to last a decade (or more).

I’m not going to tell you that they’re $1,300 better than the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 or B&O’s own H95, though. Because that simply isn’t true. You can get more value for money elsewhere. But you probably already knew that.

In the end, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 are a gloriously extravagant status symbol. In my eyes, they’re probably the best over-ear ANC headphones you can get, performance- and quality-wise. But if you want the best, you’re gonna have to pay through the nose for it.

After a few weeks of testing, I’m happy to say these are a wonderful addition to my lounge setup. They’re not perfect, lacking the soundstage and subbiness of a proper surround system or soundbar. Their passive noise cancellation, meanwhile, isn’t the best, and they’re pricey in the U.S.

However, the sound quality is generally excellent, with a bright treble to bring out fine details, a clear mid-range for vocals, tidy bass, plus strong stereo imaging. There’s a wealth of connectivity and customization options, too.

Are these the best headphones for TV? Find out more in my full Sennheiser RS 275 review.

Sennheiser RS 275 review: Specs

Sennheiser RS 275 review: Price & availability

Unfortunately, the Sennheiser RS 275 headphones ain’t cheap. In the U.S., they cost $299 from Amazon, while in the U.K. they’re a slightly more palatable £219 from Richer Sounds. That’s about the cost of a cheap soundbar, so if these will be your only audio output aside from a TV speaker (if you live in a dorm or something), I think that’s a reasonable price.

However, if you already have, want, or need a soundbar or speaker system, the RS 275 will be a secondary purchase. And that makes the $299 MSRP a little trickier to justify. I suppose the ‘cost:benefit’ analysis will depend on how much flak you’re getting for watching TV, and how often.

Thankfully, you’re not stuck for cheaper alternatives. The older Sennheiser RS 175 ($349) are regularly on sale for as little as $139. Then there’s the $159 Sennheiser RS 120-W, which are often reduced to the $100 mark.

Sennheiser RS 275 review: Design

The RS 275 look like typical Sennheiser cans: jet black, understated but obviously high quality. The plastics feel premium; the headband is (mostly) nice and squishy; while the earcups are thick and padded, yet lightweight and breathable. I tested the RS 275 during a heatwave here in the U.K., with some extremely humid nights, and my ears never got sweaty. The headset is also super lightweight, so it never fatigued my neck.

My only issue, comfort-wise, is that the squishy headband padding doesn’t extend that far down the band itself. The last two inches have no padding. I didn’t have an issue, but I can see it being a problem for different head shapes.

Included is a headphone stand, which doubles as a platform and cable-tidy for the wireless transmitter. It helps keep my TV cabinet tidy, so I’m a big fan.

Controls

The RS 275 offer a few different control options. There are the on-ear controls for power and volume, plus sound mode and source controls on the transmitter. They’re all pretty self-explanatory and easy to get to grips with. Everything can also be controlled via the Sennheiser smartphone app, though, which I’ll cover below.

Connectivity

The RS 275 feature four connection methods to your TV: Bluetooth, optical, USB and HDMI. You’ll want at least USB or HDMI connected, as these power the transmitter. You can hook up via Bluetooth directly to your TV, but I’d advise using the transmitter as it enables higher quality codecs, including aptX, aptX Adaptive, PCM/LC3 and AC3 (Dolby Digital).

The transmitter uses Bluetooth version 5.4 and features Auracast, so you can hook up multiple Auracast-compatible Bluetooth devices and hear the same audio stream. That means you can watch movies with friends and family, yet still not wake the neighbors.

I mostly used the optical and USB connections. There won’t be a huge difference between any of the wired connections, really — by the time the signal reaches your ears via the transmitter using, say, the lossy AC3/Dolby Digital codec, it’s no longer high-res anyway regardless of how it came out of the TV or Blu-ray player. Note that optical is prone to timing issues, especially when scrubbing forward or back through a Blu-ray (the app has a feature to help with this).

The headphones also have two-device multipoint connectivity, so you can hook up to your phone and TV and switch quickly between the two to take a call.

Sennheiser RS 275 review: Sound quality

As these are TV headphones, I primarily tested the Sennheiser RS 275 by watching “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Black Hawk Down (Extended Version)” on 4K Blu-ray. I also streamed “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition)” on Amazon Prime TV, and “I Will Find You” on Netflix.

Movies

The RS 275 won’t compete with a surround system or one of the best soundbars, but that’s not to say they don’t sound good. The sound is really clean, with expansive treble and tons of mid-range clarity that brought out details I’d never heard, even in my most familiar movies.

In “Black Hawk Down” I’ve never before heard Mo Alim’s voice so perfectly distorted and crackly as he shouts through a megaphone in the early massacre scene. It was like I was in the room with Atto in the interrogation scene — his cigar pack ripping and match striking, then the metallic door latch clanking as the general entered.

There’s so much clarity that, weirdly, you start hearing things you don’t want to hear — in the Atto scene above, the effects sounded hyperrealistic to a fault, giving away that they’re actually quite obviously foley.

Vocals sound great, too. Even in noisier scenes throughout “The Fellowship of the Ring” and “Black Hawk Down”, I was never struggling to hear what any characters said.

Bass was fairly nice and well-textured in musical elements, although the headphones lack sub-bass response, sapping impact from heavy sound effects like explosions and aircraft in “Top Gun Maverick” and “Black Hawk Down”. Still, these are headphones, so you can’t expect the power delivery down low that you’d get from a subwoofer.

Separation is really strong. In the “Top Gun Maverick” opening scene, I could hear the clanking of machinery amidst the sound of engines and the “Danger Zone” soundtrack. Stereo imaging is solid, too. In “Black Hawk Down”, I could hear voices on each side in the busy Mogadishu marketplace, and in a scene with two choppers, I could distinctly hear the lighter Little Bird blades in my left ear, with the slower Black Hawk thrum in my right.

Admittedly, the RS 275’s soundstage isn’t that wide — expected given these are closed-back headphones. On the other hand, the closed-back sound gave a level of intimacy that I really enjoyed in certain scenes. I felt like I was inside Maverick’s helmet as he spoke to his colleagues over radio: the sound of his voice muted by his own helmet, with his colleague’s walkie-talkied voice piping in over the radio.

TV

In “I Will Find You” on Netflix, vocals were unfailingly clear, even whispered tones, while that bright treble shone again for gentler effects like handcuffs clanking. Here, too, I relished that closed-back intimacy — when the main characters were talking through a prison phone, for example, it sounded like I was in the visitor’s booth with them.

Admittedly, without the sheer loudness of movie effects and scores, I began to have trouble with passive noise cancellation, or a lack thereof. I could hear the radio in my kitchen playing, as well as road noise from outside my house, breaking the immersion.

Audio modes

The RS 275 have three modes: 3D for surround sound; Speech for vocal priority; and Plus, which combines the first two. Honestly, I didn’t find much use for them. Speech and 3D mostly resulted in a tinny, compressed sound. Plus mode, meanwhile, just sounded like listening underwater. I can see Speech being useful in situations where vocal audio is just terribly mastered, but in everything I watched, the RS 275’s default tuning was good enough.

Mileage will probably vary depending on how an individual film or TV’s audio is mastered, but honestly, the default mode sounds good enough to just forget the gimmicks.

Music

Although they’re primarily intended as TV headphones, the RS 275 headset is actually a pair of HDR 275 headphones. That means they double up as music cans, and it’s nice to know you can pick them up for a few tunes between movies.

I tested with my usual playlist on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles, and was pretty impressed. It’s the same story as above: a clean mid-range and airy treble, highlighting vocals and percussion; warm, refined bass; plus decent stereo imaging.

Listen along to my audio testing playlist on Qobuz.

Sennheiser RS 275 review: Call quality

The Sennheiser RS 275 can be used like a traditional set of headphones. This means they have a microphone for calls. Unfortunately, it’s not the best, and my voice sounded quiet and tinny. However, I can’t knock too many points off here, as these are primarily intended to be used for movies and TV, which you’d want to pause for a call anyway — so you can just use your phone’s built-in mic.

Sennheiser RS 275 review: App

The RS 275 pair up to the Sennheiser SmartControlPlus smartphone app, which connects over Bluetooth (regardless of how the headset is connected to your TV). The app is pretty slick, and gives you full control over using and updating the RS 275. It’s the only way to fully control the RS 275, so I have no choice but to recommend using it — but thankfully, it’s great.

I found the app particularly useful for switching between connectivity channels to get the best sound for whatever media I was watching, checking which codecs were in use on-the-fly, and tweaking audio delay for sound/video sync issues over optical connection.

Sennheiser RS 275 review: Battery life

The RS 275 offer up to 50 hours of playback, according to Sennheiser. And I have no reason to doubt that. After watching two movies and most of a TV season, I still had 70% charge left, which was very impressive.

When you do need to charge them, using the USB-C port on the transmitter will recharge the headphones fully in just 2 hours, which is pretty quick. Realistically, if you stay on top of juicing them, you shouldn’t experience much downtime at all.

Sennheiser RS 275 review: Verdict

As I mentioned above, as a night owl and a movie lover, I am the RS 275’s target audience. As a tech reviewer by profession, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know TV headphones were a thing, and so never knew I needed them. But I’m not sure I can go back now.

The RS 275 aren’t perfect. They’re pricey, they lack the bass and width of a proper sound system, and their passive noise reduction isn’t the best. However, place them in context, and none of that really matters. They’re designed to circumvent loudspeaker systems, so you can’t blame them for lacking the attributes of a subwoofer or Atmos setup. And realistically, they’re intended for use at night when it’s quiet.

But used as intended, the RS 275 are excellent, with clean sound, strong separation, decent stereo imaging, great comfort, plus a wealth of control and connectivity options. These ones are staying on my TV cabinet for good.

The TWO GT pack tweaked AMT drivers and a warmer sound profile than the TWO, pitching them more towards leisurely home listening rather than pure, detail-oriented reference use.

With their striking yet comfortable aesthetic and unerringly premium German build quality, the TWO GT do much to justify their high price. Add on the utterly fantastic sound quality, and the TWO GT ought to be, at the very least, a serious shortlist candidate for any discerning listeners in search of new cans.

Could these be some of the best headphones for audiophiles? I think so. But read my full review to find out more.

HEDDphone TWO GT review: Specs

HEDDphone TWO GT review: Price & availability

The HEDDphone TWO GT cost $2,199 / £1,899 from HEDD. However, if you have your own cables already, you can save a bit of cash by buying the ‘UNPLUGGED’ variant without cables included, which cost £1,472 / $1,699.

While they objectively cost a lot of money, in the context of audiophile headphones, the TWO GT aren’t priced beyond the pale. In the audiophile landscape, $2,199 is just getting started. The Meze Audio Elite, for example, will set you back $4,000, while my other high-end cans, the Audeze LCD5-S, cost $4,500. I’m not saying those aren’t great headphones, but to a large extent there’s a law of diminishing returns at play here. The HEDDphone TWO GT sound utterly fantastic, so I don’t see why you’d really need to go further unless you want something specific that other cans offer.

HEDDphone TWO GT review: Design

What do you get if you cross a set of F1 pitwall headphones with a WWE-worthy stash of anabolic steroids? The TWO GT, obviously. These are absolute chonkers, and frankly, if I had to wear them anywhere outside the house, I’d probably feel a little self-conscious. Luckily, I don’t have to — like most audiophile open-back cans, these are intended for indoor (and, more specifically, home) use only.

They look great though: blacked out and replete with German neo-futurism. And besides, they wear their large size and hefty 1.2lb curb weight extremely well, proving effortlessly lightweight and comfortable atop the ol’ noggin.

That’s thanks to an unashamedly overengineered suspended headband. It’s a piece of padding suspended on a strip of synthetic fabric that weaves in and out of the main carbon-fiber headband. It distributes the weight extremely well, and also offers lots of adjustment. Sure, the end result isn’t any different from other suspended straps — a la Audeze LCD-X or Meze Poet. But it’s cool, different, and complements the general extra-ness of the overall aesthetic.

Included with the TWO GT are two sets of ear pads: one gloriously soft set of lamb’s leather; one vegan velour for the less carnivorous of disposition. I prefer the lamb’s leather pads, but both are incredibly thick and comfy anyway, so if HEDD had just given me the velour pads, I wouldn’t have complained. Also, while it’s nice to see a vegan option included, I find it kinda weird that they ship with both instead of letting you select one or the other at checkout — sure, a vegan won’t have to wear the lamb’s leather pads, but they’ll still have been forced to buy them, which isn’t much better.

Build-wise, these things earn their price. They feel premium. They feel special. They feel German. This is a double-decade set of cans at least, make no mistake. I love the loose-weave braided cables included (with the standard model), too, which feel super premium. Additionally, there’s a fabric hard case included, which features a cable storage compartment. This is much less bulky than the aluminum hard case that came with my Audeze LCD5-S, making the TWO GT easier to travel with.

Connectivity

The HEDDphone TWO GT are passive headphones, which won’t surprise any audiophiles. I’ll cover their amplification requirements below, but their unpowered nature means there are no mod-cons like wireless connectivity, battery life, ANC, etc.

They connect to your amplifier via a wired connection, and HEDD is generous with the included cablewear on the standard variant (the UNPLUGGED variant comes with no cables). There are two cables, one balanced 4.4mm, one unbalanced 6.35mm, with two adapters — a 4.4mm to XLR 4-pin adapter and a 6.35mm to 3.5mm — chucked in too.

Drive

As passive headphones, the TWO GT must be powered. You’ll want to use a DAC/amp to handle both the digital audio conversion and power. With an impedance of 41Ω and a sensitivity of 88dB / 1mW, they’re not too tricky to drive. HEDD suggests a minimum power of 200mW, but recommends around 1,000mW for peak performance. I powered the headphones using my FiiO K15 (up to 30,000mW), which was comfortable at 85% volume on the medium gain setting, and the iFi iDSD GR2 (up to 2,173mW), which I needed to run at about 80% volume without any added gain.

HEDDphone TWO GT review: Sound quality

Like other HEDD gear, the TWO GT use AMT transducers. These drivers employ a series of folded metal diaphragms to push and pull air, rather than the cones or wafer-thin layers of metal filaments used respectively by dynamic and planar magnetic drivers.

Historically, AMT drivers have been great for use as dedicated tweeters or mid-range speakers, but lacked bass response. To solve that, HEDD employs its “Variable Velocity Transformation” (VVT), which actively modulates the profile of the folds for response down as low as 10Hz. In short: bass good.

I tested the TWO GT using Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles. I streamed in lossless hi-res or CD quality via USB-C through the FiiO K15 and iFi DSD GR2 DAC/amps.

Bass

As you can see on the manufacturer’s frequency response curve, the TWO GT’s tuning is deliberately slightly warm, but it’s not aeons from the neutral tune of the HEDDphone TWO or HEDDphone D1. The TWO GT offer rich, enveloping bass, but nothing overwhelming. You could definitely still use these cans for reference or studio work.

As far as easy bass, the TWO GT relayed beautifully the thick, undulating double bass of Odetta’s Hit or Miss, as well as the powerful electronic bass warbling of Burn Water’s Ikigai.

When it comes to the trickier stuff, there’s less oomph in the sub region by default. However, the TWO GT can handle it if you dial in some extra low down power. I mostly used my FiiO K15 DAC/amp, as I like its clean, natural feel without EQ. But in songs where I wanted more sub bass — like the last 20 seconds of SOHN’s Antigravity — I switched to my iFi DSD GR2 and used the ‘XBass’ bass boost mode for a few dB extra at 20-30Hz. The TWO GT still weren’t as subby as my planar- and slam-plate-fitted Audeze LCD5-S, but did a respectable job, gently vibrating my temples (with no distortion whatsoever, I might add).

Mids

As I mentioned, while warm, the TWO GT are still well balanced across the curve, with a prominent, clean mid-range. There was a pleasantly-expressed, natural timbre to acoustic guitars, with a gorgeous woody resonance to 49 Winchester’s riff in Russell County Line. In Melvins’ dual-riffed sludge-fest, Honey Bucket, the lower mid-range packed bags of texture, with plenty of crunch to those distorted guitars, while strong separation let me pick out the individual riffs.

The upper mid-range also packs bags of resolution and natural timbre: vocals in Blusher’s Last Man Standing sounded full and lifelike, and I could pick apart the individual voices and whispered backing vocals throughout harmonies.

Treble

The treble is fairly bright. Personally, I felt myself wanting a tad more sharpness on certain tracks — typically it was busier, older recordings like Honey Bucket and The Who’s Eminence Front where I craved just a little more snap to cymbals and hi-hats. This is mainly down to personal preference and individual ear anatomy, though, and can simply be EQ’d or otherwise tweaked to taste. Using my iFi GR2, I applied a GTO digital filter with the Kenwood K2 HD upsampling mode, which worked a treat, adding that smidge of extra definition I was looking for up top.

Soundstage

As open backs, the TWO GT are plenty spacious. I could track the haunting, industrial percussion in Chris Stapleton’s Death Row fading backwards out of earshot. SOHN’s Antigravity, meanwhile, felt truly wide, the reverby opening percussion effects pinging inwards and outwards on a distinct horizontal plane.

Listen along to my testing playlist below, on Qobuz.

HEDDphone TWO GT review: Verdict

It’s really difficult to fault the HEDDphone TWO GT. Sound, comfort, build quality — it’s all there. The only major points I can really knock off are for the huge size and objectively high price, although with the caveat that, in the crazy arena of audiophile gear, they’re not priced beyond the pale. In terms of performance, you’re getting a hell of a lot here, and personally this is the sweet spot for me, in terms of audiophile sound versus cost.

Sure, if you want deeper bass, from both an extension and power standpoint, then I’d advise looking into warmer-tuned planars from the likes of Audeze or Meze, but that’s a sheer preference thing. And besides, the TWO GT can get respectably bassy if you play about a little with your DAC/amp. Wanna know the only really bad thing about reviewing the TWO GT? I’ll tell ya: It’s that I have to give them back.

They’re not totally perfect, with a cheap-looking design that doesn’t fold, and only a thin fabric bag supplied for storage, which feels a little stingy at this price. Those issues are minor, though, and matter very little when the HD 550 are actually on your head.

Performance-wise, there’s virtually nothing to complain about, as long as you want a neutral, rather than warm sound profile. So, could these be the best headphones for you? Probably. Read my full Sennheiser HD 550 review to find out.

Sennheiser HD 550 review: Specs

Sennheiser HD 550 review: Price & availability

The Sennheiser HD 550 cost $349 at Amazon, although we’ve seen them drop to $199 at Amazon during sales events, so it’s worth holding out for a deal. Even at their full MSRP, though, I think they’re extremely good value for money (as you’ll see later). In the U.K., they’re a veritable bargain, costing just £179 at Richer Sounds.

The HD 550 compete with the likes of the Philips Fidelio X3 ($349 MSRP, but can also be found for under $200), Grado SR325X ($349) and Meze Audio 105 AER ($399). Personally, I prefer the Meze cans, which feel a little more premium and special with Meze’s typically striking aesthetic, and have a warmer (slightly bassier) profile. If you want that neutral tuning, though, which I understand, it’s Sennheiser all the way.

Likewise, if you simply can’t stretch the balance to the $399 105 AER, the HD 550 are a fantastic budget alternative if you can pick them up for that sub-$200 sale price. I've no qualms recommending that course of action.

Sennheiser HD 550 review: Design

My only major gripe about the HD 550 isn’t actually that major. I personally think they’re kinda ugly. I find the long oval earcup design rather dated, and, dare I say it, uncannily ‘anatomical’ in appearance — the way they drop down from the headband resembles a particular diagram from biology class.

Meanwhile, the plain finish reminds me of the ultra-cheap Sennheiser cans we used in music class. But, realistically, when they’re on your head, looks don’t matter. I guess I’m just spoiled by having the Meze 105 AER at home.

I’ve also been testing the retro (and U.S.-made) Grado SR325 recently, whose mid-20th-century styling is absolutely stunning in my opinion. The HD 550 comfort and sound quality are both in a different league, though, so my advice is still to go German if you’re torn between the two.

While they're not pretty, the HD 550 are built like all Sennheisers I've tested: extremely well. They're light, but this hasn't come at the sacrifice of sturdiness. There’s no rattling or shaking, as I’ve experienced with some “premium” headphones (looking at you, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2). The plastics might look a little tacky but they're of high quality, and the metal grate on the back of the earcups feels premium, too.

With Sennheiser, whether it’s the $40 CX 80U or $399 Momentum 5, it doesn’t make a difference — everything the brand makes is built to an exacting standard, and I love that.

The HD 550 don’t fold, which isn’t a huge issue as they’re intended for home use — because they’re open backs, you’ll damage the drivers by exposing them to the elements. There’s no proper case for them, though, just a soft pouch, so be careful when storing that nothing else crushes them. At $349, a thin pouch feels more than a little stingy to me. The Meze 105 AER, by contrast, come with a hard-shell case and cable pouch, although the Grado SR325 come with literally nothing but a cable, so I suppose it could be worse.

Comfort

Comfort-wise, I didn’t have high hopes for the HD 550 — that plasticky finish rekindled memories of the Sennheiser HD 400U and their super-thin headband. Thankfully, I was proven wrong, and the HD 550 are really comfortable to wear.

There are no frills — no suspended headband design, as on the 105 AER — just a spongey, padded leatherette headband and some soft synthetic velour earcup pads. Depending on the shape of your head, I can see the two metal brackets either side of the headband padding might dig in, although I didn’t have this issue. The velour ear pads are squishy, comfy and breathable, and I had no issues with them getting hot or sweaty after a few hours use, although admittedly I was in an air-conditioned room. A huge step up over the (frankly unacceptable) raw foam pads on the Grado SR80 ($175) and SR325.

Sennheiser makes a big deal about how light the HD 550 are, and about how much attention has been paid to clamp force — specifically, the reduction thereof. Guilty on both counts but, y’know, in a good way. After several hours I had no neck ache from weight, and no pressure on my temples from clamping.

Connectivity

There’s really very little to the HD 550, connectivity-wise. These headphones are designed for critical wired music listening at home, and for gaming, so there’s no wireless, no onboard controls, and nothing fancy. They plug in via a cable, with a 3.5mm jack and 6.3mm adapter included.

Drive

The HD 550 are easy headphones to drive, with a sensitivity of 106.7dB/V, which equates to 98.5dB/mW given their 150Ω impedance. In layman’s terms, that means with 1mW of power fed in, the HD 550 will output 98.5 decibels of sound, which is nice and loud.

1mW isn’t a lot of power, so you can run these cans from your laptop, or even your smartphone, and get loud enough sound. Ideally, though, you’ll want to use a DAC/Amp, which can deliver more power and better digital audio conversion, for a tighter overall sound than running straight from a phone or laptop.

Initially during testing, the only DAC/Amp I had at hand was the iFi GR2, which was monumentally overpowered. Even at volume level 1 (0 is mute, 100 is full), the sound was painfully loud. I just stepped down in power to the FiiO K11 R2R, which was perfect, and delivered slightly richer bass than running straight from my MacBook Pro.

Sennheiser HD 550 review: Sound quality

The HD 550 use a 150Ω dynamic driver, which Sennheiser proudly claims is built by the manufacturer itself in Ireland (as opposed to being built by a third party in China, I guess). According to Sennheiser, these drivers deliver supreme fidelity across the frequency range, precise channel matching and a wide soundstage. And yeah, that’s about right.

The HD 550 boast Sennheiser’s famously neutral sound. Personally, I prefer the warmer tune of the Meze 105 AER. But there’s still a nice amount of bass on the HD 550. They have no problems with the easy stuff down to about 60Hz or so, in electronic songs like Burn Water’s bassy-as-hell Ikigai, for instance. The bass that’s there sounds textured and well-controlled, too, with no distortion, bleeding or muddying on heavy rock tracks like Melvins’ Honey Bucket.

However, there’s not much extension into tricker subby stuff, despite the response range bottoming out at a low 6Hz on paper. The closing 20 seconds of SOHN’s Antigravity is composed primarily of the deepest sub bass known to mankind, which the HD 550 weren’t able to replicate very well. In fairness, the only headphones I’ve used that even come close to relaying what that song is supposed to sound like (i.e. on a large hi-fi speaker system) are the SLAM-plate-fitted Audeze LDC5-S, which vibrate my skull during the song’s close… but cost $4,500. In short, it’s a tough track, and I’m not marking the HD 550 down here — they’re just not designed to be subby.

My favorite thing about the HD 550 is the spotlessly clean mid-range. Guitars in particular sound absolutely great, with so much presence, precision and dynamism audible in the riffs of Honey Bucket and of QOTSA’s Medication. They’re not just suited to guitary business either: the oscillating opening synths of Dadi Freyr’s electropop Hot Damn had bags of punch and texture. It was like being in da club.

Then there’s the treble, which is gloriously detailed. I was picking out the softest of ethereal backing vocals in Ikigai, and even the trailing reverb of Chris Stapleton’s vocals bouncing off the recording studio’s walls in Death Row. It’s not too bright, though, so I never found myself fatigued or suffering ear-ache from cymbals.

The soundstage is likewise fantastic. Imaging is solid for the money, and I could pinpoint the plethora of production elements in The Who’s Eminence Front. And as open backs, there’s plenty of width and openness to the sound, too, with Antigravity’s almost disorientingly spatial intro pinging inwards and outwards in distinct layers from/to my ears. Lovely.

Listen along to my audio testing playlist on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles.

Sennheiser HD 550 review: Verdict

If you’re after highly detailed sound on a modest budget, I can’t think of any better headphones to buy. Okay, they don’t look as premium as rivals at the same MSRP, and I feel a bit shortchanged by the pouch, but those are minor issues. Bass isn’t the punchiest, either, so if you’re after a slightly warmer profile I’d recommend the Meze 105 AER instead. But if it’s the neutral profile you like — which many do, it simply comes down to preference — then the HD 550 are it.

I’ll end on an anecdote: after I finished testing, I passed the HD 550 to my colleague, Erin, who took a listen and summed things up just about perfectly, saying “this is how music is supposed to be listened to.”

At one point, I had a pair of the excellent JBL Tour One M3 over-ear headphones, but my wife's Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones started failing, and I let her borrow the M3s. I never got them back.

Fortunately, right now, Amazon has slashed the price to $249, the lowest I've ever seen, knocking $200 off. These high-end headphones are soft, feel luxurious, and remain supremely comfortable over a long listening session.

Plus, they're JBL, so you know the sound is quality, and at this price, it's a deal you don't want to miss.

Neither I, during the cup of coffee I had with the M3, nor my partner truly utilized the included USB-C smart transmitter. However, my colleague Erin Bashford found it to be the best part of the Tour One M3.

"JBL's newest premium headphones, the Tour One M3, have broken my brain. Not because they're terrible — quite the opposite," Bashford said. "Because they come with the one thing I wish all the best Bluetooth headphones would include: a USB-C transmitter (alongside Bluetooth, of course)."

The transmitter lets you quickly swap between devices. Working away on your MacBook? You can easily hop over to your iPhone or Android in seconds. In theory, you can connect these headphones to anything with a USB-C port. My wife uses it with the Switch 2 to play Stardew Valley.

Plus, and equally as important, it comes with a 3.5mm jack. These headphones can connect to darn near anything with a USB-C or 3.5mm aux port.

I won't pretend that at $249 for Prime Day,a pair of Tour One M3 headphones isn't an investment, but it's one I don't think you'll regret, especially considering their normal price. These headphones don't have the social cachet of an AirPods Max 2 or Beats headset, but maybe they should.

HEADPHONES

We're tracking all the best Prime Day headphones deals

Nicely, these deals cover every colorway, so you have options. And, if you don't mind used, Amazon has the orange version for $379.

The AirPods Max 2 just launched in March of this year, and this is the first major discount we've seen for Apple's high-end over-ear headphones. In our AirPods Max 2 review, we praised the refreshed headphones for their rich, complex sound, calling it an upgrade done right.

"If you like how AirPods Pro or AirPods Max Gen 1 sound, you are in for a treat with the AirPods Max 2. Apple has taken everything from its predecessor and dialed it up to 11."

The Max 2s come with personalized spatial audio, Siri integration, Live Translation, and head gestures, making them more useful and smarter than their predecessor.

Unfortunately, especially these days, the normal $549 price tag is high. Now, that's not as much of a worry because at $399, the AirPods Max 2 outshines many of the best headphones.

There are two flaws you should know about if you're considering these headphones. They are a bit heavy weighing nearly a pound and the battery life is the same 20 hours as the previous AirPods Max headphones.

However, if those aren't a problem for you, then we highly recommend you snag a pair of AirPods Max 2 for Prime Day.

HEADPHONES

We're tracking all the best Prime Day headphones deals

Then, my colleague, Erin, awarded the headphones a whopping 4.5-star rating in her full review, and even called them "the best headphones [she'd] ever used." Her article even went viral on Reddit with users disagreeing — and I'm here to disagree with all those commenters.

I admit I was wrong in dismissing them when they first came out, and I'm eating my words now.

Seamless Apple ecosystem integration, well-balanced and fine-tuned sound, and unmatched comfort make the AirPods Max 2 well worth their $500 sticker price. The AirPods Max 2 make listening to music extremely fun thanks to their energetic and immersive sound, which I'll talk about in detail shortly. Would I recommend them to everyone? Well, read on to find out.

Don't judge a book by its cover

I'm sure I won't be the first person ever to say this: the Apple AirPods Max 2 look really bulky and large. I'm used to more sleek-looking headphones, like the Marshall Monitor III that I've been rocking for over a year. The AirPods Max 2 feel very heavy too, at 13.6 ounces, when they aren't sitting on your head and are sitting in their smart case instead.

Because of how heavy they felt in my hands, I was skeptical about how comfortable they'd really be. Never judge a book by its cover, I guess, because the AirPods Max 2 are ridiculously comfortable. The mesh headband does a lot of the heavy lifting here by relieving the pressure you might otherwise feel on the top of your head. As I type this, I've been wearing the AirPods Max 2 for about six hours, and I have no complaints.

The AirPods Max 2 are also quite aesthetically pleasing. The headphones ooze class and luxury. I'm aware that the design remains largely unchanged over the original AirPods Max, but that doesn't bother me much. There's room for improvement, but the AirPods Max 2 still offer world-class design.

The sound is *chef's kiss*

The Apple AirPods Max 2's sound profile, straight out of the box, is immersive, energetic and expansive. Powerful bass that doesn't boom, crisp treble that doesn't pierce through the rest of the soundstage, and a refined midrange brings your favorite tracks to life — the AirPods Max 2 have got it all.

I put on 'Choker' by Twenty One Pilots and could instantly feel the anxious groove baked into the track.

What I love about listening to this song through the AirPods Max 2 is the emphasis on the bassline. It doesn't hit hard the way some bass-forward cans do, but it has room to breathe and it feels controlled. Each note plucked on Tyler Joseph's bass sounds clear and textured, and provides a fantastic drive to the song.

Next up, I listened to 'Lutt Le Gaya' from the Bollywood movie "Dhurandhar," and through the AirPods Max 2, I had newfound appreciation for the Punjabi-pop track. The vocals won me over as the headphones emphasized the vocals' rich, liquid smoothness, and I could feel the words swirling around me rather than just in my ears. The headphones also struck a great balance between the folk-style vocals and polished electronic production underneath, and the midrange and treble had plenty of energy to them.

Regardless of the song I listened to, whether that was Tame Impala's psychedelic 'Let It Happen' or Of Monsters and Men's soft 'From Finner,' the AirPods Max 2 delivered.

Are the AirPods Max 2 for YOU?

By now, you know where I stand on the Apple AirPods Max 2. But does it makes sense to buy the AirPods Max 2 if you're not deep into Apple's vast ecosystem? Not really.

Sure, I own a MacBook Pro M1 and I use a MacBook Air M2 for work. But I also use a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, and I've used Android phones for a few years now. Are the AirPods Max 2 perfect for someone like me? No, because I listen to music mostly on my phone, and the AirPods Max 2 would be wasted on me.

If I owned an iPhone, or should the day finally come when I decide to go full Apple, I'll be happily buying the AirPods Max 2. But until then, I'll stick to platform-agnostic cans like the Marshall Milton ANC.

Still, coming from someone who loves Marshall, Bose and Sony, the AirPods Max 2 are actually great headphones. You have to try them to believe it.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple AirPods Max 2 review: ‘Everything from its predecessor dialed up to 11’
• I hate that the AirPods Max 2 are the best headphones I've ever used
• I've been testing the new Marshall Milton ANC for 3 weeks — they fix my biggest gripe with on-ear headphones, and are the new gold standard

An upgrade to the still fairly recent Sony WH1000-XM6, the 1000X have stolen the XM6’s accolade of being Sony’s flagship over-ears. And naturally, that demands a premium in price. The 1000X will set you back $649. So, some dollars indeed.

Sony sent us a few pairs to try out, and I’ve gotta say, they’re fairly impressive. As it happens, though, when the 1000X landed on my desk, I had at hand my daily drivers — which I think are the Sony headphones’ closest competitors: the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2.

Naturally, then, I did a little back-to-back test to see which came out on top. Here’s what happened.

But first, a note on price

Now, some important context before we start: there’s a $150 delta between these two sets of cans, with the Px8 S2 costing $799 at Amazon. The Px8 S2 don’t drop by much in sales events either, although you can grab a set used (Like New) from Amazon for $686. The Sony 1000X The Collexion come in $150 cheaper at $649.

My point here is to see whether — if you can afford to drop big bucks into headphones to begin with — it’s worth stretching that extra bit further to the pricier cans (spoiler alert… I think it is). For the target demographic, I'd say it's reasonable to assume an extra $150 shouldn't be a huge issue.

Sound quality: a close-run thing

Admittedly, both of these headphones sound fantastic. I went into my back-to-back sound tests thinking the Px8 S2 would wipe the floor with the Sonys, but it wasn’t a total wash out. The 1000X are marketed by Sony as offering a much more refined and spacious sound than the WH1000-XM6 — which are tuned more in line with what the mass market wants: bass.

That said, I still find the 1000X a little too warm in their tuning — for my tastes anyway. Now, I actually enjoyed this in songs where bass isn’t the overriding element to begin with — Metallica’s Seek & Destroy, for example, where the added power on Lars’ kick drum complements the drive and energy of the song.

Listen along to my testing playlist on Qobuz using the widget below.

Elsewhere, I still found softer percussion, shimmering effects and vocals often felt a little buried by the 1000X bass, especially in low-heavy electronica like Burn Water’s super-subby, atmospheric Ikigai. At least via the Standard EQ preset. This wasn’t a huge problem — Sony’s app has a wide range of preset EQs and a custom EQ. I really liked the Clear EQ setting, which controlled the bass a little better, for my tastes at least. But I had to play around a fair bit with EQ on a regular basis (a lot of people like doing this, but I find it distracting).

By contrast, I haven’t really ever needed to play around with the Bowers & Wilkins EQ. These cans just sound so clean and neutral out of the box, with so much fidelity everywhere you listen. Bass is better controlled, with plenty of detail in the treble, giving really bassy songs like Ikigai much more clarity by allowing the soft, ethereal backing vocals and effects the space they need. There’s bags of mid-range definition, too, which added so much crunch to the distorted riffs on Seek & Destroy.

Of note is that the 1000X use 30mm dynamic drivers. Size isn’t everything, of course, but I noticed perceptible distortion on some of the louder sub booms in Ikigai. The Px8 S2 suffered no distortion in the same areas, likely thanks to the larger 40mm drivers.

Both headphones are rather spacious for closed backs, but the Px8 S2 definitely have the edge, sounding noticeably cleaner, brighter and more open than the more intimate-feeling 1000X. Chris Stapleton’s Death Row was pleasingly dynamic on the Bowers & Wilkins, the bluesy guitar licks and Chris’ reverby vocals getting a little closer to the acoustic-esque experience of listening to the track through my Audeze LCD5-S open backs (although, obviously, the LCD5-S are in a different league, space-wise).

To supposedly help with that, the 1000X have a 360 upmix mode. I was excited to try this out, but unfortunately found it borderline unlistenable. I mean, it sorta works: Mk.Gee’s über spatial Dream Police was a perfect candidate, and the extra reverb and echoing made for a live-recording-esque kinda effect. But the sound was incredibly compressed, with a bucket load of audible noise.

An especially noticeable difference between the two is the Px8 S2’s greater detail at low volumes. We discussed this in our Px8 S2 review, so it was on my radar, but I hadn’t grasped the full extent until listening to them in earnest. Even at around 30% volume, the B&Ws retain an incredibly impressive amount of low-end texture and high/mid clarity. By contrast, I had to keep the 1000X at around 70% for a similar sound. Better for your ears, better for battery life, and better for the long term health of the drivers I guess.

Flawless ANC on both

Both the 1000X and Px8 S2 have fantastic ANC. In fact, it’s very hard to draw a verdict here. They both do a better job than my $1,200 Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95. Using the 1000X in the office, they cut virtually everything, including road noise from the open window next to my desk.

All I can say is that the Px8 S2 ANC is probably the best I’ve tested. Perhaps the strongest test was on the flight home from my honeymoon a couple of weeks ago. The seat in front hosted a screaming toddler, flanked by two dismayed parents, open-mouthed between kicks to the face. On the opposing aisle sat the similarly-unparented and only-slightly-older brother, listening to some mindlessly cheerful kids TV at full blast through his iPad speakers. In the midst of the chaos, a flight attendant fought desperately through the ruckus to ensure seatbelts were on — somehow, if the parents’ entitled faces were anything to go by, this was all her fault.

Tiny arms flailed. Dried fruit snacks flew. Someone probably lost an incisor. A flight attendant questioned her life choices by flying Ryanair. Many passengers did the same. Nightmare fuel, usually. But not with the Px8 S2.

Back in the sixth circle of hell — or the row behind the chaos — my wife looked aghast at me laughing maniacally. ‘How can you laugh through this?’ was the subtext. It was the poetry of watching all that happen in mime only, soundtracked instead by the screaming cacophony of Songs For The Deaf’s opener. “You can’t even hear it!”

No matter how loud the hellspawn in front decided to be, nor how long through the flight it decided to be so, I was alright. The Px8 S2’s ANC would drown out everything. And it did.

Everyday comforts

A lot has been said online about the supreme comfort of the 1000X, and I agree… for the most part. They feel like a premium set of cans, and if I’d bought them, I wouldn’t feel shortchanged in the build quality department.

Again, though, the Bowers & Wilkins have the edge. They go beyond premium to feel luxurious. After around an hour of wearing the Sonys, my ears started to feel a little toasty. The Px8 S2 use a more breathable material, as I wore them for most of a seven-hour train journey through Norway with no issues whatsoever.

Both sets of cans are a pain in the butt to carry around, though, as they don’t fold and use bulky carry cases instead. The Sony’s case is markedly thinner at least, so that’s the set I’d pick if portability were my biggest concern. Which it isn’t.

Battery life is another win for the Px8 S2, which offer up to 30 hours. After my seven-hour Norwegian train journey, they’d dropped to 83%, which tallies to our full battery test when we reviewed them. Battery life on the 1000X is just 24 hours. Admittedly, this is only an issue if you’re travelling away from power for any elongated period of time — not really a thing nowadays with the ubiquity of portable power banks.

Frustrating connectivity

I touched on apps a little earlier when talking about EQ, but there’s more to be said on this. Sony’s app is great, don’t get me wrong, but it’s fundamental to the operation of the headphones, and that really grates on me. You seemingly can’t even connect to the 1000X without the companion app, which feels extremely restrictive — especially for a product you’ve paid $649 for.

When you do try to connect, the Sony companion app acts like a typical Sony companion app: janky as all hell. It took me 16 minutes to get the headphones to connect. 16 minutes. To hook up over Bluetooth.

I love that with the Px8 S2, the app is essentially optional. You don’t need to download it in order to get the headphones working, and the driver tuning and default EQ are so good out the box that I rarely, if ever, need to open the app for tweaks.

The Px8 S2 also have USB-C and 3.5mm connectivity, as opposed to only 3.5mm on the Sonys. That means, if you want to play wired from your phone with the 1000X, you’re stuck using the technically subpar phone DAC. Will it make a noticeable difference? Probably not. But I like knowing that I’m bypassing my smartphone DAC altogether and using the Px8 S2’s internal conversion over USB-C, getting the best I can out of the cans when using my phone.

Still, if you’re concerned, you could always invest in a portable DAC/amp, like the FiiO KA13 ($65). Or my go-to portable DAC, the iFi hipdac 3 ($199).

The final word

So which would I buy out of the two? If you hadn’t already guessed, it’s the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2. Look, the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION are decent headphones. But when you start pricing cans in the ultra-premium range, you’re gonna have to start mixing it with the big boys. And the 1000X can’t quite mix it with the chief.

If you don’t have the extra $150, I doubt you’ll be disappointed by the 1000X. They look great, sound great, and feel great on your head. It’s just that the Px8 S2 do, well, just about everything better.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Sony 1000X The Collexion
• I tested Soundcore’s newest premium flagship earbuds — and they’re coming for the AirPods Pro 3’s crown
• I’m ditching my over-ear headphones for these Sony earbuds to beat the heat this summer — and they offer Bose-like sound for a lot less

But just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't have nice things — and British manufacturer Marshall has just shaken up the ANC scene with its brand new Marshall Milton ANC on-ear cans. I know what you'll say to that: a) they're on-ears and not over-ears like the QuietComfort Ultra, and b) how can any brand even conceivably think of dethroning Bose as the ANC king?

To that, I have a few retorts: a) they're on-ears but they're great on-ears, b) the Milton ANC weren't created to dethrone Bose, and a bonus c) they're half the price of the QuietComfort Ultra and for $229 / £179, they're simply fantastic. I've been testing the Milton ANC for three weeks and I've been using the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen for a week. If you can't afford Bose's offering, Marshall's offers bang for your buck. Here's why.

Hi, Nikita here! This isn't going to be a traditional face-off like the others you may have seen on Tom's Guide, such as my Marshall Milton ANC vs Monitor III. It would be unfair to make direct comparisons between the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen and the Milton ANC as both vastly differ when it comes to price, so it would be crown just one a winner. Think of this article as more of buying advice instead.

A few tricks up Marshall's sleeve

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen are excellent, but one of the areas they struggle in is battery life. The OG Ultra offered just 24 hours of playback time, but their successor kicks it up a notch to 30 hours... but that's still not class-leading. Meanwhile, one of the things Marshall has historically nailed with its consumer-first headphones (like the Monitor III) is battery life — and the Milton ANC are no different.

Offering 50 hours of battery life with ANC on and 80 hours with ANC off, the Milton ANC blow the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen out of the water. It's not even close, really. Sure, you get better ANC with the latter, but if it's more juice you're after, the Milton ANC are worth the trade-off.

But it isn't a massive trade-off either, which brings me to the Milton ANC's key selling point: these are Marshall's first-ever on-ear cans to feature ANC, and they've knocked it out of the park. I've tested a few on-ear headphones now, and the Milton ANC offer the most effective noise cancellation of them all.

Sounds indoors, like the kettle boiling or the clickity clackity of mechanical keyboards, are muted to ensure you feel immersed in your music. Outdoors, the ANC is alright — the sound of cars zooming past makes it through but it isn't too jarring.

I won't lie: using the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen outdoors blew me away as I couldn't hear anything, and they made me feel like I was in a room so quiet I could hear a pin drop. But I wouldn't hear that pin drop because the headphones would cancel out the noise. The Milton ANC can't compete with that, and they don't need to. For half the price of the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen, you're still getting pretty solid ANC, and the best on-ears have to offer at the time of writing.

Take control

I've spent a fair bit of time using the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen. I've found them extremely comfortable, and the plush ear cushions make my ears feel like they're resting on clouds. The design, though unchanged from the OG headphones, is pretty enough to look at, but the thing that bothers me most? The controls.

This might be a hot take but I think we need to get rid of touch controls on all headphones. They work fine on earbuds — the ones I've tested, at least — but I've never been a fan of them on headphones. The QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen's touch slider to adjust the volume sticks out like a sore thumb, and I've found its placement frustrating and ability to register my commands finicky, at best.

Turns out, I'm not the only one here at Tom's Guide who has struggled with the touch controls on the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen. Our Buying Guide Editor, Tammy, mentioned them in her review of the headphones, and Senior Reviews Writer, Erin, easily gave the win to the AirPods Max 2 when it came to the two headphones' controls.

So, what's better than a strange mix of physical and touch controls that leaves users frustrated? Full physical controls, just like on the Marshall Milton ANC. There are two buttons that control everything on the Milton ANC: a joystick-like power button that can be used to adjust volume and change tracks, and a customizable 'M' button that can be personalized to enable Spatial Audio, change EQ, or enable/disable ANC.

And simplicity works. The controls are easy to understand and don't give you much to complain about. Not to mention, that brass power button looks drool-worthy. The Milton ANC's design, in general, looks classier and more premium than the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen, but that's just my opinion.

Music to my ears

What surprised me most about using the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen and the Marshall Milton ANC to listen to music back-to-back was how similar their tuning is. Both headphones offer deep, rich, bass-first sound profiles, which may not be everyone's cup of tea — and if they aren't, both headphones come with user-friendly apps to customize the EQ.

Personally, I love bass-first tuning because that's the aspect of the soundstage I enjoy the most, so both the Milton ANC and the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen impressed me straight out of the box. 'Let It Happen' by Tame Impala sounds glorious through both pairs, but when it comes to spatial audio, I think the Milton ANC's Soundstage creates more of an immersive listening experience. The QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen's spatial audio is good but it does so at the cost of bass which sounds muted. The Milton ANC's, on the other hand, keeps the bass thumping while making the track sound wider.

'FA9LA' by Flipperachi sounds excellent through both headphones too, with great emphasis on the pounding bass without making the treble sound too shrill or piercing. Vocals? Crystal clear, with each word discernible and not bleeding into the next.

One of the biggest advantages of using the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen is that because the ANC is mindblowing, it makes you feel truly immersed in your music. The ANC on the Milton ANC is good, like I said earlier, but doesn't come close, and that has an impact on your listening experience. Swings and roundabouts.

Looking ahead...

So, should you buy the Marshall Milton ANC or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen? I wish I could say that there's a straightforward "yes" or "no" to that question but there isn't. Question is, how much are you willing to spend? If you've got a budget of over $450, money is no object, or you want to get peerless ANC, the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen are a no-brainer.

But if you can't loosen the purse strings to that extent, the Milton ANC are great value for money. They cost $229, so almost half the price of the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen, but they don't compromise on features that matter most to 90% of users. Here at Tom's Guide, our job is to help you upgrade your life for less, and when it comes to getting premium features and audio at a non-premium price, you can't go wrong with the Milton ANC.

More from Tom's Guide

• Not all on-ear headphones are uncomfortable: I’ve been using the new Marshall Milton ANC for 3 weeks and they’re ridiculously comfortable and offer outstanding sound too
• I’ve been testing the Marshall Milton ANC on-ears vs Marshall Monitor III over-ears — and it’s closer than you think
• I've been testing the new Marshall Milton ANC for 3 weeks — they fix my biggest gripe with on-ear headphones, and are the new gold standard

But before I started using the Milton ANC, I'd been using the Monitor III over-ears for over a year. This got me thinking, "Do I like the Milton ANC better than the Monitor III?" The answer, unfortunately, isn't a simple "yes" or "no."

To answer this question, I listened to music on both headphones back to back, and compared all their other features. They share some similarities, yes, but is one pair better than the other? And should you spend more nearly $120 more on the Monitor III? Let's find out together.

Marshall Milton ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: Specs

Marshall Milton ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: Price

One of the key differences between the Marshall Milton ANC and the Marshall Monitor III is the price. The Milton ANC sit between the flagship Monitor III and the Major V on-ear headphones, and they cost $229 / £179. These are mid-range headphones that offer some premium features at a non-premium price.

The Monitor III, on the other hand, cost a lot more. They have a retail price of $349 / £299 but given that they've been around since September 2024, you can frequently find them discounted for around $250 — especially during sales events. It remains to be seen what kind of discounts the Milton ANC will get once the headphones have lived a little.

Given their price, the Monitor III are priced similarly to (or even less than) other flagship active noise-canceling headphones from the likes of Bose and Sony. Also given their higher price point, they offer more features than the Milton ANC — but if you're on a budget, the Milton ANC are the way to go. If you can loosen the purse strings, the Monitor III are a no-brainer. This round is a tie.

Winner: Tie

Marshall Milton ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: Design

The next biggest difference between the Marshall Milton ANC and the Marshall Monitor III is the design. The Monitor III are over-ear headphones while the Milton ANC are on-ear cans. We'll talk about the Milton ANC first, as they're newer. They feature square earcups with soft memory foam cushions, and they sit on your ears rather than around them (as is the nature of on-ears).

If you're skeptical about how comfortable on-ears are, I'm here to tell you that as a fellow (and former) skeptic, I think the Milton ANC are the most comfortable on-ear headphones on the market. They don't clamp down on your ears too much, and the earcups themselves are quite spacious — so there's plenty of room for all ear sizes. The only issue is that people with cartilage piercings may find them uncomfortable.

That's where the Monitor III come in. These over-ear headphones are comfortable for all types of ears, and even for those who have several piercings. Because they sit around your ears, they don't press down on piercings. Ear cushions, again, are very comfortable, as is the suspended headband. They're heavier than the Milton ANC, though, as they weigh 8.8oz while the Milton ANC weigh 7.06oz.

Controls on both headphones are nearly identical as both feature a customizable 'M' button and a joystick-like power button for adjusting volume and playback. The buttons give lovely tactile feedback when pressed — kinda like on a guitar amp. Neither headphones' controls give you anything to complain about.

The Milton ANC borrow styling cues from the Monitor III too, which is why they're covered in black with brass accents. Given that the Monitor III did it first, and they're ever-so slightly more comfortable than the Milton ANC, the over-ears get the win in this round.

Winner: Marshall Monitor III

Marshall Milton ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: Features & connectivity

Even though the Marshall Monitor III are the British brand's flagship headphones, the Marshall Milton ANC pack the latest Bluetooth 6.0. They also feature support for LDAC and LC3, while the Monitor III utilize Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC and AAC. Multipoint connectivity is at play here, as both sets of cans can connect to two devices at once. Both headphones can be used wired too, thanks to USB-C ports on each.

In addition to this, the Milton ANC become Marshall's first headphones to carry Apple Find My support (along with Google Find Hub). This is a fantastic addition for Apple and Google Pixel owners alike as they can keep track of their headphones at all times.

One thing the Monitor III pack that the Milton ANC don't is wear detection — but honestly, I've never been a fan of wear detection on headphones as I've always found it to be finicky. I'd take Apple Find My and Google Find Hub over wear detection any day. To my surprise (and perhaps yours), the Milton ANC win the features & connectivity battle.

Winner: Marshall Milton ANC

Marshall Milton ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: Sound quality

What good are a pair of headphones if they aren't brilliant for music? Whether you get the Marshall Milton ANC or the Marshall Monitor III, you'll be getting powerful sound regardless — take the word of someone who's been listening to the same songs back to back on both pairs.

The first thing you need to know is that both sets of cans use the same 32mm dynamic drivers but cover different frequency response ranges. The Monitor III cover 20Hz-20KHz while the Milton ANC cover 20Hz-40KHz — so the entirety of the human hearing spectrum and then some.

Both headphones are tuned differently too. The Monitor III have a well-balanced sound while the Milton ANC are more bass-heavy straight out of the box, so it depends on what you like. I don't mind either of the headphones' default Marshall Sound EQ, but if you want to make adjustments to the equalizer, the companion app (Marshall Bluetooth) is very user-friendly.

To compare the headphones, I listened to the same three tracks first on the Milton ANC and then on the Monitor III. I used my Milton ANC testing playlist on Qobuz.

First up, 'Everybody Scream' by Florence + The Machine. Both pairs of headphones handled this witchy track exceptionally well. The Milton ANC put the bass first and it reverberated through the track, while the Monitor III offered a balanced sound profile. Vocals, through both, sounded beautiful, and the treble was never shrill or piercing. I'd say the Monitor III make the track sound more snappy and capture Florence's vibrato better, but the Milton ANC did a respectable job too.

I then listened to 'Elephant' by 070 Shake. Personally, I preferred the Milton ANC's sound profile for this track. Thanks to its bass-forward tuning, I felt immersed in the synthesized, wobbly bassline, and it felt like there was a better balance between the thumping bass and distorted vocals. The Monitor III, on the other hand, made the track sound more clinical which is better for those into detailed listening.

The final song I played was 'Let It Happen' by Tame Impala, and I listened to it to test the Soundstage spatial audio. Soundstage debuted on the Monitor III back in September 2024, and now, Marshall has equipped the cheaper Milton ANC with it too. Soundstage, essentially, moves the sound into a virtual room so it feels like the track is swirling around your head, which is incredible for an immersive listening session.

On both the Milton ANC and the Monitor III, Soundstage works very well. I set the virtual room to 'large' via the app while using both headphones, and it made me feel like I was at a Tame Impala concert. The soaring synths had plenty of height through both headphones. The Milton ANC, again, emphasized the bass but not too much. What I like, though, is that the Monitor III made the song sound wider and more expansive, which makes sense given their price point.

Sound quality was a close call, but the Monitor III take it. The Milton ANC offer excellent sound for the price, but the Monitor III are just a bit better and more well-rounded overall.

Winner: Marshall Monitor III

Marshall Milton ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: ANC

For ANC to be effective, there needs to be a good seal around your ears — or in your ears, if you prefer in-ear buds. It's for that reason that the Marshall Monitor III win this round. Don't get me wrong: the Marshall Milton ANC boast effective ANC, and I even slept through an entire flight without being disturbed. But because they're on-ears, breaks in ANC are to be expected and that's not their fault: it's the nature of on-ears.

By on-ear standards, the ANC is great. By general standards, the Monitor III offer better.

The Monitor III create a great seal around your ears and provide a decent level of passive noise cancelation too. Indoors, I can't hear anything, not even the sound of my very loud mechanical keyboard. Outdoors, I can hear cars going by but not to the point that they disturb my peace or break my immersion when I'm jamming to Green Day.

Winner: Marshall Monitor III

Marshall Milton ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: Call quality

Unfortunately for the Marshall Milton ANC, this round goes to Marshall Monitor III straight off the bat. The Milton ANC's call quality can be described as middling at best as they made me sound scratchy and tinny on the phone. When I spoke with my colleagues on a Google Meet team call, they instantly noted, "You don't sound as good as your other headphones."

The other headphones in question? The Monitor III. I've been told by my partner and many other people I've spoken to on the phone and team calls that I sound warm and true-to-life through the Monitor III. It's disappointing that the Milton ANC don't make me sound as good but it is what it is.

Winner: Marshall Monitor III

Marshall Milton ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: Battery life

I'll be upfront here: it's an uphill battle for any pair of headphones to upstage the Marshall Monitor III when it comes to battery life. These headphones pack monster battery life as they can last up to 100 hours with ANC off or 70 hours with ANC on.

But this doesn't mean that the Marshall Milton ANC have poor battery life — on the contrary, they're long-lasting too. The Milton ANC can last up to 80 hours with ANC off or 50 hours with ANC on. That's quite a big drop compared to the Monitor III, yes, but remember that there's a substantial price difference between the two.

The Milton ANC have an ace up their sleeve though: they feature a consumer-replaceable battery which can be accessed by twisting off the left earcup. This isn't particularly groundbreaking, though, as all Marshall is doing is abiding by E.U. regulations — but at least you can replace the battery yourself now in case it goes kaput.

I'd say the Monitor III win this round by a narrow margin, but rest assured that even though you're spending lesser on the Milton ANC, you're still getting long playback time.

Winner: Marshall Monitor III

Marshall Milton ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: Verdict

When I first held the Marshall Milton ANC in my hands three weeks ago, I thought, "They're on-ears, how good can they really be?" Turns out, very, very good. They're excellent on-ear headphones and are ridiculously comfortable. I've never been happier to be proven wrong.

And truth be told, I'm surprised how close the competition was between the Monitor III and the Milton ANC. As you'll soon see in the ratings scorecard below, the Milton ANC come very close to the Monitor III — which is commendable given that they cost $120 less than the brand's flagship cans.

This face-off ends with the Monitor III earning 93/100 points, followed very closely by the Milton ANC earning 86/100 points. The Monitor III are the superior headphones, yes, but the Milton ANC are a home run for Marshall, too, and they've shaken up the on-ears realm in the best way possible.

Marshall Milton ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: Ratings scorecard

More from Tom's Guide

• I've been testing the new Marshall Milton ANC for 3 weeks — they fix my biggest gripe with on-ear headphones, and are the new gold standard
• Marshall Monitor III review: When heritage meets sonic prowess
• My doctor banned me from earbuds so I got these Marshall headphones instead — and I’m surprised I didn’t do it sooner

But these aren’t just XM6s wearing a nicer coat. Sony upgraded the drivers with rigid carbon components that deliver a wider, richer soundstage with the kind of depth I actually wished the regular XM6 had from day one.

The thing is, that might not be enough to convince people this glow-up is worth paying substantially more than the standard XM6 when it comes to buying the best headphones. The Collexion comes with some weird compromises, such as a shorter battery life and no changes to active noise cancellation performance.

Sony is making a pretty bold pitch here: luxury materials, fashion-forward design and elevated sound without tipping fully into the four-figure territory occupied by ultra-premium audiophile brands. We’re talking stainless steel, vegan leather, and a finish that feels more designer accessory than commuter headphones.

And if Apple could make AirPods Max a status symbol, who’s to say Sony can’t do the same? I spent time with Sony’s most fashion-forward headphones yet to find out in my full Sony 1000X The Collection review.

Sony 1000X The Collexion: Specs

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Price and availability

• $649/£550
• Cost $200 more than WH-1000XM6
• 10-year anniversary of Sony’s XM products

The Sony 1000X The Collexion costs $649 / £550 and was released on May 19, 2026, to celebrate a decade of Sony's XM lineage. The headphones are available now at major retailers like Amazon, as well as directly through Sony’s website.

Price-wise, these cans land squarely between the Apple AirPods Max 2 ($549 / £499) and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 ($799 / £629) in a territory not occupied by many other headphone models currently.

And because these are explicitly positioned as a luxury tier above the flagship line rather than a direct replacement for the $449 WH-1000XM6, don't expect to see them heavily discounted during standard holiday sales events anytime soon. They are expensive by any traditional consumer metric, but they occupy a specific high-end ecosystem tailored for buyers willing to pay extra for some aesthetic clout.

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Design

• It’s in the materials: Sony has stripped out the lightweight, utilitarian plastic of the standard XM6 in favor of a striking, premium metal-and-leather aesthetic.
• Case or clutch?: Rather than a cheap tech pouch, the included carrying case looks and feels like a minimalist designer handbag.
• Heft vs. comfort: The shift to luxury materials introduces an external wireframe structure that alters the headphones' overall weight, but a wider headband does provide superior comfort.

While the Sony WH-1000XM6 built its reputation as a lightweight plastic tech product, The Collexion swaps plastic for solid stainless steel arms, buttons and inputs, plus supple vegan leather wrapping the earcups and headband. Sony even hid the “Left” and “Right” markings inside the earcups to keep the design seamless.

I tested the platinum finish, which accentuates the contrast of premium materials, though there’s also a sophisticated black option with shimmering color-matched metal. Either way, these felt genuinely luxurious to sport around New York City.

They don’t fold inward, but they do swivel flat into a redesigned carrying case that looks more like a minimalist designer bag than a typical tech pouch. It’s a bit chunky, but the reinforced shell makes carrying around $650 headphones feel a lot safer. (Between us, I loved toting it around.)

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Comfort

On my head, The Collexion felt calibrated for comfort, with the weight balanced on a headband that’s 10% wider and 40% thicker than the standard XM6. Sony also shaved 5mm of thickness off the earcups compared to the XM6, while the earpads feel plush and padded.

But its ultra-premium materials introduce a literal physical weight: 11.3 ounces vs. 9 ounces for the plastic XM6. AirPods Max 2 tip the scales at 13.6 ounces, and since I’ve been using those lately, The Collexion actually felt like a bit of a welcome reprieve.

Sony WH-1000X The Collexion review: Controls

These headphones combine a highly responsive right-earcup touch panel with tactile physical buttons. Swiping for volume and track skipping works flawlessly. Best of all, The Collexion is equipped with a new dedicated hardware feature: a physical Spatial Upmixer button. On the standard XM6, toggling immersive 3D audio required app diving and was only available for Cinema Mode. Here, a simple physical press instantly toggles spatial audio for music, movies, or mobile gaming.

The headphones also feature snappy wear detection, instantly pausing your media the moment you lift an earcup to speak to someone and resuming it seamlessly when placed back on your head. You could always tap and hold on the right earcup to pause and initiate transparency mode, too.

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, The Collexion is future-proofed with Bluetooth 6.0 (an upgrade over the standard XM6’s Bluetooth 5.3), multi-point connectivity, and a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm jack for wired listening.

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Sound quality

• Unidirectional carbon driver: Sony introduced a brand-new, 30mm unidirectional carbon driver designed for wider frequency handling.
• Beefed-up circuitry: The internal circuit board features thicker copper foil layers for a cleaner audio signal.
• Top-tier processing and codecs: Powered by Sony’s new V3 processor, these headphones get DSEE Ultimate AI upscaling alongside LDAC, AAC, and SBC codec support.

The Sony 1000X The Collexion delivers the exact sound quality upgrade I originally wished the standard XM6 would’ve introduced over the WH-1000XM5. At the heart of this upgrade is a brand-new, rigid 30mm unidirectional carbon driver, paired with a beefed-up internal circuit board sporting copper foil layers 1.5 times thicker than the XM6.

For software processing, it steps up to DSEE Ultimate, Sony's highest-grade AI audio engine, and supports high-resolution LDAC alongside standard AAC and SBC codecs. You also get a fully customizable EQ via the Sony Headphones Connect app if you want to tweak the sound.

Listening to ‘bury a friend’ by Billie Eilish the sub-bass sounded cleaner and more controlled than the XM6. The track’s pulsing low-end hits with serious depth and punch, but never overwhelms the rest of the mix or introduces distortion, even at higher volumes.

For mids and instrument separation, I switched to ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac. The vocals, bassline and percussion all felt beautifully distinct, with a warmth and clarity that gave the song room to breathe without sounding crowded.

Then I tested treble and soundstage with ‘Kyoto’ by Phoebe Bridgers. The brass, acoustic textures and layered vocals sounded crisp and airy without teetering on sharp.

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: ANC

• Identical ANC: The active noise cancellation hardware and processing are completely identical to the standard XM6.
• Great, not legendary: It excels at cutting out lower-frequency environmental hums, it stops short of class-leading.

The active noise cancellation on The Collexion is excellent, but it’s exactly the same ANC you get on the cheaper Sony WH-1000XM6. Sony used the same microphones and processing here, which makes the lack of an upgrade feel noticeable at $650.

In testing, the headphones did a great job muting low-frequency noise like a loud studio AC unit and the constant rumble of New York City traffic. But sharper sounds still cut through more than they do on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, which still delivers the strongest isolation I’ve tested.

Sony 1000 The Collexion review: Call quality

• Familiar mic system: The Collexion uses the exact same microphone hardware and noise processing found on the standard Sony WH-1000XM6.
• Excellent voice isolation: With 12 beamforming microphones, the headphones do a fantastic job separating your voice from surrounding noise.
• Clear real-world performance: Calls sounded rich, warm and consistently clean, even while walking through loud New York City streets.

The call quality on The Collexion is excellent, even if it uses the exact same microphone system as the XM6. With 12 beamforming microphones and strong onboard noise processing, these headphones do a fantastic job isolating your voice from chaotic surroundings.

I spent days taking calls while walking through New York City, and everyone I spoke to commented on how clear and natural my voice sounded. Vocals came through rich and warm without the thin, crackly quality some wireless headsets produce around wind or traffic. As a certified yapper who also cares about my style, I thrived with The Collexion as a wearable accessory.

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Battery life

• Noticeable downgrade: Battery life drops to 24 hours with ANC on, down from the 30 hours offered by the cheaper Sony WH-1000XM6.
• Fast charging helps: A quick 5-minute USB-C charge delivers around 1.5 hours of listening time.

Battery life is easily one of the strangest compromises on The Collexion. Sony rates these headphones for 24 hours with ANC enabled, which is enough for a full workday or long-haul flight, but noticeably worse than the standard XM6 which lasts up to 30 hours.

In my testing, Sony’s numbers were accurate almost down to the hour. The headphones died right around 24 hours of use with ANC running continuously. Thankfully, the fast charging is excellent. Five minutes plugged in gave me roughly 90 minutes of playback, which made topping them off far less annoying day to day.

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Verdict

The Sony 1000X 'The Collexion' is a niche, luxury statement piece that successfully bridges the gap between mainstream tech and high-end fashion. It delivers an incredibly premium experience with some weird compromises, but the style element is undeniable.

If you view headphones as a core part of your outfit, it is a luxury flex that happens to sound incredible. The designer handbag-style case is, in my opinion, a spectacular touch, and the upgraded rigid carbon drivers deliver the spacious, pristine soundstage I always wanted from the standard XM6.

On the downside, paying a $200 premium forces you into a frustrating battery life drop down to 24 hours and active noise cancellation that offers zero upgrade over the more sensibly-priced base model.

So maybe The Collexion isn't the practical choice for everyone, but hey, style rarely is.

That's just happened. I was randomly browsing Amazon when I spotted this deal. The Marshall Monitor III are just $248 at Amazon right now, knocking 34% off. That's a crazy discount, and I've never seen them drop this low before. You'll be saving over $100 if you bag this deal — and there are many, many reasons why you should.

I've been using the Monitor III extensively for over a year. Regardless of where I go, they're either around my neck or on my head. I use them on my commute to and from work, while traveling, working, even playing video games — so I can attest to the fact that they offer bang for your buck.

Firstly, they're ridiculously comfortable with plush ear cushions and a headband that doesn't exert pressure on the top of your head. I've worn them for up to 10 hours a day without any discomfort. They weigh just 8.8oz too, so I never feel weighed down by them. But their key selling point is the outstanding, well-balanced sound quality.

The Monitor III's 32mm dynamic drivers deliver thumping basslines without them sounding muddy or booming. Treble is vibrant but never overzealous, so hi-hats and high-pitched vocals never pierce through the rest of the soundstage. They're tuned exceptionally, as you'd expect from a pair of flagship headphones. And if you want to adjust the EQ, you can do so through the very user-friendly companion app.

I also love the Monitor III's Soundstage spatial audio, which moves the sound out into a virtual room, and makes it feel like the instruments and vocals are swirling around you. Any time I listen to, say, Tame Impala through these headphones with Soundstage toggled, I feel like I'm at a live gig. It's some of the best implementation of spatial audio I've seen in a pair of headphones.

Alongside stellar sound quality and comfort, the Monitor III offer long battery life too. These headphones can last up to 100 hours with ANC disabled, which is great for anyone who forgets to charge their gadgets frequently. And needless to say, the Monitor III look extremely stylish, thanks to their black body and brass accents — I think they look better than most over-ears, including those from the likes of Sony and JBL!

The best time to buy the Monitor III was when they first came out and reviewed well. The second-best time to buy them is now, when they're $131 off at Amazon. This is a rare discount that doesn't come by very often so if I were you, I'd grab this deal with both hands and run!

More from Tom's Guide

• Marshall Monitor III review: When heritage meets sonic prowess
• My doctor banned me from earbuds so I got these Marshall headphones instead — and I’m surprised I didn’t do it sooner
• Marshall Monitor III ANC headphones — 3 reasons to buy 3 and 3 reasons to skip

Everything has been turned up to 11 — the sound quality is industry-leading, the ANC has improved massively, and the call quality is now professional-meeting-suitable. They still offer a feeble 20-hour battery life and a somewhat burdensome 13.6-ounce weight, but these issues don't detract from how excellent the AirPods Max 2 are overall.

I’ve tested tons of the best over-ear headphones, but none thus far have sounded quite this good. Sure, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are detailed and clean, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2 are bassy, but the AirPods Max 2 are the best of all worlds. Rich, bassy, detailed, expansive, and clean.

Apple AirPods Max 2 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? Apple’s newest flagship headphones, replacing the AirPods Max
• What does it cost? $549 / £499 / AU$999
• What do we like? They are the best-sounding Bluetooth headphones (at this price point) ever
• What don’t we like? Issues from the previous model have been ignored — still just 20 hours of battery life, still very heavy

Apple AirPods Max 2 review: Specs

Apple AirPods Max 2 review: Price & availability

The Apple AirPods Max 2 are $549 from Apple U.S. In the U.K., they’re £499 from Apple U.K. In Australia, you’re looking at an AU$999 price tag. This is the same launch price as the previous model, in keeping with the precedent set by the AirPods Pro 3, which matched the Pro 2.

As you might expect, the AirPods Max 2 are considerably pricier than their flagship rivals: The Sony WH-1000XM6 have a $459 MSRP and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 regularly retail for $449. This isn’t to say the AirPods Max 2 are the most expensive wireless headphones on the market — you could also spend nearly a grand on the $799 Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, or break the 4-figure ceiling with the $1,199 Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95.

Apple AirPods Max 2 review: Design

• Easy Digital Crown and ANC controls
• Still heavy, but comfortable nonetheless
• Fantastic smart features

If you’ve seen the original AirPods Max, you might be looking at the AirPods Max 2 and thinking, “Hmm. These look awfully familiar. Are you sure you didn’t just mix up your AirPods Max OG and AirPods Max 2 in the photos?”

I am quite sure. The AirPods Max and Max 2 are identical. You’ll see the same anodized aluminum ear cups; the same removable cushions; the same metal-and-mesh headband that tries its very best to alleviate skull pressure. At release, the headphones come in most of the same colors as the OGs — Midnight, Starlight, blue (pictured), orange, and purple. Unfortunately, it appears the green shade is no more.

This also means you have the same "bra" case seen on the AirPods Max OG. Some customers might be incredibly disappointed to see this make a return — it doesn't protect the headband or adjustment areas like other brands' carry cases. Although the case has a smaller footprint in your bag, you might not want to throw it carelessly into a particularly messy or chaotic backpack.

The controls are also the same: you’ve got a Digital Crown and ANC button on the right ear cup. You can adjust all these controls directly in your phone settings (if you have an iPhone).

I’m glad Apple hasn’t swapped the physical, tactile buttons in favor of the ‘touch area’ trend that seems to be sweeping through audio brands. The Bose QC Ultra Gen 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6 both suffer from this aberration, with ‘touch areas’ instead of buttons, so you need to stroke your headphones to change volume or skip tracks. These controls are especially egregious on the QC Ultra — I found myself trying to find the multi-purpose button, but accidentally turned the volume to max multiple times.

One of the primary complaints regarding the original AirPods Max was weight. The new AirPods Max 2 are the same weight, 13.6 ounces, making them almost double that of the Bose QC Ultra and Sony XM6 (8.8 ounces). Even so, the mesh headband does a lot of heavy lifting during wear. I didn’t often feel the need to remove or readjust the headphones.

While the Bose and Sony flagships are a lot lighter, they also look cheaper. Personally, I would much rather the uber-sleek, uber-premium AirPods Max 2.

Features

As you might expect from flagship cans, the AirPods Max 2 have are chock-full of features. The AirPods Max 2 are like AirPods Pro 3 in over-ear form: Apple has treated us to seamless Siri assistance, Camera Remote, Live Translation, Head Gestures, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Volume.

I like that you can choose which features you want to activate. For example, I always turn off Conversation Awareness as it means I can’t (terribly) sing along to my favorite songs — my headphones turn on Transparency after assuming I’m talking to someone instead of warbling tunelessly to myself.

If you want to use Live Translation, however, you’ll need to pre-download the language packs. I tried this out with Korean, and it had about a 3-4 second delay, which is pretty much exactly how it works on the AirPods Pro 3. Perhaps good in a pinch, but wouldn’t be up to scratch for important meetings.

Unfortunately, like the previous model, there’s no IP rating, so I wouldn’t recommend taking these out in the rain. While disappointing, this isn’t a surprise for over-ears — neither the Sony XM6 nor the Bose QC Ultra have an IP rating. I’d recommend one of the best earbuds for that, like the AirPods Pro 3, or the Nothing Headphone (a), which are IP52.

As expected, the AirPods Max 2 integrate seamlessly with any Apple product. I only had to take my AirPods Max 2 out of the box, and my iPhone 16 Pro instantly lit up with a ‘Connect’ request. I didn’t have to manually connect to my MacBook Pro or iPad — the headphones just knew. When switching between devices, the Max 2 followed my output source.

Connectivity

Despite all these highs, I’ll end on a slightly disappointing note: the AirPods Max 2 run on Bluetooth 5.3. This Bluetooth version was released in 2021, so it’s frustrating to see Apple using it now. Samsung launched its new Galaxy Buds 4 series with Bluetooth 6.1. As you might expect, 6.1 provides a longer range (780-980 feet, respectively) and a more reliable connection.

I was able to get a decent distance from my phone — out of my apartment, up the stairs, onto the next floor — before the headphones disconnected, but I’d still like the best-of-the-best on Apple’s most premium offering, especially on what are intended to be the best wireless headphones.

They do, however, have native USB-C hi-res playback, which sounds utterly divine. Keep scrolling and you can read all about it.

Apple AirPods Max 2 review: Sound quality

• Rich, detailed, wide, clear, sonorous — all the adjectives
• Terrific clarity across the entire frequency range
• Most importantly, fun to listen to

I’ll give you some spoilers straight away: the AirPods Max 2 are my favorite headphones to date. The sound quality is sublime. They have an exceptionally wide soundscape with enviable instrument separation. I tested using Apple Music and Spotify, via USB-C wired playback and Bluetooth — in every genre I listened to, I could make out every instrument, every harmony, every beat.

The low-end is rich yet balanced, with propulsive, deep sub-bass and a detailed, clarified upper-bass. Mids are also handled deftly; the soundscape is effusive and complex, with no overpowering frequencies, even in heavy genres. This builds a fantastic foundation for the treble, which is clear and bright. Hi-hats and cymbals clattered over the top of gnarly, crunchy bass, and didn’t overpower even stylistically pushed-back vocals.

When I played ‘Micro Cuts’ by Muse, a cluttered, almost invasive, high-octane track, the Max 2 dealt with the subtle guitar elements and heady falsetto vocals without breaking a sweat. The bass and percussion rounded out the frenetic guitar section, keeping the layers separated yet complementary.

I switched to electronic and played ‘925’ by Sammy Virji. The U.K. Garage beat pounded through the Max 2, sharing the space with the vocals. The bassline cut through the track like a snake racing through the jungle, barely making an impression on the undergrowth but letting everyone know it’s there. I was so impressed.

I then listened to some bluegrass-inspired singer-songwriter tracks. I played ‘Cheers’ by Faye Webster, a southern-blues-meets-modern-pop combo. Webster’s soft vocals were placed at the front of ‘Cheers,’ with the dynamic bass and rolling, bluesy guitar enriching the background.

To test out its video sound, I watched ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ and ‘Twilight’ on Apple TV with Dolby Atmos. The AirPods Max 2 handled both dialogue, action, and soundtrack fantastically. The wide soundscape enabled me to hear off-screen events as if they were truly behind me.

I tested the AirPods Max 2 with a lot more than I had space to include here. You can listen along to this review with my AirPods Max 2 testing playlist:

Apple AirPods Max 2 review: ANC

• 3 ANC modes: Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation
• Better than original AirPods
• But still not Bose-beating or Sony-meeting

There are many, many things I love about the OG AirPods Max. The premium feel, the sound quality, the cushioned earcups, the controls, the mesh headband. But I don’t love the ANC.

I am pleased to report that the AirPods Max 2’s ANC is excellent. Sure, it’s not Bose-beating or Sony XM6-meeting, but it’s considerably better than Apple's OG over-ear headphones. Now, the AirPods Max 2 could be some of the best noise-cancelling headphones.

The AirPods Max 2 still allow some high-frequency sounds in: When I was testing ANC in the city, I couldn’t hear buses or motorbikes, but I caught some laughter from passers-by.

In general, the ANC deals with lower frequencies much better than higher frequencies, but this is all you need for day-to-day usage. I’m impressed with the upgraded ANC on the AirPods Max 2.

Apple AirPods Max 2 review: App

• Native customization for iOS users
• Nothing for Android, as expected

If you’re an iPhone user, you’ll be able to access tons of settings controls directly from your settings app. You can configure the Digital Crown and ANC button modes, including switching the orientation of the Digital Crown’s spin, activating Camera Remote, customizing Head Gestures, and more. Take a look at this screenshot so you can see for yourself.

Unfortunately, Android users get nothing. This is nothing new, but it’s still disappointing. You're basically stuck with default controls and none of the aforementioned features.

While unfortunate, this is the current state of play. Samsung’s newest audio products — the utterly fantastic Galaxy Buds 4 Pro ($249) — did not offer an iOS companion app.

Apple AirPods Max 2 review: Call quality

• Voice Isolation has come to the Max series
• Fantastic environmental noise reduction
• Sometimes emphasizes surrounding voices, though

To test call quality of the AirPods Max 2, I used them for personal calls and work meetings. When I called my boyfriend, he said that my voice was perfectly clear and was notably better than that of other headphones I’ve tested recently — AirPods Max Gen 1 and Nothing Headphone (a) ($199).

He couldn’t hear any of the environmental noise around me, not the loud buses or roaring motorbikes, but some passing voices made it through the ambient noise reduction filters. So, while the AirPods Max 2 isolated my voice from traffic noise well, some voices still managed to sneak through.

On work calls, my colleagues reported that my voice was clear, and I “sounded the same as AirPods Pro 2 or 3.” However, one colleague reported that I sounded a little clipped.

I think you could use the AirPods Max 2 on work calls, personal calls, and anything in between. I’d happily use them as my primary call headset from now on.

Apple AirPods Max 2 review: Battery

• 20 hours
• No, that’s not a typo
• Just 20 hours

Unfortunately, the AirPods Max 2 have a meager battery life of just 20 hours. This is the same as the previous model, and, if you couldn’t tell, is my primary issue with the headphones. In 2026, there’s very little excuse for a 20-hour battery.

Other models in this price class — Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 — last for 30 hours. While still not great, especially considering the new Nothing Headphone (a) last for 135 hours (75 with ANC), 30 hours is considerably more impressive.

I tested the AirPods Max 2 for seven days and had to charge them twice. I listened for around 25 hours overall, mostly via Bluetooth.

Apple AirPods Max 2 review: Verdict

I’m glad we waited six years for the AirPods Max 2, because this is an upgrade done right. If you like how AirPods Pro or AirPods Max Gen 1 sound, you are in for a treat with the AirPods Max 2. Apple has taken everything from its predecessor and dialed it up to 11.

Additional features like Personalized Spatial Audio, Siri integration, Live Translation, and Head Gestures are useful, but if the sound was mediocre, smart functions wouldn’t be enough to make me recommend spending $549 on headphones. (I suggest waiting for the first discount if that price feels a bit too steep in this current economic climate.)

But because the sound quality is so excellent, I genuinely would recommend buying the new AirPods Max 2. Yes, the battery life is still as feeble as a Victorian chimney sweep and the cans are still almost twice the weight of Sony and Bose’s flagships, but the flawless, studio-quality sound more than makes up for it. For me, this is a near-perfect audio product.

Right now, you can get the Sonos Ace for just $299 thanks to a 25% discount as part of the retailer's spring sale. That's $100 off these excellent premium cans.

• shop Amazon's entire Big Spring Sale

I've been using the Sonos Ace as my go-to headphones since 2024 when these noise-cancelling cans were first launched, and I'm constantly impressed by them. They're comfortable and sound great — not to mention looking pretty slick in my humble opinion.

One of the main issues — as is usually the case with Sonos — is that the price was a little on the high side. Thankfully, now these headphones are a couple of years old we get deals like this knocking a sizable amount off the MSRP.

Battery life on these headphones is exceptionally solid at 30 hours, and the sound you get is rich and detailed. I always appreciate the wide soundstage whenever I slip these headphones on. And thanks to the soft-touch foam earcups and the fact the headphones only weigh 312 grams (11 ounces), it doesn't take long before you forget you're wearing them.

The killer feature

My absolute favorite part about the Sonos Ace is how they can switch seamlessly from a Bluetooth connection to a Wi-Fi link to your Sonos soundbar to play content from your TV. The headphones deliver the full Dolby Atmos experience directly into your ears without disturbing anyone else nearby. This is an absolute godsend if you want to watch movies or play games late into the night without disturbing a partner, your neighbors or the kids sleeping in the room upstairs.

And because it's coming from the soundbar's input, you can use it with any streaming service or any games console hooked up to your TV.

Finally, there's a real joy to using the physical controls on these headphones. There's a tactile "Content Key" on the right earcup letting you play/pause as well as volume up/volume down, while a secondary button gives noise control on/off, aware mode, and voice control options.

If there's one complaint I have with the Sonos Ace, it involves the protective case the headphones ship with. Getting them into it almost always involves awkwardly trying to slide the earcup stems inward to make the headphones compact enough to fit. But come on, if that's the only thing I can find to complain about then that should tell you all you need to know.

Long story short, this is an Amazon deal I definitely recommend you look into, and that goes double if you've already got other Sonos products in your home. Finally, check out our Amazon Big Spring Sale live hub for the latest discounts we've spotted all this week.

Unsurprisingly, the best headphones and headsets for working from home have also shot up in popularity, and if you spend a lot of time on calls, you need a competent headset that you can wear all day long.

But how much are you willing to spend on a conferencing headset? How does $700 sound? It's a lot of dough, isn't it? I've been testing the Jabra Evolve3 85, and although it's expensive, it sounds superb.

Listening comfortably all day long

Before I dive into the sound quality, I want to talk about one of the other things the Jabra Evolve3 85 excels at, and that's its design.

Just like with any other pair of headphones, I don't think you should spend any amount of money on a conferencing headset that you can't wear all day long. The good news is that the Evolve3 85 is extremely comfortable, so rest assured that you're getting bang for your buck here.

One thing I've always loved about my Marshall Monitor III headphones is the lightness, as they weigh just 8.8oz, and they feature a leatherette headband that helps relieve some pressure you'd otherwise feel on the top of your head. I'd say the Evolve3 85 headset is on par with my Monitor IIIs in terms of comfort. Jabra's offering weighs 7.76oz so it's very lightweight, and the breathable cushion padding on the headband feels excellent. The same padding has been used for the ear cushions too, and I love it.

Another thing I love is the cavities on the inside of the earcups, which are there to nestle your earlobes and ensure your ears don't get squished. It's so effective, and now I wish all headphones had these cavities. Having worn the headset for an eight-hour work day (I removed it just once), I can confidently say that it's the comfiest one out there.

A beautifully balanced sound profile

The Evolve3 85 headset is fitted with 32mm drivers that cover a frequency response range of 20Hz-20KHz (so the normal human hearing spectrum), and the headset makes music sound true-to-life and full of character, never once getting overwhelmed by multiple instruments even.

The treble is crisp and vibrant and never overzealous. Through the Evolve3 85, in songs like 'Carnival of Rust' by Poets of the Fall, the hi-hats never sounded too shrill, and worked well with other instruments to create a wonderful melody. Each note plucked on the acoustic guitar was discernible and never harsh to the point that it overpowered the vocals. Speaking of, the vocals in tracks like 'White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter' by Lana Del Rey were nothing short of detailed. The 'tss' and 'sh' sounds — and there are many of them — sounded clean and didn't bleed into one another either.

Bass sounded just as good if not better through the Evolve3 85. Powerful but not booming, especially in songs like 'Money' by Pink Floyd and 'Little Dark Age' by MGMT. The sub-bass and mid-bass packed plenty of detail too, and I found the lower and mid-ranges better on the Evolve3 85 than on my Marshall Monitor IIIs — and that's saying a lot, as I adore the latter. The bass on the Evolve3 85 sounded warm with lots of low-end impact, and truth be told, I wasn't expect that from a headset designed for conferencing!

The elephant in the room

So, the Jabra Evolve3 85 is clearly a phenomenal headset. But it's hard to ignore the elephant in the room that's desperately asking to be addressed, and that's the headset's price. The Evolve3 85 is a premium work headset that retails for $720 / £539. It's more expensive than my PlayStation 5 Slim ($549), my Nintendo Switch 2 ($449), and even the brand new MacBook Neo ($599) and the Nothing Phone 4a Pro ($499).

The Evolve3 85 is supremely comfortable, yes, and its audio quality for calls and music is nothing short of sublime, but is it worth over $700? Kind of, yeah.

I know there are cheaper options out there, like the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 ($250), the HP Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC ($349), and the Cleer Enduro ANC (1$149), but all of them have significant drawbacks, such as unreliable battery lives, underbaked apps, finicky wear detection, and so on.

And the Evolve3 85 headset doesn't have any such flaws. It's expensive, but for the money, you're getting up to 120-hours of battery life, a sleek charging pad for you to charge the headset between calls, a lovely boomless mic, and peerless sound quality and vocal clarity. If I won the lottery, I wouldn't tell anyone, but there would be signs — and the Evolve3 85 around my neck would be one of them.

More from Tom's Guide

• ‘The king of conferencing headsets’: I just tested the Jabra Evolve3 85 and I’ve never heard my colleagues this clearly before
• Best headphones and headsets for working from home
• My doctor banned me from earbuds so I got these Marshall headphones instead — and I’m surprised I didn’t do it sooner

The cherry on top of the cake is the headset’s long battery life. If you enjoy listening to music while working or between tasks, then the Evolve3 85 is sure to impress you with its wide and dynamic soundstage… as long as you can stomach the price.

For the complete breakdown, read my full Jabra Evolve3 85 review.

Jabra Evolve3 85 review: Specs

Jabra Evolve3 85 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? Jabra’s flagship work-first headset with a boomless mic
• Who is it for? For hybrid workers and those who spend a lot of time on calls and online meetings — and music lovers
• How much does it cost? It ain’t cheap. The Jabra Evolve3 85 retails for $720 / £539
• What do we like? So many things! The comfortable design, productivity features, clear mic, excellent vocal clarity, long battery life, and more
• What don’t we like? The premium price tag

Jabra Evolve3 85 review: The ups

From its exceptionally comfortable design and plethora of productivity features, to its outstanding vocal clarity and boomless mic, there’s a lot to love about the Jabra Evolve3 85.

All-day long comfort

The Jabra Evolve3 85 is a work-first headset as Jabra claims it’s designed for the “modern worker.” If, like me, you spend a lot of time on team calls and meetings, and need a headset that will let you work comfortably all day long, this is it. Firstly, the Evolve3 85 is very lightweight, weighing just 7.76oz. It’s 35% slimmer and 23% lighter than the Evolve2 line, and lighter than other work-oriented headsets, like the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 (10.2oz, $250), the HP Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC (9.7oz, $349), and the Cleer Enduro ANC (10.6oz, $149).

Aiding the Evolve3 85’s comfort factor is the lovely breathable cushion padding on its headband. This relieves the pressure you’d otherwise feel on top of your head, enabling you to wear it for hours on end. This same padding has been used for the ear cushions, and they feel excellent to me. I also like the cavities on the inside of the earcups, which are there to nestle your ear lobes and ensure that your ears don’t get squished.

If on-ear headphones are more your speed, you might prefer the Jabra Evolve3 75 ($463) instead — these are very well padded. However, in our testing, Tom’s Guide’s Senior reviews editor Pete Wolinski found them a little uncomfortable after five or six hours due to the on-ear design, with the earcups pushing his ear helixes into the side of his head.

Having worn the Evolve3 85 for eight straight hours, I can confirm that it’s exceptionally comfortable. My ears never felt hot, and my head didn’t feel like it was being weighed down either. I also appreciate that foldable design and included pouch that you can store the headset in when you’re traveling.

Build quality is sublime too, with matte finish on the headband and earcups, and I didn’t think the headset sounded hollow or underbaked when I tapped its different parts with my fingernails.

A plethora of productivity features

There’s no dearth of productivity features on the Jabra Evolve3 85. You can buy the headset with either Microsoft Teams or Unified Communication optimization. If you get the former, a Microsoft Teams logo graces the right earcup, and it doubles as a button that lets you answer/reject incoming Teams calls. The Unified Communication model, on the other hand, offers plug-and-play functionality across multiple platforms, such as Google Meet and Zoom. The UC model is the better choice if, like me, you work across platforms and don’t want to be locked into just Teams.

Whenever you’re on a call, the integrated 360° Busylight located on the left earcup lights up in bright red to let those around you know that you’re busy and shouldn’t be disturbed. This is a great feature to have, especially if you’re on an important call and don’t want to be interrupted by anyone else. I do, however, wish you could turn this light on outside of calls, as I like to be left alone when I’m in the zone and writing away.

In addition to this, you also get AI integration, so you can prompt Gemini, ChatGPT or another assistant of your choice by simply using your voice and not having to use your hands. Jabra says that the Evolve3 85 “accurately captures over 9 out of 10 words in AI voice prompts.” While I personally don’t use AI assistants and chatbots, it’s good to know that this feature exists for users who love using AI. I tested it with Gemini on my Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and it worked well. Gemini understood me clearly and promptly, and instantly made me a to-do list and set a reminder as I asked for.

For those who work across multiple devices, multipoint connectivity is at play so you can connect up to two devices at the same time using Bluetooth 5.3. The box also includes a USB-C dongle (or USB-A, depending on what you choose when you buy the headset) which increases the number of simultaneous connections from two to three. Google Fast Pair also means that you can connect the headset to your phone in mere seconds, as I did, and Apple Find My and Google Find Hub let you keep a track of where your headphones are.

There’s also wear detection which pauses playback if you lift an earcup or remove the headset entirely, and it worked like a charm in my testing. This is perhaps the best wear detection I’ve seen on a pair of over-ear headphones, as it’s something I’ve always disabled on the likes of the HP Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC and even my trusty Marshall Monitor III ($349) as I found the wear detection on them finicky, and it never worked as intended.

Exceptional vocal clarity

Any work headset needs one thing for certain to be considered excellent, and that’s exceptional vocal clarity. You should be able to hear your on-call colleagues or clients with so much clarity that they feel like they’re in the room with you — and the Jabra Evolve3 85 does just that. It’s fitted with 32mm drivers which cover a frequency response range of 20Hz-20KHz which is fairly standard for most headphones and even gaming headsets, as that’s the spectrum of human hearing.

Having attended five meetings with the Evolve3 85 nestling my ears, I can confidently say that this headset will please anyone who works from home or gives online presentations. These calls took place over Google Meet and Slack (huddles). I could hear my colleagues on the line loudly and clearly, and even when multiple people were speaking at once, I could still understand them. Voices and words never blended together.

I appreciated the Evolve3 85’s adaptive/dynamic noise cancellation here too, as it automatically adjusted itself when there was a loud noise in the background. It kept me focused on the call I was on. In my testing, this worked well both indoors and outdoors. Aside from Google Meet and Slack, I also spoke with my partner on the phone, and I could hear her well even while walking and making my way through crowds.

Voice clarity is further bolstered by active noise cancellation (ANC) which works superbly, isolating you to the point that you can’t hear anything else when you’re outdoors and you feel like you’re the only person in the world. I couldn’t hear people chatting in the office or the sound of my loud keyboard, or cars whizzing past me outdoors. I listened to a podcast and I could hear the host and guest speaking to each other and laughing clearly, like I was in the room with them.

Crisp and clear microphone

There’s no point in spending any amount of money on a work-first headset if it doesn’t make you sound loud and clear on calls — after all, you want to impress your audience, right? The Jabra Evolve3 85 gives you nothing to complain about in that department, and it boasts one of the strongest mic performances I’ve seen so far.

The Evolve3 85 features a boomless mic (an array of six in total) so there’s no mic arm sitting in front of your mouth, and this helps its sleek, inconspicuous appearance. The mic covers a frequency response range of 10Hz-20KHz, so it covers the full spectrum of human hearing and ensures natural sound reproduction. The headset utilizes Jabra ClearVoice which uses AI-powered deep learning to isolate your voice from background noise, and it works extremely well.

The first thing I did to test the headset was call my partner when leaving work. She said I sounded perfect and crystal clear, and didn’t think my words were bleeding into one another either. She also couldn’t hear the birds chirping right overhead, or the sound of lots of people chatting and shuffling around in a busy parking lot — all she could hear was my voice. In fact, she said I sounded like I was in a quiet room indoors.

I had to hear it for myself, so I recorded myself speaking with the TV playing in the background. In the clip above, you can’t hear the characters from Schitt’s Creek speaking, and my voice is the only one that can be heard, which is amazing.

I then recorded myself speaking a few sentences with popping sounds, such as words starting with ‘P,’ ‘B,’ ‘T,’ ‘D,’ ‘K’ and ‘G,’ known as plosives. As you can hear in the clip above (and laugh with me at my goof-up while saying one of the tongue twisters), the ‘P’ sounds don’t sound overly harsh or unpleasant.

Next up, I tested the Evolve3 85’s ability to handle sibilance. These are your ‘s’ and ‘sh’ sounds which are prone to whistling (and can be unpleasant to listen to), so the best way to do this was by trying a famous tongue twister. As you can hear in the clip above, the mic handled the hissing sounds quite well, and again, the sounds don’t bleed into one another.

I also appreciate the Evolve3 85’s sidetone as it enables you to hear yourself speaking when you’re on a call, so you can check that you aren’t speaking too softly or loudly. This is a feature we see on most of the best gaming headsets and is very handy to have. The sidetone’s volume can be adjusted via the companion app (more on that shortly).

Dynamic music performance, too

Look, if I’m spending over $700 on a work-first headset — yes, that’s how much it costs — you’d best believe that I will be using it to listen to music in my downtime too. The Jabra Evolve3 85 is, in fact, excellent at making your favorite songs sound better than ever. I listened to a few tracks from my roster of testing songs on Qobuz with the Evolve3 85 plugged into my MacBook Air M2 via the included 3.5mm aux.

I started things off by listening to ‘Carnival of Rust’ by Poets of the Fall, and each note plucked on the acoustic guitar sounded loud and clear but not so harsh that it overpowered the vocals at the beginning of the song. When the rock instruments kicked in during the first chorus, they created a wonderful melody that sounded thoroughly enjoyable through the Evolve3 85.

To test the Evolve3 85’s bass, I listened to ‘Little Dark Age’ by MGMT and once again, the bassline sounded clear and every note plucked on the bass was discernible but it also worked in harmony with the other instruments to create an immersive soundscape. The bass never sounded booming or overpowering.

Vocals sounded just as beautiful in tracks like ‘White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter’ by Lana Del Rey. Lana’s sibilance, the ‘tss’ and ‘sh,’ in the first verse sounded detailed and clean, and I would expect nothing less from a headset that boasts vocal clarity for work calls. My colleagues tried the Evolve3 85 briefly as well, and all of them complimented the headset’s wide and dynamic soundstage.

Listen along to my review with the Jabra Evolve3 85 testing playlist:

Long battery life

The Jabra Evolve3 85 boasts long battery life, and according to Jabra, the headset can last up to 120 hours for music and 25 hours when used exclusively for calls. While I wasn’t able to drain the entire battery, I noticed that after approximately 16 hours of use, the battery percentage had dropped to 75%. Keep in mind that I had ANC on at all times, and used the headset for work calls as well as listening to music.

The Evolve3 85’s battery life is better than the competition’s. The Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 last for just 20 hours, while the HP Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC lasts for 21 hours and the Cleer Enduro ANC lasts for 60 hours between charges. Also, charging the Evolve3 85 for five minutes provides five hours of runtime. Oh, and they come with a sleek wireless charging pad too!

User-friendly companion app

To customize the Jabra Evolve3 85, you’ll need to download the Jabra Plus app on either iOS or Android. The app is extremely intuitive thanks to its user-friendly interface, and it gives you lots of control over the headset’s settings. Via the app, you can adjust the sidetone volume, enhance treble or bass in calls, swap between EQ presets and customize your own, toggle hearing protection as well as spatial audio in media.

You can also enable a setting which allows you to automatically answer calls if your headset is charging on the included pad and you remove it. I tested this out and it worked as intended, and it’s quite a handy feature to have as you can keep charging the headset between calls without plugging it in.

A desktop version of the app can also be downloaded on Windows machines and it gives you the same level of customization as the mobile version. On macOS, you’ll need to download Jabra Direct instead which, again, gives you the same personalization options.

Jabra Evolve3 85 review: The downs

There isn’t much wrong with the Jabra Evolve3 85, but note that it costs a premium which might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Very, very expensive

I’m going to hold your hand when I say this: the Jabra Evolve3 85 costs an arm and a leg. It’s very expensive and will probably burn a hole in most people’s pockets — unless of course this is your work-sanctioned headset, and if that’s the case, never quit your job. The Evolve3 85 costs $720 / £539 at Amazon, making it one of the most expensive headsets I’ve tested. When I told everyone in the office just how expensive the Evolve3 85 was, everyone collectively gasped — and that doesn’t happen very often.

It’s nearly as expensive (or more than) as flagship headphones from heavy hitters in the audio world, like the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 ($699), the Sonos Ace ($449) and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 ($449). Is the Evolve3 85 worth the premium? It depends. Can you afford it? Then sure. You get fantastic audio quality and detailed vocal clarity, along with a boomless mic that makes you sound amazing.

But regardless of the things it does exceptionally well, the Evolve3 85 won’t be for everyone, primarily because of the price. If you want cheaper, work-first headsets, there are plenty to choose from. Jabra’s own Evolve3 75 is a little cheaper at around $460, but it’s less comfortable. The $250 Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 is an excellent alternative but its battery life isn’t as long as the Evolve3 85’s, and its app feels underbaked. Or you could go for the $149 Cleer Enduro ANC which is much, much cheaper, but doesn’t feature the best mic.

Jabra Evolve3 85 review: Verdict

What does spending $700 on the Jabra Evolve3 85 get you? A boomless mic with AI noise cancellation that ensures the person on the other end of the phone (or laptop) can hear only you. Crystal clear vocals that make your colleagues sound just like they do in person. A wide soundstage for when you want to listen to your favorite tunes. Up to 120 hours of battery life and a sleek charging pad.

The Evolve3 85 is an exceptional headset, and one I didn’t expect to love as much as I do now. While its premium price tag is a little hard to stomach, it’s worth paying the price if you want refined and rich sound quality as well as monster battery life, all packed into a comfortable design. I’m almost tempted to make the Evolve3 85 my daily driver at work!

But is this enough to make them some of the best headphones you can get? Hmm, well, it depends. Yes, if you wouldn’t class yourself as an audiophile and you just want some funky cans to vibe out to. On the other hand, if you take music quality super seriously, then I’d recommend something else.

At the end of the day, $199/£149 is a solidly mid-range price, and is a heck of a lot cheaper than Bose and Apple’s competition. Want to find out more? Of course you do. Keep reading this Nothing Headphone (a) review.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? Nothing’s newest flagship headphones
• What does it cost? $199 / £149
• What do we like? They’re so cool
• What don’t we like? I wish the soundstage was a little wider

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Specs

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Price & availability

The Nothing Headphone (a) are $199 from Amazon U.S. and £149 from Amazon U.K.. This is a pretty standard midrange price, but similar cans can set you back upwards of $300.

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (not Ultra) are $359, the Soundcore Space One Pro are $199, and the 3-year-old Sony WH-CH720N are $179. You can also get the detail-forward Cambridge Melomania SE P100 for $299, which might be better for more traditional ‘Hi-Fi’ lovers.

I’m not overly enamored with the Headphone (a)’s Bluetooth sound quality, but if you’re looking for fashion-forward design without breaking the bank, these cans might be a better option over these alternatives.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Design & controls

• Stylish, fashion-forward design, although divisive
• Easy-to-use, intuitive, and unique on-cup controls
• Quite clampy

There’s no doubt about it: the Headphone (a) are a Nothing product, and you’d be able to tell from one minute glance. Nothing has really mastered its unique design, combining eye-grabbing, sci-fi aesthetics, with intuitive and user-friendly controls.

The Headphone (a) come in four colors: black, white, pink/white, and pink/yellow. I tested the white, but if I were buying for myself, I would probably get the pink. It’s like if a 22nd-Century robot and Marie Antoinette had a weird, shouldn’t-work-but-does baby.

That being said, if you’re of the futuristic-aesthetic opinion, you’d be so impressed with the Headphone (a). However, if you’re more of a traditionalist and you want the classic black, discreet earcups vibe, these probably aren’t the cans for you.

Personally, I love how the Headphone (a) look, and I wish more audio brands were confident enough to play around with design. I want to see how far these manufacturers can push it. Maybe not as far as Dyson pushed it, though — I don’t think I need a face mask with my headphones, thank you very much.

The controls are just as boundary-breaking, too. Instead of your standard buttons on the cups or — god forbid — touch ‘areas’ (that always mean a gust of wind pauses my music), the Nothing Headphone (a) utilize two funky little controls: a roller and a paddle. Yes, think back to when you went to soft play areas as a kid. Remember those abacus-like toys installed on random climbing walls? The roller is basically like the adult version of that.

If you couldn’t tell from its name, the roller controls your volume by rolling. You get to roll up or down to adjust volume, or hold it down to cycle through the (two) ANC settings. How fun is that?

You also get a paddle, which is for skipping tracks and answering calls. I found both of these buttons really fun and functional — you don’t have to memorize which identical-feeling button corresponds to which control. Both the buttons are instantly distinguishable. I’m a huge fan of this, and hope other audio brands are paying attention.

I will say that the overall fit isn’t ideal. I found the headphones a touch clampy, like a Cyberman in Doctor Who. They’re not aggressively uncomfortable, but if you’ve got a particularly sensitive head, you might be better off with the lighter Soundcore Space One Pro.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Features & connectivity

• Built-in ChatGPT and Nothing Space, but these features are useless to me
• Bluetooth 5.4
• Multipoint

The Nothing Headphone (a) have a range of “smart” features — like ChatGPT integration and AI functionality with Nothing phones — but does anyone ever actually use this? I never feel the urge to ask ChatGPT for advice when I’m wearing my headphones. I just use my noggin. I never use the heart rate monitor on my AirPods Pro 3. My social anxiety is way too crippling for me to use Live Translator in real life. But, at the end of the day, these are all cool features to have should you desire them. It’s nice that they’re there, right?

If you’ve got a compatible phone or a Nothing phone, you get access to LDAC, a hi-res streaming codec. I tested this and found it produced a cleaner, clearer sound profile to the standard AAC. However, this is Android-only, so Apple users, move along, please.

Android users are kind of spoiled, here: you also get Google Fast Pair, which I tested with my Samsung Galaxy S25+ and found it worked seamlessly. This is great, should you switch between devices often.

But one thing that everyone can make use of is the Nothing Headphone (a)’s sparkling IP52 rating. Most over-ear headphones (especially around $200) don’t really have an IP rating — the Soundcore Space One Pro, the JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition — so I’m surprised to see it here. Heck, even the Bose QuietComfort Headphones and Sony WH-1000XM6 don’t have an IP rating. The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 are IP54-rated, but cost a huge $1,199. The Nothing Headphone (a) are actually the first over-ears I’ve ever tested with an IP rating.

The IP52 rating isn’t overly impressive compared to the ratings usually found on earbuds — like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro’s IP57 rating — but it means the headphones are protected against sweat and light drizzle, although not heavy downpours.

In terms of connectivity, the Headphone (a) have Bluetooth 5.4, which isn’t as up-to-date as the Bluetooth 6.1 we just saw on Samsung’s newest Galaxy Buds, but is at least an upgrade on Apple’s odd predilection for including Bluetooth 5.3 on flagship headphones in… *checks notes* 2026.

In reality, Bluetooth 5.4 means you get up to 800 feet of range. In reality, I was able to get down the stairs, the entire way across the office, and back upstairs on the other side of the building without the headphones disconnecting. This is really impressive.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Sound quality

• Soundscape can feel cluttered
• Great vocals and electronic genres are clear
• Rock/metal fans might be left wanting

Of course, I will go into more detail about the sonic performance, but in a nutshell, the Headphone (a) sounds like how a diet of unseasoned mashed potato might taste. Good; will keep you alive, but it won’t exactly fill you with life-altering zeal and zest and zing and all those emotions that make life worth living. You might be a bit happier if your mash had a shedload of heavy cream and salt, but, again, your body wouldn’t exactly flourish.

This is how I feel about the Headphone (a). I don’t hate them, but I also don’t love them either. There’s something missing, some je ne sais quois, some indistinguishable essence. The bass performance is where most of the issues lie: there’s no complexity to the low-end. When I was testing these cans, I was craving more. Exactly like if I ate nothing but mashed potato. I’d always be craving something more.

I listened via Bluetooth on my iPhone 16 Pro, LDAC on my Samsung Galaxy S25+, and wired. I’ll discuss all three of these playback styles here.

When I listened via the provided 3.5mm aux cable on my MacBook Air M2, I was more impressed than wireless. ‘Man Made of Meat’ by Viagra Boys was raucous and unapologetic, with a heavy bassline pounding the track forward like a runaway steam train careening down a railroad, but there was a lack of complexity in the guitar-led soundscape. The vocals sounded excellent, though, and the stereo guitar effects were clear in each ear. I wish the headphones could juggle the difference between bass guitar and a deep rhythm guitar more deftly.

With LDAC enabled on my Samsung Galaxy S25+, the sound quality was much better, although it still can’t compete with the Bose QC Headphones ($359) or the Soundcore Space One Pro ($199). ‘Play Me’ by Fcukers was a little muddled at the top of the treble, as if the sound was underwater. However, the synth-led bassline was clear and melodic, and the vocals were supremely clear. It’s just a shame that the percussion pinched.

After, I switched to my iPhone 16 Pro to test with the basic AAC codec. I listened to ‘Convention’ by Julia Jacklin, which is an acoustic singer-songwriter track. The guitar plucks, and soft, emotive female vocal sounded great through the Headphone (a), but the sibilance in Jacklin’s voice bordered on harsh every now and then. I think the Headphone (a) handles acoustic tracks better than heavy rock or electronic songs, because the lack of bass means there’s less to get confused with, but then the treble gets overwhelmed, resulting in hissing.

If you’re upgrading from sub-$100 headphones and this is your first pair of “treat yo self” cans, I think you’ll get on with the Headphone (a) just fine. The style and features are super impressive for cans of this price.

However, if you’re used to things like Bose QC, AirPods Max, and Sony WH-1000XM6, you might want to consider spending more for some premium flagship cans.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: ANC

• Two ANC modes: on, off, transparency
• Middling ANC, not impressive nor useless

The ANC on the Nothing Headphone (a) is both nothing to write home about and also nothing to get up in arms about. I was able to hear myself typing and general office noises like chairs being pushed back and muffled conversations, but I was in enough of my own bubble not to really pay this any mind.

When I wore these headphones in the city, I could hear a decent amount of car noise, but general chatter was mostly silenced. I suppose this is good for not getting hit by cars in a busy city, but these headphones certainly don’t have the same industry-leading ANC you’d find on Bose cans.

If you’ll be using these headphones primarily for public transport or in loud environments, you might be better off with some of the best noise-cancelling headphones, like the Bose QuietComfort Headphones or the Sony WH-1000XM6.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: App

• NothingX app
• Tons of (rather confusing) EQ adjustments
• Need to switch on dual device connection in the app

Unlike other headphones I’ve tested, if you want to activate multipoint, you have to toggle it on in the Nothing X app. Usually, you only have to connect to your earbuds/headphones on one device, then connect on the second one (usually after following a vaguely confusing course of button-mashing). Not with the Headphone (a). You have to physically activate multipoint in the app.

Once I did this, though, multipoint was great, as you’ll have read in my ‘Features & connectivity’ section above.

There are loads of other features in the Nothing X app: EQ adjustment, headphone locating, toggling between ANC modes, adjusting controls, and more. Here are some screenshots so you can see.

I really like the Nothing X app. Thankfully, it’s very easy to navigate and not overwhelming for those unfamiliar with Nothing’s ecosystem.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Call quality

• Decent call quality, but not amazing
• Good at silencing ambient noise
• 2 mics

To test the call quality on the Nothing Headphone (a), I called my boyfriend. He’s been the callee on every pair of headphones/earbuds I’ve ever tested, so he’s a great test subject.

He said that while my voice was audible and intelligible, I was a little muffled, as if I were mumbling. My daily drivers — AirPods Pro 2 — made my voice much clearer. However, he said the traffic noise around me was completely silent, which is great if you call in busy areas. I’d say these cans are good enough for everyday, but I’d leave professional calls or important meetings to flagship options.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Battery

• A mindblowing 135-hour battery life
• Which goes down to 75 with ANC on
• Still phenomenal!

The most attention-grabbing feature of all is, without a doubt, the awesome 135-hour battery life. I’ve seen or tested headphones close to this degree of battery life before — the unkillable EarFun Tune Pro, which last for 120 hours, or the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE, which can go for 100 hours — but nothing matching the Headphone (a). This battery life is incomprehensible, incomparable. There are no other cans — that I know of, anyway — that can outlast the Headphone (a).

I used them for 24 hours and the battery went down to 85%. This is a crazy good battery life, and one of the main USPs of these headphones. Big thumbs up from me.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Verdict

If you want super-stylish, fashion-forward, sci-fi headphones, you won’t be disappointed by the Nothing Headphone (a). They are seriously some of the coolest cans I’ve ever had the pleasure of putting on my head. While I was wearing them around the city, I felt like a model (well, that’s hyperbole, but you get the gist).

Although the sound quality leaves something to be desired, if you’ve got an LDAC-compatible Android or Nothing phone, you will probably be more impressed than if you’re an iPhone user. I wish the soundscape was a little wider and more detailed, but the vocals drive the tracks enough for this to be ignored if you value style more.

So while these might not be the perfect headphones for me, if you want to look cool and ultramodern and you’ve got an LDAC-compatible phone, they might be the best option for you.