Club Benefits
It's finally happened — Sony is no longer the manufacturer of the best headphones you can buy today. I've spent a lot of time deliberating, turning things over in my head, and listening to loads and loads of test tracks, and the king has been dethroned.
The replacement for the WH-1000XM5? The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3.
They bring a stunningly comfortable fit to the table, along with some of the best sound quality I've ever heard out of a pair of wireless headphones. They've even pushed the brand new XM6 out of contention — they're that good.
But we don't all have a few hundred dollars to drop on a pair of headphones. Or maybe you've got even more money, and you want something that's even better than the Bowers & Wilkins option. Don't worry; I've got you covered. Of the hundreds of headphones that Tom's Guide has tested up until now, here are the six best, from noise-canceling champions to battery life heroes — and everything in between.
A quick note about prices. The Bowers & Wilkins have seen a price hike from their original $450, now around $479. That doesn't change the fact that they're a better buy than the Sony and the Bose options, but that extra price difference could put you off.
Headphone jargon buster
Not sure what all those terms mean that you read in a headphone review? Let's break them down and tell you why they're important when picking out even the cheapest pair of headphones.
ANC
This one is going to come up a lot on this guide. ANC stands for "Active Noise Cancellation." It used to be the purview of the most expensive cans and buds, but now the technology has trickled down to devices that cost under $100. It uses some very clever audio science and wizardry to block the noise of the outside world when you're listening to music.
What kind of wizardry you ask? It uses a mixture of white noise and the frequencies in your music to counteract the sounds of the outside world dynamically. This can, as you might imagine, change the sound of your music — so watch out for subtle sound changes when you turn it on.
EQ
You'll see this one crop up occasionally in a bunch of places. It stands for "Equalization," and without going into too much detail, it lets you change how the headphones sound. Some give you special sliders that correspond to different frequencies in the music, and others give you pre-made options designed for different genres. You'll often find these options in an app, although sometimes there are special buttons on the headphones themselves.
Frequencies
This one is actually really simple — it's the different sounds that make up your music! They're fairly self-explanatory. The lows make up the bass notes: Synth basses, kick drums. The stuff that shakes your chest at a concert. The mids are where you'll find most of the music, like vocals and guitars. Look out for them being described as 'wide' or 'fat'. You don't want skinny mids. Finally, there are the highs. Think drum cymbals and the like. You want those to sound lovely and clear, crisp even.
Meet the testing team
If I had to test every single pair of headphones that you see on Tom's Guide, I think it's very possible that I'd go insane. Thankfully for me and my sanity, I've got the trusty Tom's Guide reviews team at my back, who rigorously shake down every pair of headphones I send their way.
Time to introduce you to Tom's Guides panel of experts:
Tammy has been reviewing headphones and audio gear for the last four years. From exclusives on Sonos's flagship Ace headphones and extensive audio testing experience at previous publication iMore, Tammy breathes headphones. There are few times when you find her without some cans strapped to her head.
Erin loves finding the best headphones to listen to her many, many playlists. She loves finding headphones that not only sound clear, detailed, and bassy, but that feel comfortable, too. Armed with her super-varied music taste, she's on a mission to track down the Holy Grail of headphones.
Ashley has reviewed a variety of headphones and earbuds for Tom’s Guide. As a guitarist, she is constantly analyzing music and looking for ways to get the best sound. When listening to music, from metal to synth pop, she knows the headphones make all the difference.
Best headphones you can buy right now
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Best headphones overall
The B&W PX7 S3 bring a whole slew of features to the table, and they sound better than anything that costs the same. They're incredibly comfortable, very handsome, and they feature excellent battery. Their ANC might not be quite up there with Bose, but it's still very good.
I love the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3. I knew I would from the moment they started playing my music — there's little that comes close to coming anywhere close sonically for the same price, or even more.
They're comfortable and attractive, but most of all, they're the first pair of headphones at this price that actually feel premium. They're built much better than the Bose and Sony options, with nicer-feeling materials, and they feel like they'll last a long time.
I gave them 4.5 stars in their review, and there's a very good reason for it. Beyond the sound, style, and build, they also bring a whole range of useful features, not least of all their improved noise canceling.
It might not be quite as impressive as Bose, but the noise canceling is very good at keeping the noise of the outside world at bay. I've been able to enjoy train journeys without being bothered by my surroundings.
I define the 'best headphones overall" as a pair that is all things to all people. Rather than just excelling in one single area, they're good at just about everything. The B&W PX7 are excellent at just about everything — and they're worth every dollar of their higher price.
let's break it down...
Comfort
The B&W PX7 S3 are a very comfortable pair of headphones. Thanks to their thick and plush earcups and wide, soft headband cushioning, I found that I could wear them for hours and hours on end.
Couple the well-judged clamping force with the padding, and you'll find a set of headphones that won't cause any kind of fatigue during wear. They're breathable too, and I didn't find that my ears got too hot at all while I listened to my music.
Sound quality
The best bit of the PX7 S3 is the sound signature. While it's a warm sound (that many will appreciate), it doesn't skimp out on all the detail and mid-strength that make your music sound amazing.
Every genre sounds good, whether it's a massive orchestral piece or a crushing death metal track. They're neutral in presentation without becoming too analytical, and it works very well.
Running through my gamut of test tracks was an absolute ball. I found the EQ useful for adjusting the sound, should you want to as well — although I'd wager you'll like the way they sound straight out of the box.
App
The Bowers & Wilkins Sound app is very good. It houses all of the customization features like the ANC and the EQ, and it's incredibly well laid out and easy to use. I particularly like how it knows what color your cans are; it's the little things that count.
One of the best things about the app is the audio handover feature if you've got one of B&Ws excellent speakers. It lets you pick up where you left off, so you don't have to stop listening to your music.
ANC
While not quite up to scratch with the Sony or Bose competition, the ANC of the PX7 S3 is still plenty for day to day use. It does a solid job of keeping the outside world at bay, holding off annoying noises on trains and buses with little fuss. Unless you've tried the ANC leaders, you're going to think "wow this ANC is excellent."
Transparency mode, however, is excellent. It's very natural sounding, and easily activated with a qucik button press on the eacup. Perfect when you need to order a sandwich or a bus ticket.
Battery life
Battery life is plenty, with 30 hours on tap. During my testing, I found this was a conservative estimate, with extra battery life that I wasn't expecting. Quick charge is a nice bonus as well, juicing up very quickly in a pinch.
Turn ANC off and you'll get some extra battery as well, and I've never had to worry about the battery dying when I don't want it to.
- Read the full Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 review
Best ANC headphones
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 are a step up from the previous version, but there are still some slip ups that stop them from reaching the top step. The ANC is still excellent, though, blocking out buckets of noise when you're out and about.
If you're looking to block as much noise as possible, then there's little better than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2. Their ANC is a step up over the previous model, blocking out more noise than anything else you can buy.
Just a single click on the noise-canceling button seals you into a cocoon of your own making, leaving you to enjoy your tunes in complete silence. I've been able to get some shut-eye on busy trains thanks to the ANC on Bose's headphones, and the gen 2 are no different.
They remain otherwise mostly unchanged over the previous model, however, with only an extra few hours of battery to show that some time has passed. That means they're not quite as highly rated as the game-changing first model — but they're still a fantastic pair of headphones.
They look good, they're supremely comfortable, and they offer plenty of extra features on top of their great ANC. What more could you want out of your next pair of ANC headphones?
let's break it down...
Comfort
The QuietComfort line of headphones is most well known for two things — making things Quiet while being very comfortable. See? It's right there in the name. And thanks to some supremely excellent padding and a very lightweight design, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 are extremely comfortable.
I've never found them fatiguing to wear for long periods, so longer journeys like long-haul flights are going to cause no problems whatsoever. When I'm going somewhere far away, I reach for the QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2. Every time.
Sound quality
Despite some of the best ANC that money can buy, the sound leaves a little to be desired. The bass-heavy and highs-light sound can be easily changed in the EQ, however, so they're not totally sonically irredeemable.
They're not going to put off most people — they still sound good. Unfortunately, the competition sounds better than good, so the Bose are left wanting. With some adjustment, though, you can make them slightly more tolerable by cranking up the highs and lowering the lower-mids and bass sliders.
Once dialled in, they sound great. Bass heads are going to be most at home here, but R&B and Rap listeners are going to have an equally good time.
App
Bose's app is very easy to use. It packs in all the features so that you can control every facet of your headphones, from the EQ to the noise control modes. It's well laid out and intuitive under the finger.
I like how you can name your headphones in the app — I don't like how the app sometimes has connection problems and occasional crashes. When it works, the app is excellent — but it doesn't always work.
ANC
This is the bit that Bose are known most for, and the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 do not disappoint. The noise canceling is second to none, keeping just about every single sound at bay. They're perfect for just about any application, no matter where you might find yourself.
You'll find various noise-cancelling modes as well, so that you can dial it in perfectly for different spots. Transparency mode is good too, not lending a robotic edge like other systems. Epic noise canceling.
Battery life
The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 step up the battery life by a few hours, with 30 on tap to keep the tunes coming. That's 6 hours more than the previous model — not too shabby at all.
The battery life does take a tanking if you turn on the Immersive Audio mode, so I'd suggest you leave it in the off position. Our testing showed that the battery life matched Bose's claims too.
- Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 review
Best wired headphones
They're a stunning pair of headphones that sound even better. For less than the premium wireless alternatives, you get some truly impeccable build quality, combined with some of the most impressive sound you'll hear this side of $500. The protective carrying case makes sure they're well kept.
Just look at them. Those glorious wood-covered earcups, the sumptuous leather earpads, the wonderful braided cable. This pair of headphones oozes class from every pore, all the way to their top-notch carrying case that keeps them safe from harm.
They come with all the pros of wired headphones. You don’t have to worry about battery life or whether or not the ANC is any good. There’s no app to change the settings — they sound the way they do, and there’s little you can do to change that besides installing a dedicated app for your devices. Simplicity itself.
And then there’s the way that they sound. They’re heavenly. Effortlessly rich and deliciously detailed, they immerse you in a sound that's tight and controlled while giving you impressive instrument separation. There’s little sonically you could ask for extra out of the Meze 99 Classic gen 2, apart from maybe a very slightly wider soundstage. But that’s going to be it.
If you’re looking for headphones with no cable or headphones that’ll block all the noise, then you’re looking at the wrong thing. If you want a luxurious pair of headphones that sound amazing, you’re in the right place — and I think you’ll be right at home.
let's break it down...
Comfort
The leather-covered pads on the 99 Classics Gen 2 are a joy to wear around your ears. They’re breathable so your ears don’t get too hot, and they quickly mold to the shape of your head to make sure there’s great sound isolation. They’re light too, so they don’t get uncomfortable over longer periods of time.
The adjustment for the headband is ingenious. We love the funky system that auto-adjusts to your head using a tensioned headband, and it makes them even more comfortable. There’s only one slight downside — if you’re not used to a cable, you might find they restrict your movement. This is inherent to all wired headphones, of course, but it's worth noting.
Sound quality
This is where things get special. They sound amazing. Like, truly spectacular. They’re so detailed you’ll hear breaths and slides up fretboards you’ve never experienced before, and movements in orchestras that have never been audible. They’re rich enough to make your music sound velvety smooth, and so bassy that they’ll shake your head.
But there’s control here in spades, so nothing ever becomes too much. They’re a great entry into the audiophile hobby as a result. Their soundstage is remarkably wide for closed-back headphones, and the instrument separation is epic. I love the way that they sound.
App, ANC and Battery life
By virtue of being wired headphones, you don’t have to worry about an app, ANC or battery life. Just make sure that you’ve got a suitable dongle to use them with your devices — otherwise you’ll find you won’t be listening to anything at all.
- Read the full Meze 99 Classic Gen 2 review
Best headphones under $100
You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars for a good pair of headphones — you don't really even need to pay $100. Case in point, the 1More Sonoflow SE. They're a great sounding pair of ANC headphones that block out plenty of noise while not breaking the bank with their $50 price tag.
You might think that spending under $100 on a pair of headphones comes with a certain degree of compromise — but that’s not really the case anymore. There’s actually very little you have to sacrifice with some sub-$100 headphones; case in point, the 1More Sonoflow Pro. They’re a very well-featured pair of headphones that cost $99, and often even less, thanks to coupons and deals at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.
What do you get for ninety-nine of your finest American dollars? A package that looks and feels like it should be a whole lot more expensive than it actually is. There’s a lovely protective case in the box (not a given at this price), and some extra features. There’s a version of spatial audio on board (although I’d leave it turned off), along with a fairly decent EQ.
The best bit, though, is the battery life. If you leave the ANC off, you get 100 hours of staying power. That’s some of the best you can buy today. Turn on the surprisingly effective ANC and that battery life goes down to 40 hours, which is still very respectable. They’re comfortable, and they even sound pretty good.
They’re a complete package, something that you don’t always get when your budget is tighter. A very solid, affordable pair of headphones that won’t break the bank.
let's break it down...
Comfort
The 1More Sonoflow Pro are light. Add that on to the excellent soft padding, and you’ve got a pair of headphones that you can wear for hours and hours on end. The vegan-friendly material that covers the earpads feels lovely to boot.
There’s just one small niggle — they can get a bit hot if you wear them for too long. I found the earpads can get slightly sticky when you’re wearing them, and your ears can feel sweaty. I found taking them off every couple of hours helped avoid the problem.
Sound quality
They sound really good for the price. They feature plenty of depth, and they’re pretty bassy. There’s also loads of detail, so that you can hear more of your music. I was super impressed with their response, and I had no complaints considering their bargain price.
They’re great for every genre you might throw at them. R&B is deep and bassy, Rock is crisp, and even classical music sounds great. Jazz heads might miss some of the really fine detail, but they’re still a lovely-sounding headphone.
Do they come close to some of the more expensive options on the list? Of course not — but they cost about a fourth of the price.
App
The 1More app is very simple. It’s clearly laid out with large buttons and plenty of different, well-labelled features. It’s a slick piece of software that enhances the headphones.
Well, it does when it works. I’ve had significant problems with the stability of the app, as it has issues with connecting to the headphones and with frequent crashes. Thankfully, you’ll not have to use it quite as much. It’s mostly just set it and leave it. But it would be nice if the app worked better. It’s about the only weakness of the headphones.
ANC
The noise-cancelling packed into the Sonoflow SE works pretty well — especially when you consider that they cost less than $100. Turn it on, and the sound of the outside world is nice and dulled, keeping all the worst sounds at bay. Play music, and you’re unlikely to hear anything. It’s very good.
Switch on the transparency mode, and you’ll find a system that also works pretty well. It sounds fairly natural and doesn’t make your call partners feel robotic. It’s not the very best — but they’re so cheap you won’t mind.
Battery life
Battery life is excellent. 100 hours with ANC turned off makes them some of the longest-lasting headphones you can buy today, keeping them going for a full week of working and travel. We found those numbers matched with our testing, which is always a bonus.
Turn the ANC on and the number drops to 40, which still makes them extremely long-lasting. Again, my testing showed them to be accurate — you’re going to have no problem using them for a lengthy period.
- Read the full 1More Sonoflow Pro review
Best sounding headphones
The HDB 630 are directly aimed at audiophiles, with loads of features for sound fans. Their little Bluetooth dongle means that they're going to sound excellent no matter the device you're feeding them with audio. They're comfortable, and the ANC is solid —the best headphones for audiophiles.
Sennheiser has a long history of making headphones that are designed to sound better than anything else, and the HDB 630 are the latest in the line. They're a wireless pair of headphones that really bring the sonic heat, with one of the most detailed sound signatures you can buy today.
It's the high range and detail retrieval that really shines with the HDB 630. They will reveal the most minute details in your music when you listen, so that you can hear things that you might not have noticed before. Some might call them too analytical — but for some, that's part of the point.
They sound more engaging than the Sony WH-1000XM6 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Then there's the ace up the HDB 630's sleeve — the Bluetooth dongle in the box. That means that you can listen to high-quality codecs on devices that don't normally support wireless lossless listening.
I've had a lovely time with the Sennheiser HDB 630 — they might not be the best built or the most attractive, but they sound better than anything else that costs the same.
let's break it down...
Comfort
As a fairly light pair of headphones, the HDB 630 are a comfortable fit. They're covered with silicon and synthetic leather, both of which are soft and comfortable on the skin. Clamping force is good too, so I had no worry about them falling off or being too tight when I was testing them. They're not quite as comfortable as the B&W Px7 S3, but they're a comfy pair nonetheless.
The synthetic leather means they're vegan-friendly, although the silicon headband does take a little away from what should be a more premium experience. They also don't get huge — those with much larger heads should look elsewhere.
Sound quality
There's more to the sound quality of the HDB 630 than just what you hear when you put them on. They do sound spectacular when you use them out of the box, with sumptuous detail and controlled, even bass. There are crystal clear highs and a wide mid-range that never muddies.
It's the incredible EQ settings that really get things going, though. There's the Parametric EQ for some super granular adjustment, and then a more standard EQ for those too scared of band selection. Then, if even that is too daunting, there's are EQ presets to change the sound.
They're immersive, they're clear, and they're easy to listen to. There aren't many headphones that really let you critically listen on the go, but the HDB 630 make it easy.
App
Sennheiser's app is very easy to use, and is packed full of features. It's set out in simple cards in the app, and you customize what appears in the front page for easy access. There are EQ modes and adjustments so that you can change the sound on the fly.
Things can get busy if you're not careful, but if you spend a little time curating the app you can very easily dial in your perfect Sennheiser app experience. Considering you need it for all the features the headphones offer, it's good that it's a solid app.
ANC
The HDB 630's ANC might not be quite as good as that found in the Sony and Bose competition, but it's still excellent. It does a solid job of blocking out the noise of the outside world so that you can listen to your music without disturbance.
The transparency mode is solid too, and lets you hear what's going on around you more easily. It sounds natural, so you won't have strange-sounding shop clerks when you go to buy your breakfast.
Battery life
Battery life is excellent. The headphones last for 60 hours with ANC turned on, a whole 30 hours more than the closest Bose and Sony alternatives. Only the Marshall Monitor III feature more battery life.
It does drop when you use the extra Bluetooth dongle, bringing the battery life down to 40 hours. That's still epic battery life, and more than enough to last you through several days of work.
- Read the Sennheiser HDB 630 review
Best battery
Marshall has its own unique style, and none of their headphones exude it quite like the Monitor III. They sound great, and they're very light and comfortable. It's that battery life that's the headline here, though — at 100 hours with the ANC turned off, they're the longest-lasting headphones on the list.
I have a great affinity to Marshall's products. As a metal head with a penchant for things that look like stage-used gear, the style that Marshall puts into its gear is a big draw for people like me. The Marshall Monitor III exemplify everything I love about the brand.
They're smothered in a textured, amp-like finish, and it makes them not only super rugged and sturdy feeling, but also it rekindles memories of leather-clad amplifiers. The brass marshall logo is a great design touch, and the headphones themselves feel solid in the hand.
Slip them on and you'll find a comfortable pair of headphones with some new foam for this model. There are two layers to keep them comfortable for long periods, and I found it worked wonders when wearing them for extended periods of time.
It's the battery life that lands them here, though. 100 hours. Admittedly, you need the ANC turned off, but even when it's turned on you get 70 hours. That's mad. I'd argue it's perhaps more than you actually need, but it's great if you know you'll forget to charge them.
let's break it down...
Comfort
For the Monitor III, Marshall made a new type of foam with two layers. One has more give for a soft, pillowy feel, and the other a little firmer, so they stay comfortable for longer. I love wearing the Monitor III as a result. The clamping force is very well judged, so the headband doesn't dig into your head. Extra bonus: Despite that leather look, they're synthetic and thus vegan-friendly.
If there's one comfort complaint you could level at the headphones, it's that the headband is a little too eager to twist into its folded position. It doesn't make them uncomfortable at all, but it does make them taking them off more annoying than it should be; especially if you've got long hair that likes to get caught in the mechanism.
Sound quality
Personally, I'd argue these sound better than the Bose and Sony equivalents. They have a more measured delivery, with more control in the low end more potent mid-range bias. The highs are clear and bright, and bring plenty of detail to the table.
As you might imagine, they're great for heavier genres like rock and metal, but they'll happily oblige if you listen to the likes of R&B, Dance or Rap. Classical music is a lot of fun I found with the Marshall Monitor III as well, and even Jazz worked well through the headphones.
There's a version of spatial audio on board called "Soundstage," and it's... not great, unfortunately. It just adds some extra echo and a little more reverb to make the music appear wider. I would leave it firmly in the 'off' position.
App
The app is the same one that all of Marshall's audio gear uses, and it works well enough. It's simple and fairly easy to use thanks to large buttons and an intuitive layout. There's plenty to get in-depth with in the app as well, including multiple ANC modes and EQ customization.
There are some pre-made EQs, but you can also use a banded EQ to really dial in how the headphones sound. This is also where you'll find the Soundstage settings. One to leave alone, I'd say. In the end, it's a helpful app that adds to the package rather than complicating it.
ANC
ANC is about par for the course. I found that it wasn't up there with the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but it was better than the AirPods Max and headphones closer in price to the Monitor III. It blocked out the noise of all the public transport I put it on.
Transparency mode is a little less good, unfortunately. It seems to want to isolate voices amongst the rest of the din, but it's not very good at it. I found I mostly got a garbled mess in the end — I'd just slip them off to talk to people.
Battery life
This is where the Monitor III really shine. They'll last you 100 hours with the ANC turned off, which is around two weeks' use if you were to use them while working. Turn ANC on and you get 70 hours, or about 10 hours per day of the week. That's a lot of battery life.
When I was testing the Monitor III, I used them for around 2 weeks, and during my testing, I didn't need to charge them even once. Since then, I've had to charge them a few times, but the 100-hour battery life claim rings true in my testing.
- Read the full Marshall Monitor III review
Also tested
Not everything we test gets a place on the best list — there are always some that don't quite match up to the options that we think fit the list best. These are the headphones that got very close, but didn't quite manage to take the fight to our top picks. Sometimes they've just been dethroned, and they're still a great pair of headphones.
Whatever the reason they're here, these are some extra options that you should also consider buying.
How we test headphones
Testing headphones isn't all fun and games — it's hard work using different sets for hours and hours, looking at their ANC algorithm, testing their batteries to empty, and going in depth with their sound quality.
Ok, so it's not that hard, given that most of it is listening to music, but it's still important that we get a clear idea of how the headphones perform. Beyond wearing the headphones and seeing how comfortable they are, along with judging build quality and the value of the package itself, there are a few key variables that we have to test more rigorously to get an idea of how they fare.
Sound quality
This is the fun bit in our testing. We sit down for a few hours per day of proper, critical listening so that we can get a good, clear idea of how the headphones sound. We use the Tom's Guide testing playlist on Qobuz, which the testing team and I put together with tracks chosen to highlight different strengths and weaknesses in a pair of headphones.
We listen in a quiet environment first of all, and then compare the sound quality to the headphones on the list above. That gives an idea of the frequency response of the headphones and a clearer picture of the kind of sound quality that you can experience.
It's all hard work, of course. No fun to be found here. We don't also spend the duration of the testing period listening to our favorite tunes, and getting lost in our own musical worlds. And if we did, it wouldn't help at all in judging the headphones' sound in a day-to-day use case. Nope.
Want to listen along with the Tom's Guide testing team? Check out the playlist below:
ANC
We want to make sure that the ANC performs well in a variety of different environments, so we take it out and about to really get a feel for how the headphones handle them.
That means taking them on the bus, the train, and even on intercontinental flights for hours and hours, and then noting our experiences when we get back in front of our keyboards. We want these to be as real-world as possible, so we use the ANC in the same kind of environments that you would be — there's no point testing how they'd sound 6 feet away from a jet engine, no matter how well it might show the ultimate strength of the algorithm.
For headphones with transparency modes and the like, we test the headphones when we need to speak to someone. That could be a bus driver, a colleague at work or the salesperson at the corner store.
We listen out for any kind of audio artefacting or noises that the microphones pick up, and whether the audio is clear or muddy.
Battery life
When headphones can last anything up to 100 hours now, it's never an easy task to test the battery of a pair of cans. Where possible, we like to measure the amount of time we listen to a pair of headphones before they reach the end of their battery life. We do this while listening with ANC turned on, and the volume at mid-level to replicate how you might actually want to use your headphones.
Where this isn't possible, we extrapolate battery life based on the percentage remaining and how long we've been listening to them. From there we can work out whether a manufacturer's claims are correct. This isn't the most accurate method of testing batteries, but sometimes battery life is so big that it's otherwise very tricky to measure them accurately through any other means.
Call quality
We start testing call quality exactly how you'd expect — we make some calls while wearing the headphones. From there though there are a couple of different variables that we consider when judging the call quality.
First, we want to make sure that the person we're calling sounds good. Are they clear, or do we struggle to hear them occasionally? We want to make sure than any noise canceling isn't getting in the way, and that we don't get interrupted by outside noises. How's the volume, and does it get piercing?
Then, we double check with the person on the other end of the call can hear us ok. Are we clear? "Can you hear me properly, and can you tell me where you think I am?" We test the call quality in a number of different environments from the roadside to public transport and everything inbetween so that we know that the call quality is good no matter where you are.
How to choose the best headphones for you
Our list should hopefully make the task a lot easier than it was before, but there are still some important things to keep in mind when you want to buy a pair of headphones.
Where are you going to be wearing them?
Different headphones excel at different things, and you want to make sure that your headphones are going to excel in your environment. If you are going to be wearing them in a noisy environment, for example, you'll want something with better ANC that can block out more noise.
If you're in a quieter spot, you might want to put your focus on the feature set or the sound quality. You'll have more flexibility, in that case.
If you're wearing yours in a city, you might not want a pair that screams "I spent a lot of money on these!" So you'll want to choose something that's slightly more understated.
How much do you want to spend?
Work out a budget before you start thinking too much about the kind of headphones you want to buy. There are excellent options at loads of different price points, and don't be put off just because something is cheaper than the headphones at the very top of the list.
Similarly, don't think that just because something is more expensive means that it's going to be much, much better than something that doesn't cost as much. The Marshall Monitor III, for example, don't cost as much as Sony or Bose's flagship models, but they sound better.
Look out for hardcases
Generally, if you pay above $200, you're going to get a case in the box of your headphones. Not all cases are created equal, however. The hard case found in the box of the Marshall Monitor III, as pictured above, is much better than the softer case you'll find in the $250 more expensive AirPods Max, for example.
Do some shopping around and double-check that you're going to get the full package that you want when you're looking to pick up a new pair of headphones.
Don't be fooled by frequency response readings
When you're reading through the specs lists of headphones, you'll often find a frequency response number. It might read something along the lines of "15 Hz - 22 kHz". The first number denotes how low they can go, and the second is the upper limit of the headphones. Everything in between is what makes up most of the music.
It's useful for spec-heads to brag about their headphones, but its very poor for working out how headphones actually sound. Just because a pair of headphones might be capable of going super low doesn't mean they're any good at it, and neither does the second number give you any idea of the quality of the high-frequencies.
It's about what the headphones do with the frequency range that demonstrates how they sound, and the only way to find that out is to give them a try. Or read one of our top-notch and informative headphone reviews.
