Tag: Headphones

These High-End Earbuds Are Cheaper Than Ever Right Now

Looking for a pair of truly wireless earbuds that pack a little more oomph than your average AirPods? The Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 (8/10, WIRED Review) are marked down to just $180 at Amazon, a full $100 off their list price and the lowest price we’ve seen for these upgraded earbuds.

Photograph: Parker Hall

The Amiron 300 have a classic Beyerdynamic sound profile, which is delightfully rich and smooth, with a mostly neutral base that has good definition at the far ends of the spectrum. Reviewer Parker Hall was particularly impressed with the vocal quality, which he called “clear and dynamic” and didn’t get “overwhelmed by such a well-defined low end.” These are particularly good for jazz and vocal-heavy acoustic music, but anyone with good ears will be impressed with the performance.

They also come with five sizes of ear tips, so most people shouldn have no trouble finding some that are a good fit, which also helps provide excellent sound isolation. That helps make up for the fact that the active noise canceling isn’t quite as sharp as it is on earbuds from the likes of Sony or Bose. They do have excellent pass-through audio, though, which could trick you into thinking there isn’t any noise canceling on at all.

There’s a mobile app that’s non-intrusive and useful, letting you change the functions of the buttons on the outside. As someone who constantly skips tracks by accident when pulling my hood up, I can appreciate the ability to tweak these settings. There are a variety of other options too, including an EQ to adjust, and a low latency mode if you want to use them to catch up on your favorite shows while riding the bus to work.

Overall, these make for a nice upgrade from more budget-friendly true wireless earbuds, particularly for those with discerning ears and a penchant for vocal music or podcasts. Their understated design and great compatibility help round out an otherwise appealing package, and the lower price helps seal the deal. If you’re still not sold, make sure to check out our full roundup of true wireless earbuds for all of our top picks.

Brad Bourque

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October 15, 2025
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Review: The New King of ANC?

Bose has done it again. Sorry, I said BOSE HAS DONE IT AGAIN. Can you hear me?!

James Pero

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October 11, 2025
Sonos Ace headphones are $100 off right now

Sonos’ Ace headphones didn’t get off to the best start, but the brand’s first headphones have come a long way since launch, and for $100 off when purchased directly from Sonos or Amazon, they’re well worth considering. The Ace are down to $299 from both retailers, and for that price you’re getting one of the most feature-packed pairs of noise-canceling headphones on the market right now.

Sonos

When the Ace arrived in the summer of 2024, we praised them for their sound quality, premium design and comfy fit, but had no choice but to ding the headphones for not launching with some of their flashiest features. But that’s no longer an issue if you pick up a pair today, as Sonos’ TrueCinema spatial audio tech now works as advertised.

As a reminder, TrueCinema takes into account the dynamics of your living space when you’re using TV Audio Swap to create a virtual 3D audio system in your headphones. The idea is that you feel like you aren’t wearing them at all, which is a big claim to make, but there’s no denying that True Cinema enhances the experience of watching movies and TV shows while wearing the Ace.

Sonos has also improved the Ace’s adaptive noise cancellation in updates made available since launch, while phone calls are now clearer than they were when we first reviewed the headphones. They’re still expensive at full price, but if you use other Sonos products in your home and think you’ll appreciate the Ace’s ability to swap audio output with a compatible Sonos soundbar (ideal for late-night movies when the kids are in bed), then it’s a very easy recommendation at $299.

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Matt Tate

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October 10, 2025
You Can’t Afford Not to Check Out These Killer Prime Day Headphone Deals
Amazon Prime Day brings sales of all kinds, but some of our favorite deals are those that double down on the value. All of the headphones on this list are ones we’d already recommend as deals just based on their sheer value at full price. Many (or most) of them live on our best budget headphones guide, so now that they’re on sale, they’re even harder to pass up.

Once you’ve perused these sweet deals, make sure and check out our Absolute Best Prime Day deals post and our Amazon Prime Day live blog for tons more Prime Day Big Deal days sales on stuff we’ve vigorously tested.

WIRED Featured Deals

Slick Style Meets Solid Substance

Photograph: Parker Hall

Nothing burst on the scene with some of the coolest earbuds we’ve seen, bringing transparent tech out of the ‘80s and into the now. The Nothing Ear (a) is one of the brand’s best creations, offering solid noise canceling and good sound in a splendidly stylish package, including a transparent charging case that you’ll want to keep out of your pocket to just to show it off to friends and coworkers. The call quality is great, the touch controls are responsive, and everything just works, all spun into a package with much more verve than the price point would suggest.

Stalwart Noise Cancelers That Go Anywhere

Photograph: Amazon

Anker

Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless

I can’t give the Soundcore Life Q30 a better recommendation than to say that I took them on a transcontinental trip, and they were up to the challenge. The noise canceling can’t match the big boys, but it keeps the drone sounds at bay, while their rich sound punches up films, TV shows, and music to keep you entertained as you float five miles high. The chassis is a bit of a scratch magnet, but they fit comfortably for hours and even come with a case. Soundcore has updated its lineup, but there’s a reason the Life Q30 have stuck around for years.

The Perfect Earbuds to Keep You Present
Photograph: Ryan Waniata

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

Photograph: Ryan Waniata
If you’re new to open earbuds, they keep your ear canals open so you can hear your music without checking out. Having recently become a steward of a mercurial newborn, I’ve found yet another fantastic use for them, letting me catch up on my Lonely Island podcast without neglecting my little one. The Acefit Acefast Air are my favorite pair for the money, which is a great fit for earbuds you can’t wear anytime (say, when the little one is shrieking). They sound great, work well, and fit seamlessly on my ears and in my new dad life.

The Best Sound, Pound-for-Pound

Courtesy of Amazon

We’ve come to depend on Soundpeats, which makes some surprisingly excellent-sounding earbuds at similarly surprising prices. The Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro+ is our favorite yet, mixing a tiny (and crazy-durable) xMEMS speaker with a regular dynamic driver to provide clear and articulate treble, rich and meaty bass, and tons of detail throughout the sound signature. You’ll get extras like high-resolution support via Sony’s LDAC code, solid battery life, and some decent noise canceling, all for well under $100 on sale. I don’t love the touch controls, which are sometimes unresponsive, but for everything else you get, it’s an easy concession.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata

Photograph: Ryan Waniata
At $30 regular price, you wouldn’t think the Go Pop ANC could get any cheaper, but darn it if you wouldn’t be dead wrong. This sale won’t change the equation for most budgets, but then again, at just $21, can you afford not to buy these earbuds? These make for a killer gift, especially for a niece or nephew who may lose them quickly. So what do you get for your money? Surprisingly solid sound, a modicum of noise canceling, touch controls that actually work, and even some basic EQ options. That’s a whole lot of action for very little scratch.

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Ryan Waniata

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October 7, 2025
If You Own a Samsung Phone, the Buds3 FE Might Be for You

I’ve been very impressed with Samsung’s third-gen wireless earbuds. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro ($190), which were released in 2024, were a solid AirPods Pro competitor for Android owners. Now, they’ve been joined by the Galaxy Buds3 FE, a new entry-level model that looks nearly identical to the Buds3 Pro but trades away a lot of bells and whistles for a more accessible price: $150.

The Pro’s high-tech LED “blade” lights are gone, as is head tracking, auto-pause, dual drivers, wireless charging, and full waterproofing. What matters more is what Samsung kept: a very comfortable fit, great sound quality, and surprisingly good ANC, transparency, and call quality. In short, the Galaxy Buds3 FE get the most important stuff right.

Like all Samsung Galaxy wireless earbuds, some of their more interesting features are exclusively available when using Samsung Galaxy phones (and don’t even think about buying them if you’re on an iPhone), which narrows their prospective market. But if you’re a true-blue Samsung fan on a budget, the Galaxy Buds3 FE are a great set of wireless buds.

Midrange Gems

Photograph: Simon Cohen

Though Samsung calls them Galaxy Buds3 FE—you’d naturally assume that means they replace 2023’s Galaxy Buds FE ($100)—they’re actually a kind of midrange option. Samsung is keeping the Buds FE around (and maintaining the price), which I think is a great idea. The original Buds FE are still excellent, and now you’ve got two different fit options: the older, button-style, and the newer AirPods imitation shape. As a bonus, if you opt for the Buds3 FE, you get better water and dust protection: IP54 versus IPX2.

Between the two FE models, I’ve got to give the comfort award to the Buds3 FE. With less mass in your ear and no silicone stability fin wrapped around the circumference, it’s a gentle, easy feel. If you’ve ever tried the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, Apple AirPods Pro, or similarly shaped, stem-based models, the Buds3 FE should feel instantly familiar. However, that also means they aren’t exactly rock-solid for high-impact activities like running. This is where the original Galaxy Buds FE still have an edge: Twist them into place and it’s unlikely they’ll budge unless you want them to.

Wear App via Simon Cohen

Samsung isn’t very generous with ear tip sizes. Beyond the preinstalled medium tips, you only get a small and a large size in the box—the new AirPods Pro, for example, give you four pairs. Make sure you use the fit test in the Samsung Wear app once you get the earbuds connected. I thought the medium tips felt OK, but the test prompted me to try the large, and it was right: They gave me a better fit and a tighter seal.

Speaking of what’s in (or not in) the box, Samsung, like Apple, no longer includes a charging cable. You probably have at least one USB-C cable already, but if you don’t, you’ll need one.

Moving to the stem-based design brings pinch and swipe gestures to the FE family. Samsung borrowed this system from Apple’s AirPods Pro, but the triangular shape of the Galaxy Buds’ stems can make these controls a little harder to use than Apple’s. You do get used to them, however, and overall, I think they’re an improvement on the first-gen Buds FE’s touch controls—especially using the up/down swipe gesture to control volume.

Samsung’s AirPods

Photograph: Simon Cohen

Sound quality on the Galaxy Buds3 FE is outstanding. It not only compares well to other earbuds at this price, it holds up to many more expensive models. The sound signature is robust, with excellent response across frequencies. The low end is resonant yet snappy, the mids and highs are clear and detailed, and the soundstage has a pleasing amount of width and depth.

Simon Cohen

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September 27, 2025
AirPods Pro 3 Are the Best AirPods Yet

The same mildly flat indent on the stem of each bud indicates the location of the touch/squeeze controls, and there are black spots where heart rate sensors, wear detection sensors, and microphone ports hide. As with previous models, silvery tips bless the end of each elephant trunk, where a beamforming mic aims at your lips for maximum fidelity. These are all familiar, refined design cues from previous AirPods, and they are better executed than ever, even with such slight changes.

Well-Supported

Review: Apple AirPods Pro 3

I’ve been very impressed with Apple’s software support when it comes to AirPods Pro; last year it added a bunch of free hearing health features as a software update. That trend continues here with the addition of real-time translation and heart rate monitoring on these buds.

The translation can be activated by squeezing both of the buds at once, at which time any Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone (any iPhone 16 Pro or later with the feature on) will pull up the Translate app on iOS. Siri will then listen to the speaker in front of you and translate what they are saying in real time, provided they are speaking English, Spanish, German, French, or Portuguese. I tested this with my multilingual wife, who found it to be very accurate with her Spanish phrases.

This is great for multilingual work or education environments in the United States in particular, as well as for travel, and should help folks who struggle with more advanced phrases or need to deliver a more nuanced message in their native language.

I’ve seen this feature enabled on headphones like the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 (which do this, but using Google Translate). Side by side, Google’s Buds and associated app offer many more languages and bit better translation (my Thai mother-in-law was very excited at how well it worked with Thai, which isn’t available on AirPods Pro 3), but Apple’s version is still more than welcome.

Parker Hall

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September 26, 2025
Yamaha’s YH-L500A Lack ANC, but They’re the World’s Coziest Headphones

The only exception to this high level of build quality is the controls, which give a slightly cheap vibe due to the way they rattle a bit in the housing. Still, they’re (mostly) intuitive, easy to use even with gloved fingers, and offer excellent tactile response.

None of this prepares you for the YH-L500A’s incredible comfort. Those large ear cups swallow up your ears as the plushly padded (and replaceable) ear cushions give your head a big, warm hug. The combination of clamping force, excellent headband padding, and their featherweight mass makes these cans an exceptional choice for long listening sessions, even while wearing glasses. My only note is that those with very small heads may have trouble. If my head were any smaller, the ear cups would sit too low, even at the headband’s shortest setting.

Photograph: Simon Cohen

Part of what gives these cans such a comfy fit is their seal, which also creates substantial passive noise isolation. When walking down busy urban sidewalks, traffic and construction sounds were still quite audible but not annoyingly so. At home it was a similar story, with mildly intrusive sounds kept at bay but louder ones getting through.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say it obviates the need for ANC (especially for travel), but it’s not the deal-breaker I expected. What I missed more than the absence of ANC was the lack of a transparency mode. Without one, voices (both yours and others’) were muffled; I had to routinely pull the headphones down to my neck even for quick conversations.

Unfortunately, this means that even though the YH-L500A’s dual built-in mics have decent voice pickup and background noise canceling (especially indoors), using these cans for wireless calls can be exhausting. I quickly tired of not being able to hear my own voice clearly. At home, you can get around this by using the wired analog connection with a desktop USB mic.

Highly Detailed Sound

Headphone Control via Simon Cohen

Headphone Control via Simon Cohen

Equipped with a pair of 40mm dynamic drivers, the YH-L500A deliver precise, highly detailed sound, with excellent clarity. The factory tuning is conservative on bass and a bit too bright in the highs for my liking, though the midrange is just about perfect.

The Yamaha Headphones app gives you five EQ presets to play around with (Energy, Gentle, Vocal, Groove, and Openness), but none gave me the tweaks I was looking for. Thankfully, you can roll your own presets (up to two can be saved) via a five-band equalizer, and you can make your adjustments from neutral, or from any of the factory presets. By decreasing the levels of the highest frequencies, while giving a small boost to the lowest, I found a mix I really enjoyed.

Simon Cohen

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September 26, 2025
Razer’s BlackShark V3 Pro Are the Best High-End Gaming Headphones

Despite including Bluetooth and ANC, I don’t think of this at the type of do-everything headset you might replace noise-canceling headphones with, and not just because the person next to you will wonder if you’re secretly talking to the pilots. These are so bulky and obviously for gaming that you probably don’t want to wear them outside the house. You’d certainly get some weird looks walking the dog or working from your local coffee shop.

Comfort and Fit

Photograph: Brad Bourque

In order to fit all those features inside, the BlackShark 3 are noticeably heavier than some of the other headsets I’ve tested recently. The Pro version with ANC comes in at 367 grams, a full 100-plus grams heavier than the Arctis Nova 3 at 260 grams. If you opt for the non-Pro model without ANC, it’s much closer to the SteelSeries at just 270 g, which is very appealing if you mostly game alone at home instead of in front of a crowd of adoring fans.

That weight doesn’t make them uncomfortable, at least for a few hours at a time, largely thanks to the ear cups, which have a pleasant mesh exterior and squishy interior padding. Razer says there’s a layer of pleather underneath to help the noise canceling, but I couldn’t tell it was there, which is a good thing, because I hate how hot pleather can get.

Still, I miss the ski-goggle band found on most SteelSeries headsets, which distributes weight more evenly across the top of the headband. Especially during long sessions, and on bigger craniums, it can help a lot with comfort. Even the similarly heavy Arctis Nova Pro, my previous upgrade pick, has a softer top-of-head feel.

Extra weight also means a bigger battery. I measured close to 50 hours with the active noise canceling on, and right around 60 with the feature turned off. In practice, I only had to plug in the BlackShark V3 Pro once a week or so to keep them topped up. The one time they got low in the middle of a WoW raid night, I was able to charge them up on our 8-minute break from about 4 percent to 11 percent, which was more than enough for the rest of the evening. They got a little confused if I plugged them into the computer just to charge, but an external charger worked just fine while playing.

The Best Microphone

Photograph: Brad Bourque

I rotate through a lot of gaming headsets, and most of the time I have to ask for feedback on my microphone quality. Some are better than others, but most are just gaming headset microphones, with a recognizable, slightly tinny vibe. The moment I sat down for my weekly Dungeons and Dragons game, my party members noticed how sharp and clear I sounded.

Brad Bourque

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September 14, 2025
These Odd-Looking Earbuds Rival the Best From Apple, Sony, and Bose

The Pro X, like the Between 3ANC before them, use multiple drivers: a dynamic unit for the lowest frequencies paired with a dual set of Knowles balanced armatures for the upper-mids and highs. Just like in a tower speaker that has a woofer, a midrange, and a tweeter, multi-driver earbuds divide and conquer by sending specific frequencies to a driver that’s been tuned to handle them.

Out of the box, the earbuds are set to Status Signature—the Pro X’s default tuning. It’s a nicely balanced EQ that boosts neither highs nor lows, yet still possesses a warm tone. There’s effortless detail in the midrange, and the highs have excellent clarity. Bass is tightly controlled; even when pushing the Pro X to 95% volume, Billie Eilish’s bass-tastic “bad guy” sounded perfect, with no discernible distortion.

Switching to the Knowles Preferred preset gives a big bump to the upper mids and highs to show off what those balanced armatures can do. Normally, this kind of tuning doesn’t do it for me, but on the Pro X, I was impressed by how enjoyable it was. If you’ve found yourself drawn to Bose’s high-energy sound signature in the past, this preset gets you very close.

If you can’t find your favorite balance from among the five available presets, you can roll your own. In fact, one of the best features is creating custom EQ presets by starting with an existing one. I goosed Status Signature’s low-end just a tad, and got exactly the mix I wanted. On that note, I have to give Status props for its app; it’s super clean and very easy to use.

The soundstage isn’t especially wide—I’d place its extremities about 3-6 inches outside my head—but it’s got excellent precision. Individual elements stand out from each other so clearly that you can mentally point at the various musicians playing in front of you. A jazz classic like Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” benefits a lot from the Pro X’s clear separation of sounds, letting you appreciate each instrument in its own space.

I did most of my listening on an iPhone 16, but it’s worth noting that the Pro X support Sony’s high-quality LDAC Bluetooth codec. If you’re on Android, make sure you’ve got it enabled for an even smoother, more refined performance.

Against the Crowd

Photograph: Simon Cohen

I swapped the Pro X with Sony’s WF-1000XM5, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4, and Technics’ EAH-Z100. The Status Pro X more than held their own on sound quality. I personally still prefer the XM5’s sound signature thanks to its more resonant bass response, but that’s more about my taste than any shortcomings of the Pro X—they’re excellent.

Simon Cohen

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September 11, 2025
The New Bose QC Ultra 2 Are the Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Right Now

When it comes to cutting out annoying outside noise, there is no brand in history that has denatured more decibels than Bose. The pioneers of noise-canceling haven’t been without challengers in recent years, including Sony, Apple, and others, but Bose has maintained the crown for generation after generation. Perhaps no product showcases this iterative talent more than its latest earbuds, the QuietComfort Ultra 2.

There wasn’t anything wrong with the first pair. I liked their ergonomic fit, excellent noise reduction, and bold low end, not to mention their excellent microphones, angled toward your mouth in an homage to Apple’s popular AirPods Pro.

With the new QC Ultra 2, we get wireless charging, more customizable sound, better immersive audio, and improved noise reduction. As far as I’m concerned, if you’re a business traveler or someone who wants a compact pair of headphones that truly removes the sound of the world around you, these are—once again—the best you can buy.

Generation 2

Photograph: Parker Hall

I find it very hard to fault Bose for its rubber-stamped design approach; the previous pair were very comfortable and functioned extremely well. The slight changes that appear on the new model are welcome, and I’m not mad at the lack of physical changes.

You now get wireless charging in the clamshell case and a guard to prevent earwax buildup, and you can toggle the included touch controls in the app, which is very helpful when doing activities where you might brush your ear.

Places I don’t find improvements include the weight (the new buds are about a gram heavier but still perfectly fine in your ears) and battery life (the new buds have the same six hours with ANC on, 24 hours in the case as the old model). Bose has even opted for the same drivers in this new generation of buds, with slight tuning adjustments that I’ll get into in a bit.

Features Galore

Courtesy of Bose

If you’re new to the world of wireless earbuds or are coming from a more basic pair, the amount of customization that you can do with Bose’s latest buds can feel daunting. You can choose various “modern traditional” adjustments like EQ and noise canceling/transparency modes, but the buds also allow you to dial in two kinds of immersive 3D upscaling (one for staying in place, one for while you move around), among other wild and fantastical new settings that take advantage of modern processors and machine learning tech.

Parker Hall

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September 8, 2025
Sony’s Previous Flagship Headphones Are $100 Off (and Still Better Than Most Other Headphones)

Some people always want the newest version, but if you’re willing to compromise a little, you can have Sony’s noise-canceling WH-1000XM5 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) for just $300 from Amazon, a steep discount on their usual price. Even though their successor is available, they still offer an extremely good value and number among our favorite active noise-canceling headphones, particularly when you can save $100.

Photograph: Sony

For years now, Sony has been pumping out generation after generation of the WH-1000XM Series headphones with active noise-canceling. Depending on the year, and the most recently released Bose headset, they typically land at or near the top of our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones.

Not only do they have excellent noise-canceling performance, they also sound amazing. Our reviewer described them as “spacious and well defined, and consequently each and every individual strand of a recording is simple to identify and isolate.” They work well with a variety of different musical styles, thanks to a high level of detail, particularly in the midrange where other headphones sometimes struggle. The highs and lows are clear and deep too, allowing for top-tier sharpness and responsiveness.

They’re consistently light at just 250 grams and extremely comfortable, making them a great option for frequent flyers and noisy commutes, although they might be a little sweaty for working out. They have both Bluetooth and 3.5-mm connection options, and pair up capacitive touch controls with a great app. While not mandatory, the free app for both iOS and Android has settings for tweaking both the equalizer and the active noise-canceling settings.

The biggest difference that most folks will notice between the older XM5 and the newer XM6 is the foldable design, which helps the newer model squeeze into more compact carry-on bags. The XM5 include a compact carrying case though, which should be fine for medium-size backpacks and briefcases.

When we reviewed the Sony WH-1000XM5, we noted that the price relative to other models was the biggest downside, a complaint we’ve made about several iterations of the WH-1000XM headsets. Thankfully, the healthy discount here makes them a much more appealing option, particularly with the newer WH-1000XM6 (9/10, WIRED Review) still priced around $448.

Brad Bourque

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September 2, 2025
Save 20 Percent on Our Favorite Earbuds for Android

Looking to upgrade your wireless earbuds without reaching deep into your wallet? Our favorite earbuds for most people, the Nothing Ear (a) (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are currently marked down to just $79 when you buy them from Nothing directly. They may be cheap when it comes to dollars spent, but they have it where it counts, with great audio quality, an excellent feature set, and awesome battery life.

Photograph: Parker Hall

While the first-party offerings from both Apple and Google make for compelling options, the Nothing Ear (a) are great for both sides of the aisle. They feature painless pairing with either iOS or Android devices and have great touch controls for managing your music or volume. They’re also among the best for battery life, especially for the price, reaching 5.5 hours of play time even with noise-canceling.

The sound quality is really impressive, with custom-made 11-mm drivers that have a sound profile our reviewer described as “crip, clear, and dynamic,” so they’re perfect for listening to more open and delicate music. Jazz, classical, and acoustic songs all shine on the Nothing Ear (a), but you can use them for pop and rock and be just as happy.

They also feature impressive noise-canceling tech, with a full 45 decibels of sound reduction, which is great if you often find yourself trying to catch up on your podcasts on a busy subway. Our reviewer even appreciated them for traveling, noting that they do a good job of reducing the hum of an airplane engine.

There’s a slightly more expensive option as well, the Nothing Ear, which is currently on sale for just $99 and adds wireless charging to the case, plus a ceramic driver. That may sound appealing, but in practice, WIRED writer Parker Hall didn’t necessarily note a huge difference in performance, and the battery life is a little bit worse as a result, so we think the Nothing Ear (a) are a better value.

For under $100, the Nothing Ear (a) provide a remarkable amount of value, with great audio quality for music, excellent noise-canceling, and a platform-agnostic outlook that’s sure to appeal to anyone with lots of different devices. They easily compete with wireless earbuds at twice the price, earning them the top spot on our favorite wireless earbuds roundup.

Brad Bourque

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August 27, 2025
The best noise-canceling headphones for 2025
Whether you’re working in a noisy office, commuting on a packed train or just trying to focus at home, a good pair of noise-canceling headphones can make all the difference. The best noise-canceling headphones block out distractions and let you enjoy your music, podcasts or calls in peace — all while delivering great sound quality and all-day comfort. From models with plush cushions to wireless cans with loads of extra features, there’s something here for every style and budget.

Table of contents

Best noise-canceling headphones of 2025
Billy Steele for Engadget

Connectivity: Bluetooth | ANC type: Hybrid Adaptive | Customizable ANC: Yes | Max battery life with ANC: 30 hours | Transparency mode: Yes | Weight: 254 grams | Collapsible: No (ear cups swivel flat but do not fold inward)

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM6 review

Sony’s 1000X line has been our top pick for best wireless headphone for a long time now. Until another company can pack in as many premium features as Sony, and do so with a mix of excellent sound quality and effective ANC, the crown is safe. With the WH-1000XM6, Sony subtly redesigned its flagship headphones, making them way more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. This is an important factor to consider when purchasing over-ear headphones. We also noticed in our tests that the company made noticeable improvements to the active noise cancellation, thanks to a new QN3 chip. There are now 12 total ANC mics as well – the previous model only had eight. This all combines to better block background noise at medium and high frequencies, including human voices.

The M6 also has improved sound quality, thanks to new drivers, some help from mastering engineers and spatial audio upmixing. Its battery life remains the same 30 hours as its predecessor, which is more than enough to get you through several days of work or long international flights. Speak-to-Chat still reduces volume and activates ambient sound when you talk and the M6 can automatically change noise settings based on your location or activity. The only real downside is that they’re $50 more than the WH-1000XM5 at full price ($450).

Pros

Improved sound

Better ANC performance

Tons of handy features

Supremely comfy

Cons

Price has increased again

Speak-to-Chat still needs work

Call quality suffers in loud environments

$448 at Macy’s
Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

Connectivity: Bluetooth | ANC type: Hybrid Adaptive | Customizable ANC: Yes | Max battery life with ANC: 24 hours | Transparency mode: Yes | Weight: 254 grams | Collapsible: Yes (folds both flat and inward)

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra review

Bose’s unique take on spatial audio may be the headline feature on its QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but the company didn’t overlook ANC on this model. Described as “the quietest quiet” available on any of its headphones yet, the ANC here is noticeably better than the Bose 700 and iconic QuietComfort Headphones. This is due in part to microphone enhancements that also improve call quality. The changes are especially apparent when dealing with the hard-to-combat frequency range of people talking. The company also offers presets that mix ANC, transparency mode and its spatial Immersive Audio, allowing you to quickly switch the sound to match your surroundings. And if that wasn’t enough, the touch controls make these over-ear headphones a breeze to use — so you get good noise cancelation, good sound and extra convenience bundled in this package.

While the spatial sound feature is a bit of a mixed bag, the stock tuning on the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is still good – even before you switch on Immersive Audio. Bose has generally lagged the competition in terms of sonic prowess, but these over-ear headphones show that gap is narrowing. There’s a dash more bass to enhance a default sound profile that’s warmer, clearer and more inviting than previous Bose models, resulting in good sound overall. When Immersive Audio hits, it’s amazing and the audio quality is truly remarkable. But, the company is relying on signal processing rather than specially crafted content so the results vary.

Pros

Excellent ANC

Improved audio

Clearer transparency mode

Comfy

Cons

Expensive

Immersive Audio is inconsistent

No USB-C audio

$449 at Macy’s
Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

Connectivity: Bluetooth | ANC type: Hybrid | Customizable ANC: Yes | Max battery life with ANC: 35 hours | Transparency mode: Yes | Weight: 192 grams | Collapsible: No (ear cups swivel flat but do not fold inward)

Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review

The WH-CH720N won’t win any design awards with these over-ear headphones, but what you get for the price is well worth some aesthetic sacrifices. Due to their all-plastic construction, the CH720N are super lightweight and comfy, allowing you to wear them for hours at a time. The ANC isn’t as robust in these budget headphones as that in more expensive headphones, but it’s above average for products in this price range. Toss in customizability and a handy transparency mode, and you’ve got a solid device that costs only $150 — and regularly goes for around $100.

In addition to decent noise reduction for a small investment, the CH720N has 35-hour battery life, physical controls, DSEE upscaling and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio. You can also adjust both the EQ and the level of ambient sound. Plus, the company’s ever-present Adaptive Sound Control can automatically switch the sound settings based on your activity or location. Last but not least, the overall sound quality is really impressive for headphones at this price. There’s plenty of detail and subtlety in the audio; you can really hear the gritty texture of distorted guitars and near-pristine acoustic instruments.

Pros

Affordably priced

Lightweight and comfy

Great sound quality

Some handy features

Cons

ANC struggles in certain environments

Lots of plastic

No automatic pausing

Advanced features reserved for pricier models

$150 at Amazon
Billy Steele for Engadget

Connectivity: Bluetooth | ANC type: Adaptive | Customizable ANC: No | Max battery life with ANC: 30 hours | Transparency mode: Yes | Weight: 300 grams | Collapsible: No (ear cups swivel flat but do not fold inward)

Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review

If you seek to pair excellent sound quality with capable ANC performance, the Px7 S3 are the best option. Sure, you can find more impressive noise-blocking abilities elsewhere, but if you want pristine audio as well, Bowers & Wilkins is the way to go. An adaptive ANC setup uses eight microphones to capture unwanted noise and automatically adjust to any changes. 40mm dynamic full-range bio cellulose drivers pipe in balanced tuning that provides you with the finest detail of any song.

You’ll also get up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC enabled, although you will probably surpass that figure. Plus, handy tools like transparency mode, multipoint Bluetooth and an adjustable EQ cover the basics on the Px7 S3. You won’t find more advanced features than those, but what Bowers & Wilkins does offer here is finely tuned and carefully polished.

Pros

Excellent sound quality

Comfy fit

Sophisticated design

Cons

Expensive

Awkward button locations

A lack of advanced features

$449 at Macy’s
Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

Connectivity: Bluetooth | ANC type: Hybrid Adaptive | Customizable ANC: Yes | Max battery life with ANC: 60 hours | Transparency mode: Yes | Weight: 292.9 grams | Collapsible: No (ear cups swivel flat but do not fold inward)

Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review

Sure, there are headphones that will last longer than Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless, but they don’t offer the combo of great battery life, ANC and good sound quality you’ll find here. On this model, the company made big improvements to its active noise cancellation, catching up to rivals like Bose and Sony. Specifically, the ANC on the Momentum 4 handles constant distractions more effectively than previous models in the series.

I don’t care for the design Sennheiser introduced on the Momentum 4 as the company ditched what was a quite novel look for something much more generic and plastic. However, the change comes with the bonus of increased comfort. You’ll also get excellent sound quality, in fact, it’s some of the best you’ll find in wireless headphones. There’s noticeable depth to the audio profile with a wide soundstage that complements all genres. You might even discover finer details you previously missed. And, of course, its 60 hours of battery life with ANC on is double what a lot of flagship headphones offer these days.

Pros

Impressive 60-hour battery life

Better ANC performance

Great sound quality

Improved comfort

Cons

Pinch gesture feels unnecessary

Standout design is gone

Auto on/off needs work

$380 at Adorama
How to choose the best noise-canceling headphones for you

Design

When you’re shopping for the best wireless headphones, the first thing you’ll need to decide on is wear style. Do you prefer on-ear or over-ear headphones? For the purposes of this guide, I focus on the over-ear style as that’s what most noise-canceling headphones are nowadays. Sure, you can find on-ear models with ANC, but over-ear, active noise-canceling headphones are much more effective at blocking outside sounds since your ears are completely covered.

For gamers, there are also gaming headsets that feature noise cancellation — some even have detachable microphones, so they can double as over-ear headphones. However, for the purpose of this article, we’re only going to be focusing on noise-canceling headphones rather than headsets. Look for models with a comfortable headband and memory foam ear cups to ensure you can wear them for long periods without discomfort.

Many headphones also come with a range of color options, so if aesthetics matter to you, you’ll find plenty of choices beyond just black or white. Whether you’re looking for something neutral or a bold pop of color, brands now offer a variety of styles to match your personal taste.

Finally, if you’re planning to wear your headphones for long periods of time, it’s important to pick a model with a comfortable fit. Memory foam ear cups, an adjustable headband, and lightweight materials can make all the difference during extended listening sessions. After all, great sound is only part of the equation; comfort matters just as much.

Type of noise cancellation

Next, you’ll want to look at the type of ANC a set of headphones offers. You’ll come across terms like “hybrid active noise cancellation” or “hybrid adaptive active noise cancellation,” and there are key differences between the two. A hybrid ANC setup uses microphones on the inside and on the outside of the device to detect outside noise and cancel it out. By analyzing input from both mics, a hybrid system can combat more sounds than “regular” ANC, but it does so at a constant level that doesn’t change.

Adaptive ANC takes the hybrid configuration a step further by continuously adjusting the noise cancellation for changes in your environment and any leakage around the padding of the ear cups. Adaptive noise-canceling also does a better job with wind noise, which can really kill your vibe while using headphones outdoors. Some high-end headphones also support Dolby Atmos, which enhances spatial audio and makes everything from music to movies sound more immersive. For the purposes of this best headphones list, I’m only considering products with hybrid ANC or adaptive ANC setups because those are the most effective at blocking noise and improving your overall listening experience.

Customization

You’ll also want to check to see if the ANC system on a prospective set of headphones offers adjustable levels of noise cancellation or presets. These can help you dial in the amount of ANC you need for various environments, but it can also help you save battery life. Master & Dynamic, for example, has ANC presets that provide both maximum noise blocking and more efficient cancellation that is more energy efficient. Other companies may include a slider in their companion apps that let you adjust the ANC level to your liking. Some high-end models even allow you to fine-tune the ANC for specific types of environments.

How we test noise-canceling headphones

The primary way we test headphones is to wear them as much as possible. I prefer to do this over a one-to-two-week period, but sometimes deadlines don’t allow it. During this time, I listen to a mix of music and podcasts, while also using the headphones to take both voice and video calls.

Since battery life for headphones can be 30 hours or more, I drain the battery with looping music and the volume set at a comfortable level (usually around 75 percent). Due to the longer battery estimates, I’ll typically power the headphones off several times and leave them that way during a review. This simulates real-world use and keeps me from having to constantly monitor the process for over 24 straight hours.

To test ANC performance specifically, I use headphones in a variety of environments, from noisy coffee shops to quiet home offices. When my schedule allows, I use them during air travel since plane noise is a massive distraction to both work and relaxation. Even if I can’t hop on a flight, I’ll simulate a constant roar with white noise machines, bathroom fans, vacuums and more. I also make note of how well each device blocks human voices, which are a key stumbling block for a lot of ANC headphones.

ANC-related features are something else to consider. Here, I do a thorough review of companion apps, testing each feature as I work through the software. Any holdovers from previous models are double checked for improvements or regression. If the headphones I’m testing are an updated version of a previous model, I’ll spend time getting reacquainted with the older set. Ditto for the closest competition for each new set of headphones that I review.

Other noise-canceling headphones we tested

AirPods Max

Apple’s AirPods Max are premium, well-designed over-ear headphones that incorporate all of the best features you find on standard AirPods: solid noise cancellation, spatial audio and easy Siri access. However, their $550 starting price makes them almost prohibitively expensive, even for Apple users. There are better options available at lower prices, but if you can pick up the AirPods Max at a steep discount, they might be worthwhile for the biggest Apple fans among us.

Dyson On-Trac

The On-Trac headphones have an almost infinitely customizable design, and that’s what’s most unique about them. The sound profile offers some nice detail, but lacks dynamic range overall. ANC is average at best and there aren’t any advanced features that will make your life easier. Well, except for the hearing health monitor, which is actually handy. All told, that’s not a lot for a set of $500 headphones.

Sonos Ace

The Sonos Ace is an excellent debut for the company’s first headphones. The combination of refined design, great sound quality and home theater tricks creates a unique formula. However, ANC performance is just okay and key functionality is still in the works for many users.

Sony ULT Wear

If most headphones don’t have the level of bass you desire, the ULT Wear is an option to consider. The low-end thump isn’t for everyone, but there are also plenty of handy features and a refined look to make the $200 set more compelling than many in this price range.

Beats Studio Pro

The Studio Pro lacks basic features like automatic pausing, and multipoint connectivity is only available on Android. Moreover, they’re not very comfortable for people with larger heads. Overall sound quality is improved, though, and voice performance on calls is well above average.

Master & Dynamic MH40 (2nd gen)

The MH40 are a great set of headphones if you favor crisp, clear and natural sound that isn’t overly tuned. This pair showcases the company’s affinity for leather and metal too, but limited customization and short battery life for non-ANC cans kept this set from making the cut.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8

The company’s trademark pristine sound is on display here, but the Px8 is more expensive and not nearly as comfortable as the Px7 S3.

Noble Audio FoKus Apollo

While this is my top pick for overall sound quality in our main guide to the best wireless headphones, the ANC performance is less impressive than the Px7 S3. Bowers & Wilkins gets the nod here for its improved noise cancellation over the Px7 S2 and Px7 S2e, and its overall excellent audio quality.

Noise-canceling headphones FAQs

Does noise cancellation block all noise?

Noise cancellation doesn’t block out all noise, though it does drastically reduce the volume of most external sounds.

Is there a difference between wired vs wireless noise-canceling headphones?

In terms of sound quality, if you have two headphones — one wired and one wireless — with similar specs, the difference is going to be very minimal. However, wireless headphones offer more convenience, allowing you to move around more freely with your headphones on, which is why they often feature noise cancellation to minimize external sounds.

Does noise cancellation impact sound quality?

ANC does bear some weight on sound quality, but the impact of this often doesn’t outweigh the benefits. Noise cancellation reduces ambient noise, allowing a greater focus on audio detail. For audiophiles, however, there may be a small difference in sound fidelity when ANC is turned on.
Billy Steele

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August 22, 2025
Nothing releases its first over-the-ear headphones, the $299 Headphone (1) | TechCrunch

London-based smartphone maker Nothing has launched its first over-the-ear headphones, the Headphone (1). The new device follows Nothing’s first step into audio hardware with last year’s debut of the Ear 2 open-ear headphones.

The new Headphone (1) headphones were designed in collaboration with British audio brand KEF and feature the sleek, transparent design that Nothing has become known for. The device itself is a bit bulky, even for an over-the-ear headphone, but it provides adequate adaptive noise cancelling and transparent modes.

This model also offers adaptive bass enhancement, which came across when listening to a variety of music genres.

In addition, the headphones offer immersive spatial audio. This creates a 3-D listening experience that, paired with the dynamic head tracking, creates a more lifelike audio experience.

A highlight is the tactile buttons. Nothing stepped away from sensors in favor of a simple button to trigger your AI assistant or ChatGPT, if you have the Nothing X app, and a volume roller that can also be pressed to play, pause, and turn on and off noise canceling.

Plus, the roller has a very satisfying click when you turn it up or down.

The headphones were a bit heavy and tended to slide around while wearing them to do some household chores, but were otherwise perfectly comfortable for a long wear time.

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The company claims a long battery life with up to 80 hours of listening, 35 hours if you have noise cancelling turned on, and a quick charge time.

The Headphone (1) will be available for preorder in the U.S., U.K., and elsewhere starting on July 4, 2025, for $299.

Maggie Nye

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July 1, 2025
Our Favorite Headphones and Earbuds for $100 or Less

The Best headphones under $100 are harder to find than you might think. Here at WIRED, it’s part of our job to listen to music all day, often on exceedingly fancy and bonkers-expensive models. We have playlists for testing bass, for assessing detail, for dance parties—we get way into it. But believe it or not, we like testing the cheap stuff just as much. It’s like a treasure hunt to find the ones that pack in the most tech for the money. And they’re getting better every year.

That doesn’t mean our work is done; etailers are still overflowing with cheap headphones that sound cheap, so we’ll keep listening and updating our picks every few months. While you’re looking for the next great pair, be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including the Best Wireless Headphones, Best Workout Headphones, and Best Phones With a Headphone Jack.

Updated October 2024: We’ve added the Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro+ and JLab Go Pop ANC, and removed some older picks.

Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore for just ~~$2.50~~ $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.

Parker Hall

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October 29, 2024
The Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro+ Solid State Earbuds Are Amazing

If you’re willing to spend more than $100, great headphones abound. Once Apple breached the wireless earbud dam with its initial AirPod model, excellent-sounding buds with noise-canceling, great mics, and high-fidelity sound have flooded the market. Put a list of name brands on a board, throw a dart, and buy the pair it makes that’s closest to $150. You’ll probably find something that’s reasonably good.

That’s why I’m so impressed with a new pair of headphones from relative newcomer Soundpeats, the Capsule3 Pro+. The name might be a mouthful, but for $90 retail, these earbuds offer adaptive noise canceling and high-resolution audio via a pair of drivers, including one dynamic piston for bass and one groundbreaking solid-state driver for everything else.

The combination of a tried and true AirPods-style design and modern technology inside the buds makes them my favorite cheap earbuds right now, and possibly of all time. I have never heard a pair that sounds this good for this cheap. The Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro+ wipe the floor with most—not just many—more expensive models.

Standard Looks

Elon Musk would call these “Dark AirPods Pro,” and he’d be frustratingly right. A black AirPods Pro imitation case is perfectly paired with two black-and-gold AirPods Pro imitation headphones, right down to the little gold hinge on the back of the buds’ case. (It’s silver on the Apple model it imitates.)

Photograph: Parker Hall

The benefit of such blatant design reproduction is that the buds are sleek and comfortable in my ears, just like the version that’s “designed in California.” The black colorway actually makes them more discreet in public.

I didn’t have any trouble getting a good seal in my ears, thanks to three sizes of included silicone eartips. Anyone with any experience fitting AirPods or other earbuds in their ears should have similar luck.

Setup and pairing are as instant as you can expect of any modern earbuds. I just scrolled to find them on my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Bluetooth menu and they immediately connected.

Amazing Audio

The real belle of the ball is inside these otherwise bland buds. A dynamic driver works alongside a solid state xMEMS driver and Sony’s LDAC high-resolution audio codec to create some of the most lifelike audio I’ve heard from a pair of earbuds, and easily the best sound I’ve ever heard this side of $100.

Solid-state drivers don’t have the same range of physical motion as piston-like dynamic drivers, like the ones you’re used to seeing in speakers. That means the phase and speed at which the solid-state drivers can respond is superior, which in turn gets you huge separation between instruments and the ability to really hear each sound when you focus on it. xMEMs drivers can react faster across the frequency spectrum, so you get essentially the clearest possible view into what the artist wanted you to hear.

Parker Hall

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October 22, 2024
Elehear’s New Beyond Hearing Aids Will Make Your Ears Feel Elephant-Sized

My first encounter with Elehear, an over-the-counter hearing aid brand, earlier this year was positive. The company’s Alpha Pro hearing aids are traditional behind-the-ear devices designed for users with mild hearing loss. They come with an online audiologist session to help new users get up to speed and a “remote sound” feature that lets you drop your phone in front of an audio source and have it piped directly to the hearing aids. At $459, they’re solidly priced and were good enough to earn a runner-up spot on my Best Hearing Aids guide.

Now the company is back with a follow-up: the Elehear Beyond. Outfitted with a larger operational frequency range, better noise cancelation, and a tinnitus mode, on paper the Beyond aids look like everything you get with the Alpha Pro and more. Unfortunately, as I discovered after a few weeks of testing, more doesn’t always mean better.

Photograph: Christopher Null

Let’s start with the hardware because it’s a big change, and I mean that literally. Elehear’s Alpha Pro hearing aids, weighing about 4 grams, aren’t exactly tiny, but the Beyond aids are even bigger. At 4.75 grams each, they’re nearly double the weight of Jabra’s 2.56-gram Enhance Select 500 aids, though both have a traditional behind-the-ear (BTE) design. I was taken aback by the size from the moment I unboxed them, and even more so after I looked in the mirror. There’s no hiding these gargantuan teardrops—they caused my ears to visibly stick out from the side of my head.

But let’s say you’re not as vain as me. What about the audio quality? Here, the Beyond aids didn’t overly impress me either. From the moment I put them on, these hearing aids exhibited a noticeable level of background noise, audible even at fairly low amplification levels. It’s better described as closer to a rattle than a hiss, a bit like an old desk fan nearby that’s grinding on bare metal as it spins.

Photograph: Christopher Null via Elehear app

Christopher Null

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October 18, 2024
Sony’s New Linkbuds Open Have More Bass and Better Battery

Even after I got the fit right, I noticed a darker, fuzzier sound signature than what I experienced in the original pair. This seems to be by design, as one of the main complaints before was a lack of bass, something with which nearly all open earbuds struggle. The new buds add some more punch down low, but it comes at the cost of clarity and presence in the midrange and treble.

Luckily, Sony’s Sound Connect app provides a capable EQ, and after some tinkering with the Excitement preset, including lowering the Clear Bass feature and raising the midrange a notch or two, I was able to squeeze out more crispness in instrumental attacks for everything from snares and guitars to vocals and horns. I still never got things as clear or vibrant as Bose’s pair, but at $100 less, that’s not all that surprising, and I think Sony gets the win for bass.

Open Season

You’re not really buying open earbuds for their sound quality, especially if you’re a picky audiophile like me. They’re much more about melding the vibes of your two realities: blasting podcasts or your favorite ‘80s playlist while keeping in touch with the world (and other humans). WIRED editor Adrienne So loves open earbuds for the gym or other public places where she feels more assured no one is sneaking up on her.

They’re also great for situations where regular buds simply don’t cut it. Like my beloved Bose Frames or the Ray-Ban Meta audio sunglasses, the Linkbuds are great for staying safe while cruising on your bike or ebike on a crisp fall day, where the wind shear would naturally overwhelm the tiny microphones in traditional buds using transparency mode.

I was also genuinely amazed at how well the Linkbuds Open suppressed exterior sounds during calls. On a recent chat with my mom, I could barely hear my own voice as I rolled the dumpsters in from the street, but she hardly noticed the bellowing of the plastic tires covering my voice–and she always lets me know when I’m too loud.

If I could only afford one pair, I’d still choose more rounded earbuds that can snuff out or let in the ambient world with noise canceling or transparency mode respectively, like Apple’s excellent AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends). I’d also consider the cheaper original Linkbuds, though the battery life is more limiting. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a pair that keeps you naturally present in virtually any scenario, and you don’t mind all the chaos that comes with it, the Linkbuds Open are a solid new option in this still-evolving segment.

Ryan Waniata

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October 11, 2024
Bose Reinvented Itself Just in Time. Now Comes the Tricky Part

The company has always had premium prices, but in certain categories the products haven’t always matched the brand’s prestige: 2010s attempts at noise-canceling earbuds were bulky, sounded middling, and had poor battery life; and it also sold a line of too-expensive Bluetooth speakers with screens that nobody needed.

Then, after its physical storefronts were not having the billboard-like effect Bose wanted, the brand, just prior to Snyder joining, decided to dramatically pivot—a word that can so often be replaced with “panic”—to a strategy that focused on online sales and bolstering exhibits in existing storefronts such as Best Buy in the United States.

This seismic shift meant that every single Bose store in the US, Europe, Australia, and Japan shuttered, resulting in 119 store closures and hundreds of layoffs worldwide. So far, under Snyder’s stewardship, that swerve toward online and in-store retail has, according to the company, worked out—but it could have gone the other way.

Brands like Nike that have pivoted away from brand-owned retail stores have seen sales dives, but the key difference lies in Bose’s decision to lean into retail partners. By bolstering exhibits in places such as Best Buy and other stores, as well as leaning into sales on Amazon and other online retailers besides its own website, Bose has been able to maintain a broad reach while also not keeping retail overhead in-house. According to Snyder, this slimmed-down approach has been effective in righting Bose’s fortunes, especially when paired with excellent new products.

Audio Exclusive

In being a tech company that entirely focuses on audio products, Snyder says that the secret sauce at Bose is research. Engineers are constantly looking for innovation in materials, acoustics, design, production, and more. When asked about recent innovations in solid-state driver technology, for example, she isn’t shy about its prodigious market research.

“What’s interesting about Bose is we have been an audio company for 60 years,” says Synder. “We know we’re going to be in competitive markets. We’ve always been in competitive markets, whether that’s headphones, or in the home, or in the car. What makes us different is we’re all about audio. You can be assured we experiment with everything. When we believe something’s ready, we bring it forward. We’re always looking for technology that can change the game.”

This is particularly evident when it comes to noise canceling, which was pioneered by the brand for aviators—a market Snyder says Bose is proud to remain dominant in—rather than folks in the main cabin of the plane.

Using the Pros

By investigating what pilots needed to operate safely and comfortably in the cockpit, and constantly asking them for improvements and ideas, Bose was able to develop and trickle down what remain the best noise-canceling algorithms WIRED has ever tested. That makes sense, given that latest generation of Bose Quietcomfort over-ears and earbuds offer genuine professional-grade aerospace technology.

Snyder says the brand uses professionals, or semi-professinals in the case of its PA gear for small-venue musicians, not only to improve its products but also to market to folks who are interested in higher-end audio. “They’re a professional musician. They have a great ear. They know what great sound sounds like. Those products create a sort of halo.”

Parker Hall

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October 6, 2024
We Staged a Debate to Test the Bluetooth Earrings Kamala Harris Didn’t Wear

Just a few weeks ago, certain people in a particular corner of the internet decided they had cracked the reason Kamala Harris was doing so much better than Donald Trump in the presidential debate. Not that she was better prepared, nor that she was a better debater. No, she must be wearing a Bluetooth earpiece, carefully disguised as a pair of pearl earrings. Obviously.

As it turns out, earbuds like this really do exist. The Nova H1 audio earrings put forward by the conspiracy theorists do bear a decent resemblance to the earrings Kamala was wearing on the night. Of course hers were, in fact, from Tiffany & Co. and not from a Kickstarter campaign from 2021, but the concept piqued our interest all the same.

Could this so-called audio jewelry be the perfect crossover product for anyone who wants to make calls or listen to music, without a bulky pair of headphones or earbuds hanging out of their ear? We slapped them on our ears for a week to find out.

Stylish … to a Point

When I receive them, first impressions are promising. The Nova H1 arrive in what feels a bit like a jewelry box, a stylish detail we’re sure is no accident. Pull the inner packaging toward you, like a drawer, to slide the outer cover away, and the headphones appear against a rather striking yellow backdrop, the pearlescent square charging case adorned with Nova’s branding.

The case is plasticky though, and the earrings sit on an equally plasticky panel that rises up to present them to you as you open the lid. That’s a nice touch, but it all looks cheap and doesn’t feel in keeping with the premium look the Nova H1 is trying to present.

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The earrings themselves are not exactly subtle, either. The pearl, to my surprise, is actually a real freshwater pearl connected to your choice of clip-on or stud earring, but delicate it ain’t. Still, when clipped onto your ear they do at least look like jewelry—more costume jewelry than fine jewelry (our British readers may appreciate a Pat Butcher reference here), but they don’t look out of place. I have the silver ones to test, but there is also a gold option that will set you back a little more (more on that shortly.)

The clip-on version I’m testing offers exactly the right clamp force to be secure without causing any discomfort, which is indeed impressive. I could genuinely forget I was wearing them, meaning they can simply be worn as earrings, while being ready to jump into audio action whenever you need them.

That’s helped by the fact they will go into a dormant mode when they don’t detect any playback, and offer up to six hours in active use. That means you can pretty much get a full day’s wear out of them, plus the case offers three full charges.

Can You Hear Me?

When you take them out of their case, they jump into pairing mode automatically. My phone finds them without issue, and within seconds they’re paired.

I immediately head to a playlist in Tidal and get to listening. It quickly becomes clear that audio quality is not a reason to buy these headphones—so much so that it’s almost impossible to critically evaluate the sound at all.

Bass is weak, and music has a somewhere-in-the-distance quality, almost as if someone has the radio on across the office. It’s a unique experience, not unpleasant by any stretch but not at all as engaging as the sound quality you’ll get from something like the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.

Verity Burns

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October 1, 2024