Time to invest in a new set of headphones? It’s a hugely crowded market with hundreds of models to choose from, so here’s a handy timesaver: The Sony WH-1000XM3 are the best headphones. In fact, their combination of top-notch audio quality, superb noise cancellation, and dependable wireless performance is such a strong formula that we also named the WH-1000XM3 the best wireless headphones and the best noise-canceling headphones.
That is an extraordinary set of claims to make, and we don’t make them lightly. Our team has a combined 50 years in the consumer and pro audio industries. We reviewed hundreds of headphones, using them in all kinds of locations, with audio sources that range from surround-sound movies to the most aggressive hard rock and rap.
We are convinced the Sony WH-1000XM3 will be the best pick for most people, but if you’re looking for some alternatives, we have you covered there, too. We’ve identified a number of other models that are more than worthy of your consideration, each with their own specific strengths, whether it’s for use during a workout — or merely to keep you from giving your credit card too much of a workout.
The best wireless headphones/best noise-canceling headphones: Sony WH-1000XM3
Why you should buy them: Beautiful wireless sound, plush comfort, and excellent noise canceling.
Who they’re for: Anyone who wants a top-tier wireless experience, and loves silencing the world around them.
Why we picked the Sony WH-1000XM3:
Sony’s technologically advanced WH-1000XM3 are the third generation of Sony’s flagship wireless headphones (following the excellent WH-1000XM2 and MDR-1000X models) that offer top-tier noise canceling, excellent quality wireless audio, and plush comfort. This enticing combination earned the model a rare five-star rating in our initial review, and — thanks to a few notable improvements — makes the latest version the best headphones you can buy.
At the heart of the WH-1000xM3 is outstanding wireless sound. Sony’s LDAC technology delivers a wireless signal at what the company claims is three times the quality of standard Bluetooth streaming, and the headphones also support the latest aptX HD codec (with supported devices). The 1000XM3 can even “upscale” wireless music from high-resolution audio devices using a special chip, helping to make music sound dynamic and beautiful, with authoritative bass and clear treble response held together by a well-rounded midrange.
The WH-1000XM3’s excellent noise-canceling technology ranks second only to the Bose Noise Cancelling 700, from the brand that has long dominated the market in terms of sheer noise-blocking abilities. That said, we think the Sony cans sound better than the latest Bose model, and offer numerous features that help to create a much better overall experience.
The WH-1000XM3’s advanced control systems allow you to let in various levels of ambient sound, with advanced features like voice-only mode, which helps filter through vocal frequencies so you can hear your music and the voices around you while blocking out other sounds. Responsive touch controls let you navigate volume, make calls, and play and pause music with ease, all while helping to maintain a clean aesthetic. Best of all, the WH-1000xM3 offer a staggering 30 hours of battery life, providing even heavy users with days of use from a single charge, and have a quick charge feature that allows you to enjoy five hours of listening after just 15 minutes of charging.
If you’re looking for a pair of extremely comfortable wireless over-ears with great sound and a massive number of features, these are the best you’ll find. At least until the WH-1000XM4 come out.
The best wireless earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM3
Why you should buy them: Excellent sound, very good battery life, and amazing noise cancellation.
Who they’re for: Those who want true wireless earbuds with the best ANC available.
Why we picked the Sony WF-1000XM3:
Ever since they debuted in 2019, the Sony WF-1000XM3 have ranked at the very top of our list of the best true wireless earbuds. That’s thanks to their unmatched combination of sound quality, noise cancellation, wireless performance, and battery life. This seems to be Sony’s secret formula: While a few true wireless earbuds might rank higher in one of these attributes, none so far have pulled them all together as Sony has.
Apple’s AirPods Pro come closest to succeeding, but the Sony WF-1000XM3 still enjoy a slight edge, particularly in the sound quality and call quality categories, and they clean Apple’s clock on battery life. Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 2 are another close competitor, one with objectively better sound, but Sony still offers the best value of the bunch.
It’s always been tough to beat Sony on sound quality when the company trots out its best effort and the WF-1000XM3 are no exception. With its proprietary DSEE HX engine, Sony is able to work sonic wonders on just about any music material you care to play. And while we think these earbuds have an almost perfect balance of highs, mids, and lows right out of the box, you can make these settings your own using Sony’s Connect app.
With ANC on, battery life is a perfectly acceptable six hours, but turn that feature off and that number jumps to eight. That’s not quite the best these days, but it’s way better than most, including Apple’s AirPods Pro which top out at five hours. A quick charge feature gives you an extra 90 minutes of life with just 10 minutes in the charging case — and that case holds three more full charges.
You also get some really handy features, like being able to use the earbuds together or separately, hear the world around you using transparency mode, and you can customize what the touch controls are responsible for. Add Google Assistant and Siri compatibility and you’ve got a real winner.
The best earbuds/best under $100: 1More Triple Driver
Why you should buy them: These earbuds are premium in every way but their price.
Who they’re for: Anyone who wants a really great-sounding set of earbuds but is unwilling to spend hundreds of dollars for the pleasure.
Why we picked the 1More Triple Driver:
The adage that you get what you pay for is generally true for audio products like headphones. What has made us big fans of the 1More brand is its ability to redefine that expectation in surprising ways. The 1More Triple Driver in-ear headphones are a great example of this: They exhibit all of the hallmarks of high-end, expensive earbuds, yet manage to keep the price highly affordable for most people.
Their combination of dual balanced-armature drivers matched with a dynamic driver to pump up the lower end are kind of engineering normally found on products that cost more than double the price of the 1Mores. Even the smaller details are very well ironed out, such as Kevlar-wrapped cables that increase resistance to wear while simultaneously reducing tangles.
Boasting materials like cast aluminum that has been polished and sandblasted for a luxurious feel, even the included carrying case — normally a throwaway pouch that people ignore entirely — has been obviously crafted and built with care.
The headphones sound amazing, with a wide and complex soundstage that warranted an official THX certification. In fact, when we went backstage at a recent Aerosmith concert, it was the 1More Triple Drivers that the band and
The best headphones for working out: JLab Epic Air Sport
Why you should buy them: Immersive sound, excellent battery life, and waterproof functionality.
Who they’re for: Anyone who wants a set of wireless earbuds made specifically for demanding workouts.
Why we picked the JLab Epic Air Sport:
Until this year, our favorite headphones for workouts were the Jabra Elite Active 65t. Why? Great battery life, great sound, and the kind of waterproofing that means you don’t need to think twice before taking them on watery adventures. But JLab’s Epic Air Sport have won our workout hearts and it’s easy to see why: Almost everything we liked about the Jabras is now eclipsed by the JLabs.
It starts with battery life. These days, you can expect a lot of longevity from a set of true wireless earbuds and the Epic Air Sport deliver big time. They can run for 10 hours before needing to make a return trip to their charging case. For a lot of people, that means you don’t need to bring the case with you, which is a huge plus for those all-day bicycle road trips. Each earbud has its own power button — so no need to worry about wearing them down if you don’t use them for a while. But if you do pack the charging case, you probably won’t need to look for a USB cable for days — it stocks an amazing 60 hours of extra life for a total of 70 hours of autonomy.
The JLab Epic Air Sport come with a huge array of fit options. Seven sets of silicone gel tips and one set of foam eartips combined with the built-in earhooks to virtually guarantee a good fit. We love that there are three EQ modes to choose from, and you can select them from the buds themselves — no app required. We liked the Signature mode the best: “The sound engineers at the company have scooped out a bit of mud in the midrange to bring big, punchy bass alongside a crisp and bright high register,” our reviewer noted. The Epic Air Sport sound better than the Jabra Elite Active 65t, though perhaps not quite as good as the Powerbeats Pro. But given the JLabs cost $100 less, that’s understandable.
With an IP66 rating for dust and water resistance, the Epic Air Sport are up for almost anything short of an actual swim. You can’t fully immerse them in water, but showers (whether intentional or otherwise) should be fine, and it means you can clean them under running water. Access to your favorite voice assistant is the cherry on the top of this excellent set of wireless earbuds.
The best headphones for 2020 [Digital Trends]