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Another View: Top Headphone Picks For 2025

Which headphones are leading the pack today?

(image credit: KEF)

There are so many choices available when selecting headphones and earbuds that weighing the options can be something of a chore. The first step though is determining your own priorities. The two most important choices for most of us are price and sound quality. In a perfect world, the price shouldn’t be at the top of the list but then reality creeps in. Without a doubt, the best sound quality I’ve ever heard in a headphone is the Sennheiser HE1. But with the exorbitant price topping $60,000, they’re out of range of all but a very few enthusiasts. We’ll concentrate on cans that are affordable to a much wider audience.

Sound quality encompasses several traits like noise reduction, dynamic range, and a host of characteristics that are often matters of preference. Whether you prefer wireless or wired is mainly a matter of your individual taste but, in general, wired headphones sound better because noise reduction can sometimes seem to muffle the that you want to hear.

Leading the Pack

In the world of headphones, though there are numerous standouts among new manufacturers, a surprisingly large number of legacy brands still lead the way. Our choice for the top cans goes to the formidable Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. At $429 they’re certainly not cheap but there’s a lot of bang for the buck. They feature some of the best Automatic Noise Cancelling (ANC) ever and the quality of the sonic experience is among the best. The Immersive Audio setting gives a realistic concert feeling as it adjusts as your head moves from center to left and right turns. Though primarily intended for wireless connectivity using Bluetooth, these are adaptable to wired use with a 3.5mm or USB-C cable. A short version of the cables is included in the set.

At the very strong runner-up position is the Sony WH-1000XM5, the upgrade to the still-viable Sony WH-1000XM4. Like the Bose, these headphones offer superior noise reduction technology which is indeed better than their predecessor for all but the lowest frequencies. One downside of the XM5 is that many listeners consider them a bit less comfortable than the XM4 so if you have a chance to try them side by side it would be well worth the effort. Overall, the sound quality of the XM5 seems more sophisticated than the XM4. Bass is controlled better than with the previous model and there’s more detail to higher frequencies. That enhancement may not be welcomed by EDM and hip-hop fans who tend to like an emphasis on bass but it’s better for other genres.

We would be amiss if we failed to mention the Apple AirPods Max. Audio performance compares closely to the Sony MX5 but for dedicated Apple fans, the interface with Apple‘s eco-system devices is unparalleled. They’re more expensive than either the Sony or the Bose but one can’t deny the appeal of paired Apple devices.

Top Performers Among Less Expensive Headphones

Soundcore offers a couple of great options at much lower prices than the above front runners. Of the pair, the Anker Space Q45 is the better choice overall. At about $150, they’re less than half the cost of the top choices. Nonetheless, performance is still admirable though well below that of the top cans. Active Noise Cancellation is clearly less effective than the best of the group but it’s still quite good. Sound quality is similarly admirable but less sophisticated than the best.

You can make an even deeper budget cut by opting for the lesser Soundcore Space One. They’re available for $99 and though there’s no doubt that the overall functionality is notably less than the others, it’s awfully good and quite a bargain. As is usually the case when dropping to a lesser headphone bass tends to be boomy and higher frequencies are a bit sloppier. ANC is useful but less so than the others.

Some legacy brands of any product category, over time, peak one’s interest even if they’re not the top choice. After many years of being an audiophile, or at least a dedicated enthusiast, JBL has earned my appreciation in many ways. I’ve been pleased by their car speakers and my long-time favorite subwoofer. However, I never expected to see them at the low end of the cost spectrum for a high-quality product. However, that thought required adjustment because of the JBL Tune 770C. These are truly impressive headphones at a bargain price. They retail for $130 but they are not difficult to find at steep discounts. Even at that, the noise cancellation feature is admirable, and the sound quality is reminiscent of far more expensive JBL products.

See also: RadioShack Returns To U.S. As Product Brand

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