What does the best headphones even mean. I test headphones for a living, and even I've found it hard to come up with the correct criteria for a winner. But I've done it, and with some confidence, I can re-introduce you to our winner.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best headphones you can buy today.
Excellent sound? Check. ANC that silences just about everything? Also Check. A comfortable all-day fit with battery life to match? Check and check again. I can (and, in fact, have) written thousands of words on the merits of the WH-1000XM5.
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 Sony 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.
My favorite headphones right now
So we know what the best overall is, but there's more to life than the jack-of-all-trades of this world. Sometimes, you need a little focus, and headphones are no different.
Want a pair that lasts for a working week and a half? We've got you covered. ANC that'll block out even the noisiest environment? No stress; we know what you need. On a budget? Me too — so let's get into it.
The WH-1000XM5 are good at just about everything. They sound great, feature excellent noise canceling, and I've been able to wear them for unreasonable amounts of time thanks to their supremely comfortable fit. They the best you can buy for just about everyone.
Gone are the days of cheap being synonymous with compromise. I think the SonoFlow SE sound better than even some of the more expensive competition, and their ANC is perfect for the price. You could buy 10 of these for the price of the WH-1000XM5.
90 hours of battery. That's it. That's everything you really need to know about the Marshall Monitor III besides their great sound, comfortable fit, and stellar style. You'll want to know more, though, I imagine — so I'll go into more detail later.
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
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
Best headphones overall
The Sony WH-1000XM5 aren't the very best at everything, but they don't feature any weaknesses across their massive feature set. Great sound, top-notch noise canceling find them at the top of the list here. If you want headphones that are very good at everything, then these are the cans for you.
I'm yet to find a pair of headphones that impresses in every single metric like the WH-1000XM5. Sure, there are better headphones at any one single feature that you might pick out, but there's nothing that's as good at doing all of it together.
I already loved the previous model, the WH-1000XM4, and I wasn't entirely sure whether Sony would be able to keep the legacy going with the new version. I shouldn't have been worried at all. The XM5 are a step up in every measurable way.
There's very good reason they got 4.5 stars in their praise-filled review. From their "articulate and engaging sound" to the excellent noise canceling, our tester couldn't find much to complain about with the XM5.
On that note, there are only two things that might give you pause with the XM5. They have a habit of getting hot around the ears when worn for long periods, which is a small price to pay for otherwise sublime comfort.
The bigger price to pay is the monetary one — they cost more than their predecessor by some margin. Full price, they'll set you back $399, although as they get slightly older, you'll easily be able to find them for up to $100 less.
let's break it down...
Comfort
The WH-1000XM5 are a very, very comfortable set of headphones. They've got masterfully judged vegan-friendly padding to each earcup, and their lightweight means that the headband doesn't start to dig into your head when you wear them for longer periods of time.
They can get a little warm when you wear them for too long, though, which is well worth bearing in mind if it's something that bothers you.
I've been able to wear them for some very long journeys indeed, like 12 hours from my house to Scotland, without taking them off. Lovely, comfortable headphones.
Sound quality
Sony brings a warm, welcoming sound to the table. The XM5 sound excellent for a range of different genres, with everything from Rap and R&B to Metal coming through crisp and clear.
"A confident, convincing and enjoyable listen" is how we described them in our review. They've got a relatively neutral signature, although there is some weighting toward the low-end.
I loved getting into my test tracks like Focus's Sylvia and discovering plenty of detail to match the wide mids and deep low-end. Some might not like their bassier sound though, in which case you'll want to customize the sound with Sony's EQ.
App
Recently, Sony revamped its audio gear app into the 'Sound Connect' app, and it features loads of different options. There are some very clever ANC modes on board that change depending on where you are physically located, and a customizable EQ to dial in the sound.
It's a bit convoluted, but you soon get used to it. It took me about a day or so to really learn where everything was, and I was soon customizing my headphones without any issues.
ANC
Noise canceling is a particular strength of the WH-1000XM5. I've taken them on everything from trains to lengthy car journeys and everything in between. They block out an incredible amount of noise, leaving you in your very own little musical bubble.
Sony's excellent transparency mode is also on board here, activated with the left earcup. It works well, and it has let me hear bus drivers and shop clerks without needing to take my headphones off.
Battery life
The Sony's have what I'd call plenty of battery life, although they're not quite up there with the longest-lasting headphones anymore. They last for about 34 hours, according to Sony, and my testing showed that was about right.
I've used them non-stop for hours on end without too much worry about them losing power. Bear in mind that if they do run out of power, you can wire them in with a 3.5mm cable and keep the music playing.
- Read the full Sony WH-1000XM5 review
Best ANC headphones
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the best way to block out noise bar none. Bose's noise canceling is better than just about everyone elses, making the noise blocking ability almost feel like magic. They fall down slightly on battery life, but their comfort and decent sound quality soon make up for it.
There are very few things that I value like my pair of QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. It's not hyperbole when I say they're the best ANC headphones you can buy today — they block out everything.
Press the little noise-canceling button, and with a quick orchestral sweep, you're sealed away into a musical cocoon of your own choosing. I've been able to sleep on extremely busy trains while chilling to smooth jazz, and completely ignore the sounds of crying children on buses.
They're extremely comfortable to boot, thanks to some very thick and breathable vegan-friendly padding on the earcups and the headband. It was thanks to their excellent comfort and ANC that they managed to get a 4.5-star review.
Not everything is perfect in Bose land, however; 24 hours of battery life is better than the AirPods Max, but worse than just about everything else. Make sure you keep a charging cable nearby if you plan on taking these out and about. I know I do.
let's break it down...
Comfort
There's literally comfort in the name of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones — you'd hope they were comfortable. Thanks to some of the most plush padding on any pair of headphones I've ever worn, the QuietComfort Ultra manage to also be the most comfortable pair of headphones I've ever worn.
They're light too, so they don't get fatiguing when you wear them. This is the pair of headphones I reach for when I'm going on journeys that I know are going to be stressful, and I want something I can wear without getting uncomfortable. They deliver every. Single. Time.
Sound quality
As with so many headphones at this price point, the Bose go for a fairly middle-of-the-road, bassier sound signature. That means that most people are going to have a good time with a wide range of genres.
You can customize the sound with the app, and there are also different sound modes. Immersive Sound is Bose's version of spatial audio, and it does a decent job of widening the sound. It does tank the battery life, however.
I found that listening to my favorite bass-heavy genres was a lot of fun with the QuietComfort Ultra headphones, and that even genres that needed more delicacy still sound good. There are better-sounding headphones, but they're still a very easy listen.
App
Bose's app is by far one of the easiest to use. There are loads of options on board from the aforementioned EQ settings to noise-canceling modes and more. It's all very well laid out, and I found adjusting didn't take long at all.
You can even name the headphones in the app, which is a fun extra. There's only one bugbear with the app — it does occasionally like to crash. It's annoying, but by no means a deal breaker.
ANC
This is what you're here for. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones reseat Bose at the top of the noise-canceling tree, with ANC that silences just about everything. Even with music not playing the world outside is almost completely gone — perfect for the busy office or obnoxiously loud public transport.
There are different noise-canceling modes as well, including the transparency mode. It pipes the outside world in so that you can hear if someone is trying to talk to you. I found it works well, making it much easier to buy a train ticket or a sandwich.
Battery life
Unfortunately, things slip slightly in battery life for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. I found in my testing that the battery life claims of 24 hours rang true, although 24 hours isn't really enough compared to the competition.
That battery life plummets to 18 hours if you use the Immersive Audio feature as well, and you can't use them wired when the battery life is dead.
- Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review
Best headphones under $200
Given that you can generally find the Space One Pro now for $149 (a full $50 below normal asking price), they can feel like an audio bargain. ANC that rivals headphones costing twice as much, a comfortable fit, big, bassy sound and truly epic battery life? A package that belies its lower price.
When you don't want to spend as much money on a pair of headphones, you can be left feeling left out when you look at the specs lists and reviews of the more expensive models. Not so with the Space One Pro — they are a more affordable pair of headphones that wow with flagship specs.
The biggest bonus here for a great range of customers is the battery life. Topping out at 60 hours with ANC turned off, they'll last for a whole lot longer than even the more expensive competition. It's enough that Erin found her battery life tests show that they could have lasted for even longer — always a bonus.
It was in audio testing that they really came alive, though. They feature LDAC support for hi-res listening, and it meant that Erin could hear every single element to the likes of Nissan Altima from Doechii. Thanks to HearID, Erin was able to dial in the headphones to make sure they sounded their best.
She even went on to compare them to the more expensive QuietComfort Ultra Headphones — high praise indeed, given they cost less than half that of the Bose. The only place they fell down was the ANC, and even that was fairly servicable.
let's break it down...
Comfort
Thanks to some lovely, soft vegan-friendly cushioning, the Space One Pro are a very comfortable pair of headphones to wear for long periods of time. The lightweight build helps out as well, as their mere 10-ounce form doesn't get fatiguing when wearing for longer periods.
It's not the thickest padding in the world, so you might find them start to get a bit tighter if you wear them for many hours on end (we did), but you'll otherwise find a very comfortable pair of headphones in the Soundcore Space One Pro.
Sound quality
This is where the Soundcore Space One Pro really make a case for their value package. They sound excellent, not just for the price, with a sound profile that has more than a little QuietComfort Ultra Headphone in its DNA.
They're on the warmer side as many Bluetooth headphones tend to be, but that just makes them a whole lot more fun to listen to. The HearID customization feature also works very well, making sure that the headphones sound best depending on your hearing profile.
LDAC support means there's hi-res support for increased detail and space too, and Erin found an engaging, fun listen when giving Rebecca Black's TRUST a go.
App
The Soundcore app is very good. It's easy to navigate, and it's packed full of useful features that help you get the most out of your headphones. The aforementioned HearID is found here, and it's easy to get working.
There are more EQ options to dial things in to a greater degree, as well as safe volume settings and ANC modes. There's Dolby Audio for some spatial audio as well.
ANC
There's got to be somewhere the Space One Pro falls down, surely? The closest they get is probably going to be the noise canceling. It's not bad by any stretch of the imagination — Erin found that it was enough to silence an office, and negate the noise of bus travel.
It struggles more than the ANC in more expensive models, as you might expect. Some sounds still manage to creep through, bringing with them the disturbing noise to interrupt your peace. Is it enough to lose any points? Absolutely not, but you can't expect world-class ANC at this price.
Battery
Things pick back up for the Space One Pro in the battery life category. You get 60 hours of staying power with the ANC turned off, and 40 if you want to block out the world. That's better than the two options above, at less than half the cost.
We found in testing that battery life might even be better than Soundcore says it is — Erin only lost 10% battery after three full days of use. It will depend on volume level and even EQ, of course, but it's always good to see some good battery life on display.
- Read the full Soundcore Space One Pro 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.
It used to be the case that spending under $100 on headphones would net you cheap, bad-sounding, plasticky nonsense. That's not the case anymore, and the 1More Sonoflow are the perfect example of a pair of headphones that are super cheap, and by extension, super good as well.
They're not going to compare in sound, noise canceling or build quality if you put them up against the most expensive options out there of course. But you'd be surprised how good they feel on your head, how much noise they are capable of blocking, and how good they sound for the price.
They actually rank better in one key factor than some of the most expensive headphones on this list — battery life. I've used the headphones for weeks on end before, thanks to their monster battery life. 1More claims 70 hours with ANC off and 50 when you turn it on, although our tester and I found we got more than the rated battery life.
For $50, there's not really anything that compares. There are problems — no carrying case, no hi-res audio support, slightly flimsy built, and a buggy app to name but a few — but they're incredibly easy to overlook when you remember that low, low price.
let's break it down...
Comfort
While not the sturdiest headphones around, the Sonoflow SE are still a very comfortable set of cans to wear for long periods of time. There's ample vegan-friendly padding on the earcups and the headband, and they're relatively lightweight, so they don't cause too many problems during wear.
There's just one small niggle — they can get hot while wearing them for longer periods of time. You might need to wipe them down after wearing them as a result, as your ears and their surroundings get... moist.
Sound quality
Featuring a solid sound signature, the 1More Sonoflow SE bely their very low price with sound that matches headphones double and in some cases even triple the cost. They're more neutral than most of the options on the list, without too much low-end.
As a result, they're a very easy listen. Classical music sounds excellent, although R&B lovers and Rap lovers won't be let down by the low-end on offer from the SE. There's some excellent sound on display here.
Is it going to come close to the really expensive options on the list? No, but for $50, you're not going to find much that comes close sonically.
App
1More's app is easy enough to use, with a clear layout and easy menu options. There are plenty of features there as well, including EQ adjustments and ANC modes. Its slick presentation makes sure they're easy to find.
The issue arises with the actual, real-world usability. It's unstable. Very unstable. Unfortunately, it's stricken with constant crashing, annoying connection issues, and various other problems that make it a pain to use. Thankfully, it's not something you'll have to use all that much, given how well the headphones themselves work out of the box, but it's still a shame.
ANC
While you might not be able to block out the sound of a busy building site, you'll be perfectly fine keeping the sounds of your average office out. I found it great at keeping the noise of buses and trains at bay, although it did struggle slightly with the high-range sounds that you might encounter out and about.
It wasn't enough to make them not worth their $50 price tag, but prices have to be cut somewhere. Transparency mode works well too, although there is some slight crackling that I found when trying to take some money out at the bank. I nearly ended up $1,000 down instead of $100 when I couldn't quite hear the teller. It only happened once, but it's worth noting.
Battery life
The battery life is amongst the very best in staying power of anything on the list. The 1More Sonoflow feature battery life that lets them last 70 hours with the ANC turned off, and then 50 hours if you turn it off.
That's the most battery life so far, and myself and our tester found that there might even be more battery life on board depending on your volume level. Excellent, not just for the price, but for a pair of headphones in general. There is just one better candidate for battery life... but that comes later.
- Read the full 1More Sonoflow SE review
Best sounding headphones
$900 is a lot of money to pay for anything, let alone a pair of headphones. Yet the Dali IO-8 manage to make a case for their high price thanks to their truly stunning sound. It's dynamic, it's layered, and it's perfectly formed. They sound unlike anything else you've worn that bears a Bluetooth logo — if only there were more color options.
When talking about the sublime Dali IO-8, every single conversation is going to be dominated by the price of the headphones. When they cost $900 Stateside, it's no great surprise. I think they're well worth their lofty price, however.
It's all down to the sound. They're, put simply, some of the best sounding headphones that you can buy today. They sound better than the Focal Bathys, with more dynamism a slightly wider soundstage. They're more controlled than anything you'll listen to wirelessly — at all.
Most importantly, you'll immediately notice a much better sound profile than the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM5. That's no to say that Sony and Bose headphones sound bad, but the Dali bring a kind of sound that's at home on the desk of an audiophile.
I loved my time testing the Dali IO-8, and they have a permanent place in my listening room when I don't want something with a cable. The extra goodies like the EQ button and the comfortable, premium build are just the frosting on top of this sonic ice-cream cake.
let's break it down...
Comfort
For most people, the IO-8 are a very comfortable pair of headphones. Their leather-smothered earcups are soft and compliant, with plenty of padding behind them to keep them comfy for a long time. The headband is plenty thick and padded as well. Vegans need not apply here — it's all cow-skin on these cans.
There's one small problem — they're a bit small. I have a fairly large head, and I had to put the IO-8 at their largest size. If they fit your head, then they'll be lovely and comfy. The largest headed amongst us might want something a bit bigger, however.
Sound quality
I could write thousands and thousands of words breaking down the sound quality of the IO-8, but here I've only got like... 50. So I'll keep it brief; they sound amazing. The low end is perfectly controlled and perfectly formed, and the high end is crystal clear and detailed.
The mids are fat and round, giving excellent body and presence to guitars and vocals. They sound sublime. There really is nothing that sounds even remotely similar (or as good) as the IO-8 under $1000.
For bass heads, there's even a bass button that switches between 'HiFi' and 'Bass' modes. It's a lot, and it can raise the bass to become a little too much. Conversely, it's also loads of fun. If you're a Luddite. Like me.
App
This is going to be nice and quick. There is no app that you can use with the Dali IO-8. Everything is done in the headphones themselves, including turning off the ANC and changing the EQ mode.
That means there's little to no customization, like, at all. The ANC is either on, off, or transparency. There are just two EQ modes, and you can't change what the physical controls on the right earcup do beyond their normal duties. I think that's actually a boon, but those looking for more customization should consider the Noble Fokus Apollo or the Focal Bathys.
ANC
The idea behind the ANC of the IO-8 isn't to block out every single noise that might be around you, but instead it's to let you enjoy your music unsullied by annoying noises or an overly active ANC model. That means they're not quite as adept at blocking noise as the likes of the Sony or the Bose options, but they don't change the way your music sounds to keep the noise at bay.
I managed to block out bus journeys without problem, and the sound of my clacking mechanical keyboard disappears into nothing when I'm listening to music. Transparency mode is fine, although it is very sensitive. It sounded like the bus driver was shouting in my ear when I went to buy a ticket, which wasn't ideal.
Battery life
Battery life is nothing to write home about in the IO-8. There are 30 hours on tap with the ANC turned on, which is plenty for me. It would only really become an issue if you found yourself somewhere that you're not close to a power outlet.
There are some options out there that last for slightly longer, but I'm still not even sure whether loads of battery is just specs chasing at this point. Best bit? They can be used passively if the battery runs out with the included 3.5mm jack cable.
- Read the full Dali IO-8 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.
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.
