Google Pixel Buds Pro: The Pixel Buds Pro are Google’s first headphones to feature active noise cancellation. While it’s nice that they finally have a feature that many true wireless earbuds have had for a while, what ultimately sets the Pixel Buds Pro apart and makes them worth considering — especially for users of Android — it’s their special design and the win fits. This helps boost their performance on both the sound quality and noise cancellation fronts. Although not quite elite for voice calls, they also performed well as a headset for making calls. Read our Google Pixel Buds Pro review.
Soundcore by Anker Space One: Available in three color options, the Soundcore Space One is Anker’s latest noise-canceling headphone and a good value for around $100, offering a solid set of features along with good sound quality and performance. They can’t compete in terms of sound with many of the premium noise-canceling models, but you don’t feel like you’re giving up as much on the audio front to save a good chunk of money. They lack a bit of that natural, refined quality you look for in a large set of cans, but the Space Ones sound respectable, with good clarity and bass definition, and are a good match for the more expensive Soundcore Space 45. Noise cancellation and sound – Call performance is also good for a headset in this price range, although the transparency mode is only okay. Anker has developed a version of Sony’s Speak-to-Chat feature — Anker calls it Easy Chat — that automatically pauses your music and enters a transparent mode when you walk up to someone and start a conversation. The headphones are equipped with wear detection sensors, a feature not usually found at this price, and include a carrying case. LDAC audio codec support is available for Android users.
Shure Aonic 50: Many of us liked Shure’s original Aonic 50 headphones, but they had pretty mediocre noise cancellation. Well, the second-generation version addresses this problem — the noise cancellation is much improved — and Shure has more than doubled the battery life to around 45 hours (they now have a quick-charge feature) and also reduced the headphone load a little case, although it is still not so compact. These improvements make the Aonic 50 Gen 2 a better noise canceling headphone. While the Aonic 50 Gen 2s are pretty heavy at 334 grams, they’re solidly built and comfortable to wear too, with nicely padded ear cups. They have excellent sound quality with very good clarity and well-defined bass. Shure calls them a “studio headphone,” so the sound profile is fairly neutral, but you can add more bass in the EQ settings in Shure’s companion app for iOS and Android (engaging the Spatializer setting in the app widens the soundstage a bit , but no they don’t make a big difference).
Mark Levinson no. 5909: No. The 5909 are premium audio brand Mark Levinson’s first headphones and, yes, they’re really expensive at $999. But they are also really good. They have a solid design without managing to feel solid on your head (read: they’re substantial but not too heavy), and they’re comfortable to wear for long periods thanks to their nicely padded earcups (and replaceable) covered with leather and headband. . Read our Mark Levinson no. 5909 practical.
Focal Bathys: French audio company Focal is known for its high-end speaker systems and headphones. You could call it the Bowers & Wilkins of France. And now it’s finally done what many high-end audio companies have had to do in this era of wireless music listening on the go: make active noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones. These $699 cans sound great and are great overall, but their noise cancellation is pretty light, so don’t buy them for their ANC.
Master & Dynamic MW09 (Update: Out of Stock): Master & Dynamic headphones and earphones have always featured unique, eye-catching designs that incorporate premium materials such as aluminum, sapphire glass and Kevlar. Its latest MW09 headphones look quite similar to the previous MW08, but have some improvements on the inside that offer better performance, especially when it comes to battery life and noise cancellation (it’s now very close to what Bose offers and Sony, though not quite at their level for ANC).
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offers improved noise cancellation along with very good voice and voice call performance, plus support for high-resolution wireless audio streaming if you own a Galaxy device with the configuration properly. That said, their biggest improvement may be their new design and smaller size, which make them a better fit for more ears. Apart from their somewhat high price, their only drawback is that some of their key features only work with Samsung Galaxy devices.
Beats Studio Buds Plus: Sadly, for those of you who bought the original Beats Studio Buds, which remain on the market for now, I’m sorry to report that these new Plus Buds are significantly improved, with better sound, noise cancellation and battery life. Additionally, they now offer top-notch voice call performance.
Beats Fit Pro: While the Beats Fit Pro aren’t technically AirPods, they’re built on the same technology platform as the AirPods Pro (yes, Apple owns Beats). Unlike Beats’ previous and less expensive Studio Buds and new-for-2023 Studio Buds Plus, the Beats Fit Pro includes Apple’s H1 chip and has most of the features of the AirPods Pro, including active noise cancellation, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I’d dare call them the sporty AirPods you’ve always wanted.
EAH-A800 technique: There’s an old Technics EAH-A800 vibe — and it’s not just the Technics brand, which Panasonic revived in recent years. Their design is something of a throwback, but the headphones are comfortable and both fold and fold flat. They feature a big, punchy sound with powerful bass and good detail (they do take a day or two to break in, though).
EAH-AZ80 Tech: Panasonic has done a good job of creating a set of versatile performance buds that offer an improved fit with great sound, good noise cancellation and a powerful feature set.