Sony appears to be bringing back its multiple-award winning WH-1000XM4 headphones in a new and more affordable incarnation. The new model, leaked via a data sheet seen by Winfuture-de, is designed to compete with affordable ANC headphones from the likes of Bose, Sennheiser and the growing number of impressive Chinese audio firms.

We gave the original Sony WH-1000XM4 ANC headphones five stars in our original review, calling them the best headphones ever made at the time, and they topped our best noise cancelling headphones recommendations for many months after their successor, the Sony WH-1000XM5, launched.

The new model is seemingly designed to be more affordable — and while it looks almost identical, there are some key differences between the new WH-1000XM4C and the original. The price is expected to be around $290 / £215 / AU$410, which is significantly lower than the previous model: at launch it was $349 / £349 / AU$549, and even now it's commanding prices of around $249 / £199 / AU$399.

Sony WH-1000XM4C vs Sony WH1000XM4: what's the difference?

The most important specifications appear to be unchanged: Winfuture reports that the new WH-1000XM4C headphones have the same frequency range of 4 to 40,000Hz and a similar weight of 253g (8.9oz). The looks are identical too, but if you look closely you'll see that the NFC logo on the left earcup is no longer there. Presumably that's one of the changes made to keep the cost down.

Battery life is seemingly shorter too, but not awfully so: the leaked spec sheet says 27 hours with ANC on and 34 hours with it off. That would be four hours less than the original, but it'd still be decent enough for commuting and casual listening.

The leak suggests the drivers will once again be 40mm, so the sound quality should be very similar to the originals. Bluetooth has apparently been upgraded to 6.0.

Those are all the details we've got so far, but a previous leak suggested a planned retail price of €250, which is about $290 / £215 / AU$410.

That's a lot less than before, but it still prices the new Sonys above key rivals such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, the even more affordable second generation Bose QuietComfort headphones, the typical deal price of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, and the ludicrously good value 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51.

The new Sonys are likely to sound better than the Sonoflow — I've never heard a Sony headphone that didn't sound great for the price tag — but Bose's ANC headphones rule the roost right now and they're going to be tough to beat.

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It's been two years since the release of the Sonos Ace, the inuagural premium over-ear headphones from the well-known wireless multi-room audio pioneer. And it sounds like a new follow-up pair are on the way... with a linguistic upgrade in stock.

We know a Sonos launch event is happening in September, and now, FCC listings point to a new pair of wireless headphones. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together to deduce that Sonos' second stab at wireless cans are the product cleared for launch?

And if that wasn't obvious enough, a pair of headphones called the Sonos Ace Ultra have been leaking left, right and center. Winfuture recently published a suite of pictures and details about them, which ensure (if the images prove genuine, of course) there's very little mystery left to uncover.

These images of the headphones look pretty similar to the original Ace, but with bigger ear cups and a slider on the body. In terms of design, then, they still look closer than most to Apple's AirPods Max, albeit with more pill-shaped ear cups.

Ultra by name, ultra by nature?

By all accounts, then, Sonos has some AirPods Max 2 rivals, ready to drop on us at a moment's notice (or competitors to the Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen, Dali IO-8, take your pick from one of the many premium headphones out there).

The real question is, what does the 'Ultra' in the name mean? Will these cost even more than the original Ace? Perhaps an advanced multi-driver set-up? Maybe some extra features, as in the Sony 1000X The Collexion? Or, most pertinently here: will they work within Sonos' multi-room ecosystem, for true audio hand-off to and from the grouped Sonos speakers in your home? The original Ace could do this only to your Sonos Arc, via the TV Audio Swap feature, which made many fans disappointed.

So far, the leaks don't really explain what's Ultra about these headphones, so that's something Sonos will have to sell us on when the new headphones arrive.

TechRadar's Audio Editor Becky Scarrott suggests that anything other than proper audio hand-off to the Sonos wireless speaker array in your home would be a misstep for the company. It's something fans really want — and that rival Bowers & Wilkins has been offering for quite some time in its headphones and earbuds, including the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and five-star Pi8 earbuds. Both are controlled by B&W's Music app, which enables audio hand-off from your buds/cans to your home system when you walk through the door, to any speaker in Bowers & Wilkins’ own Formation range, including the Formation Wedge and newer Zeppelin Pro.

Hopefully, we will see this though; the name suggests that these headphones aren't a sequel to the Sonos Ace (which gained mixed reviews and a four-star review from this publication), but a 'pro' version. And the features will need to match.

For now, watch this space… 

It's been two months since the sporting event of the summer began: the 2026 World Cup kicked off on June 11. That means it's also been two months since Beats started teasing its new headphones, putting them onto footballers like Lamine Yamal and Lee Kang-in to drum up some publicity.

"Publicity for what?" you may well be asking, and it's a fair question. Since then, we've heard neither hide nor hair about these cans, even though we infiltrated Beats impressive HQ to see what was going on, last month.

However, if you were hoping for an imminent release, Redditors have some bad news.

In a post on the r/beatsbydre subreddit, which is currently awash with question regarding these headphones, one forum mod has a theory about when they'll come. User jforsander points out that every previous pair of Beats headphones had iOS support added months prior to their release.

Of course, this new pair of headphones hasn't, suggesting that they're still a long time away from an official launch. In fact, the user thinks that we won't even see this software support until September, because that's when iOS 27 will come.

It follows that the headphones will be released a few months later; perhaps even up to six months later. Gulp. Unfortunately, that tracks with what we heard when we visited Beats HQ — or rather, what we didn't hear. Clearly, Beats is in no rush to strike while the iron's hot.

Will we have to wait that long?

It's worth taking this missive with a slight pinch of salt. If there's no existing software support for the Beats headphones, how were those footballers using them? Surely they weren't just decoration — not at such an important sporting event, where the right pre-match playlist would surely be of paramount importance?

The cynics among you might rightly point out that the players weren't ever photographed listening to the headphones, just wearing them around their necks or attached to their bags. And it's also possible that Apple found a temporary solution for their headphones, rather than a full software rollout.

But it still stands to reason that Beats would give them a way to sporting stars who could actually listen to the headphones, and so it's possible that software support exists and online sleuths… missed it?

Something that the Reddit poster points out is that Apple might simply have become better at hiding its updated software support for new Beats devices (Apple, of course, owns Beats). They call it unlikely, but feasible.

If we are waiting past September to hear any more about these new headphones, all the money spent on soccer players might have been wasted; the buzz garnered by the move is already dying down (that is, in most places beyond the r/beatsbydre subreddit). Hopefully Beats will shift into action sooner than that.

It's been three long years since the Bose QuietComfort Headphones arrived (which were themselves an update on the iconic Bose QuietComfort 35 II, initially released way back in 2017).

And now, the brand has finally updated the series as its more affordable option to the flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

These are, as naming experts can probably guess, called the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen). They bring a range of upgrades over the original pair and, most importantly, a lower price. That's right: 2026, aka the year of price hikes, has just thrown us a bone — although only in the UK.

We know the Bose QC Headphones (2nd Gen) will cost $359 / £299 / AU$549.95. For context, the first-gen model cost $349 / £349.95 / AU$549.95, so the discount in the UK is pretty significant. There is, however, a $10 increase in the US, while in Australian they launch at the same price.

The new headphones will go on sale on August 13, and we'll start testing them soon to see how they stack up in a congested market. The thing is, this aesthetic is highly desirable: when I take public transport I see countless pairs of the older model, despite their relative age.

Anyway, let's look at some key upgrades!

What's new in Gen 2

By the sounds of things, the new Bose cans match their predecessors in terms of audio chops. The older siblings had a 40mm driver, though the company hasn't confirmed what size (and type) of driver the 2nd Gen set are packing.

However, there's now Bose Immersive Audio, a feature previously exclusive to the Ultra lineup, which offers some useful presets. One, which Bose highlights, is a Cinema Mode that aims to create a wide soundstage and boost dialogue.

There's now also support for USB-C wired audio, so you can listen to lossless audio from your phone, and boosts to the ANC. Given that the 'Quiet' part of 'QuietComfort' is a pledge of noise cancellation prowess and the fact that Bose essentially wrote the book on ANC, it's good to hear (or, more appropriately, not hear).

Bose has made a few design tweaks on the QCH(2G) too, with comfier cushions and more ovular earcups. The brand also says the sliders are smoother to use, and presumably that refers to the headband sliders or small Bluetooth slider on the top plate of the right ear cup, because the first-gen model didn't have any kind of on-ear volume slider.

And, because you read it in the headline, there's one more change we should discuss. Beyond black and white color options, three limited-edition models are being unveiled. Rosewood Mauve is a bold purplish option — see our glowing Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review for reference — while Eucalyptus Green, pictured in the main image, will make you look like you're wearing Shrek ears. The third is Dewdrop Mint, with a two-tone pale and dark green. To my eyes this particular finish looks like the hue a pair of kids' headphones would come in.

I imagine that most people might prefer to pick up the black or white models, but Shrek fans out there might differ.

I've long pointed to the flagship Shokz OpenDots One as the best open earbuds in the clip-style category, so I'll admit that I watched the release of the brand's budget-grade option with trepidation.

All too often, a brand's wallet-friendly earbuds tend to fit poorly, cut too many features, completely miss the mark sonically, or launch at a price point that doesn't make sense. But I'm happy to report that the Shokz OpenDots Air side-step those issues.

In fact, for most buyers, this pair just makes so much more sense than its sibling, the Shokz OpenDots 2. That's despite the set you're here to read about being an inferior model, on paper.

Like the numbered OpenDots, the Air uses dual 11.8mm drivers; you're only going to be able to hear a difference in sound quality if you really need Dolby Atmos or some of the unique Shokz features (which, I'm guessing, most people don't).

The OpenDots Air take a largely similar design too, which means they're just as reliable in your ear on long runs or gym sessions. Now and then, I did find them to pinch a little, which I take to be the fault of a few design tweaks, but it was nothing that stopped me using them.

There's more: the battery life is great, the carry case is nice and small and the connection was reliable. But some carry-overs are a little less desirable: like other OpenDots, the touch controls are finicky to use. And while Shokz offered some of the best-sounding open earbuds last year, the Air (and 2) launch to a much more competitive market.

What sets the OpenDots Air apart from the 2-suffixed set, making them a better buy, is the price; you can get them for roughly 25% less. For most buyers, I'd say that you should save your money and buy the Air... unless any of the other fantastic cuff-style buds (which typically do undercut any of Shokz' options) pique your interest.

After all, the Shokz premium is still in play, even with its more affordable buds.

Shokz OpenDots Air review: Price and release date

• Launched on June 4, 2026
• Sells for $129.95 / £129.99 / AU$219
• Cheaper alternative to OpenDots 2

The Shokz OpenDots Air were released on June 4, 2026, alongside the OpenDots 2. That was about 10 months after the original OpenDots One became available.

You can buy the earbuds for $129.95 / £129.99 / AU$219, so they're markedly cheaper than the $199.95 / £179.99 / AU$339 OpenDots 2. The original OpenDots One also went for that price, though a year on they're easy to find at around $150 / £150 / AU$239 (and even less during sales).

Note also the flagship Shokz OpenFit Pro, (more 'traditional' shell-like open earbuds) which include noise reduction and launched in January 2026, at the significant cost of $249.95 / £219 / AU$399.

I'll continue to refer to the OpenDots Air as affordable cuff-style buds, but that's only in comparison to the OpenDots 2 and the other Shokz options listed above. Remember, Shokz is a class-leader in this category, and you pay for that. You can easily find great alternatives for even cheaper (we've even listed a few at the bottom of this review).

Shokz OpenDots Air review: Specs

Shokz OpenDots Air review: Features

• You'll get 9 hours of listening; 36 with case
• EQ has four presets, 5-band custom mode
• App is pretty light on features

You're getting 9 hours of battery life with the Shokz OpenDots Air; at least, that's the cited listening time, and from my testing, I have no cause to doubt it. That's a hair below the OpenDots One / 2's 10 hours, but the difference is negligible, and it's still a solid battery life.

The case rounds that figure up to 36 hours of listening, including recharges. That's more in line with industry standards.

As with most open earbuds, there's no noise cancellation here. It's a shame, because Shokz is one of the few companies to offer ANC-adjacent tech in open-ears (the OpenFit Pro have 'noise reduction', but we tested it and it's the same thing), and I find it's even more useful in earbuds of the like.

While the OpenDots Air aren't as featured-packed as many other earbuds, downloading the Shokz app lets you play around with what there is.

Possibly the best reason to download the app is the equalizer; there are four presets (standard, vocal enhancement, bass enhancement and an audio leakage reduction mode), as well as a simplistic five-band custom EQ which lets you create your own mix.

The app also lets you turn on Multipoint Pairing, change what the touch controls do, turn on (or off) microphone noise cancellation in calls, and turn on (or off) wear detection.

Admittedly, the list is a little svelte. Beyond review purposes, I only opened the app a single time, and that was to double-check I hadn't accidentally turned gesture controls off (I hadn't, more on that later).

• Features score: 3.5/5

Shokz OpenDots Air review: Design

• Svelte carry case
• Attractive blue marbled design
• Not designed to stick in the ear

They ain’t called clip-on buds for nothing – the OpenDots Air are clip-shaped earbuds with a C-shaped band joining a rounded earbud with an ovoid counterweight. The 'dot' goes in your ear-well, the 'egg' sits just behind it, looping around the lower part of the helix.

The earbuds weigh 6.3g each, with silicone and plastic making up the casework of the earpiece. I tested them at the gym, on cycles and on runs (and in other, less-intensive settings) and never had a fit issue; that’s a benefit of this form factor, and I’ve never had a wobbly clipper.

However I did find that the Air could pinch a little during longer wear sessions, and I was surprised by the relief I felt at removing them after an hour-plus run. On the topic of criticisms, the buds technically have touch controls, but I could barely get them to pick up my touch. You have to be incredibly precise to find the right spot, and I quickly gave up on using them. At this level, it's not a deal-breaker in this type of design (at least not yet), but it's my job to notice.

You can buy the earbuds in black or purple, a choice which carries over to the charging case. They’re IP55 protected, which means they’re safe from dust and jets of water, but you shouldn’t take them swimming.

The charging case is lighter than most I’ve seen, tipping the scales to the tune of 37.3g — that’s without the buds, and you’re looking at a total package that’s under 50g. It’s nice and small too, and I really appreciate case like this that’s lightweight and portable like this: it disappeared in my pockets with no problem.

The simplicity extends to the ports and buttons; you’re getting a USB-C port but no wireless charging, unlike the OpenDots 2, and intriguingly no Bluetooth pairing override. I don’t recall the last time I saw an earbud case without this ‘hope-you-don’t-need-it’ feature, but Shokz apparently thinks you don’t need it at all.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Shokz OpenDots Air: Sound quality

• Dual 11.8mm drivers
• Well-defined treble and bass
• Some premium features missing

Shokz has found an audio set-up it likes and has stuck with it. As with the OpenDots One and OpenDots 2, the OpenDots Air have two custom 11.8mm drivers providing the music. The company is coy on what each of these drivers are actually handling, but I’m guessing at least one is tuned towards low-end, given how much "Bassphere" is mentioned in marketing.

(What’s Bassphere? Um, a marketing word, by the sounds of it, and Shokz is quite light on specifics. I've done my due journalistic diligence in trying to dig through the fluff to get granular on Bassphere, but have been unsuccessful. It seems to be what the company refers to as its two-driver system.)

The OpenDots Air do miss some features of their pricier stablemates. There’s no Dolby Atmos tuning, for one, and it lacks a few other Shokz-designed features, including MirrorPitch (which aims the sound into your ear) and Bassphere 2.0 (like 1.0, but designed to reduce distortion which could arise from the two-driver system).

Okay, I’ve been dancing around the topic; how do the Shokz OpenDots Air actually sound? They’re rather good, for open-ears — they’re not quite on par with the higher-end OpenDots, or some varied rivals, but I enjoyed listening to music with them.

It’s clear to my ear that one of the drivers is dialled into the low end, giving bass a clear scooping distinction that’s often missing in open-ears. Songs like Brian Kelley’s Beach Cowboy or Kasabian’s Superpowers offer clean low-end that sit comfortably below higher-frequency sounds, without blowing it out.

The lack of support for better-than-vanilla codecs such as LDAC, or seemingly any higher-quality streaming, means audiophiles might not find these an enjoyable listen. I can’t pretend they’re on par with ‘standard’ in-ear earbuds costing this much, including ones which are geared towards sports users. But for fitness-first listeners who need their ear canals free to hear traffic, they’re all you need.

Naturally, when you’re out and about, the bass will struggle a little bit — it has a harder time cutting through surrounding noise than treble does. That’s par for the course for this kind of earbud, but it bears repeating for those not familiar with the form factor.

• Sound quality: 4/5

Shokz OpenDots Air review: Value

• Great value for money compared to Shokz roster
• Other cufflinks undercut these

If you’re comparing the OpenDots Air solely to the OpenDots 2, they're great value: you’re basically getting the same earbuds for a sizeable discount. I see the Air being the better buy for most people, out of the two.

But when you look at the wider earbuds market, my recommendation gets a bit more muted. I’ve tested plenty of pairs of clip-style earbuds that hover at, or below, the £/$100 mark, which perform basically the same as the OpenDots Air do. If you’re not married to buying Shokz buds, then you’ll find a few different money-saving alternatives below.

• Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Shokz OpenDots Air?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Shokz OpenDots Air review: Also consider

The open earbuds market is incredibly competitive. Here are some others that I've tested and would recommend.

How I tested the Shokz OpenDots Air

• Tested for one month
• Paired with Android phone for Spotify, streaming and games
• Used during multiple kinds of activities

I used the Shokz OpenDots Air for roughly a month to write this review. This ensured they underwent some extensive testing.

This testing included countless runs, several cycles, many gym sessions, loads of walks around my neighborhood, plays on various kinds of public transport, a house move, and a trip to a surf town during a holiday.

During this time, the buds were paired to my Android smartphone. They got most of their use through Spotify, but I also used them for calls, watching some YouTube videos and playing games.

I've tested gadgets for TechRadar since early 2019. Since that time I've reviewed countless earbuds, including loads of open-style ones and the Shokz OpenDots One.

• First reviewed in July 2026

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Here at TechRadar, we test dozens of pairs of headphones every year, and in amongst them we've unearthed some wallet-friendly wonders. I asked TechRadar's audio specialists which headphones they'd recommend to buyers on a budget, and rounded up their suggestions for this article.

If it's true wireless in-ears you're after, you'd struggle to do better than the Nothing Ear (a) buds, which Audio Editor Becky Scarrott awarded a perfect five stars, calling them "a resounding home run" for the British startup and praising the noise cancellation, sound quality and battery life in particular. In the over-ear arena, Becky loves the CMF Pro. In her tests, she was impressed with the "superb" sound quality, and pleasantly surprised to discover "the sort of... personal sound profile curation [we're] more used to seeing in headphones much higher up the food chain".

Read on for more budget-maximizing buys — and hit the 'View details' button for a summary of what we thought of them in our tests, plus links to the full reviews.

Top cheap earbuds and headphones

It is as I foretold: after we saw Skullcandy teases about new headphones, the brand has unveiled exactly the pair of cans I predicted. Meet the Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC; they're the pair that skate legend (and brand ambassador) Tony Hawk is pointing at in the picture above — yes, it really is him.

These are, according to the brand, its "best-sounding product" (although interestingly, not the most expensive because Skullcandy's Aviator 900 cans are a little pricier) and in case you didn't know, a 1080 in skateboarding involves three complete skateboard and body rotations performed either frontside or backside.

As a new member of its Crusher line-up, part of the draw will be the adjustable bass (see the big dial on the ear cup), but there's a lot more to celebrate besides that.

You can buy the Crusher 1080 ANC right now; they cost $279.99 / AU$399.99 (about £210) so they're a little cheaper than the likes of the $449 / £449 / AU$699 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) which they borrow features from.

They come in black, gray, brown, and pink, as you can see modelled sans Tony Hawk below. I rate them in the following order: brown, pink, gray, black, though I'd love to see a camo or floral redesign as Skullcandy is wont to do.

Colors aren't why you'll buy the Crusher 1080 ANC, though. No, it'll be because they offer three new Sound by Bose features at a non-Bose price...

That which we call a Bose by any other name would smell as sweet

We've seen Skullcandy headphones with Bose features before, but the Crusher 1080 ANC are the first pair of cans not made by the brand which have three specific features. And these three features are a big selling point of the product.

The biggest will be Bose QuietControl ANC, which is a massive draw within Bose's own products (including the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen). The company's noise cancellation is best-in-class, and now that proprietary Bose technology is baked into Skullcandy's headphones too. To many, this could be a reason to buy the Crusher all on its own.

Bose's TrueSpatial audio with head-tracking (for surround sound profiles irrespective of source material) and WaveForm audio engine (for snappy digital signal processing) are also stepping foot off the Good Ship Bose for the first time with the 1080. These will be great little extras to refine and finesse what Skullcandy already offers.

And that's before we even mention the Sound by Bose tuning and SpeechClarity voice pickup, to improve the music you listen to and your call quality. The latter is new to Skullcandy, but we've seen the former on some earbuds like my beloved Method 360.

And what about the headphones themselves, beyond the Bose stuff? Skullcandy hasn't confirmed the drivers, but I'd guess they'll be 40mm and joined by woofer units.

The battery life is 60 hours with ANC off and 50 hours with it on, which is pretty impressive; there's a 5-band EQ and other features via the Skullcandy app (not Skull-IQ, which some of the firm's earbuds use). Pictures show a dial on the side of the headphones, amongst other physical controls; I'd wager this is a redesigned bass slider, and given how easy it is to miss this on my Crusher 540 Active, I appreciate the rethink.

Reading between the lines, and having tested the Method 540 earlier this year (a 540 is a one-and-a-half skateboard and body rotation performed either frontside or backside, which I cannot do), I get the impression that Skullcandy is undergoing a push to really level up.

The company doesn't seem to be abandoning the commitment to bass that's defined its products in the past (or its love of athletes as brand ambassadors), but seems to want to bring that into a better-rounded audio package with higher-fidelity music on offer. And if the Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC is the culmination of this process, I'm really intrigued to know how they sound.

At the affordable end of things we have the Nothing Headphone (a), which manage to be both way better and much cheaper than their predecessors. We praised their "impactful and well-balanced sound, good active noise cancellation" and "excellent and truly useful app". A little pricier but still affordable are the retro-styled and ridiculously comfortable Marshall Milton ANC, and the clear-sounding JBL Live 780NC, with their never-ending battery life.

For true audiophiles with deep pockets, we've tested two blow-the-budget bangers. The Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 are the only pair of over-ears to earn a perfect five stars, with their "beautifully precise and engaging audio with exhilarating low-end performance" (here are all the five-star buys of the year so far, if you're interested). We were also blown away by the Grado Signature S750, a pair of handmade, open-back headphones that offer "an exceptional soundstage and excellent clarity", and sound "amazing" on well-produced music.

Scroll down for a comprehensive list of our top-rated over-ear headphones of the year so far — hit the 'View details' button for a summary of the main pros and cons of each one, plus a link to read the full review. Alternatively, head to our general best over-ear headphones list for a run-down of our favorite sets of all time.

Outstanding over-ears

Having tested countless pairs of ANC headphones, it takes something special to truly wow me. But today, we’re going to compare two sets of premium cans that did exactly that: Apple’s AirPods Max 2, and Sony’s WH-1000XM6.

If you’re considering which pair of headphones are for you, I’ve got you covered. I’ve spent hours testing both sets side by side, assessing each model on their feature-sets, performance, design, and most importantly, value for money.

The AirPods Max 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6 are both wonderful headphones, and each earned a 4.5 star review and hearty recommendation from us here at TechRadar. They’re different in more ways than you may expect, offering a pretty unique listening and user experience, but ultimately, there’s one set I’d pick over the other. Curious to hear my verdict? The scroll on down to see this clash for the ages to unfurl.

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: price & specs

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: features

Both the AirPods Max 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6 are rammed with features, but there’s one major point of differentiation — Apple’s cans are heavily tailored towards iOS users.

That’s right, the AirPods Max 2 have a lot of features that Android users won’t get access to. Stuff like Spatial Audio, auto-device switching, Siri, and Apple Intelligence integrations. This is understandable, although it’s a shame that Android users have no way to directly alter the headphones’ EQ. Apple users get a fantastic range of options to choose from, though, with stuff like Live Translation and the head-tracked Spatial Audio really standing out.

Sony’s headphones are undeniably more versatile, with myriad features available to both iOS and Android users. They have no end of options, with a 10-band EQ, scene-based listening, a Cinema upmix mode, speak to chat, and mic-mute. This is all controlled by Sony’s Sound Connect app, which is easy to use, although some settings do feel a little hidden in sub-menus.

But how about the main event: ANC? This is a much closer fight than I expected, actually. See, the XM6 offer class-leading noise canceling capabilities, and even when I’ve used them on flights they’ve silenced the sound of the deep jet engines firing or conversations happening around me. But the AirPods Max 2 are genuinely very competitive, even against the XM6. In my office, the sounds of keyboards clacking, colleagues talking, and cars passing by outside were totally crushed. Both headphones are top-tier when it comes to noise cancelling, and I’d argue they even rival Bose.

Another crucial area to explore is battery life. The Sony WH-1000XM6 keep things pretty standard with 30 hours of battery life with ANC on. This is the typical figure you’ll see for headphones in this kind of price range — nothing special, but enough to get you through a fair few days of listening. The AirPods Max 2, however, only supply 20 hours with ANC on. That’s just not good enough, and falls well short of the competition. If you don’t want to charge your cans all too often, then the XM6 are a better pick.

There are a few other areas where the XM6 prevail over the AirPods Max 2 as well, such as their superior call quality and background noise supression, inclusion of intuitive and precise touch controls over Apple’s digital crown, and use of DSEE Extreme for upscaling lower-quality audio files.

So, if you’re an iOS user, the AirPods Max 2 definitely have some snazzy features up their sleeves — including some smart options that the XM6 leave out. Each are great when it comes to ANC, and are on relatively even footing there. But Sony’s cans offer superior compatibility, battery life, and call quality, making them the overall winner in this category.

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: sound quality

This is what you really came here for, right? But before I get into my sound comparison, let’s take a look at a few technical differences.

Like their predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM5, the Sony WH-1000XM6 use 30mm dynamic drivers, except they’ve been redesigned with high-rigidity carbon fiber for better performance across the frequency range. They also feature Sony’s QN3 processor featuring a noise-shaper, which pre-empts sudden sound changes for a more controlled listening experience.

On the other hand, the AirPods Max 2 use custom 40mm drivers — just as the original AirPods Max did. However, the sequel added a new amplifier alongside Apple’s H2 processor, which is intended to supply more detailed, cleaner sound. Unlike the LDAC-equipped XM6, the AirPods Max 2 have no higher-res Bluetooth codec support, although you can access lossless playback via the headphones’ USB-C port.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get into my listening comparison. In Journey by Ruze, the differences between the two pairs of headphones were clear. With the AirPods Max 2, I was treated to a spacious, immersive interpretation, with expansive vocals and dreamy synths showing off the headphones’ nuanced soundstage.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 went for a different approach, with a tighter and punchier take. Bass came through with the kind of impact that instantly demanded my attention. Vocals and synths were also really clear and well separated in the mix, but didn’t have quite as much of an expansive quality.

Moving over to something softer with Sakamichi by Yuta Orisaka and it was a similar story again. Vocals were emotive and tonally accurate, and were elegantly separated from strumming guitars. Percussion was also rhythmic and well-defined in the mix, and the broad soundstage exposed the track’s layers with finesse.

The XM6 excelled too, and vocals had excellent clarity in the mix, warped electric guitars sounded brilliantly separated — almost as if they were operating in a separate pocket. Meanwhile, the warmth of the track’s bass came through beautifully, and subtle percussive elements were weighted nicely too. Despite this, there was still a tightness to the sound — the direct and cohesive sound of the XM6 is simply very striking.

So, which headphones sound better? I think it’s a question that’s harder to answer than you may expect. On a strictly technical level, I’d argue that the AirPods Max 2 offer a bit more nuance, thanks to their wider soundstage, which opens up a more revealing and insightful listen. But I really do think there’s a case to be made for the XM6. Their punchier, tighter approach sounds spectacular, and adds a lot of vim and excitement — especially to more energetic tracks.

Ultimately, this one’s down to personal preference. If you want a more intimate sound with the joys of LDAC, then the Sony WH-1000XM6 are for you. But if you’re looking for an ultra-spacious, meticulous soundstage with clean all-round sound, then the AirPods Max 2 get the nod for me. Let’s call this one a tie.

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: design

The AirPods Max 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6 have shown themselves to be very different propositions so far. And that’s reflected in their design as well.

In my view, the AirPods Max 2 are some of the best-looking wireless headphones on the market today, with a super-striking metallic look, an elegant fabric headband, and a selection of eye-catching colors. Sure, they look just about identical to the original AirPods Max, but if it ain’t broke…

The Sony WH-1000XM6 look pretty good themselves, though. They have a sleek, cohesive, and textured appearance, which resembles the XM5 pretty closely. The XM6 have more of an understated selection of colors than the AirPods Max 2 — personally I prefer what Apple’s headphones have to offer, but it’s totally down to personal preference.

I’d argue that the AirPods Max 2 have a more premium look and feel — as you’d hope considering the price difference — I just think they’re more striking. In addition, I prefer the flatter appearance of the earcups on Apple’s headphones to the semi-bulky look of the XM6’s.

But hang on. The XM6 aren’t down and out just yet. Because if we’re talking about pure practicality, they have the AirPods Max 2 beat. The XM6 are totally foldable, making them phenomenally compact if you want to toss them into a small bag, whereas Apple’s headphones are a bit more rigid. On top of that, the XM6 come with a fantastic magnet-lock case that's far better than the bizarre smart case of the AirPods Max 2, which doesn’t even protect the headband.

Overall, though, I’m gonna hand this one to Apple. I do like the case and foldability of the XM6 for sure, but the attention-grabbing, luxurious look of the AirPods Max 2 is undeniable. Yes, they’re also a fair bit heavier than the XM6 too, but I still found Apple’s cans very comfortable in use, meaning they just about edge it for me.

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: value

There’s no hiding the fact that the AirPods Max 2 are significantly pricier than the Sony WH-1000XM6. Apple’s latest headphones typically come in at $549 / £499 / AU$999, while Sony’s have a list price of $449 / £399 / AU$699. But which one actually offers better value for money?

As I noted above, these headphones are very different, so the answer will vary depending on a few factors. The AirPods Max 2 offer more expansive sound than the XM6, paired with an excellent set of features for Apple device users and a luxurious look to boot. They are definitely on the expensive side, though, and although we’ve seen them pop up on sale with a few retailers (even as low as $399 in the US over Amazon Prime Day), they do have some notable flaws for the price.

The battery life instantly comes to mind — 20 hours isn’t very competitive. They also lack higher-res Bluetooth codecs, and their compatibility with Android devices is limited. Still, they’re a great pair of headphones overall, with fantastic sound quality, looks, and iOS functionality.

At $449 / £399 / AU$699, the Sony WH-1000XM6 feel like an easier sell. They offer ANC that’s easily on par with the AirPods Max 2, a more practical design, they sound spectacular, with a punchy yet well-balanced signature, and their broad compatibility is a big win — especially if you own a Windows laptop or Android phone.

These are also on sale fairly regularly, and I’ve seen them drop as low as $380 / £300 in recent times in the US and UK respectively. Sure, if you only have Apple devices, these may not offer the same convenience as the AirPods Max 2, and Sony’s headphones also leave out USB-C audio passthrough and have a slightly less premium look.

It’s closer than I initially thought, but I do think the Sony WH-1000XM6 are better value when all’s said and done. For less money, you get super-engaging sound, top-tier ANC, better battery life, and a more versatile software setup.

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: verdict

So, if I could only choose one pair of these excellent headphones, which would I recommend? In this instance, I’m going to hand it to the Sony WH-1000XM6. Apple’s headphones are undoubtedly fantastic performers, and if you want the most spacious sound and features tailored for iOS, they’ll undoubtedly serve you very well. But for less money, the XM6 are just the slightly better value pick for me. Their combination of S-tier ANC, balanced, yet tight and punchy sound, and more versatile compatibility make them the ideal all-rounders.

Almost every one of the best open earbuds I’ve tested, has been designed for sports users. They let you hear your surroundings at the gym, remain aware when running in a busy area, and keep alert when cycling on a road. I don’t think Cleer missed this memo – the brand’s intentionally going for something completely different.

The Cleer Arc 5 are open earbuds designed not for sports, but for the rest of us. I was skeptical when I first saw them, but they’ve surprised me — in both good and bad ways.

The presence of Dolby Atmos and THX Spatial Audio means these are suited for watching a TV show or movie on your commute, and their support for a range of better Bluetooth codecs, including LDAC and aptX Adaptive, shows Cleer is aiming for audiophile-quality earbuds here. Those are some exceptional features for a form factor that naturally competes with loads of extraneous background sounds.

Cleer’s app hides loads of other features too, including a posture test which uses the buds’ positional tools, and the ability to set sedentary reminders if you’re too often stuck in one spot.

The design department makes it clear that these aren’t sports buds. Though surprisingly sturdy during a run, the buds are much bulkier than your average svelte runners’ wear. And the presence of an on-case display, full of controls and settings, clearly signposts this as not for active users. When I go to the gym or for a run, the case is always left at home.

Unfortunately, despite the impressive specs and clear focus on listening quality, the Achilles’ Heel of these earbuds is the sound quality. There’s a real lack of expansie through the soundstage, and both treble and bass feel poorly defined. The open-ear form factor doesn’t help here, especially with a max volume that’s simple not loud enough, but many similar earbuds I’ve tested sound a lot better.

It’s a shame that these don’t sound fantastic, and is surprising too when you see the price tag. For some users, I see the feature set trumping the sound quality. The fantastic battery life, health features and spatial audio might trump below-average sound. But it begs the question who these are designed for, if not audiophiles or fitness fans.

Cleer Arc 5 review: Price and release date

• Released in March 2026
• Made their debut at $219 (about £170 / AU$340)
• Some of the priciest within their category

The Cleer Arc 5 were announced on March 16, 2026, only four months after their predecessors. That was a quick turnaround!

You can buy the Arc 5 for $219.99 (about £170, AU$340 — no word on a release outside the US, as with the Arc 4). So these are some of the most expensive open earbuds out there.

To my mind only the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and Shokz OpenFit Pro cost more, but they’re both explicitly designed for sports, while the Cleer is aimed at an audiophile market.

Cleer Arc 5 review: Specs

Cleer Arc 5 review: Features

• 12-hour battery life, 60 with case
• 8-band EQ, plus presets
• Loads of features including posture test

If there’s an area where the Cleer Arc 5 stand out, it’s in the feature set — it seems that this is what the buds were designed to do.

It starts with the basics: the battery life here is great for open earbuds. You’re getting 12 hours of listening per charge, with 60 hours once you factor in the charging case itself. Beyond a few endurance-focused earbuds, those figures are at the top of their class.

Boot up the Cleer+ app on your phone, and you’re getting a smorgasbord of tools — admittedly in a pretty confusing lay-out. You can use the app to toggle spatial audio, change between EQ modes and create custom ones, change what the touch and gesture controls do, change the case wallpaper, edit what tools are available via the case, and more.

The equalizer is an 8-band one, giving you some control over your sound, though in this day and age I’d say that 10-bands were more common. I preferred using this over the presets, which didn’t have a noticeable impact on a song’s sound.

The “and more” features I alluded to earlier are pretty out-there, hence needing a whole extra paragraph. They’re health ones: you can set up sedentary reminders to get you to move about, add volume limits to protect your hearing, and do a posture test which uses the gesture controls of the buds to evaluate whether you’re sitting straight.

For office workers, this latter is a genuinely useful feature, and I used it to ensure my seat and chair were level when working at my desk. However, for it to work properly, your phone needs to be at eye level too — I messed it up by leaving my mobile o,n my desk, and when I bent over to look at it, the test was ruined.

One feature you’re not getting in the Arc 5 is any kind of noise cancellation. It’s admittedly very rare in the open-ear space, but not unheard of (if you’ll pardon the pun).

• Features score: 4.5/5

Cleer Arc 5 review: Design

• Giant case has a touch screen
• Earbuds are on the large side, but fit solidly
• Only IPX7 protected

Let’s start with the Cleer Arc 5’s big new feature: its charging case. Big literally: it weighs 97g all on its own, and measures 8.3 x 6 x 2cm, making it one of the biggest earbud cases I’ve seen in years.

This size isn’t just to house some pretty big earbuds, but it does that with a few extra twists. It has built-in UV charging for the buds, and a mirror inside the case for some reason. For some reason, the left earbud is housed on the right, and vice versa, which was confusing for a while until I learnt to switch.

But no, the big selling point here is a screen build into the charging case. You can use it to flick between a few menus: battery, music controls, spatial audio settings, general settings, equalizer and remote camera shutter. The interface feels akin to a smartwatches’: very basic.

For changing quick settings like EQ or skipping songs, the case was quite handy: I didn’t need to dig my phone out of my pocket and get distracted by the 120 notifications from that group chat I forgot to mute. But you can’t use the case to change playlists, create an EQ or dig deep into settings, so it won’t replace your phone completely.

The earbuds also have touch controls too, which were quite easy to trigger with a tap anywhere on their body, yet never accidentally picked up an unintentional touch.

I suppose that brings us onto the earbuds. These are pretty huge, and heavy too, weighing roughly 24g each. I haven’t seen an open earbud quite this big, and was expecting them to fit pretty awfully; thankfully, I was totally wrong. I went on many runs with the Arc 5, and not once did they threaten to dislodge, or wobble more than the average open-ear does.

I’d put this down to some smart balancing of the bud and counterweight. They were always comfortable to wear, even if the weight didn’t exactly make them easy to forget.

The Cleer Arc 5 comes in black or white, and I tested the latter. They have an IPX7 rating, which makes them sweatproof but not suited to swimming. I would avoid taking them out in heavier rainfall too, just to be safe.

• Design score: 4/5

Cleer Arc 5 review: Sound quality

• Large 16.2mm driver
• Blunt and indistinct sound
• Max volume is too low for open format

I was expecting the Cleer Arc 5’s sound to be its outstanding feature. Between its 16.2mm drivers, support for LDAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless, and high price, it seems like these could be some of the best open earbuds yet.

I’m quite surprised to report that I was wrong, and I didn’t really love listening to tunes on the Arc. The quality isn't terrible, but it's not on par with the expectations you'd have from those aforementioned specs.

Music sounds compressed, with neither the high-end nor low-end differentiated in a way that gives any sense of sound stage or distinction. Snare drums lack bite, distorted-guitar walls turn into crunchy puddles, bass wobbles over plenty of other low- or mid- instruments. The buds would perhaps sound better if they were in-ears, but hovering a few mm over your ears, it doesn't fly.

Low-end is poorly defined yet too prominent in the mix: The Human Race by BYRNE starts with a harmony that sounded more like a glitching speaker than a bass singer. This line’s meant to repeat in the chorus with a bass guitar, and it completely overrides the harmony. In 311’s Good Feeling, the bass trips over all the other instruments, replacing the usually-energetic, fun chorus with the sonic equivalent of a stubbed toe.

Also affected is the treble, as vocals and higher lines lose prominence and energy. Take, for example, Morningsider’s Thinking it Over: a string motif is dropped in the mix in the introduction, and completely lost in the pre-chorus.

I’ll concede that if you listen to acoustic or folky music, you may not notice this issue as much. In songs like Caamp’s 26, the reduced instrumentation meant I could still basically hear everything.

Well, I could hear it until I stepped outside. The Arc 5 falls into a common trap with open earbuds: their maximum volume isn’t high enough to compete with noisy surroundings. When I was running near a main road, I could barely hear my songs.

• Sound quality: 3/5

Cleer Arc 5 review: Value

• Features may go some way to justify price...
• ... but audio quality doesn't

The Cleer has quite a few neat features. I really like what the case display achieves, and the fit is solid. Plus, the movie listening features offer tools that many other earbuds don’t.

However that’s a really high price for any earbuds, let alone open-style ones — and especially not for ones that, frankly, don’t sound amazing.

There’s no way that these buds offer you value for money; you can get better audio quality for a lot less, especially if you’re happy to buy non-open-style buds.

• Value: 3/5

Should I buy the Cleer Arc 5?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Cleer Arc 5review: Also consider

How I tested the Cleer Arc 5

• Tested for one month
• Tested in a range of indoor and outdoor settings
• Used for music, gaming, calls movies and TV

I used the Cleer Arc 5 for roughly a month before writing this review of them. In that time, they were paired to a succession of Android smartphones, mostly the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Moto Edge 70 Fusion.

I listened to the Arc 5 on runs, walks around my neighborhood, office sessions, long trips on public transport and at home. I mostly streamed music via Spotify Lossless, and Apple Music, but also watched movies on a variety of streaming services, played games, and tested a few other music streamers.

I’ve been reviewing gadgets for TechRadar for over seven years now, including testing audio kit for nearly as long. In that time I’ve handled other Cleer gadgets as well as many, many other open-ear buds.

• First reviewed in May 2026

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

I think if you have heard of them, the Cambridge Melomania P100 SE perhaps got a slightly bad rep on their release. Why? Oh, purely because they were a fairly minor update on the original — and excellent — P100, to add some DynamEQ software (a slightly more V-shaped, optional sound profile in addition to the beautifully integrated hi-fi listen the originals already came with), a cushier headband, and a new colourway.

But all of that is water under the bridge. All you need to know is: they're excellent, they have all of the key features you're going to want, they're comfortable — and I know this because my other half has had them for nearly a year now, and wears them every single day — and they're only £169 (was £249) at Amazon.

I cannot tell you the full value this represents. But as TechRadar's Audio Editor, I'm going to try, so let me start out by saying that these headphones have stood the test of time. My other half plays tennis and football, plus he cycles and surfs regularly, albeit not always in headphones (to be clear, there's no IP rating here, so don't head into the sea with these headphones) and so they're been in a few sweaty bags without issue.

And the sound? It's really, really good. But that's not actually why I gave them to him: we're both huge fans of What We Do in the Shadows and Toast of London, you see. And if you select 'Southwark' in the voice prompts menu, you get Matt Berry's outstanding voice prompts to update you on battery life, noise cancellation profiles and so on…

Today's best Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE deal

See, there they are, on his desk right now! We've got the fan on and the curtains closed (working from home in a heatwave, aren't we?) but soon, he'll put them back on and continue with his listening — which, if I know him, will be Public Service Broadcasting's Every Valley on a day such as this ("Retro? GO! Fido? GO!").

Not after cans this Prime Day? That's OK! My colleague Rowan has written about the corresponding, Matt Berry-enhanced earbuds from the brand, and I'll link a little Prime Day deal block below. Also, I've got a roundup of the best earbuds and headphones deals still live this Prime Day, which might help you out.

But for me, the over-ears are too good at this price to consider buds. If I could simply scream 'BAT!' and flap my wings over to an Amazon warehouse — although (whisper it) the deal's also live at Richer Sounds, if you prefer — and nab myself a pair so I didn't have to keep stealing his, I would.

Again, Prime Day ends tonight, at midnight (when Laszlo Cravensworth and the vampires of Staten Island all come out to eat, of course) so don't say I didn't warn you…

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You can currently buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 for £255 (was £399) at Amazon UK. Not only does it make them much more affordable, but it actually brings them down to their lowest price ever. And don't feel left out if you're based in the US — you can still get a decent discount on them where you are, for $409.99 (was $479.99) at Amazon.

As reviews editor at TechRadar, I've used a ludicrous number of headphones over the years, from the absurdly premium Focal Clear MG to budget bangers like the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100. But there's only one pair that I come back to again and again, that have earned their place as my trusty workhorse when other headphones can't quite fit the bill: the Px7 S3.

So if you're looking to get superb audio without having to pay a premium for it, I definitely think you should check out this deal.

Honestly, this discount makes these headphones a valid contender for some of the best headphones out there. There's a reason we gave them 5 stars in our Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review after all.

The main reason I love the Px7 S3 for everyday use is that I can count on them to punch way above their weight in terms of sonic quality. Thanks to their aptX Lossless connectivity, they're able to stream music at what is essentially CD quality, while the soundstage they offer up feels precise yet spacious. Without spending a significant chunk more, you won't get more deft sound than this.

I also love how faithful their sound is. While I'll admit they don't offer the same driving bass as headphones like the much spendier AirPods Max 2, they also don't neglect some frequencies just to emphasize others, a shortcut many mid-range and budget cans take advantage of. They're faithful enough that I happily trust them for everyday music production, which is not something I can say about a lot of Bluetooth headphones.

And with this massive discount, I'd honestly say you can't lose with the Px7 S3.

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More Prime Day deals in the UK

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• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

In a highly convoluted market, it can be tough to pick out just one pair of headphones to buy, but today, I’m here to narrow things down for you. I’ve picked 4 of the best noise cancelling headphones that I’ve tested so that you can get great bang for your buck and enjoy your tunes without compromise.

There are options for a range of budgets here, from a top-class budget-friendly set all the way up to a premium pair that’s sure to bless your ears. Curious to know what made the cut? Scroll on down and discover my top picks.

1. The budget big-hitter: 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

I’ve raved about the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 plenty of times, and for good reason. These headphones almost feel too good to be true — and on multiple counts.

Firstly, they’re incredibly cheap. They’re regularly available for less than $90 / £90, making them far more affordable than models from the likes of Apple and Bose. But that low price-point doesn’t come at the cost of quality. The Sonoflow Pro plate up surprisingly strong sound quality, with rich bass, clean mids, and controlled highs. They even have LDAC support for higher-res Bluetooth listening, which is a great feature for a product at such a budget-friendly price-point.

Another area these headphones excel in is ANC. Sure, you’re not getting Bose QuietComfort Ultra levels of noise-nixing, but they’re effective at dulling external sounds right across the frequency range, making them a nice pick for commutes or daytime walks. Pair that with an extraordinary 100 hours of battery life (65 hours with ANC on) and a sleek look, and the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 are an easy recommendation.

2. The best all-rounders: Sony WH-1000XM6

If there’s one pair of noise cancelling headphones I’d recommend to everyone, it would be the Sony WH-1000XM6. These are the headphones that I use every single day, and in my eyes, they’re the perfect all-rounders, delivering class-leading ANC, stellar sound, and an ingenious design.

Let’s start with ANC which is so good here, that it even beats out Sony’s newer, more expensive headphones, the Sony 1000X The Collexion. The XM6 make use of Sony’s QN3 processor, which harnesses the power of 12 microphones to block out noise from your environment, and while they’re great across the board, they’re especially good at keeping low-end sounds away, even outdoing Bose in this area in my view.

Yes the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 are arguably a bit better at banishing higher-pitched sounds, but we’re talking about fine margins here. And I’d pick the XM6 over their Bose rivals every time for one key reason: they sound a good deal better, in my view.

The XM6 were co-designed with leading mastering engineers for a studio-inspired sound, and take a more balanced approach than their predecessors, the still excellent Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sony WH-1000XM4. They still sound nice and punchy however, and their tight and dynamic sound is a joy to behold. Again, LDAC is here if you want a more detailed listen — as is 3.5mm wired connectivity.

On top of this, the XM6 offer top-tier touch controls, scene-based listening, a ten-band equalizer, and an effective transparency mode. In our best headphones guide, we ranked these as our best overall pick, and I’d strongly recommend you try them for yourself and find out why.

3. The noise-nixing on-ears: Marshall Milton ANC

Here’s something a little different. Yes, the recently released Marshall Milton ANC aren’t like any other entries in this list, as they’re actually on-ear headphones. The Milton ANC look to blend the iconic look and feel of the Marshall Major line with the noise cancelling prowess of the Marshall Monitor III ANC, and what do you know, they pull it off to perfection.

When I reviewed the Marshall Milton ANC, they honestly outstripped my expectations. See, I’m not generally a fan of on-ears, as I tend to find them uncomfortable, and their tendency to leak sound usually means I’ll just reach for my over-ears instead. But the Milton ANC are by far the comfiest on-ears I’ve ever tested, with a generous, flexible build — and they honestly sound great too, with less leakage than some rivals I’ve tested.

Out of the box, the Milton ANC are pretty bass-heavy, which will appeal to a lot of listeners I’m sure. However, the Marshall Bluetooth app provides an equalizer for toning things down a bit if you want a more even spread across the frequency range. Unlike previous Marshall products, these also feature LDAC for higher-res listening, but you’ll also get USB-C audio passthrough for lossless playback.

What’s more, the Milton ANC feature a colossal 80 hour battery life (with ANC off), a soundstage mode for more immersive listening, Auracast connectivity, and a gorgeous retro-style design. They’re also made of 42% recycled materials, and you can get replaceable parts in the situation that they break, which makes them feel like a worthwhile long-term investment.

OK, the ANC is a little limited as a result of the on-ear design, but they still restrict outside noise pretty effectively, and I’ve happily used them on trains and buses with very little distraction from whatever I’m listening to. So, if you want the flexibility that on-ears can offer with the benefits of noise cancelling, then the Marshall Milton ANC are without question my top choice.

4. The premium pick: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

Last and most definitely not least, we have the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3. If you want something that feels, looks, and sounds truly premium, this is it — this is what you’ve been looking for.

The first time that I put these headphones on, they took my breath away. They conjure up a sense of space that few rivals in this price bracket can muster, with incredibly immersive, almost three-dimensional sound. Bass is full-sounding, extends deep, and hits with striking agility. Mids are brilliantly defined, and vocal separation adds a layer of nuance that will keep you coming back for more and more. And the treble is vibrant without sounding uncontrolled or fatiguing.

And the Px7 S3 almost look as good as they sound, with an enticing faux-leather, metal, and fabric combination. They even come in an eye-catching range of colors, with Indigo Blue and Canvas White being my personal favorites. Mix in aptX codec support, much-improved ANC (compared to their predecessor), and a comfortable fit, and you’re getting a brilliant overall package.

While their sibling, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is the superior pair of headphones, they are far more expensive than the Px7 S3, which I think are fantastic in their own right, and I’d recommend with confidence.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

For those of you in the UK, I've got good news: the Sony WH-1000XM6 are £284.99 (was £399) at John Lewis. That's another lowest-ever price for Sony's top-tier wireless headphones, and you don't even need to be a Prime member to snag this particular deal up.

I use these headphones every single day — I even wore them while writing this article — and they're easily my favorite wireless headphones I've ever used. They deliver a beautiful combination of well-rounded, dynamic sound, out-of-this-world ANC, a gorgeous yet practical design, and a gigantic featureset, resulting in a top-tier user experience. Want to hear more? Then scroll on down for more info on these exceptional offers.

Today's best Sony WH-1000XM6 deal in the US

Today's best Sony WH-1000XM6 deal in the UK

In my Sony WH-1000XM6 review, I described them as "a fantastic pair of over-ear headphones that combine the best design elements of their predecessors, while leveling up the sonic and ANC capabilities of what came before." And one year later, that still rings true.

To this day, I'm still astonished by how great the XM6 sound — their well-balanced, punchy, and dynamic audio is seriously addictive. They also married the convenience of the XM4's foldable design with the sleek look of the XM5, while improving the headband for an ultra-comfortable, flexible fit.

For me, the Sony WH-1000XM6 beat just about every rival in their price bracket, with more intricate, balanced sound than the Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 can plate up, and superior battery life and value compared to the AirPods Max 2. Sony's cans are just great all-round performers, and so it will come as no surprise that they sit atop our guide to the best headphones.

And at less than $380 / £285, there really is no better time to get your hands on Sony's best noise-cancelling headphones. As someone who uses these cans every day, and has done for over a year now, they're easily my top recommendation — especially at this price!

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

At the time of release, we deemed them as 'the best in the business' in our review, but that also came with a rather eye-watering price tag at launch. Thankfully, that's what Amazon Prime Day is for.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

If you've been putting off purchasing these headphones because of their high price point, Prime Day is your chance to score them for $198 down from $399.99 in the US, or £179.54 down from £279 if you're in the UK — stellar price drops for Sony if you ask me.

Today's best Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones deals

Although there are deals on the newer Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, they're still almost double the price of the WH-1000XM5 discount and outside of the foldable ear pads, there's really not a huge difference feature-wise.

If there's one thing I've taken away from my time with my WH-1000XM5 is that they were built for longevity. I've been using the headphones for almost four years, and they're still working like I've just taken them out of the box for the first time.

They're also totally reliable. One of the biggest problems I kept running into with wireless earbuds was that they'd completely crash on me for unknown reasons after short periods of time, leaving me with one dead and one functioning earbud before that one would eventually give up.

These aren't the only reasons why I've stood by them; they're packed with a ton of handy features that make your listening experience just that bit more convenient and enjoyable. For one, these headphones have incredibly smart ambient sound controls, which they can automatically adjust based on your location.

So if you're in a busier area, the headphones can enable ambient settings to let outside noise in to help you be more aware with your surroundings. I like to enable this feature when I'm listening to music and podcasts while on walks — nature noises are just so soothing.

The headphones can also connect to two devices simultaneously, which is an added bonus if you float between your phone and laptop.

That said, the active noise cancellation works wonders for shutting out unwanted conversations for when you want an interrupted listening session, a setting I use more often than ambient mode. especially when traveling — because who wants loud conversations and roaring train sounds blaring while you're trying to listen to the new Olivia Rodrigo album for the tenth time?

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

The Sennheiser Momentum 5 are noise-cancelling headphones with lossless connectivity, spatial audio, and a promised battery life of 57 hours of battery life per charge with ANC engaged. They also offer heaps of sound personalization features, a smooth sliding scale between 100% noise cancelling and 100% transparent and customizable Sound Zones that allow you to automatically apply sound profiles and ANC settings when you enter predefined locations.

The Sennheiser Momentum 5’s look is clean overall, even if it’s not that adventurous a design, with a build mostly fashioned from plastic with metal highlights. The cushioned headband and faux leather ear cups do feel super comfortable, although I did find the slight ridge inside the cup made my ear to ache during long listening sessions. Otherwise though, they fit well and feel solidly built.

I’ve got to be honest though: when it comes to performance, I found the Sennheiser Momentum 5’s sound out of the box to be on the disappointing side, compared to the best headphones out there. Bass feels decent enough — I dropped Listen by Pola & Bryson & goddard. and not only did that distorted, snarling bass sound substantial, but the synths felt well rounded and there’s some good sub there, especially if you slip the headphones Bass Boost on.

However, when it comes to higher frequencies, the Momentum 5 too often felt like they were pulling punches. Rosewood by Bonobo sounded unusually muffled in the higher mids, with the usually punchy percussion and hats sounding really inert to me. Meanwhile, treble is similarly milquetoast, with the rhythmic static loops of The Gloaming by Radiohead lacking the crispness I’d expect and feeling unnecessarily rolled off.

Fortunately, this is something you can fix, thanks to the Momentum 5’s powerful EQ tools. There are eight EQ presets to choose from, including everything from Rock to Hip-Hop, but I found I was able to get far better results out of whipping up my own tunings.

Both Sound Check presets and Sound Personalization started the same way, allowing me to pick my favorite tweak by listening to three alternative tunings five times. Where they diverge is how you tweak the resultant profile, with the former letting you adjust it based on an eight-band EQ and the latter a matrix that lets you independently boost or duck bass and treble. With the latter I was able to get pretty great sound out of the Momentum 5, feeling warm in the low end while feeling crisp and dynamic in the high end — I just wish it didn’t require so much tweaking to get the Momentum 5 to sound their best.

On the plus side, the Momentum 5 offer an excellent soundstage. They give real breadth even to stereo mixes, with each instrument meticulously well positioned in the stereo field. And the headphones deftly handle Dolby Atmos — don’t get me wrong, some masters still feel a little hollow in this kind of spatial format, but Sennheiser’s cans do a fine job of situation each element in the space around you.

Speaking of being surrounded by sound, another area the Momentum 5 didn’t quite live up to my expectations was their noise cancelling. Now, not every set of headphones can quite live up to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones’ commotion-quashing capabilities but I found Sennheiser’s often struggled to fully hush everyday conversation or completely stifle traffic noise. Sadly, they can’t compete with much of the market on this front.

Elsewhere, though, the Momentum 5’s features are more impressive. Connectivity is strong — they’re Bluetooth 6 ready, with the standard due to to come to the headphones in a future update, and they offer aptX Lossless, which means those with compatible phones can effectively stream CD quality sound on the go. And Sennheiser's Sound Zones is also a fun feature, allowing you to set the Momentum 5 to switch to certain EQ and ANC profiles automatically based on your location.

One last thing that warrants a special mention is the Momentum 5's battery life. While the Sony WH-1000XM6 offer a decent 30 hours and the AirPods Max 2 offer a pretty disappointing 20 hours with ANC on, Sennheiser's headphones blow right past them, offering up to 57 hours. This was consistent with my testing, meaning you can absolutely rely on these cans to last you days and days without needing a top up.

All told, the Sennheiser Momentum 5 are a solid set of noise-cancelling headphones, with some impressive features, long-lasting battery and spacious high-quality sound. But they’re also frustrating, as without certain missteps like their unbalanced default tuning and weaker ANC, they could be something truly remarkable. As they stand, they’re a good pair of headphones for their price, particularly once you’ve tailored their sound to your taste, but they won’t topple the best noise-cancelling headphones out there.

Sennheiser Momentum 5 review: price and availability

• Launched June 16, 2026
• List price of $399.95 / £329 / AU$749
• Available in Black, White, and Denim

Launched on June 16, the Sennheiser Momentum 5 are available now. They’re available for a list price of $399.99 / £329 / AU$749 — that definitely puts them in the higher-end bracket, although they’re obviously nowhere near as premium as the $549 / £499 / AU$999 AirPods Max 2 or the $649 / £550 / AU$999.95 Sony 1000X The Collexion.

They come in three colorways: Black, White, and Denim. Before you get too worried about having to match that last one to your outfit, don’t: it’s really just a dark indigo hue. All three colorways look decent enough to me, although I definitely think Sennheiser could have given us a little more choice here — at least one stand-out option like mauve or mint might have just helped provide an option for those that like to stand out from the crowd.

Sennheiser Momentum 5 review: specs

Sennheiser Momentum 5 review: features

• aptX Lossless compatible — but no LDAC or ALAC
• Versatile EQ & sound personalization
• Sound zones

First off, let’s take a look at what they’ve got going on under the hood. The Momentum 5 are rocking the same 42mm transducers as their predecessor — that’s a considerable step up compared to something like the Sony WH-1000XM6’s 30mm dynamic drivers and even an improvement over the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2’s 40mm. Hopefully that should mean the Momentum 5 can muster up more substantial bass and a broader soundstage.

Connectivity is very strong on the Momentum 5 too, especially if you’re listening from an aptX compatible device. Not only do they currently run Bluetooth 5.4, they’re Bluetooth 6.0 ready, with it due to arrive by a future firmware update. It’s compatible with AptX Lossless, which gives you access to near CD-level quality playback — although sadly not ALAC or LDAC, which means you won’t be enjoying lossless audio on your Apple or Samsung device.

The Momentum 5’s touch controls are easy enough to use and feel pretty intuitive. A single tap to play / pause, swiping forward and back to skip forward and back, up and down to increase / decrease the volume, each control is intuitive and easy to activate… in fact, possibly too easy to activate. As can often be the case with headphones that rely on touch control, it’s really easy to trigger functions on the Momentum 5 when you’re adjusting them or removing them from your head and I’d often pick them up from my desk and realize I’d already set them playing.

The touch controls aren’t the only way to control the Momentum 5 though. Once you’ve paired them with your phone, Sennheiser’s SmartControlPlus app gives you more granular control over many of the headphones settings. As well as switching Dolby Atmos content on and off, you can also use it to tailor noise cancelling to your preferred level — it offers a smooth slider that allows you to gradually shift from 100% ANC to 100% transparency, as well as offering a toggle to turn on Anti-Wind mode in ANC.

You can use one of eight EQ presets from Dance to Jazz or you can create your own using its eight-band EQ. More unique though is Sennheiser’s Sound Check EQ presets: basically it allows you to pick which you prefer out of multiple different profiles like an eyetest for your ears. After you’ve selected your preferred option five times, it shows you the resultant preset. This feels like a really neat idea, allowing people who aren’t au fait with tweaking audio frequencies to still create their own custom sound.

But even more flexible in my eyes is Sennheiser’s Sound Personalization feature, which has been carried over from the Sennheiser Momentum 4. It runs you through the same setup as the Sound Check EQ but rather than presenting you with a range of EQ bands to adjust after, it instead presents you with a matrix that allows you to independently boost or reduce the bass and treble frequencies to polish your own preferred sound profile. That feels nicely intuitive and seems far easier to tweak on the fly than a standard graphic equalizer.

Lastly, the inclusion of customizable Sound Zones isn’t unique to Sennheiser’s cans — for example, being offered by the last few generations of Sony’s WH-1000 line — but it still feels like a pretty neat feature. Being able to automatically set noise-cancelling to maximum when I hit the office, switch up to a bassier sound profile when I hit the gym or increase the transparency when I’m out of the house saves a lot of effort. While it’s not necessarily trailblazing, it’s useful and really helps to make the Momentum 5 feel very fully featured.

Finally, the Momentum 5’s battery life is seriously impressive, with Sennheiser claiming they’ll last you up to 57 hours with ANC enabled. To test out its claims, I set the Momentum 5 to play music continuously with ANC on at 50% volume for six hours, during which time their battery dropped just 10%. As a back of the envelope calculation, that would put their total life at 60 hours — even though battery discharge curves are rarely linear, 57 hours seems very credible to me.

All in all, the Momentum 5 has a very strong feature set. Perhaps none of them are truly groundbreaking but when taken together, they make these cans feel very well appointed and ensure that you’re getting a great user experience.

• Features score: 4.5 / 5

Sennheiser Momentum 5 review: sound quality

• Disappointing default tuning, with weak treble
• Impressive soundstage and Dolby Atmos
• Ineffectual ANC

As an audiophile, I’ve been a loyal user of Sennheiser’s headphones for years. A good part of the reason for this is that the brand’s cans are known for having a reliably balanced frequency balance, meaning that whether I’m listening to music or producing it, I’ve come to trust that Sennheiser headphones will give me a largely accurate picture of how recordings should sound.

In light of this, I’m a little surprised at how uneven I find the neutral tuning of the Sennheiser Momentum 5. I know preferences vary and some like more bass or more treble, say, but for me this goes beyond simple differences in taste. The default sound here feels like it has some actual deficits, which I find odd from a brand of Sennheiser’s pedigree.

Let’s focus on the most positive stuff first. Bass is pretty creditable here: for example, when listening to No Skin by Frameworks & Mild Minds, I found that the Momentum 5 gave its sustained bassline some wonderful warmth and while there wasn’t quite as much sub as you’ll get from the most premium headphones, it still felt dynamic and punchy enough, especially with the Momentum 5’s bass booster on.

Higher up in the spectrum though, things feel more unbalanced. Playing You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon, all of the elements are present and correct but feel slightly muffled — particularly the toms and the exuberant brass section feel slightly rolled off, with their upper-mid frequencies feeling like they’ve been sanded off. And this is even more noticeable in the treble range: in 236e jour by Marc Leclair: the bouncing, scrape-edged synths end up feeling far duller than they should, while the shuffling hats just lose a little of their cut through.

Now you can obviously go someway toward ameliorating this using EQ. While I found Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac to be pretty dull in places on the neutral tuning, with the vocals in particular feeling totally enfeebled, I was able to cast around in the EQ settings to improve it. The Rock preset, if anything, made the problem worse, making the sound even more baggy and focused around the middle. But creating a Sound Check EQ profile, I was able to crisp up the high-end a little and reintroduce some of the presence it had lost.

By far the best results I achieved though was when using Sennheiser’s Sound Personalization algorithm. After running through the five steps, sound already felt a little more balanced — but it was during fine tuning that I was able to add a bit more warmth to the bass and a soupçon more brightness to the treble. The difference was like having my ears syringed: Outside (Parra for Cuva Remix) by Henry Green suddenly sounded like the sustained bassline was more resonant and satisfying, while the snare and hats punctured through the mix far better.

So the Sennheiser Momentum 5 can absolutely sound strong for their price, if you’re prepared to put the work in. But I do find it a little frustrating that they require you to spend so much time redressing sonic missteps in their engineered sound when other headphones in this price bracket like the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 put their best foot forward with their default sound.

Once I’d found a sound profile I was happy with though, my experiences of the rest of the Sennheiser’s audio quality was far more positive.

For example, the audio feels very clear and expressive, even over lower quality connections. Even using the lossy AAC codec via Apple Music on my MacBook Pro and iPhone 16 Pro, the vocal, strings and piano of Wasting My Young Years by London Grammar shared the spotlight graciously, avoiding sounding over-compressed. But when listening to it using aptX Lossless via Tidal, it feels like there’s even more dynamic range, allowing far more space for that gorgeous vocal to rise up above the rest of the mix without smothering the rest of the instrumentation.

The Momentum 5 also have a really impressive soundstage, even compared to headphones like the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 that are known for their agile handling of mixes. When I listened to Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons: Spring 1 (2012) by Max Richter, Daniel Hope, Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin & André de Ridder, the way the stirring, dancing strings are spread out across the stereo field is stunning. It genuinely does feel a lot like being sat right in front with the orchestra pit spread out in front of you.

And this extends to their handling of Dolby Atmos mixes. For example, Blue Monday (2023 Digital Master) by New Order sounds appropriately immersive, with its drum rolls scattering around you and its riser-style FX before the final drop swirling a full 180 degrees. All in all, its spatial audio effect is probably even more pronounced than that of the AirPods Max, although the latter doesn’t succumb to the one shortcoming of the Momentum 5’s Atmos: a slight void that opens up in front of you, a not uncommon effect on some headphones when elements from a stereo mix are spatialized.

So the Momentum 5 do still have some serious talents when it comes to making noise. However, it’s a shame that they’re not as talented at its antithesis: nixing background sound. Their ANC can just about cope with typing noise or reducing my boiling kettle while I’m streaming content while cooking. But riding the bus home from work a few days ago, I was subjected to every detail of a conversation about the sex lives of some of my fellow passengers’ colleagues. C’mon, Momentum 5: you’re supposed to protect me from things like this.

This isn’t an isolated event either: I can often overhear fellow TechRadarian’s conversations in the office, even with noise cancelling dialed up to 100%. Even the AirPods Max, not known for their unimpeachable noise cancelling, recently totally saved me at a festival by silencing the enormous Funktion-One rig I was camped 100 feet from, whereas the Momentum 5 struggle with conversations some 50dB quieter.

• Sound quality score: 3.5 / 5

Sennheiser Momentum 5 review: design

• Refined if unadventurous looks
• Super-flat profile
• Wearing for long sessions made my ears ache

Unlike the huge redesign from the Sennheiser Momentum 3 to the Momentum 4, there’s not been a massive revolution when it comes to the Momentum 5’s looks. The oval-shaped groove that ran around the exterior side of the earcups has been banished, giving them a cleaner look. Meanwhile, Sennheiser’s logo has been updated with a circular badge, while the grilles covering the ANC mics have been picked out in metal. But if you’ve spent any time with the Momentum 4, you largely know what to expect here.

Broadly speaking, I really like the look of the Momentum 5. Don’t get me wrong: they’re not going to win any prizes for originality, having a slight whiff of Sony’s WH-1000XM6 about them. But this is a common trope in the headphones space — if you disagree with me, see how you get on with our spot the difference between the Sonos Ace and the Sony 1000X The Collexion. And the Momentum 5 still have the most refined look Sennheiser has given its wireless headphones to date, so I’m definitely here for it.

Both the padded faux leather ear cups and cushioned headband feel pleasantly soft, while they have sufficient clamping force that they felt stable on my head without applying excessive pressure. Adjusting their fit is also super easy, even while they’re on your head — their arms extend smoothly and can cater for a wide range of head sizes, whether you’re more new potato or pumpkin-headed.

However, an ongoing issue I have with Sennheiser’s headphones is that they tend to make my ear cartilage ache during extended wear, thanks to odd lumps on the inside of the earcup, and the Momentum 5 are no different. None of the mid-range headphones from other brands I’ve used over the last five years have suffered from this issue, so it does make me wonder why Sennheiser continues to stick weird ridges and hard lumps on the inside of its cans.

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with headphone cases. They seem to veer wildly between the neat — the Sony WH1000XM6’s handy magnetic holder — and the ridiculous — the AirPods Max’s ludicrous handbag. So when I say I’m a big fan of the Momentum 5’s case, know that’s high praise indeed.

Like the AirPods Max, the Momentum 5 don’t so much fold up as fold flat, but, thanks to the earcups’ low profile, that is really rather flat indeed. As a result, even though they don’t concertina up into a compact package, their case has a very slim profile, making it much easier to slip alongside your laptop and tablet in your bag. It doesn’t have loads of padding, so you might not want to be slinging your bag around like it contains a bunch of bricks, but the case should protect your headphones from most damage.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Sennheiser Momentum 5?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Sennheiser Momentum 5 review: also consider

How I tested the Sennheiser Momentum 5

• Tested over two weeks
• Tried them out with a wide range of genres
• Tested different bit-rates and listened to multiple Dolby Atmos mixes

I tested the Sennheiser Momentum 5 over the course of several weeks. When it comes to sound quality, I made sure to test them out with a range of different quality streams, from aptX Lossless from Tidal to AAC from Apple Music. To get a sense of how they performed with a wide variety of frequencies, I made sure to try them out with a wide variety of genres across the TechRadar testing playlist and my own go-to testing tracks, whether that’s rock, EDM or classical.

To try out the Momentum 5’s features, I spent a lot of time trying out different EQ and sound personalization profiles with different artists. I assessed Dolby Atmos performance by listening to a variety of Spatial Audio tunes from Apple Music, and I tested their noise cancelling in a range of settings, from TechRadar’s chatty offices to walks along busy roads. Finally, I tested their battery by playing music constantly with ANC on for 6 hours and using how much battery they lost to extrapolate how long they could last.

In terms of personal experience, I’ve spent years assessing the performance of audio gadgets, with a particular focus on headphones and speakers. On top of this, I produce music in my free time, which has given me a keen understanding of balancing frequencies and how to assess the dynamic performance of audio.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: June 2026

After writing our Soundcore Space 2 review and giving the set a highly-commended four-star review overall, I've found myself returning to these noise-cancelling over-ears ever since. That's been especially true of late, after I finished testing the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro in-ears and was fully in Anker mode (Soundcore is an Anker sub-brand).

I was gearing up to write an article recommending the Space 2 over Prime Day, until I discovered that they're already enjoying £20 off in the UK.

• See all early Prime Day deals at Amazon UK

I started seriously using the Soundcore Space 2 again when some earbuds I was testing proved incredibly unreliable at sticking in my ears; I wanted something that would stay on my head when I was on walks without me having to hold them there.

More so than most over-ears, these things are really comfortable. They're soft, so ear ache is out of the question. And they're light, too. This also helps when I want to fold them into my bag, or wear them around my neck.

I really like the look too. They're a bit more interesting than your generic over-ears.

In my review, I was a little critical of the sound quality, but now that I'm not using the Space 2 for an analysis, I have to say that I really don't mind it as much. And the noise cancellation for the money is outstanding.

I also criticized the price hike over their predecessors, and that's where a Prime Day discount is a great thing. This lower price is closer to the Soundcore Space One release price, thereby eradicating one of the 'Cons' from my review.

There will undoubtedly be plenty of headphone discounts over Prime Day, and I can't say that this Space 2 one will be the absolute best. But it's here early, on a pair of headphones I really like. My advice? You could do a lot worse.

More Early Amazon Prime Day deals — quick links

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Despite the number in the name, I’ve taken to considering the OneOdio Studio Max 2 to be more like a ‘pro’ version of the originals rather than a completely new pair of headphones. I’ve been testing them for several weeks, and the experience doesn’t feel hugely changed (even though the price is).

The originals upon which they are based were released in early 2025, and after I finished my review, I found myself using them daily. They’re always plugged into my guitar amp or keyboard for when I want to do some music practice; a few select features made them uniquely handy for making music.

The OneOdio Studio Max 2 are, mostly, a very similar proposition. They’re not designed for audiophiles so much as DJs, studio musicians and other music-makers — but they have enough of a consumer-friendly bent that they’re not just for the studio. If you’re an amateur musician or music producer, and want cans for the task in hand but also for general use, you’re the target audience.

Like their predecessors, I wouldn’t strongly recommend these for general use, though. They’re big and chunky, so I felt self-conscious wearing them in public, and the fit was unreliable, so they shook when I was walking. On top of that, the audio quality is pretty poor, and you won’t get noise cancellation. There’s a reason the old pair stayed tethered to my instruments.

That sounds like a deluge of criticism, and an odd one given the score above, but the Studio Max justify themselves with their tools for professionals or music creators.

These puppies connect to other devices in four ways: there’s both a 3.5mm jack and a 6.35mm one, so you’ve got more cable versatility than most other cans. Of course, you’ve got Bluetooth, but there’s also an audio transmitter included in the box that can connect to any analog source.

With the transmitter, you can get 9ms latency between the headphones and audio source. This is OneOdio’s pitch for why they’re great DJ headphones — with no transmission delay, you won't miss your bass-dropping cue. OneOdio isn't the only brand to offer this feature, but crucially, its headphones are the cheapest to do so.

Upgrades to this transmitter also form the main upgrades over the original Studio Max. The latency has been halved from 20ms and the bitrate has been increased, but the transmission distance has been halved to 10m. Given that the price has increased, though, it might not be a tempting upgrade for many buyers of the original.

For music producers or performers, the foldable form factor is appreciated, as is the massive 120-hour battery life over Bluetooth (and the battery life when using the transmitter has been doubled to 50 hours in this model). I can see it being particularly useful for touring musicians for this reason, who can’t charge regularly — although IEMs will still rule supreme for that.

More so than most headphones I test, the OneOdio Studio Max 2 are situational, and niche. I wouldn’t recommend them to people on the market for the best headphones for general use, nor would I suggest professionals buy them over specially-designed studio kit.

But there’s a small overlap in the Venn Diagram between those groups, in which the cans may find appreciative buyers. That's included me, as a dedicated user of the original model — but check the price of the original OneOdio Studio Max 1 before you buy, though, because if it gets price drops, it might be the better-value buy.

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Price and release date

• Released in May 2026
• They sell for $189 / £179 (about AU$360)
• Come with carry case as well as cables and transmitter

The OneOdio Studio Max 2 were unveiled on May 11, 2026 — that’s a year and three months on from the release of their predecessors.

The official price of the Studio Max 2 is $189 / £179 (about AU$360, but they don’t seem to have enjoyed an Australian release at the time of writing).

In the box you get the headphones, transmitter, various cables (loads of cables) and a handy carry case. It’s the complete package, and I’ve never felt the need to root around in my drawers for other wires.

For context, the original Studio Max released for $169 / £135 / AU$275, so there’s been a price hike here, which varies quite a bit by region.

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Specs

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Features

• No noise cancellation, and basic phone app
• Massive 120-hour battery over Bluetooth
• Many connection options including low-latency transmitter

Let’s address the elephant in the room, or lack thereof: there are some features missing here, which some music listeners might miss. There’s no active noise cancellation, for example, and the app is quite barebones. It has three EQ presets (normal, monitoring and bass), and a 10-band custom mode, as well as a few extras such as wear reminders, volume limiters, and a way to pan the sound to the left or right ear cup only.

What you do get is pretty rocking though. Take the battery life: 120 hours equates to five straight days of music playback. No, not five hours. Five days. That figure matches the original pair, and I can’t name another option which lasts that long.

Another key feature is the range of connection options. Naturally, you can connect them via their 3.5mm port, or the 6.35mm jack so they can connect to professional audio kit easily. The Studio Max 2 support Bluetooth 6.0, allowing for more reliable wireless connection than the old pair.

But perhaps the key selling point here is the transmitter, which comes included in the box. Using OneOdio’s RapidWill+ 3.0 technology, this transmitter lets you cut the response time between your source and the Studio Max 2 to just 9ms. It uses 2.4GHz connectivity, and all you need to do is plug it into your output device, and your headphones can pick it up.

All the cables you need are included in the box, so it's a plug-and-play style situation. The transmitter needs to be charged via USB-C, and lasts for 50 hours per charge.

• Features score: 4 / 5

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Sound quality

• Uses 45mm drivers
• Music is muffled and tinny
• EQ doesn't help fix things

OneOdio has used a 45mm driver in each Studio Max 2 cup, and the headphones are certified for Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless, with LDAC compatibility too. Unfortunately it's not quite the recipe for success it would appear to be on first glance.

The Max 2 sound muddy and muffled, with rumbly and ill-defined bass stomping over over lines of a song. Any semblance of a soundstage is forgotten, instead presenting your music as one amorphous sonic boulder.

Glorious by The Hoosiers is presented like a confused mush of synths, and the bass in Charlie Mars' She Ain't Coming Back veers between drowning out everything else, and being inaudible.

They also offer a sound that's tinnier than anything else at this price point, with noticeably compressed hi-hats and distorted guitars that really shouldn't be distorted. I'd usually cite a song here as an example, but you can basically insert any song that has instruments here.

Usually I'd turn to an equalizer to try to fix problems like this, but you've got three options: the default, a Bass Mode (that's not going to fix the problem), a custom EQ and Monitoring Mode. Those latter two both gave music a crunchier feel, so I stayed far away.

It's worth noting that criticism I levelled here, I also put against the Studio Max 1. As far as I can tell, the sound hasn't changed much.

• Sound quality: 2.5 / 5

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Design

• Industrial look
• Rotatable cups and foldable arms
• Plenty of ports and dials

Don’t buy the Studio Max 2 if you’re looking for svelte, lightweight or fashionable over-ear headphones. They’re bulky and large, with a design that’s quite industrial. You’ve seen the pictures, you know what they look like, and I felt self-conscious wearing them outside the house.

The cups and headband are pretty soft, yet they weren't too comfy to wear, perhaps because of their 353g weight. At least they're good at at catering for different shapes of head, thanks to how versatile they are: the cups rotate around different angles. This also makes them easily-foldable for bags, and handy to form for review pictures.

However, and likely as a natural side-effect of the size, they didn't stick in place reliably. If I was walking, they'd sway a tiny bit, and I imagine they'll wobble if you're an active DJ enjoying your own set.

Adorning each Studio Max 2 cup is a range of buttons and ports. The left cup has a 6.35mm port, while on the right you're getting volume up, volume down and power buttons, a 3.5mm jack, a slider to toggle between Bluetooth and ultra-low latency, and a USB-C port for charging too.

Two things to point out that images don't convey. Firstly, these things creak quite a bit; I'm used to this being a symptom of cheap plastic used in the design, but it doesn't feel like the case here. I think the many moving parts are to blame. Secondly, the back of the cups are grooved to resemble vinyl records; a neat touch, but if my previous pair are any indication, they can be huge dust magnets.

• Design score: 3 / 5

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Value

• Too expensive to be consumer cans
• Value for money if you need transmitter

If you’re looking at the OneOdio Studio Max 2 as consumer-friendly headphones, it’s hard to argue that they offer you good value for money. There are great cans for music fans at a third of the price — from OneOdio itself, as well as other brands.

That’s also true if you’re looking for general studio headphones, for that matter.

What you’re paying for is the transmitter, to allow for low-latency wireless music from any source, including instruments. If you need a gadget like it, the Studio Max 2 undercuts its rivals — if not, then these aren’t the cans for you.

• Value: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the OneOdio Studio Max 2?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Also consider

How I tested the OneOdio Studio Max 2

• Tested for one month
• Tested alongside PC, guitar amp, synth, smartphone
• Used all connection options

I used the OneOdio Studio Max 2 for roughly a month before writing this review.

During the testing process, they were connected to a wide variety of devices including my guitar amp, my keyboard, my PC and my smartphone. Across this board, I used every connection option possible.

Mostly, the testing was done for music playback, but I also used it for a variety of other tasks including audio mixing, video editing, playing my own music and, for one weekend, audio recording alongside a field recorder and boom mic.

I've been reviewing gadgets for TechRadar since early 2019, and in that time have tested plenty of audio products including the original Studio Max 1 (the number is in the name, I've not added it!).

• First reviewed in May 2026

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

When currently-unannounced Beats headphones were spotted in social media posts from Spain player Lamine Yamal ahead of the 2026 World Cup, I said "there's a good chance we'll see more of them". Well, I called it, because it happened again.

A series of Instagram posts from South Korea midfielder Lee Kang-in, posted to celebrate the team's 2-1 victory over Czechia in its first match of the tournament, gives pride of place to the same Beats headphones as we saw before.

This time though, instead of a rose hue, they come in white and... a neon yellow I'll politely not refer to as 'Sourz vomit', although it looks like the result of one too many alcopops. How to describe it other than 'slime' or 'puke' though?

I know what you're thinking: maybe they gave it to Lee to match his team's colors? Nope, South Korea plays in red and black, with an occasional violet-slash-lavender away kit for the 2026 World Cup.

Some commentators are using this peculiar color combination as evidence that the cans will have replaceable cups, clearly hoping that Beats will let them ditch the pads for something else, but that feels like grasping at straws.

There's no actual evidence of this, and the faint hint of a yellow headband behind Lee's neck suggests that these are just two-tone cans, instead of it being a choice on his part.

The vantage gives us a better look at the rounded build of these new cans, which swaps out the noughties-chic of Beats' previous cans with a CMF Headphone-looking tiered build. Beyond the choice color options, they actually look pretty suave.

The most appealing part of the redesign to me is the band, which looks much thinner than before, and circular, so it'll potentially be much more comfortable to wear. We'll have to see, but a launch will likely come hot on the heels of this World Cup catwalk.

Has anyone outside of a World Cup squad used them yet?

Just like when we saw them alongside Lamine Yamal, Lee Kang-in doesn't get snapped actually using the new Beats headphones, although he does keep them closer to his person.

While Yamal kept them at arms' length, hooking them to his bag and only being photographed with them around his neck once, Lee has them around his neck several times.

Neither of these soccer players has been seen actually using the new Beats headphones. Maybe owning, but not actually using, headphones is the fashionable thing to do. Or maybe they saw our critical Beats Solo 4 review and want to keep the new pair at arms' length.

It's unlikely that Apple has chosen two specific players out of hundreds to give its headphones to, so as the group stages of the World Cup progress, we'll probably see more sightings of the Beats.

We've glimpsed pink, and white-yellow, and hopefully we'll see a few more color options show up.

Anker's Soundcore sub-brand may not have a reputation for releasing the best earbuds that everyone raves about, but they tend to be solid pieces of kit. We gave the Soundcore Liberty 5 (yes, take care, because that's not these — and there's also a Pro Max to swerve in favor of these) a 3.5-star score, and that tends to be par for the course. Until now, that is.

With the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro, there's been a change: it really feels like the brand is coming into its own, and it knows what buyers really want.

These are incredibly feature-stuffed headphones, with an app that'll boggle your mind given how many tools it offers. And they're all useful too: the ANC is very good, the listening test is handy and the array of array of little extras is impressive.

Particularly special is the quiet calling feature, so people you're speaking to on the phone can't hear what's going on around you. I hear many brands boast about their buds’ quiet call quality, with algorithms and microphones designed to wipe background sound from your voice in calls. Most of the time it’s bluff and bluster, but the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro are the real deal.

I know this because, part-way through the review process, my mother called me while I was in a busy coffee shop. I apologized for the pop music being blasted over the speakers – I could barely hear myself think for Outkast’s Hey Ya! – and she asked me what music I was talking about. She’d have had no idea I was in a noisy space, had it not been for my telling her. If two thumbs up from my mom isn’t a glowing endorsement of tech, I don’t know what is.

I'd be remiss not to mention the Soundcore's fit too. The buds are nice and lightweight, with a ridge to help them lock in your ear. I never had any fit problems with them, and they stayed in place during runs and workouts.

What about the sound? The buds offer warm, bass-heavy music that'll please people who like thumping heavy rhythms. The audio quality won't endear the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro to audiophiles (do wireless earbuds at this level ever excite audiophiles?) but nevertheless it isn't at all bad. Sound quality may not be the highlight of these buds, but I still enjoyed listening to them during my testing.

My main gripes with the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro bypass the earpieces and their talents and really only concern the case. It has a small touchscreen strip, but it doesn't do enough to justify its existence (nor is it responsive enough for that). And the case is bigger than it should be as a result; I would've loved to see it lose the strip and shrink a little.

At least it's not the Liberty 5 Pro Max, with a giant case and big touchscreen. I tested that too, and you can read more about it later, but it's decidedly more of a professional-targeted device. Most buyers looking for some great earbuds would do better with these Pro-only earbuds: they're cheaper and you're only missing a few features — ones I think you may not use anyway.

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro review: Price and release date

• Released on May 21, 2026
• They sell for $169.99 / £149.99 (about AU$300)
• Sitting between Liberty 5, and Liberty 5 Pro Max

The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro were announced alongside a slew of other Anker products at the brand’s annual Anker Day, on May 21, 2026.

You can pick them up for $169.99 / £149.99 (about AU$300), so unlike many of the brand’s other pairs of earbuds, they’ve crept over the line: these aren’t budget buds, rather solidly mid-range ones. For a little context, the non-Pro model launched for $129 / £99 / AU$169, but went on sale a year prior, so have seen some discounts.

They launched alongside the Liberty 5 Pro Max, which sell for a fair bit more: $229.99 / £199.99 (roughly AU$400). We’ll get into these a little later; it’s best to treat them as a ‘Pro’ model to the Liberty 5 Pro (despite that being a little confusing), with a few extra tools for professionals, but no major advantage.

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro review: Specs

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro review: Features

• Impressive noise cancellation and clear calling
• Middling battery life, at 6.5 hours
• Absolutely loads of features via app

In the introduction to this review, I already waxed lyrical about the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro's quiet call tools. Suffice to say, it's just as impressive as it was when you read about it a few minutes ago: a real stand-out feature of the buds.

Quiet calls is one of the many benefits brought from the use of Anker’s Thus chip, with the brand’s decision to home-brew its own internals, and thus get to design its software and hardware in tandem, paying dividends.

Another example is noise cancellation, as the Liberty 5 Pro has some of the best I’ve used in a set of earbuds at its price point. It is able to eradicate the low, rumbling background hum of life, and drastically reduce louder sounds too — it even took a big chunk out of my coffee shop’s streaming of Hey Ya!.

In theory, battery life is another department that should benefit from Thus, and Anker puts the listening time per bud, with ANC on, at 6.5 hours. From my own testing, that’s an optimistic figure — my own listening time was a little south of that mark. The same is true with the overall case battery life, which Anker states as 28 hours. Don’t get me wrong: the battery life here is fine, but it’s nothing to write home about either.

If that sounds like a nice little haul of features already, just wait until you download the Soundcore app. If my editor didn’t think this section was too long already, just wait until we list what else you get with the buds.

This has all the basics: the ability to change between noise cancelling modes, customizable touch controls, Dolby Atmos, EQ presets, multi-point connection, fit tests, find-my earbuds, and an eight-band custom equalizer.

But you get a whole lot more: there's a listening test for custom EQ, a load of ambient soundscapes and listening modes, and even a built-in chat-bot called Anka which can give you suggestions for settings to change. There's a lot going on.

If anything, the app's a little confusingly laid out. If you select your earbuds, where most apps would put all the settings, you can only see a few. To find more, you need to press a little Settings cog which is easy to miss. And for many more options, you have to back out all the way to the main menu.

• Features score: 4.5/5

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro review: Design

• Kidney bean-shaped bud with tip and fin
• Reliable in-ear fit
• Touchscreen-toting case is a little bulky

Anker has opted for a kidney bean-shaped look for the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds; they bring to mind Samsung’s bean buds, but with a tip that you can use to put them in your ear. You can pick them up in blue, pink, white or black, and the buds and case come in the same hue.

Each earbud weighs 7g, is made of a solid-feeling plastic, and the other design feature of note is a little wing at the top to keep them locked in your ear. To be clear, the fit is much better than those older Samsung buds. That little wing works magically, and I took them to the gym and on countless runs without any inkling of them falling out.

The buds are IP55 protected, which means they’re protected from dust and low-pressure water jets (like rain or sweat) but aren’t suitable for swimming. You get touch controls on each bud, but you need to tap multiple times to achieve anything, and I found them unreliable for multi-tap commands.

Now onto the case; the 0.96-inch display on the front isn’t as much as selling point here as the Pro Max’s larger one is, but it’s not as much of a gimmick as to put off people who aren’t interested.

It sort of makes the case look like a very small '90s alarm clock. You can use its screen to quickly check the charge of the buds and enabled certain features; I found it pretty unresponsive and gave up using it for music control quite quickly, but perhaps a more patient user could persevere. I can see the quick access to EQ presets being pretty handy for certain people.

Due to its touchscreen, the Liberty 5 Pro's case is a little larger than most rivals', even if at 70g it's not unduly heavy. I found it a little on the large side to slip into my pocket; not perfect for people who like a tiny case. The sliding mechanism to reveal the buds felt quick and easy, but I'm curious about how long it'd lasting in the long term. Even over several weeks of using the buds, the sliding plane started to feel a little wobbly.

• Design score: 4/5

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro review: Sound quality

• Using 45mm drivers
• Music is muffled, and tinny
• EQ doesn't help

Anker has put 9.2mm drivers in the Liberty 5 Pro Max, which I'm inclined to believe are the same pieces of kit that it used in the non-Pro buds. As with those other models, these aren't audiophile earbuds — the sound is way too warm for that — and instead they give the people what they want.

That's to say, they're bass-heavy and energetic buds, focused more on snappy lower frequencies and tender higher ones than an objectively natural, integrated hi-fi sound. Given how commonly this kind of sound profile is used in affordable and mid-range buds, I'm inclined to say it's popular, and Soundcore's done a great job hitting that target.

If you like lower-end clout in your sound, you'll be happy here. Any genre I tried, from rock to pop to dance, fared well. It was even solid for listening to genres that don't revel in excess bass, like classical, acoustic and jazz.

Bass injection is clearly the name of the game here, but for the most part, trebles and mids are just as forceful, offering an enjoyable amount of detail. Shane Smith & the Saints' Coast has a lovely delicate timbre in the acoustic guitar which you often miss, and some lovely harmonies in Last Sunrise In The Wasteland by At The End Of Times, Nothing came to the fore.

I'm not going to claim that these buds are perfect. At lower volumes, the Liberty 5 Pro lose trebles and mids at a disproportionate rate.

But the real 'problem' will likely come from the sound being divisive. The Liberty 5 Pro's bassy sound might not please everyone. It's right on the border of 'too much', sometimes offering a lovely thumping sound, but occasionally stepping over the line.

In songs like Gabriel Kelley's You Kill Me, bass guitar can overstep its role as an accompanying instrument, and step to the fore in a way that throws the song out of whack. At other times, it can just override some of the more sensitive instruments. More so than in most earbuds I test, you're going to have to get familiar with the EQ presets, and use them depending on which genre you prefer to listen to.

If that wasn't a problem for audiophiles, perhaps the relative lack of Bluetooth codec support is. You're getting Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification, but seemingly no bone thrown for LDAC, aptX or anything similar.

• Sound quality: 4/5

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro review: how about the Pro Max?

• Pro Max cost a little more
• Sound quality and battery life are identical
• Pro Max has larger case, one or two extra tools

Beyond being an absolute mouthful to say (or, in this case, write), the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max are very similar earbuds to the Pro. So much so, that instead of writing an entire separate review on them, I decided to give them a section of the Pro review. And why not the other way around? That's because the Pros are, in my opinion, the best buds for most people.

The Pro Max earbuds are exactly the same as the Pro's, in terms of design, sound quality, battery life and feature set (mainly). The Max comes in thanks to two additional features: you can use the case to record audio and provide quick transcripts, and for instant voice translation.

They're solid features, all right, but with more limited appeal. I can see them being handy for business users, but not so much for the average buyer.

Your other upgrade here is in the carry case: its display now takes up the entire top of the buds, and it offers loads more features. You can add a custom wallpaper, and use it for various tools, settings and modes, including (but not limited to) the aforementioned extra features.

Again, useful additions, but at the cost of an even larger carry case. It wasn't comfortable to keep in my pocket, that's for sure.

I'm not disputing that the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max are better earbuds. But for most people, I don't think they're enough to justify the extra cost. Only consider these if you'll really use

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro review: Value

• Too expensive to be consumer cans
• Value for money if you need transmitter

The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro are reasonably priced, but you get what you pay for. There’s nothing wrong with that, but a good discount would tip these into the ‘amazing’ value for money camp.

The noise cancellation, sound quality and feature set are all really good for the price… but there are loads of other rivals at around the same price point that all offer suites that are good for the price. I've tested a few earbuds for even less, that impress me just as much.

At least the Anker Liberty Pro are better value money than the Pro Max. You’re paying more money, and getting a very similar product. For business users maybe, but I can’t see myself recommending them to most people, when the Pro is right there.

• Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro review: Also consider

Want to see what other earbuds your money can get you? Here are some alternatives for roughly the same price.

How I tested the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro

• Tested for three weeks
• Paired with Android phone for variety of tasks
• Also used alongside Pro Max

I used the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro for three weeks before writing this review. I tested them alongside the Pro Max model.

During the testing process, the earbuds were connected to my Android smartphone. I used them for streaming Spotify Lossless music as well as Tidal and Apple Music, playing various games, streaming videos, conducting voice calls and going on video chats.

That listening went on at home, while at the gym, during runs, and on walks around my neighborhood. For certain areas, like ANC and sound quality, I have reference tests I conduct which lets me compare various earbuds.

I've reviewed earbuds and headphones for TechRadar for many years, including previous Anker products like the Space 2 over-ears earlier this year.

• First reviewed in June 2026

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

We've had our audio team on the ground, rapidly learning how not to get lost in the new layout and exploring the mix of returning companies and new players who've jumped on board as part of the change.

We explored as many listening rooms and headphones booths as we could, to identify our favorite products in the audio areas we cover here on TechRadar, so naturally we've got a mix of speakers, streamers, a soundbar-that's-not-a-soundbar, and headphones, rather than hi-fi cables and pre-amps.

So here, in alphabetical order, are the products our team picked as the products that really stood out to us at the end of the show days, all chosen based on listening to their performance.

Astell & Kern SP4000T and Clarus

Let's start with a double winner — we got to test these together, and while each seems phenomenal, the combination was the most impressive part. The SP4000T DAP is an upgraded version of the already fantastic A&K SP4000 player, now packing four vacuum tubes for a taste of the analog.

The Clarus are wired earbuds with nine drivers per bud, using a bunch of different technologies, each targeting different frequencies.

The combination of the two really leans into the 'clarity' suggestion in the Clarus' name — we were instantly taken by the pin-sharp attack in their dynamic range, and the fine detail that they were able to bring out of the music, all while giving every listener a huge sense of scale that feels well beyond something handheld or that fits right in your ear conch.

Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5

Bowers & Wilkins is celebrating its 60th anniversary, so what better time to release its new flagship 801 D5 loudspeaker? This model features B&W's famous Diamond Dome tweeter and an upgrade to its internal Matrix bracing, including a new Space Frame Bracing extension.

The aim is to deliver even more incredibly natural, generous, and immersive sound. During our demo with the 801 D5, we were blown away by life-like vocals, brilliantly regimented deep bass, and super-defined treble, as well as its sophisticated soundstage and spacious presentation.

Cabasse Pearl Pelegrina Édition Atelier

The High End show is always full of bonkers speaker designs, and Cabasse's spherical Pearl design is old news to hi-fi fans — but we can't help but be taken by the Pelegrina version's 'alien eyeball squid has come to Earth to negotiate a new intergalactic peace' design — and what's new this year is the Atelier system, meaning that you can have any finish you want on them, to make them fit your spaceship listening room perfectly.

But what's most important is the astoundingly powerful sound from a speaker cabinet that's actually amazingly compact. The front driver is a tri-coaxial system, meaning it's actually three drivers nested inside each other, and there's a hefty custom-design woofer on the rear capable of especially high excursion.

The end result is a set of speakers that look like an art installation, but can party like a warehouse rave. They can thump the low-end with the best of them, while delivering super-rich and detailed sound that wraps across the room despite their compact 'pupils'. And they're active speakers, so you can put them wherever you want in your home and just start playing.

Cambridge Evo 300

This is the artist formerly known as Cambridge Audio's new, more powerful compact streaming amp — if you've got a really beefy speaker. Still, if you don't want to dedicate too much space to components, then the 300W per channel you can get from the Evo 300 might be exactly what you want.

That's paired with Cambridge's excellent, super-comprehensive streaming platform and digital skills, so you've got easy access to Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Roon, and Deezer, with various casting options from your phone and aptX Bluetooth if you prefer. There are two sets of speaker outputs, plus a sub out; for input, you've got XLR, HDMI eARC, and analog options including an MM phono input.

It's just the ultimate all-in-one modern amp if you've got big speaker ambitions — and here in 2026, why shouldn't you?

Canvas Hi-Fi Canvas L

This is basically a pair of floor-standing speakers disguised as a soundbar for Halloween. You've got a stereo setup where each side has a tweeter, a midrange driver, and an 8-inch bass woofer with a matching 8-inch passive radiator. There's 1500W of amplification behind that, as well a necessarily well-braced cabinet — all of which are designed to attached to the rear of your TV using a mounting bracket, with the speakers sitting underneath the screen.

And it's in this list because it sounds like two excellent floorstanding speakers. It delivers unbelievably deep and resonant bass for a floating speaker bar, with the low end dispersed well throughout the room. There's phenomenal texture and realism to vocals, and it's all brilliantly musical and full of excellent rhythmic energy. It's delicate when it needs to be, but our overarching takeaway from listening to music is just how firm and 3D every instrument feels.

We didn't get to try it with music, but this is the first time we've heard something claim to be an audiophile soundbar and responded, "Yep, that's fair". It was electric, musical, and kind of addictive.

iFi iDSD GR 2

The iFi iDSD GR2 portable DAC is a considerable upgrade on its beloved predecessor, the venerable xDSD Gryphon, in a number of ways. It delivers far more amplification power, longer battery life, and even a touchscreen for a more user-friendly experience.

After trying it out at the show, we loved how it more seamlessly helps you to bring the very best out of a pair of premium headphones, and with K2HD tech for enhanced harmonics alongside a whole load of connectivity options, the GR2 has just about everything an audiophile needs, whether listening at home or on the go.

Meze Audio Arta

These new planar magnetic headphones come from a brand known for bringing high-end sound to a very reasonable price — but this time, Meze Audio just went all out, price be damned.

The result is one of the biggest and most cohesive soundstages we've ever heard from a pair of headphones. From the tinkliest treble with heavy sub-bass, these headphones deliver it all with total control and clarity, all at the same time if they have to. It's that cohesion that stands out, partly because it means individual parts don't stand out — everything sounds simply 'correct' in a way that deeply satisfies the brain. They deliver total audio order — a perfect, seamless whole.

Noble FoKus Artemis

These are wireless active noise-canceling headphones, from a company that most people will probably know best for putting improbably powerful driver arrays into earbuds. Well, it's now put an improbably powerful driver array into over-ears, including a dynamic driver, a planar driver, and a balanced armature — and somehow, the end result is pretty lightweight and comfortable, with a 50-hour battery life.

The end result is probably the most revealing noise-canceling headphones we've ever tried. They're utterly impeccable at picking out every nuance of instruments, even in the most dense mix, and even with the ANC mode activated (which is pretty good too).

There's a huge dynamic range, and really steep level of attack to them: every drum is hard, and every plosive is picked up with precision in a voice. The sound is maybe a little cooler than most people will be used to from ANC headphones, but that will be exactly their strength — they create the silence, and then fill it with tiny details you'd never heard before.

Ruark R710

The Ruark R710 streaming amplifier blends a beautiful retro-style look with an expansive suite of modern features — as well as some not-so-modern ones that we very much welcome. It builds on Ruark's previous R610 in a number of ways, packing in more power for the speakers, along with an integrated CD player, which has apparently been included by popular demand (and is hidden in the handsome wooden front grille, making it a fun secret touch).

When listening to the streamer alongside Ruark's new Talisman R speakers, we were impressed by the warmth and tonality of vocals, the high caliber of instrument separation in the mix, and the striking power of the overall presentation from a compact box.

Yamaha NX-70A

Yamaha's new active speakers have a very sleek and stylish look, but generally seem quite unflashy and demure — though in our demo at the show, they seemed like something of a wireless wonder.

They offer a lively, precise sound with really well-honed handling of transients, which helps them to build an excellent stereo spatial presentation. The diffusion of ambient sounds into the room while holding the tension on the sharper central sounds makes them a really exciting listen. There's so much detail, creating a really physical sense of texture to something like the hum of a saxophone reed. Add the pleasingly weighted bass response, and you get a set of active speakers that really grab your attention, in the best way.

Better late than never, eh Sennheiser? The legendary audio brand took four years to bring its much-anticipated Momentum 5 Wireless to market, but they're finally here — and perhaps just in time to show the recently-released Sony 1000X The Collexion how it's done.

These new cans succeed the five-star Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, which we loved all the way back in 2022, and are still in use today by several members of the TechRadar team. Perhaps the brand was just waiting for its tenancy on our list of the best headphones to end, so it could reclaim the top spot.

Releasing in June 2026, the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless are due to cost $399 / £329 / AU$749, which represents a little price hike from their predecessors. It's much less than Sony's fancy newest headphones — but it's basically right in line with the price of the Sony WH-1000XM6.

It puts them quite close to my favorite headphones from the company, the Sennheiser HDB 630, which sell for $499 / £399 / AU$999 — and I'd personally be tempted by the HDBs. But maybe I'll feel differently once we've actually tried the Momentum 5 Wireless and their new features.

Momentum? You barely know 'em

Sennheiser has given the Momentum 5 a 42mm driver again, like the Momentum 4, but has added certification for Hi-Res Audio, Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless codecs. The app also now has an EQ and presets, as well as a listening test.

Improvements come to active noise cancellation (which is now influenced by four microphones, over two in the last pair — but far fewer than the 12 employed by Sony), while Bluetooth is version 5.4 out of the box, but Sennheiser promises an upgrade to 6.0 in the future.

Other features include Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking — we love this on the Sonos Ace, so hopefully it's just as good here.

The battery life is slightly lower than the previous model at 57 hours, but that's only three hours less than the Momentum 4's lasting power, and is still nearly double the 30 hours promised by the Sony XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen.

Sennheiser's making a point of repairability for the Momentum 5: apparently, it's easy to use a Phillips screwdriver to remove and replace an ailing battery. Since the battery is often the aspect of gadget which will stop working first, this will hopefully ensure your headphones keeping lasting for years.

There are three color options for the Sennheiser Momentum 5: black, white and blue (or 'Denim', according to the brand). Whichever you buy, you'll get a carry case, USB-C charging cable and 3.5mm headphone cable.

No matter how you shake it, the Sennheiser Momentum 5 don't look like huge reinventions of the fourth-gen model, but that's no bad thing. You can't argue with a perfect review.

Instead, it seems to update some of the Momentum 4 features which haven't aged well in four years, and if the sound's had a tune-up in the right places, we expect these to be pretty damn competitive.

Both headphones go for a super-clean look, internal mechanisms for the headband arms, slim-profile earcups, chrome-finish detailing, and a mottled faux leather material.

So I had an idea: I took them to our photography studio and got some close-up photos taken of both headphones, and I made a quiz. I pixelated the photo of them at the top to avoid giving anything away, but if you to see the headphones before you play (Easy Mode, if you like), then I'll put the original image of them side-by-side after the quiz.

Are you enough of a headphone aficionado to tell two of the best noise-cancelling headphones apart? I'll admit, I built the damn quiz, then only scored 9/10 when testing it…

Scroll a little further if you're looking for that side-by-side image — I didn't want accidental spoilers.

Let us know in the comments how you did — the first two players on the TechRadar team (other than me) scored 3/10 and 8/10 respectively, so we've had a range of scores even among tech experts (though not necessarily headphones experts).

If you want to read more about Sony's new headphones, you can read our full 1000X The Collexion review, or you can read in-depth about the five key upgrades and three unexpected downgrades in The Collexion compared to the XM6 headphones, including Sony explanation of why there are compromises.

Still have questions? I’ll be answering everything you want to know about Sony’s most expensive wireless headphones ever in a live Q&A tomorrow (May 20) at 12pm ET / 5pm BST, alongside Harry Padoan, who tested them.

Now, here's that image of them together:

Sony announcing a new pair of headphones would've easily been enough to grab most people's attention, but the new Sony 1000X The Collexion aren't just any new headphones — they're the company's most expensive wireless headphones to date at $649 / £550).

We know you have burning questions about them. What exactly makes them worth the step up from the Sony WH-1000XM6? Are these effectively the Sony WH-1000XM7? Can they really match equally expensive audiophile rivals? These are some of the questions we've already heard, which is why we're running a live Q&A tomorrow, May 20, at 12pm ET / 5pm BST.

For one hour, our expert reviewers will be on-hand to answer everything you want to know about Sony’s new headphones. And you don’t need to wait until the livestream begins, you can submit your questions right now in the comments below, and we’ll answer them during the session.

Joining the live Q&A will be senior staff writer Harry Padoan, who awarded them four stars in his Sony 1000X The Collexion review, where he described the sound quality as being on par with Apple’s AirPods Max 2.

We’ll also have managing editor of home tech Matt Bolton on hand. Matt recently spoke with Sony’s team about the thinking behind the headphones, which the company described as "a collection of 10 years of our accumulated knowledge".

Matt and Harry spend all year testing the best audio gear on the market, so they’ll be able to answer your questions about the Sony 1000X The Collexion’s specs, price, features, sound quality, design, and how they compare with rival premium headphones.

Already read our review and our interview with Sony insiders about the new wireless headphones? Great! Now we want to hear from you. Drop your biggest questions in the comments box above, and let us know what you think of the headphones by voting in our poll.

The Sony 1000X The Collexion headphones arrive 10 years since Sony released the first set of headphones in its 1000X series, and to mark the occasion the Japanese tech giant has delivered its most expensive pair of wireless headphones ever. These are an ultra-premium pair of over-ears that are aimed squarely to be a rival to Apple’s AirPods Max 2.

And the Sony 1000X the Collexion really do feel like Sony’s attempt at going for the AirPods Max's popularity without the restrictive nature of that model’s iOS-centric feature-set. Everything from the sound signature through to the flatter design feels like a challenge to Apple, and, on a number of fronts, I’d argue that Sony has risen to said challenge.

Let’s start where it matters most and discuss sound quality. The Collexion (as I will call them) have an incredibly expansive, spacious soundstage, which provides plenty of room for individual instruments to express themselves.

Vocals and instruments are expertly separated, and there’s a fantastic degree of balance across the frequency range, resulting in nuanced, articulate sound. Combine that with using LDAC or lossless wired audio, and you’re in for a very detail-oriented listen.

The broad, roomy sound will certainly appeal to fans of the AirPods Max and their successor, although on a personal level, I did prefer the tighter and punchier sound signature of the Sony WH-1000XM6.

In terms of features, The Collexion riff heavily on what the XM6 had to offer, with impeccable touch controls, a 10-band custom equalizer, and third-party integrations like Spotify Tap and YouTube Music Quick Access. But there are some notable differences.

Here, users can access DSEE Ultimate for upscaling lower-quality files to 96kHz and 32-bit. This is enabled by a new V3 chip, which also powers some 360 Upmix audio modes for Music, Cinema, and Gaming, although these are unfortunately pretty poor, meaning I barely ever touched them. This is a shame, especially as the headphones have a dedicated button for such modes.

Noise cancelling is very good on The Collexion, and a 12-microphone system provides a solid barrier against traffic noise, surrounding chatter, and the like. Sony has been clear that the XM6 are more ANC-focused, and this came across in my testing, with a few more sounds seeping in with The Collexion — but what’s here still competes well against models like the AirPods Max 2 and bests the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2.

Something that has taken a substantial step down, however, is battery life. You’re only getting 24 hours now (with ANC on), which is a fair bit less than most of the competition. 30 hours is essentially a standard for premium wireless headphones now (in no small part thanks to it being Sony's usual benchmark), although The Collexion can still outlast the AirPods Max 2, which only manage about 20 hours of playtime.

I think these headphones largely nail their more luxurious design, though. They have a gorgeous faux-leather headband and earcups which both look and feel amazing, while titanium details also offer a nice contrast to that material, and make The Collexion stand out clearly over the more unified look of other models in the 1000X line, such as the Sony WH-1000XM5.

Generally, the headphones also feel very sturdy, and although they have a fair bit of weight to them, they’re less hefty than the AirPods Max 2. The Collexion are also exceedingly comfortable, and I felt happy using them for hours on end without ever feeling the need to adjust them.

All in all, then, the Sony 1000X The Collexion are a great pair of headphones that, on the whole, justify their asking price. Factors like their luxurious build, spacious sound, and solid feature-set mean they fare well against competitors in this price range.

There are some downsides, such as lower battery life and ANC power compared to the Sony WH-1000XM6, as well as the underwhelming 360 Upmix modes, but all in all, these headphones are worth considering for any who loves the feel of Sony headphones but wishes for a more revealing sound profile.

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Price and availability

• List price of $649 / £550 / AU$999.95
• Released in May 2026

The Collexion were officially unveiled in May 2026, about 10 years after Sony released the first set of headphones in its 1000X series. They’re the most premium wireless headphones on Sony’s roster, and have a list price of $649 / £550 / AU$999.95, meaning they’re $200 / £200 / AU$300 more expensive than the Sony WH-1000XM6.

This puts them close to the AirPods Max 2 — though Apple has them undercut by a good $100 in the US, and £50 in the UK (they cost the same in Australia). Other notable competitors include the Dali IO-8 for £499 in the UK and AU$899 in Australia, though these cost a hefty $899 in the US. There's also the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 for $799 / £629 / AU$1,299.

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: specs

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Features

• ANC and battery life can’t match the XM6
• Best-in-class touch controls
• DSEE Ultimate for upscaling, plus LDAC and wired lossless available

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Sony 1000X The Collexion have a very similar featureset to the Sony WH-100XM6 — although there are some things that are exclusive to this pricier model, and some things they don’t do quite so well.

Let’s start with the new stuff. One brilliant addition is DSEE Ultimate. This technology is enabled by a new Integrated Processor V3 chip, and has never featured in a pair of Sony headphones until now (only in its music players).

DSEE Ultimate uses AI tech to upscale the sample rate of a lower-quality audio file (including stuff that's being compressed down for Bluetooth transmission) to 96kHz / 24-bit resolution. When using this on Spotify, a lot of the tracks I listen to regularly sounded a touch more detailed, and I highly recommend keeping this setting on.

On top of this, The Collexion bring high-resolution to the table via both wireless and wired means. First of all, these headphones feature LDAC for higher-res Bluetooth listening. This tech is still inherently lossy, but if you want to take a step up, you can connect the headphones to your listening device via a 3.5mm connection for wired lossless audio.

Something else enabled by the V3 chip is The Collexion’s 360 Upmix spatial audio modes. Although there’s no Dolby Atmos support, there are Music, Cinema, and Game modes, all of which take a standard audio signal and convert it into a more expansive format.

Unfortunately, I found that these upmixed modes produced poor audio quality, so even though the feature is enticing in theory, I barely made use of it — more on that later.

Still, there are plenty of great features on board, such as The Collexion’s top-tier touch controls. These are the same as on the XM6 — you can swipe to skip tracks and adjust volume, cover the right earcup to enable transparency mode on the fly, and double tap to play or pause your music.

The touch controls are incredibly responsive, and the decision to use a double tap to pause means I never accidentally triggered a command.

Call quality is also strong once again, with four feedback mics on the inside of the headphones. There’s also a 10-band equalizer and presets for personalized audio, multi-point connectivity, voice assistant compatibility, and third-party software integrations like Spotify Tap and YouTube Music Quick Access.

A lot of these settings are available in Sony’s Sound Connect app, which is relatively easy to use, but some settings are buried deep in numerous sub-menus, which can be a irritating at times.

Anyway, let’s talk about the most important feature of all: active noise cancellation. Again, you get the choice to use full ANC, a transparent ambient sound mode, or no noise cancelling at all. There’s also adaptive sound control, which switches settings depending on your environment and behaviour.

Just how good is the ANC here, though? Well, Sony was clear with us that The Collexion are less centered around ANC than the WH-1000XM6 — despite also containing the QN3 processor and 12-microphone system, just like those headphones.

And although noise cancelling is still very good on The Collexion headphones, with surrounding chatter and traffic noise kept quiet even at medium listening volumes, I could certainly tell the difference compared to the XM6. While listening to music, some higher-pitched sounds, like typing and taps running, as well as louder sounds like doors closing, could still be heard.

If you want best-in-class ANC, I’d stick with the XM6 — or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 — but otherwise, you’ll likely be satisfied with the noise cancelling available here.

One other feature that’s received a downgrade from the XM6 is battery life. You only get 24 hours here, which Sony says is a result of The Collexion’s flatter design in the earcups compared to the XM6, which offer 30 hours of playtime.

But let’s be honest: 24 hours just isn’t very good. It’s enough to last you through a long flight, and will likely get you through a few days at the office, but avid listeners will still have to charge their cans fairly regularly.

Ultimately, the standard in this bracket is 30 hours, although Sony still outdoes Apple here, with the AirPods Max 2 only able to manage 20 hours.

• Features score: 4 / 5

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Sound quality

• Expansive, open sound is striking
• Sensational attention to detail using LDAC and wired lossless
• 360 Upmix modes are best avoided

If you’re looking for a pair of headphones that offer the sort of expansiveness that Apple’s AirPods Max 2 can, with all mod-cons available to you, but you don’t want the restrictions those impose on non-Apple devices, then I’d argue that The Collexion are the closest thing available.

These headphones conjure up an incredibly wide, spacious soundstage — using them, it feels as if you’re listening to music inside a large virtual room. They use a new 30mm driver, which has been redeveloped with soft edges and a harder center for enhanced detail and balance.

Listening to Voyager by Daft Punk, the airy synths sounded pleasantly forward, while the percussion occupied its own individual pocket, with plenty of room to express itself. Bass then entered the fray with tremendous impact, and came through with an almost three-dimensional quality. Spacey synths also carried a tremendous sense of space, while guitar licks danced away in the backdrop.

The headphones performed very well, no matter what genre I threw at them. With a deep house track like Planet 34 by Jesse Maas, the bass came through with admirable depth and agility, meaning the low-end sounded full and energetic rather than lethargic and ‘boomy’. Higher-pitched percussion in the treble range also maintained tight control, but never sounded blunt or underpowered.

Generally, there’s a pleasant balance right across the frequency range, and instrument separation is incredibly refined. Pair that with the headphones’ great attention to detail, and you’re in for a pleasantly nuanced listening experience.

I should be clear, however, that these headphones are at their best with some form of higher-res mode of listening. For instance, when I listened to Felini by Venerus and Marco Castello, I found that using LDAC over standard Bluetooth made a noticeable difference.

Vocals came through more naturally and articulately, while soft acoustic guitars sounded a little more expressive — the tune just had a more open, nuanced sound to it overall. This was also the case when using a wired connection, so if you want to experience The Collexion at their most intricate, make sure to use one of these options.

But how do The Collexion compare to the Sony WH-1000XM6? Well, The Collexion go for a more expansive and spacious sound, while the XM6 offer a tighter, punchier interpretation.

In Sadao Watanabe’s jazz-funk fusion record, Down East, I could detect a huge difference in the way that the headphones handled the smooth, funky bass. On the XM6, it was by no means overwhelming, but certainly impactful and slightly forward. There was still a solid amount of low-end weight on The Collexion, but the bass had a more spacious quality.

The Collexion’s more dispersed sound and almost distant low-end meant the track lost a bit of its bite, and I actually preferred the more direct approach of the XM6. There’s no doubt that The Collexion are capable of offering more space for individual instrumental elements to work their magic than the XM6, but some may actually prefer the tighter approach of the latter.

Ultimately, which you prefer is largely down to personal preference — I already preferred the sound signature of the WH-1000XM6 over the airy, broad approach of the AirPods Max 2, for instance, but I’m confident that both sound fantastic in unique ways.

One thing that did disappoint me, however, was the quality of the 360 Upmix modes. When using the Music mode, tracks sounded glaringly worse — vocals lost clarity, drums had a tinny edge, and keys in the mid-range lost their tonal accuracy. The Cinema mode was a bit better, but I still found speech to be less clear and defined, making for a weaker overall viewing experience.

This is a shame, given that the 360 Upmix modes are pitched as a major feature, and even have a dedicated button. But at the time of writing, they’re just not good enough.

• Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Design

• Stunning faux-leather casing with titanium details
• Super-comfortable fit with plush earcups
• Slightly odd-looking case

Sony’s The Collexion headphones look strikingly different from models like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and XM5, combining a beautiful faux-leather exterior with metal details.

The look of the outer casing is top-class, and is a clear indicator that these headphones are a premium product. Even when I used touch controls, the textured feel of the faux-leather was incredibly satisfying — and these small touches go a long way when you’re spending north of $500 / £500 on headphones.

Dual-textured metal links the earcups to the headband, and the metal is used for the various buttons and ports, and I can see people being divided on how enticing this looks.

Where the XM6 went for an ultra-fluid, homogenous design, The Collexion go for more of a contrasting look, and overall, I’m a fan. When we attended the product launch, Sony told us it was aiming to create a “timeless design,” and although I’d argue that headphones like the Marshall Monitor III ANC — which have a gorgeous retro look — do this slightly better, I still like The Collexion’s aesthetic.

Although the Sony WH-1000XM6 are my go-to headphones, there’s always been one thing I’ve disliked about their design: the bulky-looking earcups. The Collexion have done away with this, in favor of flatter and slimmer earcups — similar to those of the Sonos Ace. They look fantastic, and although Sony told us that the more compact form was a large reason for the reduced battery life, I’m a big fan of this choice style-wise.

Despite their flatter earcups, the Collexion are actually quite a bit heavier than the XM6. Sony’s new cans come in at 0.7lbs / 320g, compared to the 0.6lbs / 254g of their cheaper cousin. This is likely a result of the more premium materials being used, but I never felt that the headphones were too hefty in-use, and they’re still considerably lighter than the 0.9lbs / 386g AirPods Max 2.

In fact, I’d argue that these headphones are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever used. Their plush earcups, cushioned headband, and low-pressure feel is sensational, and makes for incredibly comfortable listening sessions, no matter how long.

There’s a wider headband on this model than on the XM6, which means these headphones won’t clamp too hard if you place them around your neck.

There are a few physical buttons on board, for altering noise cancelling levels and turning the power on or off, and for when (or rather if) you want to sift through the 360-degree audio modes. The rest is down to the touch controls, which are best-in-class.

Although I’ve been full of praise up to this point, The Collexion do have a few potential drawbacks worth pointing to, design-wise.

The first is that they're not foldable. This is a shame, as I love the XM6’s foldability, especially if I’ve forgotten the case and want to place them in a small bag or larger-sized pocket.

Another thing I'm not super-keen on is the case. Like the XM6, the Collexion have a magnet-lock case, which is incredibly practical and good to see. However, the look of the case is… not the best. It almost looks like a mini handbag, and not an especially attractive one. You can see it just below.

This is a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, but personally I preferred the more simple look of the XM6’s case.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Value

• Very high asking price
• Justified in most areas, but less so in others
• Overall they still compete well against the likes of the AirPods Max 2

So, do the Sony 1000X The Collexion earn their high asking price? Well overall, I’d say they do — but the picture isn’t entirely black and white (unlike their color options).

At $649 / £550 (about AU$900), these are Sony’s priciest wireless headphones, coming it at around $200 / £200 more than the WH-1000XM6. That value is realized in many respects, with more spacious and detailed sound, better upscaling, and a considerably more premium build.

However, these headphones lag behind the XM6 when it comes to ANC and battery life. They still compete well in terms of noise cancelling, sound quality, and design against similarly priced rivals like the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 and the Apple AirPods Max 2, but if you want a true pair of all-rounders with top bang-for-buck, then the XM6 would still be my top recommendation.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Should you buy them?

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: Also consider

Sony 1000X The Collexion review: How I tested

• I tested them for just under two weeks
• I predominantly tested them using Tidal
• Tested in real-world conditions

I spent more than a week testing the Sony 1000X The Collexion headphones, during which time I tested them in as many real-world situations as I could, to test the active noise cancellation.

Although I dipped into apps like Spotify, I predominantly used Tidal to test their performance, due to its support of higher-resolution files. I began my testing by sifting through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tracks from a wide variety of genres, but I also listened to hours' worth of tunes from my personal library.

I’ve spent years testing all sorts of audio gear here at TechRadar, ranging from party speakers to audiophile-friendly wired and wireless headphones. I also reviewed the Sony WH-1000XM6 and compared them to rivals from Bose, Apple, Bowers & Wilkins and more — I've been using the XM6 headphones for more than a year now, so I had a deep understanding of how The Collexion differed from their counterpart.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: May 2026