I love listening to music and podcasts on planes, especially as a way to lull myself to sleep.

Unfortunately, that’s not always possible, with the drone of the plane engine, chattering of fellow passengers and general hubbub piercing through my music and my personal fortress of solitude.

Luckily, I’ve found an effective and affordable solution: the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024), now only £105 at Amazon.

Bose has long proved itself to be the master of noise-cancelling, and its expertise is clear to see in these excellent earbuds.

Finding a good balance between good noise-cancelling and affordability is always tricky – but Bose’s entry-level ANC earbuds impress for the price.

“Time and again, Bose’s noise-cancelling has proved itself to be a cut above the competition and the QuietComfort Earbuds don’t disappoint,” our Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review reads. “They do a very good job of eliminating mid- and low-frequency drones and rumbles.”

Having tested them in a busy train carriage, we’re pleased to report that rumbles were dampened down and chatter nicely subdued.

However, there’s more to the QuietComfort Earbuds than noise cancelling – as evidenced by their What Hi-Fi? Award.

The brilliant buds sound great too, which is rather important given that other sounds will be blocked out.

“If it’s drive and musicality you’re after, then the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) deliver in spades,” our review reads. “They’re powerful and punchy performers that build an entertaining sound on the foundations of robust low frequencies, an expressive midrange and controlled highs.”

The design might be a bit stocky, but we found that Bose’s carefully engineered ear tips and stability bands to deliver a comfortable and secure fit.

Battery life impresses too, with 8.5 hours from a single charge and an extra 21 hours from the case – enough for even the longest flights. Wireless charging is included too!

To top it all off, the earbuds include Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connectivity and IPX4 water resistance. For £105 at Amazon, this really is a bargain for an Award-winning pair of earbuds – one that could prove a lifesaver during a particularly noisy flight.

If you have a bit more of a budget, do consider these alternatives too:

Like most human beings, I hate airports.

Most of all, I hate airports in the summer time.

Between hordes of airport-pub-fuelled lads on tour, endless hanging around in front of departures boards, the throat-constricting stench of duty-free perfume and my innate terror of taking to the air, I rarely manage to have anything short of a terrible time at the start of a holiday.

If I were a more stoic person, I might take this as par for the course: a small, endurable discomfort, for the privilege of international travel. Sometimes I can entertain this sentiment, if briefly.

On previous journeys – always with cheap headphones I picked up last minute after forgetting mine at home – I have tried to find serenity in calming piano playlists and ambient jazz mixes. But, whether due to a glitching Bluetooth connection or tinny, unpleasant sound, things have never quite gone to plan.

What I mean to say is that something has to change. Not the airports; I understand they are a necessary evil. But I’ve got to do something about my interactions with them.

That’s why, as Prime Day rolls around again, I’m hoping to upgrade and pick up a pair of Bose noise-cancelling wireless earbuds.

They are currently at their lowest recorded price of just £209.95 from Amazon, so could these highly recommended Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) be the end to my travel-induced suffering?

When the What Hi-Fi? team tested these 2nd-generation Bose earbuds, we awarded them five stars for their “punchy, full bodied sound”, “excellent” noise cancelling and “secure and comfortable design”. A promising roster of qualities in the face of my aforementioned predicament.

Describing them as an “entertaining, eminently likeable pair of wireless earbuds”, we were pleased with their “admirable knack for organisation and control” – two of the things I crave the most in an airport setting.

But what I get particularly excited about is their noise cancellation. With two modes to select from: Quiet and Aware, I can choose just how much of the environment I want to drown out. Quiet is their most powerful ANC setting, so I have a feeling I’ll be retreating to my “eerily silent cocoon” that these Bose promise to envelop me in, and staying there, thank you very much.

What’s more, with six hours of battery life on a single charge, and three additional charges from the case providing a total battery life of 24 hours, I can go on ignoring the lads on tour, even if we happen to catch the same flight.

So, that’s them dealt with, and I suppose some calming music might quell the boredom/terror combination during the flight, too. Unfortunately, Bose hasn’t yet developed off-duty-perfume cancellation technology, but we can hardly blame it for that.

So, before I embark on my next holiday, I’m going to be sure to snap up these Bose earbuds at the great discounted price of £209.95 from Amazon, before the sale period ends.

MORE

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review

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Bose is launching its own record label, but not in the traditional sense. Bose Studios is described as a "music-focused content platform" which will combine "original content, artist-led experiences, music TV and film projects, and partnerships designed to help fans discover new artists and connect more deeply with music."

But questions remain over exactly how it will work.

Bose CMO Jim Mollica told Business Insider that Bose Studios won't aim to compete with the big three record labels, and that it will help break under-appreciated or new artists. Bose won't take a cut of their sales or streams, and won't own the masters, but it will be able to use the music in its adverts.

Bose artists will also be free to sign with other labels.

Mollica promised its original TV and film projects have attracted "some legendary Hollywood names", though he stopped short of naming them. We're also promised a YouTube series, podcasts, and live music events.

It's all a way of giving people "a deeper connection to the music they love," Bose says. The fact it describes this as a shift for the brand as it "expands beyond traditional campaign marketing and invests more directly in music culture" suggests its core business of selling speakers and headphones won't be going anywhere.

Bose has previously formed relationships with artists through its marketing. Earlier this year, it collaborated with Grammy-nominated Twitch streamer PlaqueBoyMax, who created music on the hoof for a livestream during the NBA's All-Star weekend.

We've contacted Bose for more information. Bose will announce its first artist soon, which it says "will provide more context around the platform."

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Over the past few days, I’ve been out and about testing an in-car sound system. The Bose Surround Sound System for the electric Porsche Macan, to be precise.

I’m going to be comparing this system with the step-up Burmester option in a future article, but during my time testing the Bose, I came across a setting in the system menu which I’d previously seen only on a TV before: an ‘Eco’ mode.

Having such a mode in this car makes complete sense. EV ownership centres around power consumption, efficiency and squeezing the most mileage possible from the car’s battery. Why wouldn’t you want to try to save energy wherever possible?

Now, in the world of TVs, an Eco mode normally means a setting which is designed to lower power consumption by reducing things such as brightness and dynamic contrast.

In our experience, though, it’s a mode that can really upset picture quality. And – would you believe it? – the Porsche’s Eco mode has a similar impact. Here, though, of course, it is the sound quality taking a hit.

I reached out to Bose to ask what the mode actually does. Its representative replied, “When the system is in Eco Mode, energy consumption is reduced by limiting playback to selected speakers in the front of the cabin, while the rear speakers and subwoofer are temporarily inactive.

Depending on listening volume and content type, this approach can help lower overall energy usage while still delivering a rich and engaging listening experience for front-seat occupants.”

Well I found that this translates into a shrinking of scale, diminished dynamics and a more laid-back and less expressive sound.

Playing Eric Prydz’ anthemic dance tune Pjanoo, the song has less of an impact. There’s less of a sense of scale, and dynamics are dialled back.

The stomping bassline doesn’t kick quite as hard, leading edges are softened and there’s an audible drop in power. Overall, it’s a more laid-back and less expressive presentation, which means it communicates less with you, the listener.

Bose couldn’t supply any data on how much energy the mode could save, so I have reached out to Porsche and am still waiting for a reply (the mode is also present on the optional Burmester system).

I’m intrigued, because enabling the mode didn't seem to have any effect on the car's remaining range, at least according to the display. Perhaps this is something you will notice only over a much longer period of time with the car?

I can certainly see the appeal of an energy-saving mode when listening to, say, spoken-word radio and podcasts through the system.

Switching from music, the drop in audio quality isn’t felt as much; voices still sounded natural, balanced, and on the whole speech is still intelligible. When listening to voices, the number of speakers used and the impact of a subwoofer doesn’t matter quite as much.

It really depends on your priorities. For me, switching the Eco mode on and off does add an extra step, and if you’ve got a car full of passengers, having no audio out of the rear speakers isn’t going to be ideal.

Assuming other systems in the car, climate control being an obvious example, affect power consumption more, I would concentrate my eco-attention elsewhere first, leaving the sound system free to entertain me.

MORE:

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Stop what you’re doing – there’s a new pair of Sony wireless headphones in town.

The 1000X range has been Sony’s flagship wireless series for a whole decade, and the brand has decided to mark this anniversary with a completely new addition to its established line-up: the Sony 1000X The Collexion over-ears.

These may be ‘celebratory’ headphones, but think of The Collexion as a fully fledged product in their own right, rather than a limited edition one-off designed for the sake of novelty or sentimentality. These are headphones which exist separately from Sony's WH-1000XM6 – with their own unique sound, design philosophy and materials – and sit comfortably above their stablemates in price.

In fact, Sony has focused on sound above all else for The Collexion cans, for what it has dubbed “the best sounding headphones we’ve ever made”. When you consider some of the absolute gems the Japanese brand has produced in the past few years, that’s a mouthwatering claim. We’d be letting you down if we didn’t give them a listen…

Price

While the 1000X series has always remained a decidedly premium line, Sony had always resisted the urge to move up into the sort of ‘high-end’ territory occupied by the likes of the the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 (£629 / $799) and the Focal Bathys (£699 / $799), but with the 1000X The Collexion clocking in at £550 / $650, these are the closest Sony has ever come to operating within that more rarefied area of the market.

With the B&W and Focal rivals above them, the new Sonys have the likes of the Apple AirPods Max 2 (£499 / $549) and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) (£449 / $449 / AU$700) sitting just below.

If you need reminding, the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning Sony WH-1000XM6 are priced at around £400 / $450 / AU$699, even if discounts are now knocking a few pounds or dollars off that RRP, while the five-star rival Sennheiser HDB 630 will set you back around £400 / $500 / AU$1000.

Build & comfort

Get hold of a pair of Sony’s latest and, if you squint your eyes a little, you might be fooled into thinking that you’d picked up a pair of Sonos Ace instead. The Sonys have the same clean, minimalist exterior as the Ace, as well as similarly designed oval earcups adorned with a few metallic physical buttons on the left earcup.

Sony’s engineers describe 1000X The Collexion as a pair of cans that should both look good and make you feel good when you wear them, and for the most part, that aim has been achieved. Everything on The Collexion is made either from metal or faux leather, with a nicely padded headband designed to spread pressure evenly for extended user comfort and slightly firmer ear padding than found on the WH-1000XM6.

We don’t have an issue with the look or feel of the faux leather, though our test pair are more susceptible to marks and stains than the smooth plastic of most of Sony’s other headphones. That faux material adorns pretty much the whole exterior of the earcup, so grubby fingers, not to mention the rigours of everyday use, do end up making their mark after a time.

A slimmer profile does help to add lightness, though, with the width of the earcups measuring around 40mm from inside to out, compared with the 45.4mm of the WH-1000XM6.

That does make for an appreciably lightweight and unobtrusive wearing experience, and though The Collexion actually weigh more than their XM6 counterparts – 312g against 254g – rarely do we feel that extra weight.

Some of our testers did experience some rocking and instability from the earcups when walking from place to place, but if you’re stationary, the new Sonys often simply melt away into obscurity as you forget you’ve got a pair plonked on your head at all.

While there are a few physical buttons to be found, touch controls are the main way of controlling your Sony over-ears. They work as well as you’d expect, responding quickly and effectively to our various commands, with ample levels of control customisation available via the useful Sony SoundConnect app.

Unlike the XM6 over-ears or the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), these aren’t headphones which fold up into a ball, but their flattened profile and accompanying carry case – with its hollowed-out handle putting us in mind of a small handbag – mean they’re still relatively portable.

Features

Sony has very much positioned its new premium cans as sound-first headphones, but the 1000X The Collexion’s feature set matches the same generous level as that found on the do-it-all WH-1000XM6.

Battery life clocks in at around 32 hours with ANC off and roughly 24 hours with noise cancelling switched on, and while that’s down from the 30-or-so hours of the WH-1000XM6, it’s still a reasonable lifespan. The AirPods Max 2 only manage around 20 hours, although the Sennheiser HDB 630 are streets ahead with a whopping 60 hours with noise cancelling in play.

If you’re a fan of spatial audio, you get three versions of Sony’s ‘360 Reality Audio Upmix’ tech – ‘Music’, ‘Cinema’ and ‘Game’ – each of which add varying degrees of spatial processing depending on the media content. They’re fun modes to play around with, and we particularly enjoy the more immersive ‘Cinema’ setting which just about lives up to its billing by providing a more open, cinematic experience when watching movies.

On the subject of signal processing, these are the first Sony headphones to make use of its DSEE Ultimate tech for improving lower-quality digital audio files. In the app, you also get access to a 10-band equaliser for tweaking the sound alongside several simple presets, or you can deploy ‘Background Music’ mode to make it seem as though your tunes were playing in the distance to better aid your concentration.

The 1000X The Collexion support standard SBC and AAC codecs alongside higher-quality LDAC – which lets you stream hi-res music at higher data rates over Bluetooth from a compatible source device, such as Sony’s latest smartphones. Bluetooth LE Audio is also on board for lower power consumption and better-quality sound. You can also listen to the Sony headphones wired, thanks to the included 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable, though note that the headphones will have to be powered on when listening through a physical connection.

Sony’s Speak-To-Chat feature, which drops the volume level when you start talking, also returns, though we’d caution that the headphones can often confuse human speech with other sounds, particularly wind. If you don’t want your cans to keep cutting out every few minutes, we’d suggest switching Speak-to-Chat off when you’re outdoors and it’s a bit blustery.

ANC & call quality

While Sony has warned that noise cancelling wasn’t as much of a focus for The Collexion as it was for the WH-1000XM6, it’s still operating at a decidedly high level. Much of the same tech from the XM6 is on-hand here, including the QN3 chip and a total of 12 mics to capture and monitor surrounding noise.

When working in full noise-cancelling mode, Sony’s latest over-ears do an excellent job of suppressing noise throughout the frequencies, and while you might get the slightest hint of a shrill bird tweet just about breaking through that barrier, middle and lower range frequencies are filtered out expertly. The ANC quality on the WH-1000XM6 is still Sony’s best, but it’s very unlikely that you’ll feel short-changed by the noise cancelling on offer with The Collexion.

Call quality is excellent, too. The Collexion house six beamforming mics complemented by a wind noise reduction structure for enhanced vocal clarity and reduced external sonic intrusions, and it really pays off. Voices are clear, articulate and emotive, while background sounds rarely, if ever, intrude on our conversation as we stand next to a busy motorway on a decidedly blustery day.

Sound

Let’s reiterate what we mentioned in our introduction – the 1000X The Collexion are distinct headphones in their own right, with a sound, says Sony, which prioritises refinement, detail and maturity over the punchier, more flavoured personality of the WH-1000XM6.

To achieve this, The Collexion headphones feature a bespoke carbon composite 30mm drive unit, constructed using soft edging and a hard centre in pursuit of an “exceptional frequency response”. Sound has been optimised using a low-phase noise crystal oscillator, while premium components and circuitry, including advanced gold-containing solder, aim for an improved signal to noise ratio to reveal finer musical details and offer a wider soundstage.

That’s a lot of tech under hood, but how does that translate to the real-life listening experience?

Well, in many ways, the Sony 1000X The Collexion do live up to their billing. Just as described by Sony, they’re headphones that deal primarily in spaciousness and clarity, qualities which suffuse nigh-on every track as we bounce from Max Richter’s Never Goodbye to Radiohead’s Everything In Its Right Place.

That latter track sounds particularly good – The Collexion’s wide, open presentation grants the track a broad canvas on which to play, like an epic drama unfolding on a lovely big widescreen TV.

Detail levels are excellent, and when you have a pair of over-ears that offer clarity, textural insight and spaciousness to this extent, it’s hard not to be impressed. The elegiac strings on Never Goodbye are rich and mournful, while the piano on Debussy’s austere Sarabande strikes a wonderful balance between rich intent and subtle delicacy.

For all of their openness and delicacy, the Sonys don’t lack musical muscle. Think of them as being like a pro ballerina – nimble and graceful, yes, but strong and immensely robust when the time calls for it. It’s a nice balance to have, all aided by a deep, powerful yet controlled lower-end reproduction.

Bass tones are expertly handled, something that really comes across when we load up Massive Attack’s Atlas Air and feel the full force and punch of the tune’s full-blooded drum hits. That bass is nicely separated from the overlaid synth sounds working away above, yet not to the extent that the composition starts to lack any sense of cohesion between frequencies.

These premium Sony headphones really are impressive performers in so many aspects, but they appeal more to the head than to the heart. They certainly trade off some of that signature expressiveness we’ve heard in other Sony headphones for greater openness and detail, something that reduces the extent to which we feel truly involved with our music. Talented as they are, there’s something slightly removed, almost standoffish, about their reproduction.

That’s not something of which we’d accuse the outstanding, and cheaper, Sennheiser HDB 630. The Sennheisers have a more natural fluidity, especially with how they handle dynamic shifts, which makes them a more engaging listen. For us, the Sennheisers seem to strike that balance between naturalness, entertainment and analysis a touch more acutely than the Sonys.

Their rather aloof personality also robs the Sony cans of some of their intimacy. Listen to the first 30 seconds of Black Veil Brides’ Saviour II, and there’s a greater feeling of closeness to the opening guitar and vocal lead when listening via the costlier Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2. When the track opens up as the chorus hits, however, The Collexion show their hand, allowing it to blossom and reveal its gothic grandeur with more scale than the rival B&W cans.

Verdict

There’s much to admire about Sony’s 1000X The Collexion over-ears. It’s impossible to ignore their poised, detail-rich performance, while that ample feature set and classy construction make them tough to resist.

There is a ‘but’, however. In pursuing a particular sonic signature – namely, one that goes after scale, detail and clarity – it’s hard not to feel as though Sony has slightly thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

Yes, these are seriously talented performers, but deep down, they feel like headphones which were built to impress rather than entertain. As a result, we find ourselves admiring them rather than completely falling in love.

Review published: 19th May 2026

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 4
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Sony WH-1000XM6

Also consider the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2

Read our Sennheiser HDB 630 review

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Best wireless headphones reviewed and rated by our in-house experts

It's almost summer, the sun is starting to shine, and hopefully that means you're planning some trips abroad or across the country.

And if there's one product that we love to recommend to accompany you on your travels, it's a pair of five-star wireless earbuds.

Right now, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) have crashed in price to just $249 at Amazon.

They're some of the best wireless earbuds we've ever tested, especially when it comes to noise-cancelling, so any discount is a real boon.

Fair warning though, while the saving is on all five colors (all currently showing as 'in stock' at time of writing), this deal is only running for a limited time. How limited? We don't know. So, snap them up, if you're interested.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are an excellent travel companion. Why? Well, aside from being the complete wireless package, they're also really good at blocking out external sound.

For the 2nd Gen model, Bose claims smoother changes in noise cancellation levels for filtering out sudden spikes of noise, meaning the likes of sirens, planes, or screeching trains (or children) are set to be handled more effectively this time around.

And when our expert testers carried out their full review, they said: "Those promises ring true when we put the buds through their paces.

"The second-generation in-ears are excellent at adapting to whatever we throw at them, softening those harder, harsher sounds as they intrude while keeping lower-level rumbles and chatter at bay."

If anything, the Bose earbuds are too good at this, with three pre-set noise-cancelling modes: Quiet, Aware and Immersion on offer. One of which, Quiet, is the buds' most powerful ANC setting, living up to the Bose standard of completely isolating you in that enveloping, almost eerily silent cocoon.

It’s not all about the noise-cancelling, though. Comfort levels and build quality are still a cut above many rivals making them an easy recommendation.

Feature-wise, they've got a battery life of six hours per charge, with the wireless charging case providing three more charges. Plus, the Bluetooth 5.3 earbuds include AAC and SBC codec support, like most rivals, and there’s aptX Adaptive for those using a compatible smartphone or tablet.

Ultimately, you're getting an entertaining and hugely likeable pair of wireless earbuds. And what's even better is that right now they're just $249 at Amazon. That's a cool $50 saving on buds capable of some darn impressive noise-cancelling, and ready to join you for a summer of travels and beyond.

MORE:

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review

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With just under a month to go until a certain World Cup, TV manufacturers are looking to join in the football fever.

We've seen the lowest prices yet on some of our favourite OLEDs, including on Award-winners such as the Sony Bravia 8 II and the LG C5.

Not wanting to be left out, audio brands are joining in the discounts as well, particularly with Bluetooth speakers ready for summer garden gatherings. The JBL Xtreme 5, only reviewed two days ago, is already nearly ten per cent off.

As always, all of these products have been rated and reviewed by our expert testing team, and have been given a big thumbs up – and maybe even a What Hi-Fi? Award.

Take a look at the offers underneath, and we'll go into a bit more detail below.

The JBL Xtreme 5 had a high bar to reach, as previous Xtreme speakers had scooped up What Hi-Fi? Awards for their robust build, yet clean and detailed sound. Luckily, the Xtreme 5 received a full five stars only days ago, with a more powerful, clearer performance that made it the best-sounding Xtreme yet.

The Sony Bravia 8 II won our TV Product of the Year Award at our most recent ceremony, and is still our benchmark TV. The motion processing and OLED screen of the Bravia 8 II will make it an ideal World Cup TV, but it's stunningly authentic for movies too.

AirPods need no introduction, but the AirPods 4 with ANC are notable for introducing noise-cancelling to an open (no tips) design and making it work. iOS users will also find plenty of exclusive flagship features and snappy user-friendliness.

The KEF XIO is, quite simply, the best-sounding Dolby Atmos soundbar we have heard. It's also discounted for the first time, but bear in mind it's a cashback offer you'll have to claim back from KEF. Full T&Cs can be found here.

We're spoilt for choice with premium Bluetooth speakers this week. The Bose SoundLink Max wraps up excellent sound quality and an enjoyable experience in this attractive, outdoor-friendly package.

If you have a smaller room or are looking to upgrade to OLED on a budget, then this saving on the 48-inch LG C5 is for you. It's got flawless gaming specifications, excellent app support and is a whopping £618 off with the code 'HUGMAY8'.

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Bose has a new soundbar. The Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar is part of Bose's new Lifestyle Collection, and bears the same Ultra moniker as the brand's wireless headphones.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) and QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) have fared very well against some stiff competition. It'll be fascinating to see if the new Bose Ultra soundbar can do the same.

It will have its work cut out. Standing between it and home cinema glory is the Award-winning Sonos Arc Ultra.

We've only been hands-on with the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar at this stage, so we're comparing them based only on our initial impressions and the all-important features and specs. Let's get started.

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar vs Sonos Arc Ultra: price

There's really not much to choose between these two soundbars in terms of price.

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar costs £1000 / $1099 / AU$1800, while the Sonos Arc Ultra is £999 / $999 / AU$1799.

But that's not the full story.

The Sonos has been out for over 18 months now, and so is more prone to discounts. Most recently, it had £150 off, for example. So we'll give this round to Sonos.

** Winner: Sonos Arc Ultra **

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar vs Sonos Arc Ultra: design

Making a soundbar look attractive is no mean feat, so Bose should be applauded – its new 'bar looks genuinely different to any other.

That's mostly thanks to the sleek glass top that stretches out across a good proportion of the unit. It's not a glorified coffee table, but a home for the touch-sensitive controls.

Now admittedly not many people are going to get up off the sofa to change the volume by sliding their finger around the inner edge, but it's nice to have the option.

Either side of this are the up-firing drivers, which shoot sound up at 90 degrees to add a sense of height to the audio. As with all up-firing soundbars, it does limit your placement options – stick it under a shelf, and the sound will fire point blank into the shelf.

These are joined by four ‘racetrack’ drivers and two Bose PhaseGuide drivers, which use processing to more widely disperse sound. These are all housed in a textured-knit fabric that, like the Sonos, comes in either black or white.

You can wall-mount the Bose, but the wall mount costs extra.

It's a little smaller and heavier than the Sonos Arc Ultra – the former measures up at 6.7 x 111 x 12.5cm (hwd) while the Sonos is 7.5 x 118 x 11cm.

The Arc Ultra also features touch-sensitive buttons on top, though these are situated on the ledge at the back. It's not quite as sleek as Bose's implementation.

It too has a fabric grille which looks and feels pretty premium, as you would want it to at this price.

For its innovative styling, we're giving this round to Bose for now. But we reserve the right to change our minds once we've had a good look at it in our test rooms.

** Winner: Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar **

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar vs Sonos Arc Ultra: features

These are both high-end soundbars, so as you'd imagine, they're full of features.

Bose's has two QuietPorts on the back – these promise deep and controlled low frequencies with minimal distortion. The only physical connections are an ethernet port and an HDMI eARC socket – like the Sonos, there are no HDMI 2.1 inputs.

You do get plenty of wireless options, though. As well as Bluetooth 5.3 and wi-fi, you get Google Cast, Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect. Tidal Connect is missing at launch, but we're assured it will arrive at some point. The Arc Ultra does support Tidal Connect, but not Google Cast.

Both 'bars support Dolby Atmos, which will be made more immersive by their up-firing drivers. Neither supports DTS or DTS:X. This format is less common than Dolby Atmos but it's an absence all the same.

Both have room calibration tech for optimising the sound to your surroundings. Bose CustomTune and Sonos Trueplay use the microphone on your phone to analyse your room's dimensions, surfaces and furniture placement to adjust the audio accordingly. Both work on iOS and Android devices.

They both use their company's respective apps, too. The Bose app is more intuitive than it used to be, and lets you tweak the sound. There's no remote control, so you'll find yourself using the app quite a bit.

Sonos' app has had its troubles, but is now much better than it was – and the company is vocal about the fact it's prioritising improvements.

Both soundbars support voice controls, including Amazon Alexa, and the Sonos pairs nicely with the Sonos Ace headphones to give you dynamic headtracking – you just 'swap' the audio from the 'bar to the cans.

Given the quality of Bose's wireless headphones, it's a shame the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar doesn't partner with them.

** Winner: Sonos Arc Ultra **

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar vs Sonos Arc Ultra: sound

What do they offer in terms of sound quality?

As we haven't tested the Bose yet, we can't give a verdict, but we did go 'ears-on' with it at a briefing.

A sandstorm from the movie Dune proved suitably enveloping, with the 'bar spreading the audio across the sound field convincingly.

We didn't hear any signs of distortion at high volumes, and when the scene switches to calm, it did a good job of communicating the change of pace.

We also watched a scene from Ray to test the Speech Clarity mode. It turned dialogue from a mumble to being "lifted out of the hustle and bustle of the effects around it, with the edges of words a little clearer and better defined," as we said at the time.

It also impressed as part of a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos system, paired with the Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer and Lifestyle Ultra Speakers as surrounds. But we were only able to have a quick listen at the event – it's no substitute for hearing it in our test rooms.

The Arc Ultra has some impressive specs (9.1.4-channel configuration, 15 Class D amplifiers powering 14 drivers), and as an Award winner, it sounds just as impressive as you would imagine. A "crackingly musical soundbar" we concluded in our Sonos Arc Ultra review.

Tool’s Invincible is bristling with energy and excitement, making for a very engaging listen. But it's even better at conveying movie audio.

Chapter two of Blade Runner 2049 is a good test of bass, and it's a test that the Arc Ultra passes with flying colours, delivering plenty of weight and an impressive amount of control. The bass is "tight, tuneful and expressive in a way that is rare in the soundbar world".

Spatially, it's excellent. Effects sound like they're coming from all around you, and are placed with precision, while certain sounds (like rain) stretch far beyond the confines of the TV to which the soundbar is connected.

And there's plenty of detail without it ever sounding forced – it's delivered naturally, which adds to the sense of realism.

Suffice to say, Bose has its work cut out to compete with what this Sonos can offer.

** Winner: TBC **

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar vs Sonos Arc Ultra: early verdict

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar certainly looks impressive.

It's very easy on the eye, and – while a bit less feature-stacked than Sonos' flagship – it offers plenty to get your teeth into. As ever for us, it will all hinge on how it sounds.

On that front, the Arc Ultra is the soundbar to beat. As it's been out for a while now, it's also discounted during most big sales. Your move, Bose...

We'll update this article once we've fully reviewed the new Bose soundbar.

MORE:

Read our Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar hands-on review

And our Sonos Arc Ultra review

The best Dolby Atmos soundbars you can buy

Surround sound systems come in practically every shape and size these days, but there's one modern alternative that we've seen sweep the world of home cinema.

We are, of course, talking about wireless soundbar systems. Bose has just unveiled its Ultra Lifestyle soundbar, subwoofer and wireless speakers, and it joins the likes of Sonos, LG, Sony, Yamaha and Samsung in offering an ecosystem of home audio products that can work together to essentially create a proper surround sound experience.

While they vary in quality – we've recently raved about Samsung's superb HW-Q990H, while LG's Sound Suite system didn't quite hit the mark – there's no doubting they are super popular, convenient, and effective ways to achieve surround sound without filling your living room with bulky floorstanding speakers.

We're even seeing companies get creative with their soundbar systems. Majority recently impressed us with its pint-sized Bowfell Halo Atmos system, and Hisense scored a coveted What Hi-Fi? Award with its superbly affordable AX5125H package.

While they won't suit everyone, and a true surround sound speaker package will always win in terms of delivering proper cinematic sound, there are plenty of great options around, and it's reminding us of a previous home cinema audio trend.

A full surround sound system in a box isn't a new phenomenon; in fact, they were all the rage in the early 2010s. Samsung, Panasonic, LG and many more used to sell a whole home cinema in a box, combining a DVD or Blu-ray player alongside a compact wired 5.1 speaker set, unlocking surround sound for the masses without the need for an AV receiver.

Our review of the Panasonic SC-BTT590 from back in 2012 highlights how capable these systems once were. We complimented this system, saying "the handover between speakers is smooth, making for a convincing surround sound".

Stretching even further back to 2010 with the Award-winning Sony BDV-E370, which featured an "easy, idiot-proof set-up" and speakers that "deliver surprising scale and power".

These nifty, streamlined systems were made to combine cinematic sound with plug-and-play convenience, which sounds like a very similar objective to the soundbar systems we're seeing today.

The biggest difference between the home cinema in a box systems of old and the current soundbar packages is the inclusion of a Blu-ray player that once acted as a hub to drive these speakers.

That's to be expected in a world dominated by streaming and massively improved wireless audio protocols, but being the physical media advocates that we are, it's a shame nonetheless.

But it's not all doom and gloom. Sonos, Bose, LG and Sony all take a modular approach, allowing you to connect surround speakers and subwoofers as you see fit, and most of these companies offer components at different price points.

More customisation and different speaker configurations mean you can essentially build a surround sound package that better suits your needs and budgets, which is always a plus.

Sony, in particular, has welcomed this approach with open arms, as it now offers five different optional subwoofers and three different types of wireless sound speakers.

So, are soundbar systems secretly just a revival of one of the 2010s ' best home cinema trends? We think they're more of a spiritual successor with the same mission statement in mind: save people from their TV speakers by bringing simple, effective cinematic sound to the masses.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

As well as the best surround sound systems

And find the best soundbar deals here

Fancy capping off a four-day week with some juicy deals? Then we have some good news.

It's been a surprisingly solid week for savings, with several Award winners crashing to new lowest prices.

There's potential for you to build a fully-fledged home cinema from this week's highlights, or if you're looking for new headphones, we've got you covered, whether you're after earbuds or over-ears, Bluetooth or a classic wired set.

Once again, these are all products that we've tried and tested ourselves, only gaining our recommendation after an exhaustive review process.

So take a look at the deals for yourself – we'll go in-depth into what we like about them down below.

We all love a new lowest price on an Award-winner. And that's exactly what we've got with the Epson EH-LS9000. The 4K projector has hit a new low of £2699, which makes it rather great value given its performance as a brilliantly effective dark room home cinema.

If you're looking for wired over-ear headphones, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than the multi-Award-winning Grado SR325x. Offering excellent detail and dynamics, hugely entertaining performance, and a rugged build, these What Hi-Fi? favourites are now 25 per cent off.

The Samsung HW-Q990F offers immersive, detailed and engaging cinematic sound, wireless convenience and features including HDMI 2.1 passthrough and wireless music streaming options. We've seen some heavy discounts on the Award winner before, but never as low as the current 56 per cent(!) price cut.

If you're after noise-cancelling in your wireless buds, then the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are your best bet. The Bose flagships also offer punchy, full-bodied sound and a secure, comfortable fit, and are now at their lowest ever price.

If you're serious about sound, then the Arcam AVR5 AV Receiver may be for you. It lacks a few extra features compared to its rivals, but more than makes up for it with agility, rhythm and a dynamically authoritative performance.

The B&W Px7 S2e are the definition of old but gold – they may be from 2023, but that's also why they're enjoying a £150 discount. They're the complete portable headphones package, boasting a lovely full, lush sonic character, benchmark insight and the same devastating combination of style and performance as their Px7 S3 successors.

MORE:

Our pick of the best wireless earbuds you can buy

And the best OLED TVs for all budgets

Interested in vinyl? Here are the best turntables we have tested

It’s spring, the sun is (sometimes) shining and you’re looking for a grab-and-go Bluetooth speaker for those picnics in the park. If that sounds about right, you should stick around for this excellent deal.

Right now, the Bose SoundLink Max is down to just £299 at Amazon. That’s a cool £100 saving on this five-star pick that not only serves up powerful, musical sound, but also looks pretty stylish doing so.

At this price, you can grab it in Black or two suitably springy colours, Citrus Yellow and Blue Dusk. But you’ll have to be quick: the offer is hanging around for only a limited time!

The five-star Bose SoundLink Max is our top pick among the best outdoor speakers on the market right now, especially if you’re looking for a premium offering.

If you can’t quite stretch your budget that far, there’s always its smaller sibling, the Bose SoundLink Plus, down to just £199 at Amazon. It’s important to point out, though, that that speaker didn’t receive the coveted five-star rating of its larger sibling.

There are plenty of reasons that the Max comes out on top though. It’s pleasingly tactile and rugged, with its silicone casing and carry-handle designed for frequent movement and use. And it has a water and dust-proof IP67 rating, which means it should be able to withstand whatever the weather can throw at it (and we know spring can be unpredictable).

When it comes to sonic performance, it’s got buckets of likeable sound. In fact, our expert testers said in their full review: “The Soundlink Max shouldn’t have any issues getting the party started – thanks, in the main, to its lively, punchy delivery. It’s in its element rocking along to Guns N’ Roses Welcome To The Jungle.

“The wireless speaker’s expressive midrange enthusiastically sprays out Axl Rose’s wailing lead vocal, while every thwack of the band’s drum kit is dispatched with force and vigour. There’s an energy to the band’s performance that is easy to tap into and makes for a hugely enjoyable listen.”

They did also note, however, that, straight out of the box, the Bose is very bassy. But, with some quick tweaks turning the bass setting down to around minus five or six, the quality of sound is improved, to make it better balanced and less overpowering.

The speaker is packed out with features, including Bluetooth 5.3 with a claimed range of 30ft and an outstanding 20 hours of battery life.

There’s also aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec support, Google Fast Pair for Android users and Bluetooth multipoint for connecting two devices at once for easy switching. You can also use the SoundLink Max as a rather handy power bank, as well as use the 3.5mm auxiliary socket for connecting a more traditional device.

We’re also keen to recommend the JBL Xtreme 4 which we recently saw was down to just £179 at Amazon. But if you're looking for a smart-looking speaker that’s a nice alternative if you don't like the look and bulk of the Xtreme 4, this is a great option.

With this drop to just £299 at Amazon, it may still be a pricey premium pick, but the Bose SoundLink Max is an extremely attractive package that will most certainly keep you entertained for hours.

MORE:

Read our full Bose SoundLink Max review

Check out the best Bluetooth speakers: tried and tested for every budget

And the best speakers: budget to premium models tested by our expert reviewers

We’re now entering the summer holiday season, and those lucky enough to go abroad will soon be taking to the skies.

That does mean, however, having to endure several hours of engine noise, background chatter and maybe even a crying child or two, potentially at a silly time in the morning.

So if you want some earbuds to fully block out the outside world, we have just the recommendation for you: the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), now at a new lowest price of £230 at Amazon.

Bose headphones are renowned for their noise-cancelling abilities, the company having initially developed the technology for pilots before bringing it to the consumer market.

It’s no surprise, then, that they are adept at muffling rumbling sounds, such as a plane engine, or indeed any other sound we throw at them during our testing period.

“Noises across the sonic spectrum, be they clacking keyboards, chattering colleagues or cars beeping their horns on the street, simply dissolve into near-insignificance, with harsher and more intrusive sounds shut out even more effectively than before,” our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review reads.

If anything, the Bose earbuds are too good at this, with the complete and utter silence a bit much for some of our review team. The Sony WF-1000XM6 might offer a more natural effect, but the Bose certainly blocks out the most noise.

It’s not all about the noise-cancelling, however – the QC Ultra Earbuds are solid all-rounders. We found an improvement in clarity and detail over the first generation, plus a greater sense of bass depth while they remain composed and controlled at all times.

There’s also wireless charging, six hours of battery life (with another 18 available from the case) and comfort levels that are above most rivals.

For the best noise-cancelling earbuds, there really is none better than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen). They would be my first port of call for a long-haul flight – especially for £69 off at Amazon.

MORE:

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs QC Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen): which noise-cancelling buds are better?

And the best wireless earbuds on the market right now

Bose has just taken the wraps off its new Lifestyle Collection, a three-strong line-up of multi-room-friendly audio products, which it hopes will give a certain brand – cough, Sonos, cough – a serious run for its money.

The focal point is the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Dolby Atmos soundbar.

Bose claims it represents the biggest change to its soundbar design in a decade and boasts a whole new architecture, designed to deliver improved immersion, detail and clarity.

It uses nine drivers in total, including six full-range drivers, which are split into four front-facing units and two upfiring for handling Dolby Atmos soundtracks (no DTS decoding is built into the ’bar). When you’re not watching Atmos, Bose’s TrueSpatial technology takes over the processing to create a similar effect.

These drivers work with a pair of Bose’s proprietary PhaseGuide drivers, which help spread sound in specific directions to give a wide, all-encompassing soundstage.

• Hands on: Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar review

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra soundbar features a textured-knit fabric that wraps around the unit with a glass top which stretches across the soundbar and includes a touch-sensitive control panel for playback, volume and Bluetooth pairing.

Struggle to understand conversations in modern movies and TV shows? Bose’s new SpeechClarity technology uses an AI algorithm to boost dialogue but not the effects around it. There’s also CleanBass technology, which works with Bose’s QuietPort design (there are two ports on the rear of the bar) to deliver quality bass without any unwanted distortion.

To help with set-up, you can use Bose CustomTune (which used to be called Bose ADAPTiQ). This is a technology that analyses your room dimensions, surfaces and furniture placement to deliver the best audio experience for your particular room layout. It’s all done through the microphone in your Android or iOS device.

No remote control is provided in the box, although one is sold separately (as is an optional wall mount. Bose has revamped its own app, which you use to control and set-up the soundbar, connect a subwoofer and/or surrounds and alter audio settings.

You do get an HDMI cable, though, which you can use with the soundbar’s eARC-supporting HDMI socket.

There’s an ethernet port on the rear of the bar for a wired connection, or you can use the built-in wi-fi. Music streaming is enabled via Bluetooth 5.3, Google Cast, Apple AirPlay or Spotify Connect. Surprisingly, there’s no Tidal Connect at launch, but Bose guarantees us that it is working on bringing it to the Lifestyle Collection as soon as possible post-launch.

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar is available in black or white smoke and costs £1000 / €1000 / $1099 / AU$1800, which puts it right up against the all-conquering Sonos Arc Ultra.

Want to add more oomph to the soundbar? This is where the matching Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer comes in. Priced at £900 / €900 / $899 / AU$1300 and available in the same black or white smoke finishes, the sub is ported underneath and features a 10-inch upfiring woofer.

If you want to add a couple of surrounds to the system or simply want a wireless speaker for another room in your house, Bose has also unveiled the Sonos Era 100-rivalling Lifestyle Ultra Speaker. Priced at £300 / €350 / $299 / AU$550, it uses a three-driver array (two front-facing and one up-firing) to disperse sound, although unlike the soundbar, it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos when used by itself.

It is available in the same black or white smoke finishes, but there is also a rather fetching ‘Driftwood Sand’ option, which features a solid white oak base. At £349 / €369 / $349, it does set you back a little bit more.

Like the rest of the products in the range, the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker includes Bose’s CleanBass technology, which combines the speaker’s QuietPort on the rear of the speaker with clever DSP (digital signal processing) to deliver deep, tight bass.

The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker can be used on its own or in a pair for stereo playback. Alternatively, you can add them as surround channels for the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar. The speakers aren’t backwards compatible with any of Bose’s older soundbars, though.

Like the soundbar, the wireless speaker features Alexa support, wi-fi connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3, Google Cast, Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect. It adds an auxiliary 3.5mm input should you want to connect an external source. You also get touch-sensitive controls on top of the device, including the ability to mute the built-in microphone.

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker, the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, and the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer will ship from the 15th of May and can be preordered today through the Bose website.

MORE:

Read our Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar hands-on review

And our Sonos Arc Ultra review

Our pick of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars you can buy right now

Is the crown starting to slip on Bose, the king of noise-cancelling headphones?

Now, I'm not saying you should buy every single color of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), that would be silly. But as some of the best wireless headphones we've ever tested, you've got your pick of the bunch at a discount price.

For just $399 at Amazon, these noise-canceling cans are hard to beat, as well as bringing a wealth of functionality and a smart, nicely fitting design.

Whether it's Black, Desert Gold, Driftwood Sand, Midnight Violet, or White, you can grab the same $50 discount across them all.

You'll have to be snappy if you want to grab this deal though, since it's only around for a limited time!

When it comes to looking for the best noise-canceling headphones in the business, Bose's QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) are some of the best we've tested.

Improving on the original's sound quality while boosting ANC performance, Bose heard the criticism and listened in closely.

When we reviewed the original five-star QuietComfort Ultra Headphones in 2023, we pointed out a few flaws: you couldn't listen to them wired over USB-C, their battery life was a little wanting, and their spatial audio mode didn't convince. With the 2nd Gen model, Bose has addressed all of these points.

Wired listening over USB-C, a battery life that's been boosted from 24 hours to 30, and a 'Still' version of Bose Immersive Audio that is more satisfying than ever before have all been added.

When it comes to blocking out sound, their 'Quiet' mode led our expert testers to say: "Whether you’re riding public transport or walking past roadworks or construction, they provide a blanket of silence so that your music (or podcasts) can bask in the spotlight, eliminating the deepest rumbles and the majority of mid-band hubbub we encounter on our daily travels. On a plane, only the shrill, high-frequency sound of a baby’s cry penetrates that formidable shield."

And sonically, the QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) are a step up compared to their predecessors, making small but meaningful gains when it comes to clarity and detail.

In our full review, we said: "Considering we peppered our original Ultra review with words like ‘punchy’, ‘entertaining’ and ‘defined’, those improvements make an already entertaining pair of headphones even more so."

Though they're not quite up there with their premium competitors on sound, namely the Sony WH-1000XM6, at this discount price they'll cost you a chunk less cash.

Plus, if you're after Bose's categorical noise cancelation tech, these are the best over-ear headphones you can go for. Now just $399 at Amazon for a limited time.

MORE:

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) review

Check out the best headphones: tested by our experts

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): which flagship wireless over-ears are best?

If you’re getting into hi-fi for the first time, it can be a very daunting – and expensive – prospect.

Luckily, What Hi-Fi? is here to help. We have rounded up some of the very best entry-level and budget hi-fi products around, so you can get a full setup without breaking the bank.

There’s a mix of everything here, whether you prefer a turntable, CD player or music streamer as your source or if you would rather go all in on a microsystem.

And as always, these are all products we have reviewed and rated ourselves. We don’t give free passes just for being at the budget end, so each product below represents tremendous value for money and boasts impressive performance despite a low price.

Take a look at our selection below – and keep scrolling to see why we like some of these products so much.

If you need a bit more of an explainer on some of the products above, we’re happy to oblige.

The Triangle AIO Twin is a talented, versatile and great-sounding all-in-one system, meaning that amplification, connectivity, streaming and more all fit into one speaker-shaped package. They may cost a bit more than the other items on this list, but they will save you from having to buy several different boxes, and they are currently on sale, too.

The Dali Kupid bookshelf speakers are a great choice if you’re starting small, offering dynamic, detailed and punchy sound out of a space-friendly compact form.

While you might not guess from the name, the WiiM Pro Plus is in fact a music streamer – our favourite budget music streamer to be precise. You would have to pay far more to do better than this charming black box, which offers a poised and accomplished sound, a surprisingly well-executed control app and simple setup and operation.

The Sony PS-LX3BT is a relatively new release, but it has quickly become one of our favourite budget Bluetooth turntables. With its robust, well-organised sound, built-in phono stage and Bluetooth connectivity, it’s an affordable and effective entry point into vinyl.

If you're not fussed about Bluetooth, then the Pro-Ject Primary E has nailed the purist entry-level turntable market. Easy to set up and use with an enjoyable presentation, the Primary E will be remembered as a beloved first turntable by many.

The Marantz CD6007 CD player offers class-leading insight, a dramatic presentation and an excellent build and finish. It’s no spring chicken, but this is still the best affordable CD player out there.

The Rega Fono MM was our go-to recommendation for the best phono preamplifier for some time, and the revised Rega Fono MM Mk5 remains our favourite affordable option thanks to a cohesive, lively and musical performance.

The Onkyo GX-30ARC are powered desktop speakers that do a little bit of everything, including Bluetooth, with a moving-magnet phono stage and HDMI ARC. All within a compact, affordable package.

For a stand-out budget amplifier, you'd be remiss to overlook the Rotel A8. It's a fuss-free, well-built product that sets an enviable standard for sound quality at this level.

MORE:

Need expert advice? Here's how to build the perfect hi-fi system

Our pick of the best hi-fi systems

Our pick of the very best speakers

It's been an interesting week for deals, seeing a mix of savings on old favourites, flashy new products and more than a few What Hi-Fi? Award winners.

Our expert team of product reviewers have curated the best into the round-up below, which will have something for everyone, whether you're more into hi-fi or home cinema.

Here, then, is the full list – and we break down some of the highlights below.

Spoiled for choice? Allow us to guide you…

The Roberts Revival Petite 2 is, quite simply, the best budget DAB+/FM radio on the market at the moment. The Award winner may be dinky, but it produces a lively, engaging and punchy sound, and is at the lowest price it has ever been

The Bowers & Wilkins 606 and 607 S3 speaker package may not be cheap, but it gives you a full 5.1 setup – and a great one at that: this package is a two-time What Hi-Fi? Award winner that makes an incredibly strong case for ditching floorstanding speakers. We have never seen the package this cheap before!

The Sony WH-1000XM6 were long awaited, and they didn't disappoint when they arrived. Our Product of the Year headphones and go-to recommendation, the Sony over-ears boast stunning sound quality, excellent comfort, great portability, and brilliant noise-cancelling skills. Now at their best price since Black Friday.

An 83-inch OLED with 55% off? I'm sure I don't need to do much more to convince you of how good this deal is. But if you had any doubts, rest assured that the LG C5 is one of our favourite TVs with a rich, engaging picture and an uncompromising feature set.

If noise cancelling is your thing, look no further than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). Bose developed the noise-cancelling technology and is still the market leader, but these five-star earbuds also offer punchy, full-bodied sound and a secure, comfortable design.

MORE:

Our pick of the best wireless earbuds you can buy

And the best OLED TVs for all budgets

Interested in vinyl? Here are the best turntables we have tested

It’s fair to say the quality of JBL’s flagship wireless headphones has been increasing gradually over the years, even if they haven’t been quite able to match their biggest rivals in the space such as Sony, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins.

We’ve already tested JBL’s current Tour One M3 over-ear flagships and deemed them solid four-star performers. And JBL will be hoping its latest move will go one step further in catching up with the competition.

So what has happened, exactly?

There’s been an interesting development, which looks like it’s ushering in a new direction for sound quality from the brand’s top headphones, starting with the Tour One M3.

JBL has tweaked what it calls its sound curve, which is a given target response that its headphones have been designed to meet.

According to JBL, users can expect “a sound that is clearer, more balanced, and truer to the artist”. It also claims that the updates will be “setting a new benchmark for precision and clarity”.

So, how do you get the new, improved audio quality? The sound curve change is available as a firmware update for the over-ears from today, 23rd April.

"The way people listen has fundamentally shifted with better hardware, higher-quality content and smarter streaming, making today's ears more discerning than ever.

"We are always striving to push the boundaries of sound performance and saw this as the perfect moment to refine the JBL sound curve for our premium headphones,” says Carsten Olesen, President of Consumer Audio at Harman.

With the change coming as a result of a firmware update rather than a hardware update, it will be interesting to hear how the sonic character changes and if it is indeed for the better.

JBL is also updating the interface of the Smart Tx transmitter, which is an accessory for the Tour One M3 over-ears and the interface of the charging case for its flagship Tour Pro 3 earbuds. They share many similar features and functions.

It’s promising a new menu system with horizontal and vertical scrolling, better graphics, larger icons and more intuitive layouts designed to make for a smoother user experience.

Last, but by no means least, the headphones and earbuds are also getting a new green finish (see above), complete with copper accents. It has been “Inspired by heritage British motorsport and modern luxury trends” and looks particularly striking in the images we’ve seen so far.

The new finish will be available from mid-May in select retailers and from JBL’s website, with pricing for the JBL Tour Pro 3 at £279.99 / €299.99, the JBL Tour One M3 £329.99 / €349.99, and the JBL Tour One M3 with Smart TX £379.99 / €399.99.

MORE:

Read our JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx review

And our JBL Tour Pro 3 review

Portable hi-fi has progressed so much, I'd choose it over a traditional system

Our pick of the best wireless headphones you can buy

It's April, which means several things: it's officially spring, the sun is (mostly) out and we're in peak marathon season.

But whether you're taking part in a full-on race, running in the local park or just getting a few steps in on the treadmill, you're likely to want a little musical motivation to help you on your way.

And that's where sports headphones come in – earbuds that excel during exercise due to their snug fit, sweatproof credentials or strong noise cancellation.

We've rounded up a few of our favourites below, which have all been reviewed and rated by our expert testing team – quite literally put through their paces, if you will.

So without further ado, here are some earbuds set to get both the music and adrenaline flowing.

There's quite a mix of earbuds, including several What Hi-Fi? favourites. All of the above models are great for running, though each have their own unique strengths.

The Sony WF-C710N are great all-rounders, hitting the sweet spot between a low price and great performance. They're very comfortable for extended runs, boast responsive touch controls and have a solid eight and a half hours of battery life. They're also the cheapest ANC headphones we recommend, should you wish to block outside distractions.

If you take your ANC seriously, however, you might want to consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen). Noise cancelling is typically excellent as we'd expect from Bose buds, but the premium pair will also work well as everyday buds thanks to high comfort levels, six hours of battery life and aptX Adaptive support. They're also now at their lowest ever price of £249.

For a proper sports-focused design, you might want to opt for the stylish Beats Fit Pro. The innovative wingtip design provides a snug, secure fit no matter how bumpy your run gets, with six hours of battery life and an IPX4 waterproof rating to boot.

For a mid-range option, the five-star JBL Live Pro 2 TWS pack in great sound quality and plenty of useful features without having to stretch to premium prices. They have a solid IPX5 water resistance, ANC and a user-friendly control app to optimise your audio.

We're sure the Apple AirPods Pro 3 need no introduction. Especially for anyone with an iOS device, the AirPods Pro 3 are bursting with features, including a new heart rate sensor to track health and workout stats. Sound is spacious, powerful and dynamic, and the IP57 water and dust resistance rating is the highest on this list.

Finally, the Sony Linkbuds Fit offer in-ear tips which nestle under the ear’s inner ridge for security and stability when running. Together with a small size and weight they really do make for an easy fit, and are stuffed with features such as noise cancellation, head tracking and customisation via the Sony Connect app. Get them now at the lowest price we've seen.

MORE:

7 crucial things to consider before buying running headphones

We tested the best running headphones and wireless earbuds

Check out the best wireless earbuds: top pairs tested by our reviewers

Unless you're one of the lucky few to be working at home, most of us will have to endure a commute at least a few days a week.

And whether you travel by bus, train or tube, there's one constant when it comes to commutes: noise.

We've found the perfect fix, however: the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), now £249 at Amazon.

Bose has long been the king of active noise cancellation (ANC), initially inventing the technology for use by pilots before bringing it to consumer headphones.

So when Bose announced a new flagship pair of earbuds, we were keen to see if the noise-cancelling tech employed on planes could withstand the horrors of a London commute.

Our testing team were mightily impressed. Whatever noises TFL chose to throw at us on the day – screeching sirens, beeping horns – dissolved into near insignificance.

"The second-generation in-ears are excellent at adapting to whatever we throw at them, softening those harder, harsher sounds as they intrude while keeping lower-level rumbles and chatter at bay," our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review reads.

If anything, it was maybe too quiet, enveloping you in a cocoon of complete and utter silence. Still, this was far better than the usual commute chaos – and rivals such as the Sony WF-1000XM6 offer a lesser, more natural effect if you'd prefer.

That's not to say that Bose forgot about the all-important sound quality. The more we listen, the more we like Bose's flagship buds, with a craftily balanced sound complete with ample detail and impressive cohesion.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) may have a price befitting flagship earbuds, but this one purchase could be a genius trick for erasing the roar of trains and planes alike. They're now at their lowest ever price of £249 at Amazon.

MORE:

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs QC Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen): which noise-cancelling buds are better?

And the best wireless earbuds on the market right now

The sun is officially shining and it's the perfect time to get out and about. And, it turns out, it's also the perfect time to invest in one of the best outdoor speakers to bring the tunes.

Right now, our favorite premium pick, the five-star and hugely likeable Bose SoundLink Max, has dropped to just $349 at Amazon.

It's worth noting that while the discount doesn't apply to the Black model, it does apply to two colors that are perfect for spring and summer – Blue Dusk and Citrus Yellow. So, grab it while you can.

The five-star Bose SoundLink Max serves up a powerful, musical sound that really mixes it with the best of them. And we're happy to recommend it as one of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market right now.

The Max is built to go pretty much anywhere, which is great news for the hotter months of the year. It's water and dust-proof thanks to an IP67 rating and is pleasingly tactile and rugged to boot.

It's not the most lightweight option, weighing in at 21.3kg, but it's easy to hold and packed with premium features. One of which is the impressive battery life, giving users a claimed 20 hours, depending on how you use it.

The Bose SoundLink Max supports Bluetooth 5.3 and has a claimed range of 30ft (9m) for when you're out and about. Plus, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec support and Google Fast Pair (for Android users) are both on board, as well as Bluetooth multipoint for connecting two devices simultaneously and switching between them whenever you fancy.

And when it comes to sound, the Max impresses. Our expert testers said: "The Soudlink Max shouldn’t have any issues getting the party started – thanks, in the main, to its lively, punchy delivery. The speaker’s expressive midrange enthusiastically sprays out lead vocals, while every thwack of (a) drum kit is dispatched with force and vigour. There's an energy to the performance that is easy to tap into and makes for a hugely enjoyable listen".

Though they did also note that it is very bassy out of the box. All you need to fix that is a bit of tweaking, turning the bass setting down to around minus five or six for a better-balanced and less overpowering sound.

So, it sounds great and it looks great. You can't argue with that. And you certainly can't argue with the price tag either, just $349 at Amazon before it's too late.

MORE:

Read our full Bose SoundLink Max review

Check out the best Bluetooth speakers: tried and tested for every budget

And the best speakers: budget to premium models tested by our expert reviewers

It’s been a big month for our best wireless earbuds buying guide, the place where our team of reviewers hand-picks and highlights the top pairs you can buy for your money.

There’s something for everyone on the page, whether you want a top-value pair that works for a tight budget or something more premium that can take your listening experience to another level.

A new flagship pair has arrived in our test rooms and immediately gone about setting a new performance benchmark, blowing many of its close rivals out of the water.

You might not be surprised to know that the model we are talking about is Sony’s new flagship, the WF-1000XM6.

These wireless earbuds take top spot as our “best overall” recommendation. They sit at the more premium end of the price spectrum, but we feel they deliver a stunning performance for the money. If you experience only one pair of wireless earbuds this year, we urge you to make it the Sonys.

As we say in our Sony WF-1000XM6 review, the earbuds are “out of this world and put in an all-round performance good enough to worry every major rival at the money.”

They make the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) sound “overblown and lacking sophistication and refinement” and make the Technics EAH-AZ100 sound “like they’re holding back dynamically”.

This is no mean feat and just goes to show you how highly we rate them. The Sonys also excel when it comes to noise-cancelling and push the Bose extremely close.

There’s something about the way the XM6 deploy their ANC so naturally, which makes them so easy to get along with.

Call quality is excellent, and the Sonys have a very generous feature set too, which includes eight hours of battery life per charge (which rises to 24 when including the wireless charging case), Multipoint Bluetooth and a ten-band graphic equaliser.

The only area where we think there is some room for improvement is the eartips – it can be tricky getting a good seal the first time due to the firmness and thickness of the material used. We also think a larger tip option could help here.

That aside, the Sonys deliver such a wonderfully refined, natural and dynamic sound that it’s impossible not to be impressed. As we say in our review, “The Sonys make instruments and vocals sound believable, just as if you were standing in the room getting a private performance.” This is the new benchmark for sound quality at this level.

MORE:

Read our full Sony WF-1000XM6 review

The Sony WF-1000XM6 are giving me a serious case of déjà vu, but it’s not all positive

Sony WF-1000XM6 vs WF-1000XM5: which premium wireless earbuds are better?

Our pick of the best wireless earbuds you can buy for every budget

Despite plenty of competition in the wireless headphones space, JBL is one brand that shows no sign of slowing down on the product front.

It has just launched two additions to its Live series of headphones, both of which boast battery life that rivals such as Sony and Bose still struggle to deliver.

The JBL Live 780NC and Live 680NC are over- and on-ear designs, respectively, and each uses a 40mm dynamic driver to deliver sound.

Compared with previous Live models, JBL has refreshed the design, opting for sleeker looks, smoother surfaces, and metallic accents this time around.

Both pairs are fully foldable with soft-touch ear cushions and both customisable button and touch controls which can be tweaked through the JBL Headphone app.

The headphones also feature JBL’s True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 with real-time noise filtering; the processing power has been given a boost, so background distractions are reduced even more than with previous iterations.

Both pairs also use two beam-forming mics combined with an “an enhanced AI-trained noise-cancellation algorithm”, in an attempt to enhance call quality and more efficiently remove traffic, wind and background hum.

Battery life is claimed to be 50 hours with ANC on and around 80 hours with ANC off. That’s even more than what both the flagship Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) can muster.

JBL Spatial Sound is included for those seeking extra immersion from their music and movies, and both pairs of headphones offer LE Audio and LDAC support for higher-quality Bluetooth streaming. There is also Multipoint Bluetooth, which allows two devices to be connected to the headphones simultaneously.

Available in five different finishes (which sees new green and blue colours added to the standard Champagne, White and Black options), the JBL Live 780NC and JBL Live 680NC are available to order now for $249.95 and $159.95, respectively. UK availability is TBC.

MORE:

See our pick of the best noise-cancelling headphones

Read our Sony WH-1000XM6 review

Is the crown starting to slip on Bose, the king of noise-cancelling headphones?

Bose's five-star QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) don't mess about. They're our top pick for the best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market right now and they're terrific all-rounders, excelling with their outstanding design and packed feature set.

And right now, they can be yours for the unbelievably low price of just £249 at John Lewis. That's £50 off the launch price and even cheaper than the deal we saw on Black Friday.

But, there's a catch! This discount only applies to the Midnight Violet model. If you're happy with that, you'll be extra happy with this saving.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the complete wireless package, conjuring up a powerful combo of noise-cancelling capabilities, excellent design, and entertaining sound.

In fact, it's almost eerie how much sound these earbuds can cancel, shielding you from the outside world whilst managing to add a sound that comes across as punchy, full-bodied and more detailed than their predecessors.

And the benefits don’t end there, as the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are terrific all-rounders – and that begins with how beautifully they fit into your ears.

The buds' clever in-ear ridges nestle under the ear and provide stability and support no matter what you're doing or where you're headed. Bolster that with six hours of battery life, 24 hours in total, and you've got a comfy fit for a portion of your day.

Feature-wise, you've also got aptX Adaptive codec support, wireless charging, and Bose's 'Immersive Audio' spatial tech all packed in.

Sound quality has seen an improvement from the original QC Ultra's too, with some slight tweaks to improve on the already five-star performers. Our expert testers said: "Mournful strings plunge deeper than before, but across all frequencies there’s satisfying body and texture to notes that goes beyond what the original QC Ultra Earbuds could muster.

"It’s a clearer performance, too, and improved levels of crispness help to delineate where each note starts and finishes with a sharper, keener focus."

Overall, we found Bose's second-gen flagship earbuds to be a pleasing improvement on their predecessors calling them: "an entertaining, eminently likeable pair of wireless earbuds."

And if you're a fan of the Midnight Violet model, this deal is most certainly for you. Grab these talented all-rounders for just £249 at John Lewis, before they're gone.

MORE:

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs QC Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen): which noise-cancelling buds are better?

And the best wireless earbuds on the market right now

In all my years of testing wireless headphones, one thing I have never thought to myself is, “is Bose falling behind the competition?”

After all, this is a brand that has consistently mixed it with the best in the market and has been a benchmark for noise-cancelling headphones of all shapes and sizes.

And it’s not just because of its brilliant noise-cancelling that Bose consistently found itself among the class-leaders. Historically, its wireless headphones have produced some of the best sound quality too.

But in the past year or so, I’ve been testing Bose’s premium wireless earbuds and wireless headphones, comparing them with their main rivals; and the more time I’ve spent listening, the more I have found myself thinking that the cracks are starting to show.

Most recently, I’ve heard the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) against the Sony WF-1000XM6, and the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) against the Sennheiser HDB 630.

Both Bose pairs are still very comfortable, with good build quality, great noise-cancelling and decent features for the money. But there is a clear gap between them and the competition when it comes to overall sound quality.

The Bose offerings aren’t poor performers by any stretch, and when compared with their predecessors, you can certainly hear that the tech brand has managed to make small improvements in sound quality.

But when you compare the levels of detail, dynamics and clarity, they just can’t match what the class-leaders now offer.

And that lies at the heart of Bose’s current position. Rival brands have made significant advancements in sound quality in recent years.

Apple is now a serious contender in the headphones space – its AirPods Pro 3 earbuds being arguably its best wireless earbuds to date. And the AirPods Max show there is room for luxury wireless headphones at higher price points, offering exceptional build quality and sound quality for the money.

Technics has arrived on the premium scene and is now a contender, while Bowers & Wilkins has continued to push its headphones to new levels of performance. We have also seen Sennheiser do its own disrupting in the space with its new flagship, the HDB 630.

The market has evolved and improved when it comes to sound quality, and rivals now offer much more bang for your buck – they, it seems, have been making significant strides compared with Bose’s baby steps.

Have we reached a point where perhaps it's time for Bose to consider a serious overhaul of its tech and engineering? Possibly.

If its current trajectory continues, the noise from the competition could become too loud for even Bose’s talented noise-cancelling to handle.

MORE:

Our pick of the best wireless headphones you can buy

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): which flagship wireless over-ears are best?

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: which noise-cancelling pair is better?

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): which flagship wireless over-ears are best?

Epson has announced the launch of its Lifestudio Flex Special Lux Edition EF-73, which builds upon the four-star EF-72 projector with a new, premium look and a couple of new features.

It retains the overall shape of the Lifestudio Flex, and it seems to deliver much of what that projector had to offer in the picture and sound space, too.

It still produces a 4K image up to 150 inches via Epson's Triple Core Engine light source, which is its term for a 3LCD laser system.

Furthermore, it retains the claimed 1000-lumen peak brightness, HDR10 and HLG compatibility, and an auto-calibration system that includes Epson's Auto Focus, Auto Keystone, Auto Screen Fit, and Auto Obstacle Avoidance systems.

Sound-wise, the EF-73 appears to retain the 10W built-in sound system tuned by Bose, which we found to be a bit safe-sounding in our full EF-72 review.

More power output would've been appreciated, but Bluetooth 5.2 is still on board if you wish to connect this projector to a wireless speaker for improved audio output.

Google TV is also built in for onboard streaming duties, meaning you don't have to sacrifice the single HDMI socket for a streaming device.

What really sets this new Special Lux Edition apart is the upgraded build. It now comes in a Night Black colourway, which includes premium materials such as "tempered glass, suede, and anodised gold", according to Epson.

Furthermore, the top panel of the stand base now doubles as a wireless charger for your smartphone, which is a nice touch as Epson continues to bill this as being right at home on a bedside table.

As such, the rather nifty ambient lighting feature that we were fond of on the EF-72 also returns, making this an ideal bedroom lamp, too.

Finally, Epson will launch its Projection Studio app next month, with which the EF-73 is compatible.

This will let you control the projector from your phone, beam photos onto your wall with ease, and there's even an option to connect multiple phones to the projector at once to allow for interactive elements.

The Lifestudio Flex Special Lux Edition will launch in April of this year, and the Projection Studio app will launch the following month. We have reached out to Epson for pricing information.

MORE:

Check out our full Epson EF-72 review

As well as our picks for the best projectors

And our best portable projectors

I’ve been testing the Sony WF-1000X6 for a few weeks now, but from the moment I first unboxed them and saw what lay in store, I had a feeling this article could be the end result.

You see, I’ve been here before. Following the launch of Sony’s previous flagship wireless earbuds, the WF-1000XM5, I wrote an article explaining how there was one thing I’d change, and it wasn’t the noise-cancelling.

Now you could click through to that article, or I could save you precious seconds and explain that it was written about the eartips that came with the XM5.

As much as I had time for their sound quality and ANC, I wasn’t finding the buds quite as comfy as some of their close rivals from around that time.

Now, when I heard that Sony had tweaked the design of the new WF-1000XM6 during their launch event earlier in February, I was excited to see if this might improve overall comfort levels. But my excitement was tempered when I saw that Sony was insisting on persisting with the same eartips as before.

If you haven’t been following Sony eartip developments over the past few years (and I’m sad to say I have), then please indulge me in a bit of scene setting.

Sony introduced this particular tip back with the WF-1000XM4 back in 2021. Explaining it in our WF-1000XM4 review, we said, “Made from polyurethane, which feels like a cross between silicone and foam, Sony claims they help secure a tighter, more stable fit. The thousands of tiny bubbles in the tips are also supposed to help reduce and dissipate noise.”

Back then, you had only three sizes of tip to choose from to help you get a seal (small, medium or large). For WF-1000XM5, Sony introduced an extra-small tip, presumably for people with small ear holes who found the other sizes uncomfortable.

For XM6, though, nothing has changed. An extra-large eartip might help, but I’m not sure it's the actual size that is the issue for me, more that choice of material.

You see, it’s neither proper memory foam, nor silicone. The hybrid that Sony has settled on just doesn’t feel pliable enough. I don’t think it’s related to the shape of the earbuds either – they seem to fit well in the curve of my inner ear – it’s more that I can feel the tips pushing against my ear, and that you sometimes have to move the tips around a bit more to get the seal right.

I don’t have to look far in the What Hi-Fi? stockroom to find pairs of wireless earbuds that immediately feel more consistently comfortable.

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3, have new “foam-infused eartips” with “a new layer of foam-infused microspheres” which feel slightly thicker and a bit more substantial. I’ve tried them and like them.

I also get on swimmingly with Bose’s slightly shallower, less domed silicone eartips, which don’t burrow as far as some rivals but still give you the feeling that they’re sealing the parts of your ear that they need to.

Also, the tips for the Award-winning Technics EAH-AZ100 are relatively bulbous, but the dome of each tip is relatively thin, which doesn’t seem to rub my ear up the wrong way either.

Having canvassed the opinion of other members of our review team, it appears I’m not the only one who is slightly unsure about this issue. And the law of averages suggests that there will be plenty of others out there who feel the same way.

Don’t get me wrong, when you do get the fit right with the Sonys, the results are great; and you do have to remember in all of this that no pair of ears is the same – fit is always about personal preference.

I just spend a bit too much time adjusting and readjusting the fit before every listening session and wondering, “is that right?”. It’s not a terrible fit; it’s just that I can get rival earbuds settled in my ears quicker.

It’s not enough to put me off buying a pair or to stop me recommending them. I do, however, think that, for its next flagship buds, Sony might want to revisit the material it uses.

Ironically, I haven’t had any of these issues with Sony’s cheaper wireless earbuds, none of which uses this kind of tip. Perhaps that could be a starting point?

MORE:

Read our full Sony WF-1000XM6 review

Check out the best wireless earbuds for all budgets

Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Technics EAH-AZ100: which flagship wireless earbuds are better?

Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): which should you buy?

6 settings you should immediately tackle on the Sony WF-1000XM6 wireless earbuds

So here we are again. Over the last few years, Sony and Bose have consistently made some of the best wireless earbuds money can buy. And now we're pitting their latest flagships head to head.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) launched in June 2025, and maintained the brand's prowess for active noise cancellation (ANC) and a comfortable fit, while improving the sound quality.

But Sony isn't one to sit back and watch the competition. The WF-1000XM6 launched in February 2026, following the Award-winning XM5, and they too have managed to improve on their predecessors’ sound, features and noise cancellation.

But which new model is best? That's what we're here to find out. We've put both through their paces during our exhaustive review process, and here we'll compare them side by side. Ready? Then let's begin.

Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): price

When it comes to premium wireless earbuds, Bose's pairs are usually a little pricier than Sony's. But that's not always the case – a lot depends on which country you're in, and whether there's a sale on.

The Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) launched at £299 / $299 / AU$450, and the Sony WF-1000XM6 at £250 / $330 / AU$500. While the Sonys are too new to have seen any discounts at time of writing, the Bose have fallen to £249 / $249 / AU$382. So if you're in the US or Australia, the Bose are significantly cheaper, while in the UK it's a tie.

Both brands usually feature in the sales, but given that the QC Ultras are a few months older, we would expect them to see the bigger discounts.

** Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) **

Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): design & comfort

Bose has consistently excelled in this area – its buds are among the most comfortable around. And if you want a snug fit, the Bose buds are hard to fault.

This is as true as ever with the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). They're a more traditional stem design, which some might feel looks dated, but it's effective, and they are very comfortable and definitely stay put thanks to their stability bands.

They're good enough to compensate for the buds only coming with three sizes of eartips, and if you're looking for a pair to use during exercise, these should definitely make your shortlist.

Bose's touch controls are responsive, intuitive, and customisable – all in, it's a great design.

The XM6 are a slim, stemless, boxier design that fills your ear opening.

They offer great isolation when you get the fit right, but some may find the Bose sit a little more securely.

The buds come with four sizes of ear-tips, but they aren't as supple as Bose's. When the fit is good, it's very good, but achieving this is more finicky than we would like. We think a fifth, extra-large ear-tip would make a big difference here.

The Sony buds also have a new matte finish, while the Bose opt for a slightly glossier, smoother plastic.

The Sony case is surprisingly bulky and tall, and it does feel a little cheap. However, that's not to say the Bose is better. It also feels relatively cheap and is taller, deeper and just as bulky as the Sony offering, if not more.

The Bose buds come in more finishes than the Sony (five to two), with the Deep Plum being particularly eye-catching.

They might be the more traditional-looking wireless earbuds, but the Bose have plenty going for them and enough to win this round.

** Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) **

Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): features

The XM6 boast Sony's new QN3e, the third generation of its HD Noise Cancelling processor.

This is the brains of the buds, and controls all sorts of operations from ANC to DAC performance. They also boast Sony's integrated processor V2 with 32-bit processing.

DSEE Extreme is Sony's sound engine, which boosts sound quality from lower quality music files. The Sony Sound Connect app lets you customise the sound, whether you use the 10-band equaliser or just choose a sonic signature to match your style.

By contrast, the Bose only have a three-band equaliser and a limited selection of presets to choose from.

The Sonys also have Ambient Sound, Quick Attention and Multipoint Bluetooth to connect two devices at once. They're rated IPX4 water-resistant.

The Bose have the same water resistance and Multipoint, as well as ambient sound features as the Sony (though they go by different names).

Their six-hour battery life is outgunned by the Sonys' eight hours, but they both offer a total of 24 hours of use when using the carry case to recharge on the go.

Both pairs support the standard AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, but the Bose boast aptX Adaptive, while the XM6 have Sony's own LDAC. Both codecs offer higher quality listening, but of the two, aptX is more commonly used.

Both pairs also offer spatial audio (Bose calls it Immersive Audio), which attempts to immerse the listener more in what they're listening to.

This round is close to call, but the Sonys with their superior battery life from a single charge just about take it.

** Winner: Sony WF-1000XM6 **

Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): noise cancellation

Like comfort, noise cancellation is another area where Bose excels. The firm invented the technology (originally for use in headsets worn by pilots), so it's hardly surprising it continues to lead the field.

The QC Ultra 2 put in an excellent performance. Transitions are smooth when adjusting for sudden spikes of noise like sirens or car horns, softening both these and constant low-level rumbles very effectively.

The Quiet preset is the most powerful setting, casting a blanket of silence over pretty much every noise. There's no doubt it's very effective – but for some, it might be too intense, especially over longer listens. It's like it sucks all the air out of your ears.

If that's you, you can set your own level of ANC in the app, or choose Aware or Immersive (i.e. spatial audio) modes.

Sony has also upped its noise cancellation game. The Adaptive NC Optimiser (which automatically adjusts the ANC to your fit and environment) deals very effectively with both constant sounds and sudden, sharp noises.

It's not as intense as the Bose effect, but it's definitely more subtle and natural. Bose just takes this round, but Sony is definitely closing the gap.

With regards to call quality, both the Bose and Sony are on an even keel. They both deliver voices with clarity and do a good job of reducing environmental noise and effects such as wind.

** Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) **

Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): sound

Now we come to the main event: which pair sounds better?

The QC Earbuds 2 have the same driver as their predecessors, but tweaked to improve bass response and smooth out high-end frequencies.

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ Song For Bob shows the buds "sinking to impressive new depths while retaining the requisite tautness and agility of their lower-end reproduction", we wrote in our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review.

Notes have a satisfying body and texture, and the performance is clearer than their predecessors', while also richer and more authentic.

The XM6 sound warm and natural but don't sacrifice any detail or insight.

Timing is on point, the midrange is expressive, the bass weighty and well-defined while the highs are kept under control.

"The Sonys make instruments and vocals sound believable, just as if you were standing in the room getting a private performance," we wrote in our review.

"Playing Tom Odell’s Black Friday, the Sonys give you a front row seat and reveal themselves as expert communicators. There’s delicacy and subtlety in spades, which helps the earbuds extract fantastic emotion and feeling from the track."

They're both talented pairs, but sonically, the Sonys are a clear step above.

Compared to the Sonys, the Bose sound overblown – the XM6 exhibit much better control, detail and texture in the bass, but the overall clarity and insight are much better, too.

They communicate the subtleties of the music you're playing better and make the Bose sound like they're lacking sophistication.

The XM6 are more revealing for detail and dynamics and are just more capable performers.

** Winner: Sony WF-1000XM6 **

Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): verdict

The Bose have plenty going for them. They're among the most comfortable, stable earbuds around, they sound good, and their noise cancellation is as class-leading as ever.

But the XM6 are a formidable opponent. They're bursting with features, they have the more natural-sounding ANC, and the battery life from their buds is better. And in terms of sound quality, there's a clear gap between the two which the Bose can't bridge.

It's close, but pound-for-pound, we would opt for the Sonys. There's still plenty of life left in the Bose, but we can't ignore that gap in sound quality.

** Winner: Sony WF-1000XM6 **

MORE:

Read our full Sony WF-1000XM6 review

And our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review

Also, check out our list of the best wireless earbuds you can buy

Some brands have trouble following up a successful product with an even better sequel, let alone doing it three or four times in a row, with each new model outperforming the previous one.

But that’s exactly what Sony’s achieved with multiple generations of flagship wireless earbuds as it now attempts to make it five in a row with the WF-1000XM6.

It’s a testament to the tech giant’s ability to evolve its earbuds over time, add new features, improve existing ones, and still keep improving where it matters most – sound quality – but in today’s market, there’s no shortage of competition for Sony to contend with.

Bose has always been there or thereabouts, Apple has upped its game in recent years and the recent emergence of Technics as best-in-class won’t make the job easy.

But if anyone can do it…

Price

The Sony WF-1000XM6 launched in February 2026 for £250 / $330 / AU$500. These figures are pretty much par for the course at this level, but given the older WF-1000XM5 cost £259 / $299 / AU$419 at launch, you’ll see it’s a mix of good and bad news depending on the territory.

It’s similarly mixed news when you see that the WF-1000XM6 are cheaper than the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) in the UK (£250 versus £299), but more expensive than the Bose in the US and Australia, where they cost $330 / AU$500 (versus $299 / AU$450).

The other big rival for the Sonys comes in the shape of the five-star and Award-winning Technics EAH-AZ100, which cost £259 / $299 / AU$499. The Technics dropped lower (£209) during Black Friday last year, and over Christmas, but at the time of writing, they are back to their normal price. We’d expect them to follow a similar pattern this year.

Will we see any discounts on the Sony WF-1000XM6? Given they’ve only just launched, we doubt there will be any immediate cuts. Potentially, during Prime Day or Black Friday you could see some money off, but any drops will only be temporary and won’t be huge.

Design & comfort

Sony has a habit of tweaking the design of its flagship earbuds with each iteration, and WF-1000XM6 is no different.

The first sign that things have changed is the wireless charging case, which is surprisingly bulkier and taller than the WF-1000XM5 case. Its rounded top and straight sides actually give us slight WF-1000XM3 vibes for those of you who remember Sony’s likeable third-generation earbuds.

The case does feel a little cheap, though, and we’re struggling to understand why it’s bigger than before. It's taller and wider than the slim case that comes with the Technics EAH-AZ100.

Flip the box open, and you’ll see the body of each earpiece is also a bit more, er, boxy, especially when you compare them to the more teardrop-shaped WF-1000XM5.

The rectangular shape is to accommodate an extra mic and help give room for the new ventilation structure (highlighted by the perforations on the underside of each earbud), which increases airflow within the device to reduce any internal noise you might hear generated from things like chewing or footsteps.

The WF-1000XM6 have also been designed to be more ergonomic and sit in the ear more comfortably – Sony claims this has partly been achieved by making them 11 per cent slimmer than the WF-1000XM5.

Inside each earbud, you’ll find an 8.4mm driver unit similar to the one used in the previous model, but the design has been tweaked so it now uses a ‘soft edge’ surround for greater bass performance, and also has a new fitting which makes it easier to squeeze into each earpiece.

The antenna used in the WF-1000XM6 is one-and-a-half times larger than the one used in XM5 and claims to allow for a more stable and solid connection.

During testing, we find this to be the case and don’t have any issues in crowded airports or train stations, where the headphones are competing with multiple wireless signals bouncing around.

WF-1000XM6 comes in two different finishes – black and platinum silver. Gone is the glossy, slightly slippery plastic of the older model, and instead, it’s been replaced by more of a matte feel.

We certainly find them easier to get to grips with, but it’s interesting to note that there are subtle differences between the new finishes too.

The black boasts a slightly smoother surface, while the platinum silver finish has more of a texture to it, which comes from, according to Sony, “added metal flakes and glass beads”.

Sony has chosen to stick with the same eartip material as the older model and the same sizes: extra small, small, medium and large.

We were hoping Sony might revisit the material or at least include an extra large eartip size to experiment with – a couple of members of our test team don’t feel quite as confident with the fit and seal as they do with rival models from Bose and Technics.

Sony does provide an air pressure fit test in its Sound Connect app, which gives you a tick if your fit/tip choice is isolating you properly.

After a few attempts, our fit gets the green light, and during long listening sessions, the WF-1000XM6 don’t feel uncomfortable, but everyone’s ears are different, so we always recommend trying them for yourself.

Features

Brand new for WF-1000XM6 is Sony’s third-gen HD Noise Cancelling processor QN3e. It’s the brains behind multiple elements of the earbud’s performance, from helping to control the mics and noise-cancelling to reducing the signal-to-noise ratio and improving the DAC performance.

The new model carries over the integrated processor V2 from the old model but it’s now capable of handling 32-bit processing, compared to 24-bit previously.

Sony’s DSEE Extreme processing is once again present and has been a mainstay for a couple of generations now. It helps improve the sound of low-quality music files, and if you do tend to listen to tracks that are compressed, even podcasts, we’d recommend having this switched on. In our experience, it does provide a subtle but audible uplift in sound quality.

The Sonys are IPX4 rated and also offer Multipoint Bluetooth so you can connect up to two devices simultaneously. Technics still has the edge here, though, as the EAH-AZ100 give you the option of hooking up to three devices at once.

Anyone who wants to tinker with the audio from their WF-1000XM6 earbuds can delve straight into Sony’s Sound Connect app. Here you’re given a wide range of customisation options, including a 10-band graphic equaliser which will help you fine-tune their performance.

Know the kind of sound you like, but don’t want to get your hands dirty playing with the manual EQ? You can use the Find Your Equaliser function, which takes you on a journey of different sonic signatures so you can settle on your favourite flavour.

The Sony app also give you other customisation options which include rearranging the functions of the touch controls (which, incidentally, work well and are responsive), optimising the earbuds for spatial audio, and altering the intensity of Sony’s Ambient Sound (transparency) mode when you’re out and about.

The mode gets a boost for the WF-1000XM6, and it’s impressive the amount of information the earbuds allow you to hear while they’re still in place, even if it does give voices a slightly processed edge when talking.

The same goes for the Quick Attention mode, which kicks in when you press and hold down on the left earbud. It lowers the volume so you can, say, hear an announcement that’s going on in the background.

• 6 settings you should immediately tackle on the Sony WF-1000XM6 wireless earbuds

Battery life

Battery life for the WF-1000XM6 comes in at eight hours, which we’d call solid but unspectacular for a flagship pair of earbuds. It’s longer than the six hours offered by the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) but two hours short of the ten you get from Technics EAH-AZ100 with noise-cancelling turned on.

We’re a little disappointed Sony hasn’t been able to stretch it out to nine or more, but it appears the new processor requires a little extra juice, which has prevented Sony from going for longer from a single charge.

You do get two extra full charges out of the wireless charging case, which makes for a total battery life of 24 hours.

ANC & call quality

As we’ve alluded to further up this page, Sony’s taken several steps to get the best noise-cancelling and call quality possible out of WF-1000XM6.

The addition of the new QN3e processor ups the computational power, and you’ve got four mics in each earbud, which work to isolate you from outside noise.

You’ve also got Adaptive NC Optimiser, which automatically adapts the ANC algorithm to your fit and for the environment you’re listening in.

And during testing, it certainly feels like the quality of ANC has been given a bump compared to the XM5, especially in the midrange and higher frequencies.

We took the Sonys on the London tube and on a couple of short-haul flights, and they impressed us with their consistency and ability to extract both low-frequency rumbles of carriages and aeroplane engines, but also more high-pitched screeches and whistles that crept into our environment.

It still doesn’t quite feel as intense as Bose’s ANC and the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) might still have the edge in blocking out low frequencies, but the gap between Sony and Bose is now as small as it’s ever been.

Like their ANC performance, Sony’s recent premium earbuds have performed strongly with regard to call quality, and the WF-1000XM6 continue this trend.

The AI beamforming, mixed with the bone conduction sensors, the presence of the extra mics and the wind noise reduction design all combine to great effect.

During testing, we find the Sonys do a great job subduing and minimising background noise, including tricky-to-handle wind noise – voices come through loud and clear with a great level of detail.

Sound

It’s great to have ANC and call quality that’s up to scratch, but where do the Sonys stand sonically?

Speaking to Sony at a press briefing for the WF-1000XM6, representatives told us to expect a more natural sound than the WF-1000XM5.

And during testing, it doesn’t take longer than a minute or two to hear that the new buds are quite a different beast.

There’s a newfound sense of natural warmth throughout the frequency range. But before you start getting worried that this is achieved at the expense of detail and insight, don’t be.

Everything that you expect to be present in a pair of flagship wireless earbuds is there: a fantastic sense of timing, an expressive midrange, weighty yet well-defined bass and crisp, nicely controlled highs. The Sonys cover all the bases and then some.

The WF-1000XM6 make the WF-1000XM5 sound lean and lacking substance in comparison. They also show the Bose up as being overblown and lacking sophistication and refinement.

Listen to the two, one after the other, the Bose sound like a blunt instrument compared to the Sonys, which dispatch not just lows, but also highs and mids with accuracy and razor-sharp precision.

But don’t think the Sonys deliver analysis at the expense of emotion, which can sometimes be the case with earbuds that just want to deconstruct the music. This is where their natural tone and superb sense of integration come into play.

The Sonys make instruments and vocals sound believable, just as if you were standing in the room getting a private performance.

Playing Tom Odell’s Black Friday, the Sonys give you a front row seat and reveal themselves as expert communicators. There’s delicacy and subtlety in spades, which helps the earbuds extract fantastic emotion and feeling from the track.

As fingers slide up the neck of the acoustic guitar, you can explicitly hear the little shifts in dynamics and the fine details in the gentle piano play, both of which mix beautifully with the sweeping strings that flow alongside both instruments.

The WF-1000XM6 capture and express the sadness and raw emotion in Odell’s voice superbly. They drag you in even further than the Technics EAH-AZ100, and make the Award-winners sound like they’re holding back dynamically. The Technics are still sweet-sounding, smooth and refined, but the Sonys give you a bit more insight into the music.

We switch to Dead Inside by Muse and the Sonys exhibit all the bass power and weight you could ask for, but it’s the way the notes are controlled and defined which really sets the Sonys apart from some of their rivals. They make the lows dispatched from the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) sound unkempt and overcooked.

There’s great depth to the bass notes and drum thwacks, but there’s also great agility. Notes don’t hang around longer than they need to, but they’re packed with texture and information and never feel like they’re telling you only half the story.

Add the Sony's newfound naturalness, and it brings the whole presentation together – the track sounds like a complete performance with no element too prominent or hidden away.

We finish off with Sugarhigh by King Unique, a slice of noughties dance music with a great mix of drum beats and percussion, and the Sonys’ rhythmic abilities come to the fore. The tribalistic drum beat drives the track along, and the XM6 dispatch it effortlessly.

As layers of electronica, percussion and drum machine come in from all angles, the Sonys keep a fine grip on all the different elements – the XM6 slot straight into a groove and never sound in danger of veering away from it.

Verdict

The premium wireless earbuds market has never been healthier, and your choices have never been wider and more varied.

But just when you thought Sony might be pulled back into the chasing pack, the WF-1000XM6 push the brand ahead again with a breathtaking all-round performance.

Sony might have changed the flavour of sound, but it’s all for the better with a natural tone that just connects with the listener, whatever track you care to throw at them. Dare we say, it’s benchmark-setting at the money…

Add noise-cancelling that’s up there with the very best, brilliant call quality and broad customisation options, and you’re left in no doubt the WF-1000XM6 are serious contenders.

Review published: 12th February 2026

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Comfort 4
• Features 5

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Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): which should you buy?

Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Technics EAH-AZ100: which flagship wireless earbuds are better?

Best wireless earbuds: top pairs tested by our reviewers

The best noise-cancelling headphones are great for distraction-free listening and working. But what if you want to remain connected to the world around you while enjoying your favourite music or podcast?

Then you need a pair of open earbuds which let you listen to music or take calls without plugging or covering your ear canal. If that sounds good, here is a $100 discount on the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which have plummeted in price to just $199 at Amazon.

The four-star earbuds boast musical and entertaining sound while retaining a good sense of timing. They also have a surprisingly solid, weighty bass – far from a guarantee with open earbuds. Tempted? Get them now while they're discounted.

Best Bose wireless earbuds deal

So, what’s this open design all about then? The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds aim to bypass the issues of user discomfort and isolation associated with traditional in-ear buds, instead opting for a design wherein the earpieces sit outside the ear to fire music towards your ear canal.

It's a sort of clip on and play arrangement, with the Open Earbuds comprising a pill-shaped bud, the battery cylinder, and a silicone band or cuff that connects the two sections.

It works, too. Once you get them sited at the right angle, they are so comfy and unobtrusive that it can be easy to forget you're wearing them if your music is switched off.

If it's on, the sound is impressively well-realised. While it won't reach the levels set by the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, the musical, punchy and entertaining sound produced is some of the best we've heard from an open design.

You don't get shafted for features, either. aptX Adaptive codec support is on board, as well as around 26 hours of battery life with the charging case. Noise cancelling is off the table, of course, but you do get access to Bose’s spatialised ‘Immersive Audio’, not to mention Bluetooth Multipoint.

Don’t want to follow the herd? Check out the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for $199 at Amazon.

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Best wireless earbuds: budget and premium

All eyes may be on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) – but those eyes are missing out on a rather sweet deal.

The original first-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are seeing some great discounts as a result. A lowest-ever price, to be precise: they can now be picked up at Amazon for £240.

We tested the cans at £450, ao that's a huge 47% discount from launch, and a fair bit cheaper than the 2nd generation, which are currently retailing at £399.

We expect this price to drop further as the product eventually goes into clearance, but for now, this is a great deal on some premium noise-cancelling headphones.

If you want premium noise-cancelling headphones at a discount, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are one of your best options right now.

Bose is the go-to brand for impermeable, bubble-like noise-cancelling, and the original QC Ultra Headphones exemplify that. They may have been surpassed by the 2nd Gen model, but these cans still sport noise cancelling that rivals the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM6.

We are also big fans of the QC Ultra Headphones’ hinged, folding design, which makes them easy to transport and an ideal choice for frequent travellers.

The all-important sound also got a thumbs up from us, after we found the QC Ultra to offer both richly textured detail and full-bodied presentation.

“What strikes you from the off is they’re a hugely entertaining pair of headphones,” our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review reads. “Their enthusiasm crosses over to every genre of music as their precise, punchy delivery is mirrored by your feet tapping away in agreement.”

One of the big headline features of the QC Ultra Headphones is Immersive Audio, Bose's take on 3D audio. We aren’t hugely convinced, but some tracks, such as Robyn’s Dancing On My Own, are presented with a wonderfully spacious and immersive soundfield.

Battery life is 24 hours with Immersive Audio tuned off and 18 hours with it on – not quite class-leading but solid enough for lengthy travels.

The aforementioned 2nd Gen QC Ultra Headphones do improve on the sound, noise cancelling and battery life, and also offer an Immersive Audio mode for movies. However, they are also currently £160 more expensive at £399, so you’ll have to judge for yourself whether the improvements and extra features justify the price jump.

If you’re looking to make a saving, though, the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are at their lowest ever price and still offer a five-star package. Get them now for £240 at Amazon.

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM5: which are better?

If you want a great pair of premium wireless headphones, you are currently spoiled for choice. Many of the major audio brands are desperately vying for wire-free supremacy, with each sending its flagship champion out to bat armed with alluring designs, bulging feature sets and boundary-pushing sound in a bid to tempt would-be buyers into making a lasting commitment.

Sony’s What Hi-Fi? Award-winning WH-1000XM6 spent much of 2025 as the champions of the arena, but don’t think for a moment that this is a one-horse race. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are still staking their claim as the active noise-cancelling kings, while Bowers & Wilkins’ Px7 S3 blend style and substance into one very appealing package.

Then there’s Sennheiser’s five-star HDB 630 flagship headphones which made a late play at the end of last year with one thing on their mind: knock Sony off its perch and take the premium wireless crown back to Sennheiser Towers.

We’re struggling to think of a time when this particular space has been so competitive. That’s great news for the consumer – higher standards and greater choice are never a bad thing – but all of that fierce competition can be a double-edged sword. After all, how are you supposed to know which cans deserve a place atop your noggin when they all promise potent performance and so many tantalising tricks?

That’s where we come in. Thanks to our exhaustive Group Test of the most talented premium headphones around, we're in the best position possible to let you know which wireless wonders are right for you.

We have tested the top four models across a range of criteria, including design, comfort, features and sound quality, putting you in the best position when it comes to picking your perfect pair of premium partners.

Each year, it seems, the needle is pushed further and further north, so that some brands which could once have expected a full five-star haul might find themselves outmatched by the sheer quality showcased by their talented rivals.

In isolation, Bose's flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen are better than ever, and their punchy, entertaining sound is certainly a noticeable step up over their first-generation antecedents.

For their lightweight comfort, foldable design and class-leading noise cancelling, they have so much to recommend them, especially for frequent flyers and commuters who value noise-cancelling above all.

Bose’s problem is that it hasn’t quite kept up with the rest of the pack on the audio front. We can still see the appeal of the overall package they provide, but if you’re looking for the best sound available at this premium level, their price-comparable adversaries have widened the margin to such an extent that Bose is in danger of being somewhat left behind.

Partly responsible for such a growing divide are the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3. While the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Sennheiser HDB 630 advance things further in the sound quality department, we can’t deny that the B&Ws’ premium quality materials and design make them worthy of their high price tag.

Their noise-cancelling abilities may not be class leading, but they deliver a rich, full-bodied sound that drops you into the centre of your music to thrilling effect.

Bluetooth codec support is impressive. The higher-quality aptX Adaptive codec is on board, and of the four pairs of headphones tested here, the Px7 S3 are the only ones to offer support for aptX Lossless, offering CD quality (16-bit/44.1kHz) audio transmission from compatible sources.

The B&Ws’ sonic talents, combined with the sleek, prestige design, will make them an eye-catching proposition to anyone who values style as much as substance.

The Sonys push those sonic boundaries even further in nearly every area, all while boasting some of the most impressive all-around credentials you’ll find. Whether it’s their excellent noise cancelling, the superbly detailed and excellent dynamic presentation, effortless usability or superb comfort, the WH-1000XM6 are headphones built to please most of the people most of the time.

Topping the might of their predecessors was never going to be easy, but clever design and performance tweaks have elevated Sony’s flagship cans to the next level.

That next level is, on the sound front at least, not quite enough to overcome the fresh challenge of the Sennheiser HDB 630 – the HDB 630 have proved themselves to be a true force of nature.

Their standard sound quality is nuanced, spacious and a detail-rich delight, outstripping the Sony XM6 for textural insight, emotional engagement and the breadth of their soundstage.

The clever USB-C Bluetooth dongle that comes bundled with the headphones takes the sonic ability to new heights, as it lets you stream in hi-res aptX Adaptive Bluetooth quality from practically any source you plug it into, be it Android or iOS.

Plus, they don’t leave us feeling starved in other areas. While they might look a little bland for some (especially at this premium level), and they don’t quite reach the heights set by Sony or Bose’s noise-cancelling powers, they are still capable enough for everyday use. The HDB 630s’ plush headband and well-cushioned earpads make long listening sessions a breeze.

Additionally, a claimed 60-hour battery life and solid call quality only sweeten the deal. If only they folded away…

It’s gratifying to see the myriad ways the biggest headphone brands in the game have approached the premium wireless space, with each of these strong contenders bringing their own unique skillset to the table to appeal to specific needs.

For us, sound quality is king, so we’re giving the win here to the headphones that impressed us the most on the audio front. If you want the best-sounding wireless headphones you can get at this level it’s impossible to look past the benchmark-setting Sennheiser HDB 630 – for our money, they’re the cream of the current crop.

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I love spatial audio, but there's one feature I can't get my head around

Best noise cancelling headphones: rated and reviewed

If there's one thing synonymous with Bose, it's excellent noise cancelling.

And this applies, of course, to its flagship in-ear offering, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2), which currently reigns supreme among ANC earbuds.

Here's some good news then: the talented buds are currently at their lowest-ever price. Get the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) for only £249 at Amazon right now.

That's £50 off their test price, and even cheaper than the discount we saw over Black Friday!

As we have alluded to above, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds we have tested.

They will completely shield you from the outside world, dissolving noises from across the sonic spectrum into near insignificance. If you want to be absolutely cocooned in silence, these are the earbuds for you.

And the benefits don’t end there, as the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are superb all-rounders.

They are also supremely comfortable, with clever in-ear ridges which nestle under the ear and provide ample support no matter what you're doing.

Sound quality has seen an improvement from the original QC Ultra Earbuds too, courtesy of tweaks to the driver for an improved bass response and a smoother high end. We tested with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’s Song For Bob and were thoroughly impressed.

“Mournful strings plunge deeper than before, but across all frequencies there’s satisfying body and texture to notes that goes beyond what the original QC Ultra Earbuds could muster,” our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review reads. “It’s a clearer performance, too, and improved levels of crispness help to delineate where each note starts and finishes with a sharper, keener focus.”

Features are ample also, with six hours of battery life from the earbuds and 24 hours in total, aptX Adaptive codec support, wireless charging and Bose’s ‘Immersive Audio’ spatial technology.

The Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the clear go-to for noise-cancelling, but there's an awful lot more here to like, including high comfort levels and impressive audio. The best buds Bose has ever made can be yours for just £249 at Amazon.

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It can’t be easy making a pair of wireless headphones in today’s market. Your main priority should be to get the audio sounding as good as it can possibly be, and that’s a tricky beast when customers are becoming increasingly aware of just how good a set of decent buds or over-ears can sound.

It’s even trickier when you’ve got a near-endless raft of competitors looking either to make a name for themselves or further cement their burgeoning reputations. Apple, Bose, Sony, Dali, B&W, Sennheiser, JBL – it’s hardly a one-horse race these days.

Overcome that particular hurdle and the job is barely even half done. Considerations regarding design and comfort must come high on the agenda, and then it’s time to think about supplying your latest contenders with the bulging feature-sets customers now so greedily expect. Noise cancelling, on-head wear sensors, custom equalisers, ‘find my’ facilities, spatial audio; the list goes on.

That last one remains relatively divisive, but I know plenty of people who are keen exponents of pure spatial tech. In short, it creates a wider, more immersive soundscape by making sounds seem as though they are anywhere within a three-dimensional space. (I also know many others who avoid it like the plague). I know not everyone is a fan, but I'm rather fond on Bose's patented 'Immersive Audio' spin on the technology – it's not perfect, but for some tracks, it works a treat.

What I have never found is a person who, when listening to music, actively and openly proclaims their love of spatial audio’s quirky cousin: spatial audio with head tracking. So am I missing something, or is head tracking one item that could be culled from an ever-growing menu of headphone features?

What is head tracking?

For those not familiar with the concept, head tracking is essentially a type of spatial audio which sticks your sound source to a single point in the soundscape rather than having it follow you around naturally as your head moves.

The idea is that by anchoring the sound to a single location – move your head right and it moves to your left ear, move it to the left and it moves it to your right – you’ll receive the experience of standing in front of a stage or speaker at a live performance. That's the core concept.

Except, you never do. Aside from all of the other ingredients missing from this apparent simulation of a live gig – overpriced refreshments, heaving crowds, low standards of personal hygiene – it’s almost impossible to convince yourself that head tracking is actually having the desired effect of making the audio sound as though it's emanating from anywhere other than inside your cans.

The problem is, listening to music with earbuds or headphones is such a specific sonic experience that it’s almost impossible to convince yourself of head tracking's desired effect.

Standard spatial audio can be effective in pulling the soundstage further away from your head to mimic the openness of a fully fledged surround system, especially if it works well and you’ve got a really decent pair of high-end cans such as the Apple AirPods Max. But I have yet to find any form of head tracking which has created the intended illusion of a source of live fixed audio.

That’s partly because the sound is so localised in your own head, and partly because head tracking with headphones essentially uses a sort of binary system whereby the audio has to switch from one earcup to the other.

That flitting from left to right isn’t something you naturally experience in the real world; but with headphones, that slight delay as the sound shifts from one side to the other – something we experienced with the otherwise commendable Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) – shatters the illusion.

I’m not the only one to have picked up on this particular problem. To quote our ever-perceptive contributor Joe Svetlik: “When I'm pottering around my kitchen, hearing the audio adjust every time I move my head just reminds me I'm wearing headphones, which is the antithesis of an immersive experience. I want to get lost in the music, not have the left headphone cut out because I put my phone in my right pocket.”

Too right, Joe.

Android, on its spatial audio explainer page, freely admits that while head tracking “helps the user understand the nature of the spatialized sound stage being simulated around their head”, the experience “is effective only when the latency is low”. If a delay is present, as it often is, the illusion very quickly shatters.

Also, I don’t know about you, but my head tends to stay on a pretty set axis whenever I’m firing out my favourite tunes. Yes, occasionally I will turn one way or the other to look out of a window or notice that the dog is currently chewing her way through another pair of trainers that need rescuing. For the most part, though, I spend most of my time staring dead ahead.

If I do have to move my skull from side to side, I have never once felt that the immersion was shattered by having the sound move with me as I do so. It’s music from headphones – it goes where you go. Isn't that sort of the point?

Move over, music

Let’s not be all doom and gloom. Head tracking might have its place in your headphones' arsenal of weapons; just possibly not when it comes to music. If the technology isn't quite capable of effectively replicating the experience of having music emanating from a fixed source, it may make more sense when it comes to enjoying your favourite movies and TV series.

Here's our TV and AV editor, Tom Parsons, to explain why:

“I share Harry’s fairly negative view of headphones head tracking for music; but I’m actually a big fan of it for movies. When my family hits the hay, I often switch from my ‘real’ Dolby Atmos system to listening via my AirPods Max, which are connected to an Apple TV 4K.

“The way the Spatial Audio head-tracking anchors the audio to the on-screen movie makes for a really natural aural experience that’s much closer to the listening-out-loud experience than you usually get from headphones. I genuinely think this is a great way to enjoy Dolby Atmos movies if you don’t have the space or budget for a home cinema speaker system.”

That makes a lot more sense. If you're not able always to enjoy your movies ‘out loud’, a technology which can replicate the feeling of having audio emanating from the screen, all while keeping it from spilling out all over the place when you’re trying not to wake up the wife and kids, feels far more appropriate.

Provided you have a pair of headphones that are good enough in the first place, of course…

The right tech in the wrong place?

Head tracking, it seems, has its place – just not when it comes to listening to your favourite music.

I can still see an argument for the virtues of pure spatial audio, yet it's hard to think of an instance when adding head tracking into the mix elevates, say, Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York set to the heights of the original recording. I don't think the tech is going to get to the point where I'm convinced I'm sitting in the same room as Kurt Cobain and his tatty green cardigan.

For movies, however, I'm far more sold. As many of my colleagues have pointed out, it feels far more appropriate for immersing you in your cinematic experience, especially when circumstances demand that you are restricted to head-bound listening.

Perhaps the lesson here is that there’s a time and a place for every emergent audio technology: you sometimes just have to figure out what works best for you.

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JBL may be on a hot streak when it comes to the best outdoor speakers, but they're facing stiff competition from audio giant Bose.

This is largely down to Bose's SoundLink series of portable Bluetooth speakers, with the Plus sitting in the middle.

The price is certainly not middling, however – right now the Bose SoundLink Plus is going for £199 at Amazon.

That's a good £50 off the test price of £249 and the lowest we've seen so far. Just make sure to tick the 'voucher' box to ensure you get your saving.

The Bose SoundLink Plus is the middle child of the lineup, sitting between the compact SoundLink Flex and larger Bose SoundLink Max.

Depending on your preference, then, the SoundLink Plus could be your ideal proportions at 9.9 x 23.1 x 8.6cm. To give you an idea of size, in our Bose SoundLink Plus review, we described the speaker as a "very nicely made brick", rugged enough to survive the elements but still boasting quality and care in its construction.

The SoundLink Plus doesn't just look robust – it also has the IP67 water and dustproof rating to back it up.

The all-important sound delivers also, blending fun with a punch and solidity.

"Whether whispering away at low volumes or belting out ABBA with pride, that inherently solid, entertaining character is retained no matter how far you push the dial," our review reads.

"Playing at higher volumes does play to the Bose’s strengths. Muse’s Hysteria sounds appropriately crunchy and meaty as the SoundLink Plus gives it the beans, whereas the rhythmic snap on the opening to Michael Jackson's Billie Jean comes across with force and vigour."

However, the SoundLink Plus does lack many of the features seen in the larger SoundLink Max or rivals such as the JBL Xtreme 4.

There's no built-in microphone for group calls, and the popular Auracast audio-sharing tech is also notably absent.

You can, however, connect to other compatible Bose speakers in a Stereo Pair to really bring the party.

The Bose SoundLink Plus does lack some of the Bluetooth bells and whistles, but as a combination of portability, ruggedness and powerful sound there's a lot to like in this package. Get the speaker for the record-low price of £199 at Amazon now.

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Also consider the Dali Katch G2

Check out the best outdoor speakers: portable, wireless, waterproof models tried and tested

And take a look at the best Bluetooth speakers for every budget

We were hoping for big things from Apple’s 3rd Gen flagship wireless earbuds when they entered our test room (and our ears). After all, the Pro 2 was the first pair of Apple buds that we’d ever deemed worthy of a five-star rating.

But just because the old version of a product was five stars doesn’t mean the result will be the same for the new model. There have been occasions in my almost two decades on What Hi-Fi? where our reaction has been one of disappointment rather than delight.

Thankfully, though the AirPods Pro 3 did enough to convince our review team that not only did they deserve five stars, they also deserve to go straight into our best wireless earbuds buying guide as the best AirPods you can currently buy.

Okay, so the AirPods Pro 3 don’t rewrite the rulebook when it comes to the category, but they do take what we loved about their predecessors and build on it in several ways.

One thing that does separate them from the outgoing Pro 2 model is that the design has been tweaked. When you read about the changes and see what has happened (the main body of each bud is slightly smaller and the nozzle now points more towards your ear canal), it doesn’t sound like much, but the AirPods Pro 3 do feel different.

Apple has also tweaked the design of its tips, which now feature a layer of 'foam-infused microspheres'. This isolates the user more, and we found that during testing, the added thickness might mean it's worth trying a smaller size of eartip.

The new Pro 3 design sticks out more, but some members of our review team found they actually fit more securely, while others preferred the shallower profile of Pro 2. As is the case with all wireless earbuds, only after you’ve tried them for yourself will you be able to tell if they’re for you.

Back to the Pro 3, and our review team was impressed with how Apple has managed to up the noise-cancelling ability. It was good before, but as we said in our AirPods Pro 3 review, we think they now “shave off a greater amount of mid and low frequency noise” (compared to the Pro 2 model).

You’re a bit more aware of the strength of the noise-cancelling, but its ability to block out environmental noise effectively is very impressive.

Sonically, the AirPods Pro 3 build on the wonderfully balanced, cohesive sound we were treated to in their predecessors, but the new model sounds even clearer and more detailed. Voices have a bit more body and texture to them, and highs sound purer, too.

Are they perfect? No pair of wireless earbuds is, and if there’s one thing to highlight is battery life. Eight hours per charge in itself is fine and par for the course at this price point, but the charging case only provides an additional two charges, which seems stingy by current standards.

Obviously, if you don’t own an iPhone, the lure of the AirPods Pro 3 won’t be particularly strong – thankfully, though, there’s no shortage of alternatives out there which we rate just as highly.

Our list includes the Award-winning Technics EAH-AZ100, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) and the older Sony WF-1000XM5, all of which you’ll find over on our best wireless earbuds buying guide.

MORE:

Our pick of the best wireless earbuds for all budgets

The AirPods Pro 3 reminded me of one key thing when it comes to wireless earbuds

Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: which wireless earbuds are better?

Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: which wireless earbuds should you buy?

Fervently searching the January sales for top-tier wireless buds? It might be time to invest in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. That is if you fancy saving yourself over £100.

For just £199 at Amazon, these five-star buds are at their almost lowest-ever price – they came down to £189 during the Amazon's Big Deal Days last year.

One (very) tiny caveat: while the Black model is at this discount price, you'll have to part ways with an extra 95p if you want them in Diamond, Lunar Blue, or White.

The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds were one of our top picks among the best wireless earbuds, only bested more recently by the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) – but those high-end buds will cost you £100 more.

So, if you're working on a budget but still want buds that nail comfort, noise-cancelling and sound quality, the OG Bose buds are a lovely pick.

And this discount price tag is seriously competitive among their biggest rivals. The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Pro 2 will each cost you a little more.

But let's stop making comparisons and focus on what the OG QuietComfort Ultra's have to offer, starting with arguably their most impressive feature: noise-cancelling.

These impressive buds are still one of the class-leaders in this department. Powered by Bose's CustomTune calibration tech, they are able to take the noisiest of environments and reduce their impact quite dramatically.

Aware mode takes things one step further, balancing out the noise of your music and your environment when you need to hear a bit of both. There are a few other customisable presets built in, too.

And they sound good, too. Our expert testers say in our review: “If you were expecting the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to sound identical to the model they replace you might be surprised.

“Yes, Bose has kept the same tonal characteristics which is great in terms of consistency. There’s a familiar richness and fullness to the sound, but the new buds have a bit more of a skip in their step.”

Other features include Bluetooth 5.3, six hours of battery life (boosted to 24 hours with the charging case), and the integration of Bose Immersive Audio, the company's spatial audio tech that allows the audio to move with you. Be aware though, your battery life will take a hit when this is enabled.

If you're in the market for some five-star buds with excellent noise-cancelling and that are seriously comfy to wear, this offer of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds at just £199 at Amazon is an excellent deal.

MORE:

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review

The best wireless earbuds: top pairs tested by our reviewers

And check out the best sports and workout headphones: top earbuds for keeping active

Epson has announced the latest addition to its Lifestudio projector range – and it's a departure from the stylish EF-72 that we reviewed last year.

The Lifestudio Grand EH-LS970 is the brand's new flagship ultra-short-throw (UST) projector that instead hopes to steal the spotlight from Hisense. It certainly has the credentials to do so on paper. It replaces the EH‑LS800, a projector we reviewed at four stars back in 2024.

The EH-LS970 boasts a “Real 4K UHD” resolution, according to Epson, featuring 8.3 million pixels and a maximum screen size of up to 150 inches.

It uses a 3LCD laser light source, which Epson boldly claims features “no rainbow effect”; we'll have to verify that ourselves when this new beamer lands in our home-cinema testing room.

Furthermore, that light source can reportedly deliver a staggering 4000 lumens of brightness, which is 1000 lumens more than the Hisense PX3-Pro's claimed maximum. You needn't worry about changing that light source, either: it reportedly boasts a 20,000-hour life span.

While that is an impressive picture specification on paper, Epson is also collaborating with a big name in the audio space to help it sound as good as it looks. The EH-LS970 features a Bose-engineered sound system with support for Dolby Audio.

Epson is leveraging an AI-backed picture-processing engine, and Google TV is on board, providing a wide range of streaming apps, including Netflix and Disney Plus.

Epson is even touting a handful of quality-of-life features, including “whisper-quiet operation” with a claimed fan noise of just 29 dB, or 18 dB in the projector's quiet mode. Gamers are also well catered for, with ALLM support and a reported input lag of under 20ms.

This all comes packed into a stylish chassis that aligns with the other lifestyle-leaning Lifestudio projectors in Epson's range.

It features a claimed throw ratio of 0.16–0.4:1, meaning you can achieve the full 150-inch picture by placing the EH-LS970 merely centimetres away from the wall (Epson has, unfortunately, not specified just how many centimetres so, again, we shall have to wait for a test sample to come in to confirm precise numbers).

Pricing for Epson's new UST projector is yet to be revealed; it is, though, expected to hit shop shelves in April of this year.

MORE:

Read our full Epson EF-72 review

As well as our Hisense PX3-Pro review

And check out our list of the best projectors

Update 09/01/26: This story has been edited to remove the claim that Bose offered customers no compensation at the time of the original announcement. In fact, Bose did offer SoundTouch customers a 25 per cent discount code, and affected customers can use Bose's standard trade-in program. Bose failed to communicate these points to us when we contacted it for comment on the original story.

Bose's SoundTouch speakers aren't going to be quite as bricked as originally planned.

In October, Bose announced it would end cloud support for the SoundTouch range, and shut down the mobile app. This prompted outrage from customers, who would see their speakers lose all smart functionality, and only work over Bluetooth, or plugged in via AUX or HDMI.

But now the US firm has listened to its customers and managed to keep some smart features working.

In a letter to customers, it announced that it will keep the SoundTouch app running with most of its features still available just without the cloud. Cloud support will now end on 6th May, rather than the original date of 18th February.

Bose is also releasing its SoundTouch API documentation so anyone with the right knowhow can create their own features.

On 6th May, the SoundTouch app will update "to a version that supports key functions without relying on the cloud," Bose wrote. Just open the app and it will update itself automatically.

After this date, the app will still allow you to set up and configure your system, control playback and group multiple speakers together. But you will lose access to presets, and the ability to browse and play music streaming services directly from the SoundTouch app.

You also won't receive security updates. Bose recommends you only use your SoundTouch speakers on a secure, private network.

To keep streaming to your SoundTouch speaker after 6th May, stream direct from the music app in question and send the audio from your device to your speaker via AirPlay, Bluetooth or AUX. You can still stream direct to the speaker via Spotify Connect through the Spotify app.

Bose says it will release more information in the coming months. In the meantime, you can read more on the dedicated support page.

So there you have it, good news of a sort. Or slightly less bad news, maybe.

SoundTouch devices are quite old now, having launched in 2013, but it was still an outrage that Bose would remove most of the features. One reader contacted us up in arms that they had spent £2000 on SoundTouch speakers shortly before the original announcement. Hopefully today's news leaves them slightly less cheesed off than before.

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The best multi-room systems around

The best Sonos alternatives

And multi-room audio: everything you need to know

Our wallets are all feeling a little tighter after the holidays, but if you've been holding out to secure some of the best headphones for 2026, then the January sales is a great time to pick up a bargain.

And while I search the internet fervently for deals on a regular basis, I was incredibly surprised to see that the five-star Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones have held their Black Friday pricing all the way into the new year.

Right now, you can pick them up for just £299 at Amazon, which is a crazy good deal considering we think the QC Ultras are the complete package for anyone looking for premium, great-sounding noise-cancelling headphones.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are some of the best noise-cancelling cans money can buy – and fortunately, you save a little over £150 right now on their original launch price.

A step-up in sound and performance, the new-era Ultra not only sport next-level noise-cancelling that rivals the Sony WH-1000XM6's abilities but also deliver highly competitive sound that is as informative as it is entertaining.

And there's a headline feature that's worth talking about straight off the bat and that's Bose's Immersive Audio technology. This is basically the brand's own take on spatial audio (a 3D audio effect Apple debuted in its AirPods Max).

Our expert testers said in their full review: "Whether you take spatial audio or leave it, you’ll be wanting to know how the Bose stack up against the very best sonically, and we have to say, we’re impressed."

Like a lot of modern designs, the Bose QC Ultra headphones fold flat, but they're still hinged which means they (and the supplied carry case) take up less space, making them easy to toss into your bag and head out. That's something you can't say about the XM5 or AirPods Max.

It's worth noting though that, unlike the XM5's 30 hours of battery life, the QC Ultra only have up to 24 hours with Immersive Audio on, or 18 with it off, which isn't quite as impressive as some rivals, but still a solid offering.

What's incredibly important is how they sound, and when it comes to the QC Ultra they're hugely entertaining, enthusiastic and refined. When we got our hands on them for testing, we found that sonically they can offer both richly textured detail and full-bodied presentation.

In fact, we said: "Bose’s noise-cancelling has gone to a new level and sonically, they have you coming back for more. We haven’t heard a pair of Bose over-ears sound as entertaining or refined for quite some time."

It's a hugely competitive market with the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e both available for a lower price, but Bose's five-star offering at this knockdown price means you can take advantage of a more affordable price without sacrificing quality – just £299 at Amazon.

MORE:

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review

Check out the best headphones: tested by our experts

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM5: which are better?

As one of What Hi-Fi?’s resident wireless headphones aficionados, I will regularly be found pinching the latest pairs from our stockroom to take for a test drive. And, over the past 12 months, I’ve spent a lot of time swapping between new pairs while also revisiting older models to get a good feel for how the market has (or hasn’t) evolved.

The more I’ve heard, the more it’s given me time to take stock of different brands, what they offer and where there might be a little room for improvement. After all, even with all the five-star models we have reviewed, there really isn’t such a thing as a perfect pair of wireless headphones.

I have cherry-picked four of the biggest brands in the business and made a note or two on what I think they need to bring to the table with any future models they might be thinking of launching in 2026.

Here’s what I’m wishing for and why…

Apple

I can’t be the only person who was disappointed by the September 2024 update for the AirPods Max. I’m still surprised this premium pair of cans was given barely more than a lick of fresh paint. I’m of the opinion that these impressively engineered over-ears are still competitive in the current market, but I think it’s time for Apple to consider a bigger revamp.

To me, they need a bit of an update in terms of design – and I’m not just talking about that travel case. They do now feel quite bulky and hefty compared with many of their rivals. Multiple pairs have passed through my hands this year and although build quality is excellent on the AirPods I think the time is right for a revamp.

I also think that sound quality could be improved, especially given that key, cheaper rivals from the likes of Sony and Sennheiser have now caught up. The AirPods Max showed there was mileage in premium-priced headphones back in 2020; now it’s time to move things on.

Bose

I have always been a fan of Bose’s premium wireless headphones, especially when it comes to noise-cancelling, but I can’t help but feel that the brand might have taken one eye off the ball when it comes to sound quality with its latest top of the range over-ears.

We rate the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) as four stars – they’re solid performers, but we do think they have fallen behind the current class-leaders when it comes to clarity, detail and dynamics.

For me, there’s now a clear gap between Bose and the top performers from Sony and Sennheiser. That’s mainly down to sound quality, but I also think build quality could be improved given their asking price.

Bowers & Wilkins

I have been impressed with the consistent level of sound quality from B&W’s recent premium over-ear and in-ear headphones. Anyone looking for an entertaining sound that majors in insight should start their search with what this brand has to offer.

But moving forward, and being very picky, I’d like to see more from the noise-cancelling technology used in its headphones. This is especially the case when it comes to its over-ears such as the Px8 S2, which, based on our recent experience, do struggle to block out external noise as effectively as some rivals, especially in the upper midrange and treble.

Bose and Sony’s implementations of ANC in its premium headphones are quite different from each other, but both are hugely effective and leading the way in this department.

Sony

It’s fair to say that Sony’s recent highlight reel for its wireless headphones is nothing short of astounding. Its most recent premium over-ears, the WH-1000XM6, arrived on the scene in May 2025 and basically swept all before them, winning our Product of The Year gong in the wireless headphones category at the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025.

One launch I’m crossing my fingers for in 2026, though, is a potential replacement for the existing WF-1000XM5 in-ears. They are still great performers for the money, but having used them on and off for some time now and having had the chance to compare them with a lot of rival models, I do believe they’re in need of an update.

The main thing I want any successor to address is comfort. I struggle to gel with the eartips on offer from these particular Sony buds, and I’m not the only member of the What Hi-Fi? review team to feel this way. A new, softer, more pliable yet acoustically isolating material would be very much appreciated.

MORE:

Our pick of the best wireless headphones for every budget

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): which flagship wireless over-ears are best?

Sony WF-1000XM6: release date and price predictions, plus 6 features on our wishlist

Apple AirPods Max vs AirPods Max 2024: what are the differences?

If you're looking for an impressive speaker that you can take just about anywhere, then the Bose SoundLink Max has you covered.

The premium Bluetooth speaker will serve you well for both Christmas gatherings and summer picnics, as well as more adventurous pursuits, thanks to its impressive water- and dust-proof protection.

And now the Bose Bluetooth wonder has fallen in price yet again, hitting a new low price of £279 at Currys.

Given that we tested the Bose SoundLink Max at £399, that's an incredible discount of £120! Better yet, that saving is available on all three colourways (black, blue dusk and citrus yellow).

The five-star Bose SoundLink Max is one of the best outdoor speakers available, according to our team of reviewers, particularly at its premium price point.

It's easy to see why. The Bose is pleasingly tactile and rugged, with its silicone casing and carry handle designed for frequent movement and use. Its water and dust-proof IP67 rating means it should be able to withstand whatever the weather can throw at it.

It's packed with features, including Bluetooth 5.3, a claimed range of 30ft and 20 hours of battery life.

There's also aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec support, Google Fast Pair for Android users and Bluetooth multipoint for connecting two devices at once for easy switching. You can also use the SoundLink Max as a rather extravagant power bank, and there is even a 3.5mm auxiliary socket for connecting a more traditional device.

Provided you turn the bass down a notch or two in Bose's companion app, our expert testers found the Soundlink Max to be an enjoyable listen.

"The Soundlink Max shouldn’t have any issues getting the party started – thanks, in the main, to its lively, punchy delivery," our five-star Bose SoundLink Max review reads.

"It’s in its element rocking along to Guns N’ Roses' Welcome To The Jungle. The wireless speaker’s expressive midrange enthusiastically sprays out Axl Rose’s wailing lead vocal, while every thwack of the band’s drum kit is dispatched with force and vigour."

If you're after a premium outdoor Bluetooth speaker, we'd also recommend considering the JBL Xtreme 4. We found the Xtreme 4 to be more musically sophisticated, and JBL's offering is currently a smidge cheaper than the SoundLink Max.

A Bose SoundLink Max purchase, however, would certainly not disappoint anyone. It's an unfussy and hugely enjoyable listen and is rugged enough to survive the outdoors. Get it for £279 at Currys now and get the party started.

MORE:

Check out the best Bluetooth speakers: tried and tested for every budget

And the best speakers: budget to premium models tested by our expert reviewers

IP ratings explained: how waterproof are your headphones?

I have spotted two of the best headphone deals around at the moment, and I'm finding it hard to decide which is best.

First up is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which are on sale for just £199 at Amazon. That's just £10 more than their record lowest price.

These wireless earbuds produce excellent sound, but they really excel in active noise cancelling. That makes them ideal for frequent flyers or those regularly working in public places.

If that's not you, though, I would go for the Award-winning Sony WF-1000XM5, which are discounted down to £179 at Amazon.

The ANC is not to be sniffed at, but it's their “stunning sonic performance” that we really love. Our review concludes that they produce “class-leading levels of detail and clarity”.

Which will you choose?

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds “nail comfort, noise-cancelling and sound quality”. No wonder we rated them a full five stars when we reviewed them earlier this year. They are also super comfortable, which makes them great for long-term use.

You don't get wireless charging, but more importantly, you do get Bluetooth 5.3 (SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive) and 6 hours of battery life (and 24 hours with the charging case).

The integration of Bose Immersive Audio also means they are kitted out with the company's spatial audio tech, too (but be aware that your battery life will take a hit).

The Sony WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, deliver a sonic masterclass, with a profile that is mature, refined, and bursting with detail and clarity previously unheard of in a pair of wireless earbuds.

It's balanced and cohesive, and the buds boast a superb sense of timing. At this price, we don't believe there's a finer-sounding alternative.

As a flagship pair of earbuds, the WF-1000XM5 is bursting with features. The XM5 uses Sony's DSEE upscaling to boost sound quality, while they also support Sony 360 Reality Audio, multipoint Bluetooth, Adaptive Sound Control, and the very handy Speak-to-Chat feature.

There you have it. Two excellent deals. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for £199 at Amazon and the Sony WH-1000XM5 for £179 at Amazon.

MORE:

Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review

And our Sony WF-1000XM5 review

These are the best wireless earbuds on the market right now

The five-star Bose SoundLink Max is a Bluetooth speaker that serves up powerful, musical sound that really mixes it with the best of them – and right now, it's sporting a major discount.

For just £294 at Amazon, this five-star belter can be yours for the lowest price we've ever seen, making it a more affordable pick.

Even better news, this deal is across all three colourways. So, if you're considering Black, Dusk Blue or Citrus Yellow, you can save yourself 26 per cent.

The five-star Bose SoundLink Max is a pick we'd seriously consider when it comes to the best Bluetooth speakers on the market right now.

Bose wraps up excellent sound quality and an enjoyable user experience in an attractive package, but while the SoundLink Max is considered a more expensive option, it's worth it for those that can afford it.

Its ruggedised, rubberised build holds an IP67 rating, meaning it's water and dust-proof and great for outdoor use. Plus, it also boasts a cute carry handle that's hugely practical, twisting and locking into fittings on top of the main unit.

It's not super-light, weighing in at 21.3kg, but it's easy to hold and packed with premium features.

Like the battery life at a claimed 20 hours, depending on how you use it, and by simply pressing and holding the power button you can quickly find out how long you've got left.

Plus, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec support and Google Fast Pair (for Android users) are both on board, as well as Bluetooth multipoint for connecting two devices simultaneously and switching between them whenever you fancy.

Sonically, our expert testers found the Bose SoundLink Max to be very bassy out of the box. With a bit of tweaking, though, turning the base setting down to around minus five or six, it produced a better-balanced and less overpowering sound.

This led us to say in our full review: "The Soundlink Max shouldn’t have any issues getting the party started – thanks, in the main, to its lively, punchy delivery."

You can't really ask for much more from the SoundLink Max, but a drop in price is definitely well appreciated. So, grab it for £294 at Amazon and get the tunes going.

MORE:

Read our full Bose SoundLink Max review

Check out the best Bluetooth speakers: tried and tested for every budget

And the best speakers: budget to premium models tested by our expert reviewers

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are the Japanese audio manufacturer’s current flagship pair of wireless over-ears. With their incredibly detailed sound, excellent noise cancellation and wide range of features, they took home a 2025 What Hi-Fi? Award for the Best wireless headphones £250-£500.

We have compared them in the past with the first generation of Bose QC Ultra Headphones, but Bose now has a new pair of flagship over-ears to compete with the XM6.

The Bose headphones certainly have their work cut out to knock the Sonys off their perch. So how do the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) stack up? We've tested both to find out.

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Price

• Both launched at similar premium prices
• The QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are more expensive, being newer
• The XM6 are currently discounted at several retailers

At the time of writing, the Award-winning Sony WH-1000XM6 are currently priced at £349 in the UK, $429 in the US and AU$579 in Australia. When they were launched back in May 2025, their price was £400 / $449 / AU$699.

The second generation of Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones came out in September, with a similar launch price of £450 / $429 / AU$699. They are currently retailing for the same price in the UK, while in the US and Australia, they have been reduced to $399 and AU$649 respectively.

The Bose are a few months newer than the Sony WH-1000XM6, which perhaps justifies the slightly higher launch price. We have seen a few discounts on the Sonys already this year, however, which seals the deal on price.

**Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6**

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Build & Design

• The Bose Ultra 2 have a slimmer, more compact folding design
• Both are very comfortable, but the Sony feel more secure on our heads
• The XM6 have a more premium build quality

Bose and Sony both offer minimalist designs with their premium flagship wireless headphones, although the use of shinier metal in the Ultra Headphones 2 does give them a more distinctive look than the WH-1000XM6’s relatively blocky design.

Both are built using a fair amount of plastic. This may seem a little counterintuitive when you are paying such a premium, but the lightweight plastic means the headphones aren’t too heavy on the head and can be worn for long hours without fatigue. Overall, though, we feel that the Sony XM6’s build quality and the materials used feel more premium than the Bose.

Sony has made the XM6’s headband wider and flatter than the predecessor to improve comfort. Combined with their noiseless, stepless sliders and the angle of the earcups, we find them a very comfortable fit. While we have some concerns that they could twist out of position when trying to get the earcups in place (and we have occasionally caught our fingers in the hinges), the XM6 offer a secure fit with ample cushioning for our ears.

The Bose are some of the comfiest wireless over-ears we have used over long periods, too. They have less clamping force than the Sony XM6 and so might not feel quite as secure on the head, but the earpads and headband are well-cushioned, ensuring a comfortable fit and good seal.

The Ultra Headphones 2 are the more streamlined storage option. They feature inward-folding earcups, which allow them to be folded up into a ball to fit into a large coat pocket, say, or their compact hard-shell carry case.

Sony’s XM6 headphones have stainless steel hinges at the end of each sliding arm – a feature which allows the XM6 to be folded up for the first time, too. This makes it easier to carry them around or throw into a bag; they do, however, need to be stored flat in order to fit into their hard carry case.

In terms of controls, the slightly recessed, circular power button on the Sony XM6 makes turning them on and off pretty straightforward. Both sets of headphones feature responsive touch controls on the right earcup, while the QC Ultra Headphones 2 also have a multifunctional power/Bluetooth pairing button for controlling playback and calls, and switching between listening modes.

This will come down to personal preference, so we recommend trying on both pairs before buying. For us, though, for their more premium build and greater security on our heads, our preference is the Sony.

**Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6**

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Features

• Both headphones have a 30-hour battery life with ANC on
• Bose supports aptX Adaptive codec while Sony supports LDAC
• Both have a USB-C connection, but only Bose supports wired listening through it

Both the XM6 and QC Ultra Headphones 2 feature a USB-C connection for charging. But it’s the Bose that offers wired listening – up to ‘lossless’ CD-quality audio – through this port. However, Bose and Sony also support listening through an analogue connection, with both models offering a 3.5mm audio cable included in the box.

In terms of battery life, both pairs of headphones offer about 30 hours with ANC activated, so there is plenty of juice available for long listening periods.

For anyone who owns a USB-PD charger, one of the Sony’s niftiest features is that a three-minute charge with one of these will get you three hours of playback. You can also listen to them while they charge.

Thanks to Sony’s Speak-To-Chat feature, the volume drops automatically when you start talking, making it easier to hear any conversations you enter into. Standard Ambient Sound mode actively lets outside noise in, while Quick Attention Mode allows you to hear ambient sounds, which is useful if you’re expecting announcements at an airport terminal, for example.

The Bose have an ‘Aware’ mode that allows external noise in and comes with a feature called ActiveSense, which automatically adjusts the level of transparency based on your surroundings. ActiveSense can be toggled on or off via the Bose Music app, where transparency levels can be manually adjusted too.

Both the Bose and XM6 have Bluetooth multipoint functionality, so you can connect to multiple audio sources at once, but the Bose comes with the newer Bluetooth 5.4 standard as opposed to Sony’s Bluetooth 5.3.

Both pairs of headphones support the standard SBC and AAC codecs, but for high-resolution playback up to 24-bit/96kHz, Bose headphones support the aptX Adaptive codec, while Sony supports its proprietary LDAC codec for the XM6. If this feature is important to you, check which codec your smartphone or hi-res music player is compatible with before deciding which set of headphones is the right option for you.

Spatial audio technology is available on both models, but in very different forms. Sony supports its own 360 Reality Audio tracks specifically, although the availability of these streams is limited to Amazon Music and Deezer. Additionally, the 360 Reality Audio Upmix for Cinema feature can add Sony’s spatial audio processing to any content you’re watching in stereo, too.

Bose calls its version Immersive Audio, with ‘Still’ and ‘Motion’ modes available for any music played through the headphones. We remain unconvinced about the overall effect, however, with the opening up of the soundstage and greater dimension countered with the usual pitfalls of less focus and dynamism. A new ‘Cinema’ mode is available in the 2nd Gen Ultra Headphones, which boosts dialogue and is more suited to video content than it is for music.

While the features are fairly neck and neck here, we’ll give it to the Bose for its additional wired listening ability.

**Winner: Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)**

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Noise Cancelling

• Bose are superior in terms of purely blocking out noise intensity
• Their ANC can also be customised
• Many will prefer the more natural, subtle effect of XM6’s ANC quality

The WH-1000XM6 have excellent noise-cancellation capabilities, thanks to four microphones spaced around the outside edge of each earcup and two placed inside, beneath the removable ear pads. A mesh covers the outer microphones to further reduce wind noise, while an NC optimiser constantly adapts to changes in the environment as you move around, to optimise ANC.

During our review, we tested them out on London’s underground network and found that low-end and midrange noise were exceptionally contained, and they gave us a rumble-free background when standing in the garden and listening for passing traffic.

But unlike the Bose, the WH-1000XM6’s ANC levels can’t be manually customised, which will be an issue for those who like to fine-tune their listening.

The QC Ultra 2 Headphones’ ‘Immersion’ mode allows you to reduce ANC intensity, while the ‘Aware’ mode lets external noise in. Bose has also updated the proprietary algorithm so ANC automatically kicks in to prevent sharp spikes of noise from drowning out your music. During our review period, we tested them out using a hoover and every time we increased its intensity, the Ultra 2 reacted quickly to prevent it from interfering with music playback.

In terms of purely blocking out the most sound, the Ultra Headphone 2’s ‘Quiet’ mode makes them superior to the WH-1000XM6. When on an aircraft, we found that the high-frequency cry of a baby was the only thing that could penetrate their formidable sound shield.

It’s worth noting that Bose’s strong ANC effect comes with a rather heavy-handed ‘vacuum’ effect that not everyone finds comfortable, while the Sony offer a more natural, sophisticated and subtle effect that will make the XM6 a better option for many. This one comes down to personal preference.

**Winner: Draw**

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Sound

• Bose’s sound quality has improved from the previous generation
• Bose’s bass-rich character has also been retained
• Sony XM6 pull ahead in every sonic area, with greater dynamics, subtlety, precision and clarity overall

Inside each earcup, the Sony XM6 feature a 30mm ‘soft edge’ dome driver made from a carbon-fibre composite. When combined with the headphones’ QN3 processor, this is designed to improve audio quality and ANC performance, according to the Japanese audio manufacturer.

During our review, we found the WH-1000XM6 “deliver the most detailed, dynamic, precise and open sound we’ve heard from a wireless Sony flagship”. They simply seem capable of diving into any track and extracting an unbelievable amount of information.

We played Billie Eilish’s No Time To Die through them and her vocal “oozes texture and emotion and you can picture just how close she is to the microphone when recording the track.”

You also “get to enjoy every element individually, but it all gels together cohesively. The undercurrent of piano, the rumble of the drums, the strings and the texture of the subtly bellowing bass notes in the sound field all combine to draw you in.”

Bose doesn’t give specific driver information. However, the US manufacturer said it has made adjustments to the overall sound quality from the first generation of QC Ultra Headphones, which we found punchy, entertaining and defined.

And indeed, the latest iteration make meaningful gains in all these areas. Clarity and detail have improved, while they sound more solid and musically tighter. They also have slightly less excess richness. The result is a highly enjoyable listen, characterised by the smooth, bass-rich character that Bose favours, but with more insight and precision.

When playing Charli xcx’s Von dutch, for instance, the Bose “rev their engines, launching themselves into the upbeat track with their best foot forward. The synths surge with low-end texture and impetus, the beat pulsates with snap and crispness.”

Despite the improvements from the first-gen Ultra, however, they aren’t able to surpass the WH-1000XM6, which offer simply class-leading sound at this price point.

In a direct comparison, we find the Sony’s deliver “not only more natural, even-handed tonality than the Ultra 2 but also greater clarity, texture, drive and dynamic subtlety. Musically, they are what we can confidently call ‘next level’.”

The Bose are an entertaining listen, but seeing as the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Sennheiser HDB 630 can match the quality of the XM6, the Ultra 2 feel a little left behind in this increasingly competitive and progressive market.

**Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6**

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Verdict

• The XM6 are the better-sounding option, with great comfort and ANC quality
• Bose remains a solid option for frequent flyers with superb noise-blocking
• Both have a great, yet slightly different, range of features

Sony and Bose continue to refine their flagship wireless headphones, but while the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) hold their own in terms of feature and design, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are clear winners when it comes to sound quality.

The Bose are an enjoyable listen, but the XM6 sound more natural and clear, while offering greater texture, drive and dynamic subtlety – so the Ultra 2 have some catching up to do here.

Both models are comfortable and offer the same battery life, but there are small differences (hi-res codec support, spatial audio tech, and wired listening) that might make a difference depending on your listening priorities. Bose remains excellent when it comes to ANC; Sony has caught up now, however, and we find it just as effective at damping down noise as Bose’s.

If you’re in the market for a pair of premium wireless over-ear headphones, you can’t go wrong with either pair. There is plenty to like about them both, but in a straight head-to-head, the Sony WH-1000XM6’s overall talents and superb sound quality make them the preferred option.

**Overall winner: Sony WH-1000XM6**

If you're after a Bluetooth speaker right now, but for whatever reason are against grabbing one of this year's Award-winning JBL options, then we have some good news.

Specifically, the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd gen) is now discounted down to £109 at Amazon. Starting life out at £150, this deal offers a generous £40 discount and could easily be a handsome alternative to the likes of JBL and Sony.

Best Bose Bluetooth speaker deal

We haven't reviewed the speaker, but our experience with the original SoundLink Flex means we're happy to flag it as something to consider as an alternative to our usual recommendations at its current price.

Just be aware, you are taking an added risk buying blind, and JBL's current offerings are a tried and tested factor we recommend for a reason.

The original Bose SoundLink Flex was very hard to dislike. Considering how nice it is to look at and to use, it was the sort of speaker you could have playing in the kitchen or accompanying you during your morning shower.

It would survive if you took it in with you, in fact, thanks to its IP67 water and dustproof rating, a certification which carries over into the second-gen model's repertoire. The newer model looks just as slim and stylish as ever, with a sophisticated aesthetic that can make rivals from the likes of JBL and Ultimate Ears look just a touch crude by comparison.

The first-gen model was exceedingly easy to operate thanks to its comprehensive app, built-in microphone for taking calls, stereo pairing of compatible speakers and on-unit control buttons. 12 hours of battery life doesn't exactly hurt, either.

We found the SoundLink Flex to be an admirable performer. As we stated in our review: "The Bose is no slouch: whether you’re listening to Rage Against The Machine, Dua Lipa or the Game Of Thrones soundtrack, it has more than enough punch and flow to hold your interest".

With Bose promising a "big, bold sound" with "clear, balanced audio" and a deep bass reproduction, the second-generation speaker should hopefully build on the talents of its predecessor.

Straightforward, portable and stylish and, thanks to £40 off, very well priced over at Amazon. Time for a Bose bargain?

MORE:

Read our 1st-gen Bose SoundLink Flex review

Check out our Bluetooth speakers guide

And the best budget wireless earbuds: top affordable pairs tested by our experts

If you slept on any wireless earbuds deals this Black Friday, the good news is that many of the savings are still live.

This includes a top-tier discount on Bose’s brilliant QuietComfort Earbuds (2024), which are down from £180 to £129 at Amazon.

That’s an impressive £51 saving on a hugely talented pair of earbuds which deliver a big chunk of the performance of its flagship QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) in a more affordable package.

Wireless earbuds need to feel comfy and secure, and the Bose tick both of those boxes. In fact, we think they’re comfier than their biggest rivals, the Sony WF-1000XM5.

To help you get the best fit possible, they come with three different sizes of silicone eartips and stability bands, which means they won’t come loose during long listening periods or exercise and don’t feel intrusive, either.

In our Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review, we did note that the earpieces are a little bulky, so they might not look quite as balanced in smaller ears.

Otherwise, we were hugely impressed with what they have to offer. Battery life is a very reasonable 8.5 hours per charge (which is actually longer than Bose’s flagship pair). Codec support for these Bluetooth 5.3 buds extends to SBC and AAC.

They come with a feature-packed control app called Bose QCE, which allows you to configure and customise touch controls, voice controls, multipoint settings, sound modes and much more.

And then there’s the noise-cancelling, which is up to Bose’s normal standards. In our review, we said they do a “very good job of eliminating mid- and low-frequency drones and rumbles.

Rumbles of a train carriage are dumbed down relatively successfully, and in a busy environment, the chatter is nicely subdued”.

Sonically, they deliver energy and musicality in spades – “They’re powerful and punchy performers that build an entertaining sound on the foundations of robust low frequencies, an expressive midrange and controlled highs”.

There aren’t many rivals around this price point, which means the Bose could be the perfect match for someone who doesn’t want to spend flagship money on wireless earbuds but who wants a big slice of the performance. For £129 at Amazon, the Bose deliver just that.

MORE:

Read our Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review

The best noise-cancelling earbuds tested by our reviewers

And the best Bose headphones you can buy right now

It's hard to keep track of what day it is when Amazon's Black Friday week soars through the official Black Friday and crashes straight into Cyber Monday. We're left feeling a bit like we've taken a trip in the DeLorean.

Regardless of the actual date, what we do know is there are discounts to be had and there are some pretty serious ones.

Take the Bose SoundLink Max as one juicy example: it has dropped to the excellent price of just £294 at Amazon – that's the lowest we've ever seen it. In true sales fashion, however, it won't be hanging around for long.

The Bose SoundLink Max has impressed us since 2024 when it stormed onto the market as one of the best Bluetooth speakers money can buy, holding a spot as a speaker we would seriously consider.

Fortunately, thanks to Amazon's Black Friday week, this five-star speaker can be yours for a fraction of the usual price.

Serving up a powerful, musical sound that really mixes it with the best of them, the SoundLink Max delivers fun and force from a simple, understated design.

With a ruggedised, rubberised rectangle build holding an IP67 rating, it's water and dust-proof, as well as being nice and tactile. And the cute carry handle, which twists and locks into fitting on top of the main unit, makes it super portable, too.

Feature-wise, it's an impressive offering, with aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec support and Google Fast Pair (for Android users) all on board. And the Bose has Bluetooth multipoint, so you can have two devices connected simultaneously and switch between them at your leisure.

And that's on top of the claimed 20 hours of battery life, depending on how you use it. The amount of juice remaining is easily kept track of with a simple press and hold of the power button to find out how long you've got left to enjoy your tunes.

But how does it perform sonically? Straight out of the box, we found it to be very bassy. Turning down the bass setting to around minus five or six still gives us more than enough in terms of quantity but also improves the quality of sound.

In our full review, we say: "Once we tweak this setting, we leave the rest alone and just let the Bose get on with the job of entertaining us. Which it does extremely well."

It's a standout speaker that is unfussy and hugely enjoyable to listen to whatever you play through it.

And right now, in this cheeky Cyber Monday deal, you can grab it for just £294 at Amazon. You'll be hard pushed to find it at that price after the sales event is over.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• LG C5 55-inch: lowest-ever price at Richer Sounds
• JBL soundbar: now better than half price
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• Sony headphones: now just £29
• Stereo amplifier: Cambridge Audio now £299
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals
• Vinyl: 3 for £66 at Amazon
• Wireless earbuds: Award winners now £75

Black Friday is over for another year, and it's time for Cyber Monday to take over the reins as people try to pick up a last-minute bargain before prices start creeping back up.

I've been keeping an eye on two pairs of flagship wireless headphones from Bose and Sony, both of which are new this year and both of which have dipped in price over the past few days.

Historically, the top pairs of ANC over-ears from both of these brands have been pretty close in terms of both performance and price, but this year, I think your choice is a bit more straightforward.

This year, it’s between the Sony WH-1000XM6, which I use daily and have been using ever since their launch back in May this year and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), which launched in October.

Both are flagship pairs of wireless headphones, but I can only recommend one of these deals.

The Sonys normally cost £399, but I’m pleased to report they are currently sitting at their lowest price ever of £299 at Amazon.

The Bose come in at £450, and they are currently available for £399 at Amazon. Not a bad price, but the Sonys are cheaper, so they win this particular battle, and that’s before we’ve even touched upon the way these two pairs of ANC over-ears perform.

In terms of design, it’s a close-run thing. Both pairs feel comfortable on your head and are suited to long periods of use – perfect for long commutes or the occasional long-haul flight. Both pairs fold away completely, so you can store them in a bag easily.

When you want to cut out external noise, the Bose just about edge it, but I am talking by the finest of margins. The Sonys still remove background grumbles effortlessly and do so with less of a heavy hand than the Bose.

The way the Bose go about their ANC business is a bit more brutal, which not everyone enjoys. And I think Sony’s call quality is the best in the business, capable of virtually erasing all wind noise from your conversations.

But it’s in the sound quality stakes where the gap is biggest. The Bose just can’t match the detail, clarity and dynamics of the WH-1000XM6. I think the difference is obvious and one you can't ignore, especially when you consider the price difference.

We couldn’t make it any clearer than our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review, which says, “Musically, they’re (Sony XM6) what we can confidently call ‘next level’”.

Even though it’s great to see both flagship pairs discounted, my money would go straight to the Sony WH-1000XM6. With £100 off at Amazon, and still £100 cheaper than the Bose, to me, this decision is the biggest Cyber Monday no-brainer I’ve seen so far.

MORE:

Our pick of the best wireless headphones

Read our Sony WH-1000XM6 review

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5: should you upgrade?

I spent 10 hours on trains listening to the Sony WH-1000XM6 – and it convinced me to upgrade my beloved XM4 headphones

Black Friday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals

Looking to get some great deals on new products this Black Friday?

You're in luck. The ink is still drying on our review, but the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are getting in on the Black Friday action already.

You can get the shiny new cans for £399 at Amazon now. That's a good £50 off the (recent) launch price of £450. There's also 60 days of Audible included to sweeten the deal.

Bose has long set the benchmark for noise cancellation in wireless over-ear headphones, and these new flagship cans are no exception. Despite stiff competition from the Sony WH-1000XM6, these new Bose headphones offer class-leading noise cancellation.

As we said in our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review: "Whether you’re riding public transport or walking past roadworks or construction, they provide a blanket of silence so that your music (or podcasts) can bask in the spotlight, eliminating the deepest rumbles and the majority of mid-band hubbub we encounter on our daily travels."

The features don't stop there, however, with Bose rectifying several issues from the original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. This shiny new pair now allows wired listening through USB-C (which supports ‘lossless’ CD-quality audio), offers significantly more effective Spatial Audio and offers an improved 30 hours of battery life.

The design is largely unchanged from the first-gen QuietComfort Ultra headphones, other than a new mirror finish on the metal yokes and new colour options. This is no bad thing – in our review, we described them as "one of the most comfortable wireless over-ear pairs for longer periods of wear that we’ve come across", making them ideal for long-haul travel, especially with their inward-folding design.

Sound quality has also been upgraded from the original model, with a solid and musically tighter presentation that yields meaningful gains to clarity and detail. However, the 2nd-gen QuietComfort Ultra cans struggle sonically compared to their rivals, with Sony’s Award-winning WH-1000XM6 in particular outperforming them in the sound department.

When it comes to noise cancellation in wireless headphones, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) might just be the best around. Considering they're now stuffed with extra features and extremely comfortable, it's well worth checking them out for £399 at Amazon.

MORE

Black Friday 2025: our pick of the best deals on headphones, TVs, speakers, soundbars and more

Also consider the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

Best noise-cancelling headphones tested by our in-house review experts

Black Friday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• LG C5 55-inch: lowest-ever price at Richer Sounds
• JBL soundbar: now better than half price
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• Sony headphones: now just £29
• Stereo amplifier: Cambridge Audio now £299
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals
• Vinyl: 3 for £66 at Amazon
• Wireless earbuds: Award winners now £75

We like to consider our product reviews helpful not only for readers looking to make their next consumer electronics purchase, but also for the manufacturers of the products themselves; identifying a flaw, for example, gives them something to work on so that they can make an even better product next time around, and that’s a win-win outcome for everyone.

In our five-star review of the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, we highlighted a few imperfections in their design. You couldn’t listen to them wired over USB-C, their battery life fell short of that delivered by their closest rival, and their spatial audio was unconvincing. Well, guess what? Bose has addressed all three with its Ultra sequel.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are, as a result, among the world’s most comprehensively featured noise-cancelling headphones. Recognising that performance cannot stand still for a moment in this cut-throat market, Bose has also dutifully elevated the Ultra’s already strong audio and ANC quality too. So has it done enough to keep its flagships in the conversation?

Price

The original Ultra Headphones launched in October 2023 for £450 / $429 / AU$649, so it wasn’t surprising that the sequels appeared exactly two years later, priced the same in the UK, albeit slightly higher in the US ($449) and Australia (AU$700).

Those figures put them in the ballpark of their closest noise-cancelling headphone rivals, the Sony WH-1000XM6 (£400 / $450 / AU$699), Sennheiser HDB 630 (£399 / $499 / AU$999) and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 (£399 / $449 / AU$699).

While an even pricier tier of wireless headphones has emerged in recent years, the Ultra 2 represent Bose’s peak efforts and sit above the brand’s QuietComfort over-ears (£249 / $199 / AU$330), which forego some of the Ultra’s flagship features (such as spatial audio) and their performance heights.

Design & build

Where Bose could have gotten away with standing still in the evolution from its first-gen to second-gen Ultra Headphones is the design, and indeed the brand has more or less kept its feet planted here.

The QC Ultra 2 look pretty much identical to their predecessors, with their slimline frame and nicely chamfered, logo-brandishing ovular earcups. Their metal yokes are simply now a more striking polished mirror (rather than matte) finish, and the five available finishes now include a bold Midnight Violet (purple) and Desert Gold (black with gold accents).

No, they don’t have the Apple AirPods Max’s metal-heavy luxuriousness or the B&W Px7 S3’s attention to detail, but their sleek minimalism qualifies as ‘business smart’. And while that doesn’t necessarily score highly on the perceived value spectrum for a pair this pricey, their style does offer an alternative to the largely indistinct, blocky look adopted by the Sony XM6 and Sennheiser HDB 630.

Once again, the Ultra fit extremely well, the all-round pleather cushioning on the earpads and headband offering a good seal and level of isolation while easily managing the headphones’ unburdensome 250g weight. Add to that a well-judged grip that survives the head-shake test, and you have one of the most comfortable wireless over-ear pairs for longer periods of wear that we’ve come across.

We wouldn’t be surprised if the words ‘long haul travel’ featured on the Bose’s designers mood board when creating the Ultra Headphones – bolded, underlined and capitalised. The earcups still fold inwards, allowing them to scrunch up in a generous-sized coat pocket or in the compact hard-shell carry case. And despite looking flimsier than some of their rivals, their build quality appears to stand the test of time; our sample of the original Ultra still look relatively new despite having been frequently used by our reviews team for two years.

The controls haven’t changed, either. The right earcup simply sports a power/Bluetooth pairing button; a multifunctional button that can be used to control playback and calls and switch between listening modes; and a nicely responsive capacitive touch strip on the ridge for adjusting volume and accessing shortcuts (assignable in the Bose companion app).

The left earcup, meanwhile, houses 2.5mm and USB-C ports, and this time you can use the latter for wired listening as well as charging, meaning you only need to carry one cable. The USB-C connection supports ‘lossless’ CD-quality audio, too, which isn’t possible over the aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec supported by the Bose, despite it being one of the most proficient codecs out there. Just be aware that both cabled listening methods require the headphones to have battery life.

Spatial audio

Speaking of which, battery life receives a much needed boost here, from 24 hours to 30 hours with ANC activated, or 45 hours with it off. Those figures hold up in testing and more or less match the Sony XM6, though the juicepack does take a hit when the power-hungry Immersive Audio mode is used, dropping to 23 hours.

Immersive Audio is Bose vernacular for spatial audio technology, which the brand introduced with the original Ultra. We weren’t hugely convinced by the ‘spatial’ effect with all types of music, and in the QC Ultra 2’s ‘Motion’ mode (which tracks the sound to your head movements), being able to sense the processing at play still proves a little distracting. But ‘Still’ is more satisfying, opening up the soundstage and delivering a more dimensional (if a little less focused) presentation that some will undoubtedly enjoy – particularly if they use ANC headphones while watching movies.

Bose has now bundled its ‘Still’ Immersive Audio and most intense noise-cancelling settings into a new ‘Cinema’ mode, designed for – you guessed it – TV and movie watching, and this is where the technology proves most valuable. Dialogue and mid/upper sound effects are pulled into greater focus within the wider soundfield, though dynamics are quashed as a result, limiting its appeal with music.

Noise cancelling

Whether you’re listening to music or movie soundtracks, you can do so in peace. Bose has consistently set the benchmark for noise cancellation efficacy in wireless over-ears, and despite Sony having boldly closed the gap here with its WH-1000XM6, the Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) still just about prevail for outright sound-blocking intensity in their ‘Quiet’ mode.

Whether you’re riding public transport or walking past roadworks or construction, they provide a blanket of silence so that your music (or podcasts) can bask in the spotlight, eliminating the deepest rumbles and the majority of mid-band hubbub we encounter on our daily travels. On a plane, only the shrill, high-frequency sound of a baby’s cry penetrates that formidable shield.

If you don’t like the QC Ultra 2’s somewhat heavy-handed approach to sound blocking, you can select the ‘Immersion’ mode and dial down the effect more specifically to your liking in the app. Alternatively, consider the Sony rival, which blocks sound pretty much as effectively, albeit in a subtler manner that doesn’t feel as though they’re trying as hard.

As before, the ‘Aware’ mode effectively lets external sounds in so that you can remain aware of your surroundings without having to remove the headphones. Bose has tinkered away to upgrade the proprietary algorithm that impacts how the Ultra 2 respond to sudden loud noises when in this mode, allowing ANC to automatically kick in so that sharp spikes of noise don’t drown out your music. It seems to work; I turn on the hoover and each time I up the intensity settings (and decibels!), the headphones react quickly to soften the impact on playback.

Sound

While we have previously encountered Bose noise-cancellers that haven’t moved sound quality on from one generation to the next, the QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) aren’t one of them. Compared to the originals, the newcomers make small but meaningful gains when it comes to clarity and detail, while sounding that bit more solid and musically tighter and shedding a layer of excess richness. There’s a sliver more space between instruments, too. Considering we peppered our original Ultra review with words like ‘punchy’, ‘entertaining’ and ‘defined’, those improvements make an already entertaining pair of headphones even more so.

Play Charli xcx’s Von dutch, and the Bose rev their engines, launching themselves into the upbeat track with their best foot forward. The synths surge with low-end texture and impetus, the beat pulsates with snap and crispness. It’s the same pleasingly smooth, bass-rich character Bose has long favoured, simply more insightful and precise than ever before. So far, so good.

However, a conversation around whether these sequels are worth upgrading to for owners of the first-gen model should encompass the wider competition. When we tested the original Ultra, their natural rivals were the Sony WH-1000XM5, which sounded different to the Bose – leaner, more natural and capable of slightly greater insight, albeit not as rich or full. Ultimately, for many, personal preference will play a large role in deciding between the two.

The problem for the QC Ultra 2 is that they come up against Sony’s Award-winning WH-1000XM6, which aren’t just different sounding but categorically better sounding, and by a fair margin. Indeed, Sony’s latest generational sonic evolution has convincingly out-leapt Bose’s, the XM6’s delivering not only more natural, even-handed tonality than the Ultra 2 but also greater clarity, texture, drive and dynamic subtlety. Musically, they’re what we can confidently call ‘next level’.

Considering the similarly priced Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Sennheiser HDB 630 are at least of the Sony XM6’s quality, the Bose, while entertaining in their own right, now feel a little left behind in this increasingly competitive, progressive market.

Verdict

Bose has arguably approached the QC Ultra Headphones 2 as it should have, by plugging feature gaps and incrementally improving on the original’s strengths. Reasonable across-the-board refinements were expected and have indeed been delivered, making for a complete pair of headphones that justify ‘2nd Gen’ status.

But the barrier to that fifth star somewhat lies outside of Bose’s camp. Quite simply, the competition has progressed further sonically than Bose has in the past two years, so the pressure for the noise-cancelling kings to make more significant gains next time around is on.

Review published: 26th November 2025

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 4
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Sony WH-1000XM6

Also consider the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Bose QC Ultra Headphones (1st Gen): which headphones are better?

Best noise-cancelling headphones tested by our in-house review experts