Got noisy neighbours while you work from home? Builders banging down the road? Or just gossiping office co-workers?

We've all been there. But if you just want to escape to an impenetrable cocoon of silence, there's one audio company that does noise-cancelling better than any other: Bose.

And its latest premium wireless over-ears, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), are the brand's best noise-cancelling headphones yet, eliminating the deepest rumbles and most mid-band hubbub.

And now the noise-cancelling cans are available at a new lowest price – you can pick them up for £303 at Amazon thanks to a £30 saving at checkout. That's even cheaper than the previous low of £341 we spotted in May.

Yes, the name Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen) is a bit of a mouthful. But this latest generation has fixed the gripes we had with the first QuietComfort Ultra headphones: there's now wired listening over USB-C, battery life has been boosted from 24 hours to 30 and the Immersive Audio is more satisfying.

For the uninitiated, Immersive Audio is Bose's take on spatial audio. The 'Still' mode is now more spacious and dimensional, but it's the 'Cinema' mode that works best by pulling dialogue into greater focus while watching TV and movies.

We had high expectations when we put the QC Ultra 2's noise-cancelling abilities to the test, and we weren't disappointed. Whether we were walking past roadworks, riding public transport or jetting off on planes, the headphones provided us with a blanket of silence so we could enjoy our music and podcasts in peace. Only the shrill, high-frequency cry of a baby broke through the formidable shield.

The ‘Immersion’ mode can dial down the intensity if the vacuum effect is too eerie for you, while the 'Aware’ mode allows external sound in. A new algorithm can dampen down sudden loud noises more quickly now – we tested with a hoover and the headphones' noise-cancelling intensity reacts accordingly.

Sound quality has seen some tweaks from the first generation too, with meaningful gains when it comes to clarity and detail.

"Play Charli xcx’s Von dutch, and the Bose rev their engines, launching themselves into the upbeat track with their best foot forward," our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review reads. "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."

However, the Bose fall behind our current benchmark, the Sony WH-1000XM6, when it comes to sound quality, with the XM6 offering a more natural, even-handed tonality. The Bose prevail for outright sound-blocking intensity, however, and are currently £30 cheaper.

If it's noise-cancelling you're after above all else, Bose are the ones to beat. The QC Ultra Headphones 2 are strong all-rounders with an ANC ace up their sleeve, and are available at a new low of £303 at Amazon.

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“Really?!” That was my initial reaction when I heard the first rumours that Sony was readying the WH-1000XM4C.

The use of those two punctuation marks is intended to indicate that it was a reaction of both excitement and confusion. I was excited, because the original WH-1000XM4 is a classic. It’s one of the models that has made the biggest impression on me out of all the pairs of wireless headphones I have tested over the years.

These headphones took performance to a whole new level when they launched back in 2020 – look around online, and there’s still a lot of love shown to this particular pair.

The confused part of me, though, wondered where Sony would place them in its current range, since it already has the XM4’s successor, the WH-1000XM5 (pictured above). And this is a pair which is already pretty well discounted.

Following Sony’s official WH-1000XM4C unveiling (pictured below), though, the picture has become clearer. Or has it?

We know the new headphones cost £219 / $300 / AU$449.95, which is pretty close to where the WH-1000XM5 headphones sit right now.

We also know that the WH-1000XM5 will go end of life in February next year, as they aren’t compliant with EU battery regulation 2023/1542 (which stipulates that portable batteries need to be able to be removed by the end user), which comes into effect at the same time. The XM4C is compliant. So, I’m left wondering where the incentive is for people to go out and buy the XM5?

In our WH-1000XM5 review, we found them to feel less premium than the XM4, and they also don’t have the folding design of that model, which was a big selling point back at the time.

They still sound great, though, and at the time of our original WH-1000XM5 vs WH-1000XM4 comparison, we felt the newer model sounded “clearer and more open” and that the headphones were “more precise in the low-end, making the XM4 sound a little thick by comparison”.

We do know Sony has retuned the sound of the XM4C, but this is only through DSP – the hardware remains the same.

The WH-1000XM5, by contrast, introduced a smaller 30mm driver compared with the 40mm unit of XM4, so Sony will only be able to tweak the sound of the new model so far. We will, of course, let you know if and how the sound has changed once we get a pair into our test rooms.

I’m also intrigued to see how pricing looks over the next few months.

If retailers try to move all their existing XM5 stock with one eye on February next year, could they drop the price of those headphones below WH-1000XM4C? It could be an interesting few months that lie ahead, especially if you’re on the lookout for a new pair of wireless headphones at a great price.

It's not often we have two competing pairs of headphones from the same brand around the same price, but at least this should give an added element of choice for the consumer.

What do you think? Do you think there’s still a place for the WH-1000XM5 following Sony’s recent announcement? Would you consider a pair if they still sound better than the WH-1000XM4C? Let us know in the comments below.

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Audio-Technica is no stranger to wired over-ear headphones, but the Japanese company is expanding into unknown territory with its first-ever pair of open-backed wireless headphones: the ATH-AL5NC.

The beating heart of the ATH-AL5NC is a set of 53mm dynamic drivers that, says Audio-Technica, create a "detailed soundstage" made more natural and open by virtue of the headphones' open-backed design.

Being a pair of open-backs, the ATH-AL5NC don't offer full-fat active noise cancelling, instead offering a 'noise reduction' toggle to help reduce background noise and ambient sounds.

Audio-Technica is going big on battery life for the ATH-AL5NC, promising a hefty 75 hours of playback with noise reduction switched off and around 50 hours with it turned on.

If you run out of juice, a 15-minute quick charge promises to deliver up to eight hours of playtime, and if charging isn’t an option, users can switch to a wired connection via the included 3.5mm-ended cable.

The new over-ears also feature a 'Sound Leakage Reduction' mode, aiming, as you might have guessed, to reduce the amount of sound leakage coming out of the open-backed cans.

To toggle that mode and personalise your overall listening experience, you can control the new headphones via the A-T Connect app. You also get a low-latency mode for reducing audio lag during gaming and video calls.

Bluetooth Multipoint lets you connect to two devices at once, with standard Bluetooth AAC and SBC codecs alongside LDAC for streaming 24-bit/96kHz audio from compatible sources.

The Audio-Technica AT-AL5NC are available now in a single black finish, priced at £219 / $279 / AU$499. That could be a canny pricing ploy, as there aren't many great mid-range headphones available at that kind of money.

If anything, the AT-AL5NC are going up against the slightly more premium Grado GW100x (£249 / $275 / AU$440), which also blend Bluetooth powers with an open-backed design.

Could Audio-Technica be about to grab hold of an understocked corner of the wireless headphones market? We're intrigued to find out.

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Sonos has been a major player in the world of wireless speakers, building much of its reputation on its multi-room ecosystem and – until recently, at least – its accompanying Sonos app.

The US brand has yet to make much of a mark in the world of headphones, though. Sonos’s first pair of wireless cans, the over-ear Sonos Ace, scored a disappointing three-star rating when we reviewed them back in 2024, and were outperformed by its Sony and Bose rivals.

As we said in our review: “the Sonos skip over the finer details and simply don’t stir the emotions like the very best pairs do.” Room for improvement, then.

This latest effort could spell a fresh start, though, with the new Sonos Ace Ultra headphones promising improved features and teasing a “rich, detailed audio” that aims to be more on par with the competitive premium wireless headphones market.

To get an idea of what the new headphones can do, I had an initial listen to the new Ace Ultra can at a hands-on launch session in Berlin during the IFA 2026 showcase.

Price

Sonos’s newest cans will set you back £399 / $449 / AU$699, pitting them against the Award-winning Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, which launched at £400 / $450 / AU$699. That’s some tough competition already for the bushy-tailed Sonos hopefuls.

The original Ace headphones launched at £449 / $449 / AU$699, but they are currently available for less at £299 / $299 / AU$449. Surprisingly, Sonos says they will keep the original Ace on sale alongside the new step-up model, rather than Ace Ultra being a direct replacement.

Design and build

As I slip the demo pair of Ace Ultra headphones over my head, the first thing that becomes obvious is that Sonos is looking to prioritise wearer comfort. The soft memory foam ear cushions and the firm adjustable headband make it easy to imagine that, over longer listening sessions, the Ace Ultra would be easy to live with.

The ear pads attach magnetically and you can buy replacement ear cushions from the Sonos store, and you can even replace the battery yourself. That is great from a sustainability and cost perspective, and it’s all too rare from the major tech brands.

The Ace Ultra look very similar to the original Ace, but under the hood you will find brand-new Sonos-designed 40mm drivers. In theory, that should give the new headphones a big boost in sound quality.

Sonos has also included two more colour options as well as the classic Black and White: Agave (which looks like a greenish blue) and Sand.

Instead of opting for touch controls like many of its rivals, Sonos has once again gone for tactile buttons on the side of each cup, including controls to adjust noise-cancelling settings and power. The silver slider, or ‘content key’, gives you the same functionality as the previous model, so you can control volume, pause, and answer calls by sliding it up and down.

Features

If you hold down that content key slider, you can make the most of Sonos’s newly named ‘Fabric’ feature, which encompasses the multi-room capability of the brand’s ecosystem. This includes using the 'headphone linking' feature, which lets you transfer sound from a Sonos speaker or soundbar to the Ace Ultra headphones. This feature was restricted to select soundbar models in the original Ace, so it’s great to see the full feature that works with all current Sonos speakers on board this time around.

I get to see this in action during the demo, as the sound jumped from the Sonos Move 2 portable speaker to the headphones with a touch of a button in a matter of seconds. We then move to a different room, where the sound again transfers to a different Sonos speaker with the same ease.

A lot is going on behind the scenes, but the short of it is that the sound jumps to whatever product is within the closest proximity. It was all pretty impressive to watch, and it certainly speaks to the unique setup that you can get if you have several Sonos products in your home.

Active noise cancellation (ANC) is on board again, and Sonos claims that its effect is twice as powerful as the original Ace headphones. It’s an adaptive system which should be able to adjust in intensity as your surroundings change, and can also take into account any gaps in the seal due to glasses or hair. Presumably this is partly down to the fact that the new model boasts ten mics compared to eight used on the original Ace from 2024.

As with the previous Ace headphones, the Ace Ultra offer an Aware mode, which lets outside sounds in to keep you mindful of your surroundings, and there’s also support for Dolby Atmos spatial audio content with head tracking.

Battery life is a very healthy 35 hours with ANC activated (up from 30 hours from the original Ace) – that’s five more than the Sony WH-1000XM6’s claim of 30 hours under the same conditions. Sonos also says you can get three hours of playback from just three minutes of fast-charging, which is the same as the previous model.

The higher-quality aptX Lossless Bluetooth codec is supported for streaming files up to 16-bit/44.1kHz, while native support for 16-bit/48kHz resolution is available via a wired USB-C connection.

I didn’t get to connect the newly updated Sonos 27app to the headphones myself during the demo, but I get a glimpse of a few new features, including an interactive, granular volume dial that is activated by placing two of your fingers on the screen at the same time, then twisting to adjust.

Sound quality

So, how do the headphones actually sound? I had a chance to listen to the new cans during the brief demo, so what follows is an initial impression of the performance. We will have to wait for our review sample and put them through our comprehensive testing process before giving a final verdict.

With music streaming from Qobuz, I start with Muna’s Dancing on the Wall, and the sound is portrayed with a decent sense of spaciousness, and the instrumentals are reasonably well-placed around the soundfield. There’s a good sense of power from the bass, and it gives the track a solid foundation without overpowering the rest of the sound.

Moving to keep going! by Montaigne, the width of the soundstage really continues to blossom, although it's hard to get a handle on how well the Ace Ultra are handling the swell of dynamics during the track's intro in our brief listen.

It will be interesting to hear how the Ace Ultra measure up when pitted against price rivals such as the Sony WH-1000XM6 and the five-star Sennheiser HDB 630 during a longer listen, especially when it comes to subtler detail, dynamics and rhythmic ability. Those are key sonic features that are harder to discern during our brief demo, and we're hoping that Sonos has taken note of our concerns from the older Ace model to bring greater improvements here in the Ace Ultra.

The headphones’ noise-cancelling does seem to be working its magic, however. The conversation happening a couple of metres away in the demo room is barely audible, helping me feel more immersed in the music as it plays. Again, we’ll have to test these new over-ears in a greater variety of environments to see how their ANC quality fares against the best in class.

It’s also worth noting that I don’t get a chance to adjust the EQ controls during this demo, which could also have an impact on the sound quality.

Early verdict

The Ace Ultra have kept much of what we liked about Sonos’s debut over-ear headphones, with a comfortable and practical design, and new features that should make them appealing to those with multiple Sonos products at home already.

Judging by this initial experience, it seems the new premium Sonos wireless headphones offer clear vocals and a reasonably organised sound, along with improved ANC, but we’ll need further dedicated testing time to discover if they surpass the original Aces’ three-star appraisal and come close to – or even beat – the current class leaders in this highly competitive category.

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We've pretty much been waiting for a sequel to the Award-winning Sony WH-CH720N wireless headphones since they arrived in 2023.

Not because they fell short of our expectations – quite the opposite – but because the budget noise-cancelling over-ears were so good, we couldn't wait to see what Sony could do when given another chance to impress.

A sequel has indeed finally arrived in the shape of the Sony WH-CH730N, vowing to elevate everything we liked about the WH-CH720N while mitigating their modest but not-trivial limitations.

Those limitations included a slightly bass-heavy sonic signature, as well as a design that, if we're being charitable, wasn't exactly the last word in luxury.

If the WH-CH730N can rectify such minor issues without losing the character of what made their predecessors so great, they could truly be successors to some of our favourite headphones of the past few years. Now that's something worth getting excited about.

When Sony invited us for an exclusive look at the WH-CH730N, we had to take advantage. We haven't heard the new headphones yet, but we've had a sneak peek at how they look and feel, and heard directly from Sony about the changes the next-gen over-ears have made. From what we've seen, they could be something very special.

Excited for: a new folding look

When we went to see them in person a few weeks ago, we really liked the way the new WH-CH730N looked.

Taste is subjective – and how a pair of headphones appear on the outside should be a secondary priority to how they sound – but that wholesale redesign really works for us. The WH-CH720N were, to be charitable, rather rough and ready headphones, but the smoother, more modern design of their successors feels like a big improvement. Out are the rather basic earcups, replaced by larger, more premium cups that come across as far more premium than the headphones' modest price might suggest.

Better still, they should be more ergonomic to live with thanks to the fact that the new over-ears feel sturdier and are now fully foldable, something that was lacking in the somewhat rigid WH-CH720N. It was always a worry that you might accidentally snap your precious headphones in transit, but full foldability helps assuage such fears this time around.

It makes sense considering that these are still reasonably budget-friendly headphones geared towards everyday use. When you've got over-ears that are going to be thrown into backpacks and tossed into the back of the car, you want to know they're going to survive years of potentially hard use.

Excited for: refined tuning and (hopefully) better sound

At first, it was easy to hear the news that Sony hadn’t updated the physical drivers for the Sony WH-CH730N. You expect new hardware from one generation to the next, so the fact that Sony had kept the same 30mm dynamic units as found in the WH-CH720N just slightly smacked of complacency.

Yet that needn’t be the case. The thing is, the WH-CH720N sound great – they might be the best sound-per-pound wireless over-ears you can buy – with their slightly enthusiastic bass the only real point of criticism. Even then, you can tone that down via the in-app equaliser, so it’s not a huge deal.

As it turns out, we want more of the same from the WH-CH730N, albeit with a bit of sonic tinkering to make them as good as they can be. Tweaking tuning algorithms rather than physical hardware can make a surprisingly profound difference, too – just look at how much better the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) sound over their first-gen antecedents.

The punchy, deeply musical personality of the WH-CH720N…but better? Sounds like a recipe for success to us.

Excited for: longer battery life

Wow, check out these numbers. We didn’t think the WH-CH720N were exactly short on battery life, thanks to their 50 hours of lifespan with ANC off and a still-massive 35 hours with it on, but Sony has really doubled down for the sequel.

The WH-CH730N will go for 75 hours before they need a recharge if you have noise cancelling turned off, a figure that quite frankly puts their predecessors in the shade. That’s a huge usability bonus, only sweetened by the fact that a three-minute quick charge will grant around an hour of playback when you’re in a hurry.

Not many rivals come close at this kind of money. The Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT (£129 / $140) will go for around 30 hours before they need a recharge, whereas even the mega-battery-boasting Philips TAH8000E's (£140 / $149) 70 hours with ANC off can't quite keep up.

Excited for: that seamless Sony usability

From the bottom of its range to the very top, Sony's headphones are very rarely a chore to live with. Quality tends to suffuse everything the brand does at the moment, with its wireless cans exemplifying this customer-first focus on usability and performance that few rivals can match.

What the WH-CH730N have in their favour right out of the gate, then, is the fact that they're a pair of Sony over-ears. That means certain features, such as DSEE upscaling for poorer-quality files, as well as 'Precise Voice Pickup Technology' for better noise calls and beamforming mics contributing to improved noise cancelling, are already in the bank.

Plus, access to the Sony Headphones app is never a bad thing, as while it's rarely been the most sleek or stylish platform in the world, the levels of customisation it offers are extremely tough to beat.

Unless something goes horribly wrong, we'd feel confident in stating that, from its voice calls to its ANC, we'll likely be in very safe hands with the WH-CH730N.

A small concern: that higher price

This isn't a dealbreaker for most, but it's still worth mentioning: the WH-CH730N are more expensive at launch than their predecessors. It's not a massive increase – only £10 in the UK – but it does point to a slightly more worrying trend in audio concerning rising prices.

This isn't something for which we blame Sony, but more a reflection of where things could be headed across the market. Due to poor market conditions, the global economic downturn, certain political decisions and an increasing scarcity of computer chips, consumer audio prices are rising, and even the budget end of the audio landscape isn't unaffected.

£10 isn't a huge rise from one generation to the next, but when even massive entities such as Sony are affected, it could point to an unwanted trend: higher prices for your headphones.

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At long last, Sony has announced sequels to two of its best-value wireless headphones: the five-star WH-CH520 and the Award-winning WH-CH720N.

The new budget WH-CH530 follow on from the entry-level WH-CH520 Bluetooth on-ears, while the affordable WH-CH730N are the sequel to the multiple-Award-winning WH-CH720N noise-cancelling over-ears.

Both sets come with a number of upgrades and tweaks to the firm's five-star formula, though only one has had an aesthetic refresh.

The WH-CH730N has had an external redesign, ditching the rough-and-ready aesthetic of its predecessors in place of a smoother, more premium design that doesn't look entirely dissimilar to the more expensive Sonos Ace.

Better still, the new noise-cancelling cans fold away; something their rather rigid predecessors couldn't do, much to our reviewers' annoyance.

The WH-CH530's design hasn't deviated much from the WH-CH520's, opting for similarly small rounded earcups, an on-ear fit and a reasonably compact form factor.

Internally, the actual hardware that the two new sets pack hasn't changed much, with both pairs housing the same drive units as before. That means both the WH-CH720N and WH-CH530 come with 30mm dynamic drivers.

Despite the lack of hardware changes, Sony claims both sets offer a major sonic boost over their predecessors, thanks to work it has done improving their digital signal processing and algorithms. Sony's established DSEE signal processing is also on board for cleaning up lower-quality files.

The WH-CH730N boast a titanic 75 hours of battery life with noise cancelling switched off, a figure that quite frankly puts the 50-hour lifespan of the WH-CH720N firmly in the shade.

The WH-CH530 aren't doing badly either, serving up 55 hours of battery life. That's a five-hour improvement over the 50 hours offered by their predecessors. A three-minute quick charge of the WH-CH730N will grant around an hour of playback, while the same charging time will grant 90 minutes of listening on the cheaper WH-CH530.

Both new pairs tease clearer voice calls thanks to AI noise reduction algorithms that spotlight human speech and dampen the clamour of the outside world. The noise-cancelling WH-CH730N also tout improved noise cancelling thanks to Sony's 'Dual Noise Sensor' technology and an array of beamforming microphones.

The WH-CH530 are available now in a choice of Black, Cobalt, White, Pink, Coral, and Mint, priced at £50 / AU$99.95 – which is the same price as their predecessors' original price tag. The WH-CH730N are also available now in a range of Black, White, Pink, Blue, and Oat colourways, priced at £110 / AU$229.95. That's a small advance on the original £99 asking price of the current WH-CH720N in the UK, but a decrease of AU$20 in Australia.

Price rises aside, we can't wait to try out both of Sony's latest over-ears. The WH-CH520 and CH720N have been holding steady on our list of the best wireless headphones ever since they debuted, and we're expecting their respective sequels to elevate their performance to even greater heights.

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No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Sony is bringing back one of its best-selling pairs of wireless headphones ever.

The WH-1000XM4C are a revised version of the original WH-1000XM4, which launched back in 2020.

That original XM4 was the longest-running pair of headphones in Sony’s 1000X series so far, and remained on sale for five years after their arrival.

In that time, not only did they become repeat What Hi-Fi? Awards-winners, the headphones also secured a place in the What Hi-Fi? Hall of Fame, where only products that make a long-lasting impression on our test team are included. This makes the arrival of the WH-1000XM4C all the more exciting.

So, “what’s changed?” we hear you ask.

The biggest change is to the battery. The reason the original XM4 reached end of life is that its battery was not compliant with the EU battery regulation (EU) 2023/1542, which stipulates that portable batteries need to be able to be removed by the end user.

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This law comes into effect in February 2027, so for the XM4 to stage a comeback, the battery needed to change. The only downside is that it is smaller than the one used previously and doesn’t provide quite as much juice as the original.

This means battery life has dropped from 30 hours with ANC on for the original XM4 to 27 hours for the WH-1000XM4C.

Sony claims the design and finish of the headphones are identical, apart from a slight tweak to the Sony logo and the introduction of a letter ‘L’ and ‘R’ inside each respective earcup. The software driving the headphones is the same, too.

This means the 40mm driver of the original carries over to XM4C, as does the DSEE Extreme processing engine and the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1. While ANC performance should remain virtually identical to the original, Sony has been able to upgrade other elements of the new headphones.

The main change has been to the sound – Sony has tweaked the tuning of the headphones so it’s more akin to its most recent WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM6 models. It’s claiming richer and clearer vocals, greater separation and a more immersive listen, plus greater dynamics and punchier bass.

Through Sony’s Headphones Connect app, you can now access a ten-band equaliser and a dedicated Gaming EQ setting, which wasn’t available for the original.

The WH-1000XM4C have Multipoint Bluetooth and still feature Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup technology, which helps with phone calls.

In addition to the standard black and silver (which is a slightly lighter shade than before) finishes, there’s also a new lavender option which brings a splash of colour to the range. Sony hasn’t confirmed whether a Midnight Blue option will be available, as was introduced for the original model.

The WH-1000XM4C cost £219 / $300 / AU$449.95 and go on sale this month. You might be wondering what this means for the WH-1000XM5, which at the time of writing are still on sale. Their battery does not conform to the EU regulation, so they will go end of life before February 2027, and the WH-1000XM4C will continue in their place.

What do you think? Are you excited to see the XM4 return? Let us know by clicking on our poll and leave a comment below! We'll hopefully be getting a sample soon, so stay tuned for our full review!

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If you take a look at our best wireless headphones page, you'll find lots of great recommendations for every budget.

But if you're looking for the ultimate option when it comes to style, luxury and sound quality, there's only one line we'd recommend: the Focal Bathys series.

Luckily, the original Focal Bathys now has a price tag that's not quite as high-end as its appearance: the premium pair of cans is now £399 at Peter Tyson.

That's the lowest price we've seen for the wireless wonders, which previously dropped to £449 earlier this year. Given that we reviewed them at a whopping £699, that's a rather generous £300 discount.

Focal was previously better known for its wired headphone offerings, but that all changed with the release of the Bathys. We're pleased to report that this transition to Bluetooth hasn't resulted in a step down in finesse – even at their high-end launch price, these cans don't disappoint.

As you will have likely noticed, the usual Focal flair is present in the design, with aluminium ear cups and light-up logos. The playback buttons have a plasticky feel, but otherwise this is a gorgeous and solidly built pair.

The Bathys were Focal's first foray into active noise-cancelling, and a strong opening effort. Two different levels are available ('soft' or 'silent') as well as a 'Transparent' mode. There's also codec support for SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive.

30 hours of battery life is on offer, with charging via USB-C. There's even a USB-DAC mode that supports 24-bit/192kHz audio through the USB-C port.

However you listen, the Focal Bathys are among the most engaging wireless headphones we have heard.

As our Focal Bathys review reads: "Instantly we recognise the smooth, warm, full-bodied tonal balance the company’s wired headphones have found so much success with, and here too that is complemented by very good levels of resolution, dynamic subtlety and rhythmic ability within the context of their type and price."

If you're willing to go the wired route, then the USB-DAC mode adds a degree of refinement and tightness to the delivery.

Focal has released an updated model with a purely magnesium driver, helpfully called the Focal Bathys Mg. The sound is a cut above in terms of refinement and expression, though you'll have to swallow the £999 asking price.

With the high-end Focal Bathys now at a similar price to the majority of the premium headphone market, now is the perfect time to snap up a flashy pair of luxury headphones at a drop-down price. With as much substance as they do style, the Focal Bathys come highly recommended for £399 at Peter Tyson.

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When we think of the best times for outrageous deals, Black Friday and Prime Day usually spring to mind.

However, it seems the Labor Day sales have pipped them to the post for this particular deal. The Sony WH-1000XM5, a What Hi-Fi? favourite and the recipient of multiple Awards over the years, are down to $198 at Amazon.

That's officially 50 per cent off for Sony’s superb premium noise-cancelling headphones, and a fair bit cheaper than the previous lowest price we've seen of $248.

So what are you waiting for? If you haven't upgraded your headphones in a few years, this is an incredible value deal for a former flagship pair.

While this model has been superseded by the Sony WH-1000XM6, the XM5 are still a highly recommendable pair of wireless headphones and a fair bit cheaper than the XM6's current price tag of $398.

We gave the XM5 five stars at full price, so with this discount the cans are an excellent performance-per-pound proposition. Their engaging sound quality, impressive noise-cancelling, great call quality and comfortable fit make them a match for any rival at this price level.

The XM5 have had a complete revamp compared to previous entries in the series, with a slimmer “noiseless design” that folds flat into their carry case.

It's a design that certainly works when it comes to comfort, with our expert testers ranking them among the best with just the right amount of clamping force.

Noise canceling is impressive, thanks to the Integrated Processor V and eight microphones. Automatic noise canceling optimisation is also available, adapting the ANC as you move around without any manual fiddling needed.

Bluetooth Multipoint and LDAC Bluetooth support are also included - the latter allows streaming of high-quality audio from compatible devices at bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth, while the former allows two devices to be connected to the headphones at the same time.

The XM5 also debuted some new features for the premium headphone line: Speak to Chat pauses playback when you start talking, Quick Attention lowers the volume when you cover the right earcup, and Wearing Detection automatically pauses your audio when you take the headphones off, restarting as soon as you put them back on.

And the all-important sound quality? Hugely musical and entertaining, with more detail than previous generations.

"With low frequencies, the WH-1000XM5 also display a newfound precision," our Sony WH-1000XM5 review reads. "It’s not that the previous model didn’t deliver, but the WH-1000XM5 make even the XM4s sound a little thick in the lower mids and bass. The new headphones expose greater detail and can differentiate between notes more easily.

"Move higher up the frequency range, and these Sonys continue to extract more information thanks to an extra sense of clarity. Notes are also dispatched with unerring precision – the XM5 headphones don't miss a beat when it comes to timing."

With a reduced price of $198 at Amazon, you'll be hard-pressed to find better value at this price point. With impressive sound quality, punchy delivery, an impressive feature set and a substantial 30 hours of battery life all packed in, the Sony WH-1000XM5 still have a lot to offer for a lot less money.

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Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review

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Beyerdynamic has announced a new affordable pair of wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation at IFA 2026, called the Aventho Y.

According to Beyerdynamic, these closed-back, foldable headphones use 45mm dynamic drivers to deliver “Beyerdynamic’s renowned sound" and have been “designed for long-term ownership”.

The headphones are designed to be comfortable and durable, with components that can be replaced individually. These include a user-replaceable battery, magnetic earpads, aluminium sliders and stainless steel hinges.

The Aventho Y’s ANC system uses two built-in microphones to detect and filter out environmental sounds, reducing “background noise to a minimum”. A ‘Transparency Mode’ is also available, which lets sounds in so you can stay aware of your surroundings.

The headphones support Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint connectivity, meaning that you can easily switch between two connected devices. Notably, the headphones only support standard AAC and SBC codecs.

In terms of battery life, Beyerdynamic quotes an impressive 60 hours with ANC switched on, which extends to 90 hours with ANC disabled. A full charge takes one hour, but just five minutes of fast charging will provide up to six hours of playback.

That comfortably beats Beyerdynamic's own Aventho 300 (50 hours with ANC on) and the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless (57 hours with ANC on), although both these models are double the price of the Aventho Y.

Through the Beyerdynamic app, users can customise the sound thanks to a 5-band EQ and genre-based sound presets, as well as receive firmware updates and manage automatic power settings.

According to Andreas Rapp, CEO of Beyerdynamic: "The Aventho Y was developed around a simple idea: audio isn't just something people hear – it's something they use every day to focus, recharge, connect and express themselves. We wanted to create a headphone that delivers the performance people expect from Beyerdynamic while giving them the freedom to make it their own – in both the sound they hear and the style they choose.”

The headphones come with a USB-C charging cable and a soft carry bag. Optional accessories, such as ultra-soft black or grey earpads, a low-latency USB-C dongle and a detachable boom microphone, can be purchased separately for those that want to further customise the Aventho Y's use case with music, gaming, videos and more.

The Beyerdynamic Aventho Y will be available in four colours – Liquid Black, Blue Fusion, Soft Jade and Peach Blush – and are set to cost £129 / €149 / $150.

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Read our Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review

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Stay up to date with our pick of the best wireless headphones, tested by our expert reviewers

Just in case you’ve missed the news, Sonos has unveiled a new pair of flagship wireless headphones.

Dubbed the Sonos Ace Ultra, they’re successors to the original Ace, which launched back in 2024 and promise not only new features and a raft of changes inside and out, but improved sound quality too.

But what exactly has Sonos done to try and elevate its new headphones above the old model? We’ll go through all of that and more below.

Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sonos Ace - Price

They might be Sonos’s flagship wireless headphones, but the good news is there hasn’t been a price hike for the new model.

In fact, if you live in the UK, the Ace Ultra are actually cheaper than their predecessors were at launch. The Ultras go on sale on the 29th September and cost £399 / $449 / AU$699 compared to the £449 / $449 / AU$699 of the original model.

Of course, the Ace have been around for a couple of years now, which means you can find regular discounts closer to the £299 / $299 / AU$449 mark if you shop around online.

We’ve been told both pairs will continue to coexist for some time, so we’d expect there could be potential for further price drops for the original over time, especially around peak sales periods such as Black Friday.

Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sonos Ace - Design and build

We haven’t had the opportunity to go hands-on with a pair yet, but on the design and build front, it doesn’t appear that too much has changed from the Sonos Ace.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing as we were fans of the the way the headphones looked and felt in situ.

Looking at pictures of the Ace Ultra, the earcup and headband plastics look the same as before but the new model does use “new rebound foam ear cushions” so it’ll be interesting to see if the pads feel any different when you’re wearing them.

A quick spec comparison does actually show that the new model weighs ten grams more (322g versus 312g) but whether you’ll be able to actually feel the difference remains to be seen.

Sonos is offering two new finishes (sand and agave) to choose from, in addition to the standard black and white options you had with the original Ace.

The multi-function button/slider (also known as the 'control key') makes a return and is your main way of interacting with the headphones and controlling things such as volume, ANC, playback and switching between the headphones and your Sonos wireless speaker.

The big design news is that the Ace Ultra get a brand new Sonos-designed 40mm driver. Sonos hasn’t provided any information on the materials used or how it is improved over ots predecessor but this is obviously huge news as the sound quality on offer will largely be dicteated by how this performs.

Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sonos Ace - Features

While the exterior design and build quality of the Ace Ultra might look familiar, there have been significant changes under the hood.

The key change is the introduction of Sonos’s new “Headphone Engine 2" which is a next-gen wi-fi hardware and software system that lets you link the headphones directly to your existing Sonos system.

It’s a feature that was missing from the originals at launch and will be the first time you can connect the headphones to other compatible Sonos wireless speakers, as well as its current line of soundbars, including the recently announced Beam Ultra. It’s done at the press of a button on either the headphones or app.

Sonos is promising big things on the noise-cancelling front, claiming that the ANC for the Ace Ultra is twice as powerful as that on the Ace.

It’s an adaptive system which should be able to change intensity as you change your surroundings, while it can also take into account any gaps in the seal due to headphones, hair etc. An Aware mode allows for transparency so you can hear the environment around you.

Presumably this is partly down to the fact that the new model boasts ten mics compared to eight used on the Ace.

This should also mean that calls are quieter and that background noise should be easier for the headphones to filter out. Their Sidetone feature should mean you’re able to hear yourself speak naturally while ANC is turned on.

Ace Ultra also get a boost in battery life, up from 30 hours in the old Ace to 35 hours in the new model with ANC activated. There’s a low power mode withing the Sonos app which claims to extend battery life by up to 30% but it isn’t clear whether this can work with ANC on or if you have to sacrifice some features to achieve it.

AptX Lossless is supported once again as the ability to listen over a wired USB-C connection although it’s a shame that sample rate support hasn’t increased from the 16-bit/48kHz of the original Ace.

Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sonos Ace - Sound quality

Although we’re going to have to wait until we get the Ace Ultra in our test rooms and use them out in public to see how they fare in the sound quality stakes, we are at least hoping for a much improved audio performance compared to the original.

In our Sonos Ace review we said the headphones delivered “a simplistic and safe sound – not one we would call exciting or enthralling”. We found them perfectly fine but at no stage did they come close to matching the class leading Bose and Sony rivals for entertainment, dynamics or detail.

The new model comes with a new custom-built driver in tow, which Sonos claims delivers “deep bass, clear detail, and balanced sound with no distortion”. The company has even called upon “award-winning audio engineers” to help tune the sound. Will Sonos be able to deliver? We have our fingers well and truly crossed.

Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sonos Ace - Initial verdict

With the Ace Ultra, Sonos has obviously gone to great lengths to try to produce a sequel that goes above and beyond what it served up with the Sonos Ace.

On paper, it certainly looks like most bases have been covered, and if they can deliver all the features and functionality that Sonos has promised in an intuitive, easy-to-use package, then that will go a long way to winning our test team over.

However, to really make a name for itself in the crowded wireless headphones market, not only will the Ultra Ace need to offer standout features that work, it will need to perform well across the board, whether we’re talking about ANC, call quality or sound quality.

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Reacquaint yourself with our Sonos Ace review

Sonos Ace Ultra feature all-new drivers, updated ANC, and a "direct connection" to the current Sonos ecosystem

“We know the home, we know audio, we know music” – we speak to Sonos about its operating system rebrand, its "customer-led" focus and app updates

The Sonos Ace Ultra wireless headphones have landed, and it looks like good news throughout, with Sonos promising a "direct connection to the Sonos system."

Positioned above the three-star Ace – the brand's first headphones released in 2024 – the new step-up Ace Ultra have been designed from the ground up to deliver the improvements to sound, noise-cancelling and wider compatibility with the Sonos ecosystem that were missing from Sonos' debut over-ears.

At the heart of the Ace Ultra is the "Headphone Engine 2", a next-gen wi-fi hardware and software system that lets you link the headphones directly to your existing Sonos system. It's the feature that we (and Sonos customers) have wanted all along, allowing you to swap audio from any Sonos wireless speaker or soundbar to the Ace Ultra headphones at the press of a button (or via the app), and back again.

Listening to music on the Ace Ultra from your laptop or smartphone is still done via Bluetooth rather than wi-fi, but this is a marked improvement over the original Sonos Ace, where you could only 'swap' audio from select Sonos soundbars.

With the Ace Ultra, this 'headphone linking' feature will work with any current Sonos soundbar and wireless speaker under the Sonos 27 ecosystem, including the Arc Ultra, Ray, Beam (Gen 2), new Beam Ultra, Sonos Five, Era 100, Era 300, Move 2, Play and Roam 2.

The Ace Ultra feature all-new Sonos-designed 40mm drivers, and the sound is tuned with input from the Sonos Soundboard, which features leading figures in music and film (including Grammy winners) to deliver a sound "that stays true to the artist's intent."

Active noise cancellation has been given a boost, with the Ace Ultra promising to be twice as effective in this regard. The Ace Ultra house 10 mics (up from eight on the original Ace), with an adaptive ANC system that continuously monitors your surroundings to deliver the best ANC experience.

An Adaptive EQ also tunes the ANC to adjust to any imperfections in the acoustic seal around the earcups, such as gaps in the fit for those wearing glasses.

An Aware mode, which lets outside sounds in, also returns, as does support for headtracking with Dolby Atmos content.

Battery is up to 35 hours (up from 30 hours from the original Ace) with ANC activated, and you can get three hours from a fast-charge of three minutes. The higher-quality aptX Lossless codec is supported, while native support for 16-bit/48kHz resolution is once again supported via a wired USB-C connection.

The general design of the Sonos Ace Ultra remains the same as before, with soft foam cushions to provide maximum comfort, and physical buttons that include a multi-function button/slider (called the 'control key') through which you can adjust volume, change noise modes and playback, and send music to and from your connected Sonos speakers via the 'headphone linking' feature.

There are three-band and eight-band EQ settings in the app to further customise the sound to your tastes, whereas TrueCinema technology tunes the headphones' sound according to your room's acoustics when connected to a compatible Sonos soundbar.

The Sonos Ace Ultra headphones will cost £399 / $449 and be available globally from 29th September, with pre-orders starting from today, 1st September. The headphones will be available in four finishes: new sand and agave colours, as well as the standard black and white options.

Interestingly, the established Sonos Ace will continue to be available. The Ace are currently priced at £299 / $299 / AU$449, which is a considerable drop from their launch price of £449 / $449 / AU$699. Those in the UK will also get a bonus saving, as the new Ace Ultra will launch for £50 less than the inaugural Ace did.

We have high hopes for the new Sonos Ace Ultra headphones, which seem to address many of the issues we had with the original Ace – such as incomplete features, buggy connections, "average" sound, and ANC quality that didn't compete with strong rivals.

Let's see if they give the current Sony, Bose and Sennheiser class leaders a run for their money.

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Read our original Sonos Ace review

And our five-star Sony WH-1000XM6 review

Best wireless headphones 2026: reviewed and rated by our in-house experts

The Sonos Ace wireless headphones launched back in 2024.

And they were big news for a brand more used to wrestling with multiroom audio than headband and earpad materials.

However, during rigorous testing, we were left underwhelmed for several reasons, all of which added up to a lukewarm three-star rating. (Here's our original Sonos Ace review.)

But, instead of packing it in after its first attempt, if online reports (and an official FCC filing) are to be believed, it looks like Sonos will be giving wireless headphones another go. And I’m all here for it.

Previously, Sonos has hinted that a new product is coming out in September, so if you put two and two together… Having said that, fresh rumours now suggest a new product will be unveiled, but it won’t actually be headphones.

Irrespective of who you believe, the new headphones model is allegedly going to be called the Sonos Ace Ultra. What the word ‘Ultra’ alludes to is anyone’s guess, but you’d automatically think a more premium pair of wireless headphones with advancements in sound quality and onboard tech.

Having reviewed the current Sonos Ace, I can think of at least three things that I’m desperate for Sonos to get right so it can really rival best-in-class models from the likes of Sony and Bose.

Read on for more and let me know if you agree in the comments below!

Improved sound quality

My top wish is quite simple. I want better sound quality. There isn’t anything particularly offensive about the way the Ace sound, but there isn’t anything memorable about them either.

In our Sonos Ace review, we described it as “a simplistic and safe sound – not one we would call exciting or enthralling”. And, in all my twenty-plus years of testing headphones, I can confirm there’s nothing worse than a “safe” sound from a product that fails to pull you in for a closer listen.

At the time, we compared Ace to their main rivals such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra, which sounded much more rhythmic and entertaining. You see, ultimately, if a product doesn’t get my feet tapping, I’m tapping out.

It's worth noting that both Sony and Bose have moved on with new iterations of their flagship wireless headphones since then, and the benchmark for performance has also moved up a notch – will Sonos be able to keep up?

More robust software

When we tested the Sonos Ace, they gave off a vibe that they weren’t quite ready for market. We came across a few bugs in the system, including distortion and crackling while switching from the company’s Arc soundbar to the headphones. We also suffered from a couple of lip-sync issues.

Sonos has released new software update since launch to improve functionality, but a product as big as Ace should really work straight off the bat.

I would hope that any new headphones come with more robust software in tow. I’d also want them to be ready to use with Sonos’ complete wireless speaker ecosystem.

At launch, the only product that worked with Ace was the Arc, until a later firmware update also added the Beam Gen 2, Beam Gen 1 and Ray to the list of compatible products

Being able to hand off the audio from one speaker (or soundbar) to the headphones for a more private listening experience is a unique trick which needs to be properly executed.

Wi-fi connectivity for hi-fi sound

One of the big initial rumours about the Ace headphones was that they might be networked home headphones with Wi-Fi, allowing users to stream high-quality, lossless hi-res audio wirelessly.

What we got was CD-quality audio via Bluetooth thanks to the inclusion of aptX Lossless. However, this only works with compatible source devices (i.e. smartphones and laptops), and because Bluetooth doesn't have the required bandwidth, hi-res levels of sound quality are out of reach.

This feature wouldn't be without issues, though, as joining other networks while you're out and about could be quite tricky, but from a home audio perspective, it could really help a pair of headphones stand out in this ultra-crowded market.

Any other business?

Elsewhere, there are a few extra features I think could make a new Ace model even better.

Besides support for a more advanced Bluetooth protocol (the original Ace supports Bluetooth 4), I’d like any USB-C connection to support more than just 16-bit/48kHz sample rates, given that modern streaming services can offer much higher resolution files.

I also think ANC and call quality will need to be better. All of Sonos’ competitors have moved the game along since we originally tested them, so Sonos needs to take this seriously.

We compared the Ultra to the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones at the time for both ANC and call quality and found the Ace to be lagging behind the pack.

And finally, there's pricing. The Ace launched at £449 / $449 / AU$699 and struggled to live up to their premium price tag. If a new model is just around the corner, it's going to need to offer a lot more at this price point to be competitive.

Of course, everything is pure speculation at the moment, but the rumour mill continues to turn at pace, and we’ll continue to keep a keen eye on any developments as we roll into September!

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Get reacquainted with our full Sonos Ace review

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Reports suggest that Sonos could launch a major product in September – and it isn't the Ace Ultra headphones

If you're at all immersed in the world of wireless headphones, you will likely be aware of Sony's 1000X series, which has graced many a What Hi-Fi? Awards shortlist over the years.

So imagine our excitement when the Japanese tech giant announced Sony 1000X The Collexion, a brand new pair of Bluetooth over-ears to mark the line's tenth anniversary.

When we finally got our hands on a pair earlier this year, we found it impossible to ignore their poised, detailed performance, while also admiring their feature set and classy construction.

And they've just had their first discount, so you can buy the premium pair for £499 at Richer Sounds, saving you £51 off their launch price.

The Sony 1000X The Collexion look good and make you feel good when you wear them – the cans have a clean, minimalist exterior made from metal and faux leather and make for an appreciably lightweight and unobtrusive listen.

The feature set mostly matches that found on their cheaper WH-1000XM6 siblings, including Sony’s ‘360 Reality Audio Upmix’ tech, support for the high-res LDAC codec and Bluetooth LE Audio for lower power consumption and better-quality sound.

They also offer 24 hours of battery life with ANC on and include a 3.5mm-to-3.5 mm audio cable for old-school wired listening (you can't listen via their USB-C connection). The 1000X The Collection are the first Sony headphones to feature its DSEE Ultimate processing engine, which improves lower-quality digital audio files.

Despite being sound-first headphones, noise cancelling also impresses, with the XM6's QN3 chip and 12-mic array doing an excellent job of suppressing noise across frequencies.

And the all-important sound? One which prioritises refinement, detail and maturity over the punchier, more flavoured personality of the WH-1000XM6.

"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," our Sony 1000X The Collexion review reads. "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."

We did miss the extra sense of fun and entertainment that came from the XM6, but it's hard not to admire the spacious, open and mature personality of the 1000X The Collexion.

If it's scale, detail and clarity you're after, then the Sonys are seriously talented performers that consistently impress, and are now available with £51 off at Richer Sounds.

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Sony WH-1000XM6 vs 1000X The Collexion: which premium wireless headphones should you pick?

Sport-centric audio brand Shokz has announced its latest pair of bone conduction headphones, the OpenRun Air 2.

Built for runners, sports-ready headphones use an open design whereby the drivers sit outside of the ear rather than burrowing into the ear canal, so you're always aware of your surroundings. Over-ear hooks and a wraparound stability band keep the headphones in place. Think of the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, and you're in the right area.

The new OpenRun Air 2 deploy Shokz's 'PremiumPitch' technology, which is designed to offer greater extension to higher frequencies while delivering clearer mids and a deeper bass signature.

The drivers feature a metallic dual-coil design that again aims to deliver clear vocals and a defined low-frequency signature within a balanced, clear sonic experience.

The OpenRun Air 2 are IP67 rated, so sweat and rain shouldn't be a problem. Battery life clocks in at 10 hours on a single charge, with a five-minute boost delivering around two hours of playback in a pinch.

Further features include Bluetooth Multipoint for fast switching between devices, four preset equaliser modes, customisable physical buttons, and a 'Find My Headphone' feature whereby the Shokz will play a loud tone if you've misplaced them.

The Shokz OpenRun Air 2 are available in the US in Black or Ice Blue colourways, priced at $130, with buyers able to choose between Standard and Mini band sizes. We'll keep you updated on future availability in other territories.

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Read our Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review

7 tracks we've been enjoying in our test rooms over the past month

A new pair of Beats wireless headphones is on the way, according to a fresh leak.

The upcoming Beats 360 have been teased before in various formats. But the latest glimpse of the premium over-ears all but confirms the headphones are on the way.

The latest leak stemmed from MacRumours, which discovered a Beats codename in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 software update

This isn't the first time that the 360 have prematurely broken cover. Leaked product listings have already been discovered in the past few weeks, whereas multiple Reddit users found the headphones listed on major retailers, including Amazon, before they were subsequently removed.

The mooted cans have also shown up on US Federal Communications Commission documents, and were even given to various global football stars to wear during the World Cup.

Thanks to these continuing accidental (and not-so-accidental) reveals, we do know quite a bit about the upcoming wireless cans. No release date has been officially revealed yet, but now-redacted listings suggest the 360 are a more lifestyle-oriented pair of wireless headphones designed as much for workouts and leisure wear as for work and commuting.

MacRumours reveals further specifications from previously unearthed product listings, including personalised spatial audio, active noise cancelling, AI-powered voice calls, "all-day battery life" (no official figures have broken cover just yet) and easy integration with both Apple and Android devices.

What about price? This is still a decidedly premium pair of wireless headphones, with prices expected to hover around the $300 mark. That's a lot less than big-hitters such as the Sony WH-1000XM6 ($450) and AirPods Max 2 ($550), and a little more affordable than the Beats Studio Pro we reviewed at $350 way back in 2023.

Colour options include Pink, Black, Sky, and Cloud, with Volt (AKA yellow) and Navy potentially on the menu as well.

With so many recent leaks and so much information about the Beats 360 readily available online – not always released by accident – a proper launch seems imminent.

Will we see the Beats 360 arrive before the end of 2026? We wouldn't be surprised if they did. Apple's launch event is coming in September, which could be the perfect time to launch the 360 alongside the also-teased Apple HomePod Mini 2 and HomePod 3.

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Also consider the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless

Best over-ear headphones: wired and wireless over-ears for every budget

With a legacy stretching back over 80 years, Sennheiser is one of the most storied brands in the audio game today. You might know it for its consumer headphones like the Momentum 5 Wireless and HDB 630, but it also has some serious pro chops, supplying microphones and studio-quality cans to professional musicians the world over.

Now it's working with iconic nightclub Fabric London on a collaboration that includes Fabric-edition headphones and musical performances at the top of The Shard.

In honour of this, we sat down with some of Sennheiser and Fabric London's audio experts to chat about what constitutes great sound.

Like a hi-fi listening room full of people dancing

A lot of nightclubs position themselves as places to be seen – one memorable promo that landed in my inbox years ago advised booking early, as "last week, we had to turn away too many beautiful people". But Fabric has always been all about the sound.

After all, it's not every nightclub that has a sound system from legendary speaker company Martin Audio. As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations a couple of years ago, Fabric upgraded its sound system, and added moving magnet linear transducers under its dance floor, so you feel each bass hit as a haptic vibration.

Given the club's deep association with electronic music, you might expect a 'louder is better' approach. But it's actually much more nuanced than that.

"It's not about loudness," explains Mike Becker, senior sound tech at Fabric London. "It's about dynamics, and clarity, and having a well balanced sub-to-top ratio so that every sound in the mix is valued. Our new system cuts through really well, it gives the club much more of a hi-fi feel. It's like a hi-fi listening room, just full of people dancing, and a lot louder of course, because you're catering to a much bigger audience."

Fabric doesn't just host dance music – bands play there, too. What kind of music is playing will dictate how the system is tuned for a particular night – and the club's engineers are out on the floor doing the rounds every 15 minutes to make sure the system sounds as accurate as possible.

"Drum'n'bass tracks are all maximised, and very mid-rangy," Becker says. "There are no dynamics left. So you have to cut down the mix a little bit, because it can get quite intense. A rock band is totally different. We can do most tweaks from the front of house desk, but every now and then we have to go into the deep end of the system, back of house, and do some fine-tuning. But we will always optimise the sound to the band or genre of music that's playing."

Sorry, beautiful people – this might not be the nightclub for you.

• This listening bar experience made me question whether the trend has gone too far

The best results from different types of headphones

So why has German company Sennheiser chosen to team up with Fabric? According to Adrian Reid, inside sales representative at Sennheiser's Pro Audio division, the two brands have more in common than you might think.

"Fabric shares a lot of the same principles of sound that we do," he says. Sennheiser's aim is to "create a natural, detailed and engaging listening experience that brings you closer to the music", adds Tim Bosmans, Sennheiser's VP marketing & portfolio management.

But while the end goal is the same, how Sennheiser achieves great sound varies depending on the product in question.

Its Momentum wireless headphone range (the latest of which, the Momentum 5 True Wireless, has just launched) is tuned differently to its wired pairs, as it combines acoustic architecture with ANC, DSP, wireless transmission and more. That's a lot of tech to cram into a relatively small headphone enclosure.

Wireless headphones also have more environmental factors to compete with compared to a wired audiophile pair that's tethered to the listening room or studio. "Active noise cancellation is a big part of addressing that, and it means rebalancing the tuning around it rather than simply carrying over a wired sound signature," says Bosmans. "Whereas our wired audiophile products can take a more purist approach, where the acoustic architecture and transducer do much more of the work directly."

But what unites the two product types is the belief that technology is a means to a better listening experience, not an end in itself. As Bosmans says: "Ultimately, whether it’s wired or wireless, we want the technology to disappear and leave you with that feeling of discovering something new in music you already know."

• The inside story of the Ministry of Sound sound system

Changing your relationship with music

So, the collaboration is built on a shared vision of great sound and how to achieve it. But it also challenges the traditional idea of where hi-fi belongs, bringing it out of the listening room and into headphones, living rooms and nightclubs.

"Great sound doesn’t only happen sitting between two loudspeakers in a dedicated listening room," says Andreas Andersson, Sennheiser's regional marketing manager for the UK and Nordic. "It can happen through headphones on your commute, at home, at a live performance or at three o’clock in the morning at Fabric.

"We want more people to have those experiences where great sound changes their relationship with a piece of music."

Of course, Sennheiser doesn't just make headphones. As well as its pro side of microphones, conference systems and studio cans it also makes soundbars – the Ambeo family has a couple of five-star members (the Ambeo Soundbar Max and Ambeo Soundbar Plus), along with the three-star Ambeo Soundbar Mini. Is it planning on having these devices work with its headphones in a way that Sonos is (gradually) doing with the Ace headphones and Arc Ultra soundbar?

Sadly it wouldn't reveal if that is the case, but we would be surprised if it isn't. All it would say is that it's "definitely interested in how different listening experiences can work together more naturally, particularly as consumers move between personal listening and listening in the home", and that it would only connect products together if it would improve the listening experience. Bosmans added that "the interaction between our different listening categories is certainly an interesting space for us".

And for us, especially if it means bringing great quality sound to more devices – and more seamlessly – than ever.

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Sony's rumoured cut-price reboot of the classic XM4 wireless headphones has leaked again, this time with very official-looking images. There’s also news on the specifications.

WinFuture has posted some images of the cans, which look very similar to the standard XM4 which launched in 2020. The images show the headphones in black, white and violet colourways.

The German site has also seen “excerpts from the manufacturer’s data sheet” which spills the beans on the specs. Bluetooth 6.0 is apparently supported, which is a later version than even that on the Award-winning XM6 (which have Bluetooth 5.3), and matches the premium 1000X The Collexion. Whether this translates to any new or improved features remains to be seen.

Some corners are rumoured to have been cut in order to offer the headphones at a lower price. The NFC logo is missing from the pictures, which suggests Sony axed the easy-pairing feature to keep the costs down. Battery life is also said to be lower than the XM4, at 27 hours with active noise cancellation (ANC) activated, and 34 without (the XM4 boasted 30 hours and 38 hours, respectively).

But, like the standard XM4, they are said to feature 40mm drivers, ANC, and to have a frequency response of 4Hz-40,000Hz. They should also weigh the same as the XM4.

Launch price is said to be €250, which would be lower than the XM4’s original price of £380. Given that the XM4 have fallen to £170 before, however, Sony will have some way to go to make the XM4C a compelling alternative. Having said that, given that the XM4 are no longer on sale, the XM4C could be a tempting budget option for Sony fans unable or unwilling to stretch to the XM6.

They are rumoured to launch in early September – we’ll bring you all the news as soon as we have it.

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What’s next for wireless headphones? It’s a tough question to answer for a couple of reasons.

First, predicting the future is always tricky. Even the best sages and farseers, ranging from Nostradamus to Mystic Meg, don’t have a perfect hit rate.

Second, new technologies with the potential to change fundamentally how tech works – including portable noise makers – are appearing on a near-daily basis.

This week, then, we forsake our usual tea-leaf/tarot-card reading strategy and instead ask five experts from major companies just what music fans can expect from the field of wireless headphones in the next five years.

Somewhat to our surprise, they all seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet with their responses.

AI is the next big thing in wireless headphones

For Christian Ern, global product manager at Sennehiser’s parent company, Sonova Consumer Hearing, the answer is simple: artificial intelligence.

“The use of AI-powered sound processing can also create a significant experience difference when used in the right way: for example, allowing listeners to customise their experience and adapt to their own taste or hearing profile,” says Ern.

Outside this, the firm believes there will be gradual improvements to things such as battery life, fit and active noise cancellation, but Ern reiterates it will mainly be the advanced processing power that AI offers that will define the next five years, warning that outside this:

“It's easy to fall into the trap of a feature race, where brands add more and more gimmicky features to show they have a lot – but it's not always relevant to the user.”

Kazunori Otsu, director of headphone business at Technics, shares Ern’s opinion, telling us:

“One of the biggest changes over the next five years will likely be the expansion of AI-driven user experiences. Beyond improvements in noise control and call quality, AI will increasingly enable headphones to optimise audio performance according to the user’s environment and listening situation. We expect a growing range of intelligent features that make the listening experience better.”

Personal tuning isn’t a new concept. Numerous firms, including Nura, before it was bought by Denon, have experimented with the idea. Denon’s true wireless PerL Pro are still on sale and offer “personalised” audio profiles.

The difference here, according to Matt Dever, senior global product line manager at Harman Luxury Audio, is that future headphones will leverage AI processing to push performance even further across the board.

“Integrating AI decision-making into the processing chain will allow even faster results and improve things like adaptive ANC and Awareness functionality. Minimising the latency in those types of decisions will improve the overall user experience,” he says.

“With the increased processing power, the technology will customise the sound of the headphones and tune them automatically to your specific hearing attributes.”

But that’s not all

Despite the focus on AI, the experts argue that there are at least two other areas where wireless headphones will advance in the not-too-distant future.

First, Dever highlights sustainability as a key area that manufacturers will focus on improving over the next five years – “User-replaceable rechargeable batteries [for example],” he says.

“Today, when your rechargeable battery in the headphone has finally lost its chargeability, you must recycle the headphone even though the electronics and driver units may still be functional. Tomorrow, it will be a different story.”

The second is wireless connectivity. While all the experts are sceptical of scalable, lossless hi-res 24-bit/192kHz streaming becoming mainstream, they flag advancements in Bluetooth technology as another key upgrade that will define the next half-decade.

Category line director of headphones at Bowers & Wilkins, Steven Hoyle, flags Low Energy Audio (LE Audio) as a particular milestone he expects will help improve wireless headphones’ performance.

“LE Audio is coming! The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (the central group that owns the standards for Bluetooth, with input from stakeholders across various brands and technologies) is phasing out Bluetooth Classic and only focusing on advancing the Bluetooth standard with LE Audio,” he says.

“Once there are more devices supporting LE Audio, we expect that the functionality will be greatly expanded. The launch features for LE Audio focused heavily on broadcast and Auracast, but LE Audio does allow for higher data rates and therefore could support higher resolution audio. However, we are still at the mercy (in the short term) of compatible source devices.”

The ultimate goal won’t change

Despite the focus on what’s next, all of the experts agree that their core focus when creating wireless headphones will ultimately remain unchanged, regardless of what new tech appears: making them sound as good as possible.

This sentiment is summed up by Yusuke Wada, senior manager at Sony:

“Over the next five years, we believe devices and technologies will change significantly, and more environments will emerge that allow users to enjoy music more conveniently. While adapting to changes in how users enjoy music, Sony hopes to continue delivering the enduring value of bringing the emotion of music exactly as intended by the artist.”

Wada’s colleague Kenji Ide, acoustic Manager at Sony, adds, “Sony believes that delivering the music experience exactly as intended by the artist is of utmost importance, and we continue to pursue headphone sound quality to make that experience possible.”

Do you agree with audio pros’ comments? Are you excited about the prospect of easier-to-repair wireless cans? Or are you against the idea of AI-tuned wireless headphones? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Thought there were more than enough premium wireless headphones around at the moment? Think again.

Samsung could soon be throwing its hat back into the over-ear ring, if recent reports are to be believed. According to a leak from Samsung-dedicated site SamMobile , the Korean company is currently developing a set of over-ear headphones to accompany its in-ear Galaxy Buds models, with a new pair of cans – codenamed 'Galaxy H1' – spotted in the Galaxy Wearable app.

That probably won't end up being the final official name of the upcoming headphones, though it's likely that the word 'Galaxy' will feature somewhere to keep the cans in line with Samsung's established ecosystem of mobile and audio products.

Aside from the headphones being Bluetooth-based, details are thin on the ground. SamMobile predicts that these will be premium headphones designed to do battle with the likes of the Apple AirPods Max 2 (£499 / $549 / AU$999) or Sony WH-1000XM6 (£400 / $450 / AU$699), though as we don't have official pricing figures, we can't be sure exactly where the Galaxy H1 will be positioned within the premium market.

In terms of features, we're once again in the realm of speculation, but active noise cancelling, some form of AI assistant integration, and support for Samsung's hi-res SSC UHQ audio codec from compatible devices would bring the prospective over-ears in line with their in-ear counterparts.

That SSC UHQ codec, for instance, was a key part of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro's repertoire, so we'd expect to see it transfer over to the over-ears.

These won't be Samsung's first-ever over-ear headphones. The Korean titan released the 'Level One' back in 2015, but we haven't seen it release much in the way of over- or on-ear cans since then.

That could be set to change. We don't have an official release date for the Galaxy H1, but with most outlets speculating a release date sometime in 2027, it could yet be a while before we see if Samsung can challenge the likes of Sony and Apple for over-ear supremacy.

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I’m excited by the latest Sony wireless headphones rumours – but I have one major worry

These are the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy

Google hosted its annual Made By Google event last night, in which the spotlight shone mostly on the new Pixel 11 series of smartphones. While there were a couple of additional product reveals, including the Pixel Watch 5 and Pixel Tag tracker, there was also a subtle surprise update that caught our attention.

It centres around the Pixel Buds Pro 2, a pair of wireless earbuds that launched back in 2024. Google gave these buds a very light refresh last year; it has followed that up with a similar move for 2026, with a new finish to match the new Pixel devices.

The Buds Pro 2 now come in a pleasing green shade – Olive – but it's what's inside the buds that we are more excited for.

Google is introducing a dynamic active noise cancelling mode this year, which can adjust the strength of the ANC to compensate for “subtle shifts in the seal”.

In practical terms, this means that the buds can now dial up the ANC performance when your earbuds move around in your ears, which can happen when you are walking, exercising, or just generally moving your head.

Furthermore, Google has implemented its Gemini AI assistant to allow for voice-controlled sound tuning. A simple request – Google uses “Hey Google, turn up the bass” as an example – will allow you to tweak the settings and adjust the sound performance of your buds without having to open the companion app.

Finally, Google has added Pixel Watch sleep pairing, which can detect if you have fallen asleep with your buds in and turn off any music and the touch controls, and an update to Live Translation which now supports over 70 different languages.

We have yet to test the Pixel Buds Pro 2, although the first-generation Pixel Buds Pro didn’t blow us away. We have, however, seen the likes of Apple and Samsung make huge strides between their respective generations of earbuds, so Google could join the pack here.

The Olive Pixel Buds Pro 2 are available to order now, and a software update launching in September will bring these new features to new and existing Pixel Buds Pro 2 users.

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As well as our Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro review

If you believe the latest rumours, Sony is preparing to revive a classic pair of noise-cancelling headphones.

According to a leak from French retail publication Dealabs, the tech giant is set to unveil the WH-1000XM4C, a new version of its five-star WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones, which originally launched back in 2020.

The rumours point to a new Lavender finish (to add to the Platinum Silver, Black and Midnight Blue options that Sony used to offer for the originals) and a reduction in battery life from 38 hours to 34 hours, presumably with noise-cancelling turned off.

That’s right, a reduction in battery life. Now the obvious question to me is why would this happen? Is Sony using a new, smaller-capacity battery, or – and I’d like to think this was more likely – is it because the ‘C’ version offers something that the older model doesn’t?

If battery life takes a hit with ANC off, it follows that it will also be reduced with ANC turned on. Which leads me to wonder: has Sony added more power-hungry features? If it has, what could they be? A new processor? New usability features?

Both the original WH-1000XM4 and its successor, the WH-1000XM5, use Sony's HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 and Integrated Processor V1.

The more recent WH-1000XM6 flagship uses the QN3 processor – so could there be room for a QN2 processor in the XM4C? I may well be barking up the wrong tree, but it would be interesting to see, should these headphones arrive on the scene.

The original XM4 also had Sony’s Adaptive Sound Control tech; XM5 introduced a more advanced version which could automatically adjust the sound output depending on your listening environment. Could the more advanced version migrate over to a potential new model?

When it comes to call quality, the WH-1000XM5 has Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup technology, with four beam-forming mics and AI-powered noise-reduction, plus wind-noise reduction. Would the lower number of mics on the XM4 (five against eight) make this impossible?

If Sony is preparing a new WH1000 model, probably the biggest question is how much would they cost?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 currently sit at around £229/$200 – which makes a new version of the XM4 even more intriguing. Assuming a new model comes in under the XM5 (the XM4 dropped to around £177/£199 towards the end of their life), how much breathing space will there be between them? Would a new model too close in price kill sales of the WH-1000XM5?

Dealabs is reporting the retail price will be around £219.99, which, if true, would leave a major question mark hanging over the future of the WH-1000XM5.

What appealed so much about the original WH-1000XM4 and gave them cult status was the premium build and feel and the fact that they folded properly for extra portability. We felt the WH-1000XM5 felt less premium, and they only folded flat, so I can see why Sony fans would be excited about a potential revival.

And it’s why I have everything crossed that the rumoured WH-1000XM4C aren’t simply a relaunch with a new colour and shorter battery life. I have no doubt people will be pleased to see them back, but I’m hoping for a bit more. Don't let me down, Sony.

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The Sonos event next month will see the firm launch a new pair of wireless headphones, if this FCC filing is to be believed (via Lowpass).

The Federal Communications Commission is the US government agency that regulates digital devices. Firms have to submit their proposals to the FCC before launching a new device.

While the headphones are detailed in diagrams, they aren't named, though they have been dubbed the Sonos Ace Ultra. The device is simply known as 'S52a' in the filing.

While the name isn't confirmed, we do know that the headphones will come in new colours: Greige, Shadow Black, Agave, Blush and Sand are all listed in one document of the filing.

Their predecessors, the Sonos Ace, only come in black and white. Sonos has previously launched its Roam 2 portable speaker in multiple finishes. Given that most Sonos devices only ship in black or white, it could be targeting a younger market with these new headphones.

The filing also suggests the headphones could support wi-fi for pairing straight to a home wireless network (much like Sonos' speakers) rather than via a phone. They could also support Sonos' own voice assistant. Neither feature is confirmed, however.

Sonos confirmed a new product is coming next month during a recent earnings call. Its CEO hinted that AI would play a large part in the company's future success.

The original Sonos Ace only scored three stars in our review – a disappointing score for a marquee brand like Sonos. The company has since been on something of a rollercoaster ride, shedding customers with a botched app update and trying to win them back through a concerted effort to right its past wrongs, even shelving its planned set-top box in the process. The Award-winning Arc Ultra soundbar didn't hurt either.

We've contacted Sonos for comment.

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When we think of wireless headphones, Sony is the first brand that pops into our heads – and given the stellar reputation of its Bluetooth cans, it makes sense why.

In fact, the brand's six-year-old WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones still top my personal list of the best wireless headphones to this day, and I continue to see countless pairs on the heads of commuters daily.

That said, I and our annual What Hi-Fi? Awards list alike have moved on to the current five-star WH-1000XM6; although it looks like Sony isn't quite ready to let go of the old XM4 model just yet.

A new leak reported by French retail publication Dealabs suggests that Sony is preparing to launch a new version of its beloved wireless headphones, which are expected to be called the WH-1000XM4C.

We're not sure what the "C" stands for yet, but we've theorised "Classic" and "Comeback" as potential solutions.

According to the leak, these "new" Sony cans will be practically identical to the existing pair in terms of design, functionality and driver technology, but with reportedly two very minor changes.

Battery life has reportedly been reduced to 34 hours (down from 38 hours on the original XM4 headphones), and this new "C" variant could come in a new Lavender finish alongside the existing Black and Platinum Silver colours.

While we'll have to take this leak with a pinch of salt (nothing is official until it comes from Sony itself), it's worth noting that Sony has extended the lifespan of a previous pair of headphones from its popular 1000XM-series headphones.

It launched the WH-1000XM5SA variant of its Award-winning WH-1000XM5 headphones back in October 2025 (five months after the launch of the XM6), which featured a new soft case and trimmed-down price tag. The WH-1000XM4C could be a similar affair, with a minor cosmetic change to justify an extended lifespan.

These refreshed XM4 headphones are expected to launch on 7th September, and Dealabs reports that they will be priced at £219.99 / €249.99. Interestingly, this would position the XM4C just £10 below the current widely available price for the XM5SA.

However, with their potentially sturdier and more compact design, the XM4C could be the more alluring choice. They could also be a preferable choice for those who are eyeing up Sony's premium headphone offerings, but don't want to spend big on the XM6 or 1000X The Collexion cans.

We'll bring you the any official news of the rumoured XM4C model if and when details are confirmed.

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As well as the best wireless headphones

Bose has recently revealed the second generation of its noise-cancelling wireless headphones, the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen). The release brings the headphones up to date with Bose’s flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), which were released at the end of last year.

Among the improvements made to the flagship model were enhanced ANC, more spatial audio features and even the option for wired listening via USB-C. Our expert review team awarded the QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) a solid four-star review, but they ultimately lost out on a fifth star due to steep competition at their premium price point.

Bose’s latest release sees many of the flagship’s features and technologies trickling down to the more affordable model, but there remains an appreciable price disparity between the two pairs.

If you’re wondering whether you’ll be losing out by opting for the cheaper pair, we've compared the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) by price, specs and features to see which might be the right headphones for you.

Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen): price

• Ultra 2 costs more but are frequently discounted during sales

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) launched at £300 / $359 / AU$550, which is slightly less (for UK customers) than the previous standard Bose QuietComfort Headphones, which arrived at £350 / $350 / AU$549. You can now find the original model available at a significantly reduced price, typically costing around £179 / $240 at the time of writing.

The flagship Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), on the other hand, launched at £450 / $450 / AU$700, which was the same as their previous model in the UK, but $20 / AU$50 pricier in the US and Australia respectively.

Both models have seen discounts take up to £200 off their original price, but there has still tended to be a gap of around £100 between the flagship model and their more affordable counterparts.

At this price point, both headphones land in a seriously competitive bracket. The closest rivals to the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are the five-star Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless (£330 / $400 / AU$749), while the QC Ultra (2nd Gen) are more expensive than the five-star Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones (£400 / $450 / AU$699) but more affordable than the Apple AirPods Max 2 (£499 / $549 / AU$999).

Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen): design

• QuietComfort (2nd Gen) feature one more finish option
• Both pairs are foldable
• Ultra 2 feature a more premium design with polished metal materials

Both new models are foldable; a convenient design facet which isn’t always guaranteed at a premium level.

The QC Ultra (2nd Gen) are available in four finishes: Midnight Violet, Driftwood Sand, and Bose’s standard Black and White Smoke colourways. The QC (2nd Gen), on the other hand, come in the regular Black and White Smoke finishes, as well as three limited edition colourways: Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint and Rosewood Mauve.

We previously noted that the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) had more cushioning along the length of the headband compared to the standard model, as well as thicker earpads. However, according to Bose, the latest QC Headphones have been updated with a new headband, improved clamping force for a “secure fit”, and new oval-shaped earcups with plusher cushioning.

While we haven’t yet had a chance to try the QuietComfort (2nd Gen) Headphones ourselves, those changes sound like they might bring the cans almost up to speed with the QC Ultra (2nd Gen), which we described in our review as “one of the most comfortable wireless over-ear pairs for longer periods of wear that we’ve come across”.

Despite these changes, according to Bose the standard model hasn’t quite caught up with the Ultra in terms of overall design, with the Ultra featuring “a more premium elevated design featuring polished metal materials and more plush cushioning”.

A key technical difference between the two is the capacitive touch strip included on the second-gen Ultra Headphones, which can be used to control volume and customisable settings.

This feature still hasn’t been added to the second-gen QuietComfort Headphones, which have stuck to standard tactile buttons. Still, the latest generation QC Headphones do feature more customisable settings, such as EQ and ANC personalisation, available via the Bose App.

Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen): battery & features

• Ultra 2 has a significantly longer battery life than the new standard QuietComfort (2nd Gen)
• Both headphones support spatial audio

The new QuietComfort Headphones have had their ANC boosted, employing several features available on the more expensive Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). Like the QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), the second-generation QC Headphones are also compatible with the Bose companion app.

When it comes to battery life, the second-gen QC Ultra Headphones take the lead with 45 hours of charge available with ANC switched off and 30 hours while it is engaged. This figure falls significantly, to just 23 hours, when Immersive modes are enabled (more on those later).

The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), meanwhile, have a 24-hour battery life with ANC switched on, which falls to 18 hours with immersive modes enabled.

So what are these Immersive modes?

Immersive Audio is essentially Bose’s take on spatial audio, which was first implemented with the brand’s original QC Ultra Headphones from 2023. In our review of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), we said we still “weren’t hugely convinced” by the spatial effects, finding the ‘Motion’ setting (which tracks sounds to your head movements) “a little distracting”.

‘Still’ and ‘Cinema’ modes, however, proved useful in certain situations, such as watching movies, but did limit dynamics when it came to playing music. Regardless of our opinion, all three Immersive modes are now available with both the standard and Ultra models.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) support Bluetooth 5.4 and standard AAC and SBC codecs, while also featuring Bluetooth Multipoint for connecting two devices simultaneously, and Google Fast Pair for Android users.

The QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) can do all of those, besides Google Fast Pair, but they also support aptX Adaptive codec, allowing hi-res wireless streaming up to 24-bit/96kHz from compatible sources.

Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen): noise cancelling

• Ultra Headphones (2nd gen) have excellent ANC performance
• Many of the Ultra 2’s ANC features have been handed down to the QC Headphones (2nd Gen)

Given that Bose has built much of its reputation on its class-leading active noise cancelling technology, no side-by-side comparison would be complete without taking their ANC performance into account.

In our review of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), we said that the headphones pulled ahead of class rivals for their “outright sound-blocking intensity… eliminating the deepest rumbles and the majority of mid-band hubbub we encounter on our daily travels." We were also pleased that the ‘Immersion’ mode allowed us to dial down the effect within the app, when we wanted a little less isolation.

Both of the latest models of QC Headphones feature Quiet and Aware modes in their ANC settings.

Quiet offers full-fat noise cancellation, while Aware offers a more transparent experience so that you can stay tuned into your surroundings. Both headphones also feature ActiveSense technology, which softens sudden noise spikes in the environment while using Aware mode, a feature we thought worked well when testing the QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

Between the first and second generations of the standard QuietComfort headphones, Bose says it has made subtle ANC improvements for users with glasses and included the option for ANC to be switched off. ANC adjustments for both models can be made within the Bose App.

As things stand, we know that the Ultra (2nd Gen) headphones have a class-leading ANC performance. We haven’t yet tested the QuietComfort (2nd Gen) model, but given that their ANC features have drawn closer to those of the Ultra, we are hoping they will reach a similarly high standard.

Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen): sound

• Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) have an entertaining sound
• Ultra 2’s spatial audio settings can be hit and miss
• We haven’t yet tested the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) stepped into a formidable arena upon their release.

In our review, we said that, compared with their previous generation, the second-gen QC Ultra Headphones made “meaningful gains”, sounding “more solid and musically tighter and shedding a layer of excess richness”.

We also thought that the second-gen cans retained “the same pleasingly smooth, bass-rich character Bose has long favoured”, but found the headphones’ sonic signature to be “more insightful and precise than ever before.” So, undoubtedly, these headphones have plenty of charm.

However, the difficulty facing the second-generation Bose over-ears was that they were immediately pitted against Sony’s Award-winning WH-1000XM6, which we found were “categorically better sounding, and by a fair margin”. Pair these challengers with other sonically talented rivals like the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or Sennheiser HDB 630, and we thought the Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) were a little left behind in an increasingly competitive market.

Further, the headphones' Immersive modes, while entertaining, worked better for some tracks than others – with Cinema mode working particularly well for movies – but primarily left us feeling somewhat distracted, particularly in Motion mode.

Because we haven’t put the new generation of the QuietComfort Headphones through our rigorous testing process, it is hard for us to speculate how Bose’s latest over-ears are going to sound.

According to Bose, the second generation retains the brand’s “high-quality sound and proprietary SoundDesign digital signal processing”, but the company hasn’t shared specifics about what improvements have been made between the generations.

As such, we’ll be keen to try these headphones as soon as our test pair arrives and will update this head-to-head accordingly.

Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen): early verdict

We’ve tested the QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) headphones and awarded them a solid four-star review, noting their “up there with the best” noise cancellation, smart, folding design, effective spatial audio for movies and a punchy, entertaining sound.

Without having reviewed the new standard QC Headphones, it's hard for us to give a definitive answer about which model offers the best value, but with a raft of the Ultra 2’s upgrades set to be handed down to the standard model, the signs are promising. Stay tuned for a full review comparison in due course.

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Do your headphones constantly run out of power at the worst times? Maybe you're left with no entertainment on a flight? No escape from workout noises at the gym?

Well, our experts have found a solution. The Sony WH-CH520, now only £25 at Amazon, have a whopping 50-hour battery life, which is perfect for long travel periods, weekends away or just hectic everyday lives.

They're five-star headphones too, with the best sound quality we've heard at this price. So whether you need a full-on replacement, a low-cost option for your child as they head to university or just a cheap backup pair, the WH-CH520 have an all-around appeal.

You'll need to make sure you tick the voucher code to get this price, which is only available on the black model.

It's hard to nail the basics at the budget end of the market, which makes the WH-CH520 all the more impressive – Sony has proven it's just as good at making affordable wireless headphones as premium ones.

As you might expect, the WH-CH520 aren't exactly glamorous, but they are well made, solid and robust. They're also lightweight at 147g, ideal for taking on travels or long gym sessions.

On top of the 50-hour battery life, which even many premium headphones don't reach, the WH-CH520 offer Bluetooth 5.2, physical on-cup playback buttons, and compatibility with Sony's Headphones Connect control app, which offers EQ presets and custom adjustment. Not bad for the price of a drinks round.

However, it's the sound that really sets the WH-CH520 apart from other headphones at this price.

"The Sony WH-CH520 don’t take long to establish themselves as a nicely balanced, quite informative and enjoyable listen," our Sony WH-CH520 review reads, which then goes on to detail the solid, deep and controlled low-end and informative midrange.

If you do have a bit more budget, the step-up Sony WH-CH720N add active noise-cancelling and improved sound quality for £40 more. However, you won't be disappointed by the WH-CH520, especially at this price.

If you want impressive battery life at the best possible price, it's hard to argue with the value of the Sony WH-CH520. Whether for yourself or as a gift, the WH-CH520 won't let you down when it comes to battery life and is now available at its lowest price of £25 at Amazon.

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Our expert pick of the best over-ear headphones: wired and wireless over-ears for every budget

Bose has announced the second generation of its popular wireless QuietComfort Headphones.

The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) were unveiled today and feature several upgrades that have trickled down from the firm's more premium flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

Intended to provide a “more immersive listening experience”, these include improvements to active noise cancellation (ANC), as well as new spatial audio features and wired listening capabilities.

When it comes to ANC performance, the new headphones feature an upgraded six-microphone array, which the company claims better compensates for gaps in the earcups' seal. Additionally, a revamped Aware mode is designed to soften sudden noise spikes from your environment more effectively.

As introduced in the flagship QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), noise cancellation can be completely switched off or manually adjusted via the Bose app. Users are also able to create customised noise cancellation modes, which can be cycled using a button on the left earcup.

Bose claims the second-gen model retains the brand’s “high-quality sound and proprietary SoundDesign digital signal processing”, but it hasn’t shared any specific details about what improvements have been made between the two generations, if any.

The second-gen QC headphones also feature wired lossless playback up to 24bit/48kHz via USB-C, with a USB-C to USB-C and 3.5mm to USB-C cables included in the box.

Previously exclusive to the QuietComfort Ultra series, Bose’s TrueSpatial technology is now available to the standard QC model, which features three immersive audio listening modes: Still, Motion and Cinema. These are Bose’s take on spatial audio playback, offering different three-dimensional effects.

The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) have a quoted 24-hour battery life (18 hours with immersive modes enabled), which remains the same as the first-generation model released in 2023. That figure falls behind the 45-hour performance of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). However, the new headphones can be charged while in use, with a 15-minute fast charge yielding up to 2.5 hours of playback.

Additional features include support for the Bluetooth 5.4 and standard AAC/SBC codecs, Bluetooth Multipoint for connecting to two devices simultaneously, and Google Fast Pair for Android users.

The over-ear headphones’ design has also been updated, with a new headband, improved clamping force for a “secure fit” and new oval-shaped earcups with plusher cushioning, promising “a seamless profile and modern look”. The QC Headphones (2nd Gen) will also be available in three new limited-edition finishes at launch: eucalyptus green, dewdrop mint and rosewood mauve, as well as the previous white smoke and black options.

The new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are available to preorder now for MyBose members, with global shipping from 13th August. The new headphones cost £300 / $359, which is £150 / $90 less than the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

At this price, the new Bose’s main rivals are the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless (£330 / $400), which we gave a glowing five-star rating in May. We'll be curious to see how the two compare when we get the new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (Gen 2) into our listening rooms. Watch this space.

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

Or browse our best wireless headphones 2026: reviewed and rated by our in-house experts

And our best noise-cancelling headphones 2026 – 6 sensational pairs picked by our expert reviewers

Remember when Qualcomm (one of the biggest mobile, wearable and headphone chipmakers in the world) promised we would see a wave of next-generation wireless headphones with significantly improved hi-res audio quality appear “soon”? Well, that was just over a year ago.

That’s a fairly long time in this fast-paced industry. Which is why, once the one-year mark passed, it was time for me to pull out my black book and do a ring-round of all the movers and shakers in headphone engineering to see what’s going on.

Sadly, now that I have, it looks as though we are still some way off a key milestone for wireless audio quality: scalable, lossless hi-res 24-bit/192kHz streaming.

The promise of fully scalable, lossless hi-res 24-bit/192kHz

The promise of fully scalable, lossless, hi-res, 24-bit/192kHz streaming has been viewed as the Shangri-La of wireless audio quality for more than half a decade.

Why is it such a big deal? Well, if the stars align and the audio can be delivered wirelessly without chunks missing, the standard could lead to palpable audio upgrades. As Neil Young said, when he railed against “lossy” formats, we could finally hear “the full sound the band created”.

Who wouldn’t want that?

Well, rather a lot of people, according to Christian Ern, global product manager at Sennheiser’s parent company, Sonova Consumer Hearing.

“The broad majority is quite satisfied with the quality and convenience that regular Bluetooth offers,” Ern tells What Hi-Fi? “For example with advanced codecs like AAC or aptX, which are also widely available on transmitting devices.”

Steven Hoyle, category line director, headphones, at Bowers & Wilkins, follows suit, telling us that, while the company has hard data showing that people using its wares do listen at higher quality, it isn’t convinced there is much demand for more, yet.

“Within the Bowers & Wilkins headphone range we already support playback of audio up to 24-bit/96kHz via USB. We know that some owners are actively using this connection instead [of Bluetooth] in order to access higher levels of performance; but that does compromise the ease of use and convenience that you have with a wireless connection,” he says.

“We’ll continue to evaluate the need for 24-bit/192kHz support, but we’ll always view through that lens of ‘what makes sense for the consumer’, within which ease of use and convenience are also critically important factors.”

The words “ease of use” and “convenience” quickly became a theme. Kazunori Otsu, director of Technics’ headphone business, tells us that while audio quality is paramount, it needs to be easy to access too.

And at the moment, getting a consistent, decent experience delivering fully scalable, lossless 24-bit/192kHz wireless audio quality is anything but simple, according to all three experts.

It’s all a bit difficult

As stated by B&W’s Hoyle, even if the headphones were made, it wouldn’t be “easy” for listeners to take advantage of the functionality.

“The biggest challenge is how we make access to better audio simple and straightforward. Having support for higher resolution formats is part of the puzzle, but it is not the only answer,” he says.

“There are plenty of examples where users may think that they cannot tell the difference in the quality between high resolution and ‘standard’ audio, but this is often because of limitations elsewhere in the chain. This is why we try to focus on a whole system view to ensure that any improvements in the source should translate easily to all users.”

There is an ecosystem of factors needed to support lossless 24-bit/192kHz wireless audio. At a broad strokes level, to deliver the promised quality, you need a source transmitting 24-bit/192kHz, a wireless transmission and protocol robust enough to handle it without losing parts along the way and an endpoint (headphones, for the purposes of this article) that can understand and articulate the data it’s receiving. That’s a lot of moving parts, even for an engineer.

The big drawback at the moment is that most networks, codecs and devices aren’t up to the challenge. Bluetooth, the most common protocol used to stream music, can’t support the quality, and even the top-end aptX HD and LDAC codecs for it are fairly lossy – meaning parts are lost during the digital compression and unpacking process. And wi-fi, which is the most stable and fastest option for most people, isn’t as ubiquitous as Bluetooth, and there are issues with how most devices behave when switching between the two.

Qualcomm wants to fix the transmission part with its Expanded Personal Area Network (XPAN) technology. This, it claims, will scale automatically and intelligently depending on network conditions. So in theory it could (eventually) deliver 24-bit/192kHz audio wirelessly when its data connection is good enough, but discreetly switch to lower quality, in a way that doesn’t lead to dropouts or artefacts, when it’s too slow.

Lenbrook’s Airia transmission codec, which itself was an evolution of the SCL6 codec that MQA was working on before the firm was bought by its current Canadian owner, has a similar goal.

That’s all before we get into my, and former What Hi-Fi? editor, Jez Ford’s, explorations of how Ultrawide Band could help wireless headphones, and audio in general, reliably reach the standard. Cliff Notes: this is an alternative protocol some firms believe could deliver the quality with lower power demands, removing Bluetooth from the equation entirely.

It’s this plurality of moving parts that is a big issue for companies, including Sennheiser, says Ern:

“There are many improvements available or on the horizon to improve wireless audio quality. The main obstacle is compatibility. New technologies usually require transmitter and receiver to use the same form of transmission and codec, but most devices only support the usual standards.

“Therefore, using such new standards often requires not only the right headphone, but also the respective transmitter (phone, tablet, computer).”

Technics’ Otsu expresses a similar frustration, noting there isn’t even full interoperability among Bluetooth and mobile devices right now:

“One of the main challenges today is the limited interoperability of high-quality wireless audio technologies across different platforms. For example, while technologies such as LDAC can deliver higher-quality audio, support varies depending on the operating system, device, and chipset.

“As a result, even when advanced audio technologies are available, not all users can easily access or benefit from them. Improving compatibility and accessibility across platforms will be an important step toward bringing high-quality wireless audio experiences to a broader audience.”

What do people want?

All the experts we spoke to also agreed that “mainstream” music listeners don’t necessarily put technical things, including codecs and bitrates, on the same level of importance as audiophiles and hi-fi enthusiasts – which is why they are focusing elsewhere, for now.

Technics’ Otsu sums this up, telling us: “Across the broader market, we believe consumers are increasingly prioritising everyday usability factors such as comfort, ANC performance, connectivity, and battery life.”

B&W’s Hoyle adds that even these are only part of a wider set of priorities, which flip in rank depending on the person, telling us: “I believe that each user has a clear idea of how they are planning to use their headphone and this informs their priority feature list and their purchasing criteria.”

For Sennheiser’s Ern, this is particularly problematic, as the technical implications of raising audio quality would lead to higher prices due to the need for more expensive chipsets and lower devices’ battery lives, due to their higher power consumption.

So does that mean we won’t see the upgrades promised by Airia and XPAN as soon as we had hoped? Not necessarily…

Hi-fi will still find a way

Despite the mainstream headphone makers’ reticence, there was one segment of the market that still thought the effort of making the jump to 24-bit/192kHz, lossless, wireless audio was worth it: luxury and high-end.

Matt Dever, senior global product line manager, Harman Luxury Audio (Mark Levinson’s parent company), tells us that in audio circles there will always be enthusiasts willing to chase audio quality above all else.

“For Mark Levinson, it is very important to achieve that pinnacle of 24-bit/192kHz performance in an active wireless headphone. And we know that the technology giants will help get us there in the not too distant future. There is a market for that level of performance, as well; it will continue to drive the aspirational side of the consumer to better performing products,” says Dever.

He adds that the firm is already looking at XPAN and Airia, as well as a multitude of other technologies to help improve its premium wireless headphones.

“From the Mark Levinson and the luxury/audiophile perspective, our end users crave the best-quality audio experience possible. So, incorporating technologies that bring the highest level of audio quality, be it through the connectivity elements of wi-fi, XPAN, Bluetooth [and the like], or through employing audio codecs like Airia, LDAC and LHDC. These types of elements are paramount in the development of a Mark Levinson headphone,” he says.

“And it doesn’t have to be just one of these technologies; many of these can be employed together to create an even more exceptional listening experience. For example, many of the audio codecs mentioned above scale up to higher levels of performance with greater connectivity bandwidth. The Mark Levinson team is always studying and testing the latest technologies to determine the best path forward to keep us at the forefront of delivering the finest sounding headphones.”

Despite that, he does concede that the firm is hitting many of the same roadblocks as Technics, B&W and Sennheiser, telling us:

“Mark Levinson is not a fan of any of the lossy compression codecs. But with the limitations of bandwidth available, there must be compromises made, at least for today. But the industry goal should be lossless wireless audio reproduction at 24bit/192kHz.”

So, while we may not see “mainstream” next-generation headphones as soon as we had hoped, the high-end is already taking steps towards delivering the audio Shangri-La promised by Qualcomm just over a year ago.

What do you think?

Do you agree with the experts that most people aren’t that bothered about lossless 24bit/192kHz wireless audio and that it makes sense only in the high-end market? Or, do you think it’s up to brands to do a better job of educating users about the jump ahead of delivering it? Let us know in the comments below!

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We've been waiting for a sequel to the outstanding Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling wireless headphones for some time, and it looks as though our prayers may finally be answered in the coming months.

According to an often-reliable inside source, thewalkman.blog, recent import filings have revealed that a new pair of headphones is set to replace the Sony WH-CH720N, and will be called the "Sony WH-CH730N".

The filing also reveals the new colours for the upcoming sequel, with 'Black', 'White', 'Pink', 'Blue' and 'Beige' all listed. That's broadly the same as the finishes found on the established WH-CH720N, with 'Beige' representing the only new addition.

We don't have many details regarding the headphones' hardware or specifications. It remains to be seen what drivers they will implement, which chipset they will use, or what their prospective battery life figures will be.

We've had no word on price either, but as the WH-CH720N launched at £99 / $129 / AU$259 back in 2023, we'd hope to see an RRP that didn't rise too much beyond that.

So when could we see these new wireless cans finally arrive? According to thewalkman.blog, the FCC confidentiality end date is on October 20th, so there's a good chance we could see the WH-CH730N arrive at around that time.

The WH-CH720N landed in March 2023, but as we're well beyond that point in 2026, it appears that Sony may be shooting for a release that's somewhere towards the final quarter of the year.

For us, the sooner the better. The more we've had time to listen to and often live with the WH-CH720N, the more we've come to appreciate them as being some of the best sound-per-pound wireless headphones you can get. For sheer value, we're struggling to think of many that do so much for such a modest price.

They're not perfect, and when we speculated as to the four things we'd love to see from the then-speculated WH-CH730N, we hoped for a little less bass and for the new headphones to fold away fully, for a bit of added portability and convenience.

The WH-CH720N are lauded Award-winners, but a few new features, such as on-head wear detection or support for Sony's higher-quality LDAC codec, would be lovely additions for when a sequel materialises.

Whatever the case, the WH-CH730N have big shoes to fill. We dubbed the WH-CH720N as "dependably made, enthusiastic-sounding headphones that...deliver good ANC and a strong feature set to the very affordable end of the wireless headphone market", so any prospective sequel will have its work cut out to improve on such a potent combination of performance and sheer value.

Can Sony manage it? We'll be keeping our ears to the ground for any further rumblings regarding the WH-CH730N, and will keep you updated as and when any new information comes to light.

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Our pick of the best over-ear headphones

A new pair of Bose over-ear headphones could be arriving very shortly.

That's according to French outlet Dealabs, which reports that Bose has leaked a second-generation iteration of its QuietComfort Headphones, slated for release in just a few weeks.

Bose's QuietComfort Headphones line isn't to be confused with the more premium QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The QC Headphones are to the QC Ultra Headphones what the more affordable QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) are to the range-topping QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra (2nd Gen) – a lower price tag in return for slightly fewer features and not quite top-of-the-line performance.

That said, the new over-ears promise a full-blooded refresh over their three-year-old predecessors, with Dealabs' leak suggesting a new design, revamped controls and better sound quality could all be coming to the second-generation model in a bid to see Bose make a play for the competitive mid-range market.

Quite a few premium features could be about to trickle down from the premium QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), including Bose 'TrueSpatial' spatial audio, lossless playback via USB-C, and a host of new listening flavours, including 'Cinema Mode' for making video content more, well, cinematic.

Many existing features and functionalities are set for significant improvements. Bose's 'ActiveSense' technology works to take the edge off unwanted noise peaks when listening in 'Aware' mode, while improved call quality comes courtesy of more effective ambient noise reduction.

The headphones' on-cup controls have been revamped, with Dealabs teasing more intuitive button placement on the earcups themselves.

Wholesale improvements haven't been made to every aspect of the incoming QuietComfort Headphones, however. Battery life will likely remain the same as the soon-to-be outgoing model, with the second-gen over-ears again set to max out at a reported 24 hours of listening with ANC switched on.

That revamped design is set to feature more on-ear padding alongside a more oval earpad shape and a wider headband, all designed to improve wearer comfort over time.

A veritable Delux colour wheel of new finishes could also be set to arrive, including Black, White Smoke, Rosewood Mauve, Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint, and Hazelnut Taupe.

What about prospective price? Figures are slated as £300 / $359 / €350, which represents a £50 / €50 drop for UK and European buyers respectively.

We never tested the original QuietComfort Headphones when they launched around three years ago, but we have reviewed both the QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) in recent times.

Bose isn't quite dominating the premium wireless headphones space when facing competition from Sony, Apple and Sennheiser, but the upcoming QC Headphones' slightly more affordable asking price and bolstered feature set might help Bose claw back ground lost to its estimable competitors.

Dealabs claims that Bose's latest cans will arrive on August 13th. We've contacted Bose for comment, and will keep you updated with developments as they arise.

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These are the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market

Skullcandy has released new premium wireless headphones, the Crusher 1080 ANC.

But rather than go it alone, the firm has enlisted the help of a powerful ally in a bid to get its latest cans competing with the best in the business.

That ally, in case you hadn't guessed already, is Bose.

The Crusher 1080 ANCs' extensive feature set is powered by 'Sound by Bose' technology, meaning the new headphones boast 'QuietControl' noise cancelling and 'TrueSpatial' sound design.

These let them deliver Bose's Immersive Audio, and 'SpeechClarity' features for, as you might have guessed, clearer voice calls.

You even get Bose-tuned EQ modes to more accurately tailor the sound to your specific preferences.

That's a lot of Bose-made tech, but what about how the Crusher 1080 ANC actually sound?

As you might have gathered from the name, the new over-ears promise "bass you can feel", complemented by "a rich, balanced sound" with plenty of "immersive detail", all aided by Bose's 'WaveForm' audio engine for improved signal processing.

The Crusher 1080 ANC boast a very impressive 60 hours of battery life with noise cancelling switched off, dropping to around 50 hours when ANC is in play, while a 'Rapid Charge' facility will grant four hours of battery life from a 10-minute boost.

Elsewhere, a decidedly premium feature set includes Google Fast Pairing, Multipoint Connectivity and Auracast audio sharing technology, as well as a low-latency audio mode for gaming and movies.

Outside of the Bose tech, the headphones also feature Skullcandy's patented 'Crusher Bass' technology, which allows you to use the Skullcandy app or a dedicated 'Crusher wheel' to dial up your lower-end reproduction and "create a physical bass sensation that adds impact and immersion to music, movies, and games".

The Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC are available now, priced at £220 / $280 / AU$400, in a choice of Brown, Pink, Grey or Black finishes.

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Looking for luxury headphones with the performance to match?

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 are a well-built, good-looking pair of wireless headphones, but they're also backed up by outstanding clarity and a fast, punchy sound.

And the price just got a little less luxurious. The Px8 are now £379 at Amazon, a mega drop of £220 and the lowest price we've seen.

It's worth noting that the Px8 have been superseded by the better-sounding Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, but they're sticking stubbornly to their hefty launch price of £629.

Eyebrows were certainly raised at the premium asking price of the Bowers & Wilkins Px8, but we awarded them the full five stars even at full price.

As well as a classy design and supreme comfort levels, the Px8 is packed with features, including Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs for higher quality streams.

There are intuitive physical buttons on the earcups for reliable controls, while the B&W Music app gives you direct access to music services such as Tidal, Qobuz and Deezer. And to top it all off, you get 30 hours of battery life from a single charge.

And the all-important sound? It's an exciting presentation with excellent levels of clarity, precision and detail.

"The Px8’s midrange is crisp and clear, communicating vocal nuances superbly," our Bowers & Wilkins Px8 review reads. "These headphones reveal an impressive amount of detail and, just as importantly, present it in a musically cohesive way.

There is a reassuring sense of control here and the ability to track low-level instrumental strands, even when the music gets busy."

The Px8 also has four microphones for active noise cancelling (ANC), plus another two for voice pick-up during phone calls. The ANC is decent enough but not outstanding, especially compared to newer rivals that have moved the goalposts.

If ANC is important to you, you might want to consider the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). They're currently a bit cheaper and offer a real step-up in the ANC department.

The Sennheiser HDB 630 are a similar price and will also appeal to audiophiles, thanks to an included dongle that enables aptX Adaptive over Bluetooth. Even without the dongle, the HDB 630 are class-leading in detail, dynamic expression and refinement at their level.

If you are after luxury, audiophile headphones with excellent build quality, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 are now at a not-quite-so-luxury price of £379 at Amazon. While there are newer rivals on the scene, the Px8 still deserve serious consideration if you are buying at this level.

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After more than five years of daily use, my AirPods Max recently stopped working.

I can't really complain. Between commuting, international travel and a house move, they'd spent years being stuffed into backpacks and suitcases before emerging to soundtrack thousands of hours of music and movies. They'd had a pretty hard life.

Rather than rushing to repair them, though, I saw an opportunity.

In the five years since I'd bought the AirPods Max, loads of exciting new headphones had launched. This felt like the perfect excuse to break away from Apple's ecosystem and find out whether anything could finally replace them.

Over the next couple of months, I spent time with headphones from Sony, Bose, Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins. Their relative strengths varied, but all of them sounded very accomplished with music. In the case of Sony's superb WH-1000XM6, I'd even argue the overall musical performance is better than that of the AirPods Max.

But this period of headphone flirtation had a surprising effect: my movie-watching almost ground to a halt.

For years now, I've used my AirPods Max at least as much for movies as for music. In fact, they've quietly become an essential part of my home cinema setup.

Once the rest of my family had gone to bed and it was no longer neighbourly to keep my Dolby Atmos system rumbling away, I had a simple routine. Rather than switching on Night mode and flattening every explosion, gunshot and orchestral swell, I'd put on my AirPods Max, tap the pop-up on my Apple TV 4K and carry on watching exactly where I'd left off.

The combination of the AirPods Max and Apple TV 4K remains astonishingly good. Their Dolby Atmos implementation, delivered through Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, creates an experience that's surprisingly easy to forget is coming from a pair of headphones. It doesn't simply sound spacious; it sounds uncannily natural.

And that's the bit I hadn't appreciated until the AirPods Max disappeared from my life. Every alternative I tried excelled with music, but none recreated that movie experience.

The closest I came was pairing Sony's WH-1000XM6 with the Bravia 8 II TV. It produced an impressively open and fairly cinematic presentation, but because the connection relied on standard Bluetooth, what I was hearing was ultimately a cleverly processed stereo signal rather than the sort of binaural Dolby Atmos experience that Apple's solution provides.

The difference wasn't night and day, but it was enough that I found myself missing the AirPods Max every time I settled down to watch a film, and that had a surprisingly big impact on my viewing habits.

If the family was asleep, I simply wasn't getting the experience I wanted. I wasn't about to hobble my main home cinema system with Night mode, but neither were the alternative headphones convincing enough to tempt me away from it.

Whether it's children, a partner or simply considerate neighbours, I suspect lots of people end up watching films after the house has gone quiet, and losing that window meant the number of films I watched absolutely tanked over the following weeks. I missed loads.

The good news is that I'm now making up for lost time, because I've managed to get hold of another pair of AirPods Max.

The whole experience taught me something I wasn't expecting, though: I'd quietly built my entire late-night movie-watching routine around one Apple feature.

That's not to say Apple has the only solution. Sony, for example, offers the little-known WLA-NS7 wireless transmitter, which promises a similar binaural Dolby Atmos experience with compatible headphones. I'll be testing that very soon.

But until something else can recreate what the AirPods Max and Apple TV 4K achieve together, they'll remain my favourite headphones for movies – even if some rivals have at least matched them when it comes to music.

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Check out our Apple AirPods Max review

What do you think of when you hear the word “liberty”? Perhaps the triumphant motto of the French Revolution which pledged liberty, equality and fraternity for all, or perhaps the Statue of Liberty with her torch aloft welcoming newcomers to New York via Ellis Island? The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, perhaps, or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance if you’re into your black and white Westerns?

You may not think of a pair of mid-price wireless earbuds, but could that be about to change? The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro are already imbued with a certain grandeur by virtue of their very name, but a name alone does not make a pair of earbuds.

Anker’s sub-brand Soundcore must face off against the likes of JBL and Sony to make a dent in this mid-range field, and while this isn’t the most densely populated segment of the wireless earbuds landscape, there are still a handful of hurdles for the Liberty 5 Pro to overcome.

Price

At £150 / $170 / AU$280, the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro are committedly mid-range wireless earbuds. For this kind of money, the JBL Live Beam 3 can be yours for around £120 / $150 / AU$150, while the more affordable and Award-winning Sony WF-C710N can be picked up for £75 / $80 / AU$128 at the time of writing.

The likeable Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, conversely, sit around the £179 / $179 / AU$299 mark.

Build & comfort

Hooray, a pair of wireless earbuds that fit snugly and securely in our ears! This isn’t faux surprise or mock celebration: it’s remarkable the number of in-ear headphones – wired or wireless – that fall at what should be the most basic of hurdles.

We rarely have such an issue with the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro. The mid-range contenders use a similar configuration to the more premium Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), with an outer stem attached to a main body accompanied by top-mounted fins designed to sit under the ear’s inner ridge and facilitate a more stable fit. Those fins are fixed to the buds directly, however, so it’s something of a one-size-fits all arrangement.

They may be small, but the difference they make is profound. Those fins are firmer than the ones found on the second-gen Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2, but in acting as an anchor to keep your buds in place, they really do the trick. We took the Liberty 5 Pro to the gym and even on a short 5 kilometre run, and not once did they come loose or make a bid for freedom.

During everyday use, the Liberty 5 Pro are easy to get along with. Their silicone ear tips fit snugly and securely, yet it isn’t often that we feel fatigued by the buds as we clock up the minutes of wear. Better still, Soundcore has been kind enough to offer five tip sizes ranging from XXS to large, so you’re likely to find a set to suit your needs, and there is an ear-tip test on the app to further help you on your journey to achieving a decent seal.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Liberty 5 Pros’ charging case, which uses a narrow front-mounted screen to display your buds’ vital statistics. The idea of a smart screen that essentially does the job of a companion app on your phone can be a bit of a divisive one, but we do appreciate being able to see our buds’ battery life at a mere glance.

Features

If you want something that will last and last, the Liberty 5 Pro’s battery life is decent, but they aren’t quite the Duracell Bunny of the mid-range earbud world. You’ll get around 6.5 hours from the buds and up to 28 hours total from the case with noise cancelling switched on, falling short of the 9-10 hours (buds) and 48-hour total of the rival JBL Live Beam 3.

Even the cheaper Sony WF-C710N squeeze around 8.5 hours from the buds and 30 hours with the case in play, leaving the Soundcore earbuds lagging rather behind their main rivals.

The Soundcore buds support Dolby Audio with head tracking, something they implement with reasonable competence. Do be aware that switching on Dolby Audio will switch off Soundcore’s ‘AI Sound Enhancement’ algorithm, resulting in a modest but perceptible drop-off in audio quality as a result.

The Sony-developed LDAC Bluetooth codec is also on the menu, something we wouldn’t necessarily expect to find with a pair of earbuds at this price – the cheaper Sony WF-C710N, for example, don’t support it at all. Considering LDAC allows you to stream high-resolution audio streams up to 32-bit/96kHz at up to 990kbps data rates from a compatible source, that’s quite a feather in the Liberty 5 Pros’ cap.

Touch controls work well, with Soundcore’s system operating primarily via either a series of taps or swipes depending on what you want your buds to do. Our test pair are responsive to our various commands, and we’re particularly impressed by the levels of customisation on offer from the accompanying Soundcore app.

On the subject of the app, Soundcore’s is generally a good one. There are plenty of useful features, such as an eight-band equaliser, ANC mode toggling, touch control customisation, and a handy fit test, but some users might feel that some additions just get in the way, such as a ‘Discovery’ comments forum and a ‘Soundspace’ section filled with free meditations and various flavours of white noise. For us, such additions aren’t particularly necessary, although they may have their fans among users keen for an app with all of the bells and whistles.

Noise cancelling & voice calls

Soundcore has put a lot of effort into the Liberty 5 Pros’ voice calls, packing the buds with 10 sensors and powering it all with a new ‘Anker Thus’ AI chip, which draws on large audio datasets and uses a configuration whereby the chip’s CPU and memory are fused together for a more efficient and powerful performance when handling audio and calls.

Human speech is nicely spotlighted and impressively clear, although voices do sound a little artificial and robotic. The Soundcore earbuds do isolate speech admirably from environmental noise, so much so that traffic, wind and birdsong are barely audible as we natter away without distraction. The Sony WF-C710N sound more natural, but the Liberty 5 Pro have a cleaner presentation.

Noise cancelling is similarly capable. The Liberty 5 Pro keep up with their rivals as they suppress the general ambience of a busy cafe, making a decent fist of softening exterior noises if not completely eliminating them.

Higher frequencies, including some human speech or the clank of weights in a busy gym, will still penetrate through, as will the deepest of deep rumbles, but this isn’t a poor performance at this mid-price level. If you want a proper step up in terms of pure noise isolation, you’re going to have to spend more cash and seek out the premium Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) or the Sony WF-1000XM6 instead.

Sound

It’s been a reasonable showing thus far, but sound is ultimately where the race is won or lost, and it is here where the Liberty 5 Pro trip and stumble. From the outset, we’re impressed with the muscle and weight they bring to their respective renditions of Slipknot’s Left Behind and Nine Inch Nails’ As Alive As You Need Me To Be, but a lack of clarity and overall sonic precision limit the extent to which we’re truly involved in our music.

To their credit, we do get a sense of a pair of earbuds that are trying to entertain us. These aren’t bland or lifeless performers, with the Soundcore bringing enough robustness and power, especially at the lower end, to grant our tunes some proper wallop. Corey Taylor’s relentless performance on Left Behind is suitably ferocious, yet subtler quirks and vocal textures are lost amidst the earbuds’ somewhat clouded presentation.

Ultimately, there’s a lack of real refinement to go with all of that undeniable eagerness. The bass may be powerful, but it is both ill-defined and overdone, while a peakiness and lack of treble refinement haunts the upper frequencies. While doing a bit of tinkering with the provided in-app equaliser can help to rectify some of that excessive eagerness, it can’t do much to infuse any real quality into the resulting reproduction.

It’s an issue that really stands out whenever a track has plunging bass tones, which ultimately end up sounding amorphous, rumbly and lacking in sufficient definition. Boot up the opening of Noisettes’ Never Forget You or the first few bars of Agnes Obel’s The Curse, and you’ll hear what we mean.

A loose low-frequency reproduction is not the only issue. While the Soundcore buds do have decent weight and impact, they’re not as crisp or as well-disciplined as their rivals. The cheaper Sony WF-C710N are equally full-blooded, yet they have the punch, precision and propulsion to go with that muscularity. The C710N are a pro boxer’s powerful, clean leading jab; the Liberty 5 are a sloppy haymaker thrown on a booze-fuelled Saturday night.

The mid-range buds’ lack of rhythmic momentum is highlighted on tracks such as Ghost’s Satanized, during which a poor sense of timing and squashed dynamics conspire to make the whole thing sound both flat and sluggish. The JBL Live Beam 3 are better in both regards, while the supremely entertaining C710N are, frankly, streets ahead.

Verdict

Despite their secure fit and ample feature set, the Soundcore Liberty Pro don’t have the sonic talents to trouble the best mid-range buds. If sound quality is a priority, seek out the well-rounded JBL Live Beam 3 or the sonically superior (and cheaper) Sony WF-C710N instead.

Review published: 7th July 2026

SCORES

• Sound 3
• Features 4
• Comfort 4

MORE:

Read our JBL Live Beam 3 review

Also consider the Sony WF-C710N

Best wireless earbuds: 7 sensational pairs reviewed and rated by our experts

We’re only on day one of Amazon Prime Day in Australia, yet it’s already delivering in a major way where discounts on hi-fi, home cinema and all manner of AV tech are concerned.

Nowhere is that more evident than with headphones. And while there are literally hundreds of pairs to sift through, I’ve found 8 What Hi-Fi? Award-winning pairs — including our current Product of the Year — on sale with discounts of up to 39%.

So, if you want to make sure the pair you buy is going to give you the best possible performance, look no further.

• Check out all the latest Award winners

As I mentioned earlier, there are plenty more pairs of headphones available during the Prime Day Australia sales, alongside a solid selection of hi-fi components and Bluetooth speakers.

Remember, the majority of these deals are likely to come to an end when Prime Day finishes at 11.59pm on Monday, July 13. You’ll also need to be a Prime member to nab most of them. If you’ve not been a member before, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial.

Fancy something for the weekend? Well Sony has just the thing. Its Award-winning WH-1000XM6 headphones have just gained a new firmware update that enables an ultra-low-latency mode.

The update is also available for Sony’s 1000X The Collexion.

The update adds support for the Bluetooth LE Audio Gaming Audio Profile (GMAP). This reduces latency (the time that a sound takes to reach your ears) to less than 40 milliseconds.

As the name suggests, this will predominantly be of interest to gamers.

GMAP has four signal profiles (A-D) depending on whether speed or stability is the priority. Profile A is the quickest, while D is better suited for areas with lots of interference. GMAP is part of the Bluetooth specification laid down by the Bluetooth SIG, and so can work on other wireless headphones too.

In order to hear the benefit, your audio source also needs to support GMAP.

The new feature is available now via the 3.1.5 firmware update for the XM6 and 1.3.0 for the 1000X The Collexion. You can install the updates for both pairs of headphones using the Sony Sound Connect app.

MORE:

Read our Sony WH-1000XM6 review

And our Sony 1000X The Collexion review

I spent 10 hours on trains listening the Sony WH-1000XM6 – here’s what I learned

Growing up in rural Wales, I spent my adolescence desperate for noise.

As a teenager, roaming the serene forests that surrounded my home in search of something – anything – to do, I was invariably accompanied by a headphone-rattling playlist of punk, rock and industrial music. My natural gravitation at the time was towards anything that shook things up, that challenged the serenity of my environment, and would, I suppose, give my folks a headache.

As I became an adult and my taste diversified, I nevertheless sought out places to live that fell in line with that desire for chaos. Naturally, London was my first choice: loud, relentless, sometimes frightening.

By that time, I was enjoying everything from Fela Kuti to Chopin, but amid the blaring interruptions of tube trains, traffic and street-preachers, I simply could not hear quieter tracks in my music library.

Inexplicably, I never considered seeking out noise-cancelling headphones. Having embraced the city’s clamor as an inalterable feature of my circumstances, I took up the habit of listening, almost exclusively, to music that was loud enough to drown London out. Back to punk, we go.

That all changed once I started writing about audio equipment for a living.

Within my first few weeks as a new staff writer at What Hi-Fi?, I took home a pair of Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless headphones.

A heatwave was in full force when I swapped my cheap earbuds for these more premium over-ear ANC headphones, and on the crammed train home from work, the air con was going hell for leather. Above the bustle and groans of commuters sweating through their work clothes, the AC was all but shrieking with the effort it took to cool the carriage down.

Usually, the cacophony would have droned through my music, even at full volume; but placing the Momentum 5 Wireless over my ears and then enabling their full active noise-cancelling mode, I was astonished to discover how completely the world fell away.

In our five-star review of the Momentum 5 Wireless, we mention that Sennheiser has taken pains to improve on the ANC of the Momentum 4 Wireless, using twice as many microphones (a grand total of eight) to achieve what it describes as “three times” better noise cancellation, particularly in the midrange. In our view, the improvements were a success, keeping “traffic, wind” and, crucially, “the hum of air conditioners” at bay.

As I’ve fallen into the habit of listening to music through the Sennheisers during my daily commute, an unexpected side effect of their excellent noise-cancelling has been that my appetite for sonic carnage has subsided.

In its place, I’ve started listening to classical music on a regular basis. I wasn’t formerly much of a classical listener, but with environmental sound cancelled so effectively, I have found myself enjoying the newfound ability to pick out the finer points in classical arrangements – and while commuting, at that. Needless to say, if not for trying these headphones, I would have remained oblivious to these details.

These days, among my daily listens are Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major, M.83: II. Adagio assai and Debussy’s La damoiselle élue, L.62: Prélude.

To my ear, each of these musical discoveries has been complemented by the Sennheisers’ sonic signature, which we describe in our review as “rich, smooth yet strikingly precise and detailed”. In La damoiselle élue, the reverberant piano conveys a striking sense of scale, giving you a sense of the space in which the piece is played, which only grows as the notes are struck harder.

But even at the gentlest touch, the Sennheisers remain expressive, thanks to the “naturalness and insight” of their midrange performance. Listening to these recordings, I even find that their bass reproduction, which we describe as “on the richer side”, lends a pleasant and proportionate weight to every note.

So, where once you might have found me blasting Black Flag, Einstürzende Neubauten and Swans, I will instead be exploring – and what’s more, thoroughly enjoying – the back-catalogues of Debussy, Wagner, Ravel, and even some ambient albums such as Thomas Köner’s Permafrost.

That’s not to say I’m ditching the punk, I get the feeling that our love affair isn’t quite at its end. But who knows, perhaps, thanks to excellent noise-cancelling and performance from headphones such as the Momentum 5 Wireless, I’ll get to keep my hearing intact for a few more moshpits yet.

MORE:

Read our Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless review

Best noise-cancelling headphones 2026 – tested by our in-house review experts

FiiO's noise-cancelling wireless headphones want to challenge Sony for entry-level supremacy

FiiO has unveiled its latest pair of wireless headphones, the EH13.

The new over-ears are conceived as a pair of budget-friendly cans that go big on features while keeping costs to a minimum, aiming to give would-be buyers "high-quality audio at an accessible price".

The EH13 feature a set of 40mm dynamic drivers fitted with sapphire-coated composite diaphragms, while support for the Sony-made LDAC codec allows for hi-res Bluetooth streaming up to 32-bit/96kHz.

Despite their modest price, the EH13 offer hybrid active noise-cancellation, while five built-in microphones and advanced 'Environmental Noise Cancellation' algorithms aim for clear voice pickup and reduced surrounding noise during calls.

The EH13 grant up to 45 hours of playback with ANC on, rising to a whopping 75 hours when noise cancelling is switched off. Further, Multipoint Bluetooth allows for connecting the FiiO over-ears to twin devices simultaneously.

The new headphones house a 3.5mm input and come with a provided cable if you want to hook up directly to your chosen music source, while a fully foldable design makes the budget cans easier to transport.

If you want to tinker with your listening experience, including altering your EQ settings, you can do so via the provided FiiO Control App.

The FiiO EH13 are available now in a choice of black or beige finishes, priced at £49 / $49 / €49. That sort of money puts them in direct competition with the budget Sony WH-CH520 (tested at £49 / $59 / AU$79) that we've so often praised since their release in 2023.

MORE:

Want cheap wireless headphones? Read our Sony WH-CH520 review

These are the best wireless headphones you can buy

Best wireless earbuds: top pairs tested by our reviewers

Prime Day is in full swing, and our deal experts are still trawling through all the savings to bring you our top recommendations.

While the options aren’t as plentiful as they would be around Black Friday, with any big sales event, you’re always guaranteed some brands will lead the way in certain categories.

And one of those names is Sony, who is one of the biggest players in the wireless headphones space. It’s a position that’s reflected in the impressive range of deals we’ve seen so far during Prime Day.

I’ve highlighted my favourite picks so far below and also included one heavily discounted pair I would urge you to avoid…

The Sony WH-CH720N headphones are an easy recommendation for me because they're so affordable and sound so good. Build quality is robust, and they deliver impressive active noise cancellation for the money, too. Add a very decent 35 hours of battery life into the equation, and you can't go wrong, especially for £60 for the black finish.

Another affordable recommendation, the Sony WF-C710N are brilliant budget wireless earbuds. They are attractive, comfortable in-ears that give a fun yet mature performance for an amazing price. And that Glass Blue finish is an absolute stunner, in my eyes at least.

If you want the very best wireless headphones Sony has to offer, you have to go for the WH-1000XM6 this Prime Day. With stunning sound quality, excellent comfort, great portability, and brilliant noise-cancelling skills, these are the flagship wireless headphones to beat, especially at their discounted price

Alternatively, the best wireless earbuds currently in Sony’s stable are the magnificent WF-1000XM6, which have their first major price drop this Prime Day. In our five-star review, we praised their “breathtaking all-round performance”, which includes awesome noise-cancelling and super-clear call quality.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are five-star cans that won themselves a coveted What Hi-Fi? Award in 2024. This stunning pair offers great sonic clarity, a punchy delivery and precise, agile bass. Yes, the WH-1000XM6 are newer and perform better across the board, but they are much more expensive.

Proof that Sony doesn’t always get it right are the ULT Wear noise-cancelling headphones. Yes, they boast a less-than-half-price saving, but I wouldn’t rush out to snap them up. I don't really think the Sony ULT Wear are worth your cash – there are far finer alternatives available at this level (like the WH-CH720N) that offer a much more balanced and entertaining sound for the money.

MORE:

Our pick of the best wireless headphones for all budgets

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5: which wireless headphones are better?

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

Prime Day 2026 LIVE: our hi-fi experts choose the best speaker, headphone and turntable deals

Boy howdy, what a doozy of a deal.

Of all of the wireless headphones deals we've seen this Prime Day, this has to be one of the very best. The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are just £255 at Amazon, a colossal saving of £144 that far outstrips any deal we've thus seen on the five-star wireless over-ears.

You'll have to get them in a rather stylish white colourway to get the lowest price possible, but that's hardly a great loss – white finishes are so in right now.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are some of the best wireless headphones we've had the pleasure of testing in the last few year, impressing in terms of both style and substance.

First launching in April 2025, it's not surprising to see discounts creep in as the good-looking over-ears approach roughly one-and-a-half years of life, but a £144 saving at Amazon is by far the best deal we've seen yet Hey, thank Prime Day for that..

While we've awarded the Px7 S3 the top spot for being best for style, being really, really, ridiculously good-looking is not all they have to offer. They're also lovely to listen to and packed with great features, even if the ANC could reasonably be quite a bit better.

As we wrote in our review: "The Px7 S3 really are exceptionally refined and detailed headphones. They drop you deep into a performance, breaking the boundary between you and your music and insisting that you become a part of the experience, a little like a mate at a gig who ushers you ever-closer towards the stage."

Thanks to their cannily-positioned eight-mic array, the Px7 S3 deliver a reasonably solid barrier between you and the outside world.

While their biggest rivals, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony XM6 block out sound a little more competently, these Bowers do a decent enough job, and at this price, they're now considerably cheaper than the XM6, and a lot better looking.

Their features also impress at this price point, with aptX Lossless and Adaptive Bluetooth support and a respectable 30-hour battery life with ANC on, while Bluetooth Multipoint makes switching between multiple connected source devices as easy as falling off a log.

For anyone looking for the convenience of wireless and ANC without giving up too much when it comes to sound quality, the B&W Px7 S3 are easy to recommend, especially now that they're just £255 at Amazon.

MORE:

Hi-fi speaker deals are thin on the ground this Prime Day, but I've tracked down six of the best worth a closer look

Stay up to date with Prime Day 2026 LIVE: our hi-fi experts choose the best speaker, headphone and turntable deals

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 vs Pi6: which B&W wireless earbuds should you choose

A pair of Sony headphones for £100 off? Normally we'd be recommending that you throw caution to the wind, boot up that laptop, stretch your clicking finger and get those cans into your digital basket, because that sounds, on paper, like a Prime Day deal worth taking.

This is one of the rare instances, however, when we'd advise you to look elsewhere. The Sony ULT Wear are a rare misfire from Sony, and while they're down from £180 to just £88 on Amazon, we just don't feel that they're worth your time. Save your cash and pick up a pair of five-star alternatives (listed below, obviously) instead.

Sony ULT Wear deal

Hooray, a pair of heavily discounted Sony headphones! They’ve got noise cancelling, a comfortable design, loads of high-performance Sony features and a majorly knocked down right, so what exactly isn’t there to love?

The problem is that the ULT Wear don’t sound as good as we had hoped. In fact, they are a rare sonic misfire for Sony, with a sound that sounds either too enthusiastic and bass-heavy, or simply too lacking in the basics of dynamics and detail to have us singing their praises. Great Sony headphones abound at the moment, but sadly, the ULT Wear are quite a long way from greatness.

Consider these alternatives instead

MORE:

I've handpicked the 12 best-value Prime Day home cinema and audio deals – all under £200

Amazon Prime Day 2026 Live Q&A: personalised hi-fi and home cinema buying advice, direct from our experts

Discounts galore! These are the best Amazon Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals

I have been happily rocking a pair of the four-star Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 as my go-to pair of wireless headphones for a while now.

For me, they’re great, and I am more than happy with them. But, after a few readers got in touch asking if they should take advantage of Amazon’s current Aventho 300 deal, which lets you grab a pair for £239 (saving £120), my answer is, probably not.

Instead, I would point most people to Amazon’s current deal on the five-star Sony WH-1000XM6, which lets you pick up a pair for £236 (save £164).

That’s not because the Aventho 300 and I have fallen out of love and are on a break. They are fantastic, wonderfully unassuming headphones with a sonic profile that will truly delight any listener who values composure and balance, even if it means they might be a little clinical. That’s why I love them.

For most people, however, there’s a reason we scored the Sony WH-1000XM6 higher and gave them a What Hi-Fi? Award. Their sonic profile is more entertaining and packed with detail, and will please a wider audience of listeners than the Aventho 300.

They also offer better ANC, which again is a big factor that gives them more mass appeal. We said as much in our reviews of the two headphones.

For example, here is our WH-1000XM6 verdict:

“Sony’s wireless headphones deliver a performance more than befitting a flagship pair of wireless headphones. Comfort levels are great, they’re nice to use, ANC is excellent, call quality is class-leading, and sound quality can match anything at this level. Simply sensational.”

Whereas in our Aventho 300 review we reported:

“The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 won’t be for everyone [...] That said, these are really solid performers for the money, that resist the urge to impose their will on your music and instead step back and allow your tunes room to shine.”

We stand by those statements. Which is why, generally, I recommend that most buyers should opt for the Sony WH-1000XM6, even though I am personally very fond of my Aventho 300.

MORE:

Check out our Prime Day 2026 hi-fi deals live hub

These are the best wireless headphones we have reviewed

Our picks of the best wireless earbuds

This Prime Day is the perfect time to find your latest pair of wireless headphones or wireless earbuds. Prices are dropping faster than Scotland's World Cup chances, and good deals are becoming great ones thanks to ever-plummeting RRPs. There's no time like the present to snap up a bargain.

This Prime Day has seen major discounts on a massive variety of headphones, but we're limiting this rundown to those which fall under £150. Times are tough right not, so the products we've listed below, be they in-ear or over-ear, are all designed to elicit maximum satisfaction from the lowest cost possible. Nice.

Wireless earbuds

Best mid-price: Bowers & Wilkins Pi6

Best noise-cancelling: Sony WF-C710N

Best entry-level: Sony WF-C510

Over-ear headphones

Best entry-level: Sony WH-CH520

Best budget noise-cancelling: Sony WH-CH720N

Best budget wired: Røde NTH-100

MORE:

Prime Day 2026 Live: all the top TV, soundbar and projector deals handpicked by our home cinema experts

Discounts galore! These are the best early Amazon Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals

Amazon Prime Day 2026 Live Q&A: personalised hi-fi and home cinema buying advice, direct from our experts

When you're looking for a great Prime Day deal, what you're really after is the cheapest price for a very good product. While we've spotted gigantic speaker savings and great OLED TV discounts, those price tags still number in the hundreds.

So what's the best cheapest Prime Day deal this week? That would be the Sony WH-CH520. These budget wireless headphones already won us over thanks to their blend of talents we tested them at full price (£49) but they're now available for just £30 at Amazon.

Only £30 for five-star Sony headphones! If you regularly peruse the glorious Tesco meal deals for your work lunches, this amounts to about seven meal deals. Even more if you're a Clubcard holder.

Which one is better value? The meal deal is invaluable – a sandwich, a snack, a drink! – but I would happily swap it for a plainer home-made lunch for a week, just so I could spare that £30 to invest in these ultra-budget Sony headphones.

It would be a good investment in the long run: these wireless headphones have a massive battery life of 50 hours, are comfortable and lightweight to wear, and they sound balanced, informative, and engaging. As a travel companion on my commutes, they would be just as invaluable, keeping me fed on a diet of new and much-loved songs.

As we said in our review: "You can’t really expect the Earth when you’re paying this much for a pair of headphones, but what’s remarkable about the Sony WH-CH520 is how little compromise they demand of you, both in terms of audio performance and ergonomics. "

If you're keeping a strict eye on your budget – as you have to be in today's rising cost-of-living crisis and hectic lives – it can be an indulgence to spend money on a pair of wireless headphones. And when you do, you want to make sure you've got your money's worth – you don't want to spend it on something that will disappoint you.

And these cheap Sony five-star headphones, with a Prime Day deal that makes them ever cheaper, won't disappoint. They are undoubtedly great value and worth indulging in.

MORE:

I hate the chaos of airports – are these five-star noise-cancelling earbuds what my travel bag has been missing?

The KEF speakers I use with my Bluetooth turntable aren't discounted for Amazon Prime Day – but I highly recommend them anyway

I'm a hi-fi expert and I’ve found 12 amazing audiophile-friendly deals you won't find on Amazon this Prime Day

The only downside of recommending products for people to buy during Prime Day is that you start to sound like a broken record.

When one product I know well is the perfect fit for most people, I can’t help but keep blurting it out, and that’s exactly the case when it comes to one particular pair of ridiculously affordable wireless headphones.

The Sony WH-CH720N have become part of the furniture at the What Hi-Fi? Awards in recent years, such has been their domination of the sub-£100 area of the market.

They're consistently among the best wireless headphones we've tested.They continue to dominate all rivals at the money, and I’m pleased to say that they are back to just £60 at Amazon (which is pretty much their lowest price ever) in the Prime Day sales.

The WH-CH720N are fabulous all-rounders. The way they deliver your favourite tunes with conviction and enthusiasm is to be applauded, and their outgoing nature and wonderful sense of musicality keep you coming back for more.

Rival headphones at this price can only dream of sounding as entertaining.

In our Sony WH-CH720N review, we said their “punchy presentational style feels tailor-made for the genres that can get the best use from it, namely rock, hip-hop, big orchestral numbers and peppy, energetic pop hits”.

Some might feel the bass can be a little boisterous at times, but we found you can quickly dial this down a notch on the headphones’ companion app.

The build quality reflects the price tag, so don’t expect too much in the way of luxurious materials, but the Sonys still feel solid and durable. They’re ideal for daily use – you can just fling them into a rucksack and forget about them when not in use.

The built-in noise-cancelling is great for the money, and you don’t feel shortchanged. As we said in our review, “these affordable Sonys do an effective job of dampening, if not silencing completely, the rumble and swoosh of each passing car as it whizzes its way past on a busy nearby road”.

They deliver a ridiculous level of performance for the money, which is the reason why I recommend them so much – for just £60 at Amazon, you really can’t go wrong.

MORE:

Discover more of the best wireless headphones you can buy

Prime Day 2026 LIVE: the best headphone, speaker and vinyl deals picked by our hi-fi experts

Forget the rest – these are the premium wireless headphones I'm recommending to everyone this Prime Day

I've heard a lot of premium wireless headphones in the past few months. No, seriously, when I say a lot, I mean a lot.

The Sony WH-1000XM6, the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless, the Apple AirPods Max 2, the Sony 1000X The Collexion, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2; the list just goes on and on.

And yet, this Amazon Prime Day, I would pick one pair above all others. Those aforementioned headphones are all excellent, sometimes spectacular, in their own respective ways, but one pair stands head and shoulders above the rest: the Sennheiser HDB 630.

At £400 / $500 / AU$1000, they're not cheap, and discounts aren't exactly common, but if you see a drop this Prime Day, across any of the major retailers, I would urge you wholeheartedly to snap it up while you can.

In fact, even if they don't budge an inch, I'd still be urging you to get hold of the best wireless headphones Sennheiser has ever made.

It's going to be a crazy twist of fate if some of the best wireless headphones you can currently buy this Prime Day aren't currently available on Amazon. Well, it's their loss.

In truth, forget Prime Day and Amazon altogether. Forget discounts and price cuts, and even brand loyalty. Just remember one key fact: if you want the best premium noise-cancelling wireless headphones, you want the Sennheiser HDB 630. It's that simple.

Why? Well, mainly because these are sound-first headphones that have pushed the needle for how good Bluetooth over-ears can sound at this sort of price. The HDB 630 are exceptionally smooth and natural-sounding headphones, with a beautifully realised bass reproduction, a sweet, immersive mid-range and a crisp, sharply defined treble.

They're fun, dynamically adept and musically expressive, walking that tricky tightrope between analysis and entertainment with sure-footed precision.

Part of that quality comes from the Sennheiser's super-clever BTD 700 USB-C dongle that you simply plug into your device’s USB-C port to give it aptX Adaptive superpowers.

That means that any source device, including your iPhone, gains aptX Adaptive hi-res streaming up to 24bit/96kHz, even if it wouldn't natively support it. That is, quite simply, an absolute game-changer, and it works terrifically.

Plus, you get wired listening via 3.5mm and USB-C-ended cables, around 60 hours of battery life with ANC switched on, very solid noise cancelling, a luxuriously comfortable fit and very solid voice calls, all of which combine to make an exceptional all-around package.

We get that Prime Day should be all about Amazon and, of course, all about deals, but the HDB 630 are so exceptional that all sort of goes out of the window.

Discounts don't really matter (although they're great to see). Retailers don't matter. What matters is that, if you can, you pick up a pair of some of the best-sounding premium wireless headphones we've ever heard.

MORE:

Discounts galore! These are the best early Amazon Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals

Amazon Prime Day 2026 Live Q&A: personalised hi-fi and home cinema buying advice, direct from our experts

Prime Day Predictions: the What Hi-Fi? team’s hopes, fears and dreams for Amazon Prime Day

Footballers love their headphones, or at least they seem to. Barely a weekend goes by when we aren't greeted by a pre-match image of our favourite players getting off the team bus, inspecting the turf or psyching themselves up pitch-side, all with a pair of their favourite headphones jammed into their ears or hanging around their neck.

It makes sense. You need those tunes to get you pumped up before a big game, and blasting out a bit of heavy metal in the changing room via a Bluetooth speaker might not make you popular with a roster of teammates who prefer a nice bit of drill or EDM. We're not professional athletes, but it seems obvious that locker rooms are like public buses; it's best to keep your music listening private.

With the FIFA World Cup set to kick off this month, the necessity to get hyped has never been so potent for some of our favourite 'soccer' stars as they head to America. From Beats to Bowers & Wilkins, these are the headphones some of the most famous faces in football are taking to the biggest stage of all.

Kylian Mbappe – Loewe

The greatest players need the finest headphones to match. There's no question that Kylian Mbappé is one of the premier players on the planet, so it was unlikely that he would be heading to the World Cup with a tatty pair of wireless earbuds he found for £20 on Amazon.

Instead, we imagine that Kylian might have a pair of £1500 Loewe Leo wireless over-ears stashed in his hold-all instead. France's talisman is Loewe's big-name brand ambassador, modelling not only the aforementioned Leo but the chunky We. Hear Pro portable Bluetooth speaker.

Maybe the latter will emerge in the changing rooms as and when France start winning their group games.

Lionel Messi – Beats

Beats has a remarkable history of celebrity endorsements, especially from athletes.

The brand's marketing strategy throughout the 2000s and 2010s was centred on inserting itself into the public consciousness by having Beats products appear constantly in music videos, at major sporting events, in TV shows and more.

In fact, you couldn't consider yourself a big-name celebrity or top-level athlete if Beats wasn't courting your attention, with the likes of LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, Tom Brady, Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka all enjoying sponsorship deals at some time or another.

Beats has repeated the trick by nabbing Lionel Messi as a brand ambassador, so expect to see the GOAT with a pair of cans with a big bold 'B' emblazoned on the side when you tune in to watch Argentina.

Virgil Van Dijk and Declan Rice – JBL

It makes sense for JBL to collaborate with the biggest names in the world of football.

The US company has always been pretty good at knowing its target audience and then catering to it in both the way it makes products and how it sells them to its core demographics.

JBL has snagged the services of quite a few high-profile leather-kickers in recent times, with Liverpool centre back Virgil Van Dijk and Arsenal stalwart Declan Rice being two of its major supporters.

Both will feature heavily for their respective nations, the Netherlands and England, during the World Cup, though we'd be surprised if either actually wears a pair of JBL headphones while on the pitch. They'd fall off when you went in for a header...

David Beckham – Bowers & Wilkins

In case you hadn't noticed, David Beckham is no shrinking violet. The England icon lends his visage to Stella Artois beer, Hugo Boss clothing, Pepsi soda and the Shark Ninja air fryer, to name but a few. Slip him £100 and he'll probably turn up at your child's birthday party.

He appears so frequently in the public eye that we wouldn't be surprised if he's cloned himself in a bid to get to as many high-profile events as he possibly can in a single calendar year.

Air fryers and draft beer aside, he is also the handsome face of Bowers & Wilkins' range of premium headphones, including the five-star Px7 S3 wireless over-ears and the Award-winning Pi8 true wireless earbuds, so he's certainly got taste when it comes to audio.

Whether it's by the pitch, at the stadiums or in the mid-match adverts, you're going to be seeing quite a lot of Golden Balls at the 2026 World Cup. Not bad for a man who retired over ten years ago.

Mika Bireth and Falorin Balogun – Bang & Olufsen

Ok, this might be the coolest partnership in all of sport. AS Monaco have always been one of the most glamorous sides in the French Ligue 1. B&Os' reputation for blending high-end audio with luxury design is legendary. Talk about a match made in heaven.

The team houses four big-name B&O ambassadors. Denmark's Mika Bireth and the USA's Folarin Balogun are two of AS Monaco's representatives playing at the biggest international tournament football has to offer. Meanwhile, their Monaco teammates, Paul Pogba and Eric Dier, won't be representing their respective nations this time around, but they are major names who will also be wearing B&O cans, albeit on the sidelines.

Harry Kane – Our Pure Planet

Bless Harry Kane, he really does seem like one of the good guys. He's also pretty handy at football, in case you hadn't noticed.

The English icon has been banging in goals for Bayern Munich at a near-unprecedented rate over the last couple of seasons. Between matches, he's managed to find some time out of his busy net-ripping schedule to partner with eco-audio brand Our Pure Planet, becoming both a company co-owner and big-name global ambassador.

We don't know how Harry's headphones sound or how comfortable they are, but that's not exactly the point. Our Pure Plant's aim is to, according to its website, "reduce plastic, offset carbon, and minimise paper waste "by using up to 80% recycled plastics and metals in its products."

Eschewing massive audio brands in favour of endorsing an environmentally sustainable newbie? He's a good lad, our Harry.

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Want the headphones of champions? Read our list of the best wireless headphones

Noble Audio has announced its latest wireless over-ear headphones, the FoKus Artemis. Expanding on the design of its debut over-ear headphones, the FoKus Apollo – which boasted a world-first design by combining two different types of driver – the Artemis take things one step further, adding yet another driver to the mix.

Priced at £799 / $899 / €949, the new high-end wireless headphones enter the ring against serious competitors such as the Focal Bathys and Dali IO8, both of which we reviewed at five stars.

In this latest design, Noble has used a combination of dynamic, planar and balanced armature drivers to achieve what it promises to be “powerful, spacious and refined” sound.

With support for Bluetooth 5.4 and multipoint connectivity, the Artemis have been designed for easy switching between connected devices. But those of you who prefer wired headphones, worry not, they also support wired listening thanks to a supplied USB-C to 3.5mm adaptor cable.

A six-microphone array within the headphones enables Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency Mode for blocking out or letting in environmental sound. Proximity sensors have also been included, which pause audio when the headphones are removed and restart it when they are put back on.

Developed for use alongside Audiodo Personal Sound, the Artemis allow users to create personalised sound profiles to suit their hearing preferences. This is done via guided hearing assessments, all of which, Noble promises, will be integrated into the refreshed Noble FoKus app in time for release.

With a fully self-replaceable battery which Noble claims lasts up to 50 hours – lowering to 35 hours with ANC enabled – the headphones sport decent battery life for this premium price.

The wireless headphones weigh less than 350g and feature a fully rotating design, replaceable ear cushions and magnetic detachable ear pads. They come with an IP52 dust- and water-resistance rating.

The Noble FoKus Artemis will be on show at High End Vienna from 4th June, with pre-orders opening the same day. Shipping is expected in July.

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We’re tempted to call Sennheiser the ‘dark horse’ of wireless headphones.

After all, our best buys have, in more recent times, been stacked to the brim with offerings from the likes of Apple, Bose and, more than any other, Sony, so it has been easy to forget the many qualities that Sennheiser brings to this particular slice of the audio terrain.

Let’s not forget, however, that this is a brand that has been around since 1945, a brand that, when not making the occasional microphone or soundbar, has built its reputation at the sharp end of both wired and wireless headphone production.

Perhaps ‘sleeping giant’ would have been a more apt moniker.

Admittedly, Sennheiser hasn’t quite been as prolific as its esteemed rivals when it comes to the actual volume of products sent to market. And the company’s ongoing search for a buyer since Swiss owner Sonova put its headphone division up for sale has naturally made waters all the choppier. From what we have seen of Sennheiser recently, though, it is still more than capable of taking the fight to the very best in the business.

The sound of success

We wonder if the release of the five-star HDB 630 will end up becoming something of a defining moment for Sennheiser.

Released just a few months before the announcement that the company’s headphone division was going up for sale – with some doom-mongers rather rashly predicting the death of entire brand – the audiophile-tuned HDB 630 now look like a major signal of intent.

We’ve always known that this is a brand capable of excellence in the wired space, though it had been a while since Sennheiser had properly flexed its wireless muscles. The soon to be phased out mid-priced Accentum line, including the Accentum Wireless and Accentum Wireless Plus over-ears, had failed to set the world alight, and it had been almost four years since we’d heard a hint of any addition to the premium Momentum Wireless range.

Rival standards were high, too. The Sony WH-1000XM6 looked unassailable at their £400 / $450 / AU$699 price, while the likes of Bowers & Wilkins, Bose, Apple and Dali were all also vying for the crown. Competition was, is, and probably always will be, incredibly fierce.

Yet the HDB 630 really pulled it out of the bag. Sennheiser’s outstanding cans set a new standard of wireless sound at this level, thanks in part to their clever bundled Bluetooth dongle, with a sonic performance that blew most of their competitors out of the water. Including Sony.

As we say in our review: “Here, precision and analysis go hand in hand with drive and vigour, making for the most informative and entertaining sound we’ve heard from wireless headphones at this price, with or without the use of the dongle.”

The Momentum 5 Wireless have repeated a similar trick, and while they’re not as boundary-pushing as the HDB 630, their aggressive price tag (£330 / $400 / AU$749) and rich, smooth sound make them a very fine alternative to the Sonys and B&Ws of this world.

Two five-star pairs with a strong focus on stellar sound and plenty of features in tow. If that isn't a warning to rivals to sit up and take notice, we don't know what is.

Take a chance on me

God loves a trier, but He also favours those who take a few risks.

It feels as though Sennheiser has recognised a need to innovate in order to get ahead of a crowded pack, and while the temptation to go in for zippy gimmicks and check-box features must have pulled hard, resisting such inclinations has paid dividends.

As has putting efforts into genuinely constructive innovation. We gave significant attention to the bundled Bluetooth dongle when reviewing the Sennheiser HDB 630 last year, and not without reason: it turned out to be the premium over-ears’ small-but-mighty secret weapon.

Essentially, it’s a clever little USB accessory that gives your phone or other audio source the same high-quality Bluetooth codec the headphones themselves support, meaning you have improved codec-support from devices which might not normally (we’re looking at you, iPhone) have supported them.

That’s a big deal, and as we wrote at the time, the “dongle proves a valuable accessory. When connected to an iPhone 16 and old Samsung Galaxy S21, upgrading their respective AAC and aptX connectivity with the headphones to aptX Adaptive, the presentation gains in clarity and solidity.”

The Momentum 5 Wireless have kept up with the times, too. There’s no dongle to be found, but with extensive codec support, wired listening via USB-C and 3.5mm, Dolby Atmos all on board, Sennheiser’s flagships have kept up admirably with the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM6 and the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3. 57 hours of battery life with ANC on doesn’t exactly hurt, either.

The new Momentum 5 Wireless don’t necessarily have the most features of any premium pair, but in terms of quality, they’re up there with the best.

A case of re-taken identity

Perhaps ironically, and certainly impressively, Sennheiser seems to have re-found and re-established its identity at a time of not-inconsiderable uncertainty.

While the likes of the Accentum line and the disappointing Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds seemed to play it safe with a flat, tonally grey sound, the premium Momentum 5 Wireless and HDB 630 feel like Sennheiser returning to a place where it is the most confident and comfortable.

In fact, when we spoke recently to the German manufacturer about where it saw its future, there was a clear statement that the Momentum Wireless line would be a prospective listeners’ “entry point” into the world of Sennheiser sound.

From there, they could progress to the HDB 630 and beyond into even more premium and high-end wired options. But the message was clear: Sennheiser would be providing audiophile-type performance to proper enthusiasts.

It appears to be a sensible move. Sennheiser does great work when it targets this more audiophile-centric side of the landscape – just see the wired Sennheiser HD 820 for proof – and with so many brands already targeting mass production of cheaper, spec-heavy wireless earbuds and headphones, it make sense to stick to more rarefied territory.

And, from what we’ve heard, it’s what the company seems to rather good at.

Sennheiser’s resurgence feels like a good thing for the wireless headphones industry.

It’s good for customers to have a healthy number of options when picking out a potential product; it’s good for the market not to be strangled for a monopoly; and it’s good for rival companies to compete with one another for supremacy in order to push the needle of quality ever forward.

When working as it’s supposed to, that’s sort of the point of a free market, isn’t it?

Producing two or three excellent pairs of headphones doesn’t suddenly make you the king, especially with the likes of Sony putting out five-star headphones across the cost spectrum, over many successive years. What they do indicate, though, is that Sennheiser feels like a company finding its groove again, and, in the midst of a potentially turbulent time, re-establishing its identity amid a sea of change and challengers.

If a worthy successor to the Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds also ends up landing later this year, we might end up looking back at 2026 as being the year of Sennheiser.

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Sennheiser or Sony?

It's a tough question to answer, especially when both brands have put out two pairs of premium headphones – the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM6 – adorned with glowing five-star reviews. How do you choose between two sets of over-ears from two brands working at the top of their game?

That question is only made harder by the fact that the Sennheisers are a chunk cheaper than the Sonys, meaning that price is becomes a new dimension to this already tricky conundrum. The Momentum 5 Wireless are newer, too, so now age becomes a factor to add to the mélange, and that's before we consider the usual aspects of sound quality, features, build, comfort etc.

It's a lot to consider, but don't worry, we're here to help. We've broken down the virtues and vices of these outstandingly capable noise cancelling cans to put you in the best position possible to find exactly what you're looking for.

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM6: price

Competition at this level is fierce, but the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless do have price on their side. At £330 / $400 / AU4749, they're cheaper than many of their premium rivals, and a good deal less than the £400 / $450 / AU$699 asking price of the Sony WH-1000XM6.

We'd caveat that slightly by mentioning the fact that the XM6's price can drop a little during sales events, though never so drastically as to come close to the price of the Sennheisers. Not yet, anyway.

In short, a clear win for the Momentum 5 Wireless for value.

** Winner: Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless **

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM6: build and comfort

We're keen on the build and design of these rival pairs, though not necessarily for exactly the same reasons.

The Momentum 5 Wireless may be the cheaper of the two, but if anything they exude a higher perceived value than their slightly functional-looking Sony WH-1000XM6. Little touches, such as the headband’s attractive fabric exterior, go a long way to making the Momentum 5 Wireless feel more premium, and while the XM6 are well made, they keep things functional and decidedly un-flashy on the aesthetics front.

The fabric exterior of the Sennheisers' headband and carry case grant them a suave appeal, and our only real reservation is that the earcups feel just a little cheap and plasticky to the touch.

The Sonys are made pretty much entirely of plastic too, but their overall construction feels more durable and robust. They have the added bonus of folding away completely, something which the Momentum 5 can't do.

The WH-1000XM6 weigh in at 254g, a good deal lighter than the 290g of the Sennheisers, while their nicely judged clamping force and firm-yet-forgiving earpads rarely put our our ears under any undue strain or causing excess overheating over time.

To be fair to them, the Momentum 5 Wireless are also comfortable. We spend a long time listening to the Sennheiser over-ears, and though we find some mild on-ear heating past the hour mark, we generally don’t suffer with that aching feeling that can make extended listening a miserable experience.

Both over-ear designs feature a combination of touch-capacitative controls on the earcups and physical buttons. In both cases, haptics are expertly implemented, responding quickly and effectively to our commands when controlling playback or activating noise modes. You will, though, enjoy deeper levels of control customisation via the Sony Sound Connect app than via Sennheiser's Smart Control Plus platform.

This is a close one. The Sennheisers are a little more luxurious to behold, but the Sonys win back serious points for their portability, durability and greater control customisation.

** Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6 **

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM6: features

Two pairs of premium headphones, two premium feature sets to match.

Bluetooth codec support is impressive across the board, with the Momentum 5 Wireless offering SBC and AAC codecs alongside higher-quality aptX HD, aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive flavours. The Sennheisers currently use Bluetooth 5.4, but an upcoming firmware update later this year will push this to 6.0 and include LE Audio for reduced latency, better battery life and potentially boosted audio quality.

Conversely, the XM6 grant standard SBC and AAC and, of course, Sony's LDAC codec for streaming hi-res music at higher data rates over Bluetooth from a compatible device.

On Bluetooth, Multipoint connectivity is available on both pairs, meaning you can connect to two devices simultaneously.

Both grant app support, with respective platform a pleasure to use. The Sony app isn't the fanciest in the world, but it's certainly one of the most in-depth and customisable around, offering the likes of a 10-band equaliser and access to touch control personalisation. The Sennheiser SmartPlus app isn't quite as in-depth, but outmatches Sony for its usability and ease of navigation, and you're still able to perform useful actions such as tweaking your EQ settings or adjusting the amount of ANC you're getting via a handy slider.

Battery life is reasonably strong for the WH-1000XM6, reaching around 30 hours with noise cancelling switched on. That number is roundly beaten by the Momentum 5 Wireless: a very healthy 57 hours when noise cancelling is on and you’re playing at a reasonable volume is a very nice feather in Sennheiser’s cap,.

If you're into spatial audio, neither set will leave you feeling glum. The Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless have Dolby Atmos on the menu when listening to supported content, with dynamic head tracking to be added via an upcoming firmware update.

The WH-1000XM6 support Sony’s ‘360 Reality Audio Upmix’ tech, although you will have to go through a short set-up and ear scan if you want to make proper use of it.

Happily, you can listen to either pair via a wired connection. The Sony WH-1000XM6 grant wired listening via an included 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable, whereas the Sennheisers offer a wired option via either 3.5mm to 3.5mm or USB-C to USB-C, with the latter method capable of handling lossless files up to 24-bit/96kHz.

A good showing from Sennheiser, but Sony's flagship cans do have a few extra tricks up their sleeve. 'Speak-To-Chat', which drops the volume level when you start talking, is available on the WH-1000XM6, as is 'Quick Attention Mode' for letting you hear ambient sounds straight away by placing a hand on the exterior of the right earcup.

The WH-1000XM6 also make use of Sony's DSEE Extreme sound enhancement engine to bring poor-quality digital audio files nearer to high-res quality.

These two are roughly neck-and-neck when it comes to features: Sony might have a few more tricks up its sleeve that make daily portable use seamless, while Sennheiser's substantially longer battery life and inclusion of USB audio are major strengths.

** Draw **

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM6: ANC and call quality

Sennheiser made a big effort to improve the noise cancelling for its new Momentum over-ears, with the fifth-gen cans using twice as many microphones (a total of eight) as their predecessors.

Those additions pay off. The Momentum 5's ANC doesn't clear the bar set by the Sony WH-1000XM6, but it will keep most noises – traffic, wind, air conditioners – at bay.

The overall effect does feel more like a softening of sounds rather than a complete exclusion, something which the Sonys do more effectively and more naturally. Take both pairs somewhere properly challenging, such as a public gym, and the XM6 will handle the full range of frequencies more effectively than their Sennheiser rivals.

Harsh sounds, such as clanking weights, are more convincingly filtered out by the XM6, and we feel more isolated from noises than when wearing the Sennheisers. Stand by a roadside with both pairs to hand, and the Sonys will all but eliminate those low traffic rumbles – the Momentum 5 Wireless, meanwhile, will soften rather than fully exclude them.

Call quality, meanwhile, is at a high standard no matter the cans you choose. Both pairs are excellent at reducing exterior sounds, especially the swirling bluster of wind noise, all while spotlighting human speech. The Momentum 5 make voices sound warmer and more natural, whereas the XM6 are impressively clear but can sound a tiny bit robotic by comparison.

Excellent call quality on each, but the XM6 have the noise cancelling talents to take this particular round.

** Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6 **

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM6: sound quality

The Momentum 5 Wireless are excellent premium noise cancelling headphones, and some of the finest wireless over-ears that Sennheiser has produced in recent times.

We hear much of the same sonic DNA from the superb five-star Sennheiser HDB 630 in these more affordable headphones, with the Momentum 5 Wireless sharing the same feeling of clarity, dexterity and richness as their bigger brothers.

Their midrange is arguably their greatest strength. While the Sennheisers can be a touch rich in the lower frequencies, their midrange reproduction is superb, offering a naturalness and insight that gives the Sony WH-1000XM6 a serious run for their money. If anything, they're even better with voices than their Sony rivals, and that's really saying something.

The Sennheisers are rich, smooth and brilliantly precise headphones, with a personality that makes listening a refreshingly undemanding experience, offering levels of poise and maturity that very few comparable alternatives can match.

As we said in our review: "We could spend days on end listening to the Momentum 5 Wireless and feel neither frustration nor fatigue. While words such as 'undemanding' or 'relaxed' might otherwise be used synonymously with 'boring' or 'bland', we in fact find that these are headphones that strike a great balance between refinement and fun."

That said, if you've got the money to spend, it's definitely worth seeking out the WH-1000XM6 for a proper step up in audio quality. The XM6 don't have the midrange sweetness of the Sennheisers, but they're a punchier, more entertaining pair with ample talent across the board.

As we enthused in our review, the WH-1000XM6 "deliver the most detailed, dynamic, precise and open sound we’ve heard from a wireless Sony flagship. The headphones just seem capable of diving into any track you play and extracting an unbelievable amount of information".

Precision meets power to thrilling effect, and leading edges of notes are sharply drawn and hit with precision and force. The XM6 are great at breaking things down so that you hear each individual element of a song, but they also make sure to put everything back together again into one cohesive, thrilling whole.

While their midrange isn't quite as sweet as the Sennheisers, and they might be a touch more fatiguing to listen to over longer periods, the XM-1000XM6 are the more entertaining, musically talented of the two. Their dynamics land with more verve and contrast, while their rhythmic abilities can make the Momentum 5 Wireless sound just a touch sluggish by comparison.

The Sennheisers are superb, but the WH-1000XM6 justify their extra outlay. For us, they're the sonically superior pick if you have a bit more cash to spend.

** Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6 **

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM6: verdict

The five-star Momentum 5 Wireless are a great reminder that Sennheiser is more than ready to take on all-comers in the premium wireless headphones space.

Their sound is easily worthy of its five-star accreditation, bolstered by a very healthy feature set, a huge battery life, and, perhaps most importantly, a lower price tag than that of the Sony WH-1000XM6. If you can't stretch to the more premium Sonys, the Momentum 5 are the logical step down.

If you do have the cash to spend and you want a great value return on your not-inconsiderable investment, we still recommending going for the Sony WH-1000XM6.

Not only are they more sonically exciting and engaging than the Sennheisers, but their massive bag of class-leading features, not to mention their effortlessly ergonomic design for daily portable use, make them the complete package. They're our current What Hi-Fi? Award-winners for a reason.

**Overall winner: Sony WH-1000XM6**

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Read our review of the Sony WH-1000XM6

Also consider the Sennheiser HDB 630

"Sound comes first" – we speak to Sennheiser about German engineering, changing ownership, and 80 years of making music