WHY IS TRUST REVIEWED?
THE BEST HEADPHONES OF 2022? The purpose of Reviewed is to help you acquire the greatest items and make the most of what you currently have. To help you cut through the clutter and get what you need, our team of product specialists rigorously vets every product we suggest.
Choosing the best headphones might be tough. While bargain hunting is always a good idea, spending some time and money may guarantee that you wind up with headphones that feel wonderful, sound amazing, and last for years. Our staff has evaluated hundreds of pairs of headphones, and the Sony WH-1000XM4 is our favourite. They’re comfy and provide fantastic sound, incredible noise cancellation, and a slew of current features without charging an audiophile pricing.
If they don’t meet your requirements, we have a plethora of other terrific choices, including wireless earbuds in a range of designs and pricing points.
This is our main list, which includes a selection of our top selections from guides such as our best wireless earbuds, best noise-cancelling headphones, and best gaming headsets. Whether you need quick wireless exercise buds, long-lasting travel/work cans, or anything in between, you’ll discover the finest of the best here.
The following are the best headphones we’ve tried:
Sony WH-1000XM4
- Ambient sound modes: Noise cancelling, transparency mode
- Weight: 254 grams
- Battery life: 30 hours per charge
The XM4 ticks all the appropriate boxes in terms of essentials: they’re comfy, incredibly light, have a fantastic sound, and have some of the finest noise cancellation available. They have a plethora of useful features and functions, such as Quick Attention, which instantly pauses music and illuminates your environment when you place your hand over the right cup, and multipoint pairing, which allows you to connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, ideal for switching between devices for all those Zoom calls.
Using Sony’s highly specialised Headphones Connect software, you may customise the EQ, transparency mode, and other parameters. Even if you don’t go into the vast amount of customising options available, you’ll have no complaints about how well these comfortable headphones perform in all areas. They even optimise noise cancellation for anything from your glasses to your current barometric pressure.
They also include easy and intuitive touch controls (combined with some physical keys), a battery life of up to 30 hours, and a plethora of additional functions to discover. If you can’t afford the XM4, you can get a taste of its greatest features with the considerably less expensive Sony WH-CH710N. Of course, there are reams of lesser cans out there with varied degrees of quality and value that attempt to compete with the XM4’s high standard.
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Jabra Elite 4 Active
- Ambient sound modes: Noise cancelling, transparency mode
- Water resistance: IP57
- Battery life: 6-7 hours with ANC, 28 hours with the case
Having said that, we’ve never encountered anybody who had buyer’s regret after slipping these comfy cans over their ears and heading to music town. They provide a luxury experience throughout, and you’ll be hard-pushed to find a pair that can compete at this price range.
Jabra’s Elite 4 Active earphones come with about everything you could desire in a set of truly wireless earbuds at an affordable price. As a result, they are an obvious pick for the greatest value on our list.
The feature set is loaded and has something for everyone. It’s a loaded package whether you require a tight set of earbuds with transparency mode for walking and running, a water-resistant pair you can rinse off in the sink (or submerge for brief durations), or simply effective noise cancelling to shut out distractions when working from home.
The Jabra Sound+ app has a 5-band EQ and an earbuds locator, among other features. The buds themselves include extensive onboard controls (including volume control), a battery life of 6-7 hours per charge (and much more in the case), and the option to use each bud independently.
They don’t have everything, as the pricing implies. You won’t get the seamless connection to Apple’s ecosystem seen in iOS favourites like the AirPods or Beats Fit Pro, and you won’t be able to use Jabra’s best earbuds like the Elite 85t and Elite 7.
You’ll also have to forego certain convenience features, such as auto-pause when you remove an earphone or a wireless charging case. However, Jabra strives to compensate for these shortcomings for Android users by providing extras like Google Fast Pair and one-tap access to Spotify.
When it comes to performance, the Elite 4 Active delivers clear, accessible sound and noise cancellation that approaches or exceeds the majority of similarly priced competitors. They can’t compete with the best options in these areas, but you won’t be paying the top performers’ exorbitant pricing. Whatever your interests are, Jabra’s flexible Elite 4 Active offers a large chunk of the greatest features at a reasonable price.
Arctis Pro by SteelSeries
- Connection type: USB, 3.5mm jack
- Noise-cancelling: Microphone only
- Supported systems: PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro is one of the most comfortable gaming headsets on the market, featuring a flexible suspension band that allows you to tailor the size and ultra-soft ear cups that allow you to game for hours—even while wearing glasses. Comfort isn’t enough of a reason to purchase a wired gaming headset that tethers you to your station. However, the Arctis Pro is often on sale, and there are other reasons to buy it.
Using the Arctis Pro, both music and games sound excellent. We were impressed with both the quiet indie games and the loud, booming Overwatch bouts we played with this headset. The headset expertly combines quiet music with in-game sound effects, such as the crunching of grass under your character’s feet.
We were able to easily discern comrades’ voices from in-game noise in first-person shooters, which may be difficult at times. This is primarily due to the SteelSeries mixer, which allows for a completely customised balance of game and conversation.
Customization features an equalisation, which allows you to modify frequencies without using any other software. Just keep in mind that although this one will work with Xbox consoles if you connect the 3.5mm headphone port via a controller, you may not get full functionality—for that, we recommend the Turtle Beach Recon 500 (our Best for Xbox selection) or the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro.
Puro Quiet Kids Headphones by Puro Sound Labs
- Ambient sound modes: Noise cancelling, transparency mode, decibel reduction
- Weight: 169 grams
- Battery life: 22 hours per charge
The PuroQuiet are somewhat more expensive than our previous choice, the Puro BT2200, but they have the added benefit of noise cancellation. Though it may seem to be a luxury feature for many youngsters, it is not just wonderful for when kids wish to disconnect from the talk at restaurants or get-togethers, but it is also an excellent addition for those with sensory concerns.
The noise cancellation also helps to lessen the need to turn up the volume to 11 and provides grownups a rest. Though volume-limiting headphones are essential for preserving your child’s hearing, the suggested maximum of 85dB(a) is not loud enough in complicated situations. These headphones contribute to the solution by further reducing ambient noise.
In our lab testing, PuroQuiet’s noise cancelling worked well for the price, reducing a large amount of ambient noise while exhibiting no serious technical difficulties. Though our testing revealed that they may reach 87dB(a), this is still close to the acceptable limit for up to 8 hours of listening.
The primary disadvantage is the price, however, Puro usually offers discounts on them. Headphones like this may be risky for younger children who are more prone to lose them (or simply damage them), but they’re a terrific investment for older children who desire finer headphones.
The wireless functionality prevents your children from quickly circumventing volume controls, and the headphones operate with a broader variety of current gadgets, including newer smartphones that lack built-in headphone connectors. If the battery runs out, you can use the provided cable, however, the volume limitation on the wire only works when properly connected.
