Latest from Louder in Headphones

Marshall embrace comfort and sound with the new Milton A.N.C. headphones

Scott Munro — Tue, 19 May 2026 14:05:41 +0000

Just days after announcing the release of the Jimi Hendrix 60th anniversary collection, Marshall have wasted no time in introducing more hardware to their 2026 lineup - this time in the shape of the Milton A.N.C. wireless on-ear headphones.

The latest in the Marshall headphone range are available to buy right now for $229.99/£179.99/€199 direct from the official Marshall website, the headphones will give you more than 50 hours of listening with adaptive noise cancelling enabled, and a huge 80 hours with it switched off.

The Milton A.N.C. are foldable and the ear cups feature memory foam for comfort during long listening sessions. They're wrapped in a traditional Marshall design featuring textured leather, powder-coated arms and a brass logo.

Marshall Group’s Senior Manager, Audio & Acoustic Nicolas Pignier Delafontaine says: “If you compare Milton A.N.C. with our other on-ear headphones, like the beloved design of Major V, you’ll notice a few big differences. We’ve increased the ear cushion size to help keep the sound in and improve passive noise attenuation.

“Larger ear pads and softer memory foam also mean the headphones are more comfortable to wear over longer periods. We've introduced an entirely new driver system tuned to improve bass and treble extension, delivering dynamic Hi-Res audio with rich details.

“On top of that, six microphones optimally placed for ANC and call complement the acoustic design for highly effective noise reduction.”

The Milton A.N.C also feature Adaptive Loudness, which adjusts the audio to your environment, and Marshall’s own Soundstage spatial audio.

Evelina Lindström, Product Manager at Marshall Group concludes: “With Milton A.N.C. we have created a premium, yet durable headphone that is easy to bring with you wherever life takes you.

“Our design and engineering teams have worked for years to bring the immersive feeling of Adaptive ANC into our beloved on-ear form factor, and we couldn’t be more proud of the results. Its portable design makes it a sleek contender to heavier over-ear alternatives, without compromising on features.

“The combination of adaptive ANC with 80 hours battery life is guaranteed to take on the go music listening sessions to the next level.”

The Milton A.N.C. will be available from third-party retailers from May 27.

Save a bundle on Sony headphones in the Amazon Big Spring Sale - including an epic 43% saving on one of my favourite pairs

Paul Dimery — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Easter chocolate treats are all well and good, but if you really want to treat yourself this year, then a new set of headphones could be the way to go - especially as Amazon is selling some of Sony’s best cans on the cheap right now as part of its Big Spring Sale event.

I've highlighted a few of my favourites Sony discounts below, but my top pick goes to the often overlooked Sony WH-CH720N wireless noise-cancelling headphones, which have been reduced from $179.99 to $98 - a huge 46% saving.

Sony’s WH-CH720N wireless noise-cancelling headphones are among the best mid-priced cans going. Well, I say mid-priced – they actually now fall into the budget category, thanks to Amazon’s awesome Big Spring Sale, which sees their price drop from $179.99 to just $98. Getting great sound, all-day comfort, some top features and up to 35 hours of battery life for less than 100 dollars is certainly not to be sniffed at!View Deal

These are Sony’s lightest wireless noise-cancelling headphones and weigh in at just 192g. However, they still manage to deliver a heavyweight listening experience with Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 and Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) combining to produce crystal-clear audio that’s just as the artist intended. With up to 35 hours of battery life, and superb hands-free calling, these headphones are the perfect accessory for those long journeys.

Sony has a reputation for making exceptional headphones, so any opportunity to grab some on the cheap is worth taking. While the discount on the SonyWH-CH720N is perhaps the most eye-catching in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, there are other discounted Sony headphones that are well worth a closer look.

The audio firm's flagship Sony WH-1000XM6 have a nice $62 saving, with the price reduced from $459.99 to $398 in four colors: Black, Midnight Blue, Platinum Silver and Sand Pink. There's also 31% knocked off the price of the Sony WF-C510 earbuds - down from $69.99 to just $48 in their White and Yellow configurations.

I own a pair of the Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones and they're still my go-to for late night, on the sofa listening - and they've also had a price reduction in the Big Spring Sale: Down from $399.99 to $298.

Meanwhile, the Sony ULT WEAR over-ear noise canceling Bluetooth headphones can often be overlooked in the sheer number of Sony headphones, but with a 41% discount, they are definitely worth a closer look. They've had a price cut and are now $148 rather than the usual $249.99.

My final pick is in the earbud category with the Sony WF-1000XM5 reduced from $329.99 to $248.

Wired headphones are back! Here's my pick of 9 rock-solid companions for your MP3 player, portable CD player or cassette player

Scott Munro — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:37:52 +0000

With the sheer amount of Bluetooth headphones available and the seeming demise of the humble 3.5mm audio jack on some devices, it's easy to assume that the days of wired headphones is numbered. However, with the resurrection of portable CD players, MP3 players and even cassette players, it's possible that you just might be in the market for a new pair of wired headphones.

I remain a fan, and I still regularly use my precious (and sadly now discontinued) Oppo PM-3 over-ear headphones, which I hook up to my slightly battered 160GB iPod Classic through a portable Oppo HA-2 amp. Wires? Yes, a few - but the sound is wonderful and crystal clear.

Below, you’ll find nine pairs of wired headphones which I think are worth a closer look. Some are wired only, while others have the option to whip out the cable and go fully wireless. The choice is yours. Some of the headphones I’ve chosen might not be the latest models - such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 - but I think they still stand up remarkably well, and as an added bonus, they’re also cheaper to buy.

AKG

K72

Sony

WH-1000XM5

Sennheiser

HD 505

Mezze

99 Classics

Bowers & Wilkins

Px7 S2

Shure

SRH1540

Philips

Fidelio X3

Austrian Audio

Hi-X15

Soundcore Q30

Our pick of the best budget wireless headphones
The best kid's headphones: Cans that are great for children
Loudest headphones: Volume and lots of it
How to clean your headphones and keep them in top shape

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 earbuds review

Steve May — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:02:51 +0000

The Melomania A100 are the most accomplished True Wireless earbuds yet from Cambridge Audio. Engineered and tuned by the same London-based team behind the brand’s celebrated separates, the A100 aims to deliver a listening experience that bridges the gap between portable convenience and high-fidelity sound.

With support for LDAC and aptX Lossless, Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, plus Class A/B amplification, they’re built to appeal to those who take their music seriously.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Design

Available in matte black or white, with subtle silver detailing, the buds adopt a sculpted stalk style, with a smooth, pebble-like finish that sits comfortably in the ear. If the choice of a black or white finish doesn’t hit the spot, there’s also an olive green special edition, produced in collaboration with streetwear fashion house Maharishi.

The charging case is reassuringly compact (45 x 61 x 25mm), with rounded edges and neat LED battery life indicator (30%, 60%, or 100%). Removing the earbuds from their snug dock requires a modicum of perseverance though.

Connectivity is good. Bluetooth 5.4 and Multipoint pairing make for easy switching between two devices. A pairing button sits neatly beneath the case, if the auto routine doesn’t work straight out of the gate.

The earbuds are IPX5 rated, so they’ll withstand light rain or gym sweat, however these buds are clearly designed more for everyday listening than marathon training.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Features

(Image credit: Future/Steve May)

The A100 arrives packed with features designed to enhance both usability and listening quality. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is handled by a six-mic system combining feed-forward and feed-back microphones, effectively reducing general environmental noise without compromising fidelity. There’s a Transparency mode for when you want to remain aware of your surroundings.

Tap and touch controls cover playback, volume adjustment, call handling, and ANC toggling. They can also be customised via the Melomania Connect app, which offers an impressive level of sonic control. You can choose between six EQ presets - Flat, Natural, Rock, Blues, Voice, and Electronic - or create your own using the 7-band equaliser.

Opt for Rock and bass gets a lift and treble gets a trim. Natural stays flat, bar for a last minute treble slope.

For those who like to experiment, personalised presets can be saved and named. My self-made Metal mode was a tweak to the Natural preset, with a one step bass boost for extra heft. The system is nice and easy to use.

Need more? Cambridge’s proprietary DynamEQ adjusts bass and treble balance as you change volume, maintaining tonal consistency, even at lower listening levels. Wear Detect automatically pauses playback when you remove an earbud, while a Low Latency Game Mode reduces delay for video and gaming.

There’s also a Sleep Mode that disables touch inputs for uninterrupted listening. If you misplace the buds, Find My Headphones will help locate them.

Battery life is solid: up to 11 hours per charge (or 6.5 with ANC on), with an additional 28 hours available from the case. Fast charging provides a three-hour top-up, from just ten minutes of power.

There’s even a hidden flourish revealing the brand’s more playful side: in the app’s Audio Feedback settings, you can replace the standard voice prompts with Matt (Toast Of London, What We Do In The Shadows) Berry’s unmistakable tones.

To find this Easter egg go to the ‘audible feedback’ section in the app where you’ll find various languages to choose from - the last is labelled ‘Southwark,’ which swaps the voice assistant to Berry. His booming declaration of “Noise Cancelling!” might not improve fidelity, but it certainly adds charm.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Sound

(Image credit: Cambridge Audio)

There’s no doubt in my mind that the Melomania A100 have been tuned with care. The secret sauce is the inclusion of Class A/B amplification, lifted directly from Cambridge’s full-size amplifiers. Combined with custom 10mm neodymium drivers and dual-core Qualcomm Kalimba DSP, it produces a rich, articulate soundstage.

Streaming LDAC or aptX Lossless files, the A100 is expansive and controlled. Play Parkway Drive’s Carrion, and the brutal breakdowns retain bite and clarity, without descending into chaos; transients are sharp, bass is muscular but not overblown.

Epica’s Cry For The Moon showcases composure under pressure - symphonic arrangements stay distinct. Simone Simons’ operatics rise above the mix, while sweet strings counterpoint Mark Jansen’s demonic growls. The buds depict all this, clear as a bell.

Not only are they energetic and agile. They’re gentle too. Yungblud’s version of I Was Made for Lovin’ You confirms excellent balance, keeping vocal sibilance in check while preserving intimacy and grit. There’s no smearing or stereo disconnection, just a faithful rendering of the recording.

The alternatives

Sony WF-C710N earbuds
Slightly cheaper than the Melomania A100, these Sony noise cancelling earbuds boast excellent active noise cancellation with customisable EQ via the Sony app. They’re available in a unique translucent Glass Blue finish, as well as standard black and white. Features include 360 Reality Audio support, but no LDAC or proprietary Sony DSEE audio upscaling.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds
For those prepared to invest more, Bowers & Wilkins flagship in-ears boast exceptional clarity and detail, with advanced codec support (aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless) and strong Active Noise cancellation. They also come with Wireless Audio Retransmission functionality in the charging case, should you want to couple them to an in-flight entertainment system.

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE review

merlin.alderslade@futurenet.com (Merlin Alderslade) — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:36:29 +0000

Clearly, Cambridge Audio aren't messing about: only a year after the release of their much anticipated P100 wireless over-ear headphones, the company have unveiled a fancy new special edition, boasting a more comfortable headband, new DynamEQ tech and a new blue colourway option if the classic black and white variations are a little too predictable for you.

While I didn't get the chance to stick my ears in the original P100s, it'd take a lot to prise me away from my beloved Sennheiser Momentums, so I thought I'd test the P100 SEs out and see what they were all about.

Melomania P100 SE review: design

The first and most striking impression for me was instant: these are big headphones. The carry case they come in is chunky as hell and certainly takes up more space than any other headphone case I've had.

And that's before you get to the headphones themselves. Whether the sheer size of them bothers you will depend on two things a) how quickly you can get used to the feel of them and b) if bigger headphones are something you'd feel self-conscious about wearing out and about.

Personally, the size didn't bother me and I'd actually argue it makes them look like an even more impressive, proper piece of audio kit. They're heavy, too - noticeably so than my Sennheisers when I wear them - but it took all of 10 minutes for me to get used to them and after a couple of weeks of usage I don't even think about it now.

The headband has been upgraded from the original Melomania P100's for extra comfort, and I'd definitely agree that despite still weighing a fair bit, they're well cushioned and feel comfortable against the head and ears.

Melomania P100 SE review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

The Melomania P100 SE's boast what Cambridge Audio call their "DynamEQ technology", promising to automatically adjust bass and treble to maintain great sound, even at low volumes. There are also a number of preset equalisers, as well as the ability customise and save your own preset for the true audiophiles.

I had a play around with a few of the presets and while I wouldn't say they drastically improved my listening experience, I could definitely tell the difference between some of the options. I also found the Melomania app required to mess around with all of this easy to use with a nice, clean, straightforward interface.

I tested the excellent new Deftones album Private Music under the 'Rock' preset and it undoubtedly helped to make Steph Carpenter's riffs just a little weightier, while a blast of recent Barry Can't Swim album Loner under the 'Electronic' preset made his propulsive edm bangers that bit crisper.

As for that all-important ANC? I found it to be of excellent quality: I first tested it while in a busy gym with some chart-bothering pop music blaring out of the PA, and then next on my morning commute on an overground train and on the London tube.

In both cases, most of the background noise was drastically thinned out, which is a must for any pair of high-end headphones I want to start using regularly.

Oh, and I have to acknowledge that remarkable battery life: 100 hours on full charge, or 60 if you're using the ANC, puts these headphones leagues ahead of all competitors on that front. It's the one feature with which the Melomania P100 SE's comfortably leave everything else in the dust.

Melomania P100 SE review: Sound

Overall, I found the sound quality of the Melomania P100 SE's to be really quite good. While not any kind of spectacular upgrade on its rivals, I'd say these headphones more than hold their own against most in the same price bracket, even if I'm not sure they quite match up to the best-in-class offerings from the likes of Sony and Sennheiser.

That said, be it while listening to specific genres using those presets or just hammering through a mixed playlist on its default setting, I found everything I listened to to be of high quality - including voice notes from friends, which sounded crystal clear with the ANC on while I was walking around a busy Paddington street earlier this year.

The alternatives

Sennheiser Momentum 4
For around the same money, you can get your hands on the Sennheiser Momentum 4 - an excellent set of over-ear headphones that boats 60 hours of battery, excellent Adaptive Noise Cancellation and crystal clear audio. App integration also allows you to tweak the settings to give you the best audio delivery.

Sony WH-1000XM4
While Sony’s XM4 have been superseded by the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sony WH-1000XM6, don’t dismiss the 2021 model. For a start, a pair of these over-ears will save you hundreds of dollars/pounds over the newer headphones - and they still sound amazing with superb noise cancelling. Thirty hours of battery life isn’t to be sniffed at - and they fold down for travel purposes.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM4 review

Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones review

Steve May — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 11:19:27 +0000

The WH-1000XM6 is the sixth iteration of Sony’s flagship over-ear headphone and are a direct successor to the well-regarded Sony WH-1000XM5. On paper, they have a familiar spec., however there have been some significant changes, including upgraded drivers, new processing silicon and a sound-tuning philosophy guided by some of the world’s top mastering engineers.

The brand has even managed to trump itself with even more impressive class noise cancelling. If you’re the sort who wants to drown out the world so that you can submerge yourself in a sea of nu-metal, then they could be for you.

Sony WH-1000XM6: Design

The faux leather pads on the Sony WH-1000XM6 may be plush, and outer skin fingerprint-resistant, but the clamp force feels firmer than previous models. If you’re closely shorn, you may also find the headband’s padding a little meagre. There’s definitely less cushion here than on the JBL Tour One M3 for example.

That said, the Sony WH-1000XM6 doesn’t stray too far from the aesthetic of its predecessors. What’s new is a foldable structure makes these headphones more travel-friendly; metal hinges on the end of each arm replace plastic for durability, and the headband is slightly wider, ostensibly for improved weight distribution.

The left ear cup sports the active noise cancellation toggle, power and optional 3.5mm line input. The right has a USB-C port for charging. That cup is touch sensitive, offering swipe control of tracks and volume.

Unfortunately, there’s no option to play wired music via USB-C, and the high quality Apt-X HD codec is AWOL too.

In addition to Bluetooth LE Audio, there’s multi-point pairing for two devices, and wideband calling to enhance day-to-day usability. Colour variations at launch comprise black, silver, and a fetching midnight blue.

Sony WH-1000XM6: Features

(Image credit: Future/Steve May)

If you could open up the WH-1000XM6, you’d find Sony’s new QN3 inside, a pearl of a noise-cancelling processor. It’s this, working in tandem with 12 microphones (up from 8 last time around), and adaptive AI routines that continually adjust cancellation based on the environment. This gives the WH-1000XM6 its main claim to fame - state of the art noise cancelling.

Working from home, the hum of a desktop PC vanishes. Out on a busy street, the XM6 significantly dampen traffic noise. Long-haul flyers, take note - these may be the best noise-cancelling headphones to buy when you fly.

Accidental chat activation is now less likely, as Speak-to-Chat can only be turned on via the app. New too is wind noise reduction and mic mute functionality. Call quality is aided by AI-driven beamforming microphones. All welcome additions, no doubt.

Naturally, there’s also support for high-resolution audio, plus DSEE Extreme upscaling to enhance low-bitrate tracks. A 10-band EQ (up from 5) offers plenty of room to sculpt the sound to your liking, and there’s even a gaming EQ preset.

I particularly like the new 360 Cinema Upmix mode, selectable via the app, which adds extra girth and weight to the soundstage when engaged. It virtualises stereo movie sound for a more spatial listening experience. Listen to dialogue or speech and you’ll detect the artificial reverb, as if your head has become an auditorium. I rather like the effect.

It’s worth noting that you can’t use DSEE Extreme or the Equalizer when the Cinema mode is set.

Sony WH-1000XM6: Sound

If you think these headphones have a studio sound vibe, there’s a good explanation. The company enlisted a who’s who of mastering engineers to shape their sound - Randy Merrill (Adele, Ed Sheeran), Michael Romanowski (Prince, Bonnie Raitt), and others from Sterling Sound and Battery Studios. The goal: to faithfully replicate the neutrality of a mastering suite.

The result is an articulate, well-defined listening experience. New 30mm carbon fibre hard dome drivers contribute welcome clarity, with a snappy transient response, low distortion, and wide dynamic headroom.

Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams (2004 remaster) glides with buttery ease. Every vocal breath, every string scrape, comes through untouched. On Never Going Back, Lindsey Buckingham’s acoustic guitar chimes with crystalline detail.

Switch gears, and these headphones can hit like a sledgehammer. There’s bass slam a plenty, without unnecessary boom. Slaughter To Prevail’s Russian Grizzly In America is a punishing barrage of groove metal, but the XM6 holds the line, without unwarranted distortion - every guttural shriek, every filtered siren riff, rendered clearly and with bite.

On Money For Nothing by Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler’s classic intro riff explodes from the headphones with spine-tingling immediacy. There’s space in the mix, depth in the drums, and snap to the guitars. You can get into the track, move around and appreciate the musicanship.

If there’s a caveat it’s that the WH-1000XM6 probably trade excitement for all this precision. It may be indicative of the tuning philosophy, or those 30mm (rather than 40mm) drivers, but worth mentioning. A pernickety point, but warranted given the price point.

Battery life is good. You get 30 hours with ANC on, and a handy quick charge gives another three hours of use from a three-minute top-up.

The alternatives

JBL Tour One M3
Considerably cheaper than the XM6 Sony headphones (if you don’t spring for the optional Smart Transmitter gizmo), these JBL’s are a blisteringly good buy. They sound great, are super comfy to wear and have big, punchy 40mm drivers - but can’t compete with Sony when it comes to noise cancellation.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
In many ways the current gold standard when it comes to stereophonic, over-ear listening. These headphones are precise and musical, without sounding overly dry. They feature beautifully made 40mm biocellulose dynamic drivers, and play well with all genres.

JBL Tour One M3 review

Steve May — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 12:07:38 +0000

Much like Eleanor Rigby covered by Palaye Royale, JBL’s Tour One M3 offers a different, if not essential, take on a familiar tune. The brand isn’t trying to reinvent its over-ear headphones here but it has found a way to inject some bonus functionality in the form of the Smart TX transmitter - without losing what made the JBL Tour One M2 so good in the first place.

The question is: should you buy the headphones ‘au naturel’ or opt for a set with the Smart TX transmitter included? Intrigued? I certainly was...

JBL Tour One M3: Design

The JBL Tour One M3 look reassuringly familiar: matte black ear cups accented by a glossy JBL logo, a well-padded headband, and supple vegan PU leather ear cushions. Build is solid, and the overall look understated, yet premium. Thanks to a helpful headband hinge, they also fold neatly for travel.

Up close, the left-hand ear cup offers a volume rocker, while the right has power / pairing, an active noise cancelling button, touch sensitive gesture control, and a USB-C charging port.

The ANC button steps you between full Noise Cancelling and Ambient Aware mode, while gesture control covers Play & Pause music, or Voice Assistant activation. Bluetooth is version 5.3, so nice and fresh.

The JBL Tour One M3 come in three finishes: Black, Blue and Mocha, and comfort is high. They're light at 278g, and sit snugly without clamping too tightly, ideal for extended listening sessions.

Just to be clear, at launch, the JBL Tour One M3 with the Smart TX Transmitter costs an extra $50/£50. That's s a hefty premium for such a diminutive extra, but I reckon you’ll appreciate the upgrade when you travel, or want to stream from a local device.

JBL Tour One M3: Features

(Image credit: Future/Steve May)

Think of the Smart TX transmitter as a small remote interface: part control, part wireless audio transmitter. It can connect to any aux output, digital or analogue, like those on aeroplanes or (heaven forfend) gym treadmills, and send the audio to your headphones wirelessly (adaptors included in the box).

Bowers & Wilkins offer something very similar with the Smartcase that comes with its Pi8 earbuds.

In addition to audio re-transmission, the Smart TX touchscreen lets you adjust ambient sound control, EQ settings, JBL Spatial 360 mode, voice awareness, and more. You can even personalise it with custom wallpapers. Yes, it’s another device to charge (about 18 hours of use), but for travellers and tinkerers, it’s still quite useful.

Active noise cancellation is pleasingly efficient. True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0, driven by eight microphones, monitors external sound and compensates dynamically. It does this rather well, throwing a sonic blanket over external hubbub when out and about.You can also step from full ANC to TalkThru, and Ambient Aware modes.

Call quality is high, thanks to a four microphone arrangement that uses adaptive beamforming technology, able to intelligently focus on your voice while minimising background noise.

For added immersion, there’s JBL Spatial Audio with head tracking. Such post processing could well prove divisive. I find with it music sounds less boxed-in.

Cradle Of Filth’s Demagoguery is more engulfing and malevolent with Spatial Sound engaged (a good thing), than without, but listen to speech or audiobooks and you get an unwanted echo.

With head tracking active, concert footage or game sequences feel eerily lifelike, as instruments and effects are fixed in space even as you move. I kinda like it, but then again I kinda don’t.

Battery life is as near-as-dammit class-leading; up to 40 hours with ANC on, and a staggering 70 hours with it off. A five-minute charge yields five hours of use, which is handy for quick boosts.

Included in the box are USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to 3.5mm cables, a USB-A adapter, airplane adapter, and a rather nice carrying case.

JBL Tour One M3: Sound

(Image credit: Future/Steve May)

Previous Tour One headphones have always delivered where it counts and there’s no change here.

Under the hood lurk 40mm Mica Dome drivers, capable of handling 24-bit/96kHz high-res wireless audio. LDAC codec support, making its Tour One debut, means a higher data rate compared to standard Bluetooth is also available, for superior resolution. Add the built-in DAC, via USB-C or 3.5mm wired connection, and you have a headphone able to compete at a reassuringly high level.

Tuning is full-bodied yet precise. There’s no sense of bloat or exaggeration - JBL strikes a comfortable balance between energy and accuracy. Two thumbs up.

Motorhead from The Manticore Tapes, sounds as raucous and raw as it should, and instrumentation is crystal clear. Of the various sound profiles available, I found Studio the best balanced. Bass and Extreme Bass overcook things, but some may still enjoy the added weight.

On Coda by Novelists, these headphones show their finesse, convincingly capturing scratchy textures, and gloriously dense riffs; silky vocals and screamed vocals are handled with equal finesse.

When it comes to dynamic headroom there’s plenty. Vocals are on point, piano tonality is pitch perfect. Overall musicality is astonishing for the asking price.

The alternatives

Sony WH-1000XM6
The latest addition to Sony’s 1000x over-ears are a formidable proposition. Noise cancelling is excellent and new 30mm dynamic drivers boast Sony’s proprietary LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) diaphragms, for greater detail and precision. However they command a significantly higher price.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
If you are prepared to pay more, also consider these over-ears from Bowers & Wilkins. Audio performance is outstanding, thanks to beautifully re-engineered drive units and dedicated amplification. Noise cancelling, using an 8-microphone array, is comparable to the JBLs.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 headphones review

Steve May — Thu, 08 May 2025 10:46:43 +0000

The Px7 S3 is the latest active noise cancelling wireless headphone from Bowers & Wilkins. While it’s the third iteration of the Px7, there are significant upgrades which make this an enticingly fesh proposition from a brand famed for its recording studio affiliation.

With an overhauled design and new internal architecture, some might even argue that these are Bowers & Wilkins most advanced headphone to date. If you’re looking for headphones able to do justice to both airy Prog and three-cord thrash, they could be right up your street.

Design

Noticeably slimmer than their predecessor, the Px7 S3 are lovely headphones to wear. Weight distribution is good, and the notorious B&W clamping force has been mellowed for a more forgiving, all-day fit.

Build quality is also reassuringly premium. The ear cups are soft vegan PU leather, and there are minor improvements to the headband and arm mechanism. The latter pivots effortlessly but doesn’t fold down.

Features

(Image credit: Future)

There’s a lot that’s fresh about these head-huggers. Bowers & Wilkins may have traditionally lagged behind rivals when it comes to noise cancellation technology, but that’s been largely addressed here.

The Px7 S3 employs a total of eight microphones. Four are used to monitor and neutralise ambient noise, each angled to maximise environmental data capture, while two more measure the output of each driver; the final pair are dedicated to call duty.

It’s this choreography that gives the Px7 S3 its ability to muffle everything from general chit chat to more noisy commutes. The Quick Action button on the left hand cup steps you through the three ANC options: On, Off and Pass through. I’d hesitate to suggest the headphones are class leading when it comes to noise cancellation, but they’re now so near the best of the rest, it’s no longer a practical concern.

The underlying architecture comes from Qualcomm, now equipped for aptX Adaptive 24-bit 96kHz and aptX Lossless streams.

Unlike some headphone designs that leave DSP and amplification to one catch-all processor, the Px7 S3 splits duties, employing both a dedicated digital signal processor, and a discrete headphone amplifier. This separation brings several benefits, including superior musicality, and a cleaner transient response.

Want future-proofing? Bluetooth LE Audio, with Auracast broadcast support and LC3 codec, is promised via a firmware update later this year. Auracast supports streaming to multiple compatible headphones (think late night silent discos), so that might be useful. Spatial audio support is also inbound via OTA, which I’m particularly excited about. Bowers insists its flavour of Spatial will stay true to its naturalistic house sound, and definitely won’t incoporate Head Tracking, so I’m intrigued.

Battery life? 30 hours with ANC on, plus a 15-minute quick charge that gets you an impressive seven hours of additional playback.

Sound

(Image credit: Future)

These over-ear headphones sound fulsome and fabulous. The 40mm biocellulose dynamic drivers may have been carried over from the S2e, but Bowers & Wilkins didn’t leave them alone. The entire drive system, including voice coil, suspension, magnet, and the rigid chassis that holds them, has been completely re-engineered.

The result is lower mechanical resonance, greater rigidity, and tighter control over driver excursion. This matters, because it translates to reduced distortion at both low and high volumes, an especially important factor when you're pushing the sonic envelope with double-kick drums and shuddering riffs.

Stereo presentation is wide but never untethered. Pink Floyd’s Money makes a virtue of its stereophonic looping coins and ringing cash registers, and these cans make the mix a joyous thing. When Dick Parry’s tenor sax rips up the sweet spot, it’s like he’s barged into the room through some 70’s wormhole.

When the clocks and alarms go off, heralding Time, I could swear I was having a foretaste of Spatial niceties to come. Bass handling is spot on, those big drivers doing majestic justice to Nick Mason’s cascading roto-toms.

The dynamics, and imaging are sensational. The escalating boogie of Some Mutts (Can’t be Muzzled) by Amyl And The Sniffers might smother the vocals but the music is locked in place, furiously pounding away. The Px7 S3 effortlessly preserves the balance, keeping the centre stage clear for chorus and gnarly guitar soloing.

The ear cups are also a whizz portraying ambiance, be it the choral chanting that opens Templars by Sabaton, or the epic staging of Thin Lizzy's Live And Dangerous. The Px7 S3 somehow always knows how to capture the moment.

Low frequencies are controlled, but not heavy handed. The bass solo that opens Black Sabbath’s N.I.B sounds fat and fleshy, just like it should. Detail and timing is sharp and tight.

Obviously, hi-res file playback sounds glorious. One of my favourite recordings, a 24-bit 96 KHz cut of Lou Reed’s Satellite Of Love, is crisp and beguiling. There’s an uncanny realism here. Shut your eyes and you’re suddenly in the studio, finger snapping in the background.

What’s striking is how detailed the Px7 S3 sound, even at low volumes. Some may put that down to cleaner amplification, improved driver control, and minimised distortion. I prefer headphone hoodoo. You decide.

The alternatives

Marshall Monitor III A.N.C
Marshall’s flagship over-ears are Louder favourites. They wear their rock‘n’roll styling with pride, and combine fold-down convenience with great everyday noise cancelling. They also frickin’ excellent with guitar rock.

Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony’s ever popular over-ears are the definition of cool and comfortable. Memory foam ear cups make them good for an afternoon session of double albums, and noise cancelling is excellent. However, drivers are just 30mm, which looks a little polite in this company.

I’ve never seen the Marshall Major IV headphones this cheap before - get them for half price in Amazon’s big spring sale

Scott Munro — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:03:45 +0000

The Amazon Spring Deal Days event is on right now and will run through March 31. I caught some awesome Lego Star Wars deals earlier in the week, and today I saw a bunch of Marshall products on sale in both the UK and US, including the Marshall Major IV headphones for less than half price. Amazon UK have cut the price from £129.99 to just £62 - a huge 52% saving on the all black model.

Amazon's Big Spring Deal Days event has seen the price tumble on the on-ear Marshall Major IV headphones. They're down by 52% in the UK right now, and I'd advise you to snap them up if you can as this is the lowest price I've ever seen them going for.View Deal

But the Marshall deals don’t end there, with Amazon UK also cutting the cost of the Minor III True Wireless Bluetooth in-ears, ripping 49% off the RRP, taking them down from £119.99 to just £61.19.

And if you’re after a new Bluetooth speaker, then Spring Deal Days has you covered too, with the portable Marshall Emberton II Bluetooth speaker down from £149 to £91.03 in its black colour variation.

Or maybe the Marshall Willen II is more your thing. You can pick up this ultra portable powerhouse with 17 hours of playback for £86.11 - 21% down from the RRP of £109.

If you’re after something a little bigger and more powerful, then you can pick up the Marshall Acton III Bluetooth speaker for £215.10 - that’s 17% down from its regular price of £259.99.

If you’re based in the US, Amazon also have shaved dollars off a range of Marshall goods, such as the Black & Brass Emberton II for $126.30 - that’s 26% down from the $169.99 list price.

You can also get the Marshall Major V on-ear headphones with a 25% discount - they’re down from $149.99 to $112. We loved these headphones, with our reviewer saying: "They slam like bodies in a circle pit, have engaging musicality and boast a battery life few rivals can match."

Read the full Marshall Major V review.

Best Marshall headphones: Top picks from across the range
Best Marshall speakers: Speakers from the guitar-amp giant

Sennheiser HD 505 headphones review

James Grimshaw — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 11:03:42 +0000

It’s looking very much like Sennheiser has done it again. The brand is a mainstay across audio for good reason, and the Sennheiser HD 505 – their latest set of open-back over-ear headphones – is a huge addendum to said reason. These headphones truck in the familiar form of the brand’s 5XX series, borrowing some elements from precursor models in service of creating a new market leader for affordable audiophile listening.

They represent great value for money, especially when you consider they ever-so-slightly redefine what’s possible in the entry level. But how do they do it?

Design

The model of HD 505 reviewed here is Sennheiser’s Copper Edition, which brings full swank with its copper-coloured banding around the rim of the earcups and the ends of the headband. It’s a nice-looking set, and a familiar style if you’ve owned a pair of Sennheiser’s HD 5XX series before.

The earcups are similar to the HD 560S, with a comfortable two-axis pivot that enables them to adjust themselves to your head swiftly and comfortably.

To wear, the HD 505 is a breath of fresh air – and in a somewhat literal sense, too. The combination of light chassis and open-back design really does make these headphones something of a transparent wear; apart from the light tension of the headband on your crown, these headphones draw little attention to themselves when worn.

This lightness isn’t just a function of the open-back design letting your ears breathe, either. Sennheiser’s approach to earcup comfort with the HD 505 is similarly refreshing, with exceedingly plush foam pads enrobed in a soft velour-esque fabric.

This comfort is a far cry from the firmer, pleatherette-finished pads that adorn a majority of entry-level headphones, and above and beyond the comfort levels of prior entry-level Sennheisers. However, there’s a world in which that foam loses its plushness somewhat swiftly – though time will only tell if we currently live in it. For now, and in short, the Sennheiser HD 505 is a fantastic choice for extended play.

Features

The black and copper finish on the Sennheiser HD 505 looks fantastic (Image credit: Future/James Grimshaw)

Being a set of wired, passive, open-back over-ear headphones aimed at the nascent audiophile, there isn’t much to the HD 505. You won’t find consumer mod-cons such as active noise-cancelling, built-in microphones or on-board controls – and a good thing too, in my opinion. The HD 505 is here to do one thing well, and at an affable price too.

The specs reflect this commitment, too. These headphones have a stunningly wide frequency range of 12hz to 38.5kHz, and a more-than-welcome input impedance of 120 ohms – a sweet-spot concession between loud low-impedance consumer fare and high-impedance, high-fidelity audiophile fodder. As such, the headphones will play ball with pretty much any device, and sound better doing so too.

The HD 505’s cable is detachable, by way of a proprietary locking connector on one end. In the box, you get the headphones, a 1.8 metre detachable cable replete with screw-on 3.5mm-to-6.35mm jack adapter, and a silky polyester drawstring pouch for carrying the lot if you so wish.

It's a small shame the HD 505 doesn’t ship with more cables, though; more are available for purchase from Sennheiser, but it’d be nice to be able to swap between different lengths out of the box.

Sound

The Sennheiser HD 505 headphones are wired and come with a soft carry case (Image credit: Future)

The Sennheiser HD 505 are an immersive set of headphones. What they lack in noise cancellation or isolation is, in my view, more-than made up for by the incredible breadth it achieves in its soundstage.

Coilguns’ and Birds In Row’s collaborative EP You & I In The Gap gamely illustrates the HD 505’s tasteful dimensionality here, its off-right roomy screams and hard-panned hardcore instrumentation dropping you right in-between two excellent bands as they track 2024’s secret rager-of-the-year.

Slift’s Ummon is a great all-weather exploration of the HD 505’s lively frequency response, the title track’s intro guitars chiming with a distinct, almost peaky treble, supported by plump, rich mids in the bass beneath. The drop doesn’t carry the same fulsome weight that other headphones or systems might enable, but the low end is nonetheless structured, dimensional and highly gratifying; besides which, temperance is here a benefit to the crystal-clear quad-tracked guitars that rush headily in.

Death From Above 1979’s 20th anniversary remake of You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine does a better job of showing off the HD 505’s subby capabilities. Tasteful, though again overshadowed by a lively upper-mid range, ultimately demonstrating the headphones’ sometimes-itchy preferential treatment of upper-register information.

The alternatives

The Sennheiser HD 505 is a highly competitive set of budget open-back headphones, and heralds an exciting new era of opportunity for music-fans with a little less to spare. You’d usually be looking a little further up the food chain for competitive models – like, for example, the Beyerdynamic Amiron Home, which brings a little more weight in both form and sound.

As for a Sennheiser alternative, the Sennheiser HD 660 S is an old-guard model, but one highly regarded for its balanced and sound. These headphones – and particularly their more recent S2 upgrade – are a little warmer in character than the HD 505, but also a little less ‘smooth’ with respect to soundstage.

Loudest headphones : You want volume? You got it
Best headphones for music : Get the most from your sounds
Best budget wireless headphones : Cut the cables
Best earbuds and in-ear headphones : Get the perfect fit
The best over-ear headphones : Perfect at home or on the go

Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Bluetooth wireless headphones

Steve May — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:21:02 +0000

Boasting bags of battery life plus concessions to comfort, the Marshall Monitor A.N.C. headphones warrant careful consideration. They’re comfortable, sound terrific and have some cool new functionality, including Soundstage spatial audio post-processing that gives everything you listen to a live ambiance.

Battery life is also now among the best in the business: Fully charged, you’ll enjoy 70 hours of playtime with Active Noise Cancelling engaged.

They also fold down making them easy to pocket when not in use. So is it finally time to bag a pair of Marshall headphones?

Marshall Monitor III A.N.C: Design

Over-ear headphones tend to look a bit anonymous, but you can spot a pair of Marshalls a mile off. That distinctive leathered finish, iconic metal Marshall logo and multidirectional control knob, remains the epitome of rock club style.

For this third generation model there have been some changes. Weight has been shaved off, ear pads are softer, and built-in microphones have been tweaked to better combat wind noise when taking a call out and about.

Control remains simple and intuitive - there’s no touch-sensitive swiping required. In addition to that multidirectional control knob, there are dedicated buttons for ANC and customisation.

Helping with battery life is the adoption of Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio; this means the headphones are Auracast compatible. This new standard allows you to share your source with compatible devices. It’s a feature that we’ll doubtless hear more of over the coming year.

More traditionally, there’s a USB C port on the left hand shell which can be used both for changing and hooking up portable music players.

These are great headphones to travel with, and not just because of generous battery life. They fold down to take up less space, and come with a compact carry-case that’s actually lined with red velvet, made to look just like a guitar carry case.

Marshall Monitor III A.N.C: Features

(Image credit: Future)

Customisation is the name of the game. The headphone’s 'M' button can be assigned to your phone’s voice assistant, Soundstage Spatial Audio, equaliser or Spotify Tap, a new one-touch Spotify play command. A dedicated Noise Cancellation button toggles between full ANC and a Transparent mode.

The Marshall app unlocks the full feature roster. Here you’ll find an Adaptive Loudness button along with a number of presets including Bass Boost, Treble Boost and Mid Reduction. Select Custom and you’ll have access to a five-band equaliser. For the most part, these headphones were auditioned in Marshall mode, the default setting which uses Marshall’s own pre-tuned sound style.

Soundstage spatial audio is particularly interesting. It effectively creates a sense of live ambiance, adding a sense of distance and reverb to whatever you’re listening to. It’s not suitable for everything, but it does spread music out making it more akin to listening live or at the very least, on loudspeakers.

Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. : Sound

(Image credit: Future)

It should surprise no one that these third gen Monitors are a rollicking good listen. They benefit from that characteristic Marshall buzz-saw edge, which is always exciting to listen to, without sacrificing tonal accuracy. The top end is crisp without being sibilant, and the mid-range rounded without sounding flabby.

Noise cancelling performance is also good. My main criteria with any ANC is the ability to nullify the general excesses of a public transport commute, and to that extent, they work extremely well. Unwanted exterior noise is pushed back leaving tracks plenty of room to breathe.

Sonic staging is excellent with pronounced separation when required, and glue-like coherence. Be it ping pong stereo or full blown metal thrash, the Monitor’s retain their focus.

The stereo is so wide on One For The Road, from Judas Priest’s Rocka Rolla debut, you could park a Harley in the gap between. The track opens right, brings percussion in centrally and then drops riffs to the right. Before I knew it, I was fully centre stage with the fresh-faced metal gods.

Rather more complex, Incinerator from Bear McCreary’s The Singularity, is a tsunami of guitar riffs and bullet train drumming. Yet for all the mayhem, Serj Tankian’s vocal remains authentically melodic.

The Marshall’s refinement really shines with hi-res sources. Instruments snap into subtle focus, and there’s a tangible reality to their presentation. Elvis Costello’s plaintive vocals on Indoor Fireworks from King Of America, are intense and personal, while Radiohead’s remarkable Burn The Witch, with its insistent, plectrum-stabbing strings, spins with weight and heft.

If these headphones do have an Achilles’ heel, it’s a lack of deep bass. This may be attributable to the 32mm dynamic drivers used, which are hardly the largest in their class (Sony’s WH-1000XM5 have 40mm drivers and drop deeper). This can be countered somewhat from the bass boost which is available in the Marshall app.

The alternatives

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e
Going toe to toe with the Marshall Monitor III A.N.C, the PX7 offer aptX Adaptive Bluetooth and enjoy the benefits of big 43mm drivers, capable of banging bass and excellent sonic articulation. However, they’re nowhere as comfortable, they don’t fold down for easy travelling, and battery life is a paltry 22 hours.

Sony WH-1000XM5
The latest iteration of Sony’s best-selling 1000x model is no slouch when it comes to style and comfort. Memory foam ear cups stay the course, although battery life once again falls behind the Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. The Sony headphones edge ahead when it comes to noise cancelling efficiency, and clever usability features, like Adaptive Sound Control, but they also have the smallest drivers, just 30mm.

Best Marshall speakers : Portable power & home hi-fi
Loudest headphones : You want volume? You got it
Best headphones for music : Get the most from your sounds
Best budget wireless headphones : Cut the cables
Best earbuds and in-ear headphones : Get the perfect fit
The best over-ear headphones : Perfect at home or on the go

Some of Bose's most popular headphones have 40% off for Cyber Monday, but you'll need to be quick if you want to nab them

briony.edwards@futurenet.com (Briony Edwards) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:51:30 +0000

Every year, electronics companies enter into a bit of an arms race to see who can come up with the best Cyber Monday headphone deals. Bose are one such company, and have slashed prices on some of their most popular headphones in honour of this year's sales, with some pairs currently on offer at their lowest ever price, including the ever-popular Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which are currently going for $229, down from $299, making them an impressive $70 off.

We've selected some of the best deals still available below. But be warned: they're only hanging around for the rest of Cyber Monday, which ends tonight at midnight, so the time to grab those deals is now.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 are an awesome pair of wireless noise cancelling headphones - and Bose have chopped $150 from the list price, taking these cracking cans below the $200 mark. View Deal

A step up from the headphones listed above, the QuietComfort Ultra headphones offer higher end specs in terms of materials to increase comfort for the wearer, and also immersive audio. The Lunar Blue colourway is available for a very decent $130 discount right now.View Deal

These are some of Oprah's favourite earphones, apparently. These are open earbuds, so they let you hear the world around you while listening to audio. Now going for $229 – their cheapest ever price.View Deal

A more conventional earbud than the ones above, these buds are noise cancelling and promise "spatialized audio for more immersive listening". They're $70 off if you get them before the end of the day.View Deal

This speaker ticks all the Bluetooth speaker boxes: portable, impressive sound for the size, waterproof, dust-proof, extreme temperature-proof (are they expecting lots of us to be headed to the desert?) and it also has a tear-resistant strap. View Deal

More Cyber Monday deals

Cyber Monday music deals : All the bargains in one place
Cyber Monday vinyl deals : Get your collection up to scratch
Cyber Monday record player deals : New gear for less
Cyber Monday Marshall deals : Speakers & headphones on sale
Cyber Monday streaming deals : Explore music, film & TV offers
Cyber Monday CD deals : Collect all the essential albums
Cyber Monday CD player deals : Give your collection some love

Want to get your kids off their phones? The answer could be to buy them a decent set of headphones

Tom Poak — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 17:37:24 +0000

“Do you have kids?” I was interviewing a band just off Denmark Street in London. The singer was telling me about his toddler. His kid was cute, he was telling me, but he was still at that age: he didn’t DO much.

“What age are your boys? Teenagers? Aw, I can’t wait til he’s that age so that I can talk to him about music, y’know?”

I didn’t have the heart to tell him. It isn’t like that. When his kid becomes old enough to care about music, the last thing he’s gonna to do is ask his dad for recommendations.

I had been like him once – a massive music nerd, eager to create an army of clones. Like Lou Reed sang in Beginning Of A Great Adventure: “It might be fun to have a kid… A little me to fill up with my thoughts/A little me or he or she to fill up with my dreams”.

I’ve got three boys. I thought I’d breed a little gang of music nerds, kids that knew the lyrics to (White Man) in Hammersmith Palais, could tell you which Rolling Stones albums to buy, and be able to hold their own in a conversation about the differences between dub, reggae, ska and rock steady. Who could appreciate Pink Floyd, Zeppelin and Nick Drake. A little army of musical evangelists, able to recommend the latest hot band, or mad new remix, or mixtape.

Spoiler alert: It didn't turn out like that.

For two reasons, I think. One: You’ve gotta let your kids be themselves. I played music around the house, I tried to make it fun, and I had some small victories: They liked The Beatles, the Ramones, and The Clash (particularly I Fought The Law). But mostly, they weren’t that into my old shit. They wanted to hear the stuff their friends liked. According to Apple Music, my 25 Most Played Songs includes A-Team by Ed Sheeran and songs by Passenger and John Legend. Those are not songs I have ever knowingly played.

The Second Reason My Kids Didn’t Turn Out To Be Massive Music Nerds: Mobile phones.

When my kids were old enough, they got their own phones. They had an Apple Music account but they hardly used it. They had YouTube. They had games to play. And then later they had Snapchat and TikTok. They had a world of entertainment in their pocket at all times. Music was just a small part of that world: annoying clips on TikToks, background music on FIFA. I bought them Bluetooth speakers but they didn’t use them: they just played stuff on their phone’s tinny little speaker.

When they got to their mid-teens and they wanted headphones, they asked for Beats and Airpods. I told them: They’re not good headphones. They didn’t care. They were cool. All the footballers had them.

And then something weird happened. My kids weren’t kids anymore. One of them went travelling by himself and it opened his eyes – and ears. He listened to a lot of music while travelling – you don’t look at videos on your phone when you’ve gone to the other side of the world and you’re looking around in wonder.

And when he came back, and it was his birthday, he asked for headphones. Good ones. Over-ears.

22% off! We did the research so you don't have to. The WH-1000XM4s have great sound quality, they're comfortable and the charge lasts forever (well, 30 hours). They'll make you, or your kids, listen to music differently, View Deal

43% off! We did the research so you don't have to. The WH-1000XM4s have great sound quality, they're comfortable and the charge lasts forever (well, 30 hours). They'll make you, or your kids, listen to music differently, View Deal

I did my research. I used Louder’s guide to headphones, because I knew it was written by Steve May who’s been reviewing headphones and musical tech for decades. And I read Amazon reviews and Reviews on What HiFi and TechRadar and – on Prime Day this summer – I bought him a pair of headphones I saw raved about over and over again: the Sony WH-1000XM4s. (In his latest guide, Steve May actually recommends the Sony WH-1000XM5s, the newer version: I’m sure they’re great, but they were out of my budget. They’re in the Black Friday sale now, 35% off.)

Suddenly, I had a music fan. The Sonys made everything sound amazing. They were comfortable, the charge lasted for a week. Then the texts started: What's Neil Young like? Where should I start with Pink Floyd? Who else sounds like The Clash? Had I heard Fontaines DC or King Krule?

He’s at university now. I’m still getting the texts. “What are The Cure like? Do Joy Division have any other good songs apart from Love Will Tear Us Apart?” The Sonys are never off his head. I texted him to ask what he liked about them: “I’d say sound quality,” he said. “You can hear everything in a song, all the different instruments. And comfort: you could wear them for four hours and they wouldn’t hurt.

“It’s made me wanna listen to proper music – bass-y music sounds so good.”

He's got into The Smiths after hearing them on David Fincher’s The Killer movie. When he came home, I pulled my old vinyl copies out: He didn’t care, had no interest. Vinyl doesn’t mean anything to him. He has his phone, a library of music at his fingertips, and he has his headphones.

I need to get in touch with that singer again. Maybe I've got some advice for him after all.

For more music Black Friday deals, visit our hub page.

Don’t Forget About Dre: Two Xxplosive Beats headphones sales on both sides of the Atlantic have turned up the volume on Black Friday

Paul Dimery — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 13:06:29 +0000

If you love music and you care about your street cred, then Beats should be high up your list of go-to brands. Co-founded by Dr Dre and now owned by Apple, it’s renowned for making tech that not only sounds the business but looks pretty damn cool, too.

And right now, there are two huge sales on their range of headphones on both sides of the Atlantic. In the US, Amazon have cut the cost across the board on a number of Beats products, including a massive 54% off the Beats Studio Pro wireless noise cancelling headphones, taking them down from $349.99 to just $159.99.

And in the UK, Argos are in on the cut-price action too, with 27 Beats products going cheap in their Black Friday sale - including £125 off the regular price of the Beats Powerbeats Pro true wireless earbuds in Navy - with the price down from £269.95 to £144.95.

All of the items had already been reduced in price at Argos, but Black Friday has inspired the retailer to slash even more money off – either 10% or 20% depending on the item. In order to take advantage of this additional saving, you’ll need to input the promo code BEATS10 or BEATS20 when you get to the checkout.

Amazon US Beats deals: Save up to 54%
Amazon US have gone all-in on Beats headphones deals with savings of up to 54% on the Beats Studio Pro. There’s also money off Beats Studio Buds, Beats Fit Pro and more. There's even money off the Beats Pill portable speaker. Get in quick!View Deal

Argos UK Beats Sale: Save up to £150
Beats fans in the UK are in for a treat, with 27 of the brand’s products going cheaply in this Argos Black Friday sale. You can also get more money off the range of headphones by entering the codes BEATS10 or BEATS20 on the relevant items at checkout.View Deal

Co-founded in 2006 by music maestro Dr Dre, Beats has gone from strength to strength. Now a subsidiary of Apple, the brand is renowned for manufacturing headphones and speakers that offer great sound quality and features, while rocking the kind of aesthetic that guarantees street kudos.

All of this combined with these two brilliant sales on both sides of the Atlantic means you can grab a superb pair of headphones for less this Black Friday.

And if you're after more great discounts, don't forget to take a look at our main Black Friday music deals page, and we've also got the best Black Friday Marshall speaker and headphones deals too.

House Of Marley start a Revolution with their new range of audio products

Scott Munro — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:43:30 +0000

House Of Marley have added to their ever-growing range of home audio gear with a trio of new, eco-conscious audio products.

The company are known for their green credentials, and that continues here, with the Revolution turntable and speakers sound system, Zion true wireless earbuds and the Smile Jamaica mini true wireless earbuds all created from recycled plastics and sustainable bamboo.

Kicking off with the Revolution turntable and speakers sound system, and the main unit houses an Audio-Technica stylus, felt mat, and features pre-calibrated tracking force and anti-skate mechanism. There’s Bluetooth connectivity and the dust cover has been created from an old fridge door! The whole sound system is on sale now and is priced at $249.99/£249.99.

The first of the two new headphones come in the shape of the lightweight Bluetooth Zion true wireless earbuds which have been created for comfort and cost $49.99/£49.99. The come in either Black or Cream and provide up to four hours of music from a full charge, and that increases to 16 hours with the eye-catching transparent charging case.

The third and final of House Of Marley’s new products is the even more affordable Smile Jamaica mini true wireless earbuds which are priced at just $29.99/£29.99. They also offer four hours of playback from a single charge, with the charging case increasing that to 14 hours.

The case can also be attached to a bag or keyring, with the Smile Jamaica also available in Black or Cream.

You can find out more about House of Marley's support for the drive towards global reforestation and ocean preservation on the Project Marley website.

And if you're after more tech, I'll be keeping my eye on all the incoming bargains and posting them on our Black Friday music deals hub over the coming weeks.

Billie Joe Armstrong helps Marshall launch the Monitor III A.N.C. headphones

Scott Munro — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:44:20 +0000

Marshall have unveiled a new addition to their Monitor series of headphones with the help of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong.

The vocalist and guitarist is heading up the promotional campaign for the brand new Monitor III A.N.C. headphones - an upgrade to the previous model which hit the market back in early 2020.

Marshall report that the Monitor III A.N.C. have been designed from the ground up and provide a whopping 70 hours of music with noise cancelling activated, and a total of 100 hours with the feature turned off.

Marshall say they’ll “fully immerse listeners in thunderous bass and screaming highs,” and feature “enhanced noise-cancelling technology to block out the commotion you don’t want.”

Like the company’s recent Marshall Major V headphones, the Monitor III A.N.C. include a customisable M-button, which enables you to switch between EQ settings, Spotify and voice assistants.

They’re also lightweight, foldable, are Bluetooth LE-ready, have Auracast audio-sharing tech onboard, while the carry case mirrors that of a guitar case thanks to its red velvet interior.

Armstrong, who has a long history of using Marshall guitar amps, says: “If you know anything about me, then you know that for me, the music never turns off. Whether it’s a stadium or a club, a pub or a subway, rock’n’roll is not just something I do, I live it... all the time.

“Marshall is and has been one of my loudest co-pilots along the way – from the stage and now, to the street. What better way to flip off the world than to put your headphones on so it's just you, and the music."

Marshall design director Kenny Wong reports that along with reducing the weight of the headphones, they also “made the cushions soft as clouds and completely re-imagined the headband for long-lasting comfort.”

Wong adds: “From an experience point of view, it stretches what is possible when it comes to the touch and feel of a Marshall product. They are extremely tactile with a self-healing leather texture and that unmistakable brass logo.”

Marshall’s audio & acoustics engineer Nicolas Pignier Delafontaine says the acoustic design has been completely revised to improve the overall performance, adding: “Monitor III delivers a sound that is wide, well-balanced, detailed and enjoyable. Soundstage spatial audio takes the music out of your head and onto a virtual stage around you, making you feel immersed and revealing subtle layers in your favourite records.”

The Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. are available now priced at $349/£299 from the official Marshall website and Amazon.

(Image credit: Marshall)

Best Marshall headphones: The range from the legendary amp brand
The best Marshall speakers: Portable speakers to home Hi-Fi
Loudest headphones: You want volume? You got it
Best headphones for music: Get the most from your favourite sounds
Best budget wireless headphones: Cut the cables
Best earbuds and in-ear headphones: Get the perfect fit

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 True Wireless earbuds review

Steve May — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 14:03:24 +0000

With Bowers & Wilkins’ legendary 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers playing a pivotal role in recording studios such as Abbey Road, it makes sense to listen to music on headphones from the same brand.

Enter the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, the audio firm's new flagship True Wireless earbuds. The company has gone back to the drawing board for these new noise cancelling in-ear headphones, making significant changes to both their design when compared to the previous Pi7 and componentry. The end result is a jaw-dropping audio experience.

However, they do come at a price. So are they worth it? Let’s find out…

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Design

With neat rounded edges and gloss finish, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 look suitably premium. There’s also a choice of four colour finishes: Anthracite Black, Dove White, Jade Green and Midnight Blue.

The design is snug yet comfortable, and easy to wear for prolonged periods. Unlike the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7, the seal is a hard but pliable rubber that nestles perfectly in the ear. The brand suggests this improvement in fit is worth around five decibels of noise attenuation. It also acts as something of a heat barrier, so that the earbuds don’t get overly warm when you’re 80 minutes into Iron Maiden's The Book Of Souls.

Bowers & Wilkins has also sought to upgrade usability by improving the responsiveness of the capacitive touch surface at the top of the earbud by adding more sensors. This interface can be used to toggle Noise Cancellation, for Bluetooth pairing, and playback and track navigation, as well as answering incoming calls.

There are also three additional ear tip sizes provided: XS, S and L, which should cater for all manner of lugholes. Finally, you won't have to fret if you're out and about in the rain, because the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are IP54-rated for protection against dust and water spray.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Features

(Image credit: Future/Steve May)

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are built around Qualcomm’s Bluetooth 5.4 wireless transmission platform, which has support for aptX Adaptive up to 24-bit/96kHz, as well as aptX Lossless. It’s definitely leading edge. To help get you quickly up and running there’s Made for iPhone (MFi) support. Google Fast Pair (GFP) is due soon for Android users.

Interestingly, there's no dedicated pairing button, but you can force the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 into Bluetooth mode by pressing and holding both earbuds for three seconds. There’s also Multipoint support.

The accompanying app features a five-band Advanced EQ function, noise cancelling toggle and touch control customisation - and you can also link and play from subscribed music streaming services.

The Active Noise Cancellation algorithm used here is basically the same as that employed by the brand’s Px8 over-ear headphones. It does the job, but it’s not as effective as that on rival earbuds and I wasn’t shielded quite as effectively when doing a noisy commute. That said, ANC does provide some cover and doesn’t interfere with the listening experience, which I assume was Bowers & Wilkins' principal concern.

The Transparency mode has also been improved to better take in ambient sound around. Sensors and microphones have been relocated to a notch that sits clear of the ear itself, thereby gaining 360 degrees of coverage.

The charging case is nice and slim and easily pops into a pocket. A colour coded LED beneath the brand logo is used to communicate.

The case is also able to retransmit audio up to 24-bit 96kHz audio from USB and 3.5mm connected music sources and the requisite cables are provided in the box. The case can convert analogue signals to digital and then transmit them in aptX Adaptive Low Latency to the buds. This means you can use the Smartcase and Pi8 buds with in-flight entertainment systems, as well as laptops, iPads and USB-C-enabled iPhones.

Battery life is around 6.5 hours with ANC in use, which can be considered pretty average. The case itself has a power reserve of 13.5 hours. You’ll likely not easily run out of juice, but if you do, a 15 minute quick charge will earn you a couple of hours of play time.

What’s missing though is support for Spatial Audio, which recently landed on the LG T90S, and any dedicated voice interaction.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Sound

(Image credit: Future / Steve May)

Sublime. Exciting. Authentic. All these adjectives can be applied to the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. They're mighty when it comes to delivering thunderous riffs, riotous rhythms and full-throated roars and for sheer musicality, these earbuds are up there with the very best I’ve heard. The treble is as clear as crystal and the midrange as rowdy as the front row of a Bowling For Soup gig.

Significantly the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 feature all new 12mm drive units that use the same Carbon Cone technology first heard on the brand’s PX8 over-ear headphones. A key attribute of these dynamic drivers is exceptional transparency at high frequencies.

This translates to zero vocal disintegration at volume: Slipknot’s Wait And Bleed tries hard but fails to confound those fancy Carbon Cones - and their spatial integrity is remarkable for a pair of True Wireless earbuds. Instruments can be placed exactly where you would expect them to be.

The live version of Dragonforce's Through The Fire And Flames on their 2015 album In the Line of Fire... Larger Than Live gave me chills - the audience singalong and ambiance of the venue are all perfectly presented, even as Herman Li shreds the roof off the Saitama Super Arena.

Their bass response is also surprisingly good. The Steve Aoki dance remix of My Chemical Romance's Welcome To The Black Parade (16-bit 44.1kHz) didn't lose any of its club scene intensity, and they really plunge the depths with Billie Ellish’s Bad Guy (24-bit 44.1kHz on Tidal).

I also particularly liked the way they sounded with guitars, both acoustic and mad metal riffing on WASP's Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue).

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: The alternatives

Produced in collaboration with high-end UK Hi-Fi specialist Meridian Audio, the LG Tone Free T90S are excellent performers for the cash. They combine a class leading (ANC) battery life of 9 hours, with Spatial audio support. Meridian developed Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP) can also be used to enlarge the soundstage of regular two channel stereo.

If you can forgo noise cancelling, and have a more limited budget, the beefy Marshall Minor IV are well worth shortlisting. Oozing street cred, the Minors combine the amp brand’s signature-sounding 12mm dynamic drivers with a 7 hour battery life, and popular stick-style form factor.

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LG Tone Free T90S wireless earbuds review

Steve May — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:14:04 +0000

The LG T90S wireless earbuds offer a tremendous amount of tech for the cash. Not only do you get Adaptive Noise Cancelling and a Bluetooth transmitting charging case, they also support Dolby Atmos music complete with Head Tracking. Even if you don’t subscribe to a streaming service with Atmos audio (we’re looking at you, Spotify), there are unique benefits to be had.

Design

An update on the brand’s T90Q in-ears, the LG Tone Free T90S are compact and comfortable to wear. Available in black or white, they adopt an ergonomic teardrop profile, distinguished mainly by their integrated microphones - and there’s no LG branding on the buds at all.

While I like the non-gloss silk finish, they’re quite slippy to handle and I was always worried I’d accidentally drop them when out and about.

Touch control is available for all the usual playback controls and track skipping but I didn't find the sensor particularly responsive. I found this to be very frustrating when I was trying to coax more volume out of the earbuds, so it's worth bearing in mind.

The T90S come with a diminutive charging case and two sets of interconnects: a USB-C to 3.5mm lead, and USB-C to USB-C. The former allows the case to be plugged into any playback device with a compliant jack, be it an older smartphone, digital music player, or an inflight entertainment system. Flip of a switch on the side of the case, and your connected audio source is wirelessly transmitted to the buds. Voilà!

The LG Tone Free T90S also support multipoint connection and up to five unique device connections.

Features

(Image credit: Future / Steve May)

The LG Tone Free T90S earbuds's adaptive noise cancellation is potent and copes well with the usual commuting hubbub and can counter at-home distractions. ANC is selectable via the earbud’s sensor which cycles between ANC, ambient mode and off.

The earbuds' battery life is rated at five hours with noise cancelling on, but this can be extended to nine hours if you have noise cancelling turned off.

Bluetooth codec support is comprehensive, with AAC, SBC and aptX Adaptive all covered, while the earbuds are also IPX4 rated so you'll have no worries if you're caught in a downpour.

Cleverly, the charging case uses ultraviolet light to eliminate bacteria on the ear gels which is a nice touch, and 10 minutes into a powered charging cycle will see the buds zapped clean. The case also supports wireless charging if you have one of those handy little charging mats hanging around.

What’s conspicuous by its absence though is any spoken audible feedback. I’m so used to having my headphones proclaim "connected", "fully charged" or talk me through various noise cancelling modes, that the confirmation bleeps offered by these LG earbuds just sound like someone’s at the door.

In addition to a variety of sound effect presets (Immersive, Natural, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, 3D sound stage), there’s also an eight band EQ mode in the accompanying app with two custom sound slots.

Of course, the biggest addition to the T90S feature roster comes in the form of Dolby Atmos binaural rendering. If you subscribe to a premium music streaming service with Atmos, you’ll have a spatially enhanced listening experience with optional head tracking.

So should this turn your head? The answer is both yes and no.

Sound

(Image credit: Future / Steve May)

Operational niggles are soon forgotten when these earbuds are connected and that's because audio performance is excellent for the price.

LG’s all-new pure Graphene drivers are crisper than a cheese and onion 12-pack, and positively relish hi-res audio sources. Pearl Jam’s Present Tense in 24bit / 96kHz is delivered with exquisite transparency: Eddie Vedder’s soulful vocal is raw and gritty, and as the track builds to its crescendo every instrument is given respectful space.

This brilliant articulation lends itself to complex prog and bare bones punk - Amyl And The Sniffers I Got You is authentically raucous. The good news is that while Amyl is natively stereo, you can still listen to her with 3D audio enhancement.

Currently, only Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music and Tidal offer Dolby Atmos music streams to premium subscribers, but everyone can benefit from the enhanced spatial presentation that the T90S earbuds offer.

That’s because they also feature Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP) developed by long term partner Meridian Audio. This is an audio upscaler of sorts that can be used with any stereo source. When engaged, the perceived soundstage gains height and width.

Is this Immersive setting gimmicky? Well, yes, kinda. But I often found myself opting for it simply because I liked the larger stage.

You can listen to Dolby Atmos with or without Dolby Head Tracking. Head tracking locks the sound source at a central point in space, regardless whether you turn your head one way or the other. It can heighten the sense of realism, as it’s more akin to listening to a fixed music source (be it a live band or loudspeakers) but when out and about, I found it mildly disorientating.

If the T90S do have an Achilles' heel, it’s their limited bass performance. Andrew WK doesn’t party quite as hard as I would have liked.

The alternatives

The Denon PerL True Wireless earbuds feature a distinctive circular design, and proprietary Adaptive Acoustic Technology that uses AI to create a personalised hearing profile - and these high performance in-ears impress. They may lack Dolby Atmos support but they do boast Active Noise cancelling and a six hour battery life.

Another great option are the bass-heavy Audio-Technica ATH-CKS30TW+ wireless earbuds. Despite the budget price tag, they boast noise cancelling and have dynamic 9mm drivers. With 6.5 hours playtime, stamina is good. They also have out of range Aaert and product locator features - very useful if you’re prone to losing things.

Best earbuds and in-ear headphones: Get the perfect fit
Loudest headphones: You want volume? You got it
Best headphones for music: Get the most from your favourite sounds
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Best earplugs for concerts: Get your ears gig-ready

Marshall Major V review

Steve May — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 10:10:23 +0000

The name is legendary, and indelibly linked to the worlds of hard rock and metal, but Marshall has also carved itself a niche with a rugged range of Marshall speakers and raucous Marshall headphones. Reason enough to get excited when a new pair of cans drop.

This latest iteration of the Marshall Major line retain the brand’s classic on-ear design, complete with iconic brand logo, but significantly upgrade battery performance and wearability.

Marshall Major V: Design

Ostensibly, the Major V look much like what Marshall has offered before. All the familiar Marshall design traits are there: The right-hand ear cup has the that distinct manual brass control knob, for power, phone calls and volume control, while the left side has the M-button. Marshall has tweaked usability, customising this M-button so it can control Spotify, EQ adjustment and voice assistant control.

There’s only moderate clamping force, with the squared-off ear cups easily adjusted using the sliding rails. The headphones are also Bluetooth LE Audio enabled, offering a number of user benefits, including improved audio sync when watching videos on your smartphone or tablet, and a wider streaming range.

The headband itself is thinly padded so if you have lustrous locks this won’t be an issue, but those adopting a sleeker look (ahem) will feel the band resting on their pate.

A snug fit helps with acoustic isolation but unlike many wireless headphone rivals, there’s no Active Noise Cancellation offered here - a key reason why the battery life on the Marshall Major V is so generous.

While most of us will use the Marshall Major V wirelessly, they do come with a (curly) wired option. You can lace them up to your smartphone (if you still have a smartphone with a 3.5mm jack), or use them with an aeroplane’s entertainment system.

Marshall Major V: Features

(Image credit: Future)

The Major V headphones last longer than the Marshall Major IV, adding 20 hours more playtime to take the total to a massive 100 hours of battery life from a full charge. This effectively removes the need to fret over recharge schedules. I easily got through several days of casual use, before returning them to the wall.

It's also worth noting that there's also a quick charge feature that'll grant you 15 hours of play time from just 15 minutes on a wall socket.

Helpfully, the headphones also fold down, making them very easy to store in a pocket or bag. They’re light at just 186g, but feel rugged enough, which probably explains why they don't ship with a travel pouch.

Charging is via USB C and the Marshall Major V also support wireless charging. Just pop your headphones on a wireless charging pad to re-juice.

The Marshall Major V also utilise the Marshall app, where you can access EQ presets or your smartphone’s default voice assistant. The EQ comes preloaded with Original Marshall Sound, and a host of modes, including bass boost, mid boost, treble reduction, mid reduction and a custom option.

For what it’s worth, I think the app could use some attention. It’s not particularly responsive, tends to drop its connection and rather gets in the way. The headphones don’t utilise any spoken voice interaction. Instead we get chunky guitar riffs as acknowledgment.

Marshall Major V: Sound

(Image credit: Future)

Audio performance is excellent for the price. The Marshall Major V sound as good as they look with guitar-orientated rock. The headphones utilise dynamic 40mm drivers and can rock hard at volume.

Stereo imaging is wide and spacious and listening to AC/DC's Hells Bells via Spotify placed Brian Johnson front and centre, riffs duelled left and right before Angus Young moved centre in the mix. The drivers exhibit excellent spatial balance, albeit with an edge that’s always exciting to listen to.

Tuning favours the mid-range and there’s a welcome fullness to lead vocals and speech. Cleopatra by Nova Twins is a swaggering wave of distortion, but the headphones keep the vocals nice clean. The bass is prominent, and has weight, but it’s not over-wrought. The Marshall Major V headphones sound tight and mighty.

I wouldn’t class these headphones as audiophile as they lack the clinical precision and sweetness you’ll find higher up the price scale. However, those big drivers have energy to spare and sounded awesome with pretty much everything I threw at them.

Marshall Major V: The alternatives

For much the same money, you could opt for a pair of Sennheiser Accentum over-ear headphones. They lack the Marshall’s rock'n'roll aesthetic, favouring a rather more refined design - and the drivers are slightly smalle, at 37mm, but they do have the benefit of Active Noise Cancellation. This makes them perhaps more suitable for those with a regular commute. Battery life is half as impressive, at 50 hours.

Another solid alternative are the Sony Ult Wear headphones. They also have 40mm drivers, but unashamedly favour a deep clubbing bass. Active Noise Cancellation is also available on this model but battery life is relatively poor in comparison at 30 hours.

Loudest headphones: You want volume? You got it
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Dekoni team-up with YouTube star to resurrect ultra-soft vegan earpads for Audeze LCD headphones

Scott Munro — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:39:19 +0000

Around seven years ago, Audeze discontinued their popular vegan earpads for their LCD range of planar-magnetic headphones - but they’re now back thanks to a collaboration between Dekoni and YouTube audiophile DMS.

Dekoni’s new Audeze vegan ear pads are ultra-soft and have been made from durable, leather-free, microsude material and made to be as close to the original pads as possible. The slow rebounding memory foam is said to offer superior comfort compared side-by-side with faux-leather alternatives.

Dekoni explain: "Our custom microsuede earpads are designed with premium, high-density memory foam that contours to the shape of your head, ensuring hours of comfortable listening. The breathable fabric keeps your ears cool and comfortable, even during extended sessions, making them perfect for audiophiles and professionals."

DMS says they offer better timbre and smoother treble, and adds: “Things like guitars and vocals sound less shouty and more linear - and, with these pads being so soft and compressible, the headphone is just straight-up more comfortable.

“If you’re one of those people who has the original vegan pads that are getting really worn out and need a replacement, here’s where you’ve got them. And, if you’re a person who missed out on it when the original vegan pads were a thing, well now you have a chance.”

The Elite microsuede vegan earpads for Audeze LCD series are available to purchase now directly through the Dekoni Audio website, with online retailers set to follow in the near future.

(Image credit: Dekoni)

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Meze 99 Classics review: Brilliant value for money with knockout performance

Steve May — Wed, 22 May 2024 15:19:10 +0000

Meze 99 Classics: Design

Meze Audio may not be a household name, but the Romanian headphone specialist has been carving out quite a reputation for itself with high performance headphones that deliver audiophile-grade sonics with an ‘easy to listen to’ character.

The company's Meze 99 Classics epitomise the brand’s approach, with stylish wooden earcups and superior drivers, at a price that won’t break the bank - but how do they fare when fed a diet of ribald rock‘n’roll? Very well, as it happens.

Much like AC/DC's Brian Johnson in his newsboy cap, these the Meze 99 Classics look unapologetically old school. The walnut-veneered ear cups spring tensioned headband, with coppery-gold accents, have a cool retro vibe.

The rigidity of the chromium-manganese alloy headband means you’ll not be able to fold them down for ease of use, but given they weigh just 260g, I’ll give them a pass - they’re light and comfortable to wear for prolonged periods.

The headphones come with a choice of two detachable double ended cables, one 3m and the other 1.2m for portable use. Rather than a single mini-jack, they deliver stereo audio via separate left and right connectors which insert into each cup.

The headphones ship with a hard carry case, in which you’ll find the a pouch containing the cables, plus a chunky 6.3mm adaptor to use with a headphone amp or Hi-Fi system, and an airline entertainment adaptor.

(Image credit: Future/Steve May)

Meze 99 Classics: Features

Unlike so many of their bigger name rivals, there’s not much of an extended feature set to talk about. Wireless connectivity is AWOL, which means there’s no voice assistant action or Bluetooth streaming. If you want a conversation with Alexa or Google you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Clever noise cancellation technology may absent from the Meze 99 Classics, although their closed-back design does afford a level of ambient noise isolation.

On the plus side, there are no on-cup controls to master. These headphones are as plug and play as it comes. Given that I tend to spend far too much of my time negotiating with headphones that are invariably smarter than me, I like to think of them as gloriously uncomplicated.

Meze 99 Classics: Sound

(Image credit: Future/Steve May)

The Meze 99 Classics are wonderfully fast and dynamic in no small part due to the accuracy of their proprietary 40mm drivers. The title track to AC/DC’s The Razors Edge is propelled along with formidable force, guitar riff scything all before it, while Johnson’s delivery presented with exactly the right blend of grit and clarity.

Similarly, a high-res download of Lou Reed’s Satellite Of Love from the Transformer album, is revelatory for the price. The 99’s spatial presentation is exceptional, allowing you to listen beyond and around Reed’s honeyed vocal. David Bowie’s background contribution, on the final chorus especially, becomes crystal clear amid the finger snaps and backbeat. Bass performance is measured, without getting overly lumpy.

Muse’s Madness retains its resonant, low frequency electronic hook, but is never lethargic. The Meze’s midrange is balanced and fluid. Matt Bellamy’s distinctive, emotive whine is at one with, but never lost amid layers of synth, and there’s plenty of headroom for terrific toppy detail.

What I particularly grew to like like about the Meze 99’s is their overt naturalism. With so many Bluetooth headphones, particularly those with aggressive noise cancelling, it’s all too common to be aware of the sheer level of processing at work behind the scenes. That’s never the case here.

There’s a welcome purity to the audio, whether you’re listening to hard rock, prog, or blues. The Meze 99 Classics hop genres as easily as Electric Callboy. Everytime We Touch, which segues from boy band pop to metal growls via techno, is seamlessly entertaining.

Meze 99 Classics: The alternatives

The Grado SR325x is a solid rival for Meze 99 Classics. They’re also wired, but adopt an audiophile-style open back design which gives a more airy presentation. However, this rules them out for everyday commuting use. They’re intended for domestic use.

If you’re looking for wireless headphones that are also adept with most genres, then the JBL Tour One Mk2 are a great option. Much like the Meze 99 Classics, these headphones utilise big 40mm drivers that are dynamic and fast. They may not sound quite as convincing with hi-res sources, but they do offer decent noise cancelling.

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Sonos smash an Ace with their first-ever set of headphones

Scott Munro — Wed, 22 May 2024 11:48:49 +0000

Sonos are well-known for their range of speakers, but they’ve now turned their attention to the headphone market and revealed details on their upcoming Sonos Ace.

The US audio firm will launch the over-ear headphones on June 5 in two colour variations: Black and Soft White with the price locked in at $449/£449.

The Sonos Ace will feature Active Noise Cancellation, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, connect via Bluetooth or 3.5mm cable and offer up to 30 hours of music from a full charge, while the headphones and carry case incorporate recycled materials.

Sonos say: “Meticulously engineered and tuned by the most discerning ears in the industry, Sonos Ace creates the deepest connection to sound. Each custom-designed component combines with our advanced software to surround you with the highest-fidelity audio. From crystal-clear highs to powerful lows, every note feels more profound."

They add: “Enjoy an industry-leading Dolby Atmos experience with dynamic head tracking. Feel surrounded in hyperrealistic sound from every direction and explore different elements of the music as you move.”

The lightweight Sonos Ace will also feature a transparency feature Sonos call Aware mode, which will allow ambient sounds from your environment to filter into your ears when needed.

The headphones have a stainless steel headband with a sliding mechanism which is wrapped in memory foam in vegan leather for comfort. There’s also good news for those of us who wear glasses and often struggle to find a comfortable fit wearing over-ears. Sonos say the Ace underwent extensive testing for “different head shapes and sizes, hairstyles, and accessories such as glasses and earrings.”

Volume will be controlled via a Content Key on the side of the right ear cup, while a press of the small button housed under the slider allows for phone calls. The Sonos Ace will give you up to three hours of music from a quick three-minute charge and the Sonos app will allow you to modify your listening experience.

(Image credit: Sonos)

Heavys H1H headphones review

Scott Munro — Wed, 15 May 2024 14:27:33 +0000

Heavys headphones hit the headlines a few years ago due to the fact they were created specifically for metal fans to get the most from their music.

The brainchild of former Senheiser audio guru Axel Grell, I reported on the Kickstarter campaign to help get them off the ground back in early 2022. Now, I’ve finally managed to get my hands on a pair of Heavys and I’ve spend the last few weeks putting them through their paces with a selection of metal, rock and indie albums and tracks to see if they can mosh with the competition.

For clarity, I tested the Heavys using Apple Music on my iPhone - listening to tracks in both lossless and hi-res lossless formats.

Heavys are available to purchase directly through their own website.

Heavys H1H: Design

(Image credit: Heavys)

The Heavys are a weighty bit of kit thanks to their use of heavy duty plastic and come with a matte black finish. The brand’s logo in stencilled in white on both ear cups and can also be found embossed across the top of the headband.

While they are suitably heavy to wear, these over-ear headphones are comfortable thanks to their soft ear cushions, and they sit snuggly on the head - although excessive head-banging is not advised!

The control switches on the underside of both ear cups are firm and give a satisfying snap when used - although I found these easier to operate before placing the headphones on my head - and I particularly liked the design of the ridged volume dial on the right ear cup which worked great on the go.

The Heavys also fold away neatly for travel and come with a moulded carry case. The ear cups don’t swivel though so wearing them around your neck is a wee bit uncomfortable.

I also appreciated that the outer ear cup shells can be changed to suit your mood, with Heavys hosting a range of designs on their official website and there are collaborations with bands including Testament, Death Angel, Whitechapel and The Amity Affliction.

Heavys H1H: Features

Heavys utilise eight drivers to push slabs of music straight into your ears which the audio firm say generates “the most optimal sound experience possible for all music genres.” More of that later, but it’s also worth mentioning that the headphones also have five mics onboard too.

The Hell Blocker Active Noise Cancelling function works well and I found it was great when out walking along busy stretches of main roads while battering my lugs with a bit of Candlemass.

Heavys also support both wireless and wired modes: Bluetooth 5.1 BLE or connected through USB-C/analogue 2.55mm to 3.55mm, while a full charge should last around the 50-hour mark.

Unlike some other manufacturers such as Sony and Marshall, the Heavys don’t have a dedicated app to control EQ, firmware updates etc… yet. However, Heavys report that a standalone app is currently in development and it should be with us by the end of the year.

Heavys H1H: Sound

Being developed specifically for the tastes of metal fans, sound quality is definitely the most important factor here. As mentioned previously, I tested the Heavys using Apple Music in both lossless and hi-res lossless through an iPhone.

The first thing to say is that I initially had to tweak the EQ settings to get a good audio balance because I found the out of the box experience to be slightly muffled and too bass-heavy for my personal tastes. It didn’t take long to find the optimal audio levels for me and this will undoubtably be improved once the Heavys app launches.

When switching on, off, activating Hell Blocker ANC or pairing, a deep rumbling voice booms in your ears which reminded me of Duke Nukem before he wiped out a bunch of Enforcers or that dude who blared out ‘Finish him!” in Mortal Kombat. Nice!

(Image credit: Heavys)

Doom classic Nightfall by Candlemass was first on my playlist with the crunching riffs of The Well Of Souls coming through beautifully, with Leif Edling’s punchy bass gave my ears a proper workout, while Messiah Marcolin’s vocals rose gracefully above the mix.

Bringing things into the 21st Century, Metal Hammer's 2023 album of the year Sanguivore by Creeper also sounded on-point, with its excellent production shining through while Metallica’s 72 Seasons sounded crisp and awesome.

Moving away from metal, I fired up Jane’s Addiction’s magical Nothing’s Shocking album and it also sounded immense through the Heavys, with the headphones delivering clear balanced audio, with Dave Navarro’s acoustic Ocean Size intro sounding clear and crisp, while the bass was punchy and focused.

With my time with the Heavys, I also wanted to sample something a bit different too, so next up was Kælan Mikla’s 2021 album Undir köldum norðurljósum. I loved the delivery of the atmospheric, warm synth tones and the audio held together beautifully even when I decided to crank the volume to get the most out the Icelandic trio's most recent album.

On the whole, the Heavys sound very good indeed - but the soundstage isn’t as wide as I like. Now, that’s simply a personal preference and comes after spending the last six months or so with my pair of Sony WH-1000XM5s.

Heavys H1H: The alternatives

I mentioned the Sony WH-1000XM5 above and both them and the Heavys are available for around the same price. The Sonys are lighter, have a bigger soundstage and have the benefit of Sony’s dedicated headphone app for fine tuning. However, they don’t fold away like the Heavys, so bear that in mind.

Another solid alternative around the same price are the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2. They’re a solid choice of over-ear headphones and sound brilliant with awesome build quality.

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Over-ear headphones vs earbuds: Which should you buy?

Paul Dimery — Fri, 03 May 2024 12:58:51 +0000

If you want to enjoy some private listening – whether that’s on the train, in the gym or kicking it at home – then you’re going to need something that delivers your favourite music or podcasts straight into your lugholes. We could’ve just called them headphones, but it isn’t as straightforward as that: when it comes to choosing a new pair of ‘phones, you actually have plenty of choice between cans that clamp to your bonce with the help of a headband, and earbuds that sit securely inside your ears. The big question is, then, which of these is right for you?

In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of both over-ear headphones and earbuds, looking at key considerations like comfort, sound quality and features, to help you make the right buying choice for your particular needs. Of course, there’s also third category of on-ear headphones, which differ slightly to the over-ear variety. For now, we’re focusing specifically on over-ear cans and how they compare to their ear-inhabiting counterpart. By the time you’ve got to the bottom of the page, we reckon you’ll have your mind well and truly made up.

Over-ear headphones vs earbuds: Sound quality

Generally speaking, over-ear headphones deliver better sound quality than earbuds, thanks to the larger drivers they can house and the better acoustic isolation provided by the ear-covering cups. That’s not to say that you won’t get a good listening experience with in-ears, though. Indeed, in our guide to the best in-ear headphones and earbuds, we praise Sony’s flagship earbuds for their “awesome audio delivery”, and the House of Marley Redemption ANC 2s for their “lovely warm sound”. And that’s just two examples. From AirPods to Bose Quiet Comfort buds, these discrete headphones have never sounded better.

Winner: Over-ear headphones

Over-ear headphones vs earbuds: Comfort

Whether you prefer to have your ’phones over your ears or inside your ears ultimately comes down to personal choice (for example, we know people who hate having anything inside their lugholes, whether that be earbuds or cotton buds). One thing worth noting is that over-ear cans distribute their weight over your entire ear, rather than exerting pressure directly on your ear canal like earbuds. This can make the former option more comfortable during lengthier listening sessions. That said, over-ear headphones generally cause your ears to sweat more, so horses for courses and all that.

Winner: Draw

(Image credit: Getty Images/F. J. Jimenez )

Over-ear headphones vs earbuds: Noise isolation

Even though earbuds are stuffed inside your lugholes, it’s over-ear cans that typically provide better passive noise isolation, as they cover your entire ear area. Of course, some over-ear headphones and earbuds also offer active noise cancelling (ANC), where tiny microphones work to cancel out exterior noise by creating an equal and opposite noise.

Notable examples include, in the over-ear category, the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Mark Levinson No. 5909; and, in the earbuds category, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the Earfun Air Pro. On the whole, though, ANC is better in over-ear headphones, largely due to there being more room inside for better technology.

Winner: Over-ear headphones

Over-ear headphones vs earbuds: Battery life

That comment we just made about more room inside equating to better technology? The same principle applies to batteries. Over-ear headphones are much bigger than earbuds, and can therefore accommodate a weightier lithium-ion power pack. This means you’ll get more listening time between charges.

As an example, the AirPods (3rd Generation) will give you around six hours (up to around 30 hours with the charging case), while the Anker Space Q45 over-ear headphones offer up to 65 hours of playtime. Obviously, none of this applies if you’re using wired ’phones, which don’t rely on batteries.

Winner: Over-ear headphones

Over-ear headphones vs earbuds: Durability

Due to their smaller size and lighter weight, earbuds are clearly the more portable of these two options. Indeed, they should easily fit inside a jacket or trouser pocket when you’re not using them. Over-ear headphones will need to be hung around your neck or stowed away inside a bag – though a foldable set won’t take up too much room.

Winner: Earbuds

Over-ear headphones vs earbuds: Suitability for active use

Want something to listen to music on while you’re at the gym or pounding the pavement? Earbuds are much less cumbersome than over-ear headphones, which could start to feel heavy on your skull during a strenuous workout. On the downside, buds could fall out of your ears during a sprint on the treadmill or bike – and their generally flimsier sound might make it harder to hear them over the gym’s pounding dance music (though that shouldn’t be an issue with the more high-end buds).

Winner: Draw

(Image credit: Marshall)

Over-ear headphones vs earbuds: Style

If you’re the shy and retiring type – or if you’d rather not draw attention to the fact that you’re wearing expensive cans – then you might prefer to wear earbuds, which are obviously more discreet than over-ear headphones. Discreet certainly doesn’t have to mean boring, though – as demonstrated by the Apple AirPods’ iconic long-stemmed design, beloved by millions. If you prefer over-ear headphones and want something really eye-catching, take a look at the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX or the Sennheiser Momentum 3.

Winner: Draw

Over-ear headphones vs earbuds: Price

Ultimately, your final decision is going to come down to what you can afford. The good news here is that, while the top-end over-ear headphones are considerably more expensive than the best earbuds, there’s a broad range of products in both categories, with all budgets catered for – just check out guides to the best budget wireless headphones, the best headphones for vinyl and the best headphones under £100.

Conclusion

Clearly there are pros and cons to both styles of headphone. So, when deciding what is right for you, it’s important to first think about what you will use them for most and what your budget is. This should help guide you down the right path to audio nirvana.

Best headphones for music: Get the most from your favourite sounds
Get volume and lots of it with our pick of the loudest headphones

Can headphones cause hearing loss? "It's more than likely that you are listening to your favourite bands at ear-damaging levels, and you might not even be aware of it"

daryl.robertson@futurenet.com (Daryl Robertson) — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:22:31 +0000

From the thunderous sound of Joey Jordison's drums to the raspy bark of Randy Blythe's vocals and the down-picked power of Hetfield's guitar, some things in life are just meant to be played loud. But did you know that this could be putting your hearing at risk?

Whether you're a music enthusiast, a headphone user, or simply someone concerned about hearing health, it's crucial to understand the potential hearing loss caused by headphones. This knowledge can help you protect your hearing and continue to enjoy music long into the future.

We all know that a set of the best earplugs for concerts will protect us at live shows, but today, we're embarking on a journey to uncover the truth about headphones and hearing loss. We're not just here to inform but to show that we care about your health and your ability to enjoy music for years to come. We'll equip you with practical steps to protect your hearing, ensuring you can continue to enjoy your music without compromising your health.

Can headphones cause hearing loss?

(Image credit: Future)

Well, the short answer is, unfortunately, yes. Blasting your ears with loud music for extended periods of time can result in irreversible damage to your hearing. Headphones and devices such as phones and tablets can pump out a fair amount of volume, meaning it's more than likely that you are listening to your favourite bands at ear-damaging levels, and you might not even be aware of it.

Experts at the World Health Organization recommend that you keep your listening levels to around 60 to 70 decibels to minimize the chances of hearing loss. Even then, you should limit your exposure to a little over 12 hours – just about enough time to get in one play through of a Dream Theater track, then.

Now, we all know that headphones can be the best way to listen to music. Not only do they allow us to shut out the world and focus on the gut-punching riffs that make life worth living, but they also offer the best bass response and high-end definition.

So, if headphones offer the best sound but can also damage our ears, what actions should we take to ensure we keep our ears in tip-top condition and still get the best auditory experience possible? The good news is, the steps we're about to share are practical and easy to implement. Allow us to give you four great tips for safeguarding your hearing.

Tips to avoid hearing loss

(Image credit: Future)

1. Turn it down!

Okay, this one is pretty obvious, but simply turning down the volume at which you listen to music will dramatically reduce your risk of hearing damage. But how do you know when your music is too loud? Well, if you regularly listen on a phone, then you'll most likely be prompted with a message informing you that you are about to go over the recommended listening level. It may feel like a warning from a stern parent, but it's backed up by science and you should take heed.

If you are on a laptop or even your favourite record player, you'll not get this sort of notification. So, as a general rule of thumb, if you hold your headphones out in front of you at arm's length and can still hear your music clearly, then the level is most likely too loud.

You can also use your device's volume control as a gauge. Generally speaking, you don't want your device's volume to be over 60% of its maximum volume. The 60/60 rule is a good one to keep in mind. You are safe to listen at 60% of the maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes a day.

2. Use noise-cancelling headphones

Many people increase the volume of their headphones to better block out the outside world, leading to a level that is less than ideal for their poor, suffering ears. If this sounds like you, then we suggest investing in a good-quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones.

When they do their job correctly, noise-cancelling headphones eliminate external sound, allowing you to comfortably turn down the volume of your music as you are no longer competing with the hustle and bustle of city life.

Lower music volumes and you don't need to hear anyone else trying to talk to you – sounds like a win-win to us.

You'll find a few affordable noise-cancelling options in our guide to the best budget wireless headphones.

(Image credit: Future)

3. Ditch the earbuds

Not only do over-the-ear headphones deliver a far superior tone in terms of bass response and top-end, but they may also be the safest option out there. Yes, earbuds can be convenient, and of course, if used properly, they won't cause any harm. However, there is more risk associated with these small earphones.

The smaller size means they sit deeper in your ear canal, increasing the sound pressure level within your ear, which means you won't be able to use them for as long as a set of over-ear headphones.

Check out our guide to the best headphones for music to discover our top choices from a range of brands.

4. Take listening breaks

Lastly, we need to discuss taking breaks. Yes, we know it may feel strange not to listen to your favourite band every minute of every day, but if you want to carry on listening to them, you'll want to save your ears, and that can be achieved by taking regular breaks to give your lugs time to recover.

The national hearing loss charity RNID suggests resting for at least five minutes every hour to give your ears time to recuperate. Remember, it's all about balance. Enjoy your music, but also give your ears a break.

This, along with the other tips we've shared, can go a long way in protecting your hearing while still enjoying your favourite tunes.

Dekoni x Hifiman Cobalt headphones review

Chris Corfield — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:44:00 +0000

Collaboration is a wonderful thing. Some of the world's best-loved art, technology and products result from leaders in their fields joining forces to create something more than the sum of their parts. Think Anthrax and Public Enemy, or Dave Grohl lending his talents to a host of rock and metal royalty.

Now, you can add Dekoni and Hifiman to that list. In one corner, you’ve got Dekoni, the renowned producer of high-quality aftermarket earpads for headphones. In the other, you’ve got Hifiman, renowned producer of high-quality, audiophile-grade headphones. A match made in heaven, right? With this Dekoni x Hifiman Cobalt headphones review, we’re about to find out.

The Dekoni Cobalt, as they’re named on the box, are essentially closed-back, dynamic driver headphones made for superior listening pleasure. They’re not targeted at streamers, runners or anyone who needs a lightweight, portable set of headphones. While technically you could use them for all these things, you’ll likely find better solutions that cost far less than the $/£400 RRP asking price.

No, the Dekoni Cobalt are aimed at music fans who likely have a half-decent home audio setup, and want to enjoy the nuances of their favourite artists’ productions in the way the artist intended.

Design

For a start, these wired headphones are relatively large and bulky with the two earcups formed from hard-shell plastic which helps keep the weight profile down. Indeed, the Cobalts are surprisingly light on the head despite their size, coming in at just over 300g. While they aren't quite as light as the Sennheiser HD 660S2, listening to your favourite albums through them certainly won't cause any cricks in your neck.

Overall comfort is aided by the wide padded headband which means the Cobalts never feel cumbersome - and the swappable earpads. The earcups are finished in an attractive shade of blue (hence the name) and look great, although I do wonder how well the plastic will stand up to scratches and scuffs.

In the box, you’ll get a couple of different options of earpads, with our review pair offering up a soft velour set and a set of what Dekoni calls "elite fenestrated sheepskin". Swapping earpads is as simple as clicking them in and out of place, and if the two sets in the box aren’t to your taste you can find a variety of alternatives available from Dekoni.

Of the two, I preferred the sheepskin, which I found to be plush enough for a long afternoon’s listening. That’s not to say the velour set were any less comfortable, however my go-to studio headphones are a trusty set of Beyerdynamic DT990s and once you’ve used Beyer velour you can never go back. Personal preference plays a big part here though so it’s nice to have options.

Sound

(Image credit: Future)

In testing, I found the Cobalts to offer a genuinely high quality listening experience across a range of genres, with only the more extreme ends of the metal spectrum proving troublesome. I still find 1997’s Entroducing by DJ Shadow to be the litmus test for a set of headphones’ bass suitability, and here the Cobalts performed superbly, with the sampled low-end on that album’s Changeling track interweaving beautifully with the cinematic melodies sprinkled on top. The soundstage was breathtaking, with the album’s signature vinyl crackle providing a bed of warmth that the Cobalts recreated perfectly.

With heavier rock and metal, the Cobalts generally performed well, but not as spectacularly as with less frenetic and bass-heavy genres. I found albums and tracks that offer the listener heaviness interspersed with room to breathe, like Tool’s Lateralus or the superb Mariner EP by Cult Of Luna benefited from the broad frequency response. However, all-out heaviness such as Lamb Of God’s As The Palaces Burn didn’t translate so well. Having said that, the closed back design of the Cobalts did at least ensure the bass was reasonably tight and didn’t become the muddy mess you might expect.

The alternatives

For around the same price as the Dekoni x Hifiman Cobalt headphones, you’re creeping into the realms of some serious audiophile headphone royalty. For example, the aforementioned Sennheiser HD 660S2 offer a top-tier experience with superior aesthetics.

At the cheaper end of the price range, I'd also suggest the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro. They offer a more comfortable experience, although their flatter frequency response is perhaps more suited to audio production than straight-up music listening.

The best budget wireless headphones
Best headphones for music: supercharge your listening
The best audiophile headphones: Get more from your music
The best earbuds and in-ear headphones: From wireless to wired
The best kid's headphones: Headphones that are great for children
Loudest headphones: You want volume and lots of it? You got it

Our favorite headphones from Apple, Sony, Bose & more just had their prices slashed for Presidents’ Day

Scott Munro — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:31:30 +0000

Presidents' Day 2024 is here and that means there are loads of sales events running across the US on sites including Walmart, Target and Best Buy. I've had a look through some of the Presidents' Day headphone sales currently running and picked out a selection of my favourites from Apple, Bose, Marshall, Sony and JBL.

Below you'll find my picks along, but to get you started, here's a top offer at Best Buy. They've cut the price of the Apple AirPods (3rd gen) with lightning charging case from $169.99 to $139.99. That's a neat $30 saving - but there's more as they've also thrown in three months of Apple TV+, three free months of Apple Fitness+ and three free months of Apple Music into the bargain.

Just remember that all the Presidents' Day sales will wrap up at the close of play today (Monday, February 19) so get in quick if you see something you like.

Sony WH-1000XM4: ~~Were $348~~, now $277.98
Just because Sony have updated their over-ear headphones to the XM5, don’t go sleeping on the awesome Sony WH-1000XM4. These foldable headphones still boast incredible audio, exceptional noise cancelling and we awarded them the full five-stars in our review. Walmart have knocked $70 off the list price for Presidents' Day.

Read our Sony WH-1000XM4 review View Deal

Bose QuietComfort 45: ~~Were $329~~, now $199
The Bose QuietComfort 45 are an awesome pair of wireless noise cancelling headphones - and BestBuy have gone all in during their Presidents’ Day sales event and chopped $130 from the list price, taking these cracking cans below the £200 mark. View Deal

Marshall Major IV: ~~Were $149.99~~, now $119.99
Marshall might not be holding an official Presidents’ Day sale, but they’re still offering money off a range of their products, including $30 off their popular Major IV headphones in either black or brown. Not only will you be able to rock out for 80 hours from a full charge, but these on-ears are comfortable, sound terrific and look the business.View Deal

Beats Solo3: ~~Were $199.95~~, now $129.95
Amazon have 35% off the price of the Beats Solo 3 Bluetooth wireless over-ear headphones in either Black, Red or Rose Gold. They’ll give you 40 hours of music from a full charge, are comfortable for long listening sessions and deliver quality audio thanks to the Apple W1 chip.View Deal

Apple AirPods (3rd gen): ~~Were $169.99~~, now $139.99
As I mentioned in the intro, BestBuy are offering the Apple AirPods (3rd gen) with charging case for $139.99, with 3 free months of Apple TV+, Apple Fitness+ and Apple Music thrown into the bargain. This is the best value deal I’ve seen this Presidents’ Day. Dive in!View Deal

Get more from your tunes with the best headphones for music
Best headphones for vinyl: Top headphones for your record player
Best budget wireless headphones: wire-free and wallet-friendly
Best Marshall headphones: Our pick of the best across Marshall's range
Best kids' headphones: The best wired and wireless headphones
How to clean your headphones

Save up to 47% in Marshall’s epic Christmas sale - speakers and headphones reduced

Scott Munro — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:04:23 +0000

With Christmas fast approaching, Marshall have decided to reduce prices across their range of home audio in both the US and UK. So if you've been looking for a new speaker or pair of headphones to give someone this year, this is a great time to jump in.

On the official Marshall website there are loads of neat offers across their range, including 47% off the desktop Stanmore II Bluetooth speaker in the US. The price is down from $379.99, now $199.99 making this a great time to pick one up if it's been on your shopping list.

Meanwhile in the UK, you can get 38% off a pair of Marshall Major IV headphones, down from their RRP of £129.99 to £79.99.

The Marshall sale will run until December 27, so if you have a bit of spending Christmas spending money, you'll still be able to pick up a nice bargain.

Marshall sale: Savings on speakers & headphones
Marshall are holding a big Christmas sale with loads of cash lopped off the price of their speakers and headphones in both the US and UK. For example, in the US, the Uxbridge speaker has 40% off, while in the UK you can save 33% on the Minor III in-ears headphones. The sale closes its doors on December 27, so get in quick!View Deal

I've picked out a few of my favourite deals in Marshall's festive sale, starting with a couple of US standouts.

The Kilburn II in either Black or Black & Brass has $100 off, with Marshall taking the price down from $299.99 to $199.99. This is a great portable Bluetooth speaker which will happily pump out tunes for 20 hours on a single charge. It’s powered by 36 Watts making this a dependable and powerful performer.

As for headphones, how about the Major IV on-ear headphones in either Brown or Black, which are down from $149.99 to $99.99? Not only do they provide a huge 80 hours of battery life, but they deliver a balanced sound that’s perfect for rock’n’roll.

In the UK, you can pick up the ultra-portable Emberton speaker - down from £129.99 to £89.99 in its Black or Forest colour variations. It’s Marshall’s most popular speaker thanks to 20 hours of playtime, its perfect size and top audio delivery. It’ll even fit in a Christmas stocking!

Finally, I've picked out the Marshall Minor III in-ear headphones in Black which have been reduced from £119.99 to £79.99. These robust earbuds deliver 25 hours of music and are perfect for when you’re out and about. Less than 80 sheets for these is a real bargain.

Looking for more Marshall products? Then take a look at our guide to the best Marshall speakers and our pick of the best Marshall headphones.

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35 of the hottest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals still going - headphones, vinyl, speakers, turntables and more

Scott Munro — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 14:35:23 +0000

Just as we thought the dust was settling on an epic long weekend of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, we discover that some online retailers clearly haven't checked their calendars because there are still a whole host of awesome bargains to dive into.

The Louder team have picked out 35 of our favourite cyber deals that are still live which you can find below - but be warned, we have absolutely no idea when these discounts will come to an end, so go all-in if you see something you fancy.

There's everything from speakers and headphones to turntables and streaming services - and you'll find more discounted products on our Cyber Monday music deals page. Good luck!

Editor's picks

Amazon Music Unlimited: 3 months completely free
For a limited period (which Amazon hasn’t specified), you can enjoy a three-month trial of Amazon Music Unlimited this Cyber Monday without paying a penny. This is two months longer than the usual one-month trial period, giving you more time to decide whether you want to sign up for a paid subscription. If you decide not to, it’s easy to cancel, or you’ll start paying the $10.99 monthly fee ($9.99 per month for Amazon Prime members) automatically. Undecided, you can read our full Amazon Music Unlimited review here.View Deal

Sony WH-1000XM5: ~~Was $399.99~~, now $328
The Louder team's favourite headphones of 2023 are the awesome Sony WH-1000XM5. They offer incredibly detailed sound thanks to their 30mm carbon-fibre driver, while their ANC is class-leading. Battery life is fantastic too - with 30 hours of sonic bliss with noise cancelling activated. A quick 3-minute charge will also give you 3 hours of music. A great price for a stellar pair of headphones.View Deal

Audio-technica AT-LP3 BK: ~~Was $249~~, now $199
In one of the best deals we’ve seen so far this year on audio equipment, Audio-Technica has chopped 20% off the price of its brilliant budget AT-LP3BK record player. Considering how good this turntable is, it was already a catch at $249 – but now it’s been reduced to $199, it’s a real bargain.View Deal

Star Wars Lego AT-AT deal: ~~Was £329.35~~, now £191.99
Amazon is loaded with deals right now, with discounts on everything from audio equipment to clothes and toys. As big fans of Star Wars, though, we’re especially excited by this one, which slashes a ginormous 41% off the price of the Lego Star Wars AT-AT Walker set.View Deal

Headphone deals

JBL Live Free NC+: Were ~~$149.95~~, now $98.23
Amazon have knocked an impressive 34% off these excellent noise cancelling earbuds from JBL in blue. This is a top deal if you're looking for a well-priced set of earbuds.View Deal

Sennheiser Momentum 4: ~~Were $379.99~~, now $279.99
Not only can you save $100 on the Sennheiser Momentum 4 over at BestBuy, but you’ll also get a 4-month streaming subscription to SiriusXM thrown into the bargain. Even if you already have a sub, this deal on these excellent sounding and comfortable headphones is still a great deal.View Deal

Sony WF-C500: ~~Were £90~~, now £43.69
There are few better in-ear headphone options on the market right now than Sony's WF range, and you can get one of their earlier models for an absolute steal right now on Amazon with 51% off. They look great, sound great and work great, with a 20 hour battery life. What's not to love?View Deal

Sony WH-CH520: ~~Were £60~~, now £34
Sony headphones are always a safe bet, and with 43% off the Sony WH-CH520, this is simply a brilliant deal. They sound really good, the 50-hour battery is amazing and they look fantastic. For less than £35, you just can't go wrong.View Deal

Google Pixel Buds Pro: ~~Were $199.99~~, now $118.95
A neat pair of active noise cancelling in-ear headphones with $80 off the list price at Amazon. The Google Pixel Buds Pro have 11mm drivers which deliver excellent audio and they’re comfortable. This deal covers the buds in a variety of colours including Charcoal, Coral and Lemongrass.View Deal

AirPods (3rd gen) + charging case: ~~£179~~, now £149
Very.co.uk have lopped £30 off the price of the Apple AirPods 3rd generation complete with charging case. Anything under £150 for these excellent earbuds is always good to see and come highly recommended.View Deal

Speaker deals

Positive Grid Spark Go Pearl: ~~Was $129~~, now $99
If you're in the US, the Positive Grid Spark Go just got even better with a fantastic-looking Pearl colorway. More than just a speaker, the Spark Go is a smart mini-amp that comes with access to the Spark app and a wealth of guitar tones. Get a lead and you have everything you need for hours or bedroom or hotel room practice. Perfect for practicing with headphones, it has a rechargeable battery and doubles as a Bluetooth speaker. It’s got a $30 discount on the official PG site at the moment. View Deal

Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2: Were ~~$999~~, now $549
There's 45% off the RRP of the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition bookshelf speakers at Amazon right now - that's a massive $450 saving. They are absolutely packed with audio tech, sound amazing and look just as good.View Deal

House Of Marley Get Together: ~~$169.99~~, now $119.99
This excellent portable Bluetooth speaker from House of Marley delivers clear audio thanks to its high-output woofers and one-inch tweeters - and you’ll get 8-hours of playback from a full charge thrown into the bargain. It also looks fantastic with its bamboo finish. Save 29% at Amazon.View Deal

Marshall Emberton: ~~Was £149~~, now £89.99
Marshall has been making musical equipment for donkey’s years, so it’s no surprise that its Emberton speaker is so good. Packing a significant punch despite its teeny size, this super-portable unit also offers 20 hours of listening off a single charge. Marshall have cut £60 from the RRP and for less than 90 sheets, this is a top deal.View Deal

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen): ~~Was £59.99~~, now £21.99
If you haven't picked up an Amazon Echo Dot, this is a great time to do so, with Amazon cutting the RRP this Cyber Monday by a huge 60%. Music, podcasts, news and weather reports are just a voice command away - and it'll look the part no matter what room of the house it's in.View Deal

Sony SRS-XB100: ~~Was £55~~, now £39.99
You can’t go wrong with a Sony audio product, and the SRS-XB100 is worthy of the name, despite very much being a budget speaker. With multi-directional sound, up to 16 hours of battery life, plus IP67 water and dust protection, this pocket-sized accessory would make a great travel companion.View Deal

Turntable deals

Sony PSLX310BT Bluetooth: ~~Was $249.99~~, now $199.99
You can’t really go wrong with a Sony product, and this Bluetooth stereo turntable currently being sold by Best Buy is a lovely little package. Offering stylish, minimalist looks, wireless connectivity, a USB output and a high-performance, moving-magnet cartridge, this fully automatic, belt-driven record player would make a great addition to any living room. With the retailer offering it for $50 less in the Black Friday sale, you can now get it for $199.99 instead of the usual $249.99. Read our five star review here.View Deal

Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK: ~~$230.99~~, now $179
Target has really hit the spot with this top deal. The fully automatic, belt-driven AT-LP60X-BK is an impressive mid-range turntable, marrying a chic aesthetic with some top-notch features (including a built-in phono preamp, a redesigned tonearm base and head shell, plus an anti-resonance, die-cast aluminium platter). And it’s even more attractive now that the retailer has knocked 23% off the price. Read our full 4 star review here.View Deal

Denon DP-29F turntable: ~~Was £169~~, now £99
This fully automatic, belt-driven turntable is rated 4.5 out of five by people who’ve bought it, so that tells you how good it is. Formed from a single piece of aluminium, the DP-29F packs some cool features, including a built-in RIAA phono equalizer and a high-quality moving-magnet cartridge. Pretty impressive considering you can now get it for just £99.99 in this hot Currys deal.View Deal

House Of Marley Stir It Up: ~~Was £219.99~~, now £99.90
We’re big fans of House of Marley’s products here at Louder thanks to their sustainable philosophy and their top notch audio delivery. Right now you can grab the brilliant Stir It Up turntable at Amazon with £120 off.View Deal

Victrola Revolution Go: ~~Was $199.99~~, now $129.99
Victrola’s Revolution Go is aptly named as it’s the world’s first rechargeable portable Bluetooth record player. Ideal for a camping trip as much as a party with friends... and Best Buy currently have it for sale with $70 off.View Deal

Vinyl deals

Iron Maiden: Powerslave: Was ~~$39.99~~, now $28.99
Iron Maiden’s Powerslave is a classic thanks to tracks like Aces High, 2 Minutes To Midnight and the sprawling album closer Rime Of The Ancient Mariner. If this is missing from your collection, Amazon have the price of the 2014 limited edition 180g pressing cut from the original master tapes.View Deal

Rolling Stones: Tattoo You: Was ~~$197.82~~, now $99.15
Amazon have reduced this 2021 Rolling Stones Tattoo You box set by 50%. There’s 5LP containing a remaster of the original 1981 record, a disc of rarities and a live show from Wembley Stadium in 1982. There’s also a 124-page book with studio shots and tour photos and a lenticular sleeve.View Deal

Metallica: S&M2: ~~Was £139.99~~, now £109.99
21 years after they first joined forces with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Metallica revisited the idea of orchestrally reimaging some of the biggest hits in their back catalogue for S&M2. The result is a stunningly epic sound that adds a whole new dimension to the likes of The Day That Never Comes, For Whom The Bell Tolls and One, collected here in an impressive and expansive 71-song box set - talk about value for money at EMP!View Deal

Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms: ~~Was £32.99~~, now £25.99
Brothers In Arms might have been the first CD to ever pass the one million units sold mark, but that doesn't mean it doesn't still sound glorious on vinyl. A commercial titan, Brothers... remains a true classic with tracks like Walk Of Life and Money For Nothing iconic almost 40 years on from release. There's money off right now at EMP.View Deal

Alcohol deals

Wild Turkey 101: Was ~~£42.34~~, now £25
The ever-dependable Wild Turkey 101 is a solid, inexpensive bourbon that punches above its price tag thank to it coming in at 50.5% ABV. Great neat, over ice or in a cocktail. With 40% off at Amazon, this is an unmissable deal.View Deal

Talisker 10: ~~Was £48~~, now £33
Talisker 18 is sadly out of reach these days because of its ridiculous price. Take my advice and stick to the ever-dependable Talisker 10 instead. This is often on offer - and Amazon have cut 31% off the list price.View Deal

Jagermeister 24 x 2cl: ~~Was £37.97~~, now £28.56
What’s better than a drop of Jagermeister? 24 drops of Jagermeister, that’s what! Amazon have 25% off the price of this case containing 24 x 2cl Jagermeister minis - a neat stocking filler for rockers.View Deal

The Botanist Islay Gin: ~~Was £37~~, now £29.50
If you’re looking for something a little different, give this gin a whirl. Distilled at the famous Bruichladdich distillery on Islay (better known for its excellent whisky), The Botanist uses 22 botanicals from the island which results in a truly unique gin. Grab a bottle at Amazon with 20% off.View Deal

Streaming deals

Hulu: $0.99/month for first 12 months
Hulu usually costs $7.99/month, but this Black Friday you can get the ad-supported plan for just $0.99/month for the first 12 months. As if that wasn’t good enough, you can also add Disney+ with ads to your package for an extra $2 a month more.View Deal

Paramount+: 50% off for 3 months
The price of Paramount+ in the UK has been cut in half this Black Friday, with the streaming service offering customers 3 months at £3.49/month. It usually costs £6.99 a month and makes it the perfect time to sign up to watch the new Geddy Lee series Are Bass Players Human Too? which premieres on December 5. There’s also a whole heap of content to dive into too, including the entire Star Trek universe.View Deal

Audible: 60% off Amazon's audiobook service
In the US, you can get 4 months of Audible for $5.95/month - down from the regular price of $14.95. And if you're in the UK, you can claim 3 months of Audible for just £2.99/month, that's down from the usual cost of £7.99/month.View Deal

Merch deals

Maiden merch: Save up to 60% at Hot Topic
Celebrate Black Friday early, Hot Topic is offering huge discounts across most of its site – and that includes deals on official Iron Maiden merchandise. Whether you fancy a T-shirt emblazoned with the band’s iconic artwork, a framed Maiden print, or an Eddie-themed Monopoly set you can make massive savings. All you have to do is use the code HTDEAL at the checkout.View Deal

Alternative Christmas jumpers: up to 40% off
Want to continue the time-honoured Christmas tradition of wearing a big, ugly festive jumper at the dinner table, but bored of reindeer and snowmen populating your threads? EMP has a brilliant range of alternative Xmas jumpers on sale, with music, movie and TV editions available.View Deal

Lego Fender Stratocaster: ~~$119.99~~, now $95.99
Looking for a fun project that doesn’t involve dismantling your favourite guitar for modding, or looking for a way to avoid hours of practicing scales? Why not take a stab at the Lego Fender Strat kit? This Lego set is super fun and incredibly accessible and with 20% off at Amazon, you really can’t go wrong.View Deal

Marshall products are selling out fast in their Cyber Monday sale... get in quick before the deals are gone for good

Scott Munro — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:19:03 +0000

Just as one big sales events disappears, another rises right in front of us - and the audio masters at Marshall have wasted no time in launching their very own Cyber Monday sale, with a range of savings across their speaker and headphone ranges. But if you want to grab a discount, you'll have to be fast as some products are starting to sell out.

The deals on the official Marshall website cover both the US and UK, although there are differences to what products are on offer depending which side of the pond you're on. For instance, in the US, you can pick up the Uxbridge Voice speaker for £129.99 - that’s down from its usual price of $219.99.

It's not on sale in the UK, instead you can get the original Emberton speaker in all four colour variations for £89.99 - reduced from its RRP of £129.99.

For more top Marshall deals, don't forget to check out our favourite Cyber Monday Marshall speaker and headphones deals from retailers around the world.

Marshall Cyber Monday (US): Up to 47% off audio gear
Marshall have cut prices across their speaker and headphone range in the US - with the biggest saving a 47% discount on the powerful Stanmore II speaker. But that's not all, because there are also awesome savings on their headphones, with 40% off their Motif A.N.C. earbuds. We've noticed some products have now sold out, so be be quick!View Deal

Marshall Cyber Monday (UK): Up to 42% off the range
Marshall's Cyber Monday sale is also live, with up to 42% off their audio gear. The biggest saving is on the Major IV headphones - down from £129.99 to just £74.99, but there's plenty of tasty savings on speakers too. Like the US sale, some products are going fast, so dive in quick before you miss out.View Deal

Since its inception in 1962, Marshall has carved out a reputation for itself as one of the world’s leading audio brands, manufacturing products that combine excellent sound with robust build quality. And this year’s Marshall Black Friday sale offers some of the company’s finest kit at a considerably lower price, giving you a better chance of adding some highly rated headphones, earphones, or perhaps a speaker to your collection.

Our pick of headphones featured in Marshall's Cyber Monday sale are the Major IV. Available in black or brown, these superb headphones boast an ergonomic design, custom-tuned dynamic drivers and an astonishing 80+ hours of battery life. It’s amazing, then, that Marshall has dropped the price from the usual $149.99/£129.99 to just $99.99/£74.99 – meaning you’ll save a bundle if you buy a pair in either black or brown.

Of course, some Marshall products on sale differ depending where you are, and if you're Stateside, you can get 40% off the price of the Monitor II A.N.C. headphones. Marshall have cut the price from $319.99 to $189.99, making this a deal worth taking advantage of.

Another Marshall speaker we love is the Killburn II portable Bluetooth speaker. Marshall have cut the UK price from £279.99 to £199.99, with the deal covering the speaker in its Black & Brass design.

With the end of Cyber Monday on the horizon and some of these Marshall products selling out, if you see something you like, go for it now to avoid disappointment.

Master & Dynamic’s superb premium headphones are within reach for mere mortals with up to 40% off for Black Friday

Paul Dimery — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 14:41:30 +0000

With Christmas around the corner, now is a great time to invest in some new headphones – if nothing else, it’ll help drown out your squabbling relatives. With the Black Friday sales doing the rounds it’s the ideal time to pick up a new pair. If you’re looking for luxury, you don’t need to search much further than Master & Dynamic whose premium headphones and in-ears look the business, sound great and boast best in class noise cancelling. Right now, their Black Friday sale will get you 25% off orders over $350/£285, and a huge 40% off orders over $700/£570 until 27 November.

Master & Dynamic aren’t the only company who’ve slashed their prices. If your budget won’t stretch to M&D prices, we’ve highlighted more fantastic Black Friday headphones deals on our dedicated page, with options for most wallets.

Master & Dynamic Black Friday sale: Up to 40% off
Whether you want some new headphones or a pair of true wireless earphones, you’ll find some truly opulent choices on the Master & Dynamic website. At their standard prices, some of these products might be out of reach for many of us, but they’re being super-generous for Black Friday, knocking 25% off orders of $350/£285 or more, and 40% off orders of $700/£570 or more.View Deal

Great quality audio equipment can make a massive difference to your listening pleasure, and Master & Dynamic gear definitely ticks this box. Since launching in 2013, the US company has cemented its reputation at the luxury end of the spectrum and even partnered with brands like Mercedes-Benz and Luis Vuitton. Hell, Master & Dynamic headphones have even been endorsed by The Rolling Stones!

We’re big fans of the MW75 active noise cancelling wireless headphones. We tested them last year and were taken by how comfortable they were and the audio quality is amongst the best we've heard. The smooth lines and sleek anodized aluminium make for a stunning design. Usually you would pay an eye-waterig $599/£539, but with this Black Friday deal you can land them for $449.25/£404.25.

For something a little less pricey, the MH-40 wireless headphones have more of a slimline design, while the new version includes custom 40mm titanium drivers to deliver precise sound with clear highs and rich lows. At $399/£369 normally, right now you pay $299.25/£276.75.

And there’s loads more brilliant stuff on the Master & Dynamic website, all of it subject to these amazing Black Friday deals. If you’re tempted, you’d best make a move now as the offer ends on 27 November.

Marshall just turned the volume up on Black Friday – get up to 48% off our favourite speakers and headphones

Paul Dimery — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 12:12:23 +0000

Quality audio equipment often comes at a price – but what price can you really put on having your music sound the best it can be? Well, for Black Friday, Marshall wants to give you the best of both worlds, enabling you to wrap your ears around great sounding headphones and speakers, but paying way less for them. That’s where their up to 48% off Black Friday sale comes in with generous savings on everything from our much-loved portable Emberton 2 speaker to the classic Major IV wireless headphones.

As we’re sure you know, Marshall has a long-standing reputation for manufacturing guitar amps – walls of which you will have witnessed behind many of your favourite guitarists. When they branched out to creating a line of mean-looking Bluetooth headphones and speakers, we knew they were onto a winner and music fans would lap them up. Now you can jump on that train and bring a little slice of rock history home.

Marshall Black Friday (US): Up to $180 off audio gear
Whether you need some new cans for your workouts, or a speaker to get your Christmas party started, there’s every chance you’ll find something you like in the Marshall Black Friday sale. The maximum $180 saving is for the gorgeous Stanmore II Bluetooth speaker, which marries vintage chic with larger-than-life sound. But there are lots of great discounts available, enabling you to pick up some quality gear at a price that won’t leave you in serious debt. View Deal

Marshall Black Friday (UK): Up to £130 off the range
There’s a Marshall Black Friday sale happening on both sides of the pond. Shopping from the UK? You’ll save up to £130 off the Stanmore II speaker, while there’s a cool £50 off the Major IV on-ear Bluetooth headphones. You can read our full review of those here.View Deal

Not sure where to start? Check out our guides to the best Marshall speakers and the best Marshall headphones.

Our pick of headphones featured in this sale are the Major IV. Available in black or brown, these superb cans boast an ergonomic design, custom-tuned dynamic drivers and an astonishing 80+ hours of battery life. It’s amazing, then, that Marshall has dropped the price from the usual $149.99/£129.99 to just $99.99/£79.99 – meaning you’ll save $/£50 if you buy a pair.

If you’d prefer to get some earphones, you have two choices this Black Friday – and they’re both true wireless. There’s the Motif A.N.C. Black, which come with active noise cancelling and 20 hours of wireless playtime (reduced from$199.99/£179.99 to $119.99/£119.99); and the Minor III Black, which don’t have noise cancelling but will give you 25 hours of listening enjoyment ($129.99/£119.99 to $89.99/£79.99).

Looking for a new speaker? There are several excellent choices to pick from, including one of our favourites, the Emberton II, which is reduced from $169.99/£129.99 to $119.99/£89.99. This dinky, portable speaker is the ideal festival partner.

The Kilburn II is still portable like the Emberton, but is a step up in terms of size, power and battery life. The price has dropped from $299.99/£279.99 to $199.99/£199.99.

In terms of the biggest discount, that award goes to the Marshall Stanmore II Bluetooth speaker, the black model of which has been reduced from $379.99/£329.99 to a much more palatable $199.99/£199.99. For sheer power, style and connectivity, this is the one.

For more Marshall-specific discounts, check out our guide to the best Black Friday Marshall speaker and headphones deals which we're updating regularly - and if you have your eye on other brands, keep your peepers on our favourite Black Friday speaker deals, Black Friday headphone deals.

For everything else, take a look at our Black Friday music deals page.

Louder’s favourite five-star Sony headphones are back to their lowest-ever price for Black Friday

Paul Dimery — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:40:39 +0000

One of the Louder team's best-rated headphones from the last year are the Sony WH-1000XM5s – an amazing sounding pair of auto noise-cancelling headphones which we took a close look at earlier this year. In our 5-star review we touted them as “the best wireless noise-cancelling headphones available today.” They're also the number one pick in our guide to the best headphones for music. If you're serious about your music listening, they really should be top of your list.

If these Sony cans sound like the right upgrade for you, Amazon US have got in on the Black Friday sales early, cutting them by 18% - down from $399.99 to $328. And the good news doesn't end there, as Amazon UK have also cut the price from £319 to £279 - matching the online shopping giant's lowest-ever price on the over-ear headphones.

The deal on both sides of the Atlantic covers the headphones in all three of their colour variations: Black, Silver and Midnight Blue.

Sony WH-1000XM5: ~~$399.99/£319~~, now $328/£279
The Louder team's favourite headphones of 2023 are the awesome Sony WH-1000XM5. They offer incredibly detailed sound thanks to their 30mm carbon-fibre driver, while their ANC is class-leading. Battery life is fantastic too - with 30 hours of sonic bliss with noise cancelling activated. A quick 3-minute charge will also give you 3 hours of music. A great price for a stellar pair of headphones.View Deal

Launched in May 2022, the Sony WH-1000XM5 immediately revealed themselves to be a worthy successor to Sony’s acclaimed WH-1000XM4 headphones, offering even better noise cancelling, superior sound quality and longer battery life, not to mention a cleaner, more modern aesthetic.

That active noise cancelling is truly amazing - best in class, even - enveloping you in blissful isolation so you can appreciate their clear, punchy and detailed playback at its fullest. In addition, Adaptive Sound Control is designed to adjust the volume based on places you visit regularly, meaning you won’t have to waste time tweaking the levels every time you travel from the gym to the library.

With around 30 hours of battery life with ANC activated, you should easily get a good chunk of listening done before having to charge them up again – and the WH-1000XM5 are also supremely comfortable thanks to their plush memory foam padding.

Other sweet features include voice control, slick touch controls on the ear cups and ultra fast pairing so you never have to wait long to get back into your music.

These aren’t the only headphones that have been discounted for Black Friday – for more great deals, check out our favourite Black Friday headphones deals and for everything else, keep your eyes on our guide to the best Black Friday music deals.

Get in the groove with 43% off the Beats Studio Pro headphones before Black Friday

Scott Munro — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:26:38 +0000

The Black Friday headphone deals have yet to officially get under way - but that doesn’t mean you can’t grab a stellar bargain or two right now.

That’s because Amazon US have slashed the price of the Beats Studio Pro wireless noise cancelling headphones by 43% - taking the price down from $349.99 to $199.95.

And if you’re based in the UK, you can also get in on the Beats action, because Amazon on the other side of the pond have cut the cost of the Beats Studio3 wireless noise cancelling over-ears from £349.95 to £299.

Beats Studio Pro: Were ~~$349.99~~, now $199.95
The Beats Studio Pro headphones have a massive discount right now at Amazon. These wireless over-ears deliver great audio thanks to their dynamic head tracking while the battery will give you 40 hours of music.View Deal

Beats Studio3: Were ~~£349.95~~, now £299
In the UK, you can save 15% on the Beats Studio3 wireless noise canceling cans thanks to this Amazon deal. Audio is top drawer as you’d expect while a full charge results in 22 hours of your favourite music.View Deal

Beats make headphones and speakers and were founded back in 2006 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Lovine. They’ve gone on to become one of the best-loved audio brands around thanks to their comfort, stylish colourful designs and wide range of headsets. Their popularity led Apple Inc to purchase the brand in 2014 which has helped to further spread their global appeal.

With the big sales event of the year on the horizon, we're keeping tabs on everything on our Black Friday music deals hub. We're updating this regularly and filling it with some of our favourite discounts.

More Black Friday deals to explore

Black Friday speaker deals: Wireless, smart and hi-fi bargains
Black Friday vinyl deals: Prepare to spin a box set bargain
Black Friday alcohol deals: Get ready to find a perfect pour
Black Friday Marshall deals: Get ready for speakers and headphones deals
Black Friday camping deals: Prepare for next year's festival season
Black Friday streaming deals: Full stream ahead for Black Friday

Save up to 50% on JBL headphones and more in Best Buy's early Black Friday sale

Scott Munro — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:47:06 +0000

Black Friday will officially take place on November 24 - but Best Buy have wasted no time in getting in on the action early and slashed prices on a select number of items ahead of the big sales weekend.

There’s money off lots of products including speakers, sound bars, pop culture collectables – and up to 50% off a range of JBL headphones. For example, you can currently get $100 off the price of the JBL Live 660NC wireless headphones. They’re down from $199.99 to $99.99 which is a brilliant deal worth snapping up - especially when you consider they have 40mm drivers for a crystal clear sound, adaptive noise cancelling, are comfortable thanks to their fabric headband - and have a battery life of up to 50 hours.

I’ve also highlighted five of Best Buy's other early Black Friday deals which caught my eye below - and don’t forget to keep our Black Friday music deals page bookmarked. We’re updating it regularly with all the best bargains as we find them.

Samsung MX-ST40B: Was ~~$499~~, now $229.99
This is a deal that’s hard to ignore - $270 off the price of this floor standing, wireless Samsung Bluetooth speaker. It’s powerful at 240W and can be used either indoors or out. It’s perfect for festive parties - especially as it has LED lighting effects.View Deal

Bose SoundLink Micro: Was ~~$119~~, now $89.99
A great little portable Bluetooth speaker in blue that’ll happily drop into your bag or backpack - and it can even clip on to the handlebars of your bike as it’s waterproof thanks to its IP67 rating. You’ll get 6 hours of playback and it can be charged via Micro-USB.View Deal

Google Pixel Buds Pro: Were ~~$199.99~~, now $119.99
A neat pair of active noise cancelling in-ear headphones with $80 off the list price. The Google Pixel Buds Pro have 11mm drivers which deliver excellent audio and they’re comfortable. This deal covers the buds in a variety of colours including Charcoal, Coral and Porcelain.View Deal

JBL Cinema SB170 2.1 soundbar: ~~$249.99~~, now $149.99
Looking to get your home entertainment center up to speed? Then this sweet-sounding deal should be right up your street. There’s $100 off the list price of the JBL Cinema SB170 2.1 channel soundbar with a wireless subwoofer. It’s easy to set up and a bracket kit for wall-mounting is also included.View Deal

HP Victus gaming laptop: Was ~~$899.99~~, now $549.99
Best Buy have lopped $350 off the price of this 15.6” gaming laptop. It features an Intel Core i5, 8GB of memory and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card. A great option for gaming on the go.View Deal

More Black Friday deals to explore

Black Friday speaker deals: Wireless, smart and hi-fi bargains
Black Friday vinyl deals: Prepare to spin a box set bargain
Black Friday headphones deals: What to expect this Black Friday
Black Friday alcohol deals: Get ready to find a perfect pour
Black Friday Marshall deals: Get ready for speakers and headphones deals
Black Friday camping deals: Prepare for next year's festival season
Black Friday streaming deals: Full stream ahead for Black Friday

Black Friday speaker deals: Wireless, smart and hi-fi bargains
Black Friday vinyl deals: Prepare to spin a box set bargain
Black Friday headphones deals: What to expect this Black Friday
Black Friday alcohol deals: Get ready to find a perfect pour
Black Friday Marshall deals: Get ready for speakers and headphones deals
Black Friday camping deals: Prepare for next year's festival season
Black Friday streaming deals: Full stream ahead for Black Friday

This is why I’m waiting until Black Friday to buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones

Scott Munro — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 11:41:14 +0000

When it comes to over-ear headphones, I’m still rocking my old and sadly discontinued Oppo PM-3s which I usually hook up to another piece of Oppo magic to drive them - the sleek metal and leather-finished Ha-2se headphone amp.

The sound is fantastic, but plugging into my music with older tech means having to deal with a spaghetti bowl of wires and it’s a trip hazard when leaping off the sofa when the doorbell goes or when the dog jumps up looking for a treat. So in late 2021, I decided to join the fast-moving world of wireless headphones and bought the excellent Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds.

These have served me well and have been a companion when out running - or should I say 'hobbling' - and I've also used them at home for listening to music for hours on end. However, what I really want now is a pair of over-ears to replace my Oppos - and I particularly want the Sony WH-1000XM5.

So when Amazon announced their Prime Big Deal Days event, I thought it would be the perfect time to grab a pair of these noise cancelling headphones in Midnight Blue. They usually retail around $349/£319 which is out of my reach. However, when the sales dropped, I was a bit deflated that they went down to around £280 and a wee bit less for the other colour variations - still a nice saving but something around the £250 mark is my sweet spot.

Sony WH-1000XM5: Were ~~£319~~, now £279.99
This is still a great deal on the noise cancelling Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones in Midnight Blue - and you might even be able to get this model a bit cheaper if you're after a different colour.View Deal

With my price locked in, I did consider buying the older but still brilliant Sony WH-1000XM4 and I've also had a closer look at headphones from other manufacturers and discussed the issue with friends and colleagues, but boil it all down, and I have my heart set of the XM5 model - and it’s something that my tech-addled brain simply can’t shift.

So as tempted as I am to add these to my shopping basket - and I really am tempted - I’m going to wait until the Black Friday headphones deals begin on November 24 to see if I can nab them for a lower price.

With multiple online retailers getting in the game, I’m hoping my chances when the Black Friday music deals land over Cyber Weekend will be better for me to finally get my headphones. And even if I can't secure a pair and have to wait a bit longer, I'll still have my warm-sounding Oppos (wires and all) to see me comfortably through the winter.

I’m all in on Etsy’s feel-good $10/£10 off everything sale
Get up to 67% off Amazon Echo Buds to mark Prime Big Deal Days
I'm a graphic novel addict - here's the best you can buy on Prime Day
There's still time to get 4 free months of Amazon Music Unlimited
The 9 bargains I’m considering in Amazon’s October Prime event
Best Christmas gifts for music lovers: Present ideas with a rock'n'roll twist

Sony WF-1000XM5 review

merlin.alderslade@futurenet.com (Merlin Alderslade) — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 11:44:04 +0000

Released in August 2023, the Sony WF-1000XM5 in-ear headphones serve as a follow-up to the richly received Sony WF-1000XM4, which were unveiled in the summer of 2021.

Promising even better sound, beefed-up noise-cancelling capabilities and more, Sony are clearly focused on maintaining their standing as leaders in the in-ear headphones market – and they’ve produced another knockout product here, even if it all comes at a steep price.

Sony WF-1000XM5 review: Design

True to form, the Sony WF-1000XM5 look sleek and stylish and come in two colour variants; I got to test the particularly snazzy-looking black set but the silvers look great too. Both pack minimal designs with a small Sony logo on the sides, with matching charging carry cases that won’t take up much room wherever you store them. In fact, both the carry cases and the WF-1000XM5s themselves are significantly smaller than their predecessors - the headphones have been made 25% smaller and 20% lighter according to Sony.

Much like the Sony WF-1000XM4, the new model offers simple controls - one tap on the left earbud switches from Noise Cancelling to Ambient Sound, a longer tap activates Quick Attention, while a double tap on the right earbud skips to the next track. Tapping four or more times in a row controls volume. You can change these controls in the free Headphones Connect app that you can access via the product’s packaging. The app also lets you alter your EQ settings, sound levels and much more.

Like its predecessor, the Sony WF-1000XM5 comes in environmentally safe packaging, which is a nice bonus.

Sony WF-1000XM5 review: Features

(Image credit: Sony)

The Sony WF-1000XM5 boast a shiny new Integrated Processor V2 feature for maximum noise cancelling effect. I tested this function in a busy gym with its own PA, out on a walk near a busy road and on a 40-minute train journey. While the earbuds’ noise cancelling capability doesn’t quite match up to Sony’s over-ear equivalents, this is as good as I’ve ever heard it through in-ears and more than enough to keep the outside world at bay

Speaking of ears: mine often stubbornly seem to push out in-ear buds when performing strenuous activities (running, working out). Initially, I found one of the default buds a little uncomfortable, but upon swapping it for one of the three alternative sizes provided in the packaging, I didn’t experience any more issues.

With eight hours of charge on the in-ear headphones themselves another 16 in the case, you’re effectively set for a whole 24 hours of audio before needing to hook the Sony WF-1000XM5 up for a proper recharge. Plus, with up to an hour of play from a quick three minute charge, if you get caught out at short notice, you can still get a good bit of extra life.

I tested the Sony WF-1000XM5 for a couple of phone calls, and while my voice came across nice and clear, I wouldn’t describe the headphones’ audio on those calls as particularly impressive. This isn’t an issue for me as I’ll be mainly using these for entertainment rather than business function, and it was certainly good enough to have conversations with, even in busy areas.

(Image credit: Sony)

Sony WF-1000XM5 review: Sound

I wanted to give the Sony WF-1000XM5 as wide a testing pool as possible, so I picked a decent range of albums to listen to. First up was a blast of propulsive dance music courtesy of new Jungle album Volcano, which sounded lush and beautifully layered, the headphones perfectly picking up every floating bit of synth or pattering blast of percussion.

I swung over to some entirely different next with a play through of Swedish extreme metallers Orbit Culture’s latest album Descent. Despite the dizzying wall of noise coming at me, the Sony WF-1000XM5 kept everything crystal clear while never losing the impact of those ferocious riffs and battering drums.

Finally, I went for something a little more classic - a play through of Lauryn Hill’s legendary 1998 opus The Miseducation Of…. It sounded as fresh and vibrant on the Sony WF-1000XM5 as it did the first time I listened to it 25 years ago, the mixture of Hill’s soaring, soulful vocals and those r’n’b-flavoured beats sounding electric through the headphones.

Sony WF-1000XM5 review: The alternatives

While the Sony WF-1000XM5 sound fantastic, look cool and are super user-friendly, their steep price, however worth it they may be, may understandably put off some. With that in mind, there are some alternatives you can always look at.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation are always worth a look if you want a high-end, reliable set of earbuds to meet all needs. The sound is always top drawer and the battery life is extensive. Paired with Apple Music, and these are a great alternative option.

Of course, you could always dive into the still excellent Sony WF-1000XM4. Great audio deliver, excellent noise cancelling, comfortable and top battery life... and you'll probably be able to get them a little cheaper than the new model.

Cut the cord for less with the best budget wireless headphones
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Lypertek Pureplay Z7 earbuds review

Steve May — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:18:45 +0000

Out to tempt buyers on a budget, the Lypertek Pureplay Z7 earbuds have a solid tech spec including a unique triple hybrid driver configuration with two balanced armature drivers and a 6mm graphene driver per bud.

They’re a little on the chunky side, but they do come with a selection of earpiece sizes in both silicone and foam, while the charging case is wrapped in a smart fabric finish, which is cool.

Battery life is excellent, with 10 hours of playback. Under the hood, a Qualcomm chipset powers the Bluetooth 5.2 with support for AAC and aptX Adaptive audio codecs. An IPX5 water-resistance rating ensures protection from rain and sweat.

Out of the box, treble detail is impressive but the default setting might leave you yearning for more bass but that can be remedied with some EQ tweaks. For the price, they're a solid choice.

Read on for more detail.

Lypertek Pureplay Z7 review: Design

It’s not an unkindness to describe the Lypertek Pureplay Z7 as cookie cutter True Wireless buds. They’re dot style, with a chubby chamber that’s difficult to ignore. Helpfully, they come with a full complement of earpiece sizes, both silicone and foam so a decent fit is assured.

Once paired, various presses and taps allow you to control playback and volume. The charging case is nicely finished in a snazzy fabric wrap, which feels good in the hand. Also included in the box is a USB cable.

Lypertek Pureplay Z7 review: Features

(Image credit: Lypertek)

The Lypertek Pureplay Z7 don't offer any active noise cancelling but as a result they have greater stamina than some ANC competition, offering 10 hours of playback and another 70 hours of juice in the charging case. The earbuds also support wireless charging and Lypertek sell an optional wireless charging pad to do the job.

Beneath the hood, a Qualcomm chipset powers Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity with AAC and aptX Adaptive audio codecs. The headphones are IPX5 water-resistant for protection from rain and sweat.

In depth control is available through the partnering PureControl app. It’s here you can tweak a seven band equaliser and experiment with various sound presets, including an LDX Audio mode specifically optimised for the Lypertek Pureplay Z7.

I found the Pure Control app decidedly flakey. More often than not, it failed to connect to the buds (even though the buds themselves were connected over Bluetooth) so not a great experience.

While the Z7 lack noise cancelling, there is an Ambient mode and a helpful Find my Earbud feature, should you inadvertently drop them someplace.

Lypertek Pureplay Z7 review: Sound

The Z7 feature a novel triple hybrid driver configuration, with each bud boasting two bespoke balanced armature drivers and a 6mm graphene driver. The configuration certainly doesn't shy away from toppy detail and things can get a little brittle - there’s also a low frequency deficit, at least in the default setting. The Offspring chanting Sharknado sounds as musical as a nuisance phone call.

This shortfall can be remedied by selecting Loudness in the Pure Control app which boosts the low end and mid-range. Boston’s More Than A Feeling immediately sounds fleshier with its anthemic guitar moving to the fore. Other presets include Bass Boost, Neutral, Podcast, Gaming and Movies, plus a couple you can customise. I recommend sticking with the Loudness setting.

I also found the soundstage confined. No matter how much keyboard flourish goes into Boston's Foreplay/Long Time, it still sounded like the band were playing in a tunnel behind my head.

The LDX Audio mode is a bit perplexing as it’s flatter than craft ale. What’s more, when it’s engaged you can’t change any of the presets, so I'd give it a swerve. Things can get ragged at volume. Linkin Park's One Step Closer takes these buds to the edge. That driver trio doesn't have a lot of headroom.

On the plus side, the Z7 are happily prog centric. While they have the energy for ribald riffing (Bullet For My Valentine's Waking the Demon is fast and furious), keyboards, acoustic guitars and vocals are their real happy place. Sonja Kristina’s vocals on Curved Air’s Back Street Luv are pure silk.

Lypertek Pureplay Z7 review: The alternatives

The Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch also lack noise cancelling but compensate with a novel custom fit design using an array of silicone fins and ear tips. They sport 7mm graphene-enhanced drivers and boast a formidable nine hours playback, with 41 more in the charging case. When you need to hear what’s going on around you, there’s an Activate Transparency mode. These buds also have an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance.

If you want to spend a little more, consider the LG Tone Free T90 earbuds. These LG earphones feature some cool audio tech called Meridian Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP). Developed by high-end Hi-Fi specialist Meridian, this DSP process opens up the soundstage to great effect. They also support Dolby Head Tracking for when you listen to Dolby Atmos spatial music on Tidal or Amazon Music Unlimited.

They come with a UVnano charging case, which uses ultraviolet light to help keep the earbuds hygienically clean as they recharge. Battery life is rated at nine hours, with 20 in the charging case.

Cut the cord for less with the best budget wireless headphones
Our pick of the best AirPods alternatives
The best audiophile headphones: Get more from your music
Get your hands on the best headphones under £100
The best headphone amps to boost your listening
Best Marshall headphones: Our pick of the bunch

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 headphones review

Steve May — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 12:04:11 +0000

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 over-ear headphones are a force to be reckoned with in the world of head-fi audio. These high-end headphones boast premium craftsmanship, with a sumptuous padded Nappa leather headband and ear cups and deliver an appropriately rich sonic performance.

Much of their clarity can be attributed to bespoke 40mm Carbon Cone drive units, which take inspiration from Bowers & Wilkins' reference-quality loudspeakers. These offer controlled, accurate bass, superb vocal tonality and a veritable treasure chest of toppy treble detail. Proprietary Digital Signal Processing ensures 24-bit high-resolution sound from supporting streaming services.

The Px8 employ Qualcomm’s aptXTM Adaptive wireless technology, for hi-res streaming with low latency. They also have effective active noise cancelling, efficiently silencing intrusive ambient hubbub on the daily commute while battery life is impressive, topping out 30 hours.

Read on for a more in-depth look at what you can expect from the Bowers & Wilkins Px8.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8: Design

With their heavily padded Nappa leather headband and ear pads and chrome trim, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 look unapologetically premium. The fit is snug but comfortable, and those earpads are soft and inviting.

Available in black or tan / grey colour variations, the Px8 are a tad chunky but actually weigh a reasonable 320g. While the aluminium hinge allows the pads to be laid flat, they don’t fold down, which means they’re a bit of a handful to manage in transit.

They ship with a discus-style carry case, a 1.2m USB-C to 3.5mm stereo jack, and USB-C cable.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8: Features

Rather than resort to touch controls, physical buttons are provided on the right ear cup. There are Bluetooth, volume, and transport controls, with a Customisable button on the left ear cup.

Noise cancellation is the key feature attraction and it comes with ambient pass through. There’s also a simple wear detection sensor, while Bluetooth compatibility is good with support for aptX, aptX Adaptive, hi-resolution aptXHD, SBC, and AAC (but not LDAC).

You’re unlikely to run out of juice when out and about with the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 as battery life is a generous at 30 hours with noise cancelling engaged. If you're in a rush and in need of a quick top up, then a 15-minute charge will give you a whopping seven hours of play time.

Setup for the headphones is via the Bowers & Wilkins Music app where you can adjust EQ or configure your preferred level of noise-cancelling. You can also use this to connect to music streaming services directly, and that includes Deezer, Qobuz and TIDAL.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8: Sound

(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)

The staccato slam of Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name’ is velvet edged and spacious. The track isn’t content to just sit between your ears, it slam dances around your head. One thing I realised very quickly is that these headphones like to be played loud, sounding ever more dynamic as you crank the volume. I was happy to oblige.

The staccato slam of Rage Against the Machine’s’ Killing In The Name is velvet-edged and spacious. The track isn’t content to just sit between your ears, it slam dances around your head. One thing I realised very quickly is that these headphones like to be played loud, sounding ever more dynamic as you crank the volume. I was happy to oblige.

The heart and soul of the Px8 is provided by their bespoke 40mm Carbon Cone drive units, inspired by the brand’s reference-quality loudspeakers. They’re a big upgrade on the paper cones used by the similar looking Px7. Bowers & Wilkins' engineers have angled these carbon drive units to ensure a consistent distance to your ear from every point across the surface of each driver. The benefits can be heard in the scale of the soundstage they create.

This uniformity of delivery works well with the drop C riffing of Disturbed’s Down With The Sickness. The track applies inexorable pressure, yet that opening animalistic, ‘ooh-wah-ah-ah-ah’ chatter sits cleanly apart. Very impressive.

I love the simple musicality of the Px8s too. They’re as happy grinding out Pantera’s 2012 remaster of Walk, as they are playing the wistful elegance of Steely Dan’s Home At Last. The guitar on the latter, partnered with Gary Katz’ sublimely produced saxophone, sounds exquisite.

Can the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 hold things together when things get complicated? Of course! Creeper’s Cry to Heaven is layered like filo pastry, and these headphones don’t miss a crumb.

Bass performance is considered in the best sense. The Px8 can certainly drop deep, but they never sound sluggish. Hot Milk’s Over Your Dead Body lands low blows like a featherweight with scant regard for the Queensbury rules. It’s a knockout.

Noise cancelling is up there with the very best, effectively closing the door on intrusive ambient sounds. The headphones use six microphones, two of which react to ambient noise while two more measure the output of each drive unit. The final pair are assigned voice clarity duties.

As an aside: if you run the headphones without noise cancelling, you’ll notice a subtle uplift in treble. Try it, you may like it.

For those that want to tweak, the Bowers & Wilkins app offers Environmental Control and Pass through noise cancelling settings. You can also quickly set quality thresholds for Data and Wi-Fi streaming, or manually alter treble and bass levels.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8: The alternatives

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 may operate at the rarefied end of the market, but there’s no shortage of impressive competition. The Shure Aonic 50 are a stylish alternative, with leather-padded headband and similarly chunky earcups. They’re heavier at 334g and like the Px8, don’t fold flat. However, their sonic performance and noise cancelling is comparable - and they're also considerably cheaper.

Also earning a hard recommendation from me are the JBL Tour Mk2. More comfortable than either the Px8 or the Aonic 50, they’re well balanced and exciting to listen to - and again they undercut the Px8 by some margin.

Cut the cord for less with the best budget wireless headphones
Our pick of the best AirPods alternatives
The best audiophile headphones: Get more from your music
Get your hands on the best headphones under £100
The best headphone amps to boost your listening
Best Marshall headphones: Our pick of the bunch

Shure Aonic 50 Bluetooth headphones review

Steve May — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 09:08:32 +0000

If you’re after a premium pair of noise cancelling over-ear headphones, the Shure Aonic 50 fit the bill. A leather-padded headband with stylised stitching and matching ear pads, exude style. The weighty build at 334g might seem a concern but they're comfortable even during the longest jam sessions.

Audio performance is excellent, with tight bass, plenty of toppy detail and a melodious mid-range. Noise cancelling is entirely satisfactory although not quite as efficient as some rival brands. Battery life hits 20 hours with ANC engaged, which is down 10 hours compared to rival models, and Google Assistant is just a button press away. Bluetooth 5.0 supports aptX and aptXHD.

Overall, usability is good with intuitive physical controls for volume, pairing and noise cancelling modes. One quirk of the design is that while the Aonic 50 fold flat, they don’t hinge into a compact ball so travelling with them is a bit of a challenge.

Let's break it all down...

Shure Aonic 50 review: Design

In many ways, the Shure Aonic 50 are love at first sight. The leather padded headband with stylised stitching and generously padded ear pads, are very rock‘n’roll.

The earpad hinge swivels flat for storage but they don’t fold down (as evidenced by their platter-style storage case). Rival headphones with a pivoting hinge can be stowed in a smaller space. This makes the Shure Aonic 50 something of a challenge to travel with. By way of compensation, the ear pads are removable, which makes them easy to clean or replace.

They Shure Aonic 50 are relatively heavy at 334g, but they're still comfortable enough to wear for prolonged periods and have minimal clamping force. Available in black, brown or white, the pads are nicely matched to the cups.

In addition to the large carry case, they come with a 3.5mm and USB-C cables.

Shure Aonic 50 review: Features

(Image credit: Shure)

Control comes via a crescent of physical buttons on the right ear pad, where you’ll find volume, Bluetooth pairing and transport controls. Active Noise Cancelling is activated by a slider. It’s either on, in neutral or in Environmental mode, which is basically a transparency mode which allows you to hear ambient noise.

Double pressing the power button gives a spoken confirmation of battery life. Bluetooth is 5.0 and there’s support for a variety of codecs including aptX, hi-res aptXHD, aptX Low latency (to combat lip sync), SBC, AAC and LDAC. There’s also Bluetooth multipoint which allows two devices to connect simultaneously. Battery life is rated at 20 hours with ANC on.

Pressing a raised button on the power rocker calls up Google Assistant on the connected smartphone, which is handy if you need to ask for the location of the nearest dive bar.

You’ll want to use the Shure Aonic 50 with the accompanying ShurePlus app for iOS and Android. Through this you'll be able to update firmware, play media and access EQ presets, although these only apply to tracks played through the app.

Noise cancelling is good enough, helped by the passive isolation the thick ear pads offer. It’s powerful enough to mute general hubbub from the outside world. The Shure Aonic 50 charge over USB-C via the right ear cup.

Shure Aonic 50 review: Sound

I'd describe the sound profile of Shure Aonic 50 as balanced, with impressive resolution and a melodious mid-range. I love the timbre of Jon Lord’s organ on Deep Purple’s Might Just Take Your Life from the 2004 remaster of Burn. The solo sounds fresh and urgent, with layers of electronic nuance. Musicality is excellent; Maneskin’s Gossip sounds tighter than a Lamé jumpsuit. There’s no fizz or fuzz at volume.

The headphones also have excellent bass response. Not over-emphasised, it’s deep and resonant. Low blows hit with impressive accuracy and when the bodies hit the floor, they land with an impressive thud. The variable noise cancelling mode actually has quite a pronounced effect on the soundstage.

I actually prefer the Shure Aonic 50 with noise cancelling set to Max, not only when out and about, but during quiet room listening. In its Neutral position, there’s slightly more treble clarity but the sound becomes agreeably heavier with noise cancellation is its top position, which suits me fine.

Much of their signature sound can be traced to the substantial 50mm dynamic drivers in play. That angry guitar at the start of Corey Taylor’s Talk Sick is like a punky drill to the side of the head. It’s sharp and solid, exactly what you want from a good pair of headphones.

Shure Aonic 50 review: The alternatives

The Shure Aonic 50 have their work cut out at the higher end of the headphone market. Their most obvious competition comes from the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2, which have a comparably classy finish, and are a tad lighter. They’re also hi-res capable, work with Google Assistant and steal an edge when it comes to battery life, typically offering around 30 hours. However they have slightly small drivers (40mm), and don’t sound quite so sonically forward as the Aonic 50.

You can save even more cash if you opt for the JBL Tour Mk2. These excellent noise cancelling headphones are sublime all-rounders; exciting to listen to and a joy to wear. Once again battery life is better at 30 hours, but they can’t quite compete with the hefty bass extension offered by the Aonic 50s.

Cut the cord for less with the best budget wireless headphones
Our pick of the best AirPods alternatives
The best audiophile headphones: Get more from your music
Get your hands on the best headphones under £100
The best headphone amps to boost your listening
Best Marshall headphones: Our pick of the bunch

Marshall’s new Motif II ANC earbuds are primed and ready to rock

Scott Munro — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 14:31:52 +0000

Marshall have lifted the lid on their brand new Motif II ANC in-ear headphones which have improved noise cancelling over the original earbuds and a better battery life.

The second generation Motif II ANC deliver six hours of music from a full charge with ANC enabled and nine hours without - and that can be increased to 30 hours of ANC playback (43 hours without) via the charger - that’s 10 hours more than the 2021 Motif model. If you're in a rush, a quick 15-minute charge will give you an hour’s worth of sounds.

The Motif II ANC also come equipped with Bluetooth LE - tech that Marshall report provides a greater streaming range and better audio sync. The earbuds have also been made from 70% recycled plastic, and that includes water bottles, used electronics and light covers from cars.

The Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds will be available from September 12 priced at $199.99/£179.99 and they’re available to pre-order direct from the official Marshall website right now.

In 2022, Marshall celebrated their 60th anniversary by launching a limited edition diamond jubilee edition of the Motif ANC earbuds and earlier this year released their new stackable portable Middleton Bluetooth speaker.

If you want some other options, then take a look at our guides to the best Marshall headphones and Marshall speakers.

Loudest headphones: You want volume and lots of it? You got it
Our pick of the best budget wireless headphones around
The best headphone amps: Boost the mood
The best kid's headphones: Headphones that are great for children
Plug your lugs with the best earplugs for concerts

How to clean your headphones and keep them sounding great for longer

Ira Segall — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 09:31:51 +0000

We’ve reviewed and recommended dozens of pairs of headphones over the years here at Louder - everything from brilliant budget wireless headphones to top-end audiophile options. But when it comes to keeping them in great condition, we thought we'd approach World Wide Stereo's senior product specialist Ira Segall to get his tips and tricks about how you can increase the longevity of your headphones and keep them in tip-top condition. Over to you, Ira.

Why it's important to clean your headphones

Among the most common factors that impact our music listening experience are connectivity problems, ear fatigue, ear wax buildup, limited mobility and, where this guide comes in, failure to effectively maintain our headphones on a regular basis.

To get the most from your listening experience, maintaining your headphones is as important as choosing the right pair. Dirty headphones can increase disease transmission and the likelihood of contracting an ear infection increases if you share your headphones as there's a possibility that someone may be infected.

Frequent use of headphones also increases humidity in the ears which creates an environment conducive to bacteria growth, so using a soft cloth and a mild cleaning solution to wipe them down after use goes a long way toward keeping germs at bay. Regular cleaning and proper storage will also increase the longevity of your headphones, as failing to do so can see dirt and debris accumulate in the nooks and crannies of your ear pads.

(Image credit: Getty Images - Strauss/Curtis)

Tools for cleaning your headphones

A soft brush or toothbrush
Soap and water
A microfiber cloth
Tweezers
Isopropyl alcohol/ hydrogen peroxide/ diluted bleach
Soft picks
Paper towels
Gloves

While you may not need all the above, referring to the headphone manufacturer's cleaning instructions is crucial. However, the tools I've mentioned can go a long way toward cleaning your headphones effectively and eliminating bacteria. To prevent injury, carefully handle components such as diluted bleach and hydrogen peroxide, as drops in the eyes can cause severe damage.

Step-by-step cleaning guide

Step 1: Disconnect your headphones
Disconnecting your headphones from any device will prevent accidental damage and ensures safety when cleaning your headphones.

Step 2: Remove the pads or ear tips
The key to effectively cleaning your headphones is to remove the ear pads (or ear tips if you're cleaning earbuds) first. This step lets you stretch out the headband so you can get into all those previously hidden areas more easily.

Step 3: Dusting/cleaning
Once the ear pads and the headband are separated, take a toothbrush or a soft cloth. Eliminate the most noticeable dirt and smudges as much as you can. To remove tiny hairs and stuck debris, use a tweezer. Some models come with headphones attached to the ear pads, and as mentioned earlier, following the manufacturer's instructions is vital. However, you can use water and mild soap to clean them - just don't use too much water.

Step 4: Disinfect the headphones
While hydrogen peroxide disinfects headphones, isopropyl alcohol or diluted bleach is highly recommended. Ensure not to use excessive cleaning liquids which could damaging the leather, plastic and materials attached to the headphones. Clean the ear pads first followed by the headband. Starting with the ear pads gives you a better idea of the pressure you have to apply when removing dirt from other parts of the headphones, such as the ear cups and drivers.

Step 5: Clean the headphones at an angle of 90 degrees
Too much liquid can damage your headphones so to avoid any liquid from entering the speakers, hold the headphones at a 90-degree angle to make the speakers face downward. Use a soft cloth to clean the outer parts and make sure liquid doesn't spill inside the internal components.

Step 6: Dry thoroughly
Moisture can affect the sound quality of your headphones, so you need to make sure that every component is dry before reassembly. Use a dry towel and set aside to make sure they're as dry as possible.

(Image credit: Getty Images - DRAKULA IMAGES)

Tips for regular maintenance

Clean your headphones regularly
Store your headphones properly
Replace the pads if there's too much wear and tear
Handle your headphones gently
Avoid sharing headphones
Keep headphones out of reach of children
Make sure the volume is at a reasonable level
Don't leave them in direct sun or at close to radiators
Always check your headphones for signs of damage

How often should I clean my headphones?

This comes down to how and where you're using your headphones. For example, if you use them at the gym or when out for a run, I recommend cleaning them at least once a week as bacteria and sweat accumulate fast. If you mostly use your headphones indoors, a monthly clean should do the trick. Sweat and environmental conditions can increase moisture which will lead to salt build up.

Wrapping up

Investing in a serious pair of headphones can be expensive, so to increase their lifespan, keep your eyes on their condition and get into the habit of regularly cleaning them by following the tips highlighted above. You'll benefit from clean headphones in terms of perfect sound and maintaining your hearing health, ensuring that your audio experiences remain enjoyable and safe.

The best headphones for music: Elevate your listening
Best in-ear headphones and earbuds: For music on the go
Get your hands on the best headphones under £100
The best headphone amps to boost your audio pleasure
Best earplugs for concerts: Protect your hearing

Audio-Technica ATH-A1000Z review

Paul Dimery — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 14:02:10 +0000

The release of a new Audio-Technica product is usually greeted with a satisfied grin. And so it was in 2016 when the Japanese manufacturer launched its then-latest set of premium wired headphones, the ATH-A1000Z. These high-fidelity, closed-back headphones earned positive reviews from the press and the public alike, with most people agreeing they looked, felt and sounded great.

Seven years is quite a long time when it comes to technology, though, which prompts the question: Are the ATH-A1000Z still worth buying in 2023? After all, they’re not that much cheaper than they were when they first appeared. To find out, I've put them through their paces, measuring how they stack up when it comes to sound quality, design and comfort. I've also given a couple of alternative suggestions at the end of the review.

Audio-Technica ATH-A1000Z review: Design

One thing that most people agreed on when these over-ear headphones were launched was how stylish they looked – and I think they still cut the mustard. Hand-assembled in Japan, their distinctive design – red aluminium housings, along with "enhanced 3D wing support" where the headband would normally be – looks as modern now as it did then.

Thankfully, the aluminium housings are on the lighter side ensuring that the overall weight of these headphones is limited to a modest 265g – without the cable. That, combined with their self-adjusting wing support and soft pleather ear pads, means the Audio-Technica ATH-A1000Z feel lovely and comfortable, even during longer listening sessions. Despite their light weight, there’s a pleasing sturdiness about these headphones, too – and while there’s no reason why you’d want to throw them against the wall, I reckon they’d remain intact if you did.

Speaking of those ear pads, they’re ergonomically designed for improved sound isolation. While they won’t completely shut out your surroundings like a pair of top-quality active noise cancelling headphones would, they do enhance the level of immersion, while delivering deeper, more satisfying bass.

Audio-Technica ATH-A1000Z review: Features

Since these aren’t Bluetooth headphones, there’s no range or battery life to talk about in this review. The Audio-Technica ATH-A1000Z are good old-fashioned wired headphones, and in the absence of the those features, Audio-Technica has channelled its energy into making them sound as good as possible.

The headphones come equipped with Audio-Technica’s 53mm drivers, while their lightweight yet rigid magnesium baffles are intended to reduce unwanted vibration. The headphones also boast what the Japanese firm describes as a “double air damping structure”. This is meant to facilitate an extended frequency range, resulting in deeper bass – but I'll put that to the test in the next section.

Another way in which Audio-Technica has sought to improve the sound quality of these headphones is by including a dual-sided, four-core cable. Containing independent ground wires for left and right channels, this is designed for audiophile listening.

Audio-Technica ATH-A1000Z review: Sound

(Image credit: Audio-Technica)

That double air damping structure obviously works, as these headphones deliver rich and detailed bottom. Listening to Manic Street Preachers’ La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh), I found the song’s bassy groove deeply rewarding, and found myself shaking our hips while drying the dishes.

The mid-ranges also rose to the occasion, the vocals and power chords being presented with glorious verve. I did notice the smallest amount of distortion on one or two instruments, but that was only because I was really listening out for it. I doubt that it’ll spoil your listening pleasure.

Finally, the high end, and this is arguably where the Audio-Technica ATH-A1000Z headphones excel the most. Switching to an Adele song, I was instantly taken by the smoothness and clarity of her voice. Meanwhile, orchestral sections sounded deliciously delicate, like a violinist had magically floated out of the speakers and into my room.

The overall result was very impressive; nuanced, spacious, and with more than enough oomph to get the heart pumping. Throw in the comfort, build quality and modern design, and you have a pair of headphones that are still well worth buying in 2023.

Audio-Technica ATH-A1000Z review: Alternatives

I can’t recommend the Sony WH-1000XM5 enough if you're looking for a pair of wireless headphones. Number one on our list of the best headphones for music, these Sony headphones are an excellent all-round package, offering superb sound quality, top-drawer noise cancelling and 30 hours of battery life. They’re cheaper than the Audio-Technica headphones, too.

If you want wired but the Audio-Technica headphones don’t do it for you, maybe take a look at the Beyerdynamic Amiron. The manufacturer claims that these tethered headphones offer an “authentic concert experience” at home – and listening to their exquisitely detailed sound, it’s hard to disagree.

Cut the cord for less with the best budget wireless headphones
Our pick of the best AirPods alternatives
The best audiophile headphones: Get more from your music
Get your hands on the best headphones under £100
The best headphone amps to boost your listening
Best Marshall headphones: Our pick of the bunch

House of Marley keep the positive vibes alive with their new over-ear headphones

Scott Munro — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 10:41:46 +0000

House of Marley's sustainability drive, use of recycled materials and warm sound in their products have impressed me - and I’m a big fan of their Redemption ANC 2 earbuds.

Now the company founded by Bob Marley’s son Rohan have turned their attention away from in-ear headphones back to the over-ear market by launching the Positive Vibration Frequency - a pair the audio firm say will pump out "high-performance audio” through their 40mm dynamic drivers.

The Positive Vibration Frequency headphones feature Bluetooth 5.2 and USB-C quick charge that provides up to 34-hours of music from a full two-hour charge, while House Of Marley say a 15-minute power burst will give you four hours of audio.

They’ve been crafted from Forest Stewardship Council certified wood, recyclable aluminium and House Of Marley’s REWIND fabric, which is made from 30% reclaimed organic cotton, 30% reclaimed hemp and 40% recycled PET plastic resin.

The packaging is also 100% recyclable and a a portion of proceeds from every purchase goes towards the company’s Project Marley initiative.

House Of Marley say: “The Positive Vibration Frequency provide non-stop, high-performance audio delivered by 40mm dynamic drivers for a next-level listening experience. The onboard mic and controls make for completely personalised listening sessions, effortless calls and easy management of music playback without touching the connected device.

“Finished with super-soft ear cushions and headband padding for extra comfort, the Positive Vibration Frequency’s over-ear design ensures passive noise isolation, removing distractions."

House Of Marley add: “The organic cotton used also adds to the sustainably crafted earphones, using over 60% less energy and 70% less water than conventional cotton. Perfect for on-the-go, the headphones come with a compact travel bag for added protection.”

The Positive Vibration Frequency headphones are available in three colour variations: Signature Black, Copper and Rasta and priced at £99.99. US prices have yet to be announced.

(Image credit: House Of Marley)

Loudest headphones: You want volume and lots of it? You got it
The best budget wireless headphones
The best audiophile headphones: Get more from your music
The best headphone amps: Boost the mood
The best kid's headphones: Headphones that are great for children
Plug your lugs with the best earplugs for concerts

Two of my favourite in-ear headphones are on sale for Prime Day - here's why you need them

Scott Munro — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 14:47:20 +0000

With so many Prime Day music deals flying around, it’s sometimes difficult to focus and pin down a real bargain. But if you're specifically looking for a pair of in-ear headphones or earbuds, then two are on sale right now for Prime Day that I own and think are excellent options.

First up are the awesome Sony WF-1000XM4 noise cancelling earbuds, which have been reduced from £250 to £149 on Amazon - that's a 40% saving and a real bargain. When I bought my pair, they were reduced to £199 and I thought THAT was a good price. In the US, the silver pair are down from $279.99 to $198 making this a doubly good deal on both sides of the Atlantic.

Noise cancelling is excellent and the sound, as you'd expect from Sony is rich and detailed.

Read my Sony WF-1000XM4 review for more

Sony WF-1000XM4: Were ~~£250~~, now £149
I can’t remember seeing these awesome Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds for such a low price - and after using them daily for more than a year, I highly recommend these. Sound is rich and detailed, while noise cancelling is really good too - especially for an in-ear. For this price, you just can’t go wrong.View Deal

If you're looking for something that's not Sony shaped, then I can point you in the direction of the House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2. These Active Noise Cancelling earbuds are down from £149.99 to just £99.99 on Amazon UK, while in the US, the online shopping giant have cut the price from $169.99 to $148.17.

Like all House Of Marley products, the Redemption ANC 2 are made from reclaimed materials and sustainable bamboo. They offer warm sound and I find them very comfortable when I'm out running and thoroughly recommended them if you're after something a little different when it comes to in-ear headphones.

Read my House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2 review for more

House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2: ~~£149~~, £99.99
I really like the look, feel and audio delivery from the House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2 wireless earbuds. Sound has a lush warmth to it and extra tweaking can be done through the company's smartphone app. Their green credentials are another plus point for me and this is a great Prime Day priceView Deal

If you're looking for more bargains over the next couple of days, take a look at our guides to the best Prime Day turntable deals and our roundup of some excellent Prime Day vinyl deals.

Of course, here at Louder, we have guides for all shapes and sizes of headphones which you can find in our guides below.

Loudest headphones: You want volume? You got it
Best headphones for music: Get the most from your favourite sounds
Best budget wireless headphones: Cut the cables
Best earbuds and in-ear headphones: Get the perfect fit
The best over-ear headphones: Perfect at home or on the go
Best earplugs for concerts: Get your ears gig-ready

Shure SRH1540 headphones review

Paul Dimery — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 09:12:16 +0000

Upon the release of the wired over-ear Shure SRH1540 headphones in 2013, the US manufacturer hailed their “superior acoustic performance, comfort and durability to professional engineers, musicians and audiophiles alike”. But hey, that doesn’t mean you can’t buy a pair purely for music-listening. Should you, though? Ten years on from their launch, I put them through their paces to see if they can still go toe-to-toe with the newer kids on the block.

Shure SRH1540 review: Design

I would never admit to salivating over a pair of headphones, but I certainly cooed a little when I first set eyes on the Shure SRH1540. With their black and silver colour scheme and sleek, modern styling, they’re one of the most attractive sets of headphones I've seen in a long time. Constructed primarily from aircraft-grade aluminium alloy, they’re also pretty lightweight. However, flimsy they’re not, and never once did I feel that these Shure SRH1540 headphones would come apart in my hands.

Looking at those Alcantara and memory foam ear pads, I couldn’t wait to try the headphones on – and I wasn't disappointed. Big enough to envelope even the largest of lugholes, the low-density pads are so soft and squishy I could practically feel my ears sinking into them as the first bars of my music kicked in. I've found with memory foam mattresses that they can get very hot after a while, but these pads are covered by a breathable fabric, meaning my ears didn't sweat during long listening sessions. And don’t worry too much about wearing them out, as Shure very generously supplies a spare pair in the box.

There are a few minor down points though. The Shure SRH1540 aren’t foldable, meaning you’ll struggle to squeeze them into your coat pocket and the ear cups don’t swivel. It’s also worth noting the two supplied cables are only six feet long – a potential issue for those planning to use the headphones for studio work.

Shure SRH1540 review: Features

(Image credit: Shure)

If I was reviewing a pair of wireless headphones I would normally comment on subjects such as battery life, range and voice activation in this section. But since these headphones aren’t Bluetooth-enabled, they don’t come with any such features.

What you will get is some pretty serious audio technology including a set of 40mm neodymium drivers, a diaphragm developed with APTIV film for what Shure describes as “improved linearity and lower THD - total harmonic distortion”, along with a steel driver frame with a vented centre pole piece. According to the manufacturer, this last bit of kit “eliminates internal resonance for consistent performance at all listening levels” – but, as ever, I'll put that claim to the test in the following section.

Shure SRH1540 review: Sound

Shure’s proclamations, coupled with the hefty price of these headphones, raised my expectations that the Shure SRH1540 would sound top-drawer – and they did. Lining up some classic Eagles, I was instantly struck by the level of detail. On slower tracks such as Desperado, the plucked acoustic and yearning vocals sounded so real and raw, you’d think Don Henley was playing it on your living room.

And the Shure SRH1540 headphones proved equally capable when playing rowdier tracks. On Life In The Fast Lane, the soundstage was gloriously spacious, with no clutter or distortion to spoil the party. The balance was just right, too: while bass lines packed plenty of beef, they never once over-powered the higher frequencies, which were also given room to express themselves without being allowed to steal the limelight.

With sound quality this exquisite, the Shure SRH1540 headphones would undoubtedly suit studio work. If you’re not a musician or producer and simply want something to play your favourite tunes on, the SHR1540’s price tag makes them a bit of a luxury option. But hey, treat yourself!

Shure SRH1540 review: The alternatives

If you’d rather have wireless headphones, then you’ll struggle to find better than the Sony WH-1000XM5. Offering best-in-class noise cancelling, 30-hour battery life and awesome sound quality, these over-ear headphones are the real deal – and they’re also cheaper than the Shure SRH1540.

Prefer to stick with wired headphones? Well, we’re also big fans of the Beyerdynamic Amiron, a set of over-ears that look and sound the business. They’re even more expensive than the Shure headphones but the German manufacturer’s reputation speaks for itself.

The best earbuds and in-ear headphones: From wireless to wired
The best headphone amps: Boost the mood
The best kid's headphones: Headphones that are great for children
Loudest headphones: You want volume and lots of it? You got it
Plug your lugs with the best earplugs for concerts

Lindy BNX-60 review

Paul Dimery — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 15:51:35 +0000

If you’re thinking you need to spend a fortune in order to get a pair of headphones that tick all the boxes – decent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, brilliant battery life – then we have news for you. As our best budget wireless headphones guide proves, it’s possible to get your hands on a set of great all-rounders without upsetting your bank manager.

In this review, we’re looking at the Lindy BNX-60, a set of wireless noise-cancelling cans – launched in 2016 – that, according to the manufacturer, offer “crystal-clear” sound, an 85% reduction in ambient noise and up to 15 hours of wireless listening from a single charge, all for the very modest current price of £85/$105. Of course, those are all attributes that will appeal to the modern listener, whether they’re travelling, working or training in the gym. But how true are the company’s claims? Let’s find out by delving a little deeper…

Lindy BNX-60 review: Design

(Image credit: Lindy)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but we quite like how these headphones look, their eye-catching red ear pads providing a nice contrast to the cans’ matt black finish. While they probably won’t have passers-by drooling, they’re sufficiently sleek and modern looking to keep your street cred intact. Speaking of those red ear pads, they feature massive ‘R’ and ‘L’ lettering on them, to save you having to work out which way round the headphones need to go – which is a nice touch.

Putting them on, these Lindy cans initially felt quite comfy. Thanks to their adjustable headband and swivelling ear cups, it’s easy to tweak them to fit the size of your head – and they’re also fairly lightweight, meaning they barely register when placed on the bonce.

Additionally, though the protein leather ear pads are slightly smaller than on previous Lindy cans, they actually feel cooler, meaning your ears shouldn’t start sweating halfway through your favourite album. One gripe we did have, though, is that the pads aren’t particularly deep, which meant that our ears were pressed against the speakers. While this was bearable for the short time we listened to them, we reckon it could start to grate over longer periods.

As for the controls, you’ll find your music playback buttons (play/pause, skip back and skip forward) on the left ear cup, alongside a USB socket for charging the headphones and a 3.5mm socket for wired listening (a 1.5m cable comes as part of the package). If you prefer to connect the cans wirelessly, you’ll find a Bluetooth connection light on this earcup, letting you know that you’ve paired successfully. On the right ear cup, there’s a volume wheel, a button for switching the active noise cancelling on or off, and a light that indicates which of those two ANC settings you’ve chosen. A quick word about that wheel: it’ll only adjust the volume of the cans, not the volume of your device – so if your smartphone is turned right down, even turning the wheel up to the max won’t make much of a difference. On the whole, though, the controls are about as intuitive as you can get, especially at this price.

While it’s not possible to fold these headphones completely, you can lay them down flat to save space in your bag – handily, Lindy provides a hard carry case to ensure that the cans don’t get damaged while stowed away.

Lindy BNX-60 review: Features

(Image credit: Lindy)

These German-made headphones fit snugly around the ears, providing a certain amount of noise suppression, but if you need a little more, you can choose to activate the cans’ ANC function. We found this to be very decent indeed – not in the same league as, say, the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Bose Noise Cancelling 700, but sufficient enough to reduce lower-volume racket such as the TV or washing machine.

As you might expect, listening with ANC activated reduces the battery life of the cans when used wirelessly – but the difference is only slight, with the aforementioned 15 hours dropping to 12 hours. On the downside, it takes around three hours to top up the headphones, which isn’t particularly zippy – and there’s no quick-charge function, either.

The BNX-60 come equipped with Bluetooth 4.1, which was pretty much the latest edition when the cans were launched back in 2016. The technology has obviously been updated several times since then, but this version does a solid enough job, and we never had a problem pairing our smartphone or maintaining a signal, even when venturing to the opposite end of the house to where our device was sat.

With a mic built into the cans, you can make hands-free calls using your smartphone; however, don’t bother trying to summon Alexa or Siri, as these headphones do not support voice assistance.

Lindy BNX-60 review: Sound

Decent noise cancelling and battery life are all well and good, but if your cans sound like a cat clawing a blackboard, then you’re wasting your time. Thankfully, the BNX-60 don’t. They actually sound surprisingly good considering their modest price tag – at least with the noise cancelling switched on. Basslines are delivered with warmth and precision, the middle frequencies with zest and clarity. And while voices and instruments at the upper end can occasionally lose a bit of their sharpness, only the audiophiles out there will lose sleep over it.

Switch the ANC off, though, and the results are less impressive, with the volume dropping noticeably and the overall quality sounding muddier. The moral of this story? Keep that noise cancelling activated and you’ll be happy as Larry.

Lindy BNX-60 review: The competition

(Image credit: Lindy)

For a great budget alternative, take a look at the Meters NOVU-1 Reference Headphones (£70/$88). Topping our list of the best budget headphones for music, these US-made over-ears marry superb sound quality with a lovely comfy fit. They’re not wireless, though, so it’s tethered listening all the way.

While the Lindy headphones offer decent noise cancelling, you can get much better ANC if you’re prepared to spend the money. The Bose Noise Cancelling 700, for example, do a great job of shutting out ambient sounds, enabling you to enjoy your music in immersive bliss. Expect to pay around £250/$315 for these wireless wonders, though.

Sennheiser HD 660S headphones review

Paul Dimery — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:32:18 +0000

To really get the most from your music, then a good pair of headphones is pretty much essential. After all, the last thing you want when playing your all-time favourite album is to suffer tinny audio, earache or a flagging battery halfway through your listen. In the audio business for more than 75 years, German company Sennheiser has a reputation for making classy headphones, from its Momentum 3 Wireless over-ears to its Momentum True Wireless 2 earphones. So, anything bearing that name is likely to give you a fairly satisfying listening experience.

Here, I'm taking a closer look at one of the brand’s more premium offerings, the Sennheiser HD 660S. Launched in 2017 as the latest addition to the esteemed HD 600 series, these wired, open-back headphones were described by the manufacturer as offering “the perfect blend of power and control”. However, with a new version – the HD 660S2 – launched earlier this year, should you still consider buying these headphones in 2023? Let’s find out.

Sennheiser HD 660S review: Design

Whether a pair of headphones looks good or not boils down to personal taste, but I'm rather fond of these Sennheiser headphones. Like the HD 600 and HD 650 before them, they boast a smooth, hard-plastic finish (in black only) and an eye-catching, stainless-steel grille on the back of each ear cup. The latter provide ventilation for the headphones' updated drivers, enabling what Sennheiser describes as “consistent control of air displacement to reduce turbulence”.

As for what they’re like to wear, the HD 660S are very comfortable thanks to their light weight of 260g and generous amount of soft cushioning around the headband and earcups. They also offer just the right level of clamping – they’re not ridiculously tight, but they’re grippy enough to prevent them slipping off the moment you start bopping. While the ear cups swivel to some degree, allowing you to get them at just the right angle for your head shape, the headphones aren’t foldable, meaning they’ll take up extra room in your luggage if you're using them on the daily commute or holiday journey.

Finally, these wired headphones are packaged with two three-metre cables – one with a 6.3mm stereo connector and the other with a balanced 4.4mm connector – ensuring that you can play your music on a range of devices.

Sennheiser HD 660S review: Features

(Image credit: Sennheiser)

For these headphones, Sennheiser revised the driver set-ups seen in previous HD 600 iterations, equipping the headphones with specially ventilated 42mm transducers that offer a lower overall impedance of 150 ohms. One of the reasons for this was to make the HD 660S more compatible with portable devices such as smartphones and digital audio players.

However, for the HD 660S2, the company has reverted back to 38mm drivers – and also added an ultra-light aluminium voice coil – which has bumped the impedance back up to 300 ohms. In my opinion, this results in even better clarity and more resonant bass than what the Sennheiser HD 660S offer, but it does mean you’ll require a headphone amp to get the best out of them.

A couple of additional stats for you: the HD 660S offer a frequency response of between 9Hz and 41.5kHz, while their sound pressure level clocks in at 104dB.

Sennheiser HD 660S review: Sound

If you’ve splashed out on an expensive pair of headphones, you would expect them to sound fantastic – and the Sennheiser HD 660S are certainly impressive. With a spacious soundstage, facilitated by reduced harmonic distortion, each instrument or voice is allowed to express itself. Timing is on-point, too, with the headphones keeping up with even the most complex of tempo changes like a world-class conductor.

As for the different frequencies, the mid-ranges are pretty spectacular, with acoustic strumming and synth chords sounding as fresh and lively as a spring daisy. The highs, while ever so slightly warmer than I'd like, also sound clear and captivating. My one gripe is with the bottom end, which never quite delivers the impact I'm looking for, especially when listening to a bit of vintage rock or metal. This is something that’s been addressed with the latest version of these headphones – though you’ll have to pay a fair bit more for those since these original headphones are currently being sold by the manufacturer at a sizeable discount.

Sennheiser HD 660S review: The alternatives

If you’ve got the money, then it’s worth considering the latest edition of these headphones, the Sennheiser HD 660S2, as they sound even better than the originals with improved clarity and more resonant bass. Just bear in mind they have a much higher impedance, meaning you’ll need a headphone amp to get the maximum listening pleasure from them.

If you prefer wireless headphones, you’ll struggle to find better than the Sony WH-1000XM5. Offering fabulous sound quality, best-in-class noise cancelling and a 30-hour battery life, these Japanese-made headphones are a splendid all-around package.

The best budget wireless headphones
Best headphones for music: supercharge your listening
The best audiophile headphones: Get more from your music
The best earbuds and in-ear headphones: From wireless to wired
The best headphone amps: Boost the mood
The best kid's headphones: Headphones that are great for children
Loudest headphones: You want volume and lots of it? You got it
Plug your lugs with the best earplugs for concerts

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 headphones review

Paul Dimery — Wed, 10 May 2023 14:25:46 +0000

According to a new study by the music streaming service Deezer, we should listen to at least 78 minutes of music a day to keep our physical and mental health in tip-top shape. That’s all well and good but if you listen to music through a rubbish pair of headphones, you could end up feeling worse than when you started. I'm being flippant, but it’s certainly true to say that a good-quality pair of headphones will enhance your listening experience no end.

In this review, I'm going to focus on a pair of headphones made by one of the world’s most esteemed audio manufacturers. The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 are a set of wireless noise-cancelling headphones that were launched by the British firm in the summer of 2022 – two years after the original Px7 headphones hit the market. Since their release, they’ve won numerous awards and received their fair share of positive user comments.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 review: Design

Available in black, blue or grey, these headphones aren’t especially eye-catching from afar, but up close it’s hard not to be impressed by their build and finish. Comprising a robust, matte plastic chassis, sumptuous memory foam ear pads/headband and a moisture-repellent fabric covering, they boast exactly the kind of precise detailing you’d expect from a set of headphones costing this much. And they feel well-built, too, which is always reassuring when you’ve just invested a hefty sum.

These second-generation headphones are a tiny bit smaller and lighter (307g) than the original PX7 headphones, but you’ll barely notice. They also sit closer to the head than their predecessors, which will come in handy for those who like to wear headphones during vigorous exercise. It also ensures a better seal around the ears, making for a more immersive listening experience.

Though the headphones could hardly be described as cumbersome, if you start to tire of having them round your neck between listening sessions, you could always stash them away. While they’re not foldable, meaning you won’t be able to stuff them in your coat pocket, the ear cups do rotate horizontally, allowing you to lay the headphones out flat inside the provided carry case.

These are wireless headphones, but if you suddenly get a craving for wired listening, you can plug in the USB-C to 3.5mm cable that comes in the box. The USB-C port located in the right ear cup is also used to charge the headphones – for this, you’ll need the USB-C to USB-C cable that Bowers & Wilkins includes among the accessories. It's worth noting that the headphones will need some charge even if you’re not listening wirelessly as they don’t support passive audio.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 review: Features

(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)

We mentioned how the ear cups provide a good seal around the ears and if you want to isolate yourself further from the outside world you can draw upon the headphones' active noise cancelling technology. With ANC mode on, the four built-in mics do a fine job of shutting out low-frequency sounds such as the washing machine and next door’s vacuum cleaner. In total, Bowers & Wilkins reckon the headphones will snuff out up to 30dB of noise. While that’s by no means perfect, it does make a noticeable difference, helping you to appreciate the finer nuances of your music. If you do need to hear more of your surroundings – for example, if you need to listen out for a phone ringing or a baby crying, you can activate Pass-Through mode, whereby more sounds are allowed to filter in.

Switching between these modes is carried out by pressing the Quick Action button on the left ear cup. As for controlling your music, this is achieved by pressing the buttons on the right ear cup (a multi-function button for playing/pausing/skipping tracks, plus volume up and down buttons). While I love the physical controls – especially the slider for switching the headphones on and off – having to press the multi-function button twice (for skipping to the next track) or three times (for playing the previous track) is less than ideal.

If you prefer, you can head over to the Bowers & Wilkins Music app – available for both iOS and Android – and connect the headphones to your chosen voice assistant (the app also offers an equaliser, but it’s not particularly sophisticated, allowing you only to adjust the bass and treble). However you control your music, you’ll be pleased to know that Bowers & Wilkins has spared no time or effort in providing the best possible listening experience. The British firm has equipped these headphones with custom-designed 40mm drive units, carefully angled inside each ear cup to deliver the minimum of noise distortion. This, according to the manufacturer, enables the listener to hear more of what the artist wants them to hear.

As for battery life, these second-generation headphones are on a par with their predecessors and offer 30 hours of music playback. They charge faster than the original headphones, though, with a full supply of juice coming in two hours rather than three. Note that you can also get seven hours from just a 15-minute charge.

Finally, a quick word about voice calls. Despite the presence of two additional microphones for this purpose – and the fact that Bowers & Wilkins has repositioned them for better pick-up – speaking to friends and family through the headphones isn’t what I would call crystal clear. It’s not exactly the be-all-and-end-all, but if you’re the kind of person who needs to make regular calls on the move, it’s worth taking into account.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 review: Sound

When it comes to audio prowess, Bowers & Wilkins products are generally a safe bet – and these headphones impressed me across a range of musical genres. When I first put them on, the combination of sumptuous ear pads and spacious soundstage prompted a deep sigh of satisfaction. Bass lines rumble with an ominous menace while managing to remain taut and tidy, the mid-ranges are smooth and vibrant, while vocals and lead-guitar licks cut through the mix with confident swagger.

If I wanted to be pernickety, I would say the overall sound could muster up a teeny bit more enthusiasm – the marvellous Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones have the edge there. But make no mistake, these are a very lovely-sounding pair of headphones.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 review: The alternatives

These Bowers & Wilkins over-ears are a fabulous set of wireless noise-cancelling headphones but, for me, the top choice in that category are the Sony WH-1000XM5. Offering best-in-class ANC, excellent battery life and truly superb sound quality, these Japanese-made headphones are about as good as it gets in this price range.

The Lindy NC-60 noise-cancelling headphones can’t be considered competition to the Bowers & Wilkins headphones in the truest sense, as their sound quality simply isn’t at the same level. But these wired headphones do offer a very good package that includes reasonable ANC and a massive 72 hours of battery life for a great price

The best budget wireless headphones
Best headphones for music: supercharge your listening
The best audiophile headphones: Get more from your music
The best earbuds and in-ear headphones: From wireless to wired
The best headphone amps: Boost the mood
The best kid's headphones: Headphones that are great for children
Loudest headphones: You want volume and lots of it? You got it
Plug your lugs with the best earplugs for concerts

Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones review

Paul Dimery — Tue, 09 May 2023 10:25:45 +0000

If you're in the market for a cracking set of headphones and have been thinking about picking up a new pair, I recommend you take a look at our guide to the best headphones for music, where you’ll find a selection of kick-ass headphones from some of the hottest audio brands around.

Today, though, I'm going to focus on a particular set of premium headphones – the Sony WH-1000XM5. Launched in May 2022, these wireless noise-cancelling headphones are highly rated among people who’ve bought them. But are they a good fit for your needs? To help you decide, I'm going to give you the full lowdown on these over-ear headphones – from their design and features to how good they sound. I'll also put forward a couple of alternatives to help you compare them with similar products on the market.

Sony WH-1000XM5 review: Design

Some of the classiest headphones of recent times have rocked a vintage aesthetic – the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless and the Marshall Major IV to name two. Not the Sony WH-1000XM5, though. Made from ABS thermoplastic – recycled from car parts – and what the manufacturer describes as “soft-fit leather”, these Sony headphones are smooth and slender. Whether you go for the Black, Silver or Platinum Blue version, you’ll feel bang up to date.

The lack of joints and hinges was actually a deliberate ploy by the Japanese firm to create a “noiseless design” that would maximise the listening experience. On the downside, these headphones only fold flat which means they took up slightly more space in my bag when compared to the more compact Sony WH-1000XM4.

At just 250g - 4g lighter than their predecessor - these headphones didn't feel like a burden when I wore them. Indeed, with deluxe memory foam in both the headband and ear pads, swivelling ear cups and just the right amount of clamping pressure, long listening sessions with these headphones was a pleasure.

While these are wireless headphones, there’s a 3.5mm jack on the left ear cup in case you prefer cabled listening (or run out of battery). You'll find the necessary cable in the box.

Sony WH-1000XM5 review: Features

The Sony WH-1000XM5 paired with my smart device via Bluetooth 5.2, which is the iteration launched in 2020 and offers a range of around 10 metres – which is pretty standard. Battery life is very good with normal mode offering up to 40 hours of listening. Even with noise cancelling enabled, expect around the 30-hour mark. What’s more, charging the headphones for a mere 10 minutes using the USB port on the right ear cup gave me an amazing five hours’ worth of juice.

Noise cancelling is a common feature on many headphones these days, but some do it better than others. Few do it better than the Sony WH-1000XM5, though. Containing two dedicated processors – including the Integrated Processor V1 that was first deployed in the Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless ear buds - and no fewer than eight microphones, these headphones offer an exceptional level of din-suppression, making for a gloriously immersive listening experience.

But there's more, including Adaptive Sound Control, which automatically adjusts the level of noise cancelling according to your surroundings. There’s also a feature called Speak-To-Chat, whereby the headphones will enable you to hear ambient sound as soon as you start talking. This is handy, though it did tend to kick in when I started singing, so you might want to switch the feature off during those impromptu karaoke sessions.

(Image credit: Sony)

I also liked the fact that taking the headphones off will automatically pause whatever I was listening to. And don’t worry if you forget to put them back on, as the headphones will shut down after a while to preserve that all-important battery life.

Controlling the Sony WH-1000XM5 couldn’t be easier. There are buttons on the left ear cup for powering them on/off and switching between the ANC and Ambient modes, while gently tapping the right ear cup is how to control your music playback. If even this sounds too much like hard work, you can operate everything by asking the Google or Alexa voice assistants.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 will pair with two devices at once and this meant I could flit seamlessly between my smartphone and laptop. And, via the Sony Headphones Connect app, I could even check to see if I was listening at safe volumes (as recommended by the World Health Organisation).

No matter how much you’re enjoying your listening, there are times when you’re going to have to make or take a phone call. But there's no need to remove your headphones. With four beam-forming microphones and an AI-based noise reduction algorithm built in, I could hear my friends loud and clear.

Sony WH-1000XM5 review: Sound

When it comes to the audio performance of the Sony WH-1000XM5, it's easy to see why the audio giant refers to them as offering "superlative” sound. With a new 30mm carbon-fibre driver on board, they deliver stunning clarity and a spacious presentation.

I found that bass sounded tight and detailed, while voices and acoustic instruments in the upper ranges sounded wonderfully smooth. The timing is on point, too, and no matter how much the tempo of my music chopped and changed, the Sony WH-1000XM5 remained as calm and collected as a Las Vegas croupier.

Sony WH-1000XM5 review: The alternatives

If you’re looking for some wireless noise-cancelling headphones but have a smaller budget to work with, then I recommend the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones. They're at the no.1 spot in our list of the best budget wireless headphones and these well-priced over-ears offer very decent ANC as well as up to 60 hours of battery life.

If you prefer wired listening, then the Beyerdynamic Amiron Home are worth a closer look - although they don‘t come cheap. However, these open-back headphones offer exquisite sound quality that aims to recreate the concert experience in your living room. They’re super-comfy, too.

The best budget wireless headphones
Best headphones for music: supercharge your listening
The best audiophile headphones: Get more from your music
The best earbuds and in-ear headphones: From wireless to wired
The best headphone amps: Boost the mood
The best kid's headphones: Headphones that are great for children
Loudest headphones: You want volume and lots of it? You got it
Plug your lugs with the best earplugs for concerts

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