Best Sennheiser noise-canceling headphones
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
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Next-gen Bowers & Wilkins noise-canceling headphones
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
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Premium noise-canceling headphones for less
Soundcore by Anker Space Q45
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The AirPods Max from Apple are one of the best over-ear headphones on the market. They are a very high-quality set of headphones that I gave a very high rating in my review, however, the price tag definitely isn’t for everyone. Luckily there are alternatives that fit many more budgets and needs and are still great quality. I’ve tested them out to give you the best noise-canceling headphones, including a few wired headphones if that’s your preference.
The AirPods Max list for $549 at Apple, and even though they’re often on sale for less, not everyone wants to drop nearly $500 on a pair of headphones. That’s exactly why we’ve tested and picked some of the best AirPods Max alternatives that cost a lot less. Below are my current top picks, including Apple’s own Beats Studio Pro, all of which I’ve fully reviewed or had hands-on experience with over several weeks.
Our experts have rounded up the best Prime Day headphone deals, with unbeatable sound quality for a lot less.
For those who want AirPods Max alternatives, price be damned, check out our list of the best high-end Bluetooth headphones and earbuds.Â
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When you have a product that a lot of people love, change can be risky. Such is the case for Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which were first released in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become increasingly popular as they’ve improved with each generation.Â
Over the years, Sony has made some tweaks to the design but nothing as dramatic as what it’s done with the WH-1000XM5. Other than the higher price tag, most of those changes are good, and these Sony headphones have seen some dramatic improvements with voice-calling performance, as well as even better noise canceling and more refined sound. They also use the Sony Headphones Connect app which is an excellent companion app.
Because of all that, the WH-1000XM5 have earned a CNET Editors’ Choice Award.
Sennheiser’s previous-generation Momentum Wireless headphones have always had a pretty distinct look that was part retro/part modern and stood out for the exposed metal on the headband. For better or worse, that’s all gone now, and the new Momentum 4 Wireless, Sennheiser’s flagship noise-canceling headphones, look a bit more subdued and also a bit more like some competitors.
The Momentum 4 Wireless offers superior performance over the Momentum 3 Wireless in every regard, though the biggest gains are with noise canceling and voice-calling performance as well as battery life, which is outstanding. It’s up to 60 hours at moderate volume levels. There’s also a transparency mode that allows ambient sound in and the ability to create a custom sound profile in the Smart Control app for iOS and Android using the built-in EQ. Other features include sound modes and a new Sound Personalization feature that “assesses the user’s listening preferences and adjusts the listening experience according to their taste.”
Equipped with 42mm drivers, Sennheiser says the Momentum 4 Wireless offers “best-in-class” sound, which is debatable. I’d say the Momentum 4’s sound quality is right there with other models in this price range — they sound excellent, with the requisite well-defined, punchy bass, relatively wide soundstage (they sound pretty open) and smooth treble that brings out some of the finer details in well-recorded tracks. They’re a pleasure to listen to.
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Love ’em or hate ’em, Beats Studio headphones are among the most popular headphones of all time, launching as wired headphones back in 2008. This is their fourth generation, and they carry the same list price as their predecessor and look very similar on the outside but have some big changes on the inside that make them significantly better headphones. I’m tempted to describe them as more affordable plastic versions of the AirPods Max. That’s not quite accurate due to a choice in chipsets and one notable missing feature. Read our full review to find out what makes this a very good headphone — and a good AirPods Max alternative — with some caveats.
Available in three color options (gray, blue and black), Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 headphones offer some significant improvements over the first-generation version. Not only are these headphones more comfortable — they tip the scales at 307 grams — but they sound better and have better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance with improved noise reduction. I don’t necessarily think they’re a better option than the lighter and even more comfortable Sony WH-1000XM5. The PX7 S2 certainly looks and feels luxurious, with its sturdy design, and delivers very good sound with better voice-calling performance thanks to an upgraded microphone setup.
Bowers & Wilkins has also released a step-up model, the PX8, that features even better sound but costs significantly more.
Sony’s improved entry-level noise-canceling headphones, the CH-720Ns, have a bit of a plastic-y budget vibe, but they’re lightweight and very comfortable. Part of me was expecting them to sound pretty mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised. No, they don’t sound as good as the WH-1000XM5s. But they sound more premium than they look (and feel), and their overall performance is a nice step up from their predecessor, the CH-710Ns.
