Compare Headphones

28 ranked products · Two to 4 at a time · Updated 17 Oct 2026

Pick any two to four of the 28 ranked headphones and read them side by side. This page opens on the board's top 3, Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and Sony MDR-7506.

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Headphones compared side by side. Each column is one product, each row is one measure taken from the same research that built the board.
Measure	Sony Sony WH-1000XM6	Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)	Sony Sony MDR-7506	Sennheiser Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless	1More 1More SonoFlow Pro	Beyerdynamic Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X	Apple AirPods Max (2nd generation)	Anker Anker Soundcore Space One	Sennheiser Sennheiser HD 280 Pro	Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3	Bose Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)	Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2	Anker Anker Soundcore Life Q30	Anker Anker Soundcore Space One Pro	Focal Focal Bathys Mg	Sennheiser Sennheiser HDB 630	Sony Sony WH-1000XM5	Anker Anker Soundcore Space Q45	HiFiMan HiFiMan Arya Stealth	JBL JBL Tour One M2	Sony Sony WH-CH720N	Nothing Nothing Headphone (1)	Anker Anker Soundcore Life Q20 (2024)	Dyson Dyson Zone	Audio-Technica Audio-Technica ATH-M50x	Sonos Sonos Ace	Apple AirPods Max	Beats Beats Studio Pro
Tier	S	S	S	A	A	A	B	B	B	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	F	F
Rank on this board	1 of 28	2 of 28	3 of 28	4 of 28	5 of 28	6 of 28	7 of 28	8 of 28	9 of 28	10 of 28	11 of 28	12 of 28	13 of 28	14 of 28	15 of 28	16 of 28	17 of 28	18 of 28	19 of 28	20 of 28	21 of 28	22 of 28	23 of 28	24 of 28	25 of 28	26 of 28	27 of 28	28 of 28
Ladder points	1437 LP	983 LP	967 LP	904 LP	867 LP	864 LP	549 LP	512 LP	511 LP	474 LP	455 LP	454 LP	397 LP	393 LP	384 LP	383 LP	372 LP	367 LP	309 LP	266 LP	263 LP	247 LP	246 LP	161 LP	125 LP	72 LP	0 LP	0 LP
Our verdict	ZDNet's best premium headphone and superb in every review, but Headphonesty's owner-report red flags for Sony's reliability keep it out of the top tier under this lens.	RTINGS and TechGearLab confirm comfort and sound, and Bose's support reputation is solid. The best wireless ownership bet after the Sennheiser.	Decades of studio duty, replaceable everything, zero firmware risk. No wireless flagship can match this ownership record.	Superseded but still a mainstream recommendation with the longest proven field record of any wireless pick here. The Momentum 5 is the better purchase today.	Mashable's best overall budget pick, offering flagship-level features at a fraction of the cost, which is the textbook definition of this lens.	Replaceable pads, headband and cable with a parts pipeline famous for outliving the products. Built to be repaired, which is the whole lens.	Unmatched build quality per TechPicksPro and strong Apple support, but the weight and the protective-case failure per GivenTool are real ownership annoyances.	The budget ANC sweet spot, delivering most of the mainstream ANC experience for a fraction of flagship money.	A passive tank with a multi-decade reputation and nothing that can be bricked. Uncomfortable clamp, but it does not die.	Present in Mashable's and Consumer Reports' tested lineups as the sound-first alternative. Ranks below the Sennheisers because its ANC is not the consensus strength.	Consumer Reports-listed and the current supported Bose mainstream model. A safe, unexciting ownership bet with only one retrieved source behind it.	The specialists' luxury pick with genuine sound-quality praise from Darko and Future Audiophile, positioned as a taste purchase rather than a default.	RTINGS' current best budget headphone with nearly 49 hours of battery, balancing accessible pricing with solid performance, and praised by Pete Matheson as one of the best cheap ANC headphones.	Excellent travel isolation and portability per RTINGS, held back only by a bass-heavy tuning that needs app correction.	A high-end pair that delivers an expansive soundstage and precise imaging. RTINGS rates it the best open-back for audiophiles. What Hi-Fi? calls it “the most detailed headphones.”	The best-sounding over-ear RTINGS has measured with excellent ANC, but audiophile money buys more sound than most listeners need. A performance pick, not a value one.	A superseded flagship that outlets still rank best overall, which on the street means near-XM6 performance for meaningfully less. Exactly what this lens rewards.	RTINGS' current budget ANC champion, which is exactly the endorsement that matters under this lens. The consensus pick for buyers who want serious noise cancelling without flagship money.	The audiophile darling this lens exists to catch: the sound is genuinely superb and everyone says so, but HiFiMan's QC and support reputation plus a heavy wired-only design make long-term ownership a gamble. For wired use with real parts availability, buy the Sony MDR-7506 or Sennheiser HD 280 Pro instead.	Wirecutter's value over-ear with flagship features for less. A strong consensus recommendation that simply lacks the cross-outlet dominance of the top five.	Zelpio is direct about the cut corners in build quality, and that is fatal under an ownership lens. Spend up to the WH-1000XM6 or watch for the Bose QC 2nd Gen.	The strongest new entrant, with excellent reviews and battery, ranked this low purely because a first-generation product from a young brand has no proven longevity or support record - no one can say how firmware will be maintained in year four, and that uncertainty is exactly what this lens prices in.	Inconsistent bass and basic ANC per RTINGS make it the weakest performer here despite its low price. Step up to the Anker Soundcore Space One.	A museum-piece gimmick: heavy, short-battery, clearance-priced. Every expert lens places it last, and so does this one.	Ranked the most overhyped headphone by Headphonesty's audiophile panel. It is not a bad headphone, it is a mediocre one wearing a legendary reputation. Buy the Sony MDR-7506 or Verum 2 instead.	Lacks robust ANC and support compared to focused models.	High price but unreliable durability and limited battery life.	Second on Headphonesty's overhyped list and the most marketing-driven product in the category. The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) deliver more for the same role.
What reviewers rate	Named best premium headphones in ZDNet's current guide Among the noise-cancelling and sound-quality winners in The Independent's expert-tested guide ANC blocks out a massive amount of environmental noise Arguably the best overall over-ear right now	Very comfortable fit Both analog and USB-C audio connectivity Impressive sound with an expansive soundstage Very effective noise cancelling that excels at spatial audio	Decades of continuous studio service in the field User-replaceable earpads and cables No firmware and no battery to swell Parts supply has outlived multiple product generations	Longest proven multi-year ownership record of any current wireless ANC headphone Exceptional battery life Build has held up in the field since launch Excellent sound	Hi-res wireless audio Strong active noise cancellation Long battery life Very low price	User-replaceable pads, headbands and cables Support infrastructure famous for stocking parts for decades-old models German-built Built in Germany with a multi-decade reputation for surviving daily professional abuse	Unmatched build quality Spatial audio and ANC in one package Rich sound and excellent ANC Strong Apple warranty and support reputation	Clear audio performance praised Stable Bluetooth connectivity unusually good warranty for its class sensible plastic build	Multi-decade tank reputation as a studio workhorse Replaceable pads Passive operation means nothing firmware-related can brick it Stronger isolation than rivals thanks to denser padding	Sound-first tuning for musicality Among expert reviewers' loved picks Flagship-adjacent sound quality Premium materials	Included in Consumer Reports' expert-tested best-of-the-year list Same support reputation and comfort lineage as the Ultra at a lower tier The model that actually replaced the aging QC45 Strong ANC	More eager macro-dynamics with headroom to spare Capable of improved bass performance Look good, feel good, and sound good Appears in two premium roundups	Accessible pricing Nearly 49 hours of continuous playback Effective ANC for the price range Positive reviews from multiple outlets	Excellent noise isolation for travel Foldable, portable design Long battery life Comfortable wear and decent ANC per SoundGuys	Expansive soundstage Precise imaging High detail AVForums' tester calls it 'the best high end wireless set you can buy'	Exceptionally balanced sound Genuinely excellent ANC Earns its audiophile price on measured performance rather than marketing Comfortable fit	Industry-leading ANC and natural sound signature Long battery life praised Still recommended despite being superseded Nearly all of the XM6 experience at a discounted previous-generation price	ANC does an amazing job blocking out rumbly noise The best budget noise cancelling headphone RTINGS has tested Reasonably priced per TechGearLab Near-flagship ANC at a budget price	Immersive, expansive soundstage with first-class staging Transparent, highly detailed sound with excellent clarity Owner says it 'ruined all other headphones for me' Replies steer toward wireless alternatives rather than disputing the praise	Sounds great Long battery life Premium features below the flagship competition Premium features at a lower price than the competition	Strong noise cancelling for the money Comfortable Good battery life Featherweight design enhances comfort	Excellent battery life - over 33 hours with ANC enabled Friendly, excellent tactile physical controls Solid, engaging, musically satisfying tuning Great-looking and feeling, very good for travel	Long battery life Strong isolation RTINGS Audio's budget ANC pick of 2026 'Budget... doesn't mean you're compromising' on features	The visor's filtration does work, per Smart Air Filters Air filtration that can genuinely help in wildfire smoke A unique headphone-plus-purifier concept	A competent studio monitor The default 'first serious headphone' recommendation Durable build Consistent performance over years	All-round headphone design Comfortable fit Good all-round audio Spatial audio support	Premium design Integrated Apple ecosystem Realistically cross-shopped at its price, showing up in serious buyers' shortlists (e.g. the ASR community's top three)	Great soundstage Comfortable fit Stylish design Convenient connectivity
Where it falls short	Owner-report analysis lists Sony among the brands with the biggest reliability red flags Premium price point repairability record unproven Full flagship price	Bass and mids are fit-dependent Mic does not work when wired Premium pricing relative to performance folding hinge is a wear point over years	No active noise cancellation Wireless connectivity not available Dated tuning and lack of wireless features for general music listening Non-detachable cable	Superseded by the Momentum 5, which is the better buy today superseded by newer Momentum 5 App and firmware update history has been patchier than its main rivals' Early firmware bugs, though now patched history	Sound refinement is thinner than pricier models	Open-back, wired format serves fewer buyers	Heavy on the head Included case offers little protection Heavy compared to other over-ear headphones High price relative to performance	Build materials are budget-grade TechGearLab found it hard to recommend on sound and call quality User reports flag hinge fragility	Comfort clamp Dated sound The clamp is tight on some heads 'Some of the most either loved or despised headphones in the world'	ANC is not its consensus strength Resale and repair network thinner than Sony/Bose	Plainer build than the Ultra line	Judging its positioning is difficult, per SoundStage Solo DHRME calls it 'the most expensive' on the table 'More expensive does not always mean better' Included in Mark Ellis's four-way flagship test without crowning it - the price is doing the talking	Safer tuning and a thinner feature set than the top budget pick Aging model Superseded inside Anker's own line by newer Space-series models with meaningfully better ANC and sound Paying for it in 2026 buys yesterday's tech	Over-emphasized bassy tuning Folding mechanism is a long-term weak point Budget cells will not match the big three's lifespan	Expensive out-of-warranty repair exposure	Audiophile price buys more sound than most listeners need Too new for long-term failure data; unproven past year one	Slightly older model compared to newer flagship Superseded by its own successor, which current guides name for most people Superseded by the Sony WH-1000XM6 Carries last generation's ANC and feature set	The newer Soundcore Space One Pro delivers similar noise isolation, eliminating its reason to exist Ranked near the bottom of BGR's ANC list, below the cheaper Life Q20 and the WH-CH720N Owners report bulk and hot ears TechGearLab's mixed review lands on reasonably priced rather than recommended	HiFiMan's quality control is inconsistent Weak after-sales support reputation Heavy, wired-only design with no service network behind it A driver fault outside the return window can leave you with a very expensive ornament	An older design, so it is not the freshest hardware Limited bass Mediocre ANC	Cuts corners on build quality, sound clarity and features All-lightweight plastic build ANC performance not as strong as flagship models A tier below the flagships in sound and build	Microphone performance is the weak point First-generation product from a young brand - long-term firmware support is unproven MKBHD frames the whole review around skepticism: Nothing is 'a design company' Substance unproven against established rivals at the same money	Inconsistent bass Basic ANC Ranks only inside a crowded ultra-budget pack Low ceiling	Heavyweight build Short battery life Several other downsides flagged in review Requires deep discounting to move units	Mediocre tuning carried by a legendary studio reputation Better-tuned wired options exist for the money Its reputation as a default recommendation comes from hype rather than current testing Headband coating and pads degrade and flake with regular use	Lagging ANC performance No firmware updates Weak warranty A first-generation product at a second-generation price	Fragile construction Short battery life Very expensive Heavy weight	Heavily marketing-driven rather than performance-driven Objectively testing outlets place better-tuned competitors above it Ranks among the most overhyped headphones per compiled audiophile consensus Rides brand momentum rather than class-leading ownership qualities
Evidence behind it	56 sources across 42 outlets	21 sources across 20 outlets	35 sources across 35 outlets	20 sources across 17 outlets	22 sources across 19 outlets	21 sources across 19 outlets	57 sources across 45 outlets	8 sources across 8 outlets	13 sources across 13 outlets	49 sources across 37 outlets	2 sources across 2 outlets	71 sources across 58 outlets	32 sources across 28 outlets	14 sources across 11 outlets	17 sources across 15 outlets	74 sources across 50 outlets	21 sources across 19 outlets	38 sources across 30 outlets	19 sources across 13 outlets	21 sources across 16 outlets	40 sources across 36 outlets	68 sources across 55 outlets	12 sources across 11 outlets	21 sources across 19 outlets	43 sources across 40 outlets	53 sources across 42 outlets	58 sources across 51 outlets	46 sources across 42 outlets
Flagged as one to avoid	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	2 of 11 research runs	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 6 research runs	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	7 of 16 research runs	1 of 3 research runs	1 of 2 research runs	1 of 7 research runs	5 of 18 research runs	Not flagged	1 of 2 research runs	1 of 2 research runs	4 of 12 research runs	3 of 8 research runs	7 of 11 research runs	7 of 9 research runs
Announced	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Dec 2020	Not recorded
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Every column is the same research that built the board. Nothing here is a specification sheet copied from a maker. Read how we rank for what a tier and a ladder point mean.