September 2024
Wireless Headphones: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of wireless headphones rankings posted by key online experts, as of September 2024.
Summary
On 21 Sep 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 96 headphones endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
53 headphones were endorsed in total, only 16 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 21 Sep 2024, Sony WH-1000XM5 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed headphones with 9 expert endorsements. 5 experts out of 9 recommended it as the '#1 headphones' this month.
Brand breakdown
-
Sony: 6 headphones
(#1 is Sony WH-1000XM5)
-
Bowers & Wilkins: 4 headphones
(#1 is Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e)
-
Anker: 4 headphones
(#1 is Anker Soundcore Space Q45)
-
Bose: 3 headphones
(#1 is Bose QuietComfort Ultra)
-
Beats: 3 headphones
(#1 is Beats Solo 4)
Price breakdown
At a glance - September Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Headphones |
IGN
|
Tom's Guide
|
What Hi-Fi
|
Digital Trends
|
WIRED
|
CNET
|
Wirecutter
|
PCMag
|
T3
|
Rtings.com
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $398 |
Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones have received positive reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, connectivity, and durability, making them a top choice for users seeking a premium listening experience.
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
7
|
-
|
|
2
|
- | $429 |
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have received positive reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, and connectivity, making them a recommended choice for those seeking a versatile and enjoyable listening experience.
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
|
3
|
- | $449 |
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max receive positive reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, and connectivity, making them a top choice for an outstanding audio experience.
|
8
|
9
|
5
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
-
|
9
|
8
|
-
|
|
4
|
- | $250 |
Sennheiser Momentum 4
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones have received highly positive reviews for their exceptional sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, connectivity, and durability, making them a top choice for various listening needs.
|
6
|
7
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
|
5
|
+1 | $299 |
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are highly praised for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, connectivity, and durability, making them a recommended choice for music enthusiasts who value strong bass and treble, effective noise cancellation, comfort for extended use, and durability for various activities.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
8
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
-
|
|
6
|
-1 | $246 |
Apple AirPods Pro 2
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are highly praised for their exceptional sound quality, advanced noise cancellation, comfortable design, and convenient features, making them a top choice for everyday use.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
4
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | $422 |
Sonos Ace
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
|
8
|
+2 | Check price |
Sony CH-720N
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
10
|
-2 | Check price |
Bose 700
The Bose 700 headphones have received positive reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, connectivity, and durability, making them ideal for travel, work, or leisure activities.
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
|
11
|
+1 | $60 |
Sony CH520
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
12
|
+1 | $190 |
Urbanista Los Angeles
The Urbanista Los Angeles headphones receive positive reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, and build quality, making them a recommended choice for bassheads and those seeking a powerful sound experience.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
|
13
|
-4 | $146 |
Jabra Elite 8 Active
The Jabra Elite 8 Active True Wireless earbuds have received positive reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, connectivity, and additional features, making them a versatile and high-quality option for various use cases.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
5
|
-
|
|
14
|
- | $75 |
1MORE SonoFlow
The 1MORE SonoFlow headphones receive positive reviews for their sound quality, customizable EQ presets, effective noise cancellation, comfort, long battery life, reliable Bluetooth connectivity, and durability.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
15
|
- | $399 |
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
16
|
- | $298 |
Sony WF-1000XM5
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds have received highly positive expert reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation capabilities, comfort, battery life, connectivity features, and additional features, making them a top choice for premium true wireless earbuds.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
14
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
|
17
|
- | $699 |
Focal Bathys
The Focal Bathys headphones are highly praised for their exceptional sound quality, effective noise cancellation, comfort, long battery life, strong connectivity options, and durability, making them a top choice for audiophiles and music lovers.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
We ranked Sony WH-1000XM5 #1 in September 2024 because:
- 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 5 experts ranked Sony WH-1000XM5 as #1.
IGN
Best Wireless Headphones
|
Outstanding ANC
Support for the premium LDAC codec
|
Less portable than older models
|
Tom's Guide
The Best Wireless Headphones Overall
|
Articulate and engaging sound
Great control options
Impressive noise-cancelation
|
Redesign and eco credentials ups the price
Gets hot around the ears during longer listening
|
What Hi-Fi
Awards winner. The best-value wireless headphones you can buy
|
Sensational sonic clarity
Touch controls are nice to use
Punchy and precise, agile bass
|
Less premium build than WH-1000XM4 predecessors
Don’t fold away completely
|
Digital Trends
The best wireless headphones overall
|
Excellent sound
Very good comfort
Ultra-clear call quality
Best-in-class noise canceling
Very good battery life
Hi-res compatible (wired/wireless)
Hands-free voice assistant access
Classy, modern design
|
Fold-flat, but don’t fold up
|
CNET
Best noise-canceling headphones from Sony
|
More refined sound and even better noise canceling
Slightly more comfortable
Best-in-class voice call quality
Robust feature set
|
Higher price tag than the previous model
Larger carrying case (headphones fold flat but not up)
|
PCMag
Best Headphones for Audiophiles / Editors' Choice
|
Excellent audio performance with robust bass depth and crisp highs
Top-notch active noise cancellation
Intuitive on-ear controls
App offers an adjustable EQ and other customization settings
Comfortable, stylish design
|
Expensive
|
T3
The best Sony noise cancelling headphones
|
Superb noise cancellation
Stunning sound
Great battery life
|
Don't fold
Pricier than predecessors
|
We ranked Bose QuietComfort Ultra #2 in September 2024 because:
- 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 3 experts ranked Bose QuietComfort Ultra as #1.
IGN
Best Closed-Back Wireless Headphones
|
Extremely customizable
Support for Bluetooth multipoint
|
ANC adds slight pressure to ears
|
Tom's Guide
The best wireless headphones for ANC
|
Modernized design
Effective Immersive Audio experience
Intuitive controls
Best-ever ANC
|
High cost compared to most rivals
Middling battery life for a flagship design
|
What Hi-Fi
Class-leading noise cancellation and premium sound are straight from the top drawer
|
Exceptional noise cancelling
Handy folding design
Rich, full-bodied, punchy sound
|
Immersive Audio is unconvincing
Expensive compared to key rivals
Can’t be listened to via USB-C
|
Digital Trends
Best noise canceling
|
Premium materials and design
Excellent comfort
Best-in-class noise canceling
Natural-sounding transparency
Impressive spatial audio
Hi-res compatibility
|
Tricky volume control
ANC can't be turned off
|
CNET
Best Bose noise-canceling headphones
|
Design is an upgrade
Lightweight and very comfortable
Excellent sound and great noise canceling
Voice-calling performance is top-notch
Immersive Audio mode offers some sound-quality enhancements
|
Higher price than the previous model
No USB-C audio
Immersive Audio mode hurts battery life
|
PCMag
Best Headphones for Noise Cancellation / Editor's Choice
|
Class-leading active noise cancellation
Crisp audio with rich bass
Adjustable EQ
Immersive audio modes with spatial effects
|
Expensive
Adaptive noise cancellation might cause ear pressure
|
T3
The best noise cancelling headphones overall
|
Active noise cancelling really works
Compact, comfortable, lightweight
18-hour battery life
|
Not the cheapest
Limited touch controls
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend wireless headphones.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of wireless headphones, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for September 2024 ranking
IGN
Tom's Guide
What Hi-Fi
Digital Trends
WIRED
CNET
Wirecutter
PCMag
T3
Rtings.com
We ranked Apple AirPods Max #3 in September 2024 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
IGN
Best High-End Wireless Headphones for Apple Users
|
Stunning design and build quality
Solid ANC with a transparency mode
|
Some features won’t work with non-Apple devices
|
Tom's Guide
The best over-ear wireless headphones for iOS users
|
Luxury design
Excellent noise cancellation
Spatial Audio sounds great
|
Expensive
|
What Hi-Fi
Apple users will struggle to find better than the innovative over-ear AirPods
|
Superb audio and noise-cancelling
Cinematic spatial audio
Exceptional build quality
|
Near-pointless case
Audio cable not included
Practically Apple-only
|
Digital Trends
Best for iPhone users
|
Best-in-class ANC
Amazing transparency mode
Excellent build quality
Excellent sound quality
Top-notch call quality
|
Charges via Lightning cable
Heavy on head
|
CNET
Best high-end Apple wireless headphones
|
Surprisingly comfortable for their weight
Impressive sound and build-quality
Adaptive noise canceling is top-notch and so is transparency mode
Good headset performance for calls
Spatial audio virtual surround for iPhones and iPads is a sweet bonus feature
Automatic switching between iOS devices on your iCloud account (multipoint Bluetooth)
|
Expensive, heavy and the smart case may be too smart for its own good
No cable included for wired use
|
PCMag
Best Headphones for iPhone Users
|
Excellent audio performance with rich lows and crisp, detailed highs
High-quality active noise cancellation, especially for low-frequency rumble
Stunning, unique design
Adaptive EQ and Spatial audio
Hands-free Siri access
|
Expensive
Sound signature and Adaptive EQ/spatial audio aren't for purists
No user-adjustable EQ
Button placement makes it easy to misfire when adjusting fit
Smart Case does little to protect the headphones
|
T3
Best active noise cancelling headphones for Apple users
|
Beautiful and natural sound
Excellent noise cancelling
Fit is really comfortable
|
On the pricey side
Smart case isn't useful
|
We ranked Sennheiser Momentum 4 #4 in September 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
IGN
Best High-End Wireless Headphones
|
Impressive 60-hour battery life
Great sound quality
|
On-ear touchpad is sensitive
|
Tom's Guide
Best-ever battery life for a wireless headphone with ANC
|
Spectacular battery life
Great sound
Effective noise-cancelling performance
Reliable touch controls
Robust design with plain styling (if you like that sort of thing)
|
Anonymous styling
Earpads may make ears hot
Flaky connectivity issues with Smart Control app
|
Digital Trends
Best for sound quality
|
Amazing battery life
Outstanding sound
Effective wind noise reduction
Comfortable
Effective ANC
|
No auto-off function
|
CNET
Best Sennheiser noise-canceling wireless headphones
|
Excellent sound
Improved noise canceling and voice-calling performance
Impressive battery life
Good sound personalization features
|
Ho-hum design
Noise-canceling isn't as good as Sony's or Bose's
|
T3
The best noise cancelling headphones for battery life
|
Energetic, powerful sound
Very effective adaptive ANC
60 hours of battery, fast charging
|
Could look more exciting
EQ control could be more extensive
|
We ranked Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds #5 in September 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
CNET
Great noise-canceling
|
Excellent sound and best-in-class noise canceling
Fit Kit ear tips and stabilizer system gets you a secure, comfortable fit
Immersive Audio creates a different listening experience
Slightly improved voice-calling
|
No wireless charging or multipoint Bluetooth
Immersive Audio mode hurts battery life
|
PCMag
Best Earphones for Noise Cancellation / Editor's Choice
|
Best-in-class noise cancellation
Crisp, full-bodied audio
Active Aware feature blends noise cancellation and transparency modes
Spatial audio support with head tracking
Good Bluetooth codec support
|
Case doesn’t support wireless charging
No multipoint connectivity
|
T3
Best noise-cancelling earbuds
|
Top notch sound
Incredible comfort
Unrivalled noise cancellation
|
Case is larger than some
Pricier than most
|
We ranked Apple AirPods Pro 2 #6 in September 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Apple AirPods Pro 2 as #1.
CNET
Updated Apple noise-canceling wireless earbuds
|
Additional dust resistance
MagSafe (USB-C) charging
|
Nearly identical to their Lightning predecessor
High price
|
PCMag
Best Earphones for iPhone Users / Editors' Choice
|
Rich, well-balanced audio performance
Excellent active noise cancellation
Conversation Aware feature adjusts your music volume when you speak
Charging case has a built-in speaker, USB-C port
Seamless integration with Apple devices
Hearing aid and hearing protection features arriving soon
|
No hi-res codec support
EQ presets aren't adjustable
|
We ranked Sonos Ace #7 in September 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Spatial Audio and Dolby Head Tracking support
|
Excellent sound and noise canceling performance
Attractive design
Long battery life
Strong eco credentials
|
No lossless audio support over Wi-Fi
Lacks smart integrating with Sonos ecosystem
|
Digital Trends
Supreme comfort, with perks for owning a Sonos soundbar
|
Excellent design and comfort
Intuitive tactile controls
Very good sound quality
Top-notch ANC and transparency
Fun Sonos soundbar integration
|
Lacks full Sonos system integration
No Wi-Fi streaming
TV Audio Swap needs improvement
|
T3
The best luxury ANC headphones
|
Superior-level comfort
Big sound that includes spatial audio
Fun personal cinema features
|
Case could be improved
Not the best for travel
|
We ranked Sony CH-720N #8 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
What Hi-Fi
Awards winner. Affordability and active noise cancelling go hand in hand – and sound is great too
|
Compellingly clear, direct sound
Decent ANC for the price
Solid, durable build quality
|
A little over-enthusiastic in the bass
Sadly no case or foldability
|
CNET
Top Value Sony Midrange Noise-Canceling Headphones
|
Lightweight and comfortable
Good sound with very good noise canceling
Good voice-calling performance
35 hours of battery life
|
No carrying case
No ear-detection sensors
No LDAC audio codec support
|
We ranked Bose 700 #9 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
IGN
Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
|
Superior active noise-cancelling
Excellent design
|
Battery life could be better
|
We ranked Sony CH520 #10 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
What Hi-Fi
Budget bargains that nail the basics and go the extra mile with battery life
|
Balanced and engaging sound
Excellent, 50-hour battery life
Useful and extensive control app
|
Dynamically inhibited
Could conceivably have greater insight
|
CNET
Top Budget on-ear Headphones
|
Affordable
Lightweight and relatively comfortable for on-ear headphones
Excellent battery life
Good sound for their price
|
Entry-level look and feel
Limited feature set with no wired option
|
We ranked Urbanista Los Angeles #11 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best for the eco-minded music fan
|
Solar charging really works
Secure fit
Real-time power meter in app
Huge 80-hour battery
|
Only works under optimal conditions
No EQ adjustments
|
PCMag
Best for Battery Life / Editors Choice
|
Solar-powered charging
Impressive audio performance with rich, deep bass and crisp highs
Quality noise cancellation for the price
Stylish design
|
No in-app EQ
Noise cancellation slightly impacts sound signature
|
We ranked Jabra Elite 8 Active #12 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
PCMag
Best Premium Earbuds for Exercise / Editor's Choice
|
Deep bass and detailed highs
Excellent noise cancellation against lows
App includes adjustable EQ and controls
Fully dustproof and waterproof
Water-resistant charging case can stream audio
|
Noise cancellation is sometimes inconsistent
App buries some features
|
T3
The best ANC headphones for sports
|
Extra durable construction
Includes Dolby Audio with spatial sound
Updated, comfortable form factor
|
Wingtip-less design won't suit everyone
Adaptive ANC could be better
|
We ranked 1MORE SonoFlow #13 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best budget wireless headphones
|
Great sound quality
Very comfortable for long periods
Ridiculous battery life
Solid ANC performance
Great app support
Affordable price
|
No wear sensors
Wired mode disables extra features
|
CNET
Good-performing noise-canceling headphones under $100
|
Comfortable
Good sound quality for their price
Decent noise canceling
LDAC audio codec support for Android users
|
A bit generic looking
Noise canceling only works in wireless mode
|
We ranked Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e #14 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Updated premium over-ears with elite sound
|
Great sound
Low-profile designs with smart styling
Effective noise canceling
|
No touch controls
Noise canceling isn't as good as its rivals
|
CNET
Evolved Bowers & Wilkins noise-canceling headphones
|
Improved comfort and sound quality
Better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance
Sturdy design
Support for aptX Adaptive audio codec for Android users
|
Somewhat pricey
Slightly heavy
|
We ranked Sony WF-1000XM5 #15 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
CNET
Best sony earbuds
|
New smaller design
Improved sound, noise canceling and voice calling
Upgraded processors and drivers
|
Pricey
No Find My feature integrated into app
|
PCMag
Best Earphones for Audiophiles / Editors' Choice
|
Rich bass response and crisp, detailed highs
Adjustable in-app EQ
Excellent noise cancellation
Top-tier mic clarity
Case supports wireless charging
Hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant
|
Expensive
Some bloat in companion app
|
We ranked Focal Bathys #16 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
