The 10 best on-ear headphones
Whether you're looking for a pair of wireless, noise-cancelling or budget headphones, these models all sound great
URBANISTA SEATTLE
The Urbanista Seattles’ sound is unexpectedly good. These headphones have a far more expansive and involving soundstage than most budget wireless pairs – they’re full and rich-sounding, with the sort of tasteful bass drive that will please the masses without instantly turning off the chin-stroking crowd. Their delivery of vocals is particularly great despite not having a very forward mid-range, with very natural tonality, although they could be a hint less smooth and soft, to add hi-fi-like separation to the wide soundstage.
SONY MDR-1000X
Sony might be a noise-cancelling newbie but the MDR-1000Xs should have more established rivals sweating – on both sound quality and noise-killing efficacy, these cans are superb. Factor in the elegant, thoughtful design and you’ve got a serious contender for the best wireless noise cancelling headphones on the market.
B&W P7 WIRELESS
B&W has never made a disappointing pair of headphones yet, and the P7 Wireless aren’t going to buck the trend. In fact they’re absolutely excellent P7, setting a lofty standard that rivals in this price range will struggle to emulate. The company has built a pair of Bluetooth headphones that impress with their stunning sound quality, elegant looks, premium comfort and slick, user-friendly Bluetooth controls. There’s really no downside to these cans at all – unless, of course, you’re operating on a tight budget. If you can afford them, they belong on your shopping list.
AKG Y50BT
If anything shows how the standard of wireless headphones has evolved from ape to man in recent years, it’s the AKG Y50BTs. These booming beauties are proof that you don’t have to pay a pretty penny for great wireless sound and are easily good enough to pass for a solid wired performance. Essentially they’re carbon copies of their wired cousins, the AKG Y50s, meaning ‘AKG’ is still boldly brandished across the cups. While more subdued than, say, the white-on-red or black-on-yellow finishes of the Y50s, this branding won’t be up everyone’s street. What will be are the dapper blue, black and silver finishes, though. Gorgeous.
SENNHEISER MOMENTUM 2.0
Some headphones just fit. And we aren’t just talking about how they feel on your noggin’. The looks are right, sound is spot-on, and for all that the price is, well, tolerable. The original Sennheiser Momentums were a rare example (in our wise words, ‘the perfect pair of on-ears’) and we’re pleasantly surprised that their sequel – the not-so-creatively named Momentum 2.0s – pull off a The Godfather: Part II and prove even more thrilling.
BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 35
The longest non-stop passenger flight in the world is currently Emirates flight EK449, which takes 17 hours and 15 minutes to travel the 14,200 kilometers from Auckland to Dubai. You know what lasts longer than that? The battery in the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones. The QuietComfort range has long been the frequent flyer’s best friend, thanks to its combination of marshmallow-like comfort and screaming baby-blocking noise-cancelling. With the new 35s you can add freedom-enhancing Bluetooth to the list of features that will make you the envy of business class.
AKG K92
If you’re about to drop $60 on a pair of headphones, you’re going to be listening to most of your music at home, and just want a great-sounding, sturdy and comfortable pair of cans to hook up to your laptop or hi-fi, then the K92s fit the bill perfectly. The colour finish might not be to everybody’s taste, but once these wonderful headphones are clamped around your dome the last thing you’ll be thinking of is gold. Unless, y’know, you’re listening to some Spandau Ballet.
LINDY BNX-60
Keep your expectations realistic and you’ll love these Lindys. To dredge up the obvious comparison again, the noise cancellation isn’t close to Bose levels: instead of obliterating outside noise, it just takes the edge off low frequencies so you’re less likely to have to crank up the volume while on the train. But in quirky retro fashion, there’s an actual volume wheel on one of the cups. Told you they’re not trying to be cool.
SKULLCANDY GRIND WIRELESS
Think Skullcandy and three obvious things pop up: skulls, bass and more colour finishes than a Homebase paint mixing station. The Skullcandy Grind Wireless headphones don’t get rid of the skull insignia, but do seem like an altogether more grown-up offering. They stick close to your head and the design is so clean it wouldn’t look out of place in the V&A. Unless you get the version plastered with camo and tartan, anyway.
SENNHEISER PXC 550
The PXC 550 are talented pair of headphones that really hold their own against their pricier sibling. A critical listen will want for a touch more detail and better dynamics, but pick these as your travel companion and you won’t be disappointed.
