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Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 review: Pricey and impressive
Sennheiser debuted its first true wireless earbuds in 2019. And while the Momentum True Wireless had that stellar sound profile the company is known for, there were a number of things that made them frustrating to use. Now the company is back with the Momentum True Wireless 2 ($299.95). It added active noise cancellation (ANC) and improved battery life, but the earbuds are still just as pricey.
Sennheiser's Momentum True Wireless 2 has ANC and improved battery life
Sennheiser's first true wireless earbuds were some of the best-sounding audio accessories that I tested last year. Unfortunately, that stellar audio quality was offset by frustrating touch controls and other annoyances. And to justify the $300 price, you have to nail the details. A year later, the German company is back with an update version: the Momentum True Wireless 2. Even with the addition of active noise cancellation (ANC) and extended battery life, Sennheiser has kept the price at $299 (€299).
Newegg is selling Sony's excellent WH-1000XM3 headphones for $250
Sony's WH-1000XM3 headphones need no introduction at this point. They're one of the best pairs of Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones you can buy at the moment. On Newegg, the black model is currently $249.95, while the silver pair is $259.89. We've seen the WH-1000XM3 sell for about $278 in past sales, making this one of the best deals to date on the $350 pair of headphones.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds+ will reportedly lack active noise cancellation
Samsung's Galaxy Buds are nearing a year old, so naturally rumors about the next version have started circulating. Supposedly, the Galaxy Buds+ will not have active noise cancellation (ANC), sources tell SamMobile. They may come with a larger battery (85mAh), which could give them a 12-hour battery life, double that of their predecessor.
Korg made a feature-rich set of DJ headphones that block out the club
NAMM doesn't start for a few days, but Korg has begun to announce new gear in advance of the show. Today, the company revealed a set of active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones designed for DJs. More specifically, Korg says the new NC-Q1 can offer distortion-free ANC even in "extremely loud environments." Obviously, a club or other performance venue fits that description.
Audio-Technica brings active noise cancellation to its wireless earbuds
Audio-Technica is esteemed for its high-quality equipment in pro audio -- you're likely to find the company's ATH-M50x headphone monitors in most recording studios. And while the brand may not be well known for its consumer-level headphones, the company's recent efforts in the wireless earbuds market have ranged from decent to impressive. Audio-Technica's latest true wireless model, the QuietPoint ATH-ANC300TW, will add active noise cancellation (ANC) -- but at the cost of battery life.
JBL’s CLUB series melds consumer headphones with studio monitors
Headphone monitors provide clear and accurate audio signals to music pros. You'll mainly see musicians wearing them while recording or analyzing a performance, but some people use these utilitarian cans to enjoy -- rather than analyze -- music. JBL's new CLUB series could serve as a happy medium between pro monitors and consumer headphones by combining studio-grade specs with more mainstream features like adaptive noise cancellation (ANC), voice assistants, a customizable EQ and impressive battery life.
Klipsch’s next true wireless earbuds will include AI and gesture controls
For the second year in a row, Klipsch is introducing new true wireless earbuds at CES. Last year, it offered the first glimpse of its T5 True Wireless earbuds. Now, the company is expanding its lineup with three more true wireless models.
Jabra’s Elite 85h headphones are almost 50 percent off at Amazon
If you didn't get a pair of noise-cancelling headphones over the holidays, Amazon is closing out the year by offering a steep discount on Jabra's Elite 85h. While they're typically priced at $300, the retailer has cut the price of the "Titanium Black" model by almost 50 percent. They're currently $157, making them the cheapest Amazon has ever sold them. You can also get the "Gold Beige" and "Copper Black" models for less than full price, but they're only about 20 percent off.
Sony adds much-needed volume control to its WF-1000XM3 earbuds
Sony has just released an update for its WF-1000XM3 earbuds that make an already great product even better. The update adds three new features: support for Alexa, on-board volume controls and the ability to see the battery level of the charging case in the Sony Headphones Connect app.
Beats Solo Pro review
Both Apple and Beats have benefited greatly from their relationship over the last five years. Since Apple bought the headphone company in 2014, Beats has improved its gear on all fronts, from design to audio quality and even adding useful features. There's no doubting the Apple influence, especially since the latest Beats headphones pack the same chip that powers AirPods. With the Solo Pro ($299.95), we get the best intersection of the two companies yet, in a set of headphones that look good, sound great and pack in powerful features.
Beats' Solo Pro headphones feature Pure ANC and always-on Siri
If you wanted active noise cancellation (ANC) on a pair of Beats headphones, you had one choice: the Studio3 Wireless ($349.95). That changes today. The Solo Pro ($299.95) brings ANC and more to the Apple-owned company's on-ear model. They cost $100 more than the previous version, the Solo3 Wireless, but this new model also packs Apple's H1 chip for audio sharing, fast pairing and always-on Siri access.
Skullcandy's Crusher ANC block noise while you feel the bass
Skullcandy's Crusher headphones have offered thumping bass tones that rumble your dome (literally) since 2013. In 2016, the company introduced a wireless version and followed up with "an ultra-realistic sensory bass experience" on the Crusher 360 last year. Now the company is introducing a new model in the Crusher series, and it comes with a major addition: active noise cancellation.
Sennheiser Momentum Wireless review
Sennheiser's Momentum line has been a popular headphone choice for years now. It first debuted in 2012, then went wireless in 2015. Despite stumbling out of the gate with some connectivity issues, the Momentum Wireless is still a solid choice. At IFA 2019, the company debuted the third generation of the headphones. And while this new $399.95 over-ear model is improved, there are still some headaches that could've been avoided.
Sennheiser's new Momentum headphones are improved, but still pricey
Sennheiser has been fine-tuning its Momentum Wireless headphones for a few years now, and at IFA 2019, the company is unveiling a third-generation model. While the overall design is mostly the same, the company added a host of new features to bring these over-ear headphones in line with the likes of Sony's WH-1000XM3 and the top options from Bose. At $399.95 (€399), they're pricier than a lot of the flagship headphone competition, even if Sennheiser did stack the spec sheet.
Sony WF-1000XM3 review: Simply the best true wireless earbuds
Sony is no stranger to the true wireless-earbud craze. The company introduced the WF-1000X almost two years ago and followed with the WF-SP700N in 2018. However, even with that experience, Sony hasn't really seemed to hit its stride. There are always issues holding the products back from making the leap. Sony has perfected its over-ear noise-canceling headphones, the WH-1000XM3, and now it's leveraging some of that technology to improve its true wireless buds. Enter the $230 WF-1000XM3, Sony's best true-wireless product and a new contender for the top spot overall.
Jabra Elite 85h review: Noise cancellation to rival Bose and Sony
Jabra shocked the world (OK, maybe just me) in 2018 when it unveiled the Elite 65t true-wireless earbuds. Those headphones quickly shot to the top of a lot of "best of" lists, including a couple of Engadget Buyers Guides. The Elite 65t have dependable controls, solid audio and cost less than much of the competition. For 2019, Jabra is tackling over-ear noise-canceling headphones with the Elite 85h. However, no matter how good they are, they're not as good of a deal at $300.
Lenovo's Yoga headphones are built for music, chat and voice control
Microsoft debuted its take on active noise-canceling headphones last year with a Surface-branded model. At MWC 2019, Lenovo is introducing an audio device of its own with headphones that carry its Yoga label. The on-ear Yoga headphones employ hybrid active and electronic noise-canceling microphones to help block out the world around you. Onboard controls offer easy access to voice control, as well as basic functions like volume adjustments.
Nuraphones update adds noise-cancellation and 'transparency' mode
When I reviewed the Nuraphones, I was impressed. The unusual in-ear/over-ear design might look weird, but it actually works very well -- and the personalized audio profiles are impressive. Makers, Nura, were a newcomer, but the build quality and attention to detail were better than many companies that have been in the game for several years. Not everything was perfect though. The physical controls were limited, and there wasn't even a way to know they were charging/charged.
Marshall's Mid ANC are a worthy pair of noise-canceling headphones
Last year, Marshall introduced its highest-end wireless headphones, the Monitor Bluetooth. They had almost everything you'd want in cord-free cans -- except for active noise cancellation (ANC). Now, Marshall is finally jumping aboard that bandwagon with the $269 Mid ANC. While they're technically part of the company's mid-range lineup, the addition of noise cancellation might make them worth the $30 premium over the $249 Monitor Bluetooth.