World Music Day is celebrated on June 21 to foster the uniting spirit of music and also encourage up-and-coming musicians across the world. If you take your music seriously, you must also be very picky about the equipment you use to listen to music. This past year, we’ve seen tons of audio tech releases across the board. Here are our top picks for the best headphones and wireless earbuds you can buy right now!
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Table of Contents
Best Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM5
Price: Rs 26,990 on Amazon
Sony’s premium headphones lead the pack by a significant margin. The Sony WH-1000XM5 builds upon the solid grounding laid by its predecessor and stitches together a wonderful sonic experience for the listener. The high-res sound output is delivered by powerful 30mm audio drivers. Apart from the cutting-edge sound, the WH-1000XM5 also offer best-in-class ANC aided by 8 microphones on the earcups. You can get up to 30 hours of playback on these headphones. A quick 3-minute charge is enough to power them for 3 hours. Read our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 here.
Sennheiser HD 660S2
Price: Rs 54,990 on Sennheiser-hearing.com
Sennheiser HD 660S2 will appeal to audiophiles looking for a close-to-neutral sound profile with the added Sennheiser texture. The HD 660S2 flaunts an expansive soundstage, capturing even the minutest details. The richness of the mix is relayed very well on this pair of headphones. The low end is slightly beefed up, leading to prominent bass notes, but it’s something we thoroughly enjoyed while testing the headphones. While the price tag may be quite hefty, if you’re looking for a premium listening experience, the Sennheiser HD 660S2 will blow you away.
Bose Noise Cancelling 700
Price: Rs 34,500 on Amazon
Bose’s premium noise-cancelling headphones, NC 700, feature microphones outside and inside the earcups to nullify any surrounding noise. There are 11 levels of noise cancelling on offer. The state-of-the-art ANC facilitates a brilliant calling experience as well. The stainless steel headband fits nicely around the head and does not cause any stress even after hours of use. The NC 700 offers a 20-hour battery life and is optimised for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. A 15-minute charge can power the headphones for 3.5 hours.
Sony CH720N
Price: Rs 9,990 on Amazon
The new Sony CH720N brings ANC and the signature Sony sound together at a great price. These midrange over-the-ear headphones come with great features like ANC, Multi-Point Connection, Adjustable Ambient Sound Mode, and Adaptive Sound Control. You also get app support for the CH720N. There is a dedicated button for ANC along the earcups, which proved to be a great addition for easy access during our time with the device. Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 does a good job of further tuning the ANC on this device.
boAt Rockerz 558
Price: Rs 1,799
Looking for a great pair of headphones on a budget? At the price of Rs 1,799, boAt Rockerz 558 are the best affordable headphones you can buy right now. These headphones deliver a powerful audio output with the help of 50mm drivers. The 500mAh battery offers a playtime of up to 20 hours. Ran out of charge? You can also use these headphones with an AUX cable.
Best Wireless Earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Price: Rs 16,999 on Samsung.com
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro was one of the best TWS we tested last year. The design and overall fit of the wireless earbuds are absolutely phenomenal. Samsung smartphone users also get an additional ‘Samsung Seamless Codec’ and the ‘Auto Switch’ feature. The audio output on this TWS is world-class, with a rich mix of frequencies and a highly detailed soundstage. The ANC performance is also quite impressive. Overall, the Buds2 Pro is a really good package for the price.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Price: Rs 14,990 on Apple.com
Introduced at Apple’s fall event last year, the second-generation AirPods carry the new H2 chip and offer MagSafe wireless charging. The H2 chip proves its worth with next-level noise cancelling. When it comes to audio features, users can create their personalised sound profile using the ‘Personalised Spatial Audio’ feature on this TWS. The audio output is richer than ever – possibly the best you can get on any TWS in the market. On a single charge, the AirPods Pro 2 can last up to 30 hours.
Nothing Ear 2
Price: Rs 9,999 on Flipkart
We tried the Nothing Ear 2 TWS as soon as it was released, earlier this year. Priced at Rs 10,000, this pair of TWS offers a category-defining performance. The 11.6mm audio drivers deliver a rock-solid output and the dual chamber architecture tunes the sound profile pretty nicely. You also get LHDC 5.0 support and ANC. Ear 2 can nullify up to 40dB of surrounding noise. A great buy in our opinion.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2
Price: Rs 9,999 on OnePlus.in
OnePlus launched its new TWS product earlier this year alongside the OnePlus 11. We tested these earbuds shortly after they were released and were mighty impressed by the performance on offer. Each earbud features an 11mm woofer and a 6mm tweeter. The result is a thumping audio output. With Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity, the Buds 2 Pro support LHDC, AAC, SBC, and LC3 audio codecs. You also get Active Noise Cancellation on these earbuds, brought about by three microphones and AI noise-reduction technology.
Truke Buds A1
Price: Rs 1,499
Ending this list are the ultra-affordable Truke Buds A1. For those shopping on a budget, these are the ideal wireless earbuds. The bass-driven audio output is delivered by 100mm drivers on either earbud. You also get 3 preset EQ modes on these earbuds – Dynamic Audio, Bass Boost, and Movie Mode. What really impressed us was the hybrid ANC, which cancels up to 30dB of surrounding noise. At this price point, this feature is unheard of. Check out our full review of the Truke Buds A1 for more details.
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Conclusion
These are our top picks for the best headphones and wireless earbuds across all categories and price points. Since it is World Music Day today, we’d love to know about your favourite piece of audio equipment as well. Feel free to share in the comments!
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