We have examined a lot of merchandise within the final 12 months, and for those who’re questioning what the very best ones have been – you are in luck. The twentieth annual Pocket-lint Awards, sponsored by new EE, have been held on 9 November 2023, to have fun the very best units and merchandise of the yr throughout 21 hotly contested classes – from vehicles and cameras, to audio system and smartphones.
The headphones class was massively aggressive this yr, with some unbelievable new launches arising towards outdated favourites. All six of the shortlisted merchandise have been scored by our group of judges to resolve the winner – however which one got here out on prime?
Headphones of the 12 months: Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones
Bose/ Pocket-lint
Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra shock completely nobody by being an excellent pair of headphones, notably for anybody travelling and commuting. The judges praised their market-leading noise cancellation and assured, detail-oriented efficiency that makes essentially the most of no matter music you throw at them.
A brand new Immersive Mode was deemed to be one of the vital convincing spatial audio displays but, and whereas expensive, the judges determined that what they provided was properly well worth the funding. These headphones will fortunately be your journey companion for years.
Extremely recommended: Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 stay the most effective pairs of overears you should buy and are not removed from our lips when requested for a suggestion for noise-cancelling headphones.
The refined design that Sony dropped at the vary final yr joins improbable noise cancellation and a sound efficiency that simply works – with all music you would possibly throw its approach. There is a purpose these are finest sellers, and so they proceed to carry their very own towards new releases, too. Even a yr on since their launch, the judges felt these earlier award winners have been properly worthy of the extremely recommended nod.
Better of the remaining
Beats Studio Professional
The Beats Studio Pro are the long-anticipated successor to the Beats Studio, launched six years in the past, and substitute them because the flagship headphones of the Beats headphones line.
With a hanging over-ear design, they’re immediately recognisable as Beats, however their sound is maybe much less so – with a extra grown-up impartial presentation prioritising steadiness and vocal readability over bass thump. It is nonetheless there; it is only a contact extra refined.
There’s additionally high-bitrate wired connectivity – with USB-C and three.5mm on provide – plus straightforward multi-point pairing whether or not you employ an Android cellphone or an iPhone for common attraction.
B&W Px7 S2e
The B&W Px7 S2e was an up to date model of one among our favorite pairs of headphones final yr, the Px7 S2, however with some intelligent software program to make them sound higher than ever.
Packing an extensively upgraded DSP and re-tuned acoustic platform, based mostly on learnings from the a lot pricier Px8, these headphones serve up a extra refined, much more detailed efficiency – to not point out look beautiful whereas they do it.
Sennheiser Accentum
We love flagship overears as a lot as the subsequent music fan, however Sennheiser’s Accentum proves you need not spend the very best a part of $400 on a pair of headphones to get an important sound.
Costing properly underneath $200, they’re comfy and sound wonderful however nonetheless look virtually an identical to the dearer Momentum 4 Wi-fi, particularly to the untrained eye. It is a severely spectacular bundle.
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2
Whereas the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 will not win awards for his or her noise cancellation, it serves as a nice-to-have subsequent to the blow-you-away sound. They’re an audiophile’s dream.
Add that to the lengthy battery life, the power to take heed to Hello-Res codecs, and a very comfy, premium construct; the second technology Aonic 50 is a superb alternative.
How the EE Pocket-lint Awards judging works
The winner for the Finest Headphones class was determined by the Pocket-lint group, together with a panel of knowledgeable judges from publications throughout the trade. Following a vigorous scoring course of, the Finest Headphones winner for 2023 was introduced at an in-person occasion on 9 November 2023, together with the winners from the opposite 20 classes.
A Product of the Year winner was even be introduced, chosen from the winners of the 21 classes. You could find out about that and all the opposite winners in our Awards round up.
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