Top Headphones 2023

The Cleer Audio Alpha stands out as a cheaper alternative to Bose with better sound, longer playtimes, and decent noise cancellation.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are very good for commute and travel. These well-built headphones have over 60 hours of continuous playback time, and their fit is comfortable enough for long days on the go. They also come with a sturdy hard carrying case to help protect the headphones when not in use. While they have an ANC system that can help block some background noise, they struggle to cut down the low rumble of bus and plane engines, which is a bit frustrating. They do a better job when it comes to passenger chit-chat, though.

The HiFiMan Edition XS are excellent for neutral sound. They have a very neutral sound profile that's suitable for a variety of audio content. Thanks to their open-back design, they have an outstanding passive soundstage performance that seems immersive, wide, and natural. They also reproduce sound very consistently and have a comfortable fit suitable for long listening sessions.

The wireless Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 offer terrific audio performance, hands-free voice assistant access, and the best tunable active noise cancellation you can buy.

Sennheiser's PC 373D has plenty to offer: quality audio, a comfortable build, and a clean, understated design. Even with its relatively high price tag, it doesn't take much time with them to understand why as they are top-notch through and through. While I would appreciate some manual control over the headset's equalizer, Sennheiser's fine-tuned sound profiles provide balanced audio that mostly makes extra customization options unnecessary. Still, at this price it's surprising that such a basic feature wasn't included. I also wish the microphone could be removed and that the headphones could connect with a 3.5mm jack out of the box so I could use them with devices other than my computer—something that is possible with the company's similarly-priced Game series headsets. Still they sound superb and are bathrobe-level comfortable. The PC 373D sits in the premium category of gaming headphones but not only because of its price. The execution of the entire product, from design to performance, is well worth every penny. It may not have absolutely everything I'd want from headphones at this price, but it's close.

Astro cuts the cables with its first product under its new parent company, Skullcandy, but does it meet fan expectations?

The SteelSeries Nova 7X joins a new generation of wireless gaming headsets that cater to just about all your gaming needs. It sounds great, is highly comfortable and has excellent cross compatibility. To top that off, simultaneous Bluetooth functionality lets you stream audio from your phone while you play.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro are very good for wired gaming. Thanks to their GameDAC, you can connect them to your console while keeping controls like channel mixing and EQs close by. These headphones have a comfortable fit suitable for long gaming sessions, and their boom mic ensures that your teammates hear you clearly. You can customize their performance to your liking using their companion software's EQ and presets.

The Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X are very good for neutral sound. They have a well-balanced sound profile, and although they lack low-bass, which is common for open-back headphones, they still deliver adequate warmth and boom. Vocals and lead instruments are also clear but a little veiled, while sibilants like cymbals are bright. These headphones also have a decent soundstage that feels wide, spacious, and open. However, the soundstage has trouble creating a more out-of-head experience.

The Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense are decent for wired gaming. These headphones offer a few customization features like RGB lighting, HyperSense haptic feedback, virtual surround, and a graphic EQ and presets to tweak not only their sound but their microphone performance. As a result, you can play around with their settings to help you find your best gaming settings. They also have a decently comfortable fit, and their boom mic can capture your voice clearly, even in noisy environments. They have low latency via their USB-A connection too.