Top Headphones 2023

Though the competition is stiffer than ever, the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones continue to lead the industry with the best active noise cancellation you can buy.

The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO are great for neutral sound. Using their 'Balanced' ear pads, they have an excited sound that delivers extra warmth to mixes while vocals and instruments are clear and present in mixes. That said, sibilants like cymbals are piercing and painful. That said, some users may prefer this sound as it can help highlight imperfections in mixes. You can even swap out these pads for the 'Analytical' ones, which lower the amount of boom in mixes, but ensure the brightness of sibilants. Thanks to their open-back design, they're also able to create an immersive soundstage.

The Stealth Pro is Turtle Beach’s bid for a gaming/lifestyle hybrid. It sounds good for gaming, but it’s no Arctis Nova Pro.

The Maxwell has fantastic drivers, excellent battery life, and impressive wireless range. But it’s also got some issues.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 is another satisfying entry in a celebrated line of gaming headsets. Bluetooth connectivity is a welcome addition, and makes the peripheral a versatile one — especially if you get the Xbox version. However, the fit is a little tight, and the sound quality is good, not great.

The Corsair HS65 Surround gaming headset features an exceptional 7.1 surround sound experience and a fantastic headset microphone suitable for multiple uses. There are useful additional features, such as EQ presets, but you shouldn’t really need it to get an amazing 7.1 Surround Sound performance from this headset.

The HiFiMan Arya are excellent for neutral sound. They have a very neutral sound profile with a touch of brightness. Although they slightly lack thump and rumble, this is likely due to their open-back design. This design also helps create a wide and spacious soundstage that can really help immerse you in your audio. They have consistent audio reproduction, so you don't have to constantly adjust them to ensure you hear the same sound each time you use them.

Established as the go-to wireless headset since its release, the Arctis 7 2019 Edition is still a supremely strong contender in an increasingly crowded cable-free market.

Logitech’s new G Pro X looks great, sounds better, and even features a headset microphone that doesn’t suck. If only it were wireless, as well.

Incredibly comfortable and aided by cooling gel in the ear cups, the Razer Nari Ultimate is a haptics-enabled headset that doesn’t feel like a one-off gimmick. The only sticking point is the $200 price tag.