Articles by Ted Kritsonis

The best cheap headphones and earbuds may not have the same name recognition as popular models like AirPods Pro or Sony WH-1000XM3, but nothing says you have to spend a lot just to get some good headphones for casual listening. The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x are an excellent place to start for the best cheap headphones, thanks to a solid mix of audio performance, comfort, and features that make them a real bargain.

Best Cheap Wireless Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M40x

If you’re looking for great sound for a low price, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is unbeatable as the best cheap headphones. Audio-Technica didn’t veer too far one way or another with these, maintaining a steady balance in multiple facets. Because of that, there’s nothing particularly fancy here — just wired over-ear headphones that sound better than their price would indicate.

The primary reason is the flatter tuning right out of the box. That tuning gives the headphones a vibrant soundstage without too much treble…

A lot of factors go into buying a new pair of headphones, and it’s easy to overlook the waterproof rating when shopping around. Whether you’re breaking a sweat at the gym or happen to get caught in a rainstorm, your headphones’ waterproofing will ensure they keep going, even if they happen to get a little wet. The Jabra Elite Active 75t earned their spot as the best overall waterproof headphones, though you do have other compelling choices to consider. Here are the best waterproof headphones you can buy right now!

Best Overall: Jabra Elite Active 75t

Ever since Jabra released the Elite 85t, these earbuds have become the company’s go-to rugged true wireless earbuds. There are other waterproof headphones out there, but Jabra’s Elite Active 75t are one pair that stand out as a reliable go-to that you won’t go wrong with. It now also has active noise cancelation (ANC) through a firmware update, which while not as good as built-in ANC would otherwise be, is still a nice perk.

As per …

Crank up your tunes with our favorite headphones, Sony’s WH-1000XM4. These outstanding cans feature class-leading active noise cancelation (ANC), but also come with great sound, battery life, and comfort. Jam out to your favorite tunes, talk to Alexa, and even take a phone call without ever having to take your headphones off. Sony has built its reputation on high-end headphones, and these are the best Sony headphones you can buy.

Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony didn’t have to rethink its approach with the WH-1000XM4 because the previous WH-1000XM3s were already among the best in the industry, topping some of our own lists. The two biggest reasons why were the audio quality and ANC performance, both of which got decent upgrades with the WH-1000XM4. Sony put in its QN1 processor and dual noise sensor to further improve blocking ambient sound. While it’s highly debatable that the results are a big leap forward from their predecessors, they do help from other areas.

Sony could’ve…

The best wireless earbuds are comfortable, sound great, and have long-lasting battery life. These tiny headphones from companies like Jabra, Samsung, Sennheiser, Sony and others are almost as important as the phones we have in our pockets, and the market has become crowded over the years with options. We’ve reviewed a sizeable number of models available, and rated the absolute leaders of the pack, helping you find the best fit and value for your ears and budget. Our buyer’s guide will help you navigate this space and find the pair that suits your needs and tastes the best, no matter what you like listening to.

The best wireless earbuds, at a glance

Jabra Elite 75t — A sleek, comfortable fit with complementing solid sound, long battery life, and a decent set of features anyone can appreciate.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus — A major improvement in battery life, comfortable fit, and app support make these an excellent choice.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 — These earbuds will se…

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Big and comfy

$279 at Amazon

Pros

Superb sound quality
Best ANC performance
Solid ambient mode
Comfortable fit
Wireless charging case

Cons

Buds and case are bigger
No EQ in app
No control customization

Bose came back with a pair of true wireless earbuds that deliver possibly the best active noise canceling (ANC) performance in this market, though you will have to deal with bigger buds in your ears.

Sony WF-1000XM3

Still sounding on

$228 at Amazon

Pros

Excellent sound quality
Top-class ANC performance
Good bud and case battery life
USB-C for wired charging
Good app to customize sound and ANC

Cons

Call quality could be better
No wireless charging case
Case and buds are large

The WF-1000XM3 have been the best true wireless earbuds with ANC for some time, and their overall performance still stands out because they do the most important things so well every time.

This is as tight as an earbuds battle can get. Bose manages to directly…

If you’re a commuter or work in a busy environment, you’re likely in the market for some for some of the best noise-canceling headphones. Drowning out all that background noise comes in the form of active noise-canceling (ANC) technology, and it’s become a highly sought-after feature now that it’s no longer exclusive to expensive headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM4’s ANC head up a group of class-leading headphones through their excellent performance and battery life.

Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony has been in the top spot before with its WH-1000XM3, which were the best ANC headphones on the market before they were replaced by the WH-1000XM4. Sony’s flagship cans have become the benchmark for the industry as a whole, forcing others to catch up. What makes them so good is the unique QN1 processor and a dual noise sensor that work together to block out ambient sound. For a daily commute on a bus or train, walking on a busy street, or sitting on a flight, the WH-10000XM4 are up to th…

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Big and comfy

$279 at Amazon

Pros

Superb sound quality
Outstanding ANC performance
Solid ambient mode
Comfortable fit
Wireless charging case

Cons

Large in size by comparison
Case is also much bigger
Less discreet

Bose came back with a pair of true wireless earbuds that deliver possibly the best active noise canceling (ANC) performance in this market, though you will have to deal with bigger buds in your ears.

AirPods Pro

Apple flavored

$200 at Amazon

Pros

Longer battery life with charging case
Solid sound quality
Great ANC performance
Spatial virtual surround sound option
Excellent phone call quality

Cons

Proprietary ear tips
Low battery life with ANC on
Can’t customize on non-Apple devices
Lightning for wired charging

Apple doesn’t hit it out of the park with the battery life on the AirPods Pro, but they’ve got some other things that perform really well, like solid ANC, great microphone quality, and a comfy fit.

Bose edges out …

A TV is usually a major purchase for any entertainment setup, especially when you’re looking for one that can display in 4K and HDR. The Chromecast is a great streaming device to get the content you love at the highest resolution and dynamic range, but you need a TV that supports the standards as well. The LG CX 4K Smart OLED TV is a beautiful screen that fits in everywhere, with great variances in size, and a feature set that is perfectly ideal as the best 4K TV for Chromecast.

Best Overall: LG CX 4K Smart OLED TV

LG’s OLED TVs are a thing of beauty. They bring nearly perfect blacks and vivid colors with incredibly sharp images and crystal-clear motion. If you want a top-notch TV, look no further than the LG OLED. They come in sizes from 48-77 inches, and all come complete with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, plus Dolby Atmos sound, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG for 4K HDR content.

There’s more where all that came from. LG’s CX series has the Alpha a9 III processor …

Working from home is the reality for a lot of people now, and whether it’s going to be full-time or part-time, having the best headphones for Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, and other video calls may be even more important. These come in a variety of different types — and for different devices — which is why the Bose NCH 700 lead the way at the head of the pack through their great balance of sound quality, active noise cancelation (ANC), and microphone performance.

Best Overall: Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

While not technically headphones made for office productivity and communication, nothing gets in the way of the Bose NCH 700. Their sound quality is already excellent, with a balanced soundstage that delivers a nice mix of highs, mids and lows that will make listening to music during work hours more than enjoyable. That sound signature pays off for talking to people through video, too.

If your home is about as loud as an office would be, the solid ANC performance could s…

Jabra Elite 75t

Almost perfect

$150 at Amazon

Pros

Great battery life
Excellent sound quality, with better bass
USB-C for charging
Super comfortable

Cons

Only right earbud works independently
No wireless charging case

The Jabra Elite 75t are what a great iteration should be. They take what made the Elite 65t great and improve upon the important features that matter. They’re more comfortable, sound great, last longer, and bring in USB-C for charging. You miss out on active noise cancelation and a wireless charging case, though.

Jabra Elite 65t

Still solid

$91 at Amazon

Pros

Good battery life
Decent sized charging case
Great sound
Comfortable fit

Cons

Micro-USB for charging
No wireless charging case
Audio and video can often be out of sync
Only right earbud works independently

While not as good as the Jabra Elite 75t, the Elite 65t are still a solid choice, especially for their price. They still sound great by current standards, have decent battery life, and …