We have examined a lot of merchandise within the final 12 months, and in case you’re questioning what the most effective 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 a good time the most effective units and merchandise of the 12 months throughout 21 hotly contested classes – from vehicles and cameras, to audio system and smartphones.
The headphones class was vastly aggressive this 12 months, with some unimaginable new launches developing towards outdated favourites. All six of the shortlisted merchandise have been scored by our crew of judges to resolve the winner – however which one got here out on prime?
Headphones of the Yr: Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones
Bose/ Pocket-lint
Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra shock completely nobody by being an outstanding pair of headphones, significantly for anybody travelling and commuting. The judges praised their market-leading noise cancellation and assured, detail-oriented efficiency that makes probably the most of no matter music you throw at them.
A brand new Immersive Mode was deemed to be one of the convincing spatial audio shows but, and whereas dear, the judges determined that what they supplied 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 top-of-the-line pairs of overears you should purchase 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 12 months joins unbelievable noise cancellation and a sound efficiency that simply works – with all music you may throw its method. There is a motive these are finest sellers, they usually proceed to carry their very own towards new releases, too. Even a 12 months on since their launch, the judges felt these earlier award winners have been properly worthy of the extremely recommended nod.
Better of the remainder
Beats Studio Professional
The Beats Studio Pro are the long-anticipated successor to the Beats Studio, launched six years in the past, and change them because the flagship headphones of the Beats headphones line.
With a putting 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 utilize an Android telephone or an iPhone for common attraction.
B&W Px7 S2e
The B&W Px7 S2e was an up to date model of considered one of our favorite pairs of headphones final 12 months, 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 attractive whereas they do it.
Sennheiser Accentum
We love flagship overears as a lot as the subsequent music fan, however Sennheiser’s Accentum proves you needn’t spend the most effective a part of $400 on a pair of headphones to get an incredible sound.
Costing properly beneath $200, they’re comfy and sound glorious however nonetheless look virtually similar to the dearer Momentum 4 Wi-fi, particularly to the untrained eye. It is a critically 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 flexibility 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 crew, together with a panel of professional judges from publications throughout the business. 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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