Sonos’ new Ace over-ear headphones are the new contender in a sector that’s fighting hard for your ears. We review the latest product from the wireless audiophile specialist and wrap up with eight other sets of contemporary boxes, wired and wireless, that range from high-end craft to premium mass-market design.
Meze LIRIC 2nd generation headphones
(Image credit: Meze Audio)
1. Sonos Ace
(Image credit: Sonos)
For its first venture into the in-ear segment, Sonos has come up with a premium product. The new Sonos Ace is on par – physically and financially – with the Apple AirPod Max, and follows the now-familiar premium leather and stainless steel playbook.
There’s advanced noise cancellation, of course, as well as a unique new spatial audio mode that Sonos calls TrueCinema, which is a form of advanced processing that reproduces the scale and natural reverberation of your listening environment, be it a front room or a huge auditorium. The catch is that for now this will only work in tandem with Sonos’ Arc soundbar. Head-tracking sensors are paired with Dolby Atmos spatial audio for a fully immersive experience.
Sonos Ace, £449, Sonos.com
2. Audio-Technica ATH-WBLTD
(Image credit: Audio-Technica)
Audio-Technica’s two latest wired headphone models feature hand-polished wood. The first is the ATH-WBLTD, which offers headphones covered in layers of flame maple, walnut and mahogany. The ear pads are dressed in sheepskin and the main material is magnesium alloy, making them a light and elegant proposition. The limited model is designed to fold flat for easy storage.
Audio-Technica ATH-WBLTD, £1599, Audio-Technica.com
3. Audio-Technica ATH-AWKG
(Image credit: Audio-Technica)
The company’s other new wired wooden model is another step up. The Audio-Technica ATH-AWKG are handcrafted at Audio-Technica’s headquarters in Tokyo with a highly crafted Kurogaki wood cabinet, a wood prized for traditional Japanese crafts due to its age and rich, complex grain.
Audio-Technica ATH-AWKG, £3000, Audio-Technica.com
4. Sony ULT WEAR
(Image: Sony)
As part of Sony’s ULT line, the WEAR headphones put the focus on high levels of bass performance, which are combined with a clean body and a revised noise cancellation algorithm. Other nice touches include the ability to automatically pause music when the headphones are taken off and start again when you put them back on, as well as legendary Sony build quality and reliability.
Sony ULT WEAR, £149.00, Sony.co.uk
5. Apple AirPods Max
(Image credit: Apple)
For many people, the AirPods Max continue to define what they consider high-end headphones. While they’re certainly a step up from any form of headphone or even AirPods, the Max model has won praise for its attention to detail, from the woven mesh canopy to the innovative textile and Digital Crown control, a holdover from the Apple Watch that translates well to the personal audio space .
Just as computational photography turns the iPhone’s camera into a pro-level powerhouse, Max’s focus on computational audio showcases the manufacturer’s mastery of hardware and software. As a result, Apple’s category killer brings the expected levels of class to Cupertino and makes it the model everyone wants
Apple AirPods Max, £499, Apple.com
6. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
(Image credit: Bose)
Another clear contender for the AirPods Max, the QuietComfort Ultra from Bose meets all the features required of the premium set; noise cancellation, immersive sound, transparency mode and sound customized to the shape of your ear. Full immersion is combined with a transparency mode that doesn’t block out all of your surroundings, and Bose quotes a maximum battery life of 24 hours.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, £449.95, Bose.co.uk
7. JLab Studio Pro ANC
(Image: JLab)
JLab’s Studio Pro ANC sits at the lower end of the wireless in-ear headphone market. Perhaps because it costs a fraction of the price of Sonos, Apple or Bose offerings, JLab’s latest offers a much more limited feature set. These days that still means active noise cancellation and four different noise control modes, with a promised 45 hours of playback time over Bluetooth. The Studio Pro ANC can also be used as wired headphones via the included USB-C to 3.5mm cable.
JLab Studio Pro ANC, £99.99, UK.JLab.com
8. Meze LIRIC 2nd generation headphones
(Image credit: Meze Audio)
The second-generation version of Meze’s LIRIC closed-back headphones highlights the elements that make this audiophile brand stand out. This includes a striped ebony finish, premium hand-braided copper cable and a solid, crafted appearance. Meze’s design is modular, allowing items like the removable magnetic earcups to be easily replaced or upgraded.
Meze LIRIC 2nd gen, £1850, MezeAudio.com
9. Focal Hadenys
(Image credit: Focal)
French manufacturer Focal has released its Hadenys open headphones. Designed for home listening, with a light but large frame and a pleasingly different brown color. Focal’s collaboration with car audio is becoming increasingly well-known, working with key French brands such as DS, Peugeot and Alpine. The Hadenys headphones recreate some of this Gaelic verse in an elegant functional item that is also a nice alternative to established brands.
Focal Hadenys, £599, Focal.com
