Search “Best Headphones” and you are quickly overwhelmed by 21 million results and at least 5 pages deep of “Top 10” lists. With all that opinion to slog through, we have decided on an aggregated approach to determining which headphones are truly the best. Much like the way the modern “poll of polls” approach has worked so effectively in predicting the outcome of an election, Techfresca has created a “Review of Reviews” methodology for tech gear that simply has too many individual inputs for any one person to sort through efficiently.
We compiled the “best of” lists and after tallying them up were left with five headphones that garnered the highest praise
Given that Apple has declared the aux cord dead, we decided to focus this first Review of Reviews on the Best Wireless Headphones. While wireless headphones have been on the market for some time now, it hasn’t been until recently that we’ve seen the technology available at affordable prices. In the past, wireless headphones were once the butt of every audiophile’s joke, however, since then, they’ve consistently proven themselves as a reliable and convenient competitor with audio quality that’s nearly indistinguishable from their wired counterparts.
If you’re looking for a quality pair of wireless headphones, you’re probably well aware that it can be pretty overwhelming with the sheer range and quantity of products. We’ve taken the time to sift through ten “best of” lists from across the internet, looking to see which headphones truly stand above the rest.
- TechRadar
- Top Ten Reviews
- BestProducts
- CNET
- Heavy
- List Enthusiast
- The Verge
- Pocket Lint
- The Independent
- T3
To do so we compiled ten “best of” lists and assigned each placement on a list with a point value. Three points for a first place finish, two for second, and one for third place. We’ve also assigned a half point for every time a product was featured across these lists but didn’t place in the top three (participation has to count for something, right?). After tallying up the point values, we were left with five pairs that have the highest level of praise from critics and three additional pairs that we felt were still worthy of your consideration. Take a look below!
The Best of the Best
- Sennheiser Momentum Wireless – Score: 11.5
- Bose SoundLink II – Score: 7.5
- Bose QuietComfort 35 – Score: 7
- Parrot Zik 3.0 – Score: 6.5
- Beats Studio Wireless – Score: 4.5
Unsung Heroes
1. Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 2.0
If you have the cash on hand, very little can compare to Sennheiser’s Momentum Wireless. The product was found seven times across the “Top Ten” lists with three finishes in the top three spots. The product is a well-designed and durable pair of headphones that provides listeners with the option of using either its wireless Bluetooth technology or a wired connection. The Momentum is equipped with an active noise cancelling feature as well as a microphone for cellphone adaptability.
Total Score: 11.5pts
1st Place: 3x = 9pts
2nd Place: 0x = 0pts
3rd Place: 1x = 1pt
Other Placements: 3x = 1.5pts
This pair of headphones has the ability to be paired to two devices simultaneously, giving listeners the ability to easily switch between them. The Bose SoundLink supports high definition voice and “adaptable audio adjustment” to keep call quality strong in noisy environments. Bose boasts an impressive 15 hours of playback per three hours of charging or 2 hours after just 15 minutes of charging.
Total Score: 7.5pts
1st Place: 1x = 3pts
2nd Place: 1x = 2pts
3rd Place: 0x = 0pts
Other Placements: 5x = 2.5pts
Bose is a true master of noise cancelling technology, and the QuietComfort 35 doesn’t break from this tradition. This model uses a digital equalizer that automatically adjusts the sound so that certain frequencies never become overwhelming at different volumes. The bass is solid without ever drowning out high frequency treble. The pair comes included with a 3.5mm cable to attach when needed.
Total Score: 7pts
1st Place: 1x = 3pts
2nd Place: 1x = 2pts
3rd Place: 1x = 1pt
Other Placements: 2x = 1pt
One of the most unique features of the Parrot Zik 3.0 is its gesture based surface on the right ear cup. This feature allows users to skip tracks by swiping left and right, and adjust volume by swiping up and down. The feature also allows users to accept and refuse phone calls depending on the length of time you press down on the headphones. Parrot offers its own downloadable mobile application that allows listeners to adjust EQ settings to fit their listening preference.
Total Score: 6.5pts
1st Place: 1x = 3pts
2nd Place: 1x = 2pts
3rd Place: 1x = 1pt
Other Placements: 1x = 0.5pts
While often derided for not presenting an accurate sound signature for audio purists, this pair of headphones delivers a solid, bass heavy listening experience ideal for hip-hop, electronic, and other low-end heavy genres. The headphones double as a Bluetooth headset that allows for charging through micro-USB or with a rechargeable 20 hour lithium battery. The set comes included with a cord as well to enable listening on devices that may not support Bluetooth.
Total Score: 4.5pts
1st Place: 0x = 0pts
2nd Place: 1x = 2pts
3rd Place: 0x = 0pt
Other Placements: 5x = 2.5pts
The Honorable Mentions
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