When purchasing headphones, you'll need to decide the most important features for your price point. You'll spend more for noise-canceling headphones than you will for earbuds, but if that's an important feature you don't want to skimp on the best pair. A good pair of headphones should last for years. Be prepared to spend a little more for this purchase if you want to have a pair for the next five years.
Bose QuietComfort 25
These noise-canceling over ear headphones provide powerful sound to the listener. They come in a traditional black or a new tan and white color combination. You can also pay extra to have them customized with any color you like. The headband is cushioned, and the over ear cups are padded to provide serious comfort. The headphones run on batteries, but can be used as passive headphones too. While you can hear someone talking to you directly, it cancels out other ambient noises to give clear, quality sound directly to your ears. The cable has a volume remote as well as a microphone built into it. The case has space for storing more batteries and the jack adapter for airplane use.
The Bose QC 25 is available at Best Buy for
$299.
Sony MDR-1A
This model from Sony is based on the previous model MDR-1R from Sony. They've brought back the popular design with some much needed changes. The ear pads are more cushioned to rest easily on the head. The earcups on the new model swivel so that when they are resting around your neck, they rest with the earcups down for comfort. At a little over seven ounces, the MDR-1A is lightweight and won't weigh your head down after hours of use. The sound quality from bass to midrange is enhanced with the Sony MDR-1A. The package includes two cables featuring an in-line remote.
The Sony MDR-1A is available from the Sony Store for
$299.
Sennheiser HD6 Mix
The HD6 is a great headphone for DJ style mixing. It allows listeners to cancel out the background noise with its secure over ear cushioned padding. The earpads create a tight seal around the ears to cancel out ambient background noises. It doesn't exaggerate the bass like some other headphones so you get an accurate frequency represented. There are extra pads provided with the HD6 so you can snap out the old pair and easily replace with the new.
Sennheiser HD6 Mix Headphones are available at Amazon for
$220.77.
Beats Studio Wireless
This Bluetooth enabled wireless headphone has soft earcups that provide a tight seal without creating a huge amount of pressure against the head. It comes in a variety of colors including white, blue, red and black. Although it's a wireless headphone, it comes with USB cables and cords for charging the headphones. It has 12 hours of listening due to its lithium battery. Even though it has a tight seal, it also provides active noise cancellation. The remote is on the outside of the ear cup. A succession of taps will advance a track, pause the music or backup one track.
Beats Studio Wireless is available at Amazon for
$349.
Bowers & Wilkins P5 Series 2
The ear cups, headband and cushions of the P5 are covered with leather. The earcups are secure and snug without being too tight. The cable is removable with an inline remote that controls the playback as well as ending calls and adjusting volume. The earpads can be snapped off easily to be changed if needed. There is no distortion or false boosting of the low end bass sounds with the P5. There is stunning detail in the high sounds produced by the P5.
The Bowers & Wilkins store sells the P5 for
$299.
About the Author
Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes about technology and other gadgets and gizmos aplenty. She currently writes for Total Voice Tech, her go to for all professional Dragon products.
