In our ranking of the 10 best wireless headphones for streaming, you’ll find over-ear models with external microphones for clearer voice capture. This list includes Bluetooth headphones with adjustable mics, quick mute buttons, and comfortable designs for long sessions. Some are geared towards gaming, letting you stream and play simultaneously.
Headphones with built-in mics offer great versatility, and your voice won’t dip if you turn your head. The downside? The built-in mic quality generally can’t match an external one. For the best audio, you’re better off with a dedicated dynamic microphone.
How do you get high-resolution codecs like LDAC, LHDC, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless in wireless headphones?
Read moreIf your headphones support a specific codec but your phone, tablet, or PC doesn’t, a USB adapter is your solution. These small adapters, about the size of a Bluetooth dongle, plug into your device’s port. Your headphones then connect to the adapter, receiving the signal with the desired codec.
Which adapter to choose?
- QCC Dongle Pro2 – if you need it all at once. The adapter supports: LHDC 5.0, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX Lossless; LE Audio and Auracast are declared.
- FiiO Air Link – a universal adapter, just cheaper. Codec support: SBC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, and aptX Lossless.
- 1Mii B03Pro: This desktop unit functions as both a transmitter and receiver, supporting SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, and aptX Adaptive.
- UGREEN BT701: A compact, universal option. Codec support includes Classic Bluetooth (SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive-LL, aptX Adaptive-HQ) and LE Audio (Auracast, Unicast-Low Latency, Unicast-Lossless).
- UGREEN BT501: A simplified version of the BT701. Supports SBC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive.
Check out our ranking for more on USB adapters — Best Bluetooth Adapters for Computers and Headphones.
EMMA — Experts + Methodology + MyChoozers + Algorithm.
Every model goes through identical tests; the score is calculated automatically with fixed weights — a spot in the rating cannot be bought.
TOP-10 Best Wireless Headphones For Streaming – Ranking
1. Noble Audio FoKus Apollo Pro 8.89Best sounding headphones with an external microphone
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Noble Audio FoKus Apollo Pro are essentially the same as the FoKus Apollo, but with improved tuning. The Pro version offers a more pleasing sound profile that doesn’t scream for manual EQ adjustments. Is the extra $50 worth it? Yes, if you plan to use them as-is and aren’t comfortable with EQ. But if you’re an EQ wizard or love a bass-heavy, bright sound, then probably not. Don’t bother upgrading from the basic Apollo; the sound improvement is minimal.
- Pleasant and smooth sound right out of the box.
- Comfortable fit, sturdy and reliable build quality
- Removable boom microphone.
- Fabric finish collects dust and fine debris
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.50 These headphones pull you into the sound from the first notes. The bass is smooth and balanced, and the treble is fatigue-free. It’s rare to find a sound profile this good right out of the box, requiring no EQ tweaks. The audio is accurate, detailed, and natural – there’s nothing to fault. I enjoyed the sound more than the basic Apollo and honestly didn’t want to take them off. The Noble Audio FoKus Apollo Pro have entered the top tier and are setting a new benchmark for over-ear headphones on MyChooz.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.00 In quiet conditions: 9 In noisy conditions: 7 The built-in microphone lacks gain, though the voice is clear. In noisy environments, the voice is harder to make out. The external boom microphone is more detailed and handles noise better. In all cases, the volume ramps up smoothly.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.03 Useful features, has everything you need. Active noise cancellation blocks about 50% of noise, mostly in the low-frequency range. In transparency mode, you can have a conversation, though the mode is not what I would call comfortable. The controls are convenient, and you can manage the player, calls, and ambient sound using the buttons. There is a physical microphone mute switch, which is handy in games or when you need to step away briefly without dropping the connection. The connection itself is stable, though there is no auto-pause sensor. The companion app has useful features, but the app’s ergonomics itself are awkward.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.67 Sturdy and reliable, unchanged compared to the base version. The exception is the mesh ear pads. The greenhouse effect in summer slows down, though it doesn’t go away entirely. The ear cups do not press on the ears, and minor fatigue sets in by the 3rd or 4th hour of use. Build quality is defect-free, and the materials are premium. The headphones look good, I liked them.Read more.
2. Noble Audio FoKus Apollo 9.12Best Over-Ear Headphones for Sound with a Detachable Microphone
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Noble Audio FoKus Apollo are the best-sounding over-ear headphones, particularly for detail retrieval. Their reference sound and earcups that don’t press on your ears are the main draws. They come with a detachable microphone featuring a quick mute switch. The only real downsides are the price and slightly sharp highs, which an equalizer can easily fix.
- Reference-level sound
- Top-tier noise cancellation
- Comfortable fit, sturdy and reliable build quality
- Minimally usable transparency mode
- Fabric finish collects dust and fine debris
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.66 The headphones offer the best sound in terms of emotionality and analyticity. The bass is deep and unburdened, the mids are open with minimal transparency drop. Reference soundstage, naturalness, and detail retrieval. Positioning does not shift with instruments appearing or fading. The sound lacks noticeable artificiality and grain, and detail retrieval is sufficient to hear minor artifacts in the recording. Cons include highs lacking softness, and excessive percussion in a track getting fatiguing.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.50 In quiet conditions: 10 In noisy conditions: 7 A boom microphone is included, along with a dedicated button to mute all microphones.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.64 Active noise cancellation suppresses up to about 50% of noise, while transparency mode is minimally suited for conversation. Button controls with basic playback and call management. The companion app is user-friendly, featuring a 10-band EQ and personal sound tuning.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.50 The ear cups do not press on the ears, and minor fatigue becomes noticeable by the 3rd-4th hour of use. Build quality is defect-free, and materials are premium grade. The headphones look good, I liked them.Read more.
3. Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 8.41Large over-ear Bluetooth headphones with a microphone mute button
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 – large over-ear Bluetooth headphones with deep bass and bright sound. Main reason to buy: top-tier sound – detailed and natural, premium quality materials, robust and reliable build. The model has no critical flaws.
- Top-tier sound — detailed and natural
- Premium quality materials
- Sturdy and reliable build
- Transparency mode and microphone noise cancellation above average.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.67 High-frequency with a cold tint. Bass is accurate and detailed, and instruments are distinguishable by timbre. High-frequency instruments are clear, just harsh and quickly fatiguing — this is the most significant flaw in the sound. Furthermore, the soundstage felt insufficiently spacious. Mids are pleasant — the sound is open, and the vocalist sings right in front of you, with a minimal lack of transparency. There is no noticeable artificiality or grain in the sound.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.75 In quiet conditions: 8.5 In noisy conditions: 7Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.98 Noise cancellation suppresses up to about 40% of noise. In transparency mode, you can chat, although surroundings are slightly muffled. Button controls for basic player navigation and call management. In the proprietary app, the only useful features are a 5-band EQ and linking music streaming services.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.40 The headphones feature medium clamp force on the ear cups, and you will want to take a break after roughly 2-3 hours of use. Premium quality materials — leather and metal, no complaints about the build. The headphones look nice, with 2 colors to choose from.Read more.
4. Audeze Maxwell 2 8.12Headphones for gaming and streaming
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Audeze Maxwell 2: These are versatile headphones for gaming, music, and video. While not a huge leap from the previous generation, the second version is heavier, and just as uncomfortable. You’ll need breaks every 30-40 minutes, and you’ll be stretching your neck like an F1 driver between sessions. They’re only suitable for short gaming bursts and definitely not for outdoor use. You might endure the discomfort for the sound quality alone, but be prepared to tweak the EQ, as the out-of-the-box sound is a bit muffled.
- You get a wide soundstage alongside detailed, natural audio.
- Controls mapped to 18 actions.
- They support 3 connection methods: wired, wireless, and radio frequency.
- Detailed microphone in quiet conditions.
- Heavy build – 560 g.
- Overload-sensitive drivers.
- They lack the physical slam you get from dynamic driver headphones.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.85 With an emphasis on highs. Slightly lacking in bass. The strong side of the headphones is the soundstage. The sound is spacious like in a large concert hall. There is no artificial timbre or grain; you can make out micro-details. Out of the box, the Audeze Maxwell 2 are close to the MyChooz gold league. A couple of tweaks in the EQ will help unlock the potential of the headphones.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.00 In quiet conditions: 9 In noisy conditions: 7 There’s a built-in mic along with an optional detachable boom mic. The built-in mic captures speech in detail when you’re in a quiet spot or dealing with minimal background noise, though you’ll notice excessive reverb. In loud environments, speech turns unintelligible, and switching on the \”microphone noise reduction filter\” doesn’t help. The boom mic performs better, matching the quality of affordable dynamic mics. When it’s loud, the \”microphone noise reduction filter\” handles ambient sound more effectively, keeping your voice intelligible.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.42 You get convenient controls for basic media playback or switching EQ presets. All of your custom presets save directly to the headphones, meaning they stay available when you switch audio sources. The connection stays rock solid whether you’re using the 2.4 GHz USB receiver or the LDAC Bluetooth codec. Active noise cancellation isn’t built in, but passive isolation handles ambient sound just fine. There’s also a Transparency Mode equivalent called \”Sidetone\” so you can chat comfortably while wearing them.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 7.33 They feel sturdy and reliable, with no complaints about build quality and materials. That said, they are terribly heavy at 560 g—easily some of the heaviest wireless headphones out there. Because of this, you’ll feel the pressure on your head and a greenhouse effect in the ear pads after about 30 to 40 minutes, especially in the summer.Read more.
5. Audeze Maxwell 7.97Versatile headphones for gaming, music, and streaming
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Audeze Maxwell: These versatile headphones work for gaming, multimedia, and movies. They offer detailed and natural sound regardless of connection mode—Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, or USB. Featuring the LDAC codec and a convenient detachable microphone with a mute button, I can confidently say after a week of use that you’ll want to use these daily. The only barrier to constant use is their 490g weight. The build is solid, materials are high-quality, and they look expensive, but these are strictly home-use headphones, not ideal for taking outdoors.
- Detailed and natural sound
- 3 connection methods: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and USB
- Removable microphone
- Import/export and EQ switching
- Weight: 490 g
- No sound pressure like in dynamic headphones
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.73 Full-bodied, spacious, and detailed. Previously unnoticed minor details are audible, and instrument sounds don’t blend together. The soundstage is spacious with width and depth processing. On the downside, it lacks a bit of transparency, and highs are muted. A couple of minutes of EQ tweaking makes the sound cleaner and brighter. Also, you don’t get as much sound pressure as with dynamic drivers, so the audio feels less dynamic and slightly sterile.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.50 In quiet conditions: 8 In noisy conditions: 7 Removable microphone with low sensitivity. You literally have to shout into the mic, otherwise it won’t pick up your voice. With the mic noise cancellation feature enabled, sharp noisy sounds are suppressed well. Here are examples of microphone recording via radio channel.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.21 There is no active noise cancellation, only passive isolation. There is a transparency mode equivalent called “Sidetone” for convenient conversation while wearing the headphones. Claimed battery life is 80 hours. You manage controls via buttons, letting you handle the player, calls, and switch EQ presets. Interesting app features include a 10-band equalizer where you can create, import, or export EQ presets. There are no connection dropouts, thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 and a 2.4 GHz radio channel. Moreover, the transmitter has a switch for PC and PlayStation.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 7.23 Weighing 490 g, the headphones are heavy, which hurts comfort and makes this model strictly for home use. No complaints about their build quality and materials, and they look good.Read more.
6. Marshall Monitor III ANC 7.82Comfortable headphones for long streams
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Marshall Monitor III ANC: These large over-ear headphones sport a signature design and are built for bigger ears. The main reason to buy is the excellent fit—earcups don’t press on your ears—and a clean sound profile without overpowering bass. The transparency mode is comfortable. They fold down to fit in a large pocket. Downsides include basic Bluetooth codecs, weak noise cancellation, and a useless companion app.
- You get a clean and bright sound devoid of bloated bass.
- The comfortable fit lets you wear them for 5 to 6 hours without fatigue.
- Recognizable design
- No high-quality codecs
- Active noise cancellation successfully blocks light background noise.
- Useless app
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 7.60 The sound is balanced with an emphasis on mids and highs. You get a clean and bright profile backed by moderate bass, making these better suited for rock, vocal, and instrumental tracks. The spacious soundstage concentrates most of its detail in width. While you won’t notice much artificial timbre, some graininess slips through occasionally. Detail retrieval is the weak spot here, and the headphones noticeably lack a low-compression codec.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.40 In quiet conditions: 8.8 In noisy conditions: 8Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.68 Active noise cancellation only subdues light background noise, while Transparency Mode feels comfortable. You get control over music, volume, calls, and ambient modes, though you can’t remap the core functions. Useful app features include spatial audio and power-saving settings.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.60 These offer the most comfortable fit among over-ear headphones. Weighing 250 g, the soft ear pads exert no pressure on your ears, leaving no hint of fatigue after 5 hours of use. The build feels sturdy and compact, folding up to fit into a large jacket pocket, and I really liked the signature, recognizable design.Read more.
7. Simgot EP5 7.22Universal headset for gaming, music, and streaming
Out of the box, the Simgot EP5 sound muffled and can quickly become tiresome. However, a simple EQ adjustment adds more bass and brightness. While not ideal for critical listening, they’re great for background music or YouTube sessions on a PC. Although marketed as universal, including for gaming, you’ll need EQ adjustments for decent game audio. The sound improves slightly with the Simgot GEW1 proprietary sound card, thanks to its preset EQ, which adds bass, dynamism, and reduces muffling. The Simgot GH22 microphone is adequate for in-game or messenger chat, but it lacks noise cancellation and picks up ambient sounds.
- Background sound with EQ for gaming and PC.
- Lightweight, ear tips do not press.
- An expanded kit with a sound card and microphone is available.
- Muffled and boring sound without EQ.
- Average sound in music and games. Not suitable for esports.
- GH22 mic without noise cancellation, useless 7.1 sound in GEW1.
Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.25 In quiet conditions: 8.5 In noisy conditions: 6 The Simgot GH22 cable microphone is optional and can be purchased separately. Voice on the recording is clear provided the room is relatively quiet, since there is no noise cancellation.Read more.
8. Razer BlackShark V3 7.03Gaming headphones for esports and streaming
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
This is a strange model with an unclear purpose. The Razer BlackShark V3 feels like a demo version of gaming headphones, specifically for shooters, offering several EQ settings from pro players. It’s a preset-driven experience with limited customization. Until you can create and save your own EQ profiles, these are best suited for enthusiasts.
- 3 connection types – Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and USB
- Audio latency up to 15 ms via 2.4 GHz and up to 50 ms via Bluetooth
- Razer Synapse for sound and mic tuning on PC
- Detachable microphone with mute button
- Average sound
- Cannot create and name an EQ preset
- Ear cups can press against the cheekbones
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 7.42 The sound is dull and muffled out of the box. What saves it is the naturalness—no artificiality or grain. The mids place vocals forward, and the soundstage is moderately spacious with good detail retrieval. Otherwise, the sound is muffled, dull, and immediately calls for EQ adjustments.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.00 In quiet conditions: 8 In noisy conditions: 6 In quiet conditions, speech is clear, with occasional distortion. There is no active noise cancellation, but you can enable the feature in the Razer Synapse software for Windows and MacOS. It is advisable to set it to 50-60%, otherwise voice quality suffers. Loud sounds are not completely removed, but PC/laptop fan noise is completely suppressed.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 6.17 There is no active noise cancellation or transparency mode, only passive isolation. Controls use buttons for managing media playback and switching EQ presets. There is a mobile and desktop app for configuring the equalizer and microphone.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 7.33 Lightweight, and looks durable. The ear pads are soft, only the ear cups press against the cheekbones. It lasts through a couple of 40-50 minute gaming sessions. The headphones look good while feeling quite cheap. Feels like a $50-60 model.Read more.
9. HAYLOU S40 6.85Over-ear closed-back Bluetooth headphones – for PC and phone
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
HAYLOU S40: These are closed-back, over-ear Bluetooth headphones with a detachable microphone and Bluetooth 6.0. They resemble the Ugreen Studio Pro but offer enhanced noise cancellation, ranking second for ANC quality under $100. The LDAC codec can provide up to a 15% quality increase. It’s important to adjust the EQ; recommendations are in the review.
- #2 for noise cancellation under $100
- Sound tuning potential via EQ
- Optional external boom microphone
- Boxy sound without EQ
- Useless companion app
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 6.58 Out of the box, the sound is muffled and muddy. At the same time, the headphones have great potential for EQ tuning. Tuning in the full review improves detail retrieval and sonic clarity. The muffled quality clears up, and background instruments become easier to hear.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 5.50 In quiet conditions: 7 In noisy conditions: 4 Recording is better with the boom mic.Learn more.
Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 6.79 Active noise cancellation is a strong suit of these headphones. It matches the top models in this ranking. Transparency mode is average, allowing you to hold a conversation while wearing the headphones. Plus, there is a quick transparency mode if you place your hand on the back of the right earcup. The microphone is good, though unpleasant clicks can occur, and speech is harder to understand in noisy conditions. The quality of the external microphone is slightly better. The weakest aspect of the features is the companion app: clunky, poorly translated, and minimally useful.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 7.60 Build quality and materials are good. The fit is good with light clamping force on the earcups, making you want to take a break after about an hour.Learn more.
10. Final Audio VR3000 EX 6.05Good gaming headphones for shooters and streaming
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Final Audio VR3000 EX: This gaming model has modest capabilities, featuring only a discernible microphone and a button with a preset to amplify footsteps in shooters, though the effect is minimal. The model’s strengths are its build quality and minimal audio latency, with no discomfort in either Bluetooth or wireless modes. It lacks useful features, and the manufacturer seems about 10 years behind in development in this area.
- No audio latency.
- Detailed microphone in quiet conditions.
- Solid and reliable build quality.
- Average sound.
- No wired connection and useful features.
- The ear cups press on a large head.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 6.48 Muffled and indistinct. You’ll find yourself always straining to listen, and enjoying music without an EQ is impossible. With the EQ applied, the sound gets more transparent, detailed, and clear. Even so, these headphones just aren’t meant for music. Final Audio VR3000 EX don’t even come close to the MyChooz bronze league.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.50 In quiet conditions: 9 In noisy conditions: 6 Through the radio channel, the microphone captures your voice in detail under quiet conditions. Speech remains intelligible in noisy environments. On the flip side, there is no active noise cancellation, so the mic picks up all background noise.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 4.92 You only get the bare minimum: a flip-up microphone, multipoint for 2 devices, up to 55 hours of battery life, plus radio channel and Bluetooth connections. While a modest package like this might have escaped criticism about 5 years ago, today everything listed here feels outdated. Consequently, the headphones don’t offer much of practical use.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 6.67 Solid and dependable, with zero complaints regarding build quality and materials. The headphones look clean and neat. However, the excessive pressure from the ear cups quickly turns from a minor annoyance into noticeable discomfort. After 15 to 20 minutes, you’ll need to take a break, meaning these headphones won’t suit users with larger heads.