The Best Headphones To Buy In 2024!

[@Finite-Tuning]

I really like these concise overview videos. Clean and to the point. Just a suggestion here and forgive me if you've already done so elsewhere in video, If so I'm not aware. Frequency response is everything, but I doubt that most understand it. Especially with head phones! It would great to see a primer or a link to a primer video for those less in the know. Great stuff as always though. Thank you, Cheers 🍻

[@RTINGScomAudio]

Noted! If you're curious, we have explainers for each of our tests on our website reviews, here is the page on Frequency Response Consistency: www.rtings.com/headphones/tests/sound-quality/frequency-response-consistency

[@Finite-Tuning]

@@RTINGScomAudio : Yes, I am aware you have the info available on your site, but it's in text. A full description in video is what I request, and then a link to it in every subsequent video. It's so much easier to understand room acoustics then it is to understand head-phones. For this reason, I think explanation would due us all some real good. If you want to, if you agree and feel like making a video about it to explain how/why frequency response matters and why it's so different in a room verses head-phones. I'm confident most will appreciate that valuable information. And then just link to it every time you make a video like this one here. Just a suggestion. Thank you, Cheers 🍻

[@KumaraIswaran]

How come you compared the XM4s instead of the XM5 in Oct 2024?

[@fexmatmargon]

Xm4 best

[@QuickTimeTech]

I HAVE BOTH. xm4 really better especially in bass

[@JohnCrighton]

Thanks for the great review, and thanks especially for counting down from the best! It’s refreshing not to have to skip to the end to find the info that I really want! I really appreciate all of your work, and the careful and thorough way that you test the products. Keep up the good work!!

[@RTINGScomAudio]

Thank you so much for the kind words, we're glad you enjoyed the video 😄

[@ChristopherReid-i1d]

I bought the xm4's off your testing. Not disappointed, despite that the xm5s and boss qc ultra were out

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Thank you for your time and efforts, but one criterion that many seem to omit from their research is cup size and depth. The only headphone that comfortably fits my ears is the Aune AR5000 and many others, especially 'travel' options, are just nonstarters from a comfort perspective, before even considering sonic characteristics.

[@kidShibuya]

But those metrics don't mean much. I have headphones with the same cup dimensions but vastly different comfort and seal.

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

@kidShibuya Thank you for your reply and perspective. The dimensions are at least a starting point for me in my choice. Anything smaller, just doesn't cut it for me.

[@richscott2483]

Simple Choice and 3 reasons why. 1) MDAQS The Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score results indicates BOSE Quiet Comfort Ultra is much better than the SONY WH-1000XM5. 2) Sony XM5 release date May 2022 MSRP $399.99 and Bose QC Ultra release date October 2023 MSRP $429. aka release date (age) and original pricing. 3) 2024 Holiday sale XM5 $299 and QC Ultra $329 both dropping $100. affordability as Sony XM5 should be discounted more because it is a year older than Bose QC Ultra. On the other hand, the best audio/sounding BT headphones are the Sennheiser Momentum 4 release date August 2022 MSRP $349 and now on sale for $229 as $120 less. The Momentum 4 MDAQS rating is about equal to the Bose QC Ultra. Another thing: Momentum 4 just sounds better than Bose or Sony probably because of the 42mm dynamic drivers. The best affordable Bluetooth headphone which cost less of the 3 is Momentum 4. The quality is better than the Sony XM5 and just a small notch below the Bose QC Ultra. I own 2 sets of Momentum 4 headphones. Purchased Bose QC Ultra during this holiday period for trial/comparison for the last 3 weeks. Will be returning the QC Ultra because paying $100 more to get slightly better ANC and immersion/larger stage presence which don't really occur just not worth the money. Yes! ears get warmer with M4 but it compensates for individuals who wear eye glasses as in for comfort. You listen to different genre of music for pleasure as quality of audio makes it nice to listen to. As for BT headphones in this mid-level competition, the M4 has not been beaten or won over yet regarding sound. MDAQS: Scale of 1 to 5. 1 is Poor and 5 is Best. Anything above 4 is very good. for example: It's like college GPA as Provost list 3.9 - 4.2, Deans List 4.3 - 4.7 and President's List 4.8 - 5.0 Sony XM5: Timbre 4.3, Distortion 3.6, Immersiveness 4.1, Overall 4.2 Provost Momentum 4: Timbre 4.8, Distortion 3.5, Immersiveness 4.1, Overall 4.6 Deans Bose QC Ultra: Timbre 4.8, Distortion 3.2, Immersiveness 4.2, Overall 4.6 Deans

[@jerrygeorgopolis8015]

Excellent overview of headphones ! I did purchase the Sony WH-1000 XM-4 and have been using them with my i-phone, very enjoyable listening. Also, recently purchased the Sennheiser HD 800 S, after years of checking them out and reviewing them on your web site. These have an amazing sound stage and instrument separation that my Focal Elear can't match. I am driving them with my Schiit Audio Mjolnir3 headphone amp. Thank you all for the video !!

[@RTINGScomAudio]

Awesome to hear, glad you enjoyed the video and that we were able to help you purchase the HD 800 S! Enjoy 😄

[@fenriswolf-always-forward]

I always have problem with hearing extremely high pitched noise stemming from bluetooth. The high-end headphones almost all emit that, also and especially if they have ANC, you can imagine it similar to coilwhine, or the sound of old CRT TVs. It would be great if you could measure for high-pitch artifacts amongst headphones.

[@EhNothing]

One attribute that's very helpful for me personally is "clamping force," which anyone with a gigantic noggin like myself knows is the first and most important attribute to screen headphones by, lol

[@dre-explores]

🐟😃 Thank you for the great reviews to ease the purchase process!

[@RTINGScomAudio]

It's our pleasure, it's our mission to help you get the product you need! 😄

[@fahadabdulrhman2004]

thank you nice review

[@lastnamefirstname2390]

Great video. Thank you.

[@ryansmith9797]

Ngl the skull candy anc 2 crushers are actually good

[@juliandasobari5940]

Looking forward to review ugreen hitune max 5c and Haylou s30.

[@keithpalacios9417]

Does $130.00 for a pair of Sony ULT Wear sound like a good deal?

[@ektasix]

I'm currently looking for a new gaming headset to replace my cloud 2 wireless and the Logitech G535 caught my attention, mainly because of the score they got and how well they performed in the audio quality department on your review. Would you guys recommend it if audio quality is my main concern on a gaming headset?? I'm also open to some other recommendations if there's anything better (audio quality wise) around the same price range. Thanks!!

[@JerelTeh]

Nah man, u can getting better quality with significantly lower price with other options. Take a look at Philips shp9500, koss headphones, u can buy 3.5mm cable with mic for about 10$. Cause to me almost all "gaming" labelled headphones sound about the same in terms of quality just that they have built in mic by being gaming. So if u really wanna stick with gaming headphones, just get something thats about 50-100 range

[@ektasix]

@JerelTeh I've tried a couple wireless gaming headsets and they definitely didn't sound the same, like at all. For example the sound coming from the Razer Barracuda X was way different than the one that the Cloud 2 Wireless has. Apart from that, to me it's not only about the sound. I enjoy using wireless gaming headsets because well, they are wireless and that allows me to do a lot of things. I can keep listening (or keep talking) to a class, a zoom meeting, a discord call, etc, even when I'm doing something else in another room. Also, when I'm listening to music, I can stand up and just vibe without worrying about any cables. Having an integrated mic is also a plus, and I know that 95% of the wireless gaming headset mics aren't really that good, but just use it for calls and meetings. I've been using wireless audio stuff for around 4 years, and I don't think it's really worth it going back to wired just because it sounds better and it's cheaper. Also I'm aware that there are better wireless non-gaming options, but they just have one big issue... Latency. Gaming with something that uses Bluetooth is just awful for any sorta game that requires an instant response. I just wish there were more wireless non-gaming headphones that offered the option of having a 2.4 GHz dongle, that would be the perfect combination for me.

[@JerelTeh]

@@ektasix ahh I see, I totally forgot about wireless ones so I apologise for that😅. Yaa, if u prefer convenience with a built in mic, I took think gaming wireless headphones are the way to go. But definitely try them out in person cause u might or might not like them, and what u hear might be totally opposite from what you've read from reviews

[@ektasix]

@@JerelTeh naahhh don't worry about it, at least you were respectful (I also appreciate the recommendations that you gave me). Many times I've posted a similar message on Reddit and all I got was people telling me "get an iem, wireless gaming headsets are trash", even tho I was specifically asking for something wireless and a headset, they're so annoying lol.

[@JerelTeh]

@@ektasix lol true, I'm still relatively a beginner in the audio space and trust me I really don't think gaming headphones are trash like they say. To me, they're just overpriced for what they offer at about 80-100$ onwards (wired, I'm not sure about wireless). Just get something that gives u the best experience

[@vidim6023]

space une pro, edifier nb830w. & nb950w. 1more sonuflow oro .

[@suzyhen]

apple max 2 with auracast and bluetooth 5.4 coming in 2025

[@priyanksaini6177]

What about jbl tour one m2 headphone?. It is on sale for ₹13k( $160 dollars) on Amazon in my country . My priority is sound and comfort. Is it a good deal?

[@amazinggoose104]

Can you guys check out Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e?

[@ashkanglm750]

We waiting for buds 3 pro review

[@BryantBaudelaire]

Not adding the beats studio pros to this list is a no thank you from me and I’m a real audiophile!

[@ssjdavid]

They’re not worth mentioning when you compare them to real audio brands

[@CreganStark123]

Beats studio pro sux bruh wdym

[@sms8717]

XM4 = win

[@Goenie2005]

I immediately stopped when you said 'like you would a tinder profile '. What is this, highschool?

[@venezianie]

Ouch. XM5 are worse than 4?

[@d.g.o4410]

Only in the features, ergonomics and comfort department, everything else is the same.

[@sms8717]

@@d.g.o4410 basically everything xd but yeah XM5 = no buy

[@djdfs4391]

Go with xm4, not much different, huge difference in price when I got mine.

[@ArtsyFbShirose]

No, they aren't not sure why they aren't speaking about them. I got them for myself to see and while their comfort level is not as good, the sound is indistinguishable. the battery life has never been an issue for me. The noise cancellation is superior in an office environment. The build quality seems fine. The only thing I would take into consideration if you're using these for work is the mic which is better for xm5 and the sound quality. You just can't connect them via aux to listen to something and also use the mic without having a proper adapter (the xm4 comes with it). The price is the other thing to worry about. I got mine on amazon for $302 new which is the same as the xm4's. I would personally also take into account if you wear glasses what might work for you best. The xm4 may provide more comfort if you head is small and wearing glasses because of the padding.

[@HarleyN93]

Can you please go back through all your headphones and review them to the current standard or at least update so there is more consistency from older to newer testing methodology

[@RTINGScomAudio]

We're in the process of doing so for all relevant products! It takes quite some time to go through and retest them to bring them to the newest testbench 1.8, but that is currently our focus!

[@superboy305]

Well Hello

[@SnowFootprints96]

There are so many more headphones than just these ones. You can get so much bang for your buck than these picks.

[@snowchiild]

hey, do you think you could help me find the best for 200 maybe 150-100?

[@SnowFootprints96]

@@snowchiild wireless or wired

[@snowchiild]

@@SnowFootprints96 wireless

[@elcomentador2853]

Get the last skullcandy headphones when they get a discount ​@@snowchiild

[@ravantgarde1899]

@@snowchiildwired = better sound quality and bang for buck, but if you want wireless I’d either go for Apple AirPods Pro 2 or Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

[@user-jn9td3iw4t]

So unprofessionell! What was that for a review. Completely different category of headphones.has nothing to do with each-other

[@MichaelGGarry]

Its called a round up!