Not every brand’s digital audio processing features actually improve the sound, but Sony’s Bass Boost and Speech Mode presets dramatically improved my listening experience while listening to highly-produced pop music or calling friends. These earbuds have a better selection of features than even their more expensive competitors, and provide maximum customization for your listening experience-whether you’re playing music or participating in hands-free phone calls. With their compact, stemless design, these wireless earbuds are also extra comfortable. The Sony WF-1000XM4 provides the most immersive listening experience of any earbuds I tested, thanks to a blend of outstanding noise cancellation, digital audio upscaling and customizable listening options. It’s also in Dolby Atmos, which lets compatible earbuds take full advantage of spatial audio with head tracking to make it sound like the audio surrounds you.īattery life: Up to 8 hours | Wireless charging case: Yes | Waterproof rating: IPX4 | Drivers: 6mm I chose Katy Perry because the highly produced music is filled rich harmonies and vocals panning between the left and right audio channels. I sampled the same pop music (Katy Perry’s Roar, for example) as I was surrounded by noise from traffic, crowds, a portable generator and street performers. To test noise cancellation, I listened to music while standing in the heart of bustling Times Square in New York City. With a stockpile of the best selling and most popular wireless earbuds to review, I put each of them through a series of real-world listening tests. I have seen firsthand how quickly and dramatically the technology built into wireless earbuds has evolved. I’m not new to testing audio gear: I’ve been covering consumer technology for 25 years for publications like AARP. For more than a month, I rigorously tested more than 20 pairs of popular and best selling wireless earbuds, from a variety of manufacturers and in a wide range of settings and situations.

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