The best-sounding earbuds for 2020

David Carnoy / CNET

The second-generation Momentum True Wireless 2 isn’t cheap at $ 300, but better than the originals in every way. It has a slightly smaller, more comfortable design, active noise canceling that rivals that of the AirPod Pro, and improved battery life (up to seven hours compared to the four hours of the original and better noise cancellation on calls. And if you don’t use it in black will be followed by a white version later this year, but most importantly, the Momentum True Wireless 2 has the same excellent sound – at least for real wireless earbuds – and offers the AirPods Pro a significantly superior sound quality the best real wireless earbuds on the market today and earn them a CNET Editors’ Choice Award.

These use Bluetooth 5.1 with support for the AAC and aptX codecs (for devices with aptX, such as Samsung Galaxy smartphones).

Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – splash-proof).

Read our review of Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2.

Sarah Tew / CNET

Sony wasn’t a big player in the Apple AirPods style wireless headphones, but the new WF-1000XM3 in-ear headphones can change that. While this wireless noise canceling headphones aren’t cheap, at $ 228, they’re one of the best-sounding wireless earbuds at this price, outperforming the sound quality and performance of Sennheiser, Beats, Master & Dynamic’s more expensive competitors, and even Bang & Olufsen . The real WF-1000XM3 wireless earphones also have a feature that these models do not offer: active noise cancellation to reduce ambient noise.

The only disadvantage is that they are not classified as sweat or water resistant. Even so, I used a couple without any problems for light workouts in the gym. In addition, they are not as powerful on the phone as the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 and the Apple AirPods Pro.

Sony’s active WF-1000XM3 noise canceling headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC, but not for aptX.

Waterproof:: No (lacks IPX certification).

Read our Sony WF-1000XM3 review.

Sarah Tew / CNET

The Libratone Track Air Plus has been available in Europe for several months, but has only recently been sold in the U.S. (it costs $ 200, but is currently sold on Amazon for $ 190 with a $ 10 discount coupon). It doesn’t sound as open to the ear as the AirPods Pro, but the audio quality is a bit clearer and they have well-defined basses (you can choose between neutral, bass boost and treble settings in the companion app). The noise cancellation is also decent – maybe not quite at the level of AirPods Pro noise cancellation, but close to each other. I liked the fit of this one – the in-ear bud stayed well in my ear (I could walk with them) and the case is only a little bigger than that of the AirPods Pro.

The Track Air Plus works well as a headset for making calls, and a firmware upgrade has improved the headset’s performance. Still, the noise reduction isn’t quite as good as the AirPods Pro. People said they could hear me clearly and loudly, but the wireless headphones didn’t dampen background noise as well as the AirPods Pro.

These use Bluetooth 5.0 and support AAC and aptX.

Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – sweat-proof and splash-proof).

Angela Lang / CNET

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus looks essentially the same as the original Galaxy Buds, but has a battery life of 11 hours for music playback (from six hours of battery life) and two drivers for better sound and an additional microphone bud to support external noise reduction To phone.

I was impressed with the sound of this pair of earphones. It’s detailed and smooth, with deep, well-defined bass. The sound is richer and more spacious than that of the original Galaxy Buds. The well-known Austrian audio company AKG, which Samsung acquired when it bought Harman, is behind the audio. While the original buds were also “tuned” by AKG, they are a nice upgrade over the originals – and exactly what you get with the Jabra Elite 75t, if not a little bit better. They use Bluetooth 5.0 and support AAC (there is now an app for iOS users) and Samsung’s scalable codec, which is similar to aptX, but is proprietary to Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – splash-proof).

Read our Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus review.

Sarah Tew / CNET

Anker is more known for its inexpensive headphones, but tries to step into more premium territory with its Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro earphones, which have a list price of $ 150. In design, they have some similarities to the Sony WF-1000XM3, although the buds of the Liberty 2 Pro have no active noise cancellation. According to Anker, this pair of wireless earphones features large 11 mm drivers in combination with Knowles Balanced Armature with a battery life of up to 8 hours on one charge (a total of 32 hours of battery life with the case) and noise-canceling microphones to reduce the ambient sound so callers can hear you better. They are charged via USB-C and also support wireless charging.

I’m not sure if these headphones sound as good as the Sony WF-1000XM3, but they definitely sound like premium real wireless earphones with a rich sound that includes powerful bass performance and lots of details. Some people may have some fit issues – I had to provide my own XL tips to get a tight seal in my ear and found the Liberty Air 2 model a bit more comfortable – but the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro earphones are good Value.

You are using Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC and aptX.

Waterproof:: Yes (IPX4, splash-proof).

Sarah Tew / CNET

Yes, the Powerbeats Pro’s jumbo charging case with integrated battery is a notable disadvantage. Integrating all of the features that make Apple AirPods great while delivering a richer sound and better battery life in a design that will ultimately catch your eye is a win. Buy these Bluetooth headphones only in a place with a good return policy if you are in the small minority who find them uncomfortable to wear.

You are using Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC, but not aptX.

Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – splash-proof).

Read our Beats Powerbeats Pro test.

Sarah Tew / CNET

At first glance, the Elite 75t earphones, which should have originally cost $ 200 but are now sold for $ 180 (£ 170, AU $ 299), appear to be a small upgrade to the highly rated Elite 65t. But the updates are a little more extensive than I first thought. The smaller size (the buds and casing are 20% smaller than the Eilite 65t), the extended battery life and USB-C charging are significant improvements. And then there are minor changes, such as the new design of the charging case with magnets inside that make opening and closing the charging case easier and preventing the buds from falling out. The Elite 75t earphones are not quite as comfortable to wear as the AirPods Pro and have no active noise cancellation. However, their sound is better, with a clearer overall sound and bass definition.

While the Elite 75t model uses the same drivers as the Elite 65t, the sound of the Elite 75t is a small step up. Thanks to the smaller design, these should fit more ears and allow more people to have a tight seal – crucial for maximizing sound quality. These use Bluetooth 5.0 and support AAC, but not aptX.

Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IP55 – withstands strong water jets).

Read our Jabra Elite 75t review.

Sarah Tew / CNET

The Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus is the second generation of the company’s MW07. The update offers a significantly longer battery life (10 hours of battery life versus 3.5 hours of battery life), Bluetooth 5.0 and active noise cancellation with two microphones on each earphone. The buds may not fit every ear equally well, but they definitely look good, have a very good sound, and a great listening experience when you get a tight seal. Rather, they provide an audiophile sound profile with a soft, balanced sound and clearly defined bass.

These real wireless earbuds are available in four color options for $ 300 and include a chic chrome charging case that comes with a secondary bag for safe storage (yes, the charging case can be scratched if you leave it in a pocket). The charging case with integrated battery offers three additional charging processes (it is charged via USB-C). These support aptX (but not AAC) and, according to Master & Dynamic, have an extended range of more than 20 meters.

Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX5 – withstands continuous spraying).

Sarah Tew / CNET

The Jaybird Vista earphones are an excellent sports model that fits securely in your ear. They may be a little more comfortable than the JBL Reflect Flow, but the flow, which is available for retail at $ 150, may sound better. They are very similar to the JBL UA True Wireless Flash, but have a more compact body and cost around $ 20 less.

Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX7 – completely waterproof).

Sarah Tew / CNET

I’m not sure how stylish the 1More Stylish True Wireless earbuds are (yes, that’s what they’re called), but they sound good. With a list price of $ 100, they’re the cheapest models on this list. 1More made a name for himself with his triple-eared wired earphones, which sound great and are good value for money when wired headphones were one thing. The same clear, balanced sound as the Triple Drivers can be found in 1More’s first real wireless earphones. They don’t sound as good as the Triple Drivers, but they sound very good for real wireless.

These have more of an audiophile sound profile with a “more accurate” sound, so bass lovers may be a little disappointed, but I liked them. Of course, it helped that I could get a tight seal with one of the included earplugs. However, the stabilizer fin didn’t do anything for me – I just put the tip in my ear to get a secure fit.

The battery life is up to 6.5 hours (expect a battery life closer to 5 hours if you listen to your music at a higher volume). Additional battery runtimes of around 17 hours are available in the charging case. With a quick charge of just 15 minutes, you get 3 hours of battery life to listen to your favorite programs and music. These use Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC and aptX.

Waterproof:: No (lacks IPX certification).

Read our 1More Stylish True Wireless review.