Audio Video News

Headphones and Earbuds

JVC HA-A25T "Marshmallow" Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds: $70

If you’re looking for a cheap set of wireless earbuds that actually sound good and include decent noise cancellation, you need to check out JVC’s latest “Marshmallow” model. The HA-A25T earbuds are water-resistant and offer a surprising number of features, including intuitive touch controls, three EQ settings, an ambient-sound mode that lets you hear what’s going on around you, a low-latency mode that reduces the delay-time for gamers, and a battery that lasts up to 28 hours (with the charging case). A 10-minute “instant charge” mode gets you 1 hour of play time in a pinch and JVC provides a selection of three silicone and two memory-foam eartips to ensure a proper fit.

Reviewer Leslie Shapiro, a former recording engineer who knows a thing or two about good sound, ranked the JVC earbuds among the best of the budget models she’s tried, even though tip-top treble was lacking a bit: “Overall, [with the Normal EQ setting engaged,] the HA-A25Ts produce a warm, dark sound that is ideal on many tracks, though some users might prefer the Clear EQ setting.” She was also impressed to find that engaging noise cancellation didn’t alter the sound and that audio quality during Zoom calls was super clear even with people speaking softly in a reverberant room. The JVC HA-Z25T wireless earbuds are hard to beat for the price and a no brainer for our Top Value designation.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Budget price
ANC and Ambient modes
Memory Foam tips
Minus
No-frills packaging
Treble response lacks clarity
ANC could be stronger

Full Review Here (posted 7/19/23)

Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds: $299

A brilliant successor to 2021’s highly regarded WF-1000XM4 wireless noise-canceling earbuds, Sony’s new WF-1000XM5 are smaller, lighter, and more comfortable than their predecessor. They also give Apple’s terrific second-generation AirPods Pro a run for their money in more ways than one. For starters, you don’t need an iPhone (or other iOS device) to set them up or to experience an optimized spatial audio experience and you don’t lose any app functionality with an Android phone. The 1000XM5 earbuds are also super discreet (no protruding sticks) and manage to out-shine the AirPods Pro in terms of fit without sacrificing comfort — at least for reviewer/Apple devotee, Mark Henninger.

But how do they sound? And what about Noise cancellation? As Henninger put it, the 1000XM5’s sound “delicate, detailed, silky and smooth” with bass that is robust but not overboard. They also provide highly effective noise cancellation that adapts to your surroundings with an ambient mode that lets you mix in varying levels of outside sound without changing tonality. Sony also employs artificial intelligence to extract human voices from background noise on both ends of a call to ensure clear, unfettered communication and employs a bone-conduction sensor to discern when you’re speaking to enhance voice isolation. Then there’s the long battery life, which provides up to 8 hours of uninterrupted listening with noise cancellation on or 12 hours with it off, and the feature-packed Sony Headphones app, which, among other things, puts a useful equalizer at your fingertips. Bottom line: Sony has hit a homerun with earbuds that are state of the art in almost every way.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Refined sound quality
Exceptional comfort
Top-tier noise cancelling
Small and discrete
Long battery life
Minus
Cost more than AirPods Pro

Full Review Here (posted 7/24/23)

Focal Bathys Wireless Headphones: $799

Style over substance? Not a chance. The Bathys wireless headphones are both a work of industrial art and an engineering achievement — something we have come to expect from France’s Focal. Beyond the luxurious looks and impeccable build quality, is a highly capable set of over-ear ’phones built around homegrown 1.5-inch drivers that not only sound great but provide an excellent app with loudness compensation and EQ options, long battery life (about 30 hours), and active noise cancellation that gets the job done. And they come with a nice carrying case that includes an audio cable for those times when you just want to plug in.

Mark Henninger praised the Bathys for their balanced, dynamic sound, exceptional imaging, and wide soundstage. “Similar to high-quality speakers, the headphones create a sense of audio immersion that allows the music to take center stage. During my listening sessions, I found it remarkable how often the experience reached a level of refined audio fidelity that eludes many of its peers including Apple’s AirPods Max.” Put another way, these headphones are reminiscent of a great-sounding stereo system, while providing a tight but comfortable seal that makes them easy to wear for hours on end.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Exceptional sound quality
Impeccable build
USB DAC
Unique style
Minus
Noise canceling lags Sony and Bose
Non-folding design

Full Review Here (posted 3/1/23)

Mark Levinson No. 5909 Wireless Headphones: $999

Mark Levinson has been producing luxury audio gear for more than 50 years but never ventured into the realm of headphones — until now. At just under a grand, the No. 5090 headphones aren’t cheap but they do live up to their pedigree, having quickly established themselves as one of the best performing wireless sets on the market in terms of sound quality (they’re tuned to the Harman Curve), battery life (up to 34 hours), comfort (the earpads and headband are covered in padded-leather), streaming tech (Bluetooth v5.1 with aptX Adaptive and LDAC), and active noise cancellation (ANC) with three levels of adjustment, including one that automatically adapts to your surroundings. You can control the ’phones using the buttons on each earcup or via the app, which also lets you adjust bass contour, set timers, and cycle through custom parameters you’ve created.

Recording-engineer-turned-audio-reviewer Leslie Shapiro characterized the 5090’s sonic signature as truthful and accurate with controlled and detailed bass, a warm midrange, and a pleasant high end. “The Harman Curve is bright, with a slight emphasis on the high-end, but it never tips into harshness.” Listening to a music in variety of genres, Shapiro marveled at the detail and nuance of the acoustic guitar and vocals on “Just Say I’m Sorry,” the recent duet by P!nk and Chris Stapleton, and the immersive yet intimate soundstage on U2’s remake of “With or Without You.” If you’re looking for wireless headphones that deliver reference-quality sound, Mark Levinson’s No. 5090’s are worth a listen.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Reference-quality sound
Excellent connectivity options
Exceptional active noise cancellation
Minus
Annoying voice confirmation
On-Head detection setting is too short

Full Review Here (posted 4/26/23)

To browse all Sound & Vision-recommended AV gear, broken out by category, visit our Top Picks page.

Also see 2022 Top Picks of the Year.