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Mark Levinson No. 5909: These are premium audio brand Mark Levinson’s first headphones, and yes, they’re really expensive at $999. They’re also really good. They have a sturdy design without feeling hefty on your head (read: they’re substantial but not too heavy), and they’re comfortable to wear over long periods, thanks to their nicely padded and replaceable leather-covered earcups and headbands. Read our Mark Levinson No. 5909 hands-on.
Soundcore by Anker Space One: The Space One is a good value for around $100, offering a strong feature set along with good sound quality and performance. They can’t quite compete sound-wise with many of the premium noise-canceling models, but you don’t feel like you’re giving up that much on the sound front to save a good deal of money. They lack a bit of that natural, refined quality you look for in a great set of cans, but the Space One sounds respectable, with decent clarity and bass definition and measures up well to the more expensive Soundcore Space 45.
Technics EAH-A800: There’s a bit of an old-school vibe to the Technics EAH-A800, and it’s not just the Technics brand, which Panasonic resurrected in the last few years. Their design is something of a throwback, but these headphones are comfortable and both fold up and fold flat. They feature a big, energetic sound with powerful bass and good detail, although they take a day or two to break in.
Status Between 3ANC: Status earbuds aren’t exactly the sleekest or most attractive earbuds you can buy, but if you don’t mind their utilitarian look and giant stems, you’re getting an excellent-sounding set of earbuds. The Between 3ANC, the company’s first noise-canceling earbuds, also do a good job muffling ambient sound, but they aren’t up to the level of the Bose QuietComfort 2 earbuds for noise-canceling prowess. They did perform very well in my voice-calling test, reducing much of the background noise around me in the streets of New York while picking up my voice clearly, or so callers told me.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have one of the most unusual designs of any earbuds I’ve tested over the last several years. They literally clip onto the side of your ears, kind of like earrings, and their open design has micro speakers that fire sound into your ears while still being able to hear what’s happening around you. At $299, they’re somewhat overpriced, but otherwise, there’s a lot to like about them, including a surprisingly comfortable, secure fit and very good sound quality for open buds. Learn more about the Ultra Open Earbuds here.
