These buds are an upgrade on the Melomania 1 from Cambridge Audio. While the Melomania 1 Plus design may look similar to its predecessor, there’s a clear step up in terms of audio performance here, with levels of detail and clarity that could even rival some of the best over-ear headphones. AirPods Pro (2nd generation) t ech specs: Connectivity:Bluetooth| Battery life:6 hours | Frequency range:NA | Noise cancellation:Yes| Waterproof rating: IPX4 The Ultra actually replace the company's 2022 What Hi-Fi? Award winner – the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, so shop around and you might be able to find a big chunk of cash slashed off the older pair. It's an option worth considering.

Using the 'JLab Signature' EQ, they have a bass-rich sound profile that delivers a bump of extra punch and boom to mixes. The extra bass doesn't overwhelm vocals and lead instruments, so they're still versatile enough for most types of audio content. They also don't come with a companion app, meaning that the only EQ options you have are the three EQ presets built into the earbuds, which gives you significantly less control over the audio than the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless. However, they last longer than the JBL on a single charge. You want good battery life: These are distinctly average when it comes to the battery – most buds match or beat them, even with similar features. In the battle between Bose and Beats, it depends what you're looking for. In our opinion, Bose is the better option for sheer audio performance and noise cancelling tech. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 can't be beaten in terms of ANC. The sound they make is also accomplished – it's both swift and accurate, as well as balanced and detailed. There’s nothing artificial about the way the Technics EAH-AZ80 sound, they offer convincingly realistic and coherent listening in all circumstances. We found these buds operated well across all Bluetooth-enabled devices, but Galaxy smartphone owners get to enjoy cool features like Easy Pairing and compatibility with Samsung's Scalable Codec. It’s upsetting that Bixby (Samsung's voice assistant) doesn’t perform up to its potential, though the mediocre battery life with ANC on is a greater disappointment. Since our review, Galaxy smartphone and Buds 2 Pro owners now get 360-degree audio recording, too.

What are the best earbuds?

Noise cancellation: You definitely don't need noise-cancelling earbuds, but they are an added bonus to an already expensive pair of buds. The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are budget-friendly in-ears. They're similar in design to Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, but unlike the Beats Flex Wireless, they don't have Apple's H1 chip. You want audio fidelity: The sound quality is fine, but you'll get better quality for around the same price from the Cambridge Audio buds at #9 on this list– though you sacrifice the Earfun's other features to get it. However, Beats earbuds offer a great fit and excellent sound. Particularly the Beats Fit Pro, which we highly recommend if you're looking for a pair of earbuds for working out. They're also a little more affordable than Bose options and have a more stylish design. Which wireless earbuds are just as good as Apple AirPods?

The first thing we noticed when reviewing the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus earbuds is that they have exceptional battery life. You get a total of 45 hours with the charging case and nine hours from the earbuds on their own – and we found they delivered on those bold numbers. There's a new design to behold, and we think it's a big step forward. During testing , we found the XM5 to be comfortable and nice to use, while their noise-cancelling and call quality are up there with the competition. Looking for the clearest and most detailed sonic performance from a pair of wireless earbuds on the market right now? The WF-1000XM5 produce it – and by quite some distance. We'll also start with a full charge and see how accurate battery life claims are and just how it's drained during day-to-day use. It's also worth noting the number of hours you get can vary depending on what other features you have enabled. Don't forget that wireless earbuds come with charging cases so they're kept topped up between outings. Voices should be natural, instruments should stand out from each other, and there should be a good sound balance overall between bass, mid-range and treble.You really value audio quality and can spend a little more: The Cambridge Audio buds at #9 on this list sound far better for those with a musical ear, but don't cost too much more. During the testing phase, our reviewers wear each pair of headphones for several hours at a time throughout the course of a week. Reviewers will make a note of the battery life performance in real world use, and assess how well this matches the rated battery life provided by earbud makers. As well as the excellent sound on offer here, Sony’s buds offer great call quality, too, which makes them a solid choice for all kinds of scenarios, from commuting to work calls and everything in-between. Design-wise, we found that these earbuds are smaller and lighter than previous models from Sony, like the Sony WF-1000XM3, which means they’re comfy to wear for long periods – though the Sony WF-C700N are much smaller and lighter again.

You want huge battery life: The longevity here isn't as impressive as some options – it's fine, but it's just not above average. Their default sound profile is well-balanced and versatile enough for all kinds of audio content. Unlike Apple's wireless headphones, the Sony headphones' sound profile can be fine-tuned using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. While they aren't compatible with Apple Music's Spatial Audio, they have their own proprietary virtual soundstage called 360 Audio. However, a subscription to a compatible streaming service like Tidal will be required. Their battery lasts around eight hours with ANC on, but their carrying case only comes with one additional charge, which is disappointing compared to the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless' five. On the audio front, Apple has included a new H2 chip with custom amp and driver that delivers better lower and higher frequencies, and you can use the iPhone's TrueDepth camera to create a personalized spatial audiosound to listen to some of the best Dolby Atmossound in any pair of earbuds. Noise cancellation is double what the original AirPods Pro offered, and is among the best we’ve yet to experience.

Are AirPods worth it?

These earbuds, according to ZDNET reviewer Jada Jones, cancel out noise like a pair of over-ear headphones. That's a big deal for a small but mighty pair of buds. This improved noise-cancelling capability is due in part to the upgraded ear tips Sony included in its most recent iteration. They use polyurethane foam tips, which create a tighter seal in the ear, in comparison to traditional silicon. Our keen-eared reviewers listen to a huge variety of musical genres from a range of sources during testing, including Spotify, Tidal and locally stored audio files. We’ll also put earbuds through their paces across whichever Bluetooth codecs they support using a compatible device and feed them high-resolution content if they have Hi-res capabilities.