The Best Headphones and Wireless Earbuds of 2023

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the total package. In a vast field of noise-canceling headphones, Sony's flagships combine expansive sound, powerful noise-cancellation and a comfortable lightweight design. Sure, they're a touch pricey, but you pay for quality.

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If you're a runner and have an iPhone, the Beats Fit Pro are top-tier wireless earbuds. They pack one of Apple's special chips and thus work very similarly to the AirPods Pro in terms of ease of pairing and listening; they even have active noise-cancellation. And their silicone earwing tips grip your ears, so they stay secure while you're moving.

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Don't be dismissive of Amazon's modestly priced Echo Buds — they're quite good. They're the first Echo Buds that look and fit like Apple's entry-level AirPods. They sound better than you might think. And they come with built-in Alexa (which you can turn off if you like).

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If you're shopping for "flagship quality" noise-canceling headphones, you're going to drop at least $330. Anker's Soundcore Space One headphones come in well below that, but compromise very little. They're super-comfy, have decent noise-canceling and transparency modes, and support LDAC high-resolution audio files.

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Nothing's Ear (Stick) are wireless earbuds that have a lot going for them. They're less than $100 and fit similar to the AirPods Pro, but they're standouts because, well, just look at them. In addition to having a transparent design, they have a lipstick-shaped charging case that twists open and close — it's super-fun.

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If you have an iPhone, it's honestly tough to not recommend the AirPods Pro. They have top-notch noise-cancellation and sound quality. They have the best transparency mode of any wireless earbuds. They're packed with features galore. And, of course, they work incredibly well with all your Apple devices.

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In this wireless age, you can get a lot more bang for your buck when shopping for wired headphones. The Grado SR80x are open-back headphones that cost just $125 — less than most AirPods. They're comfortable and stylish, and they deliver a clean sound with a wide soundstage that most closed-back headphones can't match.

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For any serious hi-fi enthusiast, Focal's 2022-released Utopias are the crème de la crème of open-back headphones. Their drivers are modeled after the French hi-fi company's Grande Utopia loudspeakers — which cost $140,000 — and they deliver a warm, neutral and incredible sound.

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If you're for a true audiophile and you're willing to break out the checkbook, the Audeze LCD-5 are the top of the line when it comes to planar magnetic headphones. They deliver an extremely high-fidelity sound over the entire frequency range with very little distortion. Plus, they're as comfortable as they are gorgeous.

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