Best headphones for the holidays
Sony WH-1000XM3
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
The good: The excellent-sounding Sony headphones are more comfortable and 20 percent lighter than their predecessor. They offer slightly improved noise canceling and perform better as a headset for making calls. Battery life is strong, and they have some nifty extra features for frequent travelers.
The bad: Your ears can get a little warm inside the ear cups; had some adaptive noise-canceling hiccups. The cost: $350 The bottom line: They’re the noisecanceling headphones to beat.
Jabra Elite Active 65t
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5
The good: These are fully sweat-resistant, truly wireless earphones that fit comfortably and securely. They sound excellent, perform reliably and are great for making calls, with two microphones in each earpiece.
The bad: The relatively tight, noiseisolating fit isn’t for everyone. The motion sensor doesn’t have much use at this point. The cost: $160
The bottom line: These wireless earphones are the best alternative to Apple’s AirPods, but the step-down nonElite model will save you a bit of cash.
Tribit XFree Tune
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5
The good: These Bluetooth headphones sound terrific for the money, are comfortable to wear and seem relatively well built. The headphones fold up to fit into an optional carrying case, and battery life is rated at a healthy 24 hours at moderate volume.
The bad: The carrying case boosts the price by $5. The Tribit logo could be less prominent. Amazon’s product page touts noise-canceling technology, but it’s only for voice calls, not true active noise-canceling. The cost: $51
The bottom line: You won’t find better full-sized wireless headphones in this price range.
AfterShokz Trekz Air
Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
The good: These are slimmed-down bone-conduction headphones that offer improved sound and are very comfortable to wear, leaving your ears open to hear the outside world. They work well as a headset for making cell phone calls and come with a nice carrying pouch.
The bad: While the sound quality is improved, they’re still not as good as what you’d get from a comparably priced “traditional” headphones. The cost: $110 to $118
The bottom line: The AfterShokz are very likable sports headphones, particularly for people who want a secure fit that doesn’t cover or prod their ears.