FINALISTS

Apple Airpods Wireless Earbuds

(June/july) Another standout model in the wireless earbuds test, Apple’s Airpods earned praise for “pleasing sonics characterized by clear mids and fat, Beats-like bass,” though their one-size-fits-all design made them a potentially less comfortable option than some of the other contenders. $199 ($159 with standard charge case), apple.com

Bose Headphone 700 Bluetooth Noise-canceling Headphones

(October/november) A clear winner in our Bluetooth noisecanceling headphones group test, the Headphone 700 impressed with its comfortable fit, long battery life, and open sound quality. Equally important, “superior NC technology” allowed them to “nearly obliterate ambient racket.” $400, bose.com

Jabra Elite 85H Bluetooth Noise-canceling Headphones

(October/november) Another overachiever in our Bluetooth NC headphones test, the Elite 85H earned praise for long battery life—these headphones can play wirelessly with full noise-canceling for up to 36 hours, more than any other BT/NC headphones on the market. Its “baby skin-soft” headband and earpad cushions also garnered high marks for comfort. $300, jabra.com

Meze Audio 99 Classics headphones

(soundandvision.com) With 1.6-inch dynamic drivers housed in solid walnut earcups, the 66 Classics are a beautifully built wired headphones option, one that reviewer Bob Ankosko characterized as “elegant,” with a “well-balanced, easy sound that made me almost forget I was wearing headphones.” $309, mezeaudio.com