I tested the best Sony headphones and earbuds for ANC, sound, and...

No matter your price point, Sony has headphones and earbuds for you — and I tried them all.

on November 19, 2025

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Sony XM5 earbuds on record player, sony xm5 headphones on red mat

Credit: Mashable / Alex Bracetti / Molly Flores

Sony is the current king of headphones and earbuds. Look no further than the new flagship WH-1000XM6 headphones and classic WF-1000XM5 earbuds. These are two category leaders and global top sellers praised for their marvelous active noise cancellation, sound quality, and special features. However, the legacy audio brand also sells terrific entry-level and mid-range products that deliver near-flagship performance at accessible price points. So, if you need help picking out the best Sony headphones, I've done all the testing required to recommend the perfect pair for you.

Overview

My pro tip: Take advantage of Black Friday deals on Sony headphones

Whether you’re looking for an AirPods alternative, budget cans under $50, or a wireless headphones with a wider sound range than the best Bose headphones, Sony has you covered on all fronts.

And with Black Friday just around the corner, you can get almost all of these headphones for even cheaper than usual. In the weeks leading up to the shopping event, the flagship XM6s received a small $20 discount, the mid-range WH-CH720 headphones are on sale for under $100, the CH-520 headphones are all the way back down to $38, and the noise-cancelling WF-C710N are just $79. We're also watching the XM4 and XM5 models very closely. In other words, the sale prices are starting off strong.

So which should you buy? I spent the past several months testing and re-testing all of Sony's most popular headphones and earbuds (and the better part of a decade reviewing headphones) to help you decide.

Now, let’s check out the best Sony headphones of 2025.

Our Pick

sony xm6 headphones on a bed

The Good & The Bad

Stellar soundstage with hi-res playback
Top-tier noise cancellation
A comfier and more portable-friendly design
Lengthy listening times
Endless features

More expensive than previous models
Improvements are more iterative than innovative

Our review:

Read our full review of the Sony WH-1000xM6 headphones.

Who it's for:

Audiophiles and Sony fans who’ve saved their chips to splurge on the latest flagship release. Yes, these are the most expensive Mark Series headphones to date, but their overall performance justifies their steep MSRP.

Why we picked this:

There are reasons why we have the WH-1000XM6 as the best sound-first headphones. They take full advantage of Sony’s proprietary technologies and elevate wireless audio to heights that no other rival has yet to match.

Underneath the hood lie the same 30mm drivers as the WH-1000XM5. Translation: excellent bass, balance, and definition. Everything sounds more surreal because of the enhanced midrange that gives vocals a prominent boost over boom-heavy tracks. The low end remains boomy and stable without muddying up the soundstage. Sony’s EQ with multiple presets is useful for customizing sound. DSEE remains a must for upscaling lo-fi tracks (those poorly ripped Limewire files sitting in Apple Music deserve better). The LDAC codec streams content at CD-like quality over Bluetooth on compatible Android devices. Hi-Res Audio and spatial audio are the true standouts, the former fine-tuned to emphasize depth and layering, while the latter creates a more immersive listening environment with precise headtracking.

Sony stuffed 12 mics inside the WH-1000XM6 to ramp up ANC performance versus the XM5s. The headphones remove as much external noise from the soundstage as the class-leading Bose QuietComfort Ultra. That speaks in loud volume. Very few high-pitched sounds creep through, but none are distracting. The new Adaptive NC Optimizer works like a charm and precisely adjusts ANC by examining the noise levels around you. Then there’s the 20-level ambient sound mode that demonstrates resilient noise and vocal capture for high ambient alertness. We had fun eavesdropping on conversations and hearing farther-distant sounds when resting in quiet settings.

The modifications between this version and its predecessor aren’t game-changing. Battery life hasn’t changed either, and call quality takes a minor dip. In the end, you’re paying for the WH-1000xM6’s superior sound and Bose-level noise cancellation, which are well worth the investment.

Details

sony xm5 headphones with case open

The Good & The Bad

Unbeatable sound quality
Outstanding ANC
Similar feature set as the flagship Mark headphones
Gorgeous ultramodern design
Longer battery life than the AirPods Pro 2

Spatial audio setup is aggravating

Our review:

Read our full review of the Sony XM5 wireless earbuds.

Who it's for:

Those who want premium wireless audio in a stunning true wireless design. Whether it’s daydreaming to your favorite tracks in the office or zoning out to instrumentals on a long international flight, Sony’s flagship buds are sonic bliss.

Why we picked this:

As we patiently wait for the Mark VI wireless earbuds, which are rumored to launch sometime next year, the WF-1000XM5 sit safely atop the true wireless throne. Two years in and they still maintain a heavy lead over industry favorites like the AirPods Pro 2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. (Though, the QuietComfort Ultra wins out as the most comfortable earbuds in our testing.)

Sony’s Dynamic Driver X unit expands frequencies for greater clarity and detail. The banging lows, sharp mids, and crisp highs blend well on contemporary recordings. Enabling both DSEE and LDAC enriches sound output and provides smoother streams over Bluetooth 5.3. The V2 and QN2e chipsets work in unison to produce phenomenal noise cancellation that intuitively adapts to environments and removes 90 percent of unwanted noises from the soundscape.

What’s most fascinating about these earbuds is that they share almost the exact feature set as their headphone counterpart. Notables include Quick Attention to lower volume to 10 percent and Speak-to-Chat for auto-pausing content when chatting with people.

These buds hold some of the longest playtimes of any noise-canceling earbuds. A full charge generates between 8 to 12 hours of listening time, depending on how you use the buds. The wireless charging case holds up to 36 hours and comes with effective quick charging (a 3-minute charge gives you 1 hour of use). Call quality, controls, and craftsmanship are also executed incredibly well.

Our only complaint is the frustrating 360 Reality Audio setup. This requires using your smartphone camera to perform a head-tracking test and scan your ears, and it often fails to register movements.

Details

Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Headphones on red sheet

The Good & The Bad

Surprisingly good ANC and audio
Connect App support with wide feature set
50+ hours of battery life
Dependable connectivity
Almost always on sale under $100
Multiple colorways available

Some signature Sony technologies are missing
Mediocre build and call quality

Our review

Read of full review of the Sony WH-CH720N headphones.

Who it's for:

Budget-conscious shoppers who want several Sony audio perks at a fraction of the cost. The WH-CH720N is an unbeatable deal that fits the bill. While their full retail price is closer to $200, you can almost always find these Sony headphones on sale for under $100. So, if you don't want to pay flagship prices but still value ANC, you just found your new headphones.

Why we picked this:

The WH-CH720 employs 30mm drivers and exclusive brand technologies to broaden sound performance. Expect a vibrant mix of impactful bass with striking mids and highs. Turning on DSEE raises fidelity on poor-quality recordings, which many luxury headphones can’t do. You can tweak the sound to your liking via the EQ, though the headphones sound great on their default setting.

ANC is fantastic. These cans handle low frequencies and rumbling noises with ease. Sony’s 20-level ambient sound mode lets us engage in conversations loud and clear without taking off the headphones. It also made passing objects (e.g., cars, runners) more transparent when walking outside.

Other strong points include reliable multipoint, user-friendly controls, and up to 50 hours of battery life with powerful quick charging (a 3-minute charge gives you 1 hour of playtime).

Some of Sony’s key features are absent, like LDAC and Quick Attention. The lackluster design and voice calling can be off-putting as well. Luckily, the noise cancellation and sound make up for these mishaps.

Details

sony WF-C710N earbuds on gray fabric

The Good & The Bad

Robust ANC and sound quality
Stacked with features
Trustworthy touch controls
Competitively priced

Can feel uncomfortable after 2 hours of wear
Lacks hi-res playback

Our review

Read our full review of the Sony CF-710N earbuds.

Who it's for:

Wireless earbuds users who want Sony sound at an affordable price. The WF-C710N are brilliant mid-range buds that can go toe-to-toe with many of the market’s best wireless earbuds.

Why we picked this:

As stated in our review, “Sony’s adaptive sound technologies create a full depth of sound that blends well with noise cancellation for pleasant listens.” The 5mm drivers deliver punchy, well-balanced sonics. ANC removes up to 85 percent of ambient noise. The 20-level transparency mode comes in clutch for keeping tabs on your surroundings.

Usability is the WF-C710N’s most underrated attribute. Sony developed these buds to be as user-friendly as possible, implementing highly responsive touch controls and voice assistance, along with strong connectivity via dual-device pairing and one-tap Google Fast Pair (Android users only). The Sony Connect App is available to extend functionality.

It would have been awesome if Sony added LDAC for hi-res playback on compatible devices. Wearing the buds for a few hours can also be uncomfortable. Other than that, the WF-C710N comes correct.

Details

Sony WH-CH520 headphones on blanket

The Good & The Bad

Outstanding battery life
Neutral sound that can be upscaled via DSEE
Strong microphone performance that enhances voice assistance
Reliable call quality
Compatible with the Sony Connect app
Decent spatial audio

No ANC or hi-res audio codecs
Missing an AUX port and multiple premium Sony features
On-ear design lets in ambient noise
Flimsy construction

Our review

Read our full review of the Sony WH-CH520 on-ear headphones.

Who it's for

Budget shoppers looking for an incredible deal. These aren't just the best Sony headphones under $50. They're the best headphones under $50, period. If you're searching for a pair of everyday cans with a long battery life, don't overthink it.

Why we picked this

It's hard to overstate just how good of a deal you're getting with the Sony WH-CH520. They offer some (but not all) of Sony's signature audio technology, and they pack a better battery life than many luxury headphones that cost four times as much. Yes, you'll have to live without Sony's best-in-class active noise cancellation, but in this price range, you already knew that.

In our testing, they're easy to set up and connect painlessly with iOS and Android devices. While they have the somewhat flimsy all-plastic construction that Sony headphones, unfortunately, are known for, you won't be out $450 if you accidentally sit on them or break them. Use them when you're out and about or traveling and don't want to risk your fancy flagship cans. Likewise, for people who value transparency over ANC, they deliver good sound (and good-enough call quality) to act as your daily headphones from now on.

Details

Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones on blue sheet

The Good & The Bad

ANC and sound that nearly match their successor
Slightly improved battery life
Impressive call quality
Features galore

Plastic construction looks very cheap
They don’t fold up

Our review:

Read our full review of the Sony WH-1000xM5 headphones.

Who it's for:

Brand enthusiasts who can’t afford the pricier WH-1000XM6, but still want the extravagant Sony listening experience — you won't be disappointed. Very few things separate these two models, besides the big price difference. What we know for sure is that the WH-1000XM5s retain many series hallmarks, including ANC, battery life, sound, and special features. If you wait for them to go on sale, they're unmatched in overall value.

Why we picked this:

We don’t blame anyone for shrugging off the newer and more expensive Mark VI headphones, especially when the Mark V headphones are just as amazing and sell for much less at select online retailers (the black version is $296 on Walmart).

The WH-1000XM5s have articulate and engaging sound. Bass and treble can be adjusted in the EQ. DSEE is essential for music collectors who want more clarity and depth from their Napster-ripped MP3 files. 360 Reality Audio and LDAC make content immersive and more detailed at faster bitrates, respectively. ANC gets rid of most ambient noise around you. There is only a 2-hour difference in playtime between this and the latest version. Still, you’re guaranteed usage throughout the work week before recharging.

Sony’s all-plastic design is a severe downgrade from the sleek and stylish WH-1000xM4. The fact that they don’t fold up is concerning as well. Most people can live with these shortcomings if it means enjoying top-tier Sony sound.