Bose QuietComfort 3
Previous QuietComfort models “set the standard for premium noise-canceling headphones.” These, the most compact yet, use a “cushy memory foam” that coddles your ears.
$350, bose.com
Source: CNET.com
AKG Q 460
Legendary producer Quincy Jones developed these stylish headphones, which fold neatly for travel. They “deliver loads of punchy bass” without ignoring a track’s “finer details.”
$169, akg.com
Source: Wall Street Journal
Monster Beats Detox Pro
It’s no surprise that the top model in Dr. Dre’s headphone line delivers an “overcooked” bottom. Fortunately, they also “give highs and mids their due.”
$500, bestbuy.com
Source: Wired.com
Sol Republic Tracks HD
Some headphones bring out music’s subtleties, but these are “as instantly satisfying as an oozing cheeseburger.” They offer “clear highs, “big, booming lows, and everything in between.”
$130, solrepublic.com
Source: Wall Street Journal
Beyerdynamic T 70 p
It’s a cliché to say great headphones let you rediscover music, “but these do just that.” Their “crisp” sound reveals as if by magic such details as the tiny inhales of a favorite vocalist.
$570, brookstone.com
Source: Wall Street Journal