2025 Best Sound Quality Headphones 👑 (TOP 5)
Today I’m going to nominate the top 5 best sounding headphones of this year. It’s important to note that this video is only about sound quality, and not about other factors like mic pickup noise canceling, features and so on.
JBL Tour One M3
First we have the JBL Tour One M3. At first, I didn’t like it so much. I thought it sounded too crisp and laid back, and too close to the Harman target curve which made it sound flatter than I’m used to. But it turns out that they sound awesome in a way that’s more laidback, relaxed and non-fatiguing.
They don’t have a lot of bass by default so I had to boost its bass to get back some of that kick and gravity, but then I also proceeded to create a custom EQ for it using its PersoniFi feature, then finishing it with its fantastic parametric EQ. This resulted in clean, visceral bass, full and engaging mids that’s non-fatiguing, pinpoint clarity in the mids and highs, as well as a wide and airy soundstage.
I also like that you can toggle between different EQ presets with an external screen so you don’t have to use your phone. It’s not a feature that you often see among headphones, and only a few earbuds have this feature.
Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S3
The Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S3 is one of the best sounding headphones. It’s a little more bass boosted than the Harman preference curve and more sculpted in the upper mids and highs to give a crisper vocal signature. But what I really like about them is how clarifying they sound.
I’m referring to its phenomenal detail retrieval so things like texture in vocals and strings can be heard more easily against a super dark background, and there’s more instrumental crispness and air. Bass is tightly controlled so it doesn’t get boomy and this improves the clarity and separation of the mids. Indeed, the Px7 S3 is one of the most enjoyable, even addictive, headphones I’ve heard.
Sony WH-1000XM6
Next we have the Sony WH-1000XM6. They may not sound the best out of the box, in fact they can sound a little dull to folks who are more used to a crisp and vibrant sound signature. That’s because of their default warm, bassy and bloaty sound.
But I like them because they are very responsive to tuning, and under the tender loving care of my hands and ears, I’ve managed to make their sound one of the most enjoyable experiences using my Singapore Spring custom EQ.
Now they have rich and full bass with lots of texture, spacious soundstage with air and depth, and it sounds engaging and detailed in the mids. So out of the box they don’t sound that great, but after tweaking it in the Sony Sound Connect app, the XM6 is one of the best sounding headphones.
Noble FoKus Apollo
Noble FoKus Apollo sounds awesome. Obviously, because it’s in this video. It’s got smooth, sweet vocals, lots of detail and texture, and accurate soundstaging over Bluetooth. They also have a heavier emphasis on mids and highs so vocals and instruments do sound more forward. If you prioritize clarity and detail retrieval in the mids and highs these will sound awesome.
If you’re a bass head, you wouldn’t really like them because their bass lacks extension, and can’t really be EQed to sound better, only louder. The only way you can really make it sound better is to listen over USB-C which will bring out the actual Noble reference sound.
There’s 3D-layering, there’s the rich, thumpy bass that wasn’t there on Bluetooth. Vocals sound smoother and richer, all coming to life from a super low noise floor. That is the audiophile quality sound that I expect from Noble. Too bad you can only get it over USB-C.
Melomania P100
And finally, the Melomania P100 from Cambridge Audio, which are, in my opinion, the best sounding headphones. They have excellent detail retrieval and buttery smooth sound. Upper mids are a bit recessed but I prefer that compared to shouts, overly bright vocals.
It’s not bass heavy but it doesn’t need to be because it’s still punchy and rich in texture which makes it sound very enjoyable. But what’s most enjoyable about them is the layering. There’s a sort-of 3D depth effect to its sound which makes soundstaging more realistic and engaging.
And that has a lot to do with its super low distortion and high dynamic range. The Noble FoKus Apollo could achieve something similar, but only over USB-C, while the P100 nails that over Bluetooth. This is why the P100 is the best sounding headphones. And add to that the recent software improvements which all but eliminated the UX issues I talked about in my initial review.
Check Latest Prices:
JBL Tour One M3 - https://amzn.to/44tcmHd
Sony WH-1000XM6 - https://amzn.to/4n6OcuL
B&W Px7 S3 - https://amzn.to/4mn593q
(UK) Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones - https://amzn.to/3UecNzS
Sennheiser Momentum 4 - https://amzn.to/3TAxQOb
Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 - https://amzn.to/4f8HmAL
AirPods Max - https://amzn.to/4lMXZoB
Noble FoKus Apollo - https://amzn.to/4fNjBiC
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