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Last year’s best earbuds are still very relevant today! For example, I still highly recommend the Technics AZ100, and the AirPods Pro 3 is still the only earbuds in my rankings with S-Tier noise canceling. So if you have that, and noise canceling is your priority, congratulations, you don’t have to upgrade.
But we do have a few new additions to my best earbuds list, and I’ve selected them because all of them scored very high in my rankings, at least 24 points and above which means they have the best performance and features. In other words, buy these ones if you are looking for some great wireless earbuds. I’ve got another video coming that focuses on sound quality alone so that is your priority.
soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max
First we have the soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max. The Liberty 5 Pro Max is one of the best earbuds because it’s, by far, the best earbuds for phone calls. Even in extremely noisy conditions like in a subway train, even if I’m whispering, to the person on the line with me, my voice sounds like I’m speaking in a quiet room. So if you often take calls in different situations, this is the safe choice.
And it’s also unique for being one of the very few earbuds that support 3-way multipoint pairing, and that charging case with a big screen provides maximum convenience allowing you to change its settings even without using the soundcore app on your phone.
It also sounds great with deep and clean bass, crisp, textured mids and airy highs, basically that signature soundcore tuning. And it is a great all-round performer, which is why this is one of the best earbuds you can buy right now.
✅ Check latest price:
soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max - https://amzn.to/4nXqZfl
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5
Next we have the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5. Before the soundcore Liberty 5 Pro, the FreeBuds Pro 5 was the undisputed king of mic pickup. Seriously, the only ones just as good were the previous versions of the FreeBuds!
But this one is an even better all-rounder, because it has better noise canceling, transparency, and even its sound quality is more refined than previous versions. Clear, crisp highs, full mids with no sibilance, and tactile bass with clean extension.
I like it also for its light and comfortable fit, and I love the fact that both earbuds have both squeeze and swipe gestures, so even if you use just one earbud, you can access all the controls.
The one thing that could bother some people is that if you use just one earbud, it doesn’t support mono-audio. The earbud will still be in stereo mode so with just one earbud, you only get sound from one channel. For some reason the previous FreeBuds Pros support it, but not this one. However if using single earbuds is something you don’t do, the FreeBuds Pro 5 is one of the best earbuds you can buy.
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Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 - https://amzn.to/4me57vb
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5
Next is the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5. What really struck me about MTW5 is that it’s the only one I’ve tested which has user-replaceable batteries, both for the earbuds and the charging case. Sennheiser even includes a tool in the box and instructions on how to open and replace the batteries.
I know that this is actually because of new EU regulations, but people who do have concerns about battery failure will love this. They’re also great noise cancelers with a light, comfortable fit, and a nice set of custom options. But more importantly, these are one of the best sounding earbuds.
It leans a bit more laid back in the mids, but it has great track separation, wide soundstage, and well-extended high frequencies which adds airiness to the soundstage. I enjoy it very much, and for those of you with DAPs that have it, it does support aptX Lossless also. What’s not so great about them is their mic pickup in noisy conditions. Depending on how noisy it is, voice pickup can sound a bit choppy to the person on the line with you. But if you’re not too concerned about that, I highly recommend the MTW5s.
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Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 - https://link.amazon/B01Y3MBAl
Next we have the Sony WF-1000XM6. It’s not as popular as its predecessor, but the WF-1000XM6 is one of the best earbuds. And I see it as an alternative to the Sennheiser because its noise canceling and mic pickup is better, and it is just as feature-rich, if not more. Just to give you an example, with the right dongle, it supports GMAP, which is Bluetooth LE Audio’s gaming profile, so you get lower gaming latency, and you can use the mics at the same time without affecting sound quality.
(As of this moment you do need special dongles for it to work like the Floogoo FMA121) And I also like the fact that its 10-band graphic EQ is super easy to work with, because the DSP doesn’t fight back when you make adjustments which makes it easy to achieve the sound I want. And believe me, it’s only after EQ-ing can it be one of the best sounding earbuds. Settings are on my Instagram if you need it my personal EQ settings for the WF-1000XM6.
They do use foam tips so it does take some effort getting them to plug in properly; and they may be a bit larger than the last version, but after using them for a while, they’re not actually that bulky, and I can highly recommend it for its performance and features.
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Sony WF-1000XM6 - https://link.amazon/B0fuBGHWl
Melomania A100 SE
Next on the list is the Melomania A100 SE. In spite of the fact that A100 SE’s noise canceling and mic quality is average, it’s one of my favorites under $200 because of its sound quality. It sounds clean, very well separated, resolving, layered and smooth, just the kind of sound to chill with while working.
And with DynamEQ, even at low volumes it keeps the dynamic range intact so you don’t feel like you’re losing details in the soundscape. In fact it sounds good enough out of the box, that I consider it close to the B&W Pi8. It’s also got a light and comfortable fit and a pretty decent range of custom options.
The slight buzzing noise in one earbud that I complained about in my full review? That seems to have been resolved after I updated it to the launch firmware, which makes me like them just a little more. But like I said, pick these if you want one of the best sounding earbuds under $200.
✅ Check latest price:
Melomania A100 SE - https://link.amazon/B0f1dWU8i
So those are the new additions to my top earbuds list. If there are any that you feel are great choices also, let us know in the comments!
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