Category
Audio & Headphones
3 reviews in this category. All long-term tested.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 review: still the comfort benchmark, finally with the codecs
Bose's flagship over-ears get aptX Lossless, longer battery life, and a smarter ANC. The trade-offs are quieter than they used to be — but they're still there.
After four months of daily use, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 are the most comfortable noise-cancelling headphones we've tested at this tier, with ANC that finally pulls level with Sony's WH-1000 line. Codec support is fixed. Sound profile is warmer than neutral. Earns an Editor's Pick at 8.6 with a small caveat for treble-sensitive listeners.
Sony WF-1000XM6 review: small, smart, and finally fitting properly
After two generations of fit complaints, Sony has fixed the WF line. The XM6 are the most usable flagship earbuds Sony has shipped.
Across six weeks of daily use, the Sony WF-1000XM6 deliver class-leading transparency, ANC within a few dB of category leaders, and a fit that finally addresses the bulky-shell problem. Battery life under ANC is honest, codec support is best-in-class for Android. Touch controls are a regression.
Sonos Arc Ultra review: better Atmos, same software trade-offs
The Arc Ultra is a meaningful step up acoustically — particularly in the lower midrange — but Sonos's app remains the price of admission, and the price has gone up.
After three months of daily use, the Sonos Arc Ultra is the best soundbar we've tested under $1,200, with materially better dialogue clarity and bass extension than the original Arc. The Sonos app's 2024 redesign continues to cause us setup grief. Earns 8.0 with the explicit caveat that the software experience is below the bar of competitors.