Best Headphones for Music

A late train and a favorite album call for a pair that can do two jobs at once. The Sony WH-1000XM5 is the one we like when the question is music first, but you also want top-tier sound quality and top-tier noise cancellation in the same headphones. Next to the Apple AirPods Max 2, it is less about adaptive audio features tailored for Apple devices and more about the core ask of music plus quiet. Next to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, it puts top-tier noise cancellation ahead of Signature Sound. It misses when you are not looking for wireless noise canceling headphones with top tier noise cancellation.

Some listening setups revolve around one brand of device, and that is where the Apple AirPods Max 2 earns its place. We like it for music when you want over-ear wireless headphones tailored for Apple devices, with adaptive audio features shaping how you listen. Compared with the Sony WH-1000XM5, it gives up the music-first, top-tier-noise-canceling pitch for a tighter fit with Apple devices. Compared with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, it leans less on Signature Sound and more on those adaptive audio features. It becomes a poor match when you do not primarily use Apple devices.

Sometimes the deciding factor is the sound character you came in hoping for. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is the music-focused alternative for people who want Sennheiser's Signature Sound, with tuning aimed at various music styles. Against the Sony WH-1000XM5, it is less about top-tier noise cancellation and more about that Signature Sound approach. Against the Apple AirPods Max 2, it skips the Apple-device angle and adaptive audio features. It can be a frustrating fit when you want controls independent of an app.