The best headphones for students: our top picks for back to school cans

Date:
Tue, 17 Aug 2021 10:54:06 +0000

Description:
We've picked out the best headphones for studying, based on price, comfort, sound, and more.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

If youre heading back to school in the near future, chances are that youll need a decent pair of headphones to get you through all those long study periods you have planned (or those late night gaming sessions).

At TechRadar, weve spent years testing the best headphones in every category, from noise-cancelling wonders to true wireless earbuds that are small enough to slip into your pocket.

When it comes to choosing the best headphones for studying, there are a few key features youll want to look out for, including great comfort, long
battery lives, and neat extras like noise cancellation and integrated voice assistants.And of course, you'll want to know that you're getting the best value for your money.

Are you going to be using your new headphones in a communal study area? You may want to check out the best noise-cancelling headphones . Love to work out before you hit the books? Then the best running headphones will give you the security and robustness you need.

If you're studying at home, you'll want to ensure your new headphones come with a decent microphone so that your teacher or lecturer can hear you easily over Skype or Zoom.

Whatever you need your cans for, its important to consider the price. After all, we know that student budgets are typically on the tighter end of the scale, which is why many opt for a student Chromebook and other affordable options for school supplies. So, weve included no-frills budget headphones alongside class-leading models like the Sony WH-1000XM4 .

If youve got cash to splash, then great those higher spec headphones are
well worth buying. But if youre on a strict budget, youll be pleased to know that you really dont have to break the bank to get yourself a capable pair of headphones or earbuds for school, thanks to all the incredible Back to School sales taking place at the moment. Back to School 2021 sales : deals on laptops, clothing, and more Our top picks (Image credit: Sony) 1. Sony WH-1000XM4

The best headphones you can buy in 2021 Improved noise-cancellation DSEE Extreme audio upscaling Multipoint pairing Not water-resistant

If you're looking for the very best headphones money can buy, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are it, delivering excellent noise-cancellation and surprising sound quality all in a lightweight, comfortable design.

While they don't look significantly different from their predecessors, the Sony WH-1000XM3 , a number of new features including multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor all help the WH-1000XM4 claim the title of best headphones in 2021.

They deliver exactly what they promise and then some thanks to their exceptional noise cancellation, which makes them ideal for studying in noisy communal areas.

Music lovers will appreciate support for Sony's 360 Reality Audio and the headphones' clever audio upscaling feature.

These cans are undoubtably expensive, though. If you like the look of these cans, the Sony WH-1000XM3s are still well worth considering and they're usually discounted quite heavily now that they've been usurped by a newer model.

Read more: Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones review (Image credit: Plantronics) 2. Plantronics BackBeat Go 810

Affordable noise-cancelling headphones Excellent build quality Warm, balanced sound Reliable wireless connection Hiss when music isn't playing

On a stricter budget? The Plantronics Backbeat Go 810 are a solidly
dependable pair of noise-cancelling headphones.

For years, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 were among our favorite wireless headphones because of their excellent sound, build quality and features.Unfortunately, they were also kind of expensive.

For a lot less, Plantronics now sells the brilliant BackBeat Go 810, which
use less premium materials but sound nearly identical to its more expensive predecessor and sport an equally chic design.

With that in mind, the BackBeat Go 810 are the best headphones if you want wireless connectivity and noise cancellation to block out your classmates without the high price tag.

Read more: Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 review (Image credit: Lypertek) 3. Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0

The best affordable true wireless headphones out there Excellent sound Great price Top-notch battery life Ambient mode is poor

When we first reviewed the original Lypertek PurePlay Z3 true wireless
earbuds (then known as the Lypertek Tevi), we were blown away. The Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 true wireless earbuds are their successors. Theyre very similar to the originals, with a few key improvements, and yet still come in at the same affordable price point the originals did $99 / 99.

This gets you everything we loved about the original PurePlay Z3 (detailed balanced sound, a whopping 80 hours total battery life from its petite USB-C charging case, and a comfortably fitting bud with physical buttons), and adds wireless charging, a powerful new LDX Audio mode, improved app functionality and a hear through ambient mode.

Our own issue is that app connectivity is patchy at best, and the ambient
hear through mode is pretty much useless in comparison to the competition
from the likes of Sonys noise cancelling WF-1000XM4 .

Yet, with the price still so low, and nothing to detract from the quality standard the originals set out, with a few notable improvements, they remain must-have earbuds, more than a match for headphones two or three times the price.

Read more: Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 review Looking for some really cheap
true wireless earbuds? Check out our JLAB Go Air review these buds are just $29 / 29, which is an incredibly low price for the form factor. Be warned though: you get what you pay for when it comes to audio quality. (Image credit: 1More) 4. 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone

Great sound at amazing value Lush sound quality Excellent build and design Unmatched value Plastic remote feels cheap

The 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones provide an amazing level of audio quality for their price, and with a choice of silver or gold accents, they look really slick, too.

An inbuilt remote means you can subtly adjust your music playback without taking your phone out of your pocket (handy if you're sneakily listening to music during class), while triple-layered dynamic drivers mean your tunes should sound incredible.

These are a wired pair of headphones, so make sure your phone or MP3 player has a 3.5mm audio port otherwise you may need to buy an adapter. Hate wires? Check out the best wireless earbuds for cable-free options.

Read more: 1More Triple Driver In- Ear Headphone review (Image credit:
Apple) 5. Apple AirPods Pro

Comfy noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds Good noise cancellation Better fit than AirPods (2019) Pricey USB-C charging cable in box

If you're an Apple fan, we'd recommend opting for the AirPods Pro over the original AirPods , thanks to their improved fit, better sound, and noise cancelling capabilities.

Theyreadmittedly pretty pricey too, and as such cant be called the very besttrue wireless earbuds in terms of value for money but they may be the best true wireless earbuds for Apple fans, and they connect seamlessly with iOS devices, which is handy if you use a Macbook or iPad for studying.

These snug-fitting earbuds offer a great sound, and the additional
microphones provide strong noise-cancelling so you can work undisturbed, as well as a useful Transparency mode, which can be activated with a tap to let you hear your surroundings.

They also come with support for Dolby Atmos spatial audio, which is ideal for watching films.

Read more: Apple AirPods Pro review (Image credit: TechRadar) 6. JBL Tune 750BTNC

Quality noise-cancelling over-ears for a great price Good sound quality
Strong active noise cancelation No waterproofing Average battery life

The JBL Tune 750BTNC are another pair of budget noise-cancelling headphones that make a great cheaper alternative to the Sony WH-1000XM4.

With a punchy, lively soundstage, these cans look as good as they sound, with a slick build and comfortable padded earcups.

Sure, there's no waterproofing, and you may miss out on a few extra smart features, but for the price, the Tune 750BTNC provide strong noise cancellation that can help you concentrate while studying.

Read more: JBL Tune 750BTNC review (Image credit: SoundMagic) 7. SoundMAGIC E11BT

Deceptively good wireless sound for a good price Fantastic price Elegant design Comfortable Treble tones can sound harsh

The SoundMagic E11BTs are an extremely capable pair of wireless in-ear earphones, and given their low price, it really is difficult to fault them
the audio quality is fantastic and they look very elegant thanks to their compact housings.

They're comfortable to wear thanks to ergonomically designed eartips and a flat neckband that won't irritate the back of your neck.

Thanks to an IPX4 waterproof rating, these earbuds are suitable for both studying and working out, and should be able to withstand a sweaty run as
well as a spot of rain on the way to class.

Read the full review: SoundMAGIC E11BT (Image credit: Bose) 8. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Noise-cancellers for crystal clear calls Outstanding noise cancellation Fun, lively sound Elegant design Battery life could be better

They don't quite beat the Sony WH-1000XM4s in terms of battery life and
price, but the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are still a brilliant
pair of over-ear cans and the best Bose headphones we've reviewed.

These sleek and stylish headphones are capable of blocking out environmental sound so you can hear your music in peace, as well as applying noise cancellation to your phone calls, allowing the person you're speaking with to hear you in absolute clarity.

This is particularly useful if you take online classes an increasingly
common way of learning due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The sound quality is undeniably good, with a vibrant, lively character and well-balanced soundstage though bear in mind, these headphones aren't cheap.

Read more: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review (Image credit: Sennheiser) 9. Sennheiser CX Sport wireless earphones

No fuss budget wireless earbuds with fantastic audio Fantastic audio quality Sports-friendly design Mids could be richer

If the most important aspect of in-ear headphones for you is the audio quality, these budget wireless earbuds from Sennheiser could be a fantastic choice.

With a lively, bass-heavy presentation, and a comfortable fit, the Sennheiser CX Sport Bluetooth earbuds can really bolster your workout through sound quality alone.

With runners in mind, the CX Sports have an IPX4 splash-proof rating. This means they should be able to withstand a sweaty workout session (but you probably shouldn't take them into the shower with you post-workout).

They have a battery life of six hours, which means they'll last you all day, whether you're wearing them on your commute or taking them out for a jog and their budget-friendly price won't break the bank.

Read more: Sennheiser CX Sport Wireless earphones review (Image credit: Earfun) 10. Earfun Air Pro

A mostly brilliant and sonically balanced set of budget buds Pleasing audio balance Effective noise cancellation No app for EQ adjustments Case is a little bulky

On their own merits, the Earfun Air Pro buds are accomplished, but against
the competition at this price point they shine. Amid a sea of similarly
priced efforts on Amazon, they stand out thanks to their superior design and excellent audio chops, and show a high level of competence in almost all
other areas. If it werent for slightly fiddly gesture controls and in our experience at least a slightly uncomfortable fit, these would immediately earn our wholehearted recommendation.

As it stands, thesewireless earbudsare an excellent choice for most, offering a blend of useful features and strong performance that should make them popular with commuters in particular.

Read more: Earfun Air Pro review Student headphones deals The best laptops for students



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-headphones-for-students-our-top-picks- for-back-to-school-cans/


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)