The coolest headphones we saw at CES 2021

CES is a wonderful place to get a taste of what 2021 will look like, as hundreds of companies wave their best and brightest new gear ahead of release later in the year. And, in our experience, it’s a particularly nice place to see the latest new headphones in all their high-tech glory.

The show was digital only this year, but there were still plenty of intriguing headphones to admire, virtually or otherwise. While we obviously can’t get along with the vast majority of the latest audio products, we’ve rounded up some of the coolest headphones we’ve seen on the show so you can familiarize yourself with the latest audio badassery at the start of this. the new Year. Enjoy!

V-Moda M-200 ANC

Credit: V-Moda

V-Moda has always gone their own way, adapting their nail-resistant headband and ear cups with intriguing new ways to get your tracks. The company’s new noise-canceling headphones are proof that the company doesn’t laugh this year, offering 10 levels of noise reduction, impressive battery life, high-resolution audio support, and more, all in one. elegant and distinctive frame that you can customize to your liking. thanks to the removable shields. At just under $ 500, the price is a bit shocking, just below Apple’s ultra-luxurious AirPods Max. Can these well-armed cans withstand Apple’s best? We will find out this year.

Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro noise canceling headphones

Credit: Anker / Soundcore

Anker’s Soundcore brand has made impressive strides in affordable, fully wireless headphones for a few years now. The new Liberty Air 2 Pro (not to be confused with the Liberty Pro 2) offers an impressive list of features which include active noise cancellation, up to 26 hours of battery life with the case, IPX4 water resistance and more. If the specs sound as familiar as the design looks, it’s for good reason. These heads seem tailor-made to take on Apple’s AirPods Pro, but at a much cheaper price. The big question will be whether Soundcore can achieve noise cancellation. But if the company has stepped up, at just under $ 130, these headphones could be serious contenders for the New Year. Moreover, you can already grab them from Amazon and find out for yourself.

JBL Tour One Noise Canceling On-Ear Headphones

Credit: JBL

As usual, JBL has proven to be a true handful of headphones for the show, featuring three different pairs of true wireless headphones at multiple price points and with multiple use cases. But the Tour One stands out from the pack, with a signature sound aimed at studio-style balance, alongside Adaptive Noise Cancellation, up to 50 hours of claimed battery life, and other flagship features, all in one. elegant and subtle design. They also offer Hi-res Audio certification with ultra-wide frequency response. We won’t know if they can compete with our favorite travel cans, the Sony WH-1000XM4, until we try them out, but at nearly $ 50 less, we expect them to fight back. good from a value perspective.

JLab JBuds Frames

Credit: JLab

JLab’s new Wild Frames may not look like anything you’ve seen before, but they’re actually based on another pair of “frames” from none other than Bose. However, while Bose frames are fully functional ‘audio sunglasses’, the JBuds version is a clip-on alternative that requires you to supply your own pair. It might seem like you’re getting less for your money, but JLabs JBuds cost about a quarter of what you’ll pay Bose, at just $ 50. Plus, their clip-on design means they can work with regular sunglasses, reading glasses, and eyeglasses, all in the same day, if you want to. We don’t expect them to sound as good as Bose’s almost magical audio undertones, but they claim better battery life (8 hours per charge) and could be a fun sound alternative for active types who want to. spice up their nuances.

Sennheiser IE 300

Credit: Sennheiser

While the IE 300s are much more traditional than most of the pairs on our list, don’t count the old ways, especially if you want to spend more money on sound than on features. Sennheiser’s latest in-ear headphones offer what the company calls a “refined version” of its 7mm Extra Wideband (XWB) transducers. Translation: They offer tiny drivers designed by Sennheiser with the utmost care for clear, precise and detailed sound. Sennheiser claims they provide extremely low distortion and a housing that minimizes unwanted vibration to remove barriers between you and your favorite tracks. While we haven’t heard them yet, you can bet they sound as good as they look, and their over-the-ear design conforms to your ear for a good fit. At $ 299.95 it’s an expensive buy, but we bet you’ll be able to figure out where your money went.

1More Comfo buds

Credits: 1More

When it comes to pure design, few of the headphones we’ve seen at CES are as old as the latest from 1More. The maker of excellent quality buds like Stylish and Colorbuds, 1More has a knack for making fun designs and the tinny Comfobuds are another great example. It was also the only pair at CES this year that we got to try on before the show. They come packaged in an incredibly small pill-shaped case and offer an AirPods-style design for just under $ 60. There aren’t a lot of features on board here and the sound is, to put it mildly, bassy as hell, but if you like bass solos and need a super-cheap pair of headphones that will turn heads, they might be right for you. .

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Prices were correct at the time of this article’s publication, but may change over time.