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Get Sony's fantastic WH-1000XM3 headphones for their lowest price ever
Best Buy is selling them new for almost half off the retail price, today only
Sony's WH-1000 series of active noise cancellation headphones have impressed audiophiles for a long time, largely taking the crown for mainstream wireless cans away from Bose. But they don't come cheap: even the previous generation XM3 model will set you back quite a bit. Today you can grab the WH-1000XM3, still a fantastic design years after its introduction, for almost half their original price.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 review: Even great-sounding earbuds aren't worth this much
Fantastic audio quality and neat Bluetooth tricks can't justify a $400 price tag next to the best of Sony and Apple
The true wireless earbud market is on fire at the moment, at just about every budget level. But according to the reviewers (including our own), Sony's the king of the ultra-premium hill. A smaller audiophile brand, Bowers & Wilkins, is aiming to usurp the throne with its very first set of TWEs, the PI7.How did it do? Well, not great. While the earbuds are super-comfy, stylish, and the Bluetooth transmitter case is a brilliant add-on, the active noise cancellation is nowhere near top of the line (or even midrange). That makes these otherwise unremarkable buds a hard sell at their $400 price point.
Refurbished Bose 700 noise-cancelling headphones are just $240 ($60 off) via Bose's eBay store
The lowest price we've seen so far
Bose is one of the big names in premium noise-cancelling headphones, but if you can't quite stomach the $380 MSRP for a new set, you're in luck. A certified refurbished set of Bose Noise Cancelling 700 headphones is just 9.96 with a coupon code right now, making this the lowest price we've seen for these cans.
Google Meet (formerly Hangouts Meet) has become an essential tool for workplaces and schools across the world, following the rise of COVID-related lockdowns and work-from-home measures. Google has been rapidly adding features over the past few months, and the latest improvement is noise cancellation on mobile platforms.
Noise-cancelling technology has become more accessible over the past few years thanks to decent budget options like Tribit's QuietPlus 72. Anker makes solid headphones as well, and the company's latest sale is tough to beat. From now until tomorrow, you can pick up a pair of Anker Life 2 headphones with active noise-cancellation from Newegg for just $35.99 — a 45% discount.
Anker's Soundcore Life 2 ANC headphones are just $40 on Newegg
Excellent value for money and a great partner to work in peace during lockdown
Noise-canceling headphones are gaining in popularity during lockdown, as they isolate from unwanted noise and help remain focused on work. Sadly, many of these cost at least $150, which can be too steep for most people, especially if they seldom need to use them. Thankfully, Anker's Soundcore Life 2 headphones are currently available for just $40, making them very affordable and a smart purchase given the current context.
Sony WH-CH710N review: Great noise-cancelling headphones for under $200
A cheaper but decent alternative to the beloved WH-1000XM3
Sony makes some of the best noise-canceling headphones around, especially the WH-1000XM3 (which is overdue for a replacement). The WH1000XM3 is a premium set of headphones that regularly goes for around 0, and competing products like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and Jabra Elite 85h aren't far behind. While Sony doesn't have a sequel to the WH-1000XM3 ready yet, it does have a new budget alternative: the $200 WH-CH710N.The Sony WH-CH710N offers nearly everything I want out of a pair of headphones, and it does so at a price range that isn't ridiculous. While the sound quality isn't mind-blowing, there's still a lot to like here.
Shure is known for its industry-leading microphones and other professional production gear, but the company is also in the consumer audio business. At CES 2020, Shure has introduced its new AONIC line of products, consisting of its first true wireless earbuds, the AONIC 215, and the wireless noise cancelling AONIC 50 over-ear headphones. It doesn't share too many details on the two products just yet.
When you think of owning a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, big brand names with $300+ price tags probably come to mind. Luckily, you don't have to pay these tolls to get a great audio experience. Case in point: You can pick up a pair of Anker Soundcore Life Q20 wireless active noise-cancelling headphones for as low as .99 ( off) on Amazon.The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 feature 40 mm dynamic drivers with memory foam ear cups and headband for premium sound and comfort. A uniquely tuned active noise-cancelling algorithm targets low and mid-frequency noises — like those made by cars and airplanes — to reduce ambient sounds by up to 90%. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 can keep the tunes rolling for up to 40 hours between charges in active noise-cancellation mode, and 60 hours in regular mode. If you're low on juice, a quick 5-minute charge will give the headphones 4 hours of additional playback time.
Most ANC headphones on the market, Sony's own WH-1000XM3 included, are fairly neutral-sounding. But given how popular Beats headphones are, it was only a matter of time before a bass-focused ANC offering popped up in the market. The WH-XB900N Extra Bass caters to that specific audience, and at $250, it undercuts the 1000XM3's MSRP by $100.However, the XB900N feels like it's lost a lot more than that $100 in value when compared to the 1000XM3. It's worse in every measurable metric, and not just by a little. Consider the recent discounts that have brought the 1000XM3 to sub-$250 prices, and you can quickly see that it doesn't make much sense to recommend the XB900N at all.
The ~$300 active noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphone market is heating up. Bose was arguably the pioneer of the segment, but many other audio companies have since thrown their hats into the ring. One of the latest entrants is Audio-Technica, a company with plenty of reputation to uphold.Having spent several weeks with the ATH-ANC900BT, I've found that it's deserving of the Audio-Technica logos on it in terms of sound quality, but it falls short in other arenas. It reminds me a lot of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II in many ways, both good and bad. Ultimately, I don't think it's worth the $299 asking price given all of the issues.
Sony's flagship wireless noise-cancelling headphones have been discounted several times since their release, but most have been by way of Rakuten site-wide coupon codes. For those of you who prefer to purchase from a more familiar retailer, the WH-1000XM3 is now being discounted at Amazon, B&H, Walmart, and more to $298 ($52 off).The 1000XM3 is one of the best Bluetooth ANC headphones on the market. First and foremost, it sounds great and offers great noise cancellation. But it's also decent-looking, comfortable, and lasts a long time per charge. When it does come time to rejuice, it does so via USB-C, the same for which can't be said about the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.You can view the list of retailers offering the WH-1000XM3 at $298 below.Buy:
Bose's QuietComfort line has always prioritized, as you might have guessed, quiet and comfort. The QC35 was already a critically-acclaimed set of Bluetooth headphones for its excellent noise-cancelling tech and sheer comfort, and the QC35 II added Google Assistant on top of all that. The QC35 II has now been discounted at several retailers, including Amazon, Bose, and Best Buy, by $50 to $299.Walk into any airport or major train station, and there are good odds that you'll see at least a few people wearing QC35s, and for good reason. They're light and comfortable, they sound great, the active noise cancellation is second to none, and the Bluetooth makes them extremely convenient. The QC35 II adds Assistant, which allows for voice control with the press of a button. The only real flaw with these was the price, which this deal (partially) addresses.This $50 discount is available at basically every store that sells QC35 IIs, including Amazon, Best Buy, Bose, eBay, and Walmart. Both the black and silver models' prices have been slashed. Bose's site says that the discount will last until September 1st, which probably applies to all retailers.Source: Amazon, B&H, Best Buy, Bose, eBay, Crutchfield, Newegg, Walmart
AKG is one of the more well-known names in the audio industry, producing headphones, microphones, conference systems, and more. Woot is currently offering two models of refurbished AKG on-ear headphones for a lot less than MSRP: the N60NC (wired) for .99 and the N60NCBT (Bluetooth) for 9.99.Both the N60NC and N60NCBT have the same basic features: a "3D-Axis" folding mechanism, great sound, active noise-cancelling, and an included carrying case. The N60NC manages 30 hours of ANC battery life, whereas the N60NCBT's longevity is understandably lower at 15 hours. Both are "factory reconditioned" and come with one-year warranties from AKG. The N60NC and N60NCBT are currently $151.80 and $299.95 on Amazon new, respectively, so these are some pretty steep discounts.If you're interested, head over to the source link below. Shipping is free for Amazon Prime members. The sale will either end in two hours or when stock runs out, so don't wait.Source: Woot
Most of us that cover Bluetooth audio here at AP really like Phiaton; the company does an excellent job at providing a blend of good sound quality, stellar battery life, and an attractive price point. Phiaton's latest product, the neckbud-style BT 150 NC, looks to be in the same vein from many appearances.For $149, you get 12mm drivers, an interactive surface for touch controls, 95% ambient noise cancelling, an IPX4 sweat- and splash-resistance rating, and the ability to connect to two devices. The headset will shut itself off after a time if it detects that the earbuds are retracted, it supports Apt-X, and it lasts for six hours (of talk and playback time).
Are the people you call with your shiny new Nexus 6P saying that they can't hear you? Then you might want to check out several threads on the Google Product Forum and XDA-Developers. A common problem among early adopters seems to be weak and spotty voice quality - that's the voice of the Nexus 6P owner, not the other call party. At the time of writing, several dozen owners across the two sites are reporting very similar problems, both in standard call mode and when using the speakerphone. Google representatives have responded on the official forum, and say that they're looking into it.
Looking for some high-end headphones? Then you need to head on over to Amazon post-haste. Some of Sony's best around-the-ear noise-cancelling cans, charmingly named the MDR1RNC and MDR10RNC, are on sale for 50% off or better. But this is a Daily Deal for the United States, so you've only got until midnight Central time to get an order in. That's 1 AM for you in the Eastern time zone and 10 PM for those of you on Pacific time.
Take a look at the photo below and try to figure out exactly what it is. A head-mounted carbon fiber sunshade? The latest Milan fashion inspired by Catholic nun habits? A solar-powered personal telepathy machine for the eco-friendly supervillain? The answer is none of the above: it's a giant plastic dome that, according to creator Silentium, cancels out surrounding ambient noise.
We've all heard the story before. A brand new, very popular device rolls out to the public and everybody hurries to get their hands on it. Shortly thereafter, people start to notice some of the more serious issues that degrade the experience or even make the gadget unusable. When that device is a phone and one of those issues is audio quality during calls and recordings, people can become justifiably angry. It seems this is exactly what's happening with quite a few Nexus 5 owners, as audio going into the built-in microphone is plagued by hissing, popping, loud static, and very low volume.