Latest news with #P100SE
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Tom's Guide
These are the best headphones for travel you can buy today for every budget
When you're on a long journey, be that in a plane seat or the back bench of your mom's classic Studebaker, you want to block out the noise with some headphones. I know I do — and thanks to my extensive testing of headphones at all kinds of price points, I know what models you should be adding to your arsenal so that you can make traveling a whole lot more comfortable. Taking selections from our best headphones and the best cheap headphones lists, I've created a round-up of some of my favorite travel headphones. Below you'll find both affordable options if you're on a budget, and then more premium cans if you want to splurge and get the very best. The Soundcore Space One are a bargain travel set of headphones. They only thing they really lack is some kind of hardcase; beyond that, they're about as good as they come under $100. They have a solid sound profile for something around this price too, so you won't have to worry about your music sounding like garbage. But there are two things we care about when it comes to travel headphones. The first — ANC. The Space One feature some of the best ANC for the price, blocking out all of the noise of whatever transport you might find yourself on. The second thing you want for travel? A comfortable fit — and the Space One are very comfortable. They're incredibly light, and their clamping force is such that they don't press on your ears or head too hard. You'll have no problem wearing them for even the longest trips. Plus, their 40 hours of battery is the icing on the cake. The Space One bring everything you could want when traveling — a comfortabe fit, solid sound, and most importantly, very good noise canceling. They fold up super small as well so that you can fit them into almost any bag, great for carry-on luggage. With 60 hours of battery with the ANC turned on and one of the sturdiest protective cases around, the P100 SE are already a shoo-in at this price point for your next pair of travel cans. It really helps that they sound amazing, with one of the best judged sound profiles of just about any pair of headphones below $500. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The ANC is great so you won't have any problems with the noisy plane engines that want to disturb you when you're trying to listen to "Take That." Grab yourself an adapter and you can use them wired to listen to your plane audio as well, which is always helpful. They're also ultra-comfortable, with lovely padded earcups and a newly designed headband. You can wear them for a long time, perfect for when you're taking a long-distance flight. The P100 SE are super comfortable and offer 60 hours of ANC battery, perfect for those long trips. They're also one of the best-sounding pair of headphones you can buy before you get to the really expensive stuff. When it comes to ANC headphones, you need to consider battery life. The Marshall Monitor III pack in over 70 hours of battery in a single charge. That's the highest battery life of any pair of headphones that you can buy, making them perfect for long trips when you're not going to be anywhere near a wall outlet. The sound is good, angled more at rock fans than anyone else, and the ANC is effective, if not totally groundbreaking. It is bested by some of the other options on the list, which is a shame when you're spending this much money. Still, what's on offer is more than enough to get you through a long bus trip or a lengthy flight, blocking out the noise of engines and other passengers when you're listening to music. Another advantage — they're mighty comfortable. They're very light, but Marshall has put a whole lot of effort to make sure that the headphones don't wobble around. The foam in the eacups is sublime, with multiple layers of different firmness foams so that you never reach hard plastic. I've worn these headphones for hours and hours on end before, and I never wanted to take them off once. With their epic battery life and very comfortable fit, the Monitor III are a great pair of headphones for traveling. Marshall's ANC is also very good here, making sure that you can get lost in a world of your own as you sink into your airline seat. They're the kings of ANC — there's nothing they won't block out. Slip them on your head, turn them on, and the outside world melts away with a quick orchestral swell. Engines disappear, the annoying baby in aisle three is silenced, and the chatter of your fellow passengers becomes but a distant memory. Sublime. Unbeatable. Undefeated. As you'd expect from something called the "QuietComfort Ultra Headphones," they're also super comfortable. They're very light and feature some lovely thick padding on their headband and on the earcups to make sure that you're never going to want to take them off. There are a couple of issues, however: They feel slightly cheap for the price, and their limited 24-hour battery might put off those who travel frequently. But if you're looking for the best sound that'll still get you from New York to Tokyo without having to hear your seat neighbors, the QuietComfort Ultra headphones are a great way to go. The comfortable QuietComfort Ultra Headphones feature the best ANC around. They don't last quite as long as other options as a result, but you'll block out every noise that the car/plane/train/bus has to throw at you. I've spoken a lot about the B&W PX7 S3 over the past few months— and for good reason. They're easily my favorite pair of headphones to release in 2025, unseating Sony from the top of our list of the best headphones. They're also a great pair of cans for travel, with some of the best sound I've heard in a pair of wireless headphones. Detailed, bassy, and very well rounded, they're a sonic powerhouse. They don't quite manage to block out as much noise as the QuietComfort Ultra, but their ANC is more than enough to make your long flight a whole lot more tolerable. Click the button, and you won't hear any of the annoying noises in the plane cabin. Can't promise it will negate turbulence, however. They're very comfortable as well, with some of the best padding around and a well-judged clamping force. I've only ever taken these headphones off because external factors forced me to — I could wear them for hours on end. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 are Tom's Guide's favorite headphones, thanks to their incredible sound and amazing comfort. The battery life is good, and they're a handsome set of cans that are sure to get you through all your travel. The Sonos Ace are here for a very important reason — the spatial audio. They're by far the best headphones for spatial audio on the go, using Sonos' expertise in the format. It means that when I'm watching one of my favorite movies with my iPad while traveling, I can still enjoy an epic surround sound experience. They're comfortable as well (sensing a pattern here?) with removable earpads should you need to clean them. The protective case is slim so that it can more easily fit into a backpack or carry-on bag. They sound good, they block out noise, and they'll last for 30 hours on a charge. The spatial audio performance makes them worthy of consideration, but the rest of their features make them an all-around solid pair of travel headphones. The Sonos Ace secure a spot here because of their spatial audio — if you're a frequent watcher of movies on your iPad or tablet, you'll want the incredible surround sound of the Sonos Ace. They're also comfortable and block out plenty of noise.
Tom's Guide
06-08-2025
- Tom's Guide
I've reviewed 18 pairs of headphones this year so far — and these are the only 3 I recommend
In my line of work as Tom's Guide's Audio Editor, I get my hands on a lot of headphones. In the last eight months, I've had the pleasure of fully testing out 18 pairs with probably another half-dozen more coming down the pipe before the end of the year. I know that 18 pairs of headphones might not seem like all that many, but that averages out at about 2 and a half pairs of headphones every month. Considering most people buy a pair of headphones at most every year, I reckon I'm doing pretty well. It also paints me a lovely picture of what headphones are better than others. There have been some big releases this year, including the Sony WH-1000XM6. Interestingly, though, despite their big name, I'd actually recommend different pairs of headphones instead — and some of them might surprise you. I just can't stop talking about the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3. The old model was already excellent, with a whole host of good reasons to pick them up, but the new version completely blows them out of the water. B&W has always been good at the sound bit, and the PX7 S3 cement the brand's place in the annals of headphone history. When I was testing them earlier this summer, I thought they were the best-sounding pair of headphones before you start spending $1,000 or more, outperforming the competition from Bose and Sony. They're highly comfortable with some of the best premium padding around, and they look sleek thanks to Bowers & Wilkins' design team. They're the only headphones in the price point that actually look like they're worth $449, something I really appreciate. There's a reason they recently took the crown at the Tom's Guide audio awards — they're really, really good, and if you can afford them, you should buy a pair ASAP. I might actually be in love with these headphones. They're about the comfiest pair of cans I've ever worn, and their incredibly sound sets them apart from the competition. They're not cheap, but their premium chassis and excellent ANC put them ahead of Bose and Sony. Perhaps this is recency bias speaking, seeing as I'm just coming off testing them, but I really like the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE. I loved the previous version so that's probably unsurprising, but the minor improvements made here helped me find a greater appreciation for Cambridge Audio's HiFi ANC headphones. For example, the improvements to comfort have meant that I can now wear them for much longer periods of time without the headband pressing on the middle of my head. But it's the sound where the P100 SE really excel and show off the full might of their sonic upgrades. They've got bass impact for days, very well-rounded mids, and some of the best clarity at this price point. Despite lacking spatial audio support, the soundstage is effortless in its width and immersion, so much so that you won't miss the spatial audio implementations of some of the more expensive options. Their battery life remains excellent, so you don't have to worry about them running out at just the wrong minute. Plus, they look cool and they're built incredibly well for their $300 price point. In short, they've done a great job standing up to the likes of Sony and Bose and their more expensive headsets. The Melomania P100 SE make a case for the best headphones at this price thanks to some great sound, a new more comfortable fit, and epic battery life. I love these headphones, and anyone who doesn't want to spend loads of money on the other brands' flagships would do well to give them a listen. When I first tested the Aventho 300, I liked them. But since then, their sound has grown on me to the point where I'm picking them up despite having a dozen other options laying around on my desk. I like to keep a selection of different headphones around me with unique sound profiles so that I can hop between them depending on the mood I find myself in. The Aventho and their excellent bass and fat mids somehow keep reappearing in the pile, and I keep coming back for them for one of my favorite genres of music — Grindcore. Grindcore is not for the faint of heart. I'd say it's possible one of the most unwelcoming genres of music ever — especially when you look at the names of the bands which write it. If you're weak of stomach, don't look it up. Don't say I didn't warn you. There's a habit in Grindcore that emphasizes some of the higher frequencies, but that can make it sound overly harsh. The excellent mids and bass of the Aventho 300 take some of the edge off the highs, and let me enjoy the gore even more. For the same price as the Sony WH-1000XM5, you get a more interesting sound signature, a better protective case, a simpler app, and a more premium feeling set of headphones. I liked them when they released — but now I love them. The Aventho 300 are a fine pair of headphones indeed. I really like their build quality, with their metal hinges and armatures making for a really nice feeling set of cans. Their sound is very good, specifically for sonically challenging genres, and the fit has loosened slightly, making them a more comfortable overall pair of headphones.
Tom's Guide
05-08-2025
- Tom's Guide
This $300 pair of headphones proves you don't need to spend Sony or Bose money to get epic cans
I recently spent some time writing the review of the Cambridge Audio P100 SE, and beyond being an incredibly good pair of headphones, they've also made me think. I flitted between them, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Sony's WH-1000XM5 during my testing, and I got to thinking. Why do we keep spending upwards of $400 when there are some of the best headphones cost a whole lot less? As the world reaches a financial boiling point and life becomes more expensive than ever, I am glad that Cambridge Audio and other manufacturers stick to lower price points for their flagship audio products. Cambridge Audio's upgraded cans show that you don't have to go for one of the more premium options to get some of the best ANC headphones. They sound excellent, offer some of the best battery life around, and sport a smart design to round out the package. Bose and Sony's headphones both sound good. The Sony options tend to be slightly more sonically refined than Bose's warmer sound, but you won't find anyone complaining when they put either model on their head. But, as the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 show us, they don't quite sound as good as their premium price point might suggest. An extra case in point are the headphones we've got on hand here. The Melomania P100 SE sound undeniably more refined and well-considered than both the Sony XM5 and the QC Ultra — despite those two coming from more established headphone brands. In a single generation of headphones, Cambridge Audio has shown Sony and Bose how it should be done. The bass is impactful and precise, with none of the fuzziness you'll sometimes find with Bose. The highs are clear and bright, more so than the Sony. The mids are wide and all encompassing, bringing together an excellent sound profile that lets you slide into your favorite wingback and enjoy the ride. Where the Melomania manage to really stand out is their excellent soundstage. They sound very wide, and the instruments and their players are very easy to pick out amongst the din. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. That's no mean feat, and it makes sure that the Cambridge Audio headphones really stand out when you compare them against the far more expensive competition. They're a dab hand at every genre I threw at them, from R&B to Metal and Classical. They send a message to Sony and Bose. You can't rest on your laurels in the audio space anymore when cheaper options sound this good. You might expect that the further down the headphone hierarchy you go, the lower the build quality becomes. In some options this is certainly the case, but Cambridge Audio bucks the trend with headphones that feel a darn sight better built than options that cost a whole lot more. As much as I love my QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, they've always been a little rattly and shaky. They don't quite feel like a pair of $450 headphones, and I've always been disapointed by their build quality. While they're slightly heavier, the P100 SE feel a whole lot better built. There's no unwanted rattling if you shake them or bang your head. The materials feel incredibly premium, and there are subtle metal accents that remind you $300 is actually still quite a lot of money. Even when compared to Sony's plastic heroes the P100 SE feel like the more premium headset. All thanks to more substantial plastics and a more premium feel to the earcups. But don't take my word for it. I'm a headphone reviewer — I've used hundreds of pairs of headphones and evaluated their build quality, so perhaps I'm jaded. No, trust the word of my mother, who's used perhaps one pair of headphones in her entire life. I laid out the three pairs in front of her, and asked her to pick out the one she thought cost the most. Here's how it went down: "Hey mom, of these three headphones, which do you think cost the most?" She stroked her chin, looking up from her work. "Why?" "It's for my work, which do you think are more expensive?" She spent a good ten minutes weighing each pair of headphones in her hands, turning them over to see the facets and details at hand. Eventually, she placed the P100 SE down. "These ones" "Why?" "Well, they seem to be made of metal, and they weight more. Can I go back to my work now? "Sure, mom, thanks for helping out." So there you go — if you don't want to believe me about the build quality of the Melomania P100 SE, then you should believe my poor, long suffering mother. At least make sure that she didn't put up with my nonsense for nothing. But it's just another point for the P100 SE in the long run that shows you don't have to spend hundreds more dollars for excellent headphones. The $400+ price point seems to have landed on a battery figure: 30 hours. In my mind that's still plenty of battery life, but there is still part of me that can see the allure of something that you don't have to charge as often. If nothing else, it's something we'd have thought could be an easy stat to pad in the quest to make headphones more buyable than their competitors. But that 30 hour figure stats to feel quite stagnant when you take into consideration the staying power of the likes of the P100 SE. They'll last you 60 hours on a charge with ANC turned on, and then 100 hours with the ANC turned off. That's three times the battery life of almost every single flagship pair of headphones. Again, it goes to show that a lot of the real innovation in headphones happens further down the price bracket, where it's more difficult to stand out amongst a busier space. The result is headphones like the P100 SE, which do a standout job of laughing in the boys faces. There are a couple of things that show that there's a $100 price gulf between the Sony and Bose options and the P100 SE. The first is the size of the case. While the more expensive options fold smaller and feature slimmer cases, the P100 SE have a gargantuan carrying case that takes up more space in a bag. It still feels expensive—the magnetic door on the cable compartment is inspired—but it is very, very large. There are also a couple of features missing. Spatial audio fans might be saddened to see no form of Atmos or even a custom variant, but I never found myself worrying. ANC is very good, but still bettered by the Sony and Bose headphones. But in the long run, considering the $100 price difference, the P100 SE prove that you don't have to spend loads and loads of money to get spectacular headphones. Perhaps, instead of moving prices continuously up and up, we might see those prices drop to counter upstarts like Cambridge Audio. Sadly I have my doubts, given how much money the likes of the XM6 and QC Ultra Headphones must make their manufacturers. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
