The most comfortable headphones we've ever tested will take care of your ears

If you want a similar vibe to the Bose QuietComfort Ultrasbut don't want to spend over $400the Anker Soundcore Space One headphones are a great budget alternative. These cans offer comparable features like ANCan intuitive companion appa long battery lifeand of coursea comfortable form factor that you can wear for long listening sessions.

We can best describe the Anker Soundcore Space One headphones as a budget version of the Bose QuietComfort Ultras. They boast a lot of similar features for a fraction of the price of the Bose model (even though they may not be up to the same sound quality). In terms of comfortthe Space Ones are wonderfulespecially at this price point. We had no issues wearing them all day — the earcups and headband are super softand both are endlessly adjustableso you can fit them to your noggin just right. The rotatable earcups also allow you to fold the headphones so they fit in the included carrying bagalthough it was a tight squeeze. Stillwe appreciate portability.

Sound quality is really good for the price. Even though these are a "budget" pair of headphonesthey certainly don't sound that way. Audio is very balanced overallwith the one sticking point being the high tones — they can sound a bit tinny. They don't feel like budget headphoneshowever. The materials aren't premiumbut they definitely aren't the cheapplastic-like stuff you'd expect to find with a more inexpensive pair of headphones. Battery life is solid at around 35 to 40 hours with ANC activeand we never had any issues pairing them via Bluetooth.

The Anker Soundcore Space Ones come with a surprising amount of extra features for their price. You can switch to Adaptive ANC and transparency modes with on-ear controls or the Soundcore app. The app is home to even more fun perks like HearIDwhich conducts a quick hearing test in order to create a personalized sound profileand Easy Chatwhich lets you place one hand on the left earcup to switch from ANC to transparency mode for quick conversations.

For $99the Anker Soundcore Space One headphones are a certified steal. We'd say you get what you pay forbut in this casewe feel you get a bit more than that.

Read Mashable's full review of the Sonos Ace.

Whether you’re a brand enthusiast or devoted home audio nerdthe Ace headphones offer a surreal indoor listening experience. They work best when paired with a current Sonos soundbarbut their versatile connectivity and wireless audio performance carry over to desktops/laptopssmartphonesand TVs.

No one predicted that Sonos’ first-ever headphones would be this awesome. Not only do they sound superbbut they’re well-crafted and can be worn for hours on endwhich speaks to homebodies who want to privately indulge in their music and movie collections.

Sonos employed bespoke foam cushioning on the headband and soft memory foam on the swappable earpads for soothing wearability. This vegan leather doesn’t heat up as quickly as that on other premium headphones. Rounding out the Ace’s sleek design is the chic and durable travel case.

Advanced audio technologies elevate the Ace above many competitors. Their standard sound profile is balanceddetailedand energetic. Bass is robustand midrange production is impressive. ANC raises bass levels a smidge; you can feel the low end more on contemporary tracks. Sonos’ noise-cancelling technology serves well for blocking out common indoor distractions. Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive/Lossless codec dynamically scales audio over Bluetooth. Then there’s USB-C lossless audio with compatible devices.

The Ace fit perfectly within the Sonos ecosystemallowing users to swap sound output from a compatible soundbar to one or two Ace sets of headphones. Dolby Atmos lets you enjoy spatial audio content on select streaming services (e.g.Apple MusicAmazon MusicNetflix).

Some launch issues remain presentsuch as restricted speaker support and the wonky companion app. The former isn’t a problem if you’re a committed Sonos owner who frequently upgrades their soundbar. Everyone else gets a comfy and terrific-sounding pair of cans that are more attainable than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) and Sony WH-1000XM6.

Read Mashable's full review of the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2.

Audiophiles with a taste for exquisite craftsmanship and sound. It’s impossible not to fall in love with these deluxe cans when worn… if they're in your budget.

B&W has a knack for making some of the most attractive and elegantly built audio products. The Px8 S2 are exemplary. Premium aesthetics are just a small part of what makes them special.  

These headphones feel like you have two plush pillows pressed against your earsthanks to the soft Nappa leather that provides plenty of breathability when worn for long stretches. The leather headband doesn’t push down on top of the skull. Furthermorethe Px8 S2 mold nicely around the head for a steadysecure fit.

Would you believe that these headphones sound better than they look? Facts. Detailedaccurate sonics burst out of the 40mm carbon cone driverwhich is paired with a newly developed amp. A warm signature means impactful and snappy bass. Mids and highs sound amazingand the Px8 S2’s detail retrieval is remarkable for emphasizing the best parts of musical arrangements. Lossless audio is available in wired and wireless modes to gain 24-bit /96 kHz high-resolution sound. Powerful ANC doesn’t compromise sound quality.

Other positives worth noting are the long battery life (up to 30 hours per charge) and spot-on controls.

Is it ideal to spend $800 on wireless headphones? Noespecially not in these times. Howeveras the adage goesyou get what you pay for. The Px8 S2 exhibit some of the best design and sound in the wireless audio categoryand for somethat’s worth the premium.

Read Mashable's full review of the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.

Exercisersleisurely listenersand travelers. The latest flagship buds from Beats offer the perfect balance of comfort and fit in true wireless form. Battery life and sound quality have also been improved from the previous generation.

The most comfortable wireless earbudslet alone Apple budsare not the AirPods Pro 3. That honor is bestowed upon the Powerbeats Pro 2which also happen to be the best workout buds overall.

Beats’ signature ear hooks were rebuilt from super-light nickel-titanium alloy. The material is extremely flexible and gentler on ear cartilage. In additionthe sound port was redesigned to sit flush on the concha and form a tight seal.

Audio output is where the Powerbeats Pro 2 truly excel. All media sounds engaging and livelyespecially music. Deep bass combined with clear highs and resonant mids culminate in vibrant-sounding mixes. Enabling spatial audio raises the low end to get more punch out of workout tracks. 

These buds check off many more boxes. You’re getting up to 10 hours of playtime per charge — 1 hour more than the original Powerbeats Pro — on top of 45 additional hours via the charging case. Compatibility with iOS/macOS and Android devices remains flawless. New fitness features like built-in heart rate monitoring are serviceable when leaving your Apple Watch at home. Clear voice transmission warrants loud and crisp-sounding voice calls.

Not having the latest Apple listening modes is disappointingthough Beats’ transparency mode is highly sufficient for ambient listening. Just don’t expect much from ANC mode; noise neutralization isn’t as effective as it is on the AirPods Pro 3 and Fit Pro.

If you're a bona fide audiophile who spends a lot of time listening to vinyl recordsthe open-back Sennheiser HD 599 headphones are your perfect match. They may not be easy to travel with and don't come packed with a bunch of high-tech featuresbut they're extremely comfortable and sound better than any pair of headphones we tested for this roundupincluding the $449 Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2).

The Sennheiser HD 599 headphones prioritize sound quality and comfort over everything else. While the main draw here is that amazing sound qualitycomfort is by no means an afterthought. They feature a nicewide frame that isn't too tight on your headas well as soft and fluffy ear pads that feel like your favorite blanket (they're replaceabletoo). The leatherette headband is smooth and plush and allows for quick adjustments that never move out of place. We used these primarily for listening to musicand we were able to get through multiple albums without any discomfort.

Nowlet's talk about the sound. It's amazing. The HD 599s have an open-back design that allows for some ambient noise to come through while listeninggiving everything a more natural sound that's great for deepcritical listeningespecially if you plug them into a vinyl record player. If you want your music presented in the best way possiblethese headphones provide the soundstage to make that happen. If you were wonderingyesthese headphones are wired onlycoming with a 3.5mm and a quarter-inch cable. At least you won't have to worry about battery life or Bluetooth connectivity.

There is a trade-offthough. You can't really travel with these headphones. Because they're open-backthey also leak sound out. Unless you want to be that guyleave these at home. It's for the bestthoughbecause they don't feel like the most durable headphonesand traveling may open them up to damage over time. And because they aren't made with portability in mindwe can understand why they don't come with a carrying case. But stillat this price pointthey should come with at least some form of storage. We do appreciate that the cables are removablethoughso you won't be leaving behind a tangled mess when you aren't using them.

The HD 599s are relatively affordable these days. Soif you're a die-hard music lover who wants to hear their tunes at their very bestthey're worth every penny.