The Best Wireless Headphones of 2024

We saw a lot of great innovations in the wireless headphone category this year, with bold entries from companies ranging from Sony to Dali. Today we’re going to tell you our five favorite Bluetooth headsets categorized by price. We’ll break down each headphone’s notable features and why we like them so much.

Wireless Headphones Under $300

Sennheiser Accentum Plus ($199.95)

The Accentum Plus was one of the earliest entrants in the wireless headphone world this year. Building off the original Accentum, it looked to keep the best parts of the base model while improving the sound and performance at the same time. Stylistically, it looks and feels pretty similar to the original Accentum, which is to say it’s light and sturdy. Internally, things stay on that track with the headphone maintaining the same 37mm driver of the original. I should note, though, that the sound of the headphone is re-tuned for the better. 

But it’s not all the same. The Accentum Plus also introduced several upgrades to the design and functionality of the headphone, starting with upgraded noise-canceling. The new model offers adaptive hybrid ANC, which means the headphone is able to adjust its noise-canceling strength based on your environment. This option can be controlled through the headphone’s companion app. It also brought in touch controls on the earcups for a more convenient user experience. 

Using Bluetooth 5.2, this wireless headset adds AptX Adaptive to its repertoire. And its battery life lasts up to 50 hours, which is extremely impressive for its price.

Sonically, the Accentum Plus packs in several improvements. First, its soundstage is much wider than the original thanks to an angled driver design. Bass is elevated but with good separation which keeps things clear. Likewise, the midrange improves its spatial elements, providing a more even timbre and detailed sound. Meanwhile, the treble has a nice and controlled quality to it, making for a nice and neutral, if slightly bassy sound signature.

Sony ULT WEAR ($199.99)

Coming in at right around the same price as the Accentum Plus, Sony’s new ULT WEAR headphones promises some of Sony’s best features, plus some new ones, at a price that’s more approachable than the 1000X line. Made from recycled plastics, the ULT WEAR has a typical Sony-quality build. It’s lightweight and flexible, but feels like it will last you a long time, a feat of design by the Sony team. They come in black, gray, and white colors and have a swivel design that’s similar to the WH-1000XM4. 

The ULT WEAR packs in a lot of features, including Sony’s top notch noise canceling and 360 audio. But the most unique and new feature included here is the bass boost function. This headphone uses a 40mm dynamic driver along with Sony’s Processor V1, a special component that allows for features like ULT Power Sound. There’s a dedicated button on the headphone that activates the feature. Along with the ULT button, the headphone also has touch sensitivity on the earcups for more convenient control. 

The ULT WEAR operates on Bluetooth 5.2, but this headphone offers LDAC, which further elevates the sonic experience. With all of these features activated, you get a 30-hour battery life. But with fewer ones activated, it can increase all the way up to 50 hours.

In terms of sound, the ULT WEAR offers an impressive soundstage for the price, and using its 3D audio mode, it can become even more expansive. Obviously the low end takes center stage. But the mids stay detailed and clear without much interference from the lower frequencies. The top end is present and helps brighten up the sound a bit when needed.

Wireless Headphones Under $700

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 ($399.99)

The Aventho 300 marked an ambitious step from the German headphone maker. It brings high quality sound and a well thought out design that helps establish it as one of the best options in the lower side of the mid-fi category. It’s worth the step up in price with an aluminum build that maintains swiveling capabilities while looking good with an elegant and modern shape. 

Beyerdynamic’s headphone uses the company’s in-house STELLAR.45 dynamic driver that you can find elsewhere in their product lineup. The drivers are angled in the ear cups to enhance soundstage and make for a more engaging listener experience. 

But part of what makes this headphone so special is its feature set. Beyerdynamic introduces an ANC control setting that is as robust as any we’ve seen. In the app, you can adjust the ANC strength from levels 1-5, helping to get the most appropriate level of isolation for your needs. It also has some of the best on-ear cup touch sensors we’ve tried. The Aventho 300 runs on Bluetooth 5.4 and offers high end codecs like AptX Lossless and LE Audio. It also has strong battery life with 50 hours of listening time on a single charge.  

Sonically, the Aventho 300 has an impressive soundstage that is a top performer in this price range. As for the sound signature, the bass response is strong, and it’s scalable through eq. The midrange is clean and accurate and leans on the neutral side. It delivers a transparent top end that is able to glisten without becoming too bright. In this price range, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 is one of the best Bluetooth headphones for audiophiles.

Noble Audio FoKus Apollo ($649)

At the higher end of the mid-fi range, the Apollo introduced impressive driver design while holding true to their reputation for great build quality and excellent sound. Made with materials like anodized aluminum and protein leather ear pads, the Apollo offers premium comfort and style.

Noble puts innovation at the forefront of their FoKus line of products, and that’s the case too with the Apollo. The headphone sports a hybrid dual driver design that incorporates a 40mm dynamic driver and 14.5mm planar magnetic driver. The dynamic driver covers the bass and mids and the planar driver helps provide a more detailed and resolving top end.

But the Apollo doesn’t get distracted by this configuration; it’s loaded with great features as well. Its noise cancellation capabilities are quite strong, offering great ambient sound reduction as well as a highly functional transparency mode. You can also fine-tune your settings in the companion app. Also notable is the inclusion of an external microphone which furthers its case as a great gaming option and provides better quality for calls as well. With Bluetooth 5.3, the Apollo can do high quality codecs like LDAC and AptX HD. It also boasts an impressive 60 hours of battery with ANC turned on, and a whopping 80 hours without ANC.

The Apollo has a forward but mostly neutral sound. With its hybrid dual driver approach, it’s able to prioritize bass, mids, and treble with equal distinction. Its bass is warm with a nice midbass bloom, while the midrange is clear and precise. The treble is tactile and detailed, making great use of that planar driver. Overall it’s a compelling product from a technical and sonic standpoint.

Wireless Headphones Under $1,000

Dali IO-8 ($900)

Finally, we have a more high end wireless headphone, Dali’s IO-8. The Danish speaker company is well-known for their wireless offerings, IO-4, which serves as an entry point to the product line, and the top-of-the-line IO-12. Serving as a bridge between those two, the IO-8 continues Dali’s record of excellence while adding modern advancements to improve the listening experience.

Aesthetically, the IO-8 looks similar to the other Dali models. But it freshens things up by adding more premium textile patterns, high-quality earpads, and a smaller and lighter frame. Internally, the IO-8 uses a 50mm driver made with a custom paper diaphragm and wood fiber materials. But while it boasts a luxurious build and design, its features are understated, letting the quality of the headphone’s functions speak for itself. 

Its noise-cancellation is extremely good, for example. Operating off of Bluetooth 5.2, its highest quality codec is AptX HD. The battery of the IO-8 could appear a source of weakness for the headphone lasting just 35 hours on a single charge. But Dali has an answer for this, allowing users to listen passively through wired connection without the battery running, though we’ll note that ANC and DSP won’t be available when used this way.

The IO-8’s sound can be characterized as rich and warm. Its low end is strong and visceral, and if you want a little more bite, there’s a bass-enhancement mode as well. Its midrange is warm with a touch of bloom which makes for a lush and forward sound. The treble is relaxed and in keeping with the nature of its lower frequencies. The IO-8 also offers an immersive and wide soundstage with accurate imaging. With this in mind, this is a great option for listeners looking for a luxurious experience, both in build and sound. 

Final Thoughts:

2024 was a great year for Bluetooth headphones, with solid options from companies big and small. With all of the advancements we saw from manufacturers this year, we can’t wait to see what’s to come. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these headphones as much as we did. 

The headphones mentioned in this article are available at Audio46.