Headphones

Budget ANC headphones are better than they used to be, but the bad ones still cut corners in comfort, microphones, and app support. These are the cheap noise cancelling headphones worth shortlisting.

Headphones for focus, earbuds for commutes, speakers for the desk, a mic for calls — the modern home audio stack has clear winners in each category. Here is the full SolderMag map.

Cut through the marketing. What to look for in ANC headphones, what specs lie, and how to test before you commit.

Sony XM6 after daily use. ANC, sound, comfort, calls, and battery. What changed from XM5 and whether it matters.

Sony XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra. sound, ANC, comfort, and battery compared. Clear winner for most people.

ANC is incredible when it’s tuned well. and miserable when it isn’t. Here are the 2026 picks that get the fundamentals right, plus the red flags that waste your money.