What to check before you choose
Choose headphones and speakers around where you listen, what you connect to, and how you like sound to feel. A codec or surround badge alone does not guarantee better sound.
Fit and listening spaceDecide between earbuds, closed or open headphones, and speakers based on comfort, privacy and room.
Noise and callsCompare noise cancelling, transparency and microphone performance for your commute or meetings.
Source compatibilityCheck your phone, computer or TV supports the wireless codec and audio formats you want.
A few details that can change your decision
The codec must match at both endsYour headphones can only use a codec also supported by the phone or computer, and some devices fall back to a common option.Read the explainer →ANC works best on steady noiseActive noise cancelling is usually more effective against consistent low sounds than sudden voices or sharp noises.Read the explainer →Spatial audio is not one universal formatThe effect may depend on the app, content, headphones and device; head tracking is a separate capability.Read the explainer →
Bluetooth codecs
How sound is compressed over the air.
8 termsAAC Bluetooth AudioAAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is a lossy audio codec widely used for Bluetooth music — especially on iPhone and Apple headphones. When both phone and buds speak AAC, it usually beats ancient low-rate SBC on Apple gear; on Android, AAC quality depends heavily on the OEM’s encoder. You will see AAC listed nexAptXaptX is Qualcomm’s family of Bluetooth audio codecs (Classic, HD, Adaptive, and Lossless-branded variants) aimed at better quality or lower latency than basic SBC. It shows up most on Android phones, Windows PCs, and licensed headphones — not as a default path on iPhone. Product pages often list “aptX,” “Bluetooth Audio CodecsBluetooth audio codecs are the compression formats your phone and headphones agree on to send sound wirelessly — common ones include SBC , AAC , aptX (and variants), and newer LC3 for LE Audio . The fancy codec on the box only helps when both ends support it and the connection actually negotiates it. CodeHi-Res AudioHi-Res Audio usually means music files or streams above CD quality (often 24-bit / 96 kHz class) plus gear that carries a Hi-Res logo. The badge says the product can pass higher-rate signals — it does not guarantee you will hear a night-and-day upgrade on every track and every headset. You will see Hi-ResLDACLDAC is Sony’s Bluetooth audio codec that can stream at higher bitrates than basic SBC when the phone, headphones, and wireless conditions all cooperate. It is common on Android and Sony gear — it is not a guaranteed “Hi-Res” experience in every room. You will see LDAC on many Android phones, Sony headphoLE AudioLE Audio is the Bluetooth Low Energy audio standard that brings a more efficient codec (LC3), better multi-stream designs, and optional Auracast broadcast — one source sending audio to many receivers. Phone and bud support is still uneven in 2026. You will see LE Audio, LC3, and Auracast on newer earbuds,LHDCLHDC (Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec) is a high-bitrate Bluetooth audio codec from Savitech. Like LDAC , it aims to carry more detail than baseline SBC when phone, headphones, and RF conditions all cooperate — still lossy wireless, not a wired USB guarantee. You will see LHDC (and related LLAC /SBCSBC (Subband Coding) is the mandatory default Bluetooth audio codec. If a phone and headset share nothing fancier, they fall back to SBC. It works everywhere — quality depends on bitrate settings and implementations, so “SBC” on a box is not a quality promise by itself. Every modern Bluetooth headphone li
Wireless & connections
Pairing, latency, TV links and everyday convenience.
7 termsBluetooth LatencyBluetooth latency is the delay between a sound being generated on your phone, TV, or PC and you hearing it in wireless headphones. A little lag is normal; big lag shows up as video lip-sync issues or late footsteps in games. You will see “low latency,” “gaming mode,” and codec names on wireless headsets.Bluetooth MultipointBluetooth Multipoint lets a headset or earbuds stay paired to two devices at once — typically a phone and a laptop — so you can take a call on one while music pauses on the other without re-pairing every time. You will see Multipoint on many mid and premium wireless over-ears and true wireless sets. The bEARC / ARCARC (Audio Return Channel) and eARC (enhanced ARC) are HDMI features that send audio from your TV back to a soundbar or AV receiver over the same HDMI cable you use for picture. eARC is the newer, higher-bandwidth version that handles advanced formats like Dolby Atmos more reliably. You will see ARC / eARFind My for EarbudsFind My / locating earbuds features use Bluetooth proximity, last-seen maps, and sometimes crowd-network location (Apple Find My, Google Find My Device, and brand apps) so you can ping a lost bud, see where it last connected, or mark it as lost. They help with couch cushions and cafés — they are not guaraHearing Aid CompatibilityHearing aid compatibility (HAC) on phones and headphones refers to ratings and pairing modes that reduce buzz/interference with hearing aids and cochlear processors — including M/T ratings historically, and modern Bluetooth paths such as Apple’s Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing devices and Android Autio StrePCM vs BitstreamOn a TV, PCM means the TV converts audio to uncompressed linear PCM before sending it out; bitstream (sometimes labeled Dolby Digital / Bitstream / Auto) passes the original encoded track to your soundbar or AVR so that device can decode surround formats. For Dolby Atmos or DTS:X from TV apps, you usuallyWireless Charging Earbud CaseA wireless charging case tops up via Qi (or similar) pads instead of only USB-C. Convenient on a nightstand; slightly less efficient and slower than a cable. Premium TWS listings treat wireless case charging as a checkbox. This explainer is based on how wireless charging case is marketed on product pages
Noise & mics
What you hear around you and what others hear of you.
5 termsANC (Active Noise Cancellation)Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) uses microphones and processing to reduce steady outside noise — airplane hum, office HVAC, traffic rumble — while you listen. Many earbuds and headphones also offer transparency or passthrough modes that intentionally let ambient sound in so you can hear announcements or tBeamforming MicrophoneBeamforming uses multiple mic capsules and DSP to favor speech from a direction (usually your mouth) while attenuating sides. Common on buds, laptops, and conference bars. Marketing loves “AI beamforming” on call quality slides. This explainer is based on how beamforming microphone is marketed on productPush-to-Talk on HeadsetsPush-to-talk (PTT) opens the mic only while a key/button is held. It prevents keyboard clacks and breathing from filling Discord—at the cost of an extra finger habit. FPS communities and some UC apps push PTT as etiquette. This explainer is based on how push-to-talk (ptt) is marketed on product pages andSidetone on HeadsetsSidetone (aka mic monitoring) plays a bit of your microphone into your ears so you do not shout. Useful on calls and in party chat; annoying if latency or harshness is high. You will see sidetone toggles in gaming headset apps and office UC softphones. This explainer is based on how sidetone is marketed oTransparency ModeTransparency mode (also called passthrough, ambient, or awareness mode) uses outward-facing microphones on sealed earbuds or headphones to pipe outside sound into your ears while you keep the tips or cups on. It is the “hear the world” companion to ANC — not the same as physically open-ear designs. You wi
Spatial & surround
3D sound formats for movies, games and music.
5 termsDolby AtmosDolby Atmos is a surround-sound format that places audio in a 3D space left/right, front/back, and height — instead of locking every sound to a fixed speaker channel. On headphones and many soundbars it is usually a software mix that simulates that space. On a full home theater it can use real upward-firiDTS:XDTS:X is an object-based 3D surround format from DTS — a rival approach to Dolby Atmos for movies and some games. Sound can be placed and moved in a three-dimensional field when your disc/stream, player, and soundbar or AVR all speak DTS:X. You will see DTS:X on AV receivers, soundbars, Blu-ray players, aHead-Tracked Spatial AudioHead-tracked spatial audio keeps a virtual sound stage locked to your screen or room using gyro/accelerometer (IMU) data in earbuds or headphones. When you turn your head, the mix stays “in front,” more like speakers than fixed headphone stereo. It builds on spatial audio / Atmos -style rendering — trackiSpatial AudioSpatial Audio (Apple’s name) is a 3D listening experience that places sound around your head — often using Dolby Atmos mixes plus optional head tracking on supported Apple headphones and devices. It is related to Atmos but is not the same badge you see on every soundbar. You will meet Spatial Audio mainlyTHX Spatial AudioTHX Spatial Audio is an immersive headphone (and sometimes speaker) processing stack from THX — commonly licensed on Razer headsets and other gaming gear — that tries to place sounds around you instead of flattening everything into left/right stereo. It is one brand’s spatial product, not a universal cont
Drivers & tuning
The hardware specs behind how headphones sound.
6 termsDriver SizeDriver size is the diameter of the speaker unit inside headphones or earbuds, usually listed in millimeters (for example 10 mm buds or 40 mm over-ears). Bigger is a common marketing heuristic for bass — but tuning, enclosure, and tip/cup fit usually matter more than the number alone. You will see driver sEQ App Presets on HeadphonesEQ app presets are saved frequency curves (Bass Boost, Podcast, etc.) in a brand’s app. Handy—but they can mask poor seal or justify muddy stock tuning. Every wireless headphone box promises “custom EQ.” This explainer is based on how eq app presets is marketed on product pages and buyer guides. Gadget ClFrequency ResponseFrequency response describes how loudly a headphone, speaker, or earbud reproduces different pitches from bass to treble. Spec sheets often print a range like 20 Hz–20 kHz; without a measured curve and tolerance, that range is usually marketing noise. You will see frequency response on almost every audioHeadphone ImpedanceHeadphone impedance (measured in ohms, Ω) describes how much the headphones resist the electrical signal from your source. Higher-impedance wired headphones often need a stronger amp to get loud and clean; most Bluetooth earbuds and portable cans are low-impedance and happy with a phone. You will see impeHeadphone SensitivityHeadphone sensitivity (also called efficiency) tells you how loud headphones get for a given amount of power or voltage — often listed as dB/mW or dB/V. Higher sensitivity usually means easier to drive loud from a phone; pair it with impedance when you judge desktop amps. You will see sensitivity on wiredRoom CorrectionRoom correction is calibration software on soundbars and AV receivers that uses a microphone (or mics) to measure your room, then EQ and timing tweaks to reduce boom, suck-outs, and uneven surround balance. It helps real rooms — it does not turn weak speakers into a concert hall. You will meet names like
Fit & design
How the headphones sit, seal and leak.
3 termsBone ConductionBone conduction headphones sit on your cheekbones (usually ahead of the ears) and vibrate sound through bone to the inner ear, leaving ear canals open. You hear music and still catch more traffic, voices, and wind than with sealed earbuds — with tradeoffs in bass, isolation, and maximum volume. You will sClosed-Back vs Open-BackClosed-back headphones seal the ear cups so less sound leaks in or out — better for offices, travel, and shared spaces. Open-back cups let air and sound pass through for a wider, more “speakers in a room” feel — better for quiet home listening, not for the library. You will see closed vs open called out oOpen-EarOpen-ear (often air-conduction) earbuds perch outside the ear canal — clips, hooks, or soft pads — and fire sound toward the ear while leaving the canal unsealed. You stay more aware of the room than with tips-in ANC buds, with tradeoffs in bass, isolation, and privacy. Product pages say open-ear, air con