Sennheiser IE 600 review

The Sennheiser IE 600 are a pair of in-ear monitors that paint the most delicate details onto a canvas. They excel in tying several sonic elements together into a beautiful work of art, with exceptionally clear and beautifully balanced audio, plus strong separation, too. Of course, such qualities come at a steep price (around $800 / £700 / AU$1,200), but there’s no denying that the Sennheiser IE 600 offer excellent quality on a number of levels.

First of all, the Sennheiser IE 600 are particularly skilled in supplying defined audio – in part because of their dual two-chamber absorbers. These essentially capture and attenuate multiple sounds occupying the same frequency range, according to Sennheiser, meaning that you can enjoy textured audio and pick out the finer details. As a result, it never feels like you have to go on a mission to discover intricate audio attributes – the Sennheiser IE 600 does all the necessary heavy lifting to ensure that each unique sonic element is unearthed.

The IE 600 perform fantastically across all frequencies – perhaps unsurprising given that they’re the higher-priced sibling of the Sennheiser IE 300, which proudly sit on our list of the best wired headphones.  When listening to Rains again by Solji, the rain coming down throughout the introduction is utteraly natural and convincing, with each drop defined. In addition to that, the earphones perfectly captured the delicate nature of the track’s high-pitched vocals and finer details, such as the click of the singer's tongue on the palate. Vocals in the mid-range also pop really well on the IE 600, and often sound slightly forward, but never in a way that disrupts overall balance.

Sennheiser claims that the IE 600 deliver “fast, accurate bass”, and it isn’t wrong. When tuning into Black Eye by Allie X, I was wowed by the rapid pumping of the drum machine as the bassline dipped to impressive depths; it bounced up in a very controlled manner. The depth of the bass was certainly imposing, so if you’re the kind of person who wants to experience meaty low-frequency sounds, these IEMs won’t disappoint.

The authoritative nature of the bass ties into a wider theme with the IE 600; they excel in serving up powerful, full-bodied audio. When switching between the far cheaper, but still fantastic, Sennheiser IE 200 and the IE 600, I certainly felt that the latter offered a more all-encompassing listening experience, mainly due to their ability to show off subtle sonic details. For instance, I used the IE 600 to test out I Want You by Moloko and felt genuinely energized by the almost cinematic reproduction of the tune. The IE 600 faithfully captured the track’s complexity, including the intro’s breathy vocals, natural-sounding keys, and the several instruments that enter the fray later in the track to form a dense, layered mix.

Of course, you understand why they're so difference when you compare the IE 200's price of $149.95 / £129.99 / AU$239.95 to the IE 600 at 4-5 times that. No wonder the IE 600 are a cut above for sound, and will impress hardcore audiophiles.

Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk design. The IE 600 are beautifully manufactured, and their 3D-printed metal casing rocks a textured, classy look. Fun fact: the metal used to build the IE 600 – ZR01 amorphous zirconium – is the same type used for the drilling head of NASA's Mars Rover. Now, that’s pretty sturdy. The earphones are still small and relatively lightweight, though. Coming in at 0.21oz / 6g (per bud), they bring elegance alongside durability. They also fit really well, and it took me no time at all to find the right feel. The earphones are attached to a bendy cable, which makes it easy to adjust the fit around your ear and achieve maximum comfort. Speaking of which, I never felt any irritation while wearing the IE 600, even when keeping them in for full work days. Thankfully, I was subjected to very limited cable noise, something that can be a real mood-killer with a lot of wired in-ear headphones.

My personal feeling is that the IE 600’s gray cable is a bit of a downgrade on the plaited silver one included with the IE 200. Although the IE 600’s wire has a smooth, clean aesthetic, I found myself more attached to the feeling and chain-like appearance of the cheaper model. Like the IE 200, it’s a shame that the included cable here doesn’t include an in-line controller or mic, which makes the IE 600 a little inconvenient if you’re on the go and have to adjust volume via the source device. There’s a way around this – but it involves spending an additional £59.99 (about $75 / AU$115) on an alternative Sennheiser cable with built-in controller.

The default wire for the IE 600 has a 3.5mm connector, but the box also includes one with a 4.4mm connector that you can attach the earphones to instead. There are other extras bundled in too, including a hard carry case, a cleaning tool, a clip that you can attach to the IE 600’s cable, and a collection of different-sized foam and gel ear tips. I found that the foam tips were the most comfortable, and they assist in enabling pretty solid noise isolation. If you want near-silence, though, you'll get a greater effect from the best noise cancelling earbuds. 

Overall, the Sennheiser IE 600 are a brilliant pair of IEMs that I thoroughly enjoyed using. If you’re looking to invest in some top-quality wired in-ear headphones, these will almost certainly sound the part – and last you for many years to come. As a result, I can definitely recommend the Sennheiser IE 600 – especially because you shouldn't need to pay list price (which is a touch high in my opinion), but should be able to pay more like $500 / £500 / AU$1,000.

Sennheiser IE 600 review: Price and release date

• $799 / £699 / AU$1,199
• Launched in March 2022

There’s no denying it, the Sennheiser IE 600 are pretty expensive. With a list price of $799 / £699 / AU$1,199, they’re truly in the high-end category compared to the likes of the Sennheiser IE 200 – although they’re capable of fuller, more detailed sound. On the flip side, the IE 600 are considerably cheaper than their even more premium sibling, the Sennheiser IE 900, which have a list price of $1,499 / £1,299 / AU$2,399. 

A crucial factor here is that it’s pretty unlikely you’ll have to fork out the list price to get your hands on the Sennheiser IE 600. I spotted them for as little as $469.95, £499.99, and AU$972 (in the latter’s case via Sennheiser’s own online store), so be a savvy shopper.

Sennheiser IE 600 review: Specs

Should you buy the Sennheiser IE 600?

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Sennheiser IE 600 review: Also consider

How I tested the Sennheiser IE 600

• Tested across the course of two weeks
• Used in the office and on walks
• Predominantly tested using Tidal on the FiiO M11S music player

I put the Sennheiser IE 600 to the test over two weeks. I predominantly used the IEMs while seated in the office, but I also used them while on walks and at home. Most of the time, I used the IE 600 with the FiiO M11S hi-res music player, listening to tunes on Tidal.

When playing music, I started by tuning into the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains tracks from a wide variety of genres. I also used the IE 600 with my Windows laptop when watching YouTube videos or playing games, to ensure quality was high across multiple devices and media. I also used the Sennheiser IE 200 and Shure Aonic 3 to directly compare audio quality, comfort levels, and design features, when appropriate. 

Read more about how we test earbuds.

• First reviewed: June 2024 
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SoundMagic E80D: Review

With the SoundMagic E80D, the headphone manufacturer has released yet another budget pair of earbuds capable of serving up hi-res audio. That’s partly because the new E80D come with a built-in digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) – a common inclusion for SoundMagic products, and something that sets its products apart from a lot of other budget wired earbud creators. So, just how good do the E80D buds sound, and are they worth their asking price? Let’s find out…

The E80D’s built-in DAC is capable of handling audio up to 24bit / 96kHz, and was a key difference-maker on quality when I compared them to the DAC-less (and admittedly cheaper) Skullcandy Set USB-C. Added quality was apparent when listening to Adagio Per Archi E Organo In Sol Minore by the London Philharmonic Orchestra; the track’s organ and string elements were easily distinguishable, something that other budget buds can struggle with. When I listened to the same track on the Set USB-C, they melded the instruments together more, restricting the expressive nature of the composition. 

Similarly, when I listened to Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon, vocals in the mid-range felt more natural on the E80D to me. Percussion also felt a bit more weighty and impactful in the transition out from the intro than it did with the Skullcandy model. 

SoundMagic claims that the E80D have a “defined bass” – and I’d agree. With Black Eye by Allie X, I was pleased by the level of depth the E80D could achieve. And although the kicks didn’t have the same sharpness that you’d expect from a more premium pair of wired headphones, they still packed a punch. 

The biggest drawback when it comes to sound is the fact that the E80D just don’t get loud enough. At first, I wondered if all the years of high-volume listening were catching up on me, but after checking my experience against that of others online, I realized I wasn’t alone here. I checked loudness across a Windows laptop, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Fiio M11S music player, but couldn’t always quite get the power I craved. I found myself typically playing songs at the 80-90% volume mark, which is significantly higher than when using the SoundMagic E11D, for instance. 

Still, most people will likely be satisfied with the E80D’s sound levels if they keep them cranked high enough – it might just take a bit of getting used to. All in all, this is a bit of a shame though, given one of the reasons that their sibling, the SoundMagic E11C, got onto our list of the best wired headphones, was due to their impressive power.

Beyond sound, the E80D listening experience is relatively free of discomfort thanks to a comfortable fit – I gladly kept these in for hours across multiple days in the office and when walking home. They’re also pretty lightweight at 0.56oz / 16g, which adds a touch of elegance. 

Additionally, they offer passive noise isolation, which helps to reduce the rumble of passing traffic, surrounding chatter and similar. In all honesty, I was surprised at how good the E80D’s noise isolation was given their price tag of $44 / £39.98 / AU$66. When I was playing music in the office, I could barely make out the sound of typing or colleagues speaking. Of course, you’re not going to get the near-silence that you may get from active noise canceling, but for what they set out to do in the isolation department, the E80D deliver.

One area of minor frustration during listening sessions was with cable noise, which, although not severe, is still a slight distraction. This was more prominent when I was on the move, although this is pretty common for earbuds that hang down, rather than wrap around the ear. If you want to tune in to music or podcasts while on the go and you’re not hellbent on purchasing wired buds specifically, it might be a better move to select a pair of the best wireless earbuds instead. 

If you need to find the perfect fit or get the most out of the E80D’s noise isolation, you’ll be pleased to hear that there are additional ear gels included in small and large sizes, as well as a double-layered option (the default ear tips are standard, medium-sized gels). On the topic of extras, the E80D also come with a hard carry case for transporting your buds around.

The SoundMagic E80D look pretty similar to their predecessor, the SoundMagic E11D. They aren’t particularly stunning, although their silver-colored wire has a twisted look, which I’m a fan of. However, it’s worth noting that I also tested an older version of the E11D in Black, which had a much chunkier USB-C connector and didn’t have the coiled visual effect of the Silver model, so the E80D make for a significant improvement over this variant appearance-wise. My largest gripe with the E80D’s build is that the remote – which includes controls for volume and play/pause – is similar to that of the E11D, and still has buttons that are too small and close together. However, the controller’s inbuilt mic performs well, and recorded relatively clear audio when I created a voice recording – though I could make out a little static in the background.

Overall, you get a lot for your money with the SoundMagic E80D without having to sacrifice on quality across audio, design, or comfort – as a result, I would recommend these.

SoundMagic E80D review: Price and release date

• $44 / £39.98 / AU$66
• Launched on April 17, 2024

The SoundMagic E80D are still quite fresh, having only been released in April 2024, around six years after the E11D. One of the most attractive aspects of the E80D is their affordability, with the model holding a list price of $44 / £39.98 / AU$66.

If you’re working with a slightly smaller budget though, you can still find quality options, such as the stylish Skullcandy Set USB-C, which come in at $31.99 / £29.99 (about AU$50). You will, however, miss out on the inbuilt DAC, with the Skullcandy supplying decent audio, but not to the same standard you get with the E80D. 

SoundMagic E80D review: Specs

Should you buy the SoundMagic E80D?

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SoundMagic E80D: Also consider

SoundMagic E80D review: How I tested

• Tested across the span of multiple weeks
• Used in the office and whilst on walks
• Predominantly tested using Tidal on FiiO M11S music player

When judging the SoundMagic E80D’s audio quality, I usually connected them to the FiiO M11S hi-res music player and listened to music via Tidal. However, I also tried tuning into some tracks on Spotify using my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and watched some YouTube videos with them on my Windows laptop. 

As always, I selected tunes from the TechRadar testing playlist when conducting this review, which includes records from a whole host of different genres. I used the E80D in the office, on walks, and at home over the course of multiple weeks.

Read more about how we test.

• First reviewed: June 2024

SoundMagic E11D: Review

SoundMagic makes some bold claims about the SoundMagic E11D, stating that they deliver “superior sound”, “enhanced accuracy and detail”, and are made from “high-quality aluminum components” – but how good are they really? Pretty good, actually.

Let’s start with what matters the most – audio quality. I was very pleased with the clarity offered by these buds, and when listening to Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon, they skilfully weighted the various instrumental elements – from the groovy bassline to the recurring guitar riff and layered vocals. However, I did find that clarity was hampered somewhat at louder volumes. On that point, these buds can get very loud if you want them to; there’s no way that you’ll be left wanting more on the amplification front.

When tuning into Black Eye by Allie X, I was impressed by the E11D’s ability to supply controlled bass. The deepest tones weren’t astonishingly impactful, but they certainly demonstrated a bit more depth than the Skullcandy Set USB-C buds on comparing the two. Similarly, Rains Again by Solji was delivered clearly and without any tinniness at 50% volume. However, high-pitched vocals fell short of being perfectly crisp. All in all, though, audio will satisfy the vast majority of listeners – something that also rings true of the E11D’s sibling, the SoundMagic E11C, which appear on our list of the best wired headphones.

The E11D’s effectiveness in the sound department is, in part, thanks to their built-in digital-to-analogue converter (DAC), which can handle up to 24bit/96kHz audio. This alone earns the E11D kudos, especially given that even some of the best wired earbuds still require one of the best portable DACs to truly showcase their skills. That’s not to say that you’ll transcend to a new plane of consciousness by using the E11D, but for the very decent list price of $44 / £39.99 / AU$65, you’ll most certainly get your money’s worth.

On the topic of cost, it’s important to consider that the E11D arrive with a few extras to sweeten the deal. Alongside some silicone ear tips, in small, medium, and large sizes, you also get a sturdy black and gray carry case, which is a decent-looking, convenient addition to the mix. 

Another area in which the E11D score positively is comfort. I kept them in my ears for multiple full work days and while on walks, and they never once fell out of my ears or felt irritating after longer listening periods. In addition, the E11D enable you to enjoy music, podcasts or videos without being overly distracted by external noise, thanks to their noise isolation. 

Imagine this: you’re sitting in the office with colleagues around you typing away. A plethora of sounds surround you, whether it's occasional chatter or the roar of an engine as a car zooms past – but even that’s overridden by an electric guitar blaring from the next room over. Well, let’s just say I didn’t have to do much imagining last Thursday – but, thanks to the E11D, all of this wasn’t too much of a distraction. Noise isolation here is pretty good, and although some sounds will still creep through, these buds do a nice job of keeping you zoned into whatever you’re listening to – especially considering they don’t come with specialized foam ear tips. 

One more factor that can disrupt a wired listening experience is the sound of wires moving during use. SoundMagic has done a decent job of keeping cable noise relatively dulled compared to other more budget models. You can still hear these sounds if you touch the wires, for instance, but the noise is far less imposing than I’ve heard with the Skullcandy Set USB-Cs, for example.

So far you might be thinking that me and the E11D have an unbreakable bond that could last a lifetime. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to burst that bubble. You see, these earbuds may offer solid sound and considerable comfort, but they don’t hit all the right notes, especially on the design front.

First, the E11D’s controller is pretty disappointing. While equipped with the classic volume up, down, and play/pause buttons (the latter can also be used to take or hang up calls and skip songs), the buttons themselves are so small and positioned so close together, that they can prove a challenge to use. Even my colleague with fingers smaller than mine struggled with the button controls. This is pretty frustrating if you’re trying to adjust the volume while on the go, for instance. When it comes to the E11D’s built-in mic, though, I’m pleased to report that it works very well, and I could hear myself clearly – with only a little background static – when listening back to a voice recording.

Looks-wise, the E11D aren’t stone cold stunners, but they’re also far from ugly. The rounded appearance of the actual buds lacks the sharpness of models such as the Skullcandy Set USB-C, for instance, but they're still classy in their way. Available in either black or silver, I did test a seemingly older variant of the E11D in black, which had a larger connector, plus they did have some issues working with my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4. However, when using the newer, silver version of the E11D, I experienced no such issues, and in fact I’d argue that their cable’s twisted design makes them the better choice. 

Overall, the E11D deliver plenty of bang for their buck. The combination of hi-res audio and impressive noise isolation means that you’ll almost definitely be satisfied with what they offer.

SoundMagic E11D review: Price and release date

• $44 / £39.99 / AU$65
• Launched in November 2018

SoundMagic’s E11D earbuds are available for $44 / £39.99 / AU$65 and first launched in November 2018. 

These are a budget option, but there are USB-C earbuds on the market that are cheaper still, such as the aforementioned Skullcandy Set buds, which come in at just $31.99 / £29.99 (about AU$50), but also Apple’s USB-C EarPods (list price currently $19 / £19 / AU$29). More on the Skullcandy alternative later – but be warned that in our opinion, Apple’s USB-C EarPods don’t deliver particularly great sound quality. If you want access to a higher caliber of audio, shelling out a little more on the E11D could be well worth it.

SoundMagic E11D review: Specs

Should you buy the SoundMagic E11D?

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

SoundMagic E11D review: Also consider

SoundMagic E11D review: How I tested

• Tested across two weeks
• Used in the office, at home, and while walking
• Predominantly tested using Tidal on FiiO M11S hi-res music player

I tested the SoundMagic E11D earbuds in a range of environments, including the office, at home, and while out and about. When listening to music, I played tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains tracks from a vast variety of genres, in order to measure sound quality.

I also listened to hours of songs via Tidal on the FiiO M11S hi-res music player, and watched YouTube videos on my windows laptop. When appropriate, I used the Skullcandy Set USB-C buds to compare the E11D on audio quality, comfort, and ease of use.

Read more about how we test.

•  First reviewed: June 2024

Sennheiser IE 200 review

The Sennheiser IE 200 are USB-C wired earphones that aim to deliver high-fidelity sound at a relatively low price. And my expectations were high. The company is one of the biggest names in the sound world and has an excellent reputation for crafting top-class wired headphones. So, you can imagine my delight upon discovering that these earphones live up to the hype, serving up bold, meaty audio, a sleek design, and plenty of comfort.

Let’s delve into what matters most: sound quality. The Sennheiser IE 200 stoke up excitement with weighty, immersive audio that instantly captures your attention. Sound is excellently balanced, and when tuning in to St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins, the characteristics of the smooth double bass, playful percussion, and flowing saxophone were all faithfully captured to create a fantastically well-rounded listening experience. Furthermore, tracks never sound muddied or convoluted when using the IE 200, even with the volume cranked up all the way. The high caliber of separation will be of great use to musicians involved in the mixing process or listeners looking for a step up from an average pair of wired buds.

When listening to I Want You by Moloko, low frequencies came through with strong levels of control and clarity – exactly what I’d expect from a set of the best wired headphones. Bass doesn’t get super deep, but it still hits with a strong level of intensity on tracks centered around low-frequency sounds. If you really want booming bass, it may be best to go for something on our best wireless earbuds guide that’s compatible with an EQ adjustment app.

I Want You was a particularly useful track for measuring the IE 200’s audio quality overall. As the track develops, instrument after instrument is woven into the piece, though the energetic percussion, layered synths and strings all keep their individuality in the mix. The intro – focused around powerful, yet controlled vocals – sounded natural and instantly gripped me. In general, vocals feel prominent when using these IEMs, especially those in the mid-range. However, they never disrupt the balance – it's more that if they’re meant to steal the show, they’re given license to do so. Higher-frequency vocals, such as those in Rains again by Solji were also delivered with crisp precision expertly capturing the expressive nature of the song. All in all, you’re getting fantastic quality across all frequencies in a balanced package, and the IE 200 left me with no sense of disappointment sonically. 

These IEMs are also dual-tunable, meaning you can place the ear tips all the way onto the earphone or have them on ‘outer’ position – each setting serves up a significantly different sound signature. When setting the tips to the ‘outer’ position, the treble gets a bit more limelight, especially at the highest of frequencies, whereas the bass, especially at the lowest level, is dialed down compared to the standard position. Of course, the better option will depend on your personal preference and the sort of audio you’re consuming, but I almost always stuck with the standard setup in order to get more low-end power.

All right, so far so good on sound, but how do they fare comfort-wise? The Sennheiser IE 200 have what I’d describe as a very minimalistic feel, perhaps thanks to the fact that they tip the scales at just 0.14oz / 4g (per bud). The IE 200 create a tight seal in the ear canal and are attached to bendy, adjustable wires that curl behind the ears – I found that it was quick and easy to find a great fit, and at no point did I feel irritated by the earphones throughout multiple full days of listening. Comfort levels are also enhanced by noise isolation, which helps to dull harsh sounds, particularly higher-pitched ones. Passive noise isolation is solid if you use the foam ear tips, but not so good with the silicone ones – so make sure to choose wisely if you’re on the go or generally keen to block out external sounds.

The IE 200 don’t just feel good, they look good too. Well, actually, Sennheiser has gone one step further, claiming that “wires have never been this sexy” – and I’m here to say that I’m in full agreement. Even the silver wire’s braided, chain-like design looks classy and feels quite satisfying to handle (is that weird to say?). The adjustable ear hooks further enhance the earphones’ discreet, stylish appearance, ensuring that the IE 200 hit the right notes in the looks department. The earphones themselves are curved and clean, but their plastic housing doesn’t quite have the luxury feel or durability of the metallic Sennheiser IE 600, for instance. 

One gripe I have with the IE 200 model’s design is the lack of an onboard controller. Not being able to adjust volume, skip tracks, or pause music unless I reached for the device playing audio was a tad inconvenient, especially when on the go. This sort of issue would be borderline unforgivable for earbuds designed for workouts or runs, for instance, but here it’s less of a deal-breaker. The IE 200 aren’t exactly pitched as wired headphones to wear while you sweat it out at the gym, but bear this in mind if you’re looking for a wired option for when you’re out and about or getting active. 

Back to the positives though – the IE 200’s wire is detachable, so you can attach the earphones themselves to a replacement MMCX cable. Another great thing about the included wire is that it doesn’t cause too much cable noise when you move around – you can hear a little bit of this, but it's pretty constrained and never felt overly distracting. Perhaps the best aspect of the wire though is that it seamlessly untangled any time I took it out of the included carry pouch, earning it extra points in the convenience department. Alongside the carry pouch, additional foam and gel ear tips in small, medium, and large sizes are included in the IE 200’s box. 

So, despite setting a very high bar for itself, Sennheiser has easily cleared it with the IE 200 model. They offer awesome all-round sound and manage to look pretty cool while doing it. And considering they won’t leave your pockets feeling all too empty, I simply have to recommend these. 

Sennheiser IE 200 review: Price and release date

• $149.95 / £129.99 / AU$239.95
• Launched on January 31, 2023

Sennheiser’s IE 200 don’t cost that much considering the quality, and many competitors charge a fair bit more for products of a similar ilk. For instance, the Shure AONIC 3 earphones, which are very similar in quality, come in at $199 / £209 (about AU$300) – more on these later.

The IE 200 certainly sit on the lower end of Sennheiser’s IE range given that the Sennheiser IE 900 command a far loftier list price of $‌1,499.95 / £1,299 / AU$2,399.95. Though you may not get the supreme quality on offer there, the IE 200 still deliver stellar sound and make for an excellent pick for audiophiles on a budget.

Sennheiser IE 200 review: Specs

Should you buy the Sennheiser IE 200?

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

Sennheiser IE 200 review: Also consider

Sennheiser IE 200 review: How I tested

• Tested for one week
• Used in the office and while on walks
• Predominantly tested using Tidal on Fiio M11S

I used the Sennheiser IE 200 over the course of a week. I predominantly tested them while working in our office, but also on walks near busy roads in order to trial their noise-isolation capabilities. 

To test musical output, I used the Tidal app on the FiiO M11S hi-res music player. When listening to tunes I played tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains tracks from a variety of genres. I also tried the IE 200 on my Windows laptop and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 while watching YouTube videos or tuning into the latest news on the BBC website. 

Read more about how we test.

• First reviewed: June 2024 

Shure AONIC 3: Review

The Shure AONIC 3 earbuds claim they supply “striking full-range sound” – and spoiler alert, Shure isn't lying. When listening to various tracks, every individual sonic element feels like a uniquely scented flower, coming together to create an immersive garden of sound.

Tuning into St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins, I found that the percussion features dotted throughout the track sounded detailed and the record’s drum solo came through with sharpness. I was delighted by the wonderful separation on offer, too, with the rhythmic guitar loop in Young Blood by The Naked and Famous maintaining its distinct position in the track without becoming lumped in with the bass – and even at very loud volume levels, I could still appreciate each individual component of the song.

Not only do the AONIC 3 do well at delivering sound in a distinct manner, but audio is presented with wonderful clarity across all frequencies that sees them stack up well against even some of the best wired headphones. Rich mid-range tones are the real star of the show, with powerful vocals, blaring electric guitars, and percussion feeling particularly impactful. Highs aren’t totally flawless, but they certainly have an air of delicacy and sweetness that will please the majority of listeners.

I’d argue that, sonically, the only downside is with the transmission of deep bass and ultra-low frequency audio. When listening to I Want You by Moloko, the pumping bass sounded defined, but didn’t have the weight that I hoped to feel. It’s important to caveat this by saying that the deep bass still sounded very clear and wasn’t muddied with other elements of the song, which is a pretty layered piece – it just didn’t hit as hard as I’d like. Ultimately, there’s still great balance here, but those looking for an earth-shaking deep bass might be better served by a set of the best wireless earbuds with EQ controls instead.

An excellent wired listening experience wouldn’t be complete without a strong level of passive noise isolation. Thankfully, the AONIC 3 deliver on this front and then some. While in the office, I heard little to nothing other than the music playing from these buds (at 50% volume), and was massively impressed by their ability to keep unwanted distractions at bay. At one stage, someone was hammering away building a shelving unit, but the AONIC 3 severely dampened the coarse noise of clanging metal. 

If you’re listening to music at a slightly quieter volume, you may still hear some external sounds filter through. In light of this, if you want near-silence then you may be better off with Bluetooth buds capable of great active noise cancelling. As you can see from our Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 review, Bose's buds might be a better option as they perform very well in this department, and still sit among the best wireless earbuds.

Should you go on a longer walk, you may well be using the AONIC 3 for hours on end and, for that, you want comfort. These buds have a bendy cable that wraps around your ears rather than just hanging straight down. Since it’s adjustable, you can tailor the fit perfectly to your ear shape – although it’s worth mentioning that it took me a while to find the right fit. Sometimes if I took the buds out, I felt the wire took a few seconds to readjust, but it wasn’t too much of a bother.

On finding the right fit, the AONIC 3 were pleasant to keep in for multiple hours, and I only had to adjust them a couple of times through the multiple full days of use. The wrap-around design also helps to keep cable noise to a minimum, which is particularly important if you want to maintain a clean listening experience while on a run or doing other physical activities.

To boost enjoyment, you can also select between a range of different ear tips to find a feel that suits you best. There are small, medium and large foam and gel tips included, but there are also yellow foam and white triple-layered gel alternatives in the box. After rotating through the entire roster of ear tips, I felt that the default medium-sized Comply tips provided the best comfort and sound quality overall. If you hold the Comply tips in place for 15-30 seconds, they expand to fit your ear canal, providing an optimal seal. The AONIC 3 buds also come with a neat-looking circular carry case, in which you can store your comprehensive collection of ear tips.

That’s not all on the customizability front, though. The AONIC 3 can be inserted into an included adapter for use in 0.25 inch (6.3mm) jacks. Additionally, the buds themselves are detachable, and you can add them to an over-ear wireless adapter (sold separately) and listen to audio via a Bluetooth connection – although detaching them is a little tougher than I’d have liked.

The AONIC 3 are most certainly designed to deliver super sound, but do they look cool while doing it? Sort of. They’re not exactly stunning, mainly due to the model’s chunky Y-cable and controller. The angled earbuds are quite sleek, though, and the way they slip behind the ear makes for a discreet, clean look. You can choose to purchase the AONIC 3 in either Black or White, and both colorways lend themselves to the minimalistic vibe.

Although the controller may appear to be slightly oversized, it works great and has appropriately sized buttons. The play/pause button enables users to skip songs and take or hang up calls on the go. There’s also a switch on the controller that can be set to “A” or “i” mode, depending on whether you’re using an Android- or iOS-powered device. The built-in microphone works well, and I heard only a bit of static when recording and listening back to a voice note.

The Shure AONIC 3 bring fantastic sound, solid comfort, and very good noise isolation – a set of qualities that these buds share with some of the best wired headphones. However, this comes at a price – and not a particularly low one. Coming in at $199 / £209 (about AU$300), the AONIC 3 are a little steep; but if you can stomach the cost, I would certainly recommend them.

Shure AONIC 3 review: Price and release date

• $199 / £209 (about AU$300)
• Launched on October 1, 2020

The Shure AONIC 3 earbuds released on October 1, 2020, and are directly available via Shure’s digital store in the UK and the US, but not Australia.

Their list price at the time of writing is $199 / £209 (about AU$300), which certainly isn’t cheap, but nowhere near the dizzy heights you’ll see from premium models such as the Sennheiser IE 900s, or even Shure’s very own AONIC 5.

Shure AONIC 3 review: Specs

Should you buy the Shure AONIC 3?

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

Shure AONIC 3 review: Also consider

Shure AONIC 3 review: How I tested

• Tested over the course of a week
• Used in the office and while on walks
• Predominantly tested using Tidal via the FiiO M11S

I used the Shure AONIC 3 buds over the course of a week, predominantly putting them to the test in an office environment and while out on walks near busy roads to trial their noise isolation capabilities. 

To test musical output, I used the Tidal app on the FiiO M11S hi-res music player. When listening to tunes I played tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains tracks from a variety of genres. I also tried the AONIC 3 on my Windows laptop while watching videos on YouTube or tuning into the latest news on the BBC website. 

Read more about how we test.

• First reviewed: May 2024

Nothing Ear: Two-minute review

The Nothing Ear are actually the third-gen version of the company’s flagship earbuds line. If you're not up-to-date on your Nothing history, this should be enough to make you aware aware that Nothing cares, well, nothing about naming conventions.

In many ways, the shiny new Nothing Ear are really great earbuds for the price and among my favorite of all the in-ears I’ve tested for TechRadar. Having said that, I’d much rather be using whatever Nothing comes up with next than these new-for-2024 models. Might that be the Nothing Ear (4)? Who can say. For now, the Nothing Ear have a few glaring issues that – potentially ironed out in a future version – could be some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds out there.

My biggest issue with the Nothing Ear, something which plagued testing, was their surprisingly low maximum volume. When outdoors, the buds don’t reach even the quietest volume I like to listen to – even with decent noise cancellation, it was hard to enjoy music in noisy areas. 

Next up is the battery life. Earbuds makers really need to understand that five hours of listening just doesn’t cut it in this day and age, when people spend more time with headphones on than off. I had to keep pausing my testing in order to let the buds charge – that isn’t a good sign, even if the case does hold quite a bit more juice.

Talking of the case, it’s made of a really cheap-feeling plastic is a contender for the least-nice-to-hold earbuds holder I’ve ever used. It creaks and flexes in the hand, and I feel like one drop from even the lowest-slung coffee table would crack it. That’s not even to make mention of the fairly uninspired and blocky look of the thing.

That's my main Nothing Ear gripes off my chest, early doors, so I can spend the rest of this review heaping on the praise they rightly deserve. The Nothing Ear offer spectacular audio for the money. The equalizer gives you total control over the buds’ sound, more so than in most rival products, and that’s doubly the case if you like a thumping, accurate, crisp bass. 

If you felt the ground shaking in early June 2024, that wasn’t an earthquake – it was me testing these buds' bass. It’s incredible, and you can almost feel your head thumping at how vibrant the low frequencies are. For some, it might be too much, but that’s why it’s so great that the equalizer lets you bring out the sparkle in your music.

The Nothing X app also brings a fantastic sound detection technology, to try and tune music specifically for your ears. A few brands offer this but none has had such a dramatic effect on the listening experience as this one.

Sure, the Nothing Ear's charging case isn't the best, but the buds are much better: they’re lightweight and sit in your ear as reliably as an earring would – so much so, you can easily forget that you’re wearing them. 

So there’s a lot to like here, and a fair bit to love, too – it’s just a shame that the Nothing Ear have those three glaring issues. I could look past any one of them alone, but together they make it hard to give the buds a higher review score.

Nothing Ear review: Price and release date

• Announced in April 2024 alongside Ear (a)
• Costs $149 / £129 / AU$249

The Nothing Ear was announced alongside the affordable Nothing Ear (a) in April 2024, with the buds hitting store shelves a matter of days later. This was just over a year on from the release of the Nothing Ear (2) – the Ear are follow-ups to those and how I wish the makers would have just called them the Nothing Ear (3), for simplicity’s sake. Got it? Good.

You can pick up the Nothing Ear for $149 / £129 / AU$249. That's how much the Ear (2) cost last year everywhere except in Australia, where a slight price bump has come into play.

That means you can’t quite consider these ‘cheap’ earbuds, but they’re certainly not pricey ones either. There’s not much competition at this in-between price point, with many earbuds aiming at customers who want to spend less than $100 / £100 / AU$200 and most of the step-up options costing double that.

But if you do want something for this specific price, there are a few options like the Beats Studio Buds, Jabra Elite 5, Sennheiser Accentum and of course the bog-standard Apple AirPods. Or check out our best earbuds page for various budgets. 

Nothing Ear review: Specs

Nothing Ear review: Features

• 5-hour buds battery, 24-hour with case (when ANC is used)
• Decent noise cancellation, with caveats
• Nothing X app brings useful extras

Lots of the Nothing Ear's magic comes from their tie-in phone app called Nothing X. You don’t need the app, but lots of the features it brings are game-changers.

With the app you can set touch controls (discussed in detail in the Design section), fiddle with sound settings with an equalizer, bass booster and hearing test (all dealt with in the Sound quality section), toggle the noise cancellation (explored in the Features sect- oh, wait, that’s this one!) and change a few other settings like in-ear detection and which audio standard you stream from. Plus you can do an eartip fit test and find the earbuds if you lose them. That's a lot.

The noise cancellation is good – great in some circumstances and a little lacking in others. It’s not quite best-in-class for mid-range earbuds but it’s up there. There are six optional modes: off, Transparency (basically like an ambient mode) and four different intensities of standard ANC: high, mid, low and adaptive. 

The latter, which I found myself using for most of the testing period, changes the level of noise cancellation based on where you are, which means the Nothing Ear aren’t using loads of battery to block out noise if you’re home alone. 

In most cases, the noise cancellation was good at removing background sounds, but it didn’t always succeed when there was a lot going on – a busy road near my house proved a bane every time I was near it. This combines with a volume issue that we’ll explore later on, to make the buds inadequate when you’re somewhere noisy.

The adaptive mode also felt slow to respond to changes in environment and often played catch-up when I was moving through different locations.

A bigger issue with the buds – or a shorter issue – is the battery life. When you’re using ANC, you can only listen to the Nothing Ear for about five hours before they need to be recharged, which really isn’t going to cut it. The case will give you a fair amount of lasting power, at 24 hours, and those figures are much better at 8.5 and 40.5 hours respectively if you opt to turn noise cancellation off.

From my testing, the adaptive noise cancellation did seem to give me a little extra listening time, so I’d recommend it for anyone who thinks five hours might be enough but aren’t totally sure.

The Nothing Ear connects to your phone or tablet using Bluetooth 5.3, which I found reliable – it only dropped once and that was for a second. And for all you wondering, you don’t need to connect the earbuds to a Nothing phone in order to enjoy all of their features.

Pairing is quick and easy, whether you’re connecting the buds to your phone for the first time or every other time you’re using them. I’ve got no complaints, and everything worked as intended – as did other features like the quick wear detection, the dual connections so you can pair the buds to multiple devices and jump between them and a latency mode, so the buds are handy for gaming.

You may also have heard that Nothing is now offering pinch-to-speak to ChatGPT integration across its earbuds, provided you own a Nothing Phone. I don't – and I think only a fraction of potential buyers here will be fully immersed in Nothing's ecosystem. But nevertheless, it's a feature worth mentioning – and it's available in Nothing's older earbuds lineup too. So, if you kit yourself out with Nothing Ear, Nothing Ear (a), the inaugural July 2021 Nothing Ear (1), the October 2022 follow-up Nothing Ear (Stick), the March 2023 Nothing Ear (2) or Nothing's budget CMF by Nothing Buds (including the CMF Neckband Pro and CMF Buds Pro) plus a Nothing smartphone (Nothing Phone 1, Nothing Phone 2 or Nothing Phone 2a) running the latest version of the app and ChatGPT, you'll be able to use it. 

• Features score: 4/5

Nothing Ear review: Design

• Small and comfortable earbuds
• Buds have IP54, case has IP55 protection
• Tacky plastic case

You know what you're going to get with true wireless earbuds like the Nothing Ear: two small buds and a case.

In true Nothing fashion the case is see-through, letting you gaze adoringly upon the buds inside should the mood so take you. However, the plastic material used for the holder feels incredibly cheap – dare I say ‘tacky’? – and a little fragile, too. It creaks when you hold it too tight and it’s a shame that Nothing wouldn’t opt for a more premium design.

It’s a square case, a little bigger than some I’ve seen but it fits in pockets easily. It has a USB-C port on one side for charging and you can also charge wirelessly, although it’s pretty slow. The case measures 5.5 x 5.5 x 2.2 cm and weighs 51.9g.

The buds themselves are nice and small and at 4.62g each they’re lightweight in the ear. They’re stem-style buds which gives them a nice rigid fit, although the Nothing-style see-through look might put off fashionistas.

There’s a touch control on each stem and, while you can rely on them to pick up individual touches pretty easily, there’s a noticeable delay between a press and the action actually picking up. You can customize the actions for single, double and triple pinches as well as a single and a double pinch and hold, on both the left and right buds, giving you a whole host of customization over your gestures – if you can remember what each single action does, that is. I, frankly, could not.

The buds have an IP54 rating against dust and liquid, while the case is a slightly higher IP55. This means that both can survive all but the finest particles and also sprays of water droplets, with the case withstanding stronger showers of water.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Nothing Ear review: Sound quality

• Oodles of bass (in a largely good way)
• Responsive and handy equalizer
• Some distortion, but not much

The Nothing Ear sound pretty good for buds at this price, but they are absolutely fantastic for bass lovers. Seriously, these are second only to sitting on a bass amp blaring out Debaser by Pixies when it comes to thumping rhythms.

I spent my initial testing time with the ‘More Bass’ in the equalizer and the ‘Bass Enhance’ options turned on and the latter at its highest setting. And with these settings turned on, the bass is intense – you’ll hear it pushing past all the other parts of any song to sit forefront and I could almost feel my head vibrating with the music. 

This incredible amount of bass can likely be attributed to two features. One is Nothing’s custom-built 11mm ceramic drivers made just for these buds (you won't find them in the Nothing Ear (a), which include more traditional solo dynamic drivers in each bud), and the other is an algorithm from the company which is designed to detect and enhance bass sounds in music.

If you’re not a bass fan, you’ll be glad to know that you don’t have to turn it up to 11 like I did, and in fact the buds sound great when all these modes are turned off. The default sound is quite bass-heavy, but you can change that.

The in-app equalizer lets you tweak the buds’ output whether you know how they work or not: a simple mode lets you spread sound between treble, bass and mid, while an advanced mode gives you a lot more versatility, and a sound personalization mode tests your hearing to work out a perfect mix for you.

The latter is surprisingly effective, too, and the several-minute-long test helped me find a nice mix (while also making me realize that my hearing is quite different between my ears!). What’s doubly great is that you can use this test and the equalizer, so you can account for both your hearing and your preferences.

Nothing’s buds are strong whether you want to pull out some nice crisp treble, some sturdy mid or the aforementioned bass. And there’s enough clarity to give a decent amount of sound stage, more than you normally hear in buds at this price – you can hear different instruments spread around you.

I did notice a tiny bit of distorting on certain parts of songs, with acoustic guitars and hi-hats getting a little scratchy if I let the equalizer bring them too far forward in the mix, but you’re about to read about why peaking isn’t as much of an issue as it could be.

This has all been a lot of praise for the Nothing Ear’s audio but the buds do have one major issue – an Ear-chilles’ heel, if you will – when it comes to volume. The max volume is far, far too low.

At its highest output, the Nothing Ear are roughly as loud as my usual comfort volume when I’m indoors, and below it when I’m out and about. I’m not usually a fan of overly loud music, so these buds will really disappoint people who do.

It’s an issue most palpable when you’re out and about – the noise cancellation is good, but if you’re in a loud environment or just want to really feel the energy of the music you’re listening to, the Nothing Ear just don’t get loud enough to compete with what’s around you. And, yes, I spent ages digging around in the in-app equalizer and that’s not the issue.

• Sound quality: 4/5

Nothing Ear review: Value

• Punchy above their price class
• Will compete with predecessors

Between the feature set and sound quality, the Nothing Ear are punching well out of their price class. Nothing could have charged 25 per cent more for these buds and they'd still be competitively priced.

You're getting more than you pay for by a country mile, with the Nothing X app's features in particular feeling incredibly premium.

If anything threatens to upset the Nothing Ear's value proposition, it's price cuts to the previous two generations of Nothing Ear, as well as the more affordable Nothing Eer (a). Each bring similar feature sets but for a lower price, so if you don't need all the trimmings of the top-tier offering, you could be swayed by them.

• Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Nothing Ear?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Nothing Ear review: Also consider

How I tested the Nothing Ear

• Tested for over two weeks
• Tested at home, in the office and on walks

I used the Nothing Ear for two weeks prior to writing this review and testing was mainly done with the buds paired to my Xiaomi phone, though I did use it on a Samsung one for a while, too. I didn't test it with a Nothing phone.

During testing I listened to various genres of music, played games and watched TV shows. I did so across various mixes, sound profiles and music features on the Nothing X app and, as mentioned, also used the hearing test halfway through the testing process. I listened at home, in my office and on many walks around my local area, as well as central London.

The Nothing Ear is just the latest of many gadgets I've tested for TechRadar over five and a half years, which includes many other earbuds, smartphones, tablets, speakers and more.

• First reviewed in June 2024

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee