Headphones as a Christmas present: Best sound for every budget – our recommendations

Whether on the way to school, to the office, while playing sports or in the garden – headphones are simply a part of life for most people. On- and over-ear headphones are still in demand because they offer really good sound with crisp bass. Practical for on the go: Compact in-ear headphones that disappear into the charging case in your pocket when not in use.

Compared to classic, wired headphones, Bluetooth devices have a real advantage. There’s no tangled cables in your pocket, but even better: ANC – active noise cancellation, which significantly dampens ambient noise. Noise canceling is a great thing, especially on buses and trains or when shopping, and can now be found even in inexpensive headphones.

However, premium devices from leading manufacturers are not bargains. Top models can quickly cost more than 300 euros. However, it doesn’t have to be that expensive to get good sound.

1. The best headphones up to 100 euros

2. The best headphones up to 200 euros

3. The best headphones up to 300 euros

4. The best headphones from 300 euros

5. Don’t miss an offer

In this gift guide for headphones, we show you the best models up to 100, 200 and 300 euros – each with over-ear and in-ear headphones. Isn’t that enough for you? Then there are also recommendations for the premium class.

The best headphones up to 100 euros

In the price range up to 100 euros, the manufacturer Anker is particularly active and recommended. The headphones, which go under the brand name “Soundcore”, are rock solid and offer very good value for money. A price tip here is the Anker Soundcore Space One, which we have already tested. The model offers decent sound and a reasonable ANC including transparency mode, and it can also be operated via cable if desired.

Furthermore, LDAC, a high-resolution Bluetooth codec, is supported, which transmits music in the best possible quality. A stylish design, a battery life of up to 40 hours and the folding mechanism complete the overall package.

When it comes to in-ear headphones, the Sony WF-C700N are a recommendation for just under 90 euros. They offer good sound as is typical for Sony, decent noise canceling with transparency mode and are also protected against water according to IPX4, so you can also use them during sports.

Despite the low price, Sony has packed the earbuds with a lot of technology. With Bluetooth 5.2, Google Fast Pair and Multipoint, connecting to multiple devices is child’s play. The battery life is also more than decent. The in-ears last up to 7.5 hours with ANC switched on, and with the charging case you get up to 15 hours.

The best headphones up to 200 euros

In the range up to 200 euros, we quickly end up with an audio specialist from Germany: Bose. If you’re looking for headphones with good sound and highly effective noise cancellation, choose the Bose QuietComfort SE, which is identical to the Bose QuietComfort 45 (except for the transport case). The over-ear headphones offer a solid battery life of up to 24 hours and support connection to multiple devices thanks to Multipoint.

If the battery runs out, the headphones can also be connected to players using an audio cable. Particularly good: Bose has a cell phone app in which you can, among other things, adjust the sound using an equalizer or switch between ANC and transparency mode.

The best in-ear headphones up to 200 euros are the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, which we were very impressed with in our test. The small earbuds impress with their good sound and really good noise cancellation. They also support the Bluetooth codec aptX Adaptive for better sound.

The battery life is up to 7 hours on one charge, with the case you get up to 28 hours. The Sennheisers also support multipoint Bluetooth, so you can pair them with multiple devices at the same time. The German manufacturer has really stylishly wrapped the charging case in textile, and it can also be charged wirelessly.

The best headphones up to 300 euros

For just under 300 euros you can choose the Sennheiser Momentum 4. They provide great sound and top-level ANC. There is also a really good battery life of up to 60 hours with noise cancellation switched on. The over-ear headphones can be paired with multiple devices via Bluetooth 5.2 (multipoint) and support the aptX Adaptive codec for good sound and low latency.

In addition to the Bluetooth connection, the headphones can also be operated via an audio cable and USB-C, which can be practical with modern cell phones or tablets, among other things. There is a touch surface on the right earcup – various commands can be carried out using gestures. Comfort and features such as automatic switching on when removed from the case make the Momentum 4 a very good pair of headphones.

Absolute recommendation for in-ears: The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds really impressed us in the test. We have never seen such good ANC in an in-ear headphone, even if it unfortunately comes with a slight noise of its own. Nevertheless: Not only is the noise cancellation first-class, the sound is also great. Thanks to a special stability ring on the earplugs, they hold firmly in the auricle and can also be easily used during sports thanks to IPX4.

You don’t have to use multipoint USB, so there is a solid battery life of 4 hours with ANC and up to 24 hours with the charging case. The Bose app also scores points here because it allows you a lot of configuration options with this model, such as different ANC modes depending on the situation (sports, relaxation, etc.).

The earbuds also support Bose’s new sound feature “Immersive Audio”, in which stereo sound is converted into 3D sound – this works really well depending on the song. An alternative for Apple users at this point would be the AirPods Pro 2, which also impress in terms of sound and ANC technology.

The best headphones from 300 euros

One of the best ANC headphones on the market is the Sony WH-1000XM5 with good sound and excellent ANC. For just over 300 euros you get top headphones with a stylish design that leave little to be desired. The battery life is up to 30 hours with ANC switched on, the pairing happens automatically thanks to Fast Pair, Swift Pair and Multipoint. The model also supports Hi-Res audio via Bluetooth with LDAC. Anyone looking for top headphones will not be disappointed with this Sony model.

For Apple fans: The AirPods Max are available at a price point of just under 600 euros. In addition to their stylish look, the headphones are particularly impressive thanks to their effective ANC and an excellent and, above all, natural transparency mode; the sound is balanced and warm. Also worth highlighting are the easily replaceable ear cushions and the 3D audio, which is a lot of fun, especially when watching films or series.

When sound comes first: The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e not only look good, but also impressed us in the test with their excellent sound. The ANC and wearing comfort are also at a high level. For us, one thing is certain: music lovers will hardly get a better sound in the price range around 400 euros.

Didn’t find the right model for you? If you are still undecided about which headphones might be right for you, then take a look at our two big comparisons of the best in-ear and over-ear headphones. Here we not only show you the best models, but also explain what is really important when buying.

Two more outliers: bone conduction and open-ear headphones are now in high demand. They have the advantage that they do not close the ear canal but allow ambient noise to pass through. This makes them ideal for jogging or going to school. If such models are of interest to you, please take a look at our test reports on the Shokz OpenRun Pro and the OpenRock Pro.

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