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CES is the biggest technology show of the year, where companies from all over the world present their latest and greatest products. While CES 2022 was influenced by the latest The covid-19 infection, there were still a number of companies debuting new headphones, one of the most popular categories at CES. While there’s nothing new from Sony or Sennheiser, plenty of other companies have announced new wireless headphones and earbuds, and I’ve had a chance to test a few.
Read more: 5 Big CES 2022 Deals Everyone’s Talking About
So without further ado, here are the most promising headphones announced at CES 2022. All items are available now and prices are accurate at the time of publication, but are subject to change.
Jabra
Last year, Jabra launched three new truly wireless headphones with varying levels of features, the Elite 3 ($80), the Elite 7 Active ($180), and the Elite 7 Pro ($200). Now a fourth set of headphones has been added to the range, the Elite 4 Active, which has a list price of $120 (£120, AU$179). Unveiled at CES 2022, the Elite 4 Active are billed as Jabra’s most affordable exercise model and “a related alternative for those who love an active lifestyle but aren’t looking for the intensity of its more aspirational sister in the line, the Jabra Elite 7 Active.” .” The Elite 4 Active headphones are now available in three color options – blue, black and mint.
Read Jabra Elite Active 4 first.
David Carnoy/CNET
Shure’s new Aonic 40 noise-cancelling headphones are slightly smaller and more affordable than the company’s well-received Aonic 50 ($299) that was released in 2020. My quick take: They sound pretty good, with clean, well-balanced sound that you can tune in the companion Shure app for iOS and Android (you can choose from preset EQ settings as well as customizable manual EQ settings).
The active noise cancellation is solid, but not quite up to Sony or Bose, and like the Aonic 50, they work well for phone calls (Shure is known for their microphones) and you can connect them to a computer via USB-C. For those with AptX-enabled Android devices, the headphones support AptX HD Bluetooth streaming.
You don’t get additional features like ear detection sensors that automatically pause music when you take the headphones off your head and resume playback when you put them back on. However, the earphones have a dual-hinged design so they both fold and fold flat, allowing them to have a more compact case than the Aonic 50 (its case is quite huge). In other words, they are more travel friendly. Battery life is rated at 25 hours with noise cancellation on.
They’re very good headphones — sturdy, too — but I didn’t find them to be as comfortable as competing models from Bose and Sony. For some people, the top of the headband may press slightly on the top of the head (headband padding is fine, but could be better). I moved the headband a bit forward on my head to make it fit more comfortably.
David Carnoy/CNET
Well The 5909 are premium audio brand Mark Levinson’s first headphones, and yes, they are expensive. (Mark Levinson is owned by Harman, now a subsidiary of Samsung.) Unsurprisingly, these are really good headphones — I really liked them — but I didn’t have to pay $999 for them. Read my full impressions of #5909.
Shock
AfterShokz has changed its name to Shokz and released new 9th generation bone conduction headphones that it says offer better bass performance. They have a lightweight, wraparound titanium frame and are rated for up to 10 hours of music playback, and you can get 1.5 hours of battery life from a 5-minute charge.
Technique
Panasonic has a new entry in the premium noise canceling headphone arena, the Technics EAH-A800, and it looks pretty sweet. Highlights include battery life of up to 50 hours with noise cancellation on, 8-microphone technology for noise cancellation and voice calls, Bluetooth multipoint pairing (so you can connect to two devices at the same time), and support for the Sony LDAC audio codec for high definition. Bluetooth streaming with Android and Sony devices that support LDAC.
The EAH-A800 is available now in black or white for $350 (£299). We’ll see how it fares against Sony’s WH-1000XM4. Watch Panasonic’s promo video.
Belkin
The Belkin Soundform Immerse Noise Canceling Earbuds are new premium headphones that support Apple’s Find My feature. They feature large 12mm dual-layer dynamic drivers, are IPX5 splash-proof, have up to eight hours of battery life at medium volume levels, and have a Hear-Thru transparency mode that lets ambient sound through. They come in black or white. and are now available.
JBL
These are essentially competitors to the JBL AirPods Pro 2. According to their specifications, they have good battery life (10 hours) and have six microphones, which should allow for good voice call performance.
Live Pro 2 features
- Characteristic JBL sound
- Up to 40 hours of playback (10 hours in the handset; 30 hours from the charging case)
- True adaptive noise cancellation with an intelligent environment
- Six microphones with noise and wind isolation technology
- Dual Connect + Sync technology with Google Fast Pair
- Hands-free voice control using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Touch control for unlimited access (or use via a dedicated app for JBL headphones
- Degree of protection IPX5 (waterproof and sweatproof)
- Fast charge 15 minutes for four hours via Qi-compatible charging
- Price: $150
JBL
The JBL Live Free 2 also have active noise cancellation, but have a more traditional bud design. They also use 6-microphone technology for voice calls. Battery life is rated at seven hours at medium volume.
Live Free 2 feature
- JBL Signature Sound
- Up to 35 hours of playback (7 hours in the handset; 28 hours from the charging case)
- True adaptive noise cancellation with an intelligent environment
- Six microphones with noise and wind isolation technology
- Dual Connect Plus Sync technology with Google Fast Pair
- Hands-free voice control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Touch control for unlimited access (or you can use the dedicated JBL app)
- Degree of protection IPX5 (waterproof and sweatproof)
- Price: $150
JBL
The Reflect Aero is the latest addition to JBL’s line of fitness-focused headphones. They sport fins to keep the buds in place, as well as active noise cancellation and six-microphone technology for voice calls. They are fully waterproof and have up to 8 hours of battery life at medium volume.
JBL Reflect Aero feature
- JBL Signature Sound
- Up to 24 hours of playback (8 hours in the handset; 16 hours from the charging case)
- 6.8mm dynamic drivers
- Six microphones with noise and wind isolation technology
- True adaptive noise cancellation with an intelligent environment
- Adjustable ear fin for a secure fit
- Hands-free voice control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- IP68 waterproof and dustproof class with reflective elements
- Customizable touch control of all access via the JBL Headphone App
- 150 dollars
V-Mod
V-Moda has released a pair of new truly wireless headphones, the Hexamove Lite ($130) and the Hexamove Pro ($170). The Hexamove Pro has a “modular design” that allows you to add a combination of sport fins and ear hooks for a secure fit. They also include three sets of shields – model color (black or white), silver and bronze – that you can toggle on and off to change their appearance.
They are IPX4 splash resistant and have a battery life of six hours at moderate levels. For those with AptX-enabled Android devices, they support AptX Bluetooth streaming and the AAC codec (iPhones).
JLab
JLab introduced the new Tones version of its $20 Go Air buds. The shades come in a variety of color options that are designed to match – you guessed it – your skin tone. You can also get matching Orly Color Labs nail polish to match your buds.
Battery life is rated at up to 8 hours at medium volume and the charging case has an integrated charging cable. They don’t offer active noise cancellation, but for $20 they sound decent enough.
JLab Audio
If you’re looking for cheap sports glasses with an ear hook design, the JLab Go Air Sport headphones will be shipping soon and cost only $30. They are available in a variety of colors, are IP55 water and dust resistant (can withstand continuous water spray), and have a battery life of up to 8 hours at medium volume. Like other JLab headphones, their charging case has an integrated USB cable.
Motorola
The Moto Buds-S ANC headphones are Motorola’s new “premium” headphones that feature active noise cancellation, 10mm drivers and up to 6 hours of battery life (with 2 extra charges in a wireless charging case). They are splash-proof IPX5.
They’re available now and come in black or white and cost $150.