Stuff Gadget Awards Winners – Headphones

Headphones are one of many hardest classes when it comes time to award the annual Stuff Gadget Awards accolades. There’s the entire ‘volume’ factor (as in, we see loads of headphones yearly), plus there’s the truth that everybody on the workplace has some snooty opinion. You may say that makes us snobs (the time period is ‘audiophile’ in case you’ve obtained sufficient cash), however not less than it’s a enjoyable argument.

For Stuff‘s 2025 Gadget Awards, the winners were clear. As you’ll see, although, South Africa might have had a greater set of merchandise readily available. Sadly, the yr’s best possible… isn’t really offered right here. Pity, that.

Still, we got here to a number of choices in the long run. And in case you’d like to seek out out what our different selections had been, there’s additionally nonetheless time to nab the present challenge of Stuff. Heck, it’ll nonetheless be in shops till Friday, 20 March. After that, digital is your greatest wager.

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IN-EAR HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR

JBL TOUR PRO 3

If Technics had gotten round to releasing its EAH-AZ100 in-ears in South Africa, this award would have seen a really completely different consequence. But they didn’t, so it gained’t. JBL’s Tour Pro 3 buds take the award by default, simply by turning up.

That doesn’t make these fashionable novelties a poor alternative by any means – they had been simply considerably geographically overwhelmed. Still, it’s laborious to argue with the Tour Pro 3 attempting one thing new by way of visuals.

The storage case incorporates a display excellent for people who can’t be bothered with all that ‘app’ enterprise, bolstered by a strong audio set that’ll carry the center of anybody who takes the time period ‘high res’ severely. Perhaps a bit too severely.

Head-tracking smarts mix with the wonderful sound copy to a shocking expertise throughout the board, whereas adaptive noise cancellation (sure, you’ll want to make use of the app to profit from it) and superior microphone tech both go away you clear as a bell or in blissful ignorance of the newest workplace argument.

R5 600 / takealot.com

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

SHORTLISTED

Sony WF-C710N

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OVER-EAR HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR

SONY WH-1000XM6

When you’re already prime of the noise-cancelling hierarchy, pushing issues additional might sound unattainable. Yet Sony has managed precisely that with the WH-1000XM6s, delivering refinements to deal with each grievance concerning the XM5s whereas elevating the bar for audio.

The headline change is the return of travel-friendly foldability – the brand new twisting hinge mechanism feels reassuringly strong. Elsewhere, delicate design tweaks enhance wearability… and sound high quality is phenomenal. The upgraded 30mm carbon fibre drivers give exact readability throughout each style, whereas 12 microphones and a brand new processor create jaw-dropping ANC efficiency.

R9 000 / sony.com

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 ● Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

SHORTLISTED

B&O Beoplay H100 ● Austrian Audio The Composer

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AFFORDABLE HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR

APPLE AIRPODS 4

You could solely get the perfect from the AirPods 4 when utilizing them with an Apple machine, however that’s no excuse to not love them. Voice isolation, spatial audio, and enhanced Siri interactions are simply the highlights for Apple followers, helped by that H2 chip.

The listening high quality proves participating throughout music and podcasts alike, whereas the noise-cancelling tech performs admirably. The controls work brilliantly, as we’d count on from something made by Apple.

Battery life is the primary compromise, providing a mere 5 hours on a cost. The case brings that complete as much as 30 hours. Android superfans could wish to examine our runners-up.

from R2 500 / unimaginable.co.za

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 ● Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

SHORTLISTED

Soundcore Sport X20

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