Best earbuds for sound quality right now

By Editorial Team | April 2026

Sennheiser’s MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 is the pick if you care more about how music sounds than how loud ANC looks on a spec sheet. It wins because the tuning is balanced, detailed and genuinely hi-fi, and that matters more than another half-point of noise cancellation.

Our picks at a glance

Pick	Product	Price	Best for
Best overall	MOMENTUM True Wireless 4	£179.00	Commuting, desk listening and flights when sound comes first
Best upgrade	Sony WF-1000XM5	£169	Better ANC and a more forgiving all-rounder setup
Best budget	Nothing Ear (a)	£59	Strong everyday sound without paying flagship money

Based on hands-on research, expert review consensus (RTings, Wirecutter, relevant subreddits), and current pricing.

Best overall: MOMENTUM True Wireless 4

MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 — £179.00

This is the pair you buy when you want premium true wireless earbuds that make streamed music, playlists and long listening sessions feel more resolved. The score reflects it: 8.7/10, with sound quality doing the heavy lifting.

Why we picked it:

• Balanced, detailed sound with strong mids and refined treble gives you a more natural listen than most mainstream earbuds.
• Bluetooth 5.4, aptX Lossless, LE Audio and Auracast make the feature set feel future-facing, not stale.
• Up to 30 hours total battery, Qi wireless charging and IP54 resistance make them easy to live with every day.

The trade-off: ANC is good, not class-leading, and the case is bulkier than you’d like if you live in jeans pockets. iPhone users also need to accept that Bluetooth behaviour can be less tidy than on Android.

If sound is the priority, buy the MOMENTUM True Wireless 4.

Best upgrade: Sony WF-1000XM5

Sony WF-1000XM5 — £169

This is the smarter buy if you want better noise cancellation and a more polished all-round commuting earbud. The XM5 is the cleaner answer for planes, open-plan offices and people who want less fuss with ANC-first tuning.

Worth it if: you care more about blocking noise than chasing the most musical sound signature, and you want a model that’s widely seen as the safer mainstream flagship choice.

Best budget pick: Nothing Ear (a)

Nothing Ear (a) — £59

This is the one to buy when you want convincing sound and solid ANC without paying nearly £180. It won’t beat Sennheiser for detail, but it gets the basics right and leaves you enough money for something useful.

Worth it if: you want a cheap daily pair for commuting and calls, and you’d rather spend less now than chase the last word in sound quality.

How we chose

We prioritised sound quality first, then ANC, battery life, codec support and daily practicality. We also checked current pricing and compared the subject model with widely reviewed alternatives from Sony and Nothing, plus consensus from RTINGS, SoundGuys, The Verge and recent user feedback.

Frequently asked questions

Are these the right earbuds if I use an iPhone? Yes, if you mostly care about sound and can live with a less seamless Bluetooth experience. If you want the least fiddly pairing and switching, Sony or AirPods are easier.

Is £179 too much for these? Not if sound quality is the reason you’re buying. If you mainly want the strongest ANC, Sony WF-1000XM5 at roughly the same price makes a better case.

How long do they last between charges? Up to 30 hours total with the case, and the buds themselves support wireless charging for easy top-ups.