Top 2025 Microphone-Equipped Headphones: A Comprehensive Review of Headsets for Music and Calls
In the realm of audio technology, finding a perfect balance between call quality and audio performance can be a daunting task. However, 2025 has seen several standout models that cater to this demand, offering both crystal-clear conversations and immersive listening experiences. Here are some of the best options:
**Wireless Earbuds**
| Model | Audio Performance | Call Quality and Mic | Notable Features | Price Range | |-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------| | Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi | Exceptional sound quality with personalized tuning via Mimi hearing test; detailed mids and highs, balanced bass | Good call quality, solid mic performance | 10-band EQ, LDAC support, IPX5 water resistance, wireless charging | Around $130 | | Sony WF-1000XM5 | Benchmark for sound quality and noise cancellation | Excellent mic and call clarity | Industry-leading noise cancelling, very comfortable | Premium | | Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 | Rich, engaging sound with customizable options | Strong mic performance, comfortable fit | Bluetooth 5.4, aptX Lossless support | Premium ($270 approx.) | | Apple AirPods Pro 2 | Very good sound quality, improved noise cancellation | Outstanding mic quality, great for calls | Seamless Apple ecosystem integration, spatial audio | Premium | | Technics EAH-AZ100 | Crystal-clear immersive sound | Top-tier call and mic performance | Triple-device multipoint support | Premium |
If sound quality with personalized audio tuning is your priority, the Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi earbuds stand out as an exceptional mid-range pick offering flagship-level sound and decent mic quality. For a balance of best-in-class noise cancelling, sound, and call quality, the Sony WF-1000XM5 remain a top recommendation.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 and Apple AirPods Pro 2 excel in both rich audio and excellent call quality with strong mic performance, suitable for premium users. The Technics EAH-AZ100 also provides crystal-clear call performance paired with immersive sound, recommended for multitasking users who need multipoint connectivity.
**Summary**
The Shure Aonic 3 are a wired pair of headphones with a noise-isolating design, 3.5mm headphone jack, and have won four consecutive awards for their musical tapestry, rhythm and timing, dynamic ability, and honest, transparent, and true-to-original audio. The AirPods Max are a fantastic sounding set of over-ears from Apple that also deliver excellent call quality, but are expensive.
The Shure Aonic 3 are the best wired pair of headphones with a decent mic, delivering a reliable call-ready seal and excellent mic and audio quality. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer fantastic sounding ANC wireless earbuds with mic quality just shy of the main recommendations in this list.
Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sony WF-1000XM5 have been put through a series of stringent comparative tests to ensure they deliver for both audio and mic quality. The Sony WF-C710 are an upgrade on the Sony WF-C700N, offering improved call quality and active noise cancellation.
Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms to help you make the best choice for your budget. The Sony WF-C710 are some of the best wireless earbuds you'll find at their price point, offering improved call quality, active noise cancellation, fuller low end, and general clear, detailed, and dynamic audio. They are the best cheap earbuds available, offering the best call, audio, and ANC performance at their price point.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are a significant improvement over their predecessors, offering better noise-cancelling, better battery life, new features, and better audio performance for calls and music. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the best earbuds for Samsung phone owners, featuring a wealth of custom features, solid audio quality, reliable ANC, and great call quality.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 have a new noise reduction structure and a bone conductor sensor, which help them work well in difficult outdoor environments and respond quickly to voice input during calls. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are a great choice for Samsung phone owners, offering excellent call quality, solid audio quality, reliable active noise cancellation, and support for Samsung's proprietary SSC UHQ hi-res codec.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 have Precise Voice Pickup technology, which uses four beamforming mics, AI-powered noise-reduction, and wind-noise reduction to help calls sound as clear as possible. The Sony WF-1000XM5 are the best wireless earbuds currently recommended, delivering great audio, excellent mic quality, and reliable ANC. The Sony WF-1000XM4 are worth considering if you want to save some cash on the latest model Sony earbuds, but may not offer quite as good mic quality.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best over-ear headphones with a mic currently available, offering crystal clear call quality, comfortable fit, detailed audio, reliable ANC, and lengthy battery life. The best headphones with a mic we recommend offer powerful active noise cancellation and stellar call quality. The Airpods Pro 2 are the best Apple earbuds with a decent mic, providing great call quality and excellent ANC.
The Technics EAH-AZ100 are the best premium wireless earbuds tested, offering excellent audio quality, particularly for jazz and classical music, solid active noise cancellation, and good, but not best in class mic quality. Each of these models is praised for having a high-quality microphone suitable for calls, alongside superior audio output, making them excellent choices for users seeking both strong call clarity and immersive listening experiences. Your choice depends on your budget and ecosystem preference.
- Technical gadgets like the Technics EAH-AZ100 offer crystal-clear call performance along with immersive sound, making them ideal for audiophiles who prioritize both aspects.
- If you're looking for a headphone that delivers a musical tapestry, rhythm, timing, dynamic ability, and a true-to-original audio experience, consider the Shure Aonic 3 with a noise-isolating design.
- For those on a budget, the Sony WF-C710 wireless earbuds deliver improved call quality, active noise cancellation, fuller low end, and general clear, detailed, and dynamic audio, making them the best cheap earbuds available.
- For Samsung phone owners, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the best earbuds, featuring a wealth of custom features, solid audio quality, reliable ANC, and great call quality, supporting Samsung's proprietary SSC UHQ hi-res codec.
- The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best over-ear headphones with a mic, offering crystal clear call quality, comfortable fit, detailed audio, reliable ANC, and lengthy battery life.
- In the realm of high-fidelity audio, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 provide better noise-cancelling, better battery life, new features, and better audio performance for calls and music, making them worth considering for Apple users.
