STELLAR CASTE

These premium wireless headphones all have star-quality. But which is best?

once upon a time a pair of high-quality wireless headphones cost about ₨30,000. There were lots of models to choose from and everybody in hi-fi land was very pleased with this state of affairs. Then along came a company called Apple and changed everything. It set about designing a pair of over-ear headphones made from higher-quality materials, with improved sound and better build quality than the market had hitherto known. And, in 2020, it released the AirPods Max, brazenly charging the good people of hi-fi land nearly twice the going rate for them. You might say that Apple’s cart upset all the other carts. The plan worked well for Apple – largely because the AirPods Max were great.

All this set rival manufacturers buzzing, and before long the headphone market was awash with similarly priced, superior noise-cancelling wireless over-ears; and a new breed was born. So, to help you choose the premium headphones that suit you best, we have pitched those AirPods Max against a trio of other high-end ear huggers, each with an ample stash of impressive tech and a unique USP. All have active noise-cancelling, all are Bluetooth equipped, all can be used with a cable as well as without.

There are no also-rans in this test – the quality of the field is such that the AirPods have their work cut out to dominate here. And for we music fans, it all adds up to a recipe for listening happily ever after.

APPLE AIRPODS MAX ₨59,900

Apple’s first over-ear wireless headphones justify their premium price