Music to our ears

These headphones encapsulate the very best of audio technology.

Bower Wilkins PX7 headphones. Picture: Supplied.

If there is one thing we are seeing in droves in 2019 it’s audio devices. Whether it is portable speakers, smart home audio products or various styles of headphones, we are all listening to more music, podcasts and radio.

The best part is the quality has dramatically improved. Noise cancellation technology has also become the new norm, with the smallest earphones such as the Apple AirPods Pro integrating it, while the over-ear headphone space evolves that area.

Three brands have this year brought new over-ear headphones to Australia and, funnily enough, at the same price point of $599. They’re begging to be compared. The contenders are the Bose Noise Cancelling 700, Sennheiser Momentum Wireless and Bowers & Wilkins PX7.

At $599 all three headphones offer noise cancelling, can be connected wirelessly over bluetooth and offer a corded connection. They can all be used for hands-free calling, thanks to on-board microphones. So what could sway you from one over the other?

Bose Noise Cancelling 700

Bose Noise Cancelling 700 headphones.

The entry from Bose carries a new design for anyone who has spotted their popular QC range in any airport lounge. They’re a staple among frequent flyers, and for good reason. The 700 series is a sleek design with touch controls on the ear cups to control music and volume with a swipe.

Easy access to your favourite voice assistant is also provided as well as another dedicated button for controlling three levels of noise cancelling, including transparency mode. You can hear your surroundings without taking the headphones off.

What sets this pair apart from the next two is its ability to block out ambient noise for the benefit of who you’re on the phone with.

The microphones on the Bose headphones filter noise around you and hone in on your voice, enabling your caller to hear you clearly no matter the situation.

Sennheiser Momentum Wireless

Sennheiser Momentum Wireless headphones. Supplied

Sennheiser have put a strong focus on audio quality, in some ways hampering their design by comparison to the Bose.

The pads on the ears are larger, the head band is mostly steel to ensure a strong fit and the controls are all physical buttons. The fit means the audio experience is clean and accurate but the size of the ear cups, while great for winter, is not so great in summer.

It is definitely the most rugged of the bunch and sounds exceptional. Call quality is not as great as with Bose but Sennheiser makes up for it in other ways, for example Tile integration. If you misplace the headphones you can mark them missing in the Tile ecosystem. Anyone with the Tile app will be silently looking for your headphones and you will be alerted if they are detected anywhere.

The Momentum Wireless headphones were the only pair I could not fold flat, which is frustrating when they’re around your neck. With the product large, this felt more like a neck brace than a trendy pair of headphones.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7

Bower Wilkins PX7 headphones. Supplied.

Bowers & Wilkins has been in the audio game since 1966. Founded in England, this brand takes the science of good sound seriously. The PX7 has a sleek design with carbon composite on the ear cups while maintaining a discreet look.

It offers 30 hours of battery life so you can listen to music or watch movies on a return international flight without a recharge. Fifteen minutes of charge will achieve another five hours of listening.

The PX7 delivers the audio exactly as the musician intended. There is no overemphasising bass or sharpening of treble.

Geoff Quattromani is a tech commentator across radio, print, online and television. Check out his podcast “Technology Uncorked” for new information each week.