The headphones

Sony WH1000XM6 (released May 2025, bought Oct 2026)

Hands down the best ANC-equipped headphones on the market. You wear them and every outside noise just disappears. I've used them in extremely noise places and once they're on your head, you're in your own world. I'd say they're a bit too good. If I die crossing the road wearing these, I'd like to sue Sony for making such a good product.

The foam on the earcups is extremely soft so you can wear them for hours without feeling any discomfort. The headband also has a soft foam material so that they sit comfortably on your head. The weight is just right. The controls are simple and intuitive- touch sensitive on the right earcup. There's also the companion Sony SoundConnect app to tweak settings.

If you're an audiophile, these aren't for you. I've tested them against the Philips SHP9500 which are entry-level open-back headphones and the sound stage in comparison to those is dogshit.

These retail for $459.99 on the official Sony Electronics Store.

Soundpeats Q3 Pro

I think I buy a pair of earphones once a year. I haven't figured out why given that every outgoing pair is still in perfectly reasonable condition.

These earphones were something I bought after a long stretch of research. For the price of Rs. 5,500 they offered bigger drivers, and better ANC so I just bought them. The soundstage is what you expect at this price. The companion app lets you tweak some equalizer settings and switch between modes. They're nothing great but absolutely better than a lot of other stuff on the market.

Shout out to their customer support though. One of the buds died and I sent the pair for repair under warranty. Came back within 3-4 days & has been working perfectly ever since.

My only problem with earphones is that I hate silicon tips. They never seem to stay in my ears. One of the biggest reasons why I shifted to headphones.