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TAKE 5:

the best headphones

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with Selfridges Technology Buying Director Martyn Stroud

We bring you five key pieces to shop now, chosen by those in the know. In this edition, our Technology Buying Director, Martyn Stroud, highlights the headphones worth making a noise about.

When you’re turning up the volume on your favourite playlist, tuning out the world around you or dialling into your daily meetings, what’s the one thing you need? Headphones that are up for the task – and preferably some that are as easy on the eyes as they are on the ears. Martyn knows an exciting, innovative gadget when he sees (or should that be hears?) one, so we called on him to pick out five super (sonic) pairs. Sounds good to us.

Let’s start the count…

BOSE

700 noise-cancelling headphones

Best for: blocking out background noise

“Noise-cancelling headphones have improved massively over the last five years, and if you have never experienced them (or are yet to invest in a pair), the Bose 700 are the ones to buy. One of the issues was that during calls, noise-cancelling headphones couldn’t differentiate between you and background noise, so your voice would be distorted. Bose combatted this with a four-microphone system that isolates your voice, meaning you’ll be heard clearly, even in noisy situations. Set-up couldn’t be easier, and they allow access to a range of voice assistants, including Alexa.”

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HOUSE OF MARLEY

Liberate Air

Best for: being kind to the planet

“House of Marley is an eco-conscious tech brand that works with Bob Marley’s family to carry on his legacy of love for music and the planet. These headphones are made from sustainable products such as bamboo and recycled silicone and fabric. Their battery life is pretty good – nine hours normally, and 32 hours with the charging case. They’re comfortable, support voice assistants and are super simple to use – think of them as an interesting alternative to the earbuds you see everywhere.”

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AUDEZE

Mobius Wireless gaming headphones

Best for: your next gaming marathon

“These are some of the best gaming headphones in the world, and, unlike with many gaming headphones, they’re easy on the eye, so you can happily wear them outside of the house or on a video call. While gaming, they track your head movement so that the sound moves with you through the game, and they’re powered by planar magnetic drivers, which deliver incredible sound quality. Some major game launches are coming this year, so now is a great time to invest in some top-end headphones.”

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UNDER ARMOUR

True Wireless Flash headphones

Best for: working on your fitness

“Designed in partnership with Under Armour and JBL, these headphones are perfect for working out. They house some pretty impressive technology, including TalkThru and AmbientAware. TalkThru allows you to hear your workout partner without taking out your earbud – it works by touching a button on the side of the bud, which lowers the music and amplifies the speech. AmbientAware lets you control how cut off you want to be, which is ideal when running outside. They’re sweatproof and fully waterproof, too.”

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KOKOON

ANC Sleep Headphones

Best for: rest and relaxation

“These incredible headphones from Kokoon are designed to help you relax and sleep. They are soft, light and work with an in-built computer and triple-layered disturbance protection to block out the noise around you and monitor your sleep. The EEG brainwave sensors communicate with the Kokoon Relax app – which includes an audio library – to tell you how well you slept and learn which relaxation tracks and techniques work best for you. They’re the perfect headphones to help you switch off and can help you to fall asleep 30 per cent quicker.”

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