Headphones are one of the toughest categories when it comes time to award the annual Stuff Gadget Awards accolades. There’s the whole ‘volume’ thing (as in, we see a lot of headphones every year), plus there’s the fact that everyone at the office has some snooty opinion. You might say that makes us snobs (the term is ‘audiophile’ if you’ve got enough money), but at least it’s a fun argument.
For Stuff‘s 2025 Gadget Awards, the winners were clear. As you’ll see, though, South Africa could have had a better set of products on hand. Sadly, the year’s very best… isn’t actually sold here. Pity, that.
Still, we came to several decisions in the end. And if you’d like to find out what our other choices were, there’s also still time to nab the current issue of Stuff. Heck, it’ll still be in stores until Friday, 20 March. After that, digital is your best bet.
IN-EAR HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR
JBL TOUR PRO 3
If Technics had gotten around to releasing its EAH-AZ100 in-ears in South Africa, this award would have seen a very different outcome. But they didn’t, so it won’t. JBL’s Tour Pro 3 buds take the award by default, just by turning up.
That doesn’t make these stylish novelties a poor choice by any means – they were just somewhat geographically beaten. Still, it’s hard to argue with the Tour Pro 3 trying something new in terms of visuals.
The storage case features a screen perfect for folks who can’t be bothered with all that ‘app’ business, bolstered by a solid audio set that’ll lift the heart of anyone who takes the term ‘high res’ seriously. Perhaps a little too seriously.
Head-tracking smarts combine with the excellent sound reproduction to a stunning experience across the board, while adaptive noise cancellation (yes, you’ll need to use the app to make the most of it) and advanced microphone tech either leave you clear as a bell or in blissful ignorance of the latest office argument.
R5 600 / takealot.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
SHORTLISTED
Sony WF-C710N
OVER-EAR HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR
SONY WH-1000XM6
When you’re already top of the noise-cancelling hierarchy, pushing things further might seem impossible. Yet Sony has managed exactly that with the WH-1000XM6s, delivering refinements to address every complaint about the XM5s while raising the bar for audio.
The headline change is the return of travel-friendly foldability – the new twisting hinge mechanism feels reassuringly solid. Elsewhere, subtle design tweaks improve wearability… and sound quality is exceptional. The upgraded 30mm carbon fibre drivers give precise clarity across every genre, while 12 microphones and a new processor create jaw-dropping ANC performance.
R9 000 / sony.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 ● Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
SHORTLISTED
B&O Beoplay H100 ● Austrian Audio The Composer
AFFORDABLE HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR
APPLE AIRPODS 4
You may only get the best from the AirPods 4 when using them with an Apple device, but that’s no excuse not to love them. Voice isolation, spatial audio, and enhanced Siri interactions are just the highlights for Apple fans, helped by that H2 chip.
The listening quality proves engaging across music and podcasts alike, while the noise-cancelling tech performs admirably. The controls work brilliantly, as we’d expect from anything made by Apple.
Battery life is the main compromise, offering a mere five hours on a charge. The case brings that total up to 30 hours. Android superfans may want to inspect our runners-up.
from R2 500 / incredible.co.za
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 ● Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
SHORTLISTED
Soundcore Sport X20
