Music junkies know it’s a fact: Sound quality makes a huge difference.
Whether you’re trying to hear every second of that epic guitar riff or soak up the pounding bass, when it comes to audio devices, they aren’t all created equally. Sure, the cheap earbuds you bought may blithely play out the melody, but if you want to take your listening experience up a notch, you need to invest a few dollars more.
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At the same time, some products are pricey but add little to the quality of your experience. To save you the hassle of weeding through all the reviews and recommendations, we’ve rounded-up up a few of the best audio listening devices on the market.
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1. Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Whether you're on the go or sitting at home, you can't go wrong with Bose headphones. Retaining the traditional quality of its predecessors, Bose QuietComfort 35 II boasts top-of-the-line active-noise canceling. Additionally, you can take advantage of the headphone's excellent wireless Bluetooth sound and comfortable design.
Buy it here for $349.95 in white or black.
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2. UE Wonderboom
If you're meeting friends for a BBQ, visiting a someone who doesn't have a sound system or just want the security of quality sound on the go, the UE Wonderboom has you covered. This powerful speaker is compact, fully waterproof and boasts a serious amount of bass for such a small size. If you're hitting the pool, it even floats in the water!
Buy it here for $99.99.
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3. Sonos One
With integrated full-fledged voice control through Amazon's Alexa – but with superior sound quality to the Echo speaker – Sonos One is an ideal way to enjoy all your music in beautiful sound. If you're loyal to Sonos, and buy several products, this smart speaker also works seamlessly as part of a multiroom system, allowing the possibility of pairing with another Sonos speaker for stereo sound.
Buy it here for $199 in white or black.
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4. Elac Debut B6
If you're looking for excellent sound and a quality system to set up in your home, the ELAC Debut B6 bookshelf speaker offers just that, at a bargain price. If you're aiming for a home theater, the speakers easily pair with other Elac audio devices as well. At this relatively low price, no other speakers can match their sound.
Buy it here for for $279.98.
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5. Chromecast Audio
Chromecast Audio, by Google, works with anything functioning on Android Devices as well as many leading iOS apps. The Wi-Fi music dongle also supports digital and analog outputs, multiroom audio, and – with the help of Google Home – voice control. If you're looking to set up multiroom wireless audio, this is the perfect starting point.
Buy it here for $40.34.
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6. BeatsX
When you want quality sound on the go, but don't want a bulky headset, these are your best option. If you're out for a jog or at the gym, BeatsX is the perfect comfortable, lightweight and water-resistant choice. And of course, like all the other products on this list, there's no compromising when it comes to sound quality.
Buy it here for $149.99 in a variety of colors.
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