The past 12 months have been a great year for audio technology and headphones, not only with the introduction of two great over-the-ear headphones, the AirPods Max and the Sony WH-1000XM4, but also with the rapid progression of the wireless earphone revolution, with better quality at increasingly lower prices.

In addition, the wireless earphone revolution is rapidly advancing, making better quality available at increasingly lower prices.

In addition, exciting new audio technologies have emerged, and older technologies are (finally) gaining mainstream acceptance. For example, streaming took a giant leap forward when Apple Music got both spatial audio and lossless formats. We are already accustomed to carrying millions of songs in our pockets, but now we have the technology to give them their due. In many ways, there has never been a better time to be a music fan.

Sony's WH-1000XM4 offers everything you want in a headphone and at a lower price than its biggest over-ear rivals. Its highly effective active noise canceling features make it sound even better than its predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM3. In addition, the long battery life and comfortable design make the WH-1000XM4 one headphone you won't want to let go.

Highly Recommended: Bose 700 The Bose 700 is a generally excellent over-ear headphone, but where it really excels is in ANC.

Highly recommended: Jabra Elite 85t From the classy design to the stunning sound, the Jabra Elite 85t is a premium wireless earphone.

The Jabra Elite 85t continues the series of great earphones by the Danish brand. Its relatively massive 12mm drivers are able to deliver the best sound from a true wireless form factor, and the active noise cancellation is equally impressive. Credit also goes to the Jabra Sound+ app, which is packed with personalization features.

Highly recommended: Master & Dynamic MW08 It's hard to find earbuds as finely crafted as the MW08, and the bass-rich sound ensures that this pair of buds is more than just a looker.

Recommended: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus Not only does the Melomania 1 Plus outperform the Apple AirPods in audio performance and battery life, it is also more affordable.

Sony's noise-canceling technology is effective and customizable: the WH-1000XM4's NC optimizer can even measure the shape of your ear, so you can tailor the effect to you. The WH-1000XM4's battery is more powerful than many noise-canceling longer-lasting than competitors, helping to counteract the usual drawback that ANC drains a charge quickly.

Highly recommended: Bose 700 For the most effective ANC on the market, nothing beats the Bose 700 for cutting out bothersome ambient noise.

Highly Recommended: Cleer Enduro ANC The Enduro ANC is an outstanding budget option, offering both full ANC and the single best battery performance we've seen in a headphone.

They may be cheap, but the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC has the reliability of a serious workout/running headphone. Not only do they have design features like secure-fitting ear hooks and rugged water resistance, but they also have surprisingly refined audio and excellent battery life. Even the companion app allows full customization of both EQ and onboard touch controls.

Highly Recommended: Bose Sport Earphones Less expensive and sportier than Bose's QuietComfort Earbuds, these earbuds fit securely in your ears and keep you motivated with bass-heavy music.

Recommended: Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro While not sports earbuds, the Galaxy Buds Pro's waterproof features and ergonomic fit make it a great workout companion.

The older Sony WH-1000XM3 was already a formidable over-ear earphone, but the latest model practically perfects the formula. Sound quality, ANC, comfort, and battery life are all top-notch, making the WH-1000XM4 the ideal vessel for Sony's immersive 360 Reality Audio format. Best of all, they are cheaper than comparable high-spec headphones.

Highly Recommended: Clear Enduro ANCThe Enduro ANC has emerged as one of the biggest over-the-ear bargains, with good sound, ANC (with ambient mode), and the world's best battery life under $150.

Recommended: Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition The PX7 Carbon Edition's outstanding craftsmanship is remarkable, and its spacious, dramatic soundstage is even more impressive.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro covers the essentials well, but is also packed with nifty bonus features. From automatic switching between different Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets to Samsung 360 Audio, a spatial audio-style 3D playback mode exclusive to the Galaxy Buds Pro.

Highly recommended: Earin A-3 The world's smallest wireless earbuds are attractive and clever, especially with their accelerometer-based touch controls.

Highly recommended: Apple AirPods Max With its mesh headband and interchangeable memory foam earcups, the AirPods Max is unique even before you touch its extensive feature set.

Although expensive, few headphones have a more luxurious design than the Apple AirPods Max. The aluminum ear cups and mesh headband provide eye-catching looks without sacrificing comfort, and the digital crown borrowed from the Apple Watch works very well as an alternative to buttons and touch controls.

Highly recommended: Master & Dynamic MW08 A mix of aluminum, stainless steel, and ceramic, the MW08 earphones look and sound great.

Highly recommended: Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition Bowers & Wilkins has introduced the Carbon Edition, a striking all-black paint job on the existing PX7.

We were able to get over 50 hours of noise canceling playback from the Cleer Enduro ANC. Considering the extra strain active noise cancellation puts on the battery, this durability is almost an incredible feat. This is more than double that of the Bose 700 and AirPods Max.

Highly recommended: Urbanista Miami Like the Cleer cans, the Miami is an affordable and very long-lasting set of ANC headphones.

Highly recommended: JLab Epic Air Sport ANC While the numbers on battery life are sketchy, the Epic Air Sport ANC is capable of 9.5 hours of noise-canceling playback, and its performance is unquestionable.

As the name suggests, Google Nest Audio is more focused on music playback than previous Google Home and Nest devices. As such, it has the best sound of the Nest speakers. Bass is punchy without lacking control, and there is enough detail to add layers and texture to complex recordings; two Nest Audios can be paired for true stereo sound, or two Nest Audios can be paired together for a true stereo sound experience.

Highly recommended: Sonos Roam Sonos speakers are renowned for their rich sound, and the battery-powered, portable Sonos Roam is no exception.

Highly recommended: Amazon Echo (4th generation) The latest Echo has the best sound of any Amazon Alexa speaker since the Echo Studio.

The Creative Stage V2 is a budget soundbar, but you wouldn't know it just by listening to it. With a dedicated subwoofer backing up the main bar, the Stage V2 delivers crisp, clear audio, which can be further expanded with surround modes. It is also easy to set up and use, making it ideal for first-time upgrades from TV-integrated speakers.

Highly recommended: JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a space saver's best friend, using beamforming technology to simulate surround sound from a single device.

Highly Recommended: Vigeo M-Series M512a-H6 If you want to experience Dolby Atmos, the M-Series M512a-H6 is reasonably priced and has everything you need, including up-firing speakers and satellites.