Best Wireless Headphones & Earbuds in Canada

The market for headphones is rapidly growing, and with this growth comes heaps of useless garbage that people are tricked into spending their money on. We can no longer stand aside and watch as people are relieved of their money, and sense of hearing, all due to our attraction to the best deals.

The list I’ve compiled here covers the major criteria that you should consider when looking for new headphones, and also breaks down the difference between each model and brand, so that you have a better idea of the dos and don’ts of headphone shopping.

For background information, see our comparison table and buying advice.

Best wireless headphones and earbuds

Headphones

• Best overall – Sony WH1000XM3
• Best noise cancelling – Bose NCH 700
• Best budget pick – MPOW H5

Earbuds

• Best overall – Jabra Elite 75T
• Best noise cancelling – Sony WF-1000XM3
• Best value – Earfun Free
• Best on a budget – AUKEY EP-T21

Best wireless headphones & earbuds comparison

Best headphones overall – Sony WH-1000XM3

• Noise cancelling: Top end noise cancelling technology makes it easy to enjoy phone calls and music with minimal interruption.
• Quick charge: With the use of fast USB C charging, you can get up to 5 hours of listening time off of a 10 minute charge. 
• Interactive touchpad: Fully functional touch pad on the ear cup makes it easy for you to answer calls and change music without even looking at your phone.

Sound quality

One of the main reasons that these headphones hold the top spot is because of the level of the sound quality. When I say that Sony has made an unparalleled product, I truly mean it. It can scare off any competitors and have them running back to the drawing board. The crisp sound and full bass makes it easy for you to get lost in your music, or make a crystal clear phone call.

Noise cancellation

Sony took a hard shot at Bose, kicking the Quiet Comfort series to the background and taking over the headphone market. But now with the release of the NCH 700, many seem to think that Sony has lost their edge and has been beaten out for best noise cancelling, though if they are behind, it is not by much. 

The main difference between the quality of both sets of headphones is the mid to high frequencies that can still make it through the noise cancellation. Where Bose has created an impenetrable wall of sound, the WH1000X3M can sometimes allow voices or sharp noises, like sirens or laughing, to come through.

Comfort

With a lot of tweaks from the Sony WH-1000XM2, the XM3 has been biting at the heels of its main competitor Bose. After shaving 20g of weight, Sony re-engineered the head band to allow for it to better contour to your head, and a softer cushion around the cans makes it easy for you to keep listening for up to 5 hours without experiencing discomfort.

Value

These headphones sit safely at the top of the list because of the inherent value. While they do dwindle off in some areas, compared to others in this list, what they can provide is unmatched consistency. At a price of over $400 CAD you want to buy a quality product that will last a long time, and that’s exactly what this is, and at the rate that Sony is dominating the market it seems like the 1000X series will only continue to improve.

Best noise cancelling headphones – Bose NCH 700

• Noise cancelling: Impenetrable noise cancelling makes these headphones perfect for almost any setting.
• USB C charging: USB C makes charging much faster and allows for shorter wait times between uses. 
• Interactive touchpad: Fully functional touch pad on the ear cup makes it easy for you to answer calls and change music without even looking at your phone.

Sound quality

The NCH 700 is one of the front runners of the headphone market right now, and after improving on the flaws in the Quiet Comfort series, they will find themselves solidified in that position for a long time. Though there is a significant difference between the NCH and the QC, Bose is still unable to surpass Sony in terms of sound quality, but with that being said, the inclusion of superior noise cancelling, causes the decision to come down simply to personal preference. 

Noise cancellation

The noise cancelling in the NCH 700 is a clear improvement from the QC series, also by Bose.

After the release of the Sony WH1000XM3, and losing top spot for noise cancellation, Bose was forced to respond, with the return of the king that you see here. 

While the NCH 700 lacks in some areas, it is clear to see that Bose has reclaimed their top spot in the eyes of audiophiles everywhere.

Comfort

After the undeniable pleasure of wearing the Quiet Comfort series, Bose only added to what was already the cashmere of cans. The soft foam cushions could almost double as a pillow, and the faux leather makes for a satisfying skin-like texture that will leave you forgetting you even have them on.

Value

While receiving a lower overall score than the WH-1000XM3, Bose has still created a major contender in the market and is displaying a path to further improvement of their products. If you choose to go with the 700 over the XM3, you should make that decision knowing that you are investing in superior comfort and noise cancellation, but also in a company that has proven to listen to their consumer and act on their own flaws.

Best budget headphones – MPOW H5

• Noise Cancelling: Sound isolation at its finest for the price.
• Easy to use audio controls: Large, clickable, buttons make it easy to navigate your music without the risk of phantom inputs, which is a common issue with touch controls.

Sound quality

The sound quality definitely falls off in comparison to the other cans on this list, but that does not mean that they are not worth the money by any means. When you are looking for a “budget” anything, chances are it’s not going to be as high quality as the full priced version, but in this case MPOW really attempted to break away from that mold.

With the H5 being the older sibling of the top selling wireless headphones on amazon in 2018, the o59, naturally the impressive power of the headphones was passed to the next generation.

Noise cancellation

Many headphones at this price range dont offer noise cancelling, and the ones that do are immediately torn apart when people try to compare them to the top tier name brands, so it was definitely a risk to add the tech with very little experience in the area. But risks can sometimes pay off.

While we can’t honestly say that there is no difference between these and the higher rated headphones on this list, we can say that this is a very strong option. MPOW have given very little room to critics when it comes to flaws in their tech, and offering that quality for under $100 makes this a must grab for anyone looking for their first pair of wireless cans.

Comfort

Many people have compared the make and feel of these headphones to that of older Beats headphones, with similar hard plastics that make up the shell and make for some tough headphones. With that being said the hard plastic is not extremely malleable and would begin to show damage if over stretched. 

The cushions on the cans are comfortable and forms a tight seal around your ears, which paired with the noise cancelling creates an immersive listening experience. Though some people have complained that the stiffness of the band can make it tight on the sides of your head after long periods of useage.

Value

If you are looking to get these headphones, you are probably someone that doesn’t want the full pristine audiophile experience off of every listen, you are probably someone that just wants a means to jam out their favorite music and doesn’t want to worry about overwhelming prices or underwhelming audio. These headphones are perfect for you. 

It supplies you with the sound quality you would expect from something more high end, and then on top of that it comes with all the features that other headphones at the same price would just leave you craving.

Best earbuds overall – Jabra Elite 75T

• Quick charge: A quick 15 minute charge can give you up to an extra hour of playtime.
• Physical controls: The Jabra logo on either ear serves as buttons for controlling your music and phone calls. The physical button makes for no glitchiness or phantom touches that come with touch controls.

Sound quality

For something so compact, these little buds certainly pack a punch. With continuous improvement to the Elite series Jabra is left with a product that can output some great music quality and crystal clear phone calls.

Just like the XM3, the Elite’s are accompanied by a studio customization app, that you can use to fine tune your perfect sound.

Noise cancellation

As you’ll see 90% of earbuds you can find will come with the rubber sound isolating tips. This does create a very tight seal and is definitely something to consider over a product like the XM3 which includes active noise canceling, but at a price bump.

As a downside to the sound isolation is that the seal that it creates can make things like heavyfoot steps resonate quite loud, which would be annoying for someone using these while exercising.

Comfort

The simplicity of the Elites make for a very nice and comfortable fit in your ear. The snug fit makes it extremely hard to shift them around, which makes them great for runners or anyone with busy hands.

As it is with many of the sound isolating rubber tips, long uses can not only get uncomfortable, but also kind of distracting, but luckily Jabra has included a series of different sized tips to fit to your specific needs.

Value

The 75T’s do very clearly lack some of the features of the XM3’s, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are not worth the top spot. While also having lower price, the 75T’s do offer a higher level of comfort, due to the stableness the bud has in your ear and an on par sound quality of the XM3’s.

With both having significant reasons for and against the other, the decision between the extra features, or lacking there of, comes down to the level of convenience and practical usability that properly suits you.

Best noise cancelling earbuds – Sony WF-1000XM3

• Noise cancelling: With use of the app Sony has created a very customizable, but also automatic means of giving you the exact levels of noise cancelling that you’re looking for.
• Touch controls: Small active touch pads on either bud for answering calls or changing music.
• Quick charge: A quick 10 minute charge can give you up to 90 extra minutes of playtime.

Sound quality

The incredible sound quality of Sony’s WH-1000 has been promptly passed on to its compact little brother. With full and rich sound, on top of the already existing sound isolation and active noise cancelling, you are left with a listening experience that can only be offered by Sony.

Noise cancellation

The XM3’s are the only buds on this list that offers active noise cancelling, and it definitely gives Sony a quality edge that other brands are struggling to compete with. Although they stand alone with this quality of tech, many other brands, like Jabra, are still able to put up, what some would call, a winning fight by offering on par sound quality at a lower price. 

With built in sound isolation, many would argue that the addition of active noise cancelling is a convenient, but slightly overrated, feature that they don’t feel is necessary to drop the extra dollars on.

Comfort

Just like the 75t’s and the Free’s, the rubber sound isolating tips can get very uncomfortable after long periods of use. To assist people experiencing this issue, Sony included a selection of up to 6 sets of different sized tips, half of them being a softer foam material, opposed to the rubber, for an even comfier fit.

The XM3’s do have a more full look and feel to them than say the 75T’s, so for someone with smaller ears, or someone that just likes a more sleek and hidden feel, i would look toward the Free’s or the 75T’s.

Value

Sony has continued their silent take over of the audio market and jammed almost as many features into the WF-1000XM3, as they did in the WH-1000XM3. Having all of these features, paired with the app, allows you to have a fully customizable listening experience that is tuned to exactly what you’re looking for, and easily makes these buds worth the price.

With that being said, there is an argument to be made for the usability of all of these features. It seems Sony tried to give the user an experience that would be able to compete with their own top sellers, as a compact item. This is undeniably convenient, but for the person on the go or trying to finish a workout, being able to manually adjust EQ settings and choosing specific ambient noise levels, isn’t really a concern.

Best value earbuds – EarFun Free

• Wireless charging: As long as the buds stay within 3 feet of its charging case, while its plugged in, you can use them freely while they charge.
• Waterproof: With an approved IPX7 rating, the buds can be submerged 1m deep water for up to 30 minutes without losing functionality.
• Assistant compatible: The free is compatible with assistant software from Google and Apple.

Sound quality

Earfun definitely surprised their customers with these handy buds. In a lot of cases, budget picks just can’t keep up with their name brand competitors, but this is not the case with the Free’s.

While its not indistinguishable, the difference in sound quality of the Free’s compared to other top brands is becoming less and less noticeable, though Sony does still have the significant advantage of having active noise cancelling.

Noise cancellation

Unfortunately the Free’s don’t offer active noise cancelling, but like many other earbuds, they offer sound isolation, which does allow for a tight seal in your ear that makes it hard for exterior sounds to make it through.

Comfort

A lot of true wireless buds will struggle with keeping a sleek enough design to not be uncomfortable, while still being able to fit everything you need in the housings. Earfun was able to make something ergonomical and simple so that it can fit into almost anyone’s ear with ease. 

A downside to any earbuds with sound isolating rubber tips is that after long periods of use, your ears can get sore and achy from having something jammed pretty far in there. To combat this, many brands, like Earfun, offer a selection of different sized tips so that you can choose which is most comfortable for you.

Value

If anything on this list has caught my eye, it’s these earbuds. While you can’t really compare this style of headphones to the bigger over ear cans, the Free’s should be dominating their market. Unlike Jabra or Sony, Earfun has been able to pack in more features, and still keep up crisp and smooth audio, for a fraction of the competitors cost. 

It’s common for people to, ironically, get scared off by a low price tag on a piece of tech like this one because of the amount of overpriced junk that sits in the same price range, I am here to tell you that the Earfun Free’s are an underrated steal that you NEED to take advantage of.

• Wireless charging: As long as the buds stay within 3 feet of its charging case, while its plugged in, you can use them freely while they charge.
• Waterproof: With an approved IPX7 rating, the buds can be submerged 1m deep water for up to 30 minutes without losing functionality.
• Assistant compatible: The free is compatible with assistant software from Google and Apple.

Best budget earbuds – AUKEY EP-T21

We tested the comfort and sound quality of these earbuds by working for 10 hours straight while listening to the lofi hip hop radio on YouTube which provides a good mix of low beats overlaid with higher notes and jazz riffs.

In addition, we took them on a few 5km runs to ensure they provided a secure fit and to test the microphone via the phone calling and voice assistant features.

• Noise cancellation: No
• Playtime: 5 hours + 25 from case (in testing: 5 hours for the right earbud, but only 3 hours and 45 minutes for the left which received all the touch commands)
• Controls: Play/pause or answer call (double tap), reject call (hold), voice assistant (triple tap), next/last track (hold)

Sound quality

I was impressed with the sound quality overall. The bass is powerful but a bit soft, but the mids and highs are solid and crisp. Guitar strumming, picking and the quick, light crackling sounds of a vinyl record all came through clearly.

The volume range is way more than enough and would probably do damage if you turned it up all the way. I listened on 2 clicks up from silent on my phone and it was perfect. The quality held well as I turned up the volume, though it started to sound a bit hollow/buzzy just before the volume started to feel uncomfortable.

Noise cancellation

My neighbor was cutting wood in his garage with a saw and while the music was enough to drown it out most of the time, there was no noise cancellation to speak of. However, the tight seal created rubber ear tips provided a noise dampening effect.

Comfort

At 50g per side, they are light enough to forget they’re in your ears. The ear tips are thin and soft but create a tight enough seal to keep the buds still and secure while running, doing yoga and HIT exercises. I did feel some minor pressure in my ear which was distracting at first, but it didn’t build into discomfort until the 4 hour mark. 

The earbuds accept touch controls in the form of taps and holds for pausing, changing tracks, answering/rejecting calls and opening the voice assistant. Notably, there aren’t any for changing the volume which I find is very useful when listening to an eclectic playlist. While pretty reliable, they did miss the odd input. The key is to make clear finger pad to earbud contact rather than the speed or impact of the taps.

Value

Unless you’re an audiophile, these earbuds will serve you well and give you the best bang for your buck. 

It was super quick and easy to connect to my wife’s phone, but when I went to connect them to mine I found out that they won’t automatically pair with a second device. You first have to touch and hold the back of each earbud for 10 seconds until the light on each stem flash at the same time 3 times to reset the pairing. This is the case for many other earbuds including our best noise cancelling earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM3.

While I personally prefer the look of the more compact EarFun Free, these are slim and sleek and they look similar to Apple’s AirPods (if that’s a bonus for you).

What to consider when looking for a wireless headphones

Sound quality

If you aren’t interested in good sound quality then you can save yourself a lot of money by picking up a pair of earbuds from the dollar store, but if you think you will enjoy whatever noise is coming out of them, you could not be more wrong. Cheap unreliable headphones will massacre any music you play through them with crunchy bass and screeching trebles that would make you wish you had Mike Tyson around.

Sound quality is everything in a good pair of headphones. You need to be able to clearly receive whatever it is you are listening to so you can enjoy the experience, and not have to worry about long term hearing damage.

Noise cancellation

Not all headphones have active noise cancelation, though the tech is becoming more and more accessible and being seen more and more in new models.

Many of the earbuds you will come across advertise “sound isolation”, which is just a fancy name for the rubber tips you always lose, this is not the same as noise cancellation, or noise reduction (ANC). Headphones with this feature have built in mics that will listen for low tones in the sounds around you and filter them out before they can reach your ears, so you can block out that person in your life you just need a break from.

Comfort

There is nothing worse than being excited to try out the new pair of earbuds you got, or your new gaming headset, and getting home just to find that your ears are tender and overheated after only 20 minutes of usage.

When choosing which pair to buy you have to be aware of things like the types of cushions on a set of cans, or the size of the bud that you are putting in your ear. Buying a set of headphones when you aren’t sure how comfortable they are is not a risk I wouldn’t take, because if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to be using them for sometimes hours at a time, and when your listening to music or watching a movie you don’t want to be constantly thinking about adjusting your headphones or giving your ears a break.

Value

When buying a new set of headphones it’s very easy to get tricked into buying specific advertised features, instead of considering all the criteria, and even the price. More and more companies are becoming aware of this and to benefit the consumer experience companies like Bose and Sony are pumping out quality products that are, in my opinion, priced quite appropriately.

So when considering your decision, don’t get drawn in by the bolded letters and flashy colours, because 9/10 it’s perfume on plastic roses.

If you decide to go that route, you’ll find that the top picks come in very simple packaging, that only represents exactly what it is. A good set of headphones.

What wireless headphones are right for you?

The Audiophile

This person doesn’t want to listen to music, they want to experience it. This person strives for audio greatness, and is not satisfied with anything less than the perfect listening setup.

If you’re this person, you DO NOT want to look in our budget options, you are looking for the heavy hitters that will blow your socks off, wash and iron them, then put them back on your not yet cold feet. 

Sony WH-1000XM3

The Casual Jammer

You are someone that just loves to enjoy music, you don’t need any fancy features or touch this and that. You’re the kind of person that wants to leave your socks on so it’s easier to dance, and as long as you can hear the rhythm, without busting your wallet, you are happy.

MPOW H5

The Active Listener

Is your heart thumping in your ears not enough? It is for me, but you guys need more, you need an anthem to overtake your best time, or to get hyped enough to crush a personal record. You need something that isn’t going to distract you from finishing what you started, but to still give the audio support that you need.

Jabra Elite 75T

FAQs

Should I buy my headphones online?

While there is a much broader selection online, and you don’t have to worry about leaving the house, buying anything online always comes with a slight risk of not being what you expected. 

With something that is so comfort oriented, I would suggest that, if you can, you should at least browse the physical items in a store before buying. This way you might be able to find exactly what you want right away, no shipping, or at least able to figure out the brands and models you want to avoid to make your decision a little easier.

Why spend all of this money when you can buy cheap headphones at any dollar store?

This question pertains to the importance of sound quality. Chances are, buying headphones from a dollar store will leave you with something that, sounds horrible, causes you actual pain to use, just straight up doesn’t work, or breaks after minimal use.

In the long run, an investment you make into a good set of headphones will slowly pay itself off with the potential years of use you can get out of one pair. While you will spend that much 10 fold if you decide to pick up a new cheap set every few weeks.

Are wireless headphones one size fits all?

Yes and no, whether it’s in ear buds or big cans, almost every brand is taking into consideration that not everyone has the same size head or ears. So with that comes options like a selection of rubber tips to come with your buds, or an adjustable headband to make sure you have the perfect cover with your headphones.

Over to you

We’re interested to know – do you prefer headphones or earbuds? Which one of these are your favorite?. If there’s a set of cans that we missed out on, or some buds that you thought were better than these ones let us know! We love to hear your feedback!