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design

Looks often get sacrificed at
the altar of technology when
it comes to headphones, but
Master & Dynamic has been
unwavering on this front.
The slick new MW65 might
look endearingly vintage, but
nestled inside is some future-
forward engineering: Along
with a signature lush sound,
there’s active noise-cancelling
(three modes), 24-plus hours
of battery life and a wireless
range of over 70 feet. This is a
minimalist’s dream.
Approx `35,000

# workout

Imagine going for a run and having to wear headphones that give you headaches,

rashes or plain old anxiety about falling off. The brand new Beats Powerbeats

Pro takes care of all these (first-world) problems. Dr Dre’s brand has always

excelled at bass, but these truly wireless buds deliver a more wholesome sound

(you won’t miss what Kanye’s mumbling behind the thump). They’re waterproof

(but not water-immersive); and that hook keeps the buds from budging, no

matter how hard you’re pounding the pavement. Approx `17,000

VIBE

# wor k

With the superlative QC35 II, Bose

introduced us to the magic of

muting the world. The new NCH 700

has more powerful audio drivers;

11 levels of noise cancellation; a

Bluetooth range of up to 33 feet;

and a USB-C charging port. It’s

fixed its voice-calling problems, has

a 20-hour battery life and allows

for touch-free assists from Alexa.

Perfect for when you want to ignore

loud co-workers. Plus, nobody will

know you’re into ASMR. Price TBA

# gaming

Gaming headphones need a microphone

but just ask the most competitive of your

PubG crew: That’s not enough. Inside the

glowing blue cups of the Audeze Mobius

lies the power of its signature planar

magnetic tech and built-in sensors that’ll

let you locate sound as you would in the real

world. Basically, if the zombies of Raccoon

City get you in a round of Resident Evil 2,

you’ll only have the beer to blame. `30,000

# bestoverall

The WH-1000XM3, the third-gen pair of

Sony’s noise-cancelling over-the-ears,

means business. It delivers supremely

clear sound with none of that crackle

where the bass should be. Plus: A 30-hour

battery life (and five hours of playback on

a ten-minute charge); touch controls on

the left cup (you can take calls); and noise

cancellation so effective you need an app

to modify it to your environment. To pause

the NC, just cover a cup with a hand. Just

a few reasons why these go seamlessly

from workout to work. `29,990