Technologies
Sony Headphone Deals: Prices on New Headphones Start at $10
We’ve compiled some of the top bargains currently available on Sony headphones and earbuds.
There are a ton of headphone options out there, and finding a quality pair can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack sometimes, with so many unknown brands on Amazon and $10 pairs up for grabs at your local gas station. It’s never an enjoyable experience to spend any amount of money on headphones or earbuds that let you down.
Long a respected brand in the audio market, Sony makes some of the most popular headphones with a line that runs the gamut from premium noise-canceling, over-ear models to inexpensive on-ear headphones to excellent true-wireless earbuds in a variety of price ranges.
Like with all headphones, prices for Sony headphones tend to fluctuate and throughout the year you’ll find discounts on most Sony models — and sometimes pretty major discounts. While we can’t keep track of all the deals on Sony headphones (there are a lot), we’ve put together a list of current deals and pricing for the most popular — and best — of them. We also have lists of the best deals on Beats headphones and best AirPods deals in case you’re interested in those brands’ earbuds and headphones.
Read more: Best Wireless Earbuds for 2023
David Carnoy/CNET
Unlike the «open» LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are traditional noise-isolating earbuds with tips you jam in your ears. They’re more compact and lighter than Sony’s flagship WF-1000M4 and also feature Sony’s V1 processor. While their sound and noise canceling don’t quite measure up to the WF-1000XM4’s, they’re close and cost less. They’re the Sony buds for people who can deal with larger buds but want 80 to 85% of those buds’ features and performance for significantly less.
All-time low: $128.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Introduced way back in 1991 (!), the Sony MDR-7506 has long been a favorite headphone of recording engineers and other sound professionals (yes, these are wired headphones). The origins of its design date even further back, since the MDR-7506 headphones are, in fact, a refresh of the Sony MDR-V6 that rolled out in 1985. Both models were designed for the pro sound market, but remain hugely popular with consumers.
While the two models have the same design and are very comfortable, they don’t sound identical. Both offer very well-balanced sound and excellent clarity for their modest prices — and both are great overall values. But the MDR-V6 headphones make a little more bass and sound more laid-back and mellow, while the 7506 headphones are leaner with a more accentuated treble range, which makes the sound a little crisper and livelier.
All-time low: $70.
Sony
If you’re looking for a cheap on-ear wired headphone, the ZX Series is as good a bet as any. It costs $10 — or $20 for the version with a microphone.
All-time low: $10
Sony
The Sony MDR-Z7M2 may not be the flagship audiophile headphone in Sony’s lineup (that would be MDR-Z1R), but it’s still a high-end model that lists for $900 but has been on sale for $600. I reviewed the earlier version of the Z7 (the M2 at the end stands for Mark 2, or second generation) and it sounded great and was comfortable. To be clear, this is an audiophile headphone and sounds best with the right audio equipment, which may include a headphone amplifier or a high-resolution portable music player (notice the Sony Walkman player, which isn’t included, in the photo).
All-time low: $570
David Carnoy/CNET
While the C500’s design sensibility has more in common with the high-end WF-1000XM4 than their predecessor, the WF-XB700 Extra Bass, the C500 is not a noise-canceling model and is pretty basic as far as earbuds go, with no ear-detection sensors or transparency mode. But the buds are compact, lightweight, fit comfortably and sound good for an entry-level model. Read our Sony C500 first take.
All-time low price: $58
David Carnoy/CNET
When you have a product that a lot of people love, change can be risky. Such is the case for Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which were first released in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become increasingly popular as they’ve improved with each generation. Over the years, Sony has made some tweaks to the design, but nothing as dramatic as what it’s done with the WH-1000XM5. Other than the higher $400 price tag ($50 more than the WH-1000XM4), most of those changes are good, and Sony’s made some dramatic improvements with voice-calling performance as well as even better noise canceling and more refined sound.
All-time low price: $292
Sony
The WH-CH710N is Sony’s entry-level noise-canceling headphones. At their list price of $148, they’re grossly overpriced, but a lot more compelling when they go on sale, which they often do (look for them for less than $100 or ideally at $78, their low price). The set’s sound and noise-canceling features are a big step below what you get with the WH-1000XM4, but these are overall competent headphones that are lightweight and comfortable to wear. In other words, this pair is far from the best but it’s a good choice if you can’t afford something higher-end. No carrying case is included.
All-time low price: $78
David Carnoy/CNET
No earbuds are perfect and not everybody will love the fit of the Sony WF-1000XM4 buds or be able to afford their high price. But if you’re looking for great-sounding earbuds with excellent noise canceling, solid voice-calling capabilities and good battery life, these buds check all the boxes. And unlike the earlier WF-1000XM3, these are water-resistant with an IPX splash-proof rating.
Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds also have top-notch noise canceling and sound quality, but the Sony is right there with the Bose for noise canceling. Some might even say it’s a touch better in that department. The Sony offers better sound quality and has a more compact design, particularly for the case — though the Sony buds certainly aren’t small.
All-time low price: $180
David Carnoy/CNET
The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony’s answer to Apple’s standard AirPods. While they don’t sound as good as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 noise-isolating earbuds, they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than the AirPods, as well as good sound and very good voice-calling performance.
Like the third-gen AirPods, their open design allows you to hear the outside world — that’s what the ring is all about. That makes them a good choice for folks who want to hear what’s going around them for safety reasons or just don’t like having ear tips jammed in their ears. They also have a few distinguishing extra features, including Speak to Chat and Wide Area Tap. Instead of tapping on a bud, you can tap on your face, just in front of your ear, to control playback.
They’re IPX4 splash-proof and thanks to their fins — Sony calls them Arc Supporters — they lock in your ears securely and work well for running and other sporting activities.
All-time low price: $128.
David Carnoy/CNET
As for the WH-XB910N, this is the step-down model from the WH-1000XM4. It’s an Extra Bass model, so it does have a preponderance of bass. This updated version looks the earlier XB900N but offers improved noise canceling and multipoint Bluetooth pairing, so you can pair it with your phone and computer simultaneously. It also supports Sony’s LDAC audio codec. It often sells for around $150 or slightly less. At that price, it’s a decent value.
While improved, the noise canceling isn’t quite up to the level of the WH-1000XM4. And the WH-XB910N doesn’t have some of that model’s extra features, such as Speak to Chat, wearing detection sensors and Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup technology. However, it does have a Quick Attention Mode, which allows you to put your hand over the ear cup to go from noise canceling to an ambient-aware transparency mode. Also, this headphone now comes with a hard case like the WH-1000XM4. Battery life is rated at up to 30 hours at moderate volume levels — that’s the same as what you get from the WH-1000XM4.
All-time low price: $123
David Carnoy/CNET
While they’re no longer Sony’s flagship noise-canceling headphones, the WH-1000XM4 are still very good headphones and worth considering if you can find them at a big discount.
All-time low price: $248.
How we test headphones at CNET
We test headphones based on five key criteria, comparing similarly styled and priced models. These criteria include design, sound quality, features, voice-calling performance and value.
Evaluating design, we assess not only how comfortable the headphones or earbuds fit (ergonomics) but their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. For earbuds, we also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings.
We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the headphones to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
Some great-sounding headphones aren’t loaded with features, but we do take any extra features into account. These include everything from noise-canceling and transparency modes (ambient sound mode) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears.
When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the headphones reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear your voice.
We determine value after evaluating the strength of the earbuds against all these criteria and what the headphone is able to deliver compared to other models in its price class.
More audio recommendations
- Best Cheap True Wireless Earphones
- Best Earbuds for Running for 2023: Bone Conduction and More
- Protect Your AirPods: 5 Cases Under $20
- Best Headphones for 2023: Top Picks for All Styles
- 7 Great AirPods Pro Alternatives That Cost a Lot Less
- Best Cheap Earbuds and Headphones for 2023
- Best Earbuds and Headphones for Working Out for 2023
- Best Headset for Working From Home in 2023
- Best Soundbars for 2023
- 5 True Wireless Earbuds Worth Buying for Under $40
- Best AirPods Max Accessories for 2023
Technologies
iOS 17 Cheat Sheet: Your Questions on the iPhone Update Answered
Here’s what you need to know about new features and upcoming updates for your iPhone.
Apple’s iOS 17 was released in September, shortly after the company held its Wonderlust event, where the tech giant announced the new iPhone 15 lineup, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. We put together this cheat sheet to help you learn about and use the new features in iOS 17. It’ll also help you keep track of the subsequent iOS 17 updates.
iOS 17 updates
- iOS 17.4.1 Fixes These Issues on Your iPhone
- iOS 17.4 Brings These New Features to Your iPhone
- Why You Should Download iOS 17.4 Right Now
- iOS 17.3.1 Fixes This Issue on Your iPhone
- iOS 17.3: All the New Features on Your iPhone
- Why You Should Download iOS 17.3 Right Now
- iOS 17.2.1: What You Should Know About the iPhone Update
- iOS 17.2 Brings These New Features to Your iPhone
- What iOS 17.1.2 Fixes on Your iPhone
- iOS 17.1.1 Patches These iPhone Issues
- What New Features iOS 17.1 Brings to Your iPhone
- What to Know About iOS 17.0.1
- Apple Made an iPhone 15 Mistake, but iOS 17.0.2 Is Here to Fix It
- iOS 17.0.3 Fixes This iPhone 15 Pro Problem
Using iOS 17
- Three iPhone Settings to Change After Downloading iOS 17
- iOS 17’s Best New Features
- The iOS 17 Features We’re Excited About
- iOS 17 Is Filled With Delightful Features, Intuitive Improvements and More
- 17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Shouldn’t Miss
- iOS 17 Upgrades Your iPhone’s Keyboard
- You Can Tag Your Pets In Your ‘People’ Album With iOS 17
- How to Create Live Stickers in iOS 17
- How to Set Up Contact Posters in iOS 17
- How to Automatically Delete Two-Factor Verification Codes in iOS 17
- What to Know About iOS 17’s Unreleased Journal App
- How Good Are Offline Maps in iOS 17?
- How to Use iOS 17’s Live Voicemail Feature
- You Can Change Your Private Browsing Browser in iOS 17
- Hidden iOS 17 Feature Makes It Easier to Send Photos and Videos
- You Can Clone Your Voice with iOS 17. Here’s How
- Are Audio Message Transcripts in iOS 17 Any Good?
- Sharing AirTags in iOS 17 is Easy. Here’s How
- How to Create Camera Shortcuts in iOS 17
- What You Need to Know About the Improved Autocorrect in iOS 17
- Use This Hidden iOS 17 Feature to Reduce Eye Strain
- How to Enable Sensitive Content Warnings on Your iPhone
- Let Your Loved Ones Know You’re Safe With This iOS 17 Feature
- Simplify Your Grocery List With iOS 17
- How to Turn Off FaceTime Reactions in iOS 17
- What Is iOS 17’s Journal App and How Does It Work?
- You Can Use Albums for Photo Shuffle on Your Lock Screen
- Play Daily Crosswords in Apple News With iOS 17
- How to Turn Off the Most Annoying iOS 17 Features
- iOS 17.2 Brings Better Wireless Charging to These iPhones
- How to Turn Inline Predictive Text Off With iOS 17.2
- How to Enable Contact Key Verification With iOS 17.2
- Don’t Like Your iPhone’s Default Alert Tone? Here’s How to Change It
- The Latest Security Features in iOS 17.3
- How to Secure Your Data With Stolen Device Protection
- Apple Music’s Collaborative Playlists Are Here. This Is How You Use Them
- People in the EU Can Download Other App Stores Soon
- All the New Emoji Your iPhone Just Got
- How to Give Your iPhone’s Stolen Device Protection a Boost
- What to Know About Podcast Transcripts on Your iPhone
- How to Enable Siri to Read Texts in Multiple Languages
- Where to Find your Apple Cash Virtual Card Numbers
Getting started with iOS 17
- iOS 17 Review: StandBy Mode Changed My Relationship With My iPhone
- Whether or Not Your iPhone Supports iOS 17
- Do This Before Downloading iOS 17
- How to Download iOS 17 to Your iPhone
Make sure to check back periodically for more iOS 17 tips and how to use new features as Apple releases more updates.
Technologies
Get Ready for a Striking Aurora That Could Also Disrupt Radio Communications
Don’t expect the storm to cause a lingering problem, though.
A geomagnetic storm is threatening radio communications Monday night, but that doesn’t mean you should be concerned. In fact, it may be an opportunity to see a colorful aurora in the night sky.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a geomagnetic storm watch after witnessing a coronal mass ejection from the sun on Saturday. The watch, which was issued over the weekend and will expire after Monday, said the onset of the storm passing over Earth on Sunday night represented a «moderate» threat to communications. As the storm continues to pass through, it could deliver a «strong» threat on Monday night that could cause radio communications to be temporarily disrupted during the worst of it.
Even so, NOAA said, «the general public should not be concerned.»
A coronal mass ejection occurs when magnetic field and plasma mass are violently expelled from the sun’s corona, or the outermost portion of the sun’s atmosphere. In the vast majority of cases, the ejection occurs with no real threat to Earth. However, in the event the ejection happens in the planet’s direction, a geomagnetic storm occurs, and the Earth’s magnetic field is temporarily affected.
In most cases, geomagnetic storms cause little to no disruption on Earth, with radio communications and satellites affected most often. In extreme cases, a geomagnetic storm can cause significant and potentially life-threatening power outages — a prospect that, luckily, the planet hasn’t faced.
Switching poles
Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic poles switch, with the north pole and south pole swapping positions. During those cycles, the sun’s activity ramps up as it gets closer to pole-switching time. The height of its activity is called solar maximum, and scientists believe we either may be entering the solar maximum or may be already in it.
During periods of heightened solar activity, sunspots increase on the sun and there’s an increase in coronal mass ejections, among other phenomena. According to NOAA, solar maximum could extend into October of this year before the sun’s activity calms and it works towards its less-active phase, solar minimum.
Even when geomagnetic storms hit Earth and disrupt communications, the effects are usually short-lived. Those most affected, including power grid operators and pilots and air traffic controllers communicating over long distances, have fail-safe technologies and backup communications to ensure operational continuity.
But geomagnetic storms aren’t only about radios. In most cases, they also present unique opportunities to see auroras in the night sky. When the storms hit, the plasma they carry creates a jaw-dropping aurora, illuminating the night sky with brilliant colors. Those auroras can be especially pronounced during the most intense phases of the storm, making for nice stargazing.
If you’re interested in seeing the aurora, you’ll need to be ready. The NOAA said the «brunt of the storm has passed» and even if it lingers into Tuesday, there won’t be much to see after Monday night.
Technologies
Last Total Solar Eclipse for 20 Years Is Coming: How to See and Photograph It
It’s your last chance until 2044.
Get your eclipse glasses ready, Skygazers: the Great American Eclipse is on its way. On April 8, there’ll be a total eclipse over North America, the last one until 2044.
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun and turning an otherwise sunny day to darkness for a short period of time. Depending on the angle at which you’re viewing the eclipse, you may see the sun completely shrouded by the moon (called totality) or some variation of it. The more off-angle you are and the further you are from the path of the eclipse, the less likely you’ll be to see the totality.
The 2024 total solar eclipse will happen on Monday, April 8. The Great American Eclipse will reach the Mexican Pacific coast at 11:07 a.m. PT (2:07 p.m. ET), and then traverse the US in a northeasterly direction from Texas to Maine, and on into easternmost Canada. If you want a good look at it, but don’t live in the path of totality, you shouldn’t wait much longer to book accommodation and travel to a spot on the path.
Or how about booking a seat in the sky? Delta Airlines made headlines for offering a flight that allows you to see the entire path of totality. Its first eclipse flight, from Austin, Texas, to Detroit sold out quickly. But as of Monday, Delta has added a second flight from Dallas to Detroit, which also covers the path of totality. The airline also has five flights that will offer prime eclipse viewing.
Not everyone can get on one of those elusive eclipse-viewing flights. Here’s a look at other options to nab a chance to see this rare sight and what to know about it.
Total solar eclipse path
The eclipse will cross over the Pacific coast of Mexico and head northeast over mainland Mexico. The eclipse will then make its way over San Antonio at approximately 2:30 p.m. ET on April 8 and move through Texas, over the southeastern part of Oklahoma and northern Arkansas by 2:50 p.m. ET.
By 3 p.m. ET, the eclipse will be over southern Illinois, and just 5 minutes later, will be traveling over Indianapolis. Folks in northwestern Ohio will be treated to the eclipse by 3:15 p.m. ET, and it will then travel over Lake Erie and Buffalo, New York, by 3:20 p.m. ET. Over the next 10 minutes, the eclipse will be seen over northern New York state, then over Vermont. By 3:35 p.m. ET, the eclipse will work its way into Canada and off the Eastern coast of North America.
Best places to watch the Great American Eclipse
When evaluating the best places to watch this year’s total eclipse, you’ll first want to determine where you’ll have the best angle to see the totality. The farther off-angle you are — in other words, the farther north or south of the eclipse’s path — the less of an impact you can expect.
Therefore, if you want to have the best chance of experiencing the eclipse, you’ll want to be in its path. As of this writing, most of the cities in the eclipse’s path have some hotel availability, but recent reports have suggested that rooms are booking up. And as more rooms are booked, prices are going up.
So if you want to be in the eclipse’s path, and need a hotel to do it, move fast. And Delta’s eclipse-viewing flight from Dallas to Detroit has just four seats left at the time of publication.
Eclipse eye safety and photography
As with any solar eclipse, it’s critical you keep eye safety in mind.
During the eclipse, and especially during the periods before and after totality, don’t look directly at the sun without special eye protection. Also, be sure not to look at the sun through a camera (including the camera on your phone), binoculars, a telescope or any other viewing device. This could cause serious eye injury. Sunglasses aren’t enough to protect your eyes from damage.
If you want to view the eclipse, you’ll instead need solar viewing glasses that comply with the ISO 12312-2 safety standard. Anything that doesn’t meet that standard or greater won’t be dark enough to protect your eyes. Want to get them for free? If you’ve got a Warby Parker eyeglasses store nearby, the company is giving away free, ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses at all of its stores from April 1 until the eclipse, while supplies last.
If you don’t have eclipse viewing glasses handy, you can instead use indirect methods for viewing the eclipse, like a pinhole projector.
Read more: A Photographer’s Adventure With the Eclipse
In the event you want to take pictures of the eclipse, attach a certified solar filter to your camera. Doing so will protect your eyes and allow you to take photos while you view the eclipse through your lens.
There’s also a new app to help you both protect your eyes and take better photos of the eclipse on your phone. Solar Snap, designed by a former Hubble Space Telescope astronomer, comes with a Solar Snap camera filter that attaches to the back of an iPhone or Android phone, along with solar eclipse glasses for protecting your eyesight during the event. After you attach the filter to your phone, you can use the free Solar Snap Eclipse app to zoom in on the eclipse, adjust exposure and other camera settings, and ultimately take better shots of the eclipse.
2024 eclipse compared to 2017
The last total solar eclipse occurred in 2017, and many Americans had a great view. Although there are plenty of similarities between the 2017 total solar eclipse and the one coming April 8, there are a handful of differences. Mainly, the 2024 eclipse is going to cover more land and last longer.
The 2017 eclipse started over the northwest US and moved southeast. Additionally, that eclipse’s path was up to 71 miles wide, compared with a maximum width of 122 miles for this year’s eclipse. Perhaps most importantly, the moon completely covered the sun for just 2 minutes, 40 seconds in 2017. This year, maximum totality will last for nearly four-and-a-half minutes.
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