10 Headphone Shortlist Entries for ANC, Wireless Ease, Wood Craft and Planar Detail

The SendyAudio Aiva stands out in the source as an isodynamic, flat magnetic headphone with a strong emphasis on visual design and material character.

Its natural wood construction means each earcup has a different grain pattern, while the grille is described as inspired by cloud forms and intended to contribute to natural, precise transients and balance.

The supplied details also point to a 32-ohm impedance, 96 dB sensitivity, 97 mm x 76 mm drivers, a 20 Hz to 40 kHz frequency range, and a 420 g weight. Early user impressions in the source describe the Aiva as airy, analytical, tonally accurate, and good in timbre, though some listeners reportedly found it bright. That makes it a compelling but potentially taste-sensitive option for listeners drawn to planar-style presentation and distinctive craftsmanship.

DALI IO-12 is presented as a high-end wireless headphone built around ideas drawn from the company’s loudspeaker work.

The source highlights DALI’s patented Soft Magnetic Compound system, custom 50 mm SMC-based drivers, a low-loss rubber surround, a rigid paper-fibre cone, and a low-resonance cabinet concept.

Its feature set is broad: Bluetooth, ANC with on, off and transparency modes, wind-noise reduction, USB-C charging, USB Audio up to 24-bit/96 kHz, voice assistant support, and support for SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive. It can also be used passively through an off-mode filter, which is unusual and useful for buyers who do not want a wireless headphone that becomes irrelevant when the battery is depleted. With up to 35 hours of listening stated in the source and genuine leather on the earpads and headband, the IO-12 is positioned as a premium all-rounder for wireless hi-fi listening.

Audio-Technica ATH-WP900SE is a limited-edition closed-back wooden headphone shaped as much by instrument-making aesthetics as by conventional portable headphone design.

The source says the model is inspired by Japanese guitars and produced in collaboration with Fujigen, with solid ash wood earcups and a tricolour sunburst finish.

It uses a newly designed 53 mm driver and an advanced voice coil intended to improve linearity, with a specified 5 Hz to 50 kHz frequency range. The article describes the headphone as lightweight and portable while aiming for clarity, warmth and precision. For buyers who want a closed over-ear headphone that feels closer to a crafted object than a utilitarian accessory, the ATH-WP900SE has a clearly defined identity.

KEF M500 is described as the loudspeaker brand’s move into headphones, with a compact folding design and a premium feel built from aluminium, matte plastic and leather.

The source stresses practicality: the hard zipped case takes up minimal space, the single-sided cable is detachable, and two cables are included.

One is a standard 3.5 mm cable; the other adds a remote and microphone for Apple devices, turning the headphone into a mobile headset. The editorial impression in the source is that the M500 benefits from good source equipment while also improving the experience from portable players compared with basic bundled headphones. That makes it a classic portable wired headphone for users who still value physical connection, compact carry and understated materials.

Infinix Buds NC are lightweight true wireless earbuds focused on active noise cancellation, battery life and everyday control.

The source states that the charging case provides up to 35 hours of battery life, while the earbuds use two microphones per side to detect ambient sound and generate counteracting frequencies, reducing noise by as much as 30 dB.

A four-microphone setup is also used for calls, with ENC technology intended to reduce background noise while capturing the speaker’s voice. The earbuds include 10 mm wideband speakers, a bass enhancement algorithm, Bluetooth 5.3, touch controls, transparency and noise-reduction modes, and sound adjustment through the Welife app with genre-based EQ presets and customizable gestures. For a compact TWS model, the feature list is notably broad in the supplied material.

Beoplay Eleven is Bang & Olufsen’s latest true wireless stereo model in the supplied source, replacing the Beoplay EX and extending that design language.

The article describes an active noise-cancellation system with natural transparency mode and six microphones for call quality.

It also emphasizes the premium finish, with Natural Aluminum and Copper Tone versions, polished aluminium surfaces and a storage case with battery backup. The source frames the ANC as the company’s most advanced active noise-cancellation technology to date, while also noting continuity with the Beoplay EX approach, including a refined stem-based design and emphasis on materials. For buyers who place high value on finish, compact wireless convenience and a premium earbud presentation, Beoplay Eleven is one of the most design-conscious TWS options in the list.

Noble Audio FoKus Apollo Pro is a limited-edition wireless over-ear ANC headphone built around an unusual hybrid driver configuration.

The source says it combines a 40 mm dynamic driver for low-frequency weight with a 14.5 mm planar magnetic driver for speed, clarity and detail.

It is described as a refined interpretation of the existing FoKus Apollo concept, with revised acoustic tuning, improved materials, new finishes and a more elegant presentation. The FoKus Apollo Pro also uses Qualcomm’s QCC3084 wireless platform and supports the Noble FoKus app for playback settings, equalizer adjustment and related control. Its title source also identifies an 80-hour battery claim. Compared with the more common wireless ANC formula, this model’s strongest differentiator is the hybrid dynamic-planar driver architecture.

Noble Audio XM-1 is a wired in-ear monitor built around hybrid xMEMS technology.

The source describes an xMEMS Cowell high-frequency driver paired with an 8.3 mm dynamic driver for bass reproduction.

A key practical feature is the built-in high-bias amplifier, which removes the need for additional external hardware that wired xMEMS designs may otherwise require. The XM-1 is intended for use with smartphones equipped with USB-C or Apple Lightning ports, and the source notes that a ddHiFi TC28i adapter is included. Its strongest identity is not wireless convenience or ANC, but access to xMEMS-style high-frequency reproduction in a more self-contained package.

MRSPEAKERS ETHER 2 is presented as a major redesign of the company’s planar headphone line.

The source describes it as the new flagship planar model replacing earlier Ether and Ether Flow versions, with a new driver, a new implementation of TrueFlow technology, a new design and a new cable.

Weight reduction is a central theme, with the article placing the Ether 2 within a broader trend toward lighter headphones. The source also frames it as different from other planar headphones the writer had seen, though it does not provide complete measurement or listening data in the excerpt. As a result, the safest recommendation is for listeners specifically interested in a lightweight flagship planar concept rather than a feature-rich wireless or portable design.

This entry is not a single headphone but a broader wireless-headphone buying guide from the source set.

Its most useful role in this curated article is as a reminder that wireless buying depends heavily on form factor and value.

The source distinguishes in-ear, on-ear and full-size headphones, notes the convenience of avoiding dangling cables in places such as the gym or public transport, and explains that wireless models can help with compatibility as more phones omit headphone jacks. It also states that Bluetooth still compresses high-resolution audio, while newer codecs preserve quality better than older approaches. The guide’s core selection criterion is price-to-quality ratio, so it belongs here as a practical framework rather than as a product recommendation.