Best Headphones & Earbuds for Sidetone adjustment quality

Sidetone adjustment quality Decision Dashboard

Most evidence

Audeze Maxwell

7 supporting reviews

Has the broadest review evidence for this feature.

Best overall product

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

4.2 overall score

Strongest overall product among items with scored evidence for this feature.

See ranked products
#1 Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless Headphones
4.8

Sidetone was well received where evaluated, helping calls feel more natural or letting users hear their own voice.

Pros: Audio-video sync accuracy, Software/setup simplicity

Cons: Water/sweat resistance rating, 3.5mm analog input availability

#2 Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless Headphones
4.6

Sidetone was praised by TechRadar for improving call handling and making conversations feel more natural.

Pros: Award recognition, Battery

Cons: Water/sweat resistance rating, LDAC

#3 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Gaming Headset
4.5

Sidetone quality was a strength in the few reviews that discussed it, especially for real-time, clear monitoring.

Pros: Charging, Weight comfort

Cons: Sound leakage, Cable quality

#4 JBL Vibe Beam
4.5

Sidetone/VoiceAware is praised for helping the caller speak naturally without shouting.

Pros: Weight comfort, Button control usability

Cons: Active noise cancellation, Smudge resistance

#5 Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds
4.5

Sidetone-style call monitoring was praised by one reviewer because it helped them avoid shouting during calls.

Pros: Weight comfort, Noise isolation (passive)

Cons: aptX, Find My

#6 Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 Headphones
4.3

Sidetone was praised by one reviewer who liked hearing some of their own voice during calls.

Pros: Award recognition, Battery

Cons: Water/sweat resistance rating, Touch control responsiveness

#7 Status Pro X Wireless Earbuds
4.3

Sidetone is positively received as useful for hearing your own voice and speaking naturally during calls.

Pros: Maximum volume clarity, Sound quality

Cons: Spatial audio, Software/setup simplicity

#8 Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
4.3

Sidetone was appreciated for helping callers hear their own voice, though one review noted digital hiss.

Pros: Volume output, Comfort during long use

Cons: aptX, LDAC

#9 Sonos Ace Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
4.2

Sidetone was positively received as a thoughtful addition for calls.

Pros: Weight comfort, Ear cup swivel/rotation range

Cons: Cable quality, ANC sound impact on audio

#10 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
4.0

Sidetone is useful and clear, but reviewers also describe it as overpowering or only comfortable at moderate levels.

Pros: Maximum volume clarity, Multipoint connectivity reliability

Cons: Portability/foldability, USB-C

#11 Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW Earbuds
4.0

Sidetone was treated as useful for calls, helping users monitor their own voice or making the earbuds more office-friendly.

Pros: Battery, Software/setup simplicity

Cons: Sensors, Voice assistant integration

#12 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Headphones
4.0

Reviewers were generally positive about sidetone adjustment quality, though the supporting evidence sometimes included context or small caveats.

Pros: Volume output, Active noise cancellation

Cons: Water/sweat resistance rating, USB-C

#13 JBL Tour One M3 Headphones
4.0

Sidetone/VoiceAware adjustment received a positive user preference note from one reviewer who liked hearing more of his own voice.

Pros: Immersive audio quality, ANC background noise level

Cons: Replaceable pads/headband, Replaceable earpads

#14 Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE Earbuds
4.0

Sidetone during calls is useful when transparency mode lets the wearer hear their own voice clearly and reduces call fatigue.

Pros: Volume output, Audio-video sync accuracy

Cons: Multipoint connectivity reliability, LDAC

#16 Logitech G Astro A50 X Wireless Gaming Headset
3.7

Sidetone controls are useful and detailed, but one reviewer reports occasional quirks that require re-toggling the setting.

Pros: Positional audio accuracy, Soundstage width

Cons: Active noise cancellation, Hinge durability

#17 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2
3.6

Sidetone was useful on the 7P version, but reviewers criticized loudness, hiss, or activation quirks.

Pros: Connectivity versatility, Multi-platform compatibility

Cons: Transparency mode quality, Active noise cancellation

#18 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset
3.6

Sidetone is useful but uneven, with praise for adjustability and practical callout control alongside complaints about quiet or intrusive behavior.

Pros: Charging, Spatial audio

Cons: Hinge durability, Smudge resistance

#19 JBL Tour Pro 3 Earbuds
3.5

Sidetone/Voice Aware adjustment had limited mixed evidence because one reviewer found it fiddly despite liking transparency overall.

Pros: Codec support, Dongle

Cons: Sound leakage, Find My

#20 HyperX Cloud Stinger 2
3.3

Sidetone and mic monitoring were mixed: one reviewer said sidetone worked well, while another heard white noise when monitoring was enabled.

Pros: Multi-platform compatibility, Dongle

Cons: Replaceable earpads, Preset EQ profile quality

#21 Razer BlackShark V3 Pro
3.2

Sidetone adjustment was mixed: some reviewers found it fuzzy or unpleasant, while others liked its real-time performance and usability.

Pros: Audio-video sync accuracy, Multi-platform compatibility

Cons: Cable quality, Preset EQ profile quality

#23 HyperX Cloud III
3.0

Sidetone and mic monitoring were highly inconsistent, ranging from useful or best-ever sidetone to non-working monitoring toggles.

Pros: Hinge durability, Wireless latency

Cons: Preset EQ profile quality, Xbox compatibility

#24 Turtle Beach Atlas Air Wireless Gaming Headset
2.8

Sidetone or mic monitoring is mixed to weak: some reviewers like the lack of hiss, while others find it too quiet, eerie, or ineffective.

Pros: Weight comfort, Cable quality

Cons: Active noise cancellation, Noise isolation (passive)

#25 RIG Spectre R8 Pro
2.8

Sidetone/monitoring controls were mixed, with one reviewer finding mid/high levels too heavy and another finding the effect odd.

Pros: Spatial audio, Positional audio accuracy

Cons: Carry case quality, Detachable microphone convenience

#26 Razer Barracuda X
2.5

Sidetone and mic monitoring were weak overall: one review valued sidetone, but others criticized delay or lack of adjustment.

Pros: Cable quality, Hinge durability

Cons: aptX, Active noise cancellation

#29 Sony WF-C710N Earbuds
2.5

Sidetone was weak in one review because the earbuds did not feed enough of the caller’s own voice back during calls.

Pros: Weight comfort, Android compatibility

Cons: Lossless audio support, Ear tip size options

#30 SONY WH-1000XM6 Headphones
2.5

Sidetone adjustment was a weakness for one reviewer because voice amplification sounded unnatural and could not be toned down enough.

Pros: Smart Pause performance, Award recognition

Cons: Cable quality, USB-C

#31 Sony Inzone H6 Air
2.3

Sidetone was weakly received: reviewers either suggested turning it off or wanted more mic-control options than sidetone volume.

Pros: Weight comfort, Battery

Cons: Noise isolation (passive), Sound leakage

#32 HyperX Cloud Alpha
2.3

Sidetone adjustment is weak: reviewers either cannot adjust mic monitoring or find the fixed level too strong.

Pros: Maximum volume clarity, Earpad replacement ease

Cons: Bluetooth, Xbox compatibility

#33 Sony INZONE H9 II Wireless Gaming Headset
2.3

Sidetone adjustment was a weak spot, with low defaults and robotic or shrill sound when raised too high.

Pros: Weight comfort, Comfort during long use

Cons: Xbox compatibility, Smudge resistance

#34 Audeze Maxwell
1.9

Sidetone is the most consistently criticized feature, with noise, feedback, static, and bugs outweighing one positive report about loud monitoring.

Pros: Instrument separation, Maximum volume clarity

Cons: Hinge durability, Carry case quality

#35 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1
1.9

Sidetone or mic-monitoring support is a weakness, with reviewers complaining about no indicator, no sidetone, or no microphone monitoring.

Pros: Earpad replacement ease, Weight comfort

Cons: Sidetone adjustment quality, USB-C

#36 Fractal Design Scape Headset
1.8

Sidetone was a consistent weakness, with multiple reviewers saying it barely worked or was too quiet.

Pros: Spatial audio, Software/setup simplicity

Cons: Xbox compatibility, Sidetone adjustment quality

#37 JBL Vibe Beam 2
1.5

VoiceAware sidetone was criticized because the reviewer could barely notice it working.

Pros: Audio-video sync accuracy, Weight comfort

Cons: Sidetone adjustment quality, Microphone noise reduction

#38 Poly Voyager Free 20 Earbuds
1.5

Sidetone adjustment was criticized because one reviewer said the Free 20 lacked that ability, making plugged-ear calls feel unnatural.

Pros: Charging, Instrument separation

Cons: Spatial audio, Sidetone adjustment quality

#39 Sony WF-1000XM6 Earbuds
1.5

Sidetone was weak in the one clear judgment, with TechRadar unable to detect much difference from Sony’s Capture Voice toggle.

Pros: Maximum volume clarity, Audio-video sync accuracy

Cons: Sidetone adjustment quality, Software/setup simplicity