With so many of us working from home nowadays, a good pair of wireless earbuds has become practically essential. But not all earbuds are created equal, especially regarding call quality.
You want wireless earbuds that clear your Zoom meetings and phone calls – on both ends. Microphone quality, noise cancellation, and audio fidelity make a big difference.
In this roundup, I compared the top call-focused wireless earbuds available on Amazon with all those factors. I aim to determine which models boost voice and call clarity.
I focused on popular wireless earbuds from Sennheiser, Jabra, Sony, Shure, and Apple. Read on to see how they stack up!
What I Assessed
To compare apples to apples, I looked at critical criteria that contribute to call performance and audio quality:
- Call quality: Microphone system, noise cancellation abilities, sidetone feature.
- Noise cancellation: How well ANC isolates voices and blocks ambient sounds.
- Audio quality: Overall balance, fidelity, and sound customization options.
- Comfort and design: Materials, ergonomic shape, stability in the ear.
- Controls: On-earbud buttons and touch sensors, companion app features.
- Battery life: Listening time, case recharges.
- Connectivity: Bluetooth version, range, multipoint pairing.
- Pricing: MSRP vs. current Amazon sale price.
- Reviews: Ratings and feedback from experts and Amazon buyers.
Based on these criteria, I compared the overall winner and runner-ups to identify which model gets you the best call performance for your money.
The contested Wireless Earbuds
I selected the latest and most excellent wireless earbud models from the top audio brands:
- Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
- Jabra Elite 7 Pro
- Sony WF-1000XM4
- Shure Aonic 215
- Apple AirPods Pro
Let’s see how they stack up!
Call Quality Comparison
Having multiple high-quality microphones is key for isolating your voice and suppressing background noise on calls:
| Model | Microphone System | Noise Cancellation | Sidetone |
| Sennheiser MW3 | 4 mics | Advanced ANC, focused on voices | Yes |
| Jabra Elite 7 | 4 mics | Excellent for voices and ambient sound | No |
| Sony WF-1000XM4 | 3 mics | Industry leading ANC | No |
| Shure Aonic 215 | 1 mic per bud | Passive isolation only | No |
| Airpods Pro | 3 mics | Decent noise reduction | No |
Winner: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
The 4-mic array plus advanced noise-canceling algorithms make the Sennheiser MW3 wireless earbuds hard to beat for crystal clear voice and call clarity.
Noise Cancellation Comparison
Actively blocking out external sounds is vital for distraction-free calls:
| Model | ANC Performance | Hearing/Transparency Mode |
| Sennheiser MW3 | Excellent for voices, adjustable via app | Yes |
| Jabra Elite 7 | Great for voices and ambient sounds | Yes |
| Sony WF-1000XM4 | Industry leading across range | Yes |
| Shure Aonic 215 | No ANC, just passive isolation | N/A |
| Airpods Pro | Solid ANC but not best in class | Yes |
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4
While the Sennheiser MW3 focuses on voices, the Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds have unrivaled active noise cancellation across the entire frequency spectrum.
Audio Quality Showdown
Beyond calls, you want earbuds that sound fantastic:
| Model | Audio Quality | Customization |
| Sennheiser MW3 | Energetic and well-balanced | Adjustable EQ |
| Jabra Elite 7 | Punchy with crisp highs | Presets only |
| Sony WF-1000XM4 | Spacious with rich bass | Adjustable EQ |
| Shure Aonic 215 | Neutral and accurate monitoring | Presets only |
| Airpods Pro | Clean profile but lacks bass | No EQ |
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4
With customizable sound, hi-res LDAC support, and expansive spatial audio – the Sony WF-1000XM4 can’t be beaten for audio fidelity.
Fit and Comfort Comparison
Your wireless earbuds should fit securely and be comfy for long sessions:
| Model | Fit and Comfort |
| Sennheiser MW3 | Ergonomic shape, super lightweight |
| Jabra Elite 7 | Gel tips provide secure fit but noticeable in ear |
| Sony WF-1000XM4 | Can cause fatigue after 2+ hours |
| Shure Aonic 215 | Over ear shape is very stable but takes adjustment |
| Airpods Pro | Conform to most ears, don’t shift around |
Winner: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
The ultra-lightweight Sennheiser wireless earbuds practically disappear in your ears for incredible comfort.
Controls and Features
Onboard controls and companion apps allow ease of use:
| Model | Controls | App Features |
| Sennheiser MW3 | Highly customizable touch controls | EQ, ANC levels, etc |
| Jabra Elite 7 | Physical buttons, touch sensors limited | Sound modes |
| Sony WF-1000XM4 | Touch controls take practice | Robust app with ANC tuning |
| Shure Aonic 215 | Single button | EQ presets |
| Airpods Pro | Squeeze stem works well | Deep iOS integration |
Winner: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
With intuitive touch controls and robust customization via the app, Sennheiser offers the best control scheme.
Battery Life Comparison
More listening time and case charge equal less time tethered to a cord:
| Model | Listening Time | Extra Charges | Total Time |
| Sennheiser MW3 | 7 hours | 3 charges | 28 hours |
| Jabra Elite 7 | 8 hours | 3 charges | 30 hours |
| Sony WF-1000XM4 | 8 hours | 2 charges | 24 hours |
| Shure Aonic 215 | 7-8 hours | 2-3 charges | 24-32 hours |
| Airpods Pro | 4.5-5 hours | 2-3 charges | 24-32 hours |
Winner: Jabra Elite 7 Pro
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro has the most extended total battery life considering the case charging capacity.
Connectivity Specs
The latest Bluetooth versions provide stable connections:
| Model | Bluetooth Version | Range | Multipoint |
| Sennheiser MW3 | 5.2 | Very good | Yes, 2 devices |
| Jabra Elite 7 | 5.2 | Solid | No |
| Sony WF-1000XM4 | 5.2 + LDAC | Very good | No |
| Shure Aonic 215 | 5 | Average | No |
| Airpods Pro | 5 | Average | No |
Winner: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
With Bluetooth 5.2, great range, and multipoint pairing, the Sennheiser wireless earbuds edge out the competition for connectivity.
Pricing on Amazon
Here are the wireless earbuds ranked based on current sale prices:
| Model | Sale Price |
| Sennheiser MW3 | $249 |
| Jabra Elite 7 | $149 |
| Sony WF-1000XM4 | $228 |
| Shure Aonic 215 | $99 |
| Airpods Pro | $174 |
All models are available at solid discounts compared to MSRP. The Jabra Elite 7 Pro delivers substantial value at just $149.
Ratings and Reviews
Here’s a high-level look at both expert and buyer feedback:
- Sennheiser MW3 – Excellent reviews praise call quality and comfort
- Jabra Elite 7 – Users highlight great ANC and battery life for the price
- Sony WF-1000XM4 – Stand out for audio fidelity and noise cancellation
- Shure Aonic 215 – Positive for neutral sound but more limited reviews
- Airpods Pro – Rave reviews for seamless iOS integration and ease of use
All deliver excellent performance, but Sony and Sennheiser dominate when it comes to calling and audio quality specifically.
My Final Picks
🥇Overall Winner: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
With their advanced microphone array, customizable ANC and sound, intuitive controls, and ultra comfort – the Sennheiser MW3 earbuds edge out the competition for voice and call clarity.
🥈Runner Up: Sony WF-1000XM4
The Sony WF-1000XM4 is a close second, with industry-leading noise cancellation and spacious audio. Call quality is excellent but just a notch below the Sennheiser.
🥉Best Value: Jabra Elite 7 Pro The Jabra Elite 7 Pro provides solid call quality and noise cancellation at a much lower price for shoppers on a budget.
For iPhone Users: AirPods Pro Thanks to deep integration with iOS, the AirPods Pro nails the basics well. It is an obvious choice for Apple device owners.
For Audio Professionals: Shure Aonic 215
With its neutral sound tuned for vocal monitoring, the Shure Aonic 215 best serves sound engineers and musicians.
Common Questions (FAQ)
Q: How much do I need to spend for good call quality earbuds?
A: You can find decent call performance in budget earbuds under $100, but expect to spend $150-250 for advanced microphone systems and noise cancellation.
Q: Should I get wireless earbuds with ANC for calls?
A: Active noise cancellation makes a massive difference in blocking out sounds around you for distraction-free calls.
Q: What Bluetooth standard should I look for?
A: Bluetooth 5.0 or higher is recommended. It provides an extended range and faster data transfer for solid connectivity. Some now include 5.2.
Q: Can I use wireless earbuds for computer calls?
A: Most can pair to Windows or Mac via a USB dongle or built-in Bluetooth to handle VoIP calls.
Q: Which earbud brand makes the best calls?
A: Based on my testing, Sennheiser and Sony generally rise above call quality thanks to their microphone systems. But Jabra is also excellent.
The Bottom Line
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 delivers the complete package for those needing an excellent headset for taking calls while mobile. With so many working remotely, these extra call clarity optimizations make a difference.