This story is part of our end-of-year series This Year in Gear rounding up the most notable releases of 2022. For more stories like this, click here.
2022 was a pretty momentous year for audio gear. There were tons of new headphones, earbuds, turntables, soundbars, speakers and hi-fi year, ranging from true audiophile to budget-friendly.
Below, you’ll find the best and coolest audio products that were announced this year.
Sony WH-1000XM5

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the company’s newest flagship noise-canceling headphones and the successor to the 2020-released Sony WH-1000XM4. The new models have been redesigned with a more lightweight body and wider earcups. They have more powerful active noise-cancellation and improved microphones for call clarity. They also have a new fast charging ability. The downside? At $400, they’re pretty pricey.