The best headphones are the ultimate tool for intimate listening experiences. Whether you’re listening on your phone, a digital audio player, a disc player, or even a PC or gaming console, when you’re ready to shut out the world and be one with your music, there is nothing better than a great set of cans.
And you probably have multiples of them, since most every smart device and digital audio player comes with a pair; but it’s a safe bet that you’re really not satisfied with any of them. Comfortable high-quality headphones can transform your audio experiences ranging from listening to music and podcasts to watching TV shows and movies, .
Whether you prefer the isolation of in-ear headphones, the comfort of an over-the-ear model, the convenience of wireless, or you’re not sure which type is best for you, we’ll help you find the right ones at the right budget. We’ve listed our top picks up front. If you need more information to make a choice, we’ll provide that—and links to a bunch of our reviews—below.
Updated December 9, 2020 to add our Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition noise-cancelling headphone review. If you value accurate audio reproduction over all, you’ll dig what B&W has wrought here. But we think most people will prefer Sony’s less-expensive WH-1000XM4, which is why we’ve named the PX7 Carbon Edition the runner-up in that category.
[ Further reading: The best high-res digital audio players ]
Best over-the-ear headphones Beyerdynamic Amiron home Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $599.00See itYou'll be hard-pressed to find better headphones for less than $1,000.
These headphones are unapologetically old school, and we love them for it. You won’t find any noise-cancelling electronics on the Beyerdynamics Amiron home. There’s no USB ports or an onboard amplifier, either; heck, they don’t even support Bluetooth.
But if don’t mind being tethered to your source, these headphones will deliver delightful performances for one at a price that won’t bust a generous budget. They’re highly recommended.
Runner-up Focal Elegia Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $899.00See itFocal's first high-end, closed-back headphones are a sonic champion.
If you can afford them, Focal’s Elegia closed-back headphones are a sonic wonder that sound as beautiful as they look. Focal might be better known for its high-end loudspeakers than headphones, but discriminating buyers shouldn’t overlook this brand.
Best noise-cancelling headphones Sony WH-1000XM4 Read TechHive's reviewSee itThe Sony WH-1000XM4 is the successor to what are widely considered to be the best active noise cancelling headphones on the market. While the feature upgrades are minimal, they are nonetheless welcome.
Sony didn’t do a lot to change its approach to noise-cancelling headphones—because it didn’t need to. Its earlier WH-1000XM3 headphones are fantastic, and these next-generation can are even better. If noise cancellation is an important feature for you, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are the absolute best headphones you can buy.
Runner-up Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $400.00See itThe Bowers & Wilkins PX7 are more comfortable and sound more accurate than most noise-cancelling headphones in this price range, but accuracy isn't everyone's cup of tea.
Bowers & Wilkins introduced its PX7 noise-cancelling headphone in 2019, but this Carbon Edition is brand new this year and features a new finish and an even prettier design. Sonically accurate noise-cancelling headphones might sound like an oxymoron, but leave it to the engineers at B&W to pull it off. All that said, plenty of buyers will stick with Sony’s WH-1000XM4—and not just because they cost less.
Best on-ear headphones Marshall Major IV Read TechHive's reviewSee itThe Marshall branding on these on-ear headphones isn't just window dressing, they are super comfortable and they sound excellent.
If you prefer headphones that sit on your ears, versus fitting around them, you won’t find a sweeter-sounding pair than the Marshall Major IV. These battery-powered, Bluetooth wireless sound fabulous and look fantastic. We especially like the innovative joystick control that selects their various functions.
Best in-ear headphones 1More Triple Driver in-ear headphones Read TechHive's reviewSee itThe Triple Driver offers superb sound quality—in fact, I've never heard better from any in-ear headphone—for much less than $100!
Our current top pick in this category are an incredible value that, to our reviewer’s ear, outperformed 1More’s own qual-driver in-ear headphones that cost twice as much. While it’s true that they don’t offer he utility of wireless connectivity, they excel where it counts: reproducing music. If you’re looking for true wireless earphone reviews, check out this roundup on our sister site Macworld.
Runner-up Periodic Audio Be Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $299.00See itThese sweet-sounding, Berllyium driver-based headphones are worth every penny of their asking price.
Periodic Audio’s Be in-ear headphones feature a lightweight design, solid fit, and are comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. They’re pricey, and they don’t offer features such as an inline remote or a microphone for pairing with a smartphone, but they’re just the ticket for reference music listening on the go.
Some purists dismiss active noise cancellation because they feel the algorithms they use can’t help but remove some desirable frequencies along with the unwanted background noise. Fair enough. We’d never recommend using Sony’s WH-1000XM3 in a recording studio. But these cans rock everywhere else. And since they’re wireless and they have a built-in mic, you can use them with your smartphone, too. And did we mention that they sound positively divine with all forms of music?
Best headphones designed for children Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet ANC headphones Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $199.99See itExcellent active noise cancellation that greatly improves the overall sound quality as well as solid build quality make this headphone a smart choice to help protect kids' hearing.
Kids love music, too; sometimes, a little too much. If you’re concerned about your youngsters listening to music on headphones at levels that could inflict noise-induced hearing loss on them, take a look at Puro Sound Labs’ PuroQuiet headphones. They sound very good, have excellent active noise cancellation, they come in fun colors, and they’re not terribly expensive.
Best budget-priced headphone Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Read TechHive's review$49.99MSRP $49.99See iton Wyze LabsThese full-size, over-ear headphones offer stellar noise cancellation and very good sound. They're also comfortable and Bluetooth 5.0.
Wyze Labs never seems to fail when it comes to delivering on the concept of inexpensive, not cheap. Its noise-cancelling headphones might cost just $50, but they sound as good as competitors that cost three times as much, and they’re super comfortable to wear.
Best money-is-no-object headphone Focal Stellia Read TechHive's reviewSee itThis headphone offers stunningly gorgeous sound and ultimate comfort for a princely sum.
Being an audiophile means paying dearly for that very last nth of improved performance. And if you have very deep pockets that allow you to indulge that passion, you shouldn’t bat an eye at the Focal Stellia’s $2,990 price tag. These are the most exquisite headphones we’ve ever wrapped around our heads, and you better believe that they sound even better than they feel. Félicitation pour cette victoire, Focal.
Runner-up Denon AH-D9200 Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $1,599.00See itExceptional sound and build quality make this a worthy flagship for Denon's line of well-regarded headphones.
Full disclosure: We didn’t have the opportunity to A/B test the Denon AH-D9200 against the Focal Clear, but we encourage you to do so if you’re in the market for headphones at this rarefied price range. The biggest physical distinction between the two sets of cans is that the Denon are closed back where the Focal are open back. Which do you prefer?
Headphone typesOver-the-ear (aka circumaural) headphones are the audiophile gold standard for high-fidelity, critical listening. And for good reason: This type of headphone fully covers your ear, creating a stable arena of sound.
They come in two designs: closed and open back. Closed-back models help seal out ambient noise and prevent sound from leaking into the environment (and nearby microphones, if you’re in a recording studio). As a general rule, because of their design, closed-back headphones tend to have better, more visceral bass response than open-back designs. Some closed-back headphones from Bose, Sony, JBL and others also feature active noise cancellation (ANC) technologies to greatly reduce ambient noise during air travel or noisy commutes (not if you’re the driver, obviously).
Theo Nicolakis Over-the-ear headphones tend to be big and bulky. Some manufacturers feature folding models that make them a bit more travel friendly.
Open-back designs typically have a perforated screen that allows air to pass between the ear cups and the outside world. With an open-back design, you can hear your surroundings and anyone near you can easily hear the music you’re playing. The best place for open-back headphones is in a quite place at home, as opposed to a noisy environment or in library where you’ll disturb others.
Choose an open-back design for a deeper soundstage and a sense of space with musical recordings. These types of headphones liberate your music in a fashion that’s similar way to listening to free-standing loudspeakers.
The biggest drawback of over-the-ear headphones is their size and bulk. Models that can fold up, such as the Bowers&Wilkins P7 and P9 Signature, the V-Moda Crossfade 2, and the Focal Listen Wireless are still bulkier than on-ear models. Some models don’t fold at all.
We should also note that over-the-ear headphones tend to feature three different technologies: dynamic driver, planar magnetic, and electrostatic. We explain these technologies further down.
On-ear headphonesThe smaller cups that on-ear (aka supra-aural) headphones use are designed to sit on top of your outer ears. This enables them to approach the sound quality of over-the-ear headphones, but in a more compact form factor. Many models, including the AKG N60NC wireless shown below, fold up for travel.
Theo Nicolakis Many on-ear models fold inward, like these AKG N60 NC, fold flat for portability.
You’ll do well to test how on-ear models fit. Some models are too tight and others far too loose. While tight-fitting models can help reduce external noise, they can become fatiguing and painful to wear for extended periods.
In-ear headphonesIn-ear-headphones (aka in-ear monitors or IEMs), fit into your ear canal and create a seal with either a silicone or memory-foam tip. Because they’re delivering audio almost directly to your ear drums, IEMs tend to deliver a smaller sound stage than either in-ear or on-ear headphones.
Their compact size make IEMs perfect for travel and exercising, and models that include microphones (either wireless or in the cord of wired models) can be used with your smartphone. Some active-lifestyle models even feature IPX ratings certifying their water (and sweat) resistance.
Getting a good fit and tight seal with IEMs critical to achieving the best audio performance. An in-ear-headphone’s bass response is dependent on the quality of the seal. If the seal is too loose, bass will sound anemic.
Because of their superior ability to seal, memory-foam tips that expand to the unique shape of your ear canal will not only fit better, they’ll also block ambient noise—in some cases, by 25dB or more—and they’ll increase an in-ear monitors’ perceived bass response (delivering too much of a good thing in some cases).
Theo Nicolakis Comply’s line of aftermarket memory foam ear tips can provide varying levels of noise isolation for a wide range of in-ear-headphone models.
Memory-foam tips create a superior seal. Some third party companies, including Comply, sell high-quality memory-foam tips for various brands of in-ear monitors.
Theo Nicolakis To stay in your ear canals, on-ear-headphones rely on either friction (Periodic Audio Be, left), wrap their cables around your outer ears (Astell&Kern Billie Jean, middle), or have a loop or wing (B&W C5, right).
Higher-quality over-the-ear and on-ear headphones come with detachable cables, so you can replace them if they’re ever damaged or simply wear out. That’s not always the case with in-ear headphones; however, some recent IEMs now come with detachable cables that conform to the MMCX (Micro Miniature Coax Connector) standard, so you can use any compatible MMCX cable with them. Replacing a cable is a much better alternative to throwing away an otherwise perfectly serviceable set of headphones.
Earbud headphonesEarbuds are similar to in-ear-headphones, but they are designed differently. Earbuds sit in the outer part of your ear (the concha, specifically) as opposed to fitting inside your ear canal.
Earbuds don’t block ambient noise, and you might find you need to increase the volume on your source device to overcome the noise floor of your surroundings. This could result in the people around your hearing whatever you’re listening to.
Theo Nicolakis Apple is one of the few companies that still makes earbuds. Their earbud design has evolved over time, making the earbuds less prone to falling out.
A major benefit of earbuds is that one size fits all. You don’t need to find the just the right silicone or memory-foam tip to fit the unique shape of your ear. The most common complaint about earbuds is that they fall out of your ears too easily, especially while you’re running or exercising.
Wireless headphonesWireless headphones are super convenient, and the best will deliver audio performances rivaling wired phones. They’re particularly useful when you’re exercising. If this is the type of headphone you’re shopping for, these are the most important features you’ll want to consider:
Battery lifeWireless headphones use Bluetooth to connect to a source device (smartphone, digital audio player, laptop, or even a soundbar). They typically rely on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can last anywhere from four to more than 20 hours. If the battery runs dry on in-ear and earbud headphones, you won’t be able to use them they’ve been recharged. Most on-ear and over-the-ear models come with a 3.5mm audio cable, so you can plug them into your source device and use them in wired mode.
Wireless audio supportA wireless headphone’s audio quality relies significantly on the audio codecs it supports. Codec stands for compression/decompression: Digital audio is compressed at the source, so the information can be transmitted to the headphone without wires, and decompressed at the destination, so you can hear it. Some codecs deliver higher fidelity than others, but the codec must be supported at both end: by the source device and by the headphones. These codecs are among the most common in wireless headphones:
SBC: All Bluetooth devices support the SBC codec, which offers maximum bandwidth of 328Kbps. While functional, the SBC codec doesn’t support high-resolution audio, and it tends to exhibit high latency. This could result in soundtracks falling out of sync with video. aptX: A high-quality, low-latency audio codec from Qualcomm that promises to deliver near CD-quality audio over Bluetooth. Qualcomm has more recently developed a newer version of this codec, called aptX HD, that enables audio encoded in up to 24-bit resolution with sampling rates as high as 48kHz to stream over a Bluetooth connection. AAC: If you use Apple products and services, such as iTunes, you’ll need support for this codec. You’ll also encounter it in some gaming consoles, high-resolution digital audio players, and in automotive entertainment systems. AAC delivers higher-fidelity audio than the more common MP3 codec at the same bit rate. LDAC: Developed by Sony, LDAC offers bandwidth of as much as 990Kbps to wirelessly deliver audio encoded in up to 24-bit resolution with sampling rates as high as 96kHz. Wireless remote controlMany wireless headphones provide wireless controls. In-ear headphones typically come with some type of inline remote control, like their wired counterparts, while on-ear and over-the-ear headphones usually have remote functions on the ear cup.
Make sure the control navigation fits your style: Some manufacturers outfit their headphones with physical buttons on the right or left ear cup, in locations that feel natural to your fingertips. Some go further and provide tactile cues, so you can be confident you’re pressing the right button.
Other manufactures provide what’s called a gesture pad, a touch-sensitive surface on one ear cup that responds to taps and directional swipes. Swiping your finger from the back to the front might move to the next track in your playlist, for example, while swiping up or down adjusts the volume. As you might expect, some gesture pads work better than others.
On the next page, we’ll explain headphone technology in more detail, and we’ll provide links to reviews of some of our favorite headphones. (Click here to go to page 2.)
