Whether you’re looking for sleek AirPods or big over-ear models, these are the best headphones and earbuds we’ve tested, with advice for finding just the right pair for you.
When people find out I’ve written more than 1,000 audio reviews for PCMag over the last 13 years, the first thing they usually want to know is what the best headphones are. But to me that’s like being asked what the best music is. Sure, we all have favorites, but the category is too broad to break down so simply. The real question is, what are the right headphones for you? And to answer this, we have to consider your personal tastes, your desire for extra features, and, of course, your budget. Earphones vs. Headphones Earbuds do not seal off the ear canal and typically offer the worst audio performance of the bunch. Earphones seal off the ear canal and therefore offer better bass response, a more accurate stereo mix, and a more secure fit. On-ear headphones (which are also called supra-aural headphones) typically have smaller earcups that rest on the ear. Over-ear headphones (aka circumaural headphones) have larger earcups that rest around the ear. All of these headphones can be wired or wireless. Over-ear headphones are typically going to provide a more immersive experience than on-ear headphones, but this isn’t a rule—plenty of on-ears sound amazing, and can even offer a little bit of passive noise isolation with the use of well-cushioned earpads. The main reasons to consider one over the other are comfort (and this will vary from person to person) and portability (on-ear pairs are often smaller and more travel-friendly). Wired vs. Wireless Headphones Ever since Apple eliminated the headphone jack on the iPhone, wired headphones and earphones have faded from the forefront of this category in favor of Bluetooth models that require no cable at all. And the latest cable-free trends, true wireless headphones, don’t even have a wire connecting the two earpieces. Audiophiles will probably still prefer a cable, particularly for home listening (and a small cable adapter can be purchased for iOS devices with no headphone jack). If you prefer wired headphones, there are still a multitude of options available, but it’s also worth noting that plenty of wireless headphones come with a cable and can be used in passive mode, which doesn’t drain the battery, giving you the best of both worlds. The sonic advantage of wired headphones is still quite significant, even if Bluetooth audio has improved dramatically in recent years. No matter how much better Bluetooth has gotten, it is still based on a lossy codec stream, making it inherently inferior to a wired audio connection. The same can be said, incidentally, for inline microphones versus mics on wireless headphones—if you require crystal clear mic intelligibility for calls, it’s going to be hard for any wireless pair to beat the clarity of a wired microphone, though there are some wireless models that have made great strides in this realm, especially as HD Voice has been integrated into mobile devices. If sonics are important to you and you want to go wireless, pay attention to what Bluetooth codecs the headphones support. Android devices will often use AptX and/or AAC codecs for streaming, while Apple devices typically use AAC (though Apple computers can be set to use AptX). This is important mainly because not all headphones support both, and if you buy a pair that doesn’t support the codec your device is using, the headphones will still stream audio, but they will default to the SBC codec that all Bluetooth devices use, and SBC is a lower-quality stream than what AAC and AptX deliver. Headphone Drivers Headphones are most typically going to have dynamic drivers, while earphones may have dynamics drivers or balanced armature drivers.
