Best headphones

If you’re looking for the best headphones on the market, it’s tough to get a straight answer. What works for some people doesn’t work for others, and few product categories are as diverse as headphones. In-ears, on-ears, over-ears — there’s just so much to choose from, and it’s hard to tell what’s right for you. Because the needs of every person out there vary so wildly, we’re going to run down the best options for most people based on a healthy balance of objective performance.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is the best noise canceling headphones

Now that Sony has released the Sony WH-1000XM5, it takes the crown as the best active noise canceling (ANC) headphones. This new model outperforms its closest competitors in noise attenuation and microphone quality. The default frequency response is a bit bassier than what we typically recommend. Still, you can easily equalize this from the Sony Headphones Connect app (iOS/Android) or your preferred third-party equalizer.

The WH-1000XM5 offers top-of-the-line specs and features, including a custom equalizer, Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, and auto-pause/play sensors. The Sony WH-1000MX5 includes speak-to-chat, which pauses your media when you are speaking to someone and resumes playback 30 seconds after so you don’t miss the person’s response. You also have Bluetooth multipoint, which is a great productivity feature for those who like to keep an ear on their phone while connected to their laptop.

If the price tag of the Sony WH-1000XM5 is just a bit too high, you also can’t go wrong with the older Sony WH-1000XM4 ($348 at Sony) which was previously our pick for best noise canceling headphones.

The Apple AirPods Max is the best headset for iPhone owners

When it comes to seamless integration with the iPhone, nothing outperforms the AirPods Max. These headphones take noise canceling to a new zenith. With the ANC feature enabled, everyday disruptions, whether it’s the rustling of papers or ambient conversations, are virtually eradicated. The caveat? Full control over ANC is available only if you’re part of the Apple ecosystem. So, for iPhone users, it’s an exclusive perk.

Transparency Mode is another feature that sets the AirPods Max apart, designed with the kind of intuitive thinking only Apple could offer. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill ambient mode that merely lowers your music volume; it uses external mics to amplify real-world sounds, harmonizing with whatever you’re listening to. It’s like having your cake and eating it, too—you enjoy your playlist while remaining acutely aware of your surroundings. Coupled with the iPhone, you get to enjoy customized controls that allow you to toggle between ANC and Transparency Mode effortlessly.

In terms of audio quality, the AirPods Max offers a stellar listening experience that complements a wide range of genres. From the deep, resonant sub-bass to the clear and present vocals, the sound profile is robust and versatile. While they may not replace studio headphones, they bring a richness that is optimized for the everyday listener. Yes, the $549 price tag is steep, but you’re investing in an experience that’s finessed to perfection for Apple loyalists.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is the best Bluetooth headphones

If you’re looking for high-performing ANC headphones that will keep up with your current (and next) Android phones, seriously consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. They pack a cutting-edge chipset that grants support for the aptX Lossless codec. Currently, the only other audio product that offers this is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Bose is new to higher-bitrate Bluetooth codecs, but it’s good to see that these headphones are far more future-proof than some of their older options.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless sounds great in any environment

If you’re looking for a slightly more affordable set of ANC headphones in comparison to the Bose or Sony offerings, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is not a bad way to go. While its ANC is technically behind the other top-tier headphones, its sound quality and battery life still more than hold up.

With support for a variety of high-quality codecs like AAC, aptX, aptX, and aptX Adaptive, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C listening, you’ll hardly ever get caught without a connection. You even get Bluetooth multipoint. and a stellar 56 hours and 21 minutes of battery life (with ANC on) outperforms most headphones.

The sound gets very close to our target curve with just a bit more bass. However, if that sound is not your preference, you can utilize the Smart Control app to adjust EQ. In addition, you can create automatic listening settings for different locations and adjust ANC.

The touch controls are intuitive, and little luxuries like on-ear detection contribute to the overall flagship-worthy experience of the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. That you get a carry case and an airplane adapter means you don’t have to shell out for accessories either. Plus, the Sennheiser cans undercut the price of most premium headphones without significant compromises.

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless is one of the best value buys

When the price tag matters as much as performance, the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless emerges as a strong contender. Known for sound quality that doesn’t compromise, these headphones offer a well-rounded auditory experience, all at a fraction of the cost of high-end competitors. They’re not the champs in noise canceling, falling short against industry leaders like Bose and Sony, but they can still reduce ambient noise by up to 75%.

They’re light enough to wear all day, thanks to well-placed padding akin to the comfort features of Bose QuietComfort Headphones. They may lack a carrying case and weather resistance, but their build quality assures you can toss them into a bag without a second thought. Just don’t expect these to be your go-to for the gym or a rainy day.

The headphones themselves offer a straightforward user experience. For those who love tinkering, the Sennheiser Smart Control app provides granular control over settings and a 5-band equalizer. Battery life lasts an impressive 47 hours on a full charge. For those who prioritize sound quality and affordability, the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless checks almost all the boxes.

The Shure AONIC 50 (Gen 2) can connect to anything

The Shure AONIC 50 (Gen 2) is for anyone looking to up their noise canceling headphone game but is unsatisfied with the Sony, Bose, and Apple options. Shure offers a competing form factor and a comprehensive app that could meet your needs if you’re looking for headphones with maximum device compatibility.

These headphones can use 3.5mm, USB-C, and a deep bench of Bluetooth codecs, including aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Voice, SBC, AAC, and LDAC. Essentially, it’s the all-in-one solution for any device. For example, you can use the headphone cable when you use the headphones with older equipment, swap to Bluetooth when you’re out of the house, or use the USB-C cable at the computer to enjoy lossless audio.

The sound needs a little tweaking, but if you’re okay tinkering with the app it allows you to use a host of parametric EQ filters to fit your sound profile.

The Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X are the perfect headphones for bedroom producers and creative professionals

The 1MORE SonoFlow is the best bang for your buck

Overall, while these headphones are inexpensive, they aren’t made cheap. They check all the boxes when it comes to modern features and will suit computers and travelers alike.

The best headphones: Notable mentions

We can’t highlight every headset the way we’d like, so instead, we’ve put together a bulleted list of alternative standouts that didn’t quite make the best headphones cut.

• AKG K371 ($176 at Amazon): This pair of headphones sounds excellent for what it is and provides a really good double-life as a dependable studio monitor. Sure, these are wired cans with a rather cumbersome cable. But if you’re listening at home, mixing a track, or working at the coffee shop, these are the headphones you want.
• Anker Soundcore Space Q45 ($149 at Amazon): These headphones tick most boxes for the price. The Bluetooth or wired-equipped over-ear headphones supply good codecs: AAC and LDAC, and sound pretty good. You also get decent noise canceling as well.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2($198 at Amazon): Enthusiasts sing the praises of the original ATH-50x for its rugged build and reliable performance. The second-generation Bluetooth version carries over everything we love about the tried-and-true wired model with LDAC support and excellent battery life. At under $200, this is a solid headset.
• Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X ($269 at Amazon): If wired is your sole interest with a studio-style frequency response, this is a great pick. The open-back design wears comfortably, and it gets very close to our ideal sound without reaching astronomical pricing. Its closed-back companion, the DT 700 PRO X, has less treble on tap and is another great choice.
• Bose QuietComfort 45 ($279 at Amazon): As an incremental update over the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, it’s not exciting, but the QC 45 offers improved ANC that’s up there with the best. At release, it was too trebly, but you can easily use the Bose Music app EQ to fix that. It’s still one of the most comfortable headphones.
• Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 ($279 at Bose): These are an older yet decent can of Bose headphones that are still supported by Bose, and will save you quite a bit of money if you’re okay without all the extra bells and whistles.
• Drop x Sennheiser HD 6XX ($199 at Manufacturer site): If you’re looking for the absolute best way to spend money on headphones for the computer, Drop’s partnership with Sennheiser brings these legendary audiophile headphones down to roughly half the original asking price. Budget-conscious audiophiles would be doing themselves a disservice by not giving these a spin.
• Grado SR80x(for $125 at Amazon): If you can’t shell out for top of the line open back headphones, these unique Brooklyn built on-ear headphones are comfortable with repairable parts and a more trebly frequency response.
• HiFiMan Sundara ($299 at Amazon): This is the set of headphones to get if you want high-end audio but don’t want to shell out a king’s ransom for it. These planar magnetic headphones are comfortable, straightforward, and excellent performers.
• JBL Tune 660NC ($79 at Amazon): Simply put, this is the best value you can get from a set of on-ear headphones.
• Sennheiser HD 600 ($399.95 at Sennheiser): Long considered one of the best headphones on the market, not much has changed in the last thirty years for the HD 600. It missed our top picks due to cost, that’s it — though you can sometimes get lucky.
• Sennheiser HD 660S2 ($499 at Amazon): Certainly not the cheapest of the wired open-back headphones on our list, this set offers a very pleasant and analytical frequency response. Like most open-back designs, it’s not for bass heads. If you find its predecessor, the HD 660S, for less cash, it is equally good. The Sennheiser HD 600 is also a tried and true choice in the same style with replaceable parts.
• Sony WH-CH520 ($38 at Amazon): The Sony WH-CH520 are competent entry-level pair of wireless headphones. They sound decent for the price and have an incredible battery life. With features like Multipoint and Fast Pair, they are also reasonably future-proof.
• Sony WH-1000XM4 ($348 at Sony): Sure, it’s not the newest set of Bluetooth headphones on the block, and the WH-1000XM5 outpaces it by basically every measurement. However, the WH-1000XM4 costs less money and gets you most of the way there.

What you should know about the best headphones

Calling something “the best” at anything is controversial at best, so we create our best lists with the caveat that your experiences will almost certainly vary from our own. Sometimes, people have a unique set of needs that can’t be satisfied by going to a list of “best headphones” because the article doesn’t address what the best headphones out there are… for you. Consequently, we encourage all of our readers to write down all the things they want out of their headphones first before rolling the dice on a pick. This list has a lot of all-time greats, but if you need something a little bit more tailored to your needs, definitely keep reading our other lists and features to arm yourself with enough knowledge to make the right purchase.

Think hard about what types of headphones you like (in ears? over ears? on ears?), and also try to figure out what features you need. Maybe you need to go to the store to see how they fit on your head. Do you wear glasses or have ear piercings? Maybe you should look into getting velour pads instead of leather! It’s possible you just want the best-sounding headphones at the expense of all other factors. These are all things covered in our reviews and other best lists.

Are wired headphones better than Bluetooth headphones?

This list has a few wired options if you want great sound, but we also have a few wireless options if you prefer convenience. If you opt for a Bluetooth pair, there are a few things you should know. First and foremost, the rumors you’ve heard are true. Bluetooth just can’t party with wired headphones, at least as it pertains to sound quality. Even some of the best codecs available aren’t as great as they seem at first glance. AAC basically only plays its best if you’re on an iOS device, which means Android users should probably stick to aptX, and LDAC isn’t truly Hi-Res. The good news is that you most likely can’t hear any of the details in the data that are being dropped, but it’s still not a great selling point. Of course, if you do think that you have superhuman hearing feel free to test yourself with our simple hearing test.

There is hope, though: Bluetooth SIG announced LE Audio and the LC3 codec, an efficient alternative to SBC. We’re excited to see the benefits to the hard-of-hearing community play out in the real world and know that LC3 will provide a 50% increase in audio quality relative to SBC. What’s more, headphone stutters will be lessened as packet loss management is improved, so instead of hearing annoying, intermittent drops, the dropout process will be much smoother. Even the best headphones will benefit from the new codec.

How does active noise canceling work?

If you were wondering how active noise cancelation works, don’t worry; you’re not alone. There’s a lot that goes into it, and some companies like Bose and Sony have their own ways of achieving it technologically, but it all comes down to basic physics. Active noise canceling is actually something called destructive interference. If you take one wave with an amplitude of +1 and combine it with another wave that has an amplitude of -1, you’re left with zero.

Active noise canceling headphones take advantage of this by using tiny microphones to hear what sounds are around you and then creating an opposite sound wave to cancel that before it reaches your ears. Of course, this isn’t perfect and works better for long, droning sounds than sudden, screeching ones. So don’t expect ANC headphones to block out that crying baby on your next flight. But when you combine noise canceling technology with good isolation, you can get pretty close to completely blocking the outside world.

This is harder to achieve when it comes to earbuds, as they don’t completely cover your ear. So instead, a solid pair of memory foam ear tips might be worth looking into as they do a better job at isolating sound than the silicone ones that come with most buds.

How we choose the best headphones

If you’ve seen this list before, you’ll probably notice that it’s completely different than it was in years past. Now it’s a perpetually updated piece. Gone are the Sennheiser HD 800 and the rest of the exorbitantly expensive headphones. That’s because we realized that what’s “best” objectively isn’t what’s “best” for everyone… so our selections needed a bit of tweaking.

Just like it is with power tools and kitchen utensils, different headphones are built for different purposes. Using the right tool for the job is important and ensures that you get the best experience possible. You wouldn’t use a chainsaw to cut butter any more than you’d use a set of AKG K7XX on an airplane.

In that light, we took extra time to take into account how most people actually use headphones. What makes a good pair of gym earbuds? What makes a good pair of wireless earbuds? What’s the good in having a best headphones list that doesn’t help most people buy headphones they like?

While we took the time to highlight some Bluetooth headphones, active noise cancelers, and open-backed cans — be sure to read the descriptions to see if they’re right for you. Many people want a set of headphones that will do everything, but those models are few and far between. It’s more about what people actually want.

Why should you trust SoundGuys for the best headphones?

In short, you should trust us because we show our work, strive to provide as much unimpeachable information to you, and pin our revenue model on the happiness of our readers with our recommendations. If you return the product we suggest, we don’t see a dime.

When it comes to audio, the SoundGuys team has years of experience reviewing products between them (and even more listening to them). So, if a product makes the best headphones list, it’s because we were genuinely impressed by them and had some hands-on experience with them (or, at the very least, put in hours of research).

Frequently asked questions about the best headphones