Best headphones for music

Just as you need the right tool for the job, finding the right headphones can make all the difference for your music listening. We’ve tested a wide range of options to bring you the best headphones for specific genres, as well as top wired and wireless picks that shine across the board. Our recommendations aren’t just based on personal preference — we’ve tested and recorded each headphone’s frequency response to back up our claims. Each option caters to the nuances of different musical styles, from the deep bass of hip-hop to the intricate layers of classical compositions. Obviously, no one headphone will work best for all songs of a genre, but there are some common features that can sometimes help or harm your experience.

Before we dive in, it’s worth noting that your listening environment and music source play a role, too. For instance, the audio quality type supported by your music streaming service can impact what you hear. Keep these factors in mind as we explore the headphones that could take your playlist to the next level.

Editor’s note: 

The short answer:

If you don’t want to read this entire article, our picks are immediately below. Still, we encourage you to click on through to the full review so you don’t miss anything that might be a potential dealbreaker for you.

The best for most:

The best ANC:

The best for at-home wired listening:

The best gaming headset:

The best high-end:

The best bargain open-back:

The best mid-range open-back:

The Sennheiser HDB 630 is an excellent all-rounder

Though the ANC of the Sennheiser HDB 630 is decidedly weaker than the top tier of ANC headphones, it is head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to sound quality out of the box. If you’re worried about codec compatibility or losing out on wired listening: don’t. These headphones can connect via analog, digital over USB-C, or wirelessly with aptX Adaptive. Even if you have a phone that doesn’t support it natively, the headphones come with the BTD 700 dongle that can plug into any USB-C port and handle the whole Bluetooth thing instead of your phone. That way, even an iPhone can use aptX Adaptive.

If for some reason the very well-tuned sound of the Sennheiser HDB 630 isn’t quite to your liking, I can count on one hand the products with a better equalization feature in the app. Not only do the headphones offer a hearing test to take a lot of the guesswork out, but it offers EQ presets, and a parametric EQ for the most hardcore audiophiles. The main drawback of the headphones is their comparatively weaker ANC, but it’s not a huge step down from the top of the pack.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 will be what most people look for

The Sony WH-1000XM6 offers a consumer-friendly sound profile with notable bass and treble emphasis, though it has a somewhat underemphasized midrange. It supports SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs, providing high-quality wireless audio options. But the reason most people will like these headphones isn’t so much that they’re exceptional at sound quality, but that they’re exceptional noise cancelers — meaning you don’t have to turn your music up to drown out external noise.

The Sony Headphones Connect app provides a custom equalizer that allows you to adjust the sound profile to your liking, along with presets. Notably, these EQ settings are saved directly to the headset, so they apply even when you’re not using the app. Though there are a few odd characteristics to the sound of the headphones, most people need noise reduction in their daily lives, and these are among the best.

Best headphones for music and gaming

The Maxwell offers impressive audio quality with its large 90mm planar magnetic drivers. It’s designed to excel in both gaming and music listening. It supports a wide range of connection options, including Bluetooth with LDAC, SBC, and AAC codecs, as well as wired USB-C and 3.5mm connections.

Out of the box, it strongly emphasizes frequencies between 3-6kHz, which is great for atmospheric sounds and string attacks. However, it underemphasizes frequencies above 6kHz and in the bass range. The Audeze HQ app provides several EQ presets and the ability to create custom EQ settings. This is particularly useful for switching between gaming and music listening modes. The “Audeze EQ” preset, for example, provides a more consumer-friendly sound that closely follows our preference curve.

Best wired headphones for music

The headphones’ ability to faithfully reproduce frequencies from as low as 27Hz (lowest piano notes) to well above 4kHz ensures that the full range of orchestral timbres is captured. You can easily discern individual instruments and appreciate the nuances of classical compositions. The slight treble emphasis can bring out the air and sparkle in string sections and percussion, adding to the sense of realism in orchestral recordings.

Bargain options

If those headphones are out of your budget, Sennheiser released the HD 505 and HD 550 in early 2025. Both of these headphones are excellent in the sound quality department, and are more affordable than the HD 800 S. Though the build quality takes a little bit of a hit, both models are very comfortable

Though each set of headphones is wired, each is sensitive enough that you shouldn’t need an amplifier. Though wired headphones have a diminishing number of devices that support them, a dongle should be enough to handle the power requirements for these cans.

Mid-range option: HiFiMan Sundara

The HiFiMan Sundara offers exceptional sound quality with a frequency response that closely follows the studio curve. Its planar magnetic drivers provide excellent dynamic accuracy and low distortion, making it suitable for a wide range of music genres. The Sundara excels in reproducing impulsive sounds and offers great consistency across different volume levels.

Its open-back design contributes to a natural sound, beneficial for genres like classical and jazz. While it has a slight roll-off in the sub-bass, this can be addressed with equalization if desired. At $299 (reduced from its original $499), it represents great value in the high-end segment.

How we test headphones

At SoundGuys, we employ a rigorous, standardized testing process for all headphone reviews. Our objective measurements use industry-standard equipment, including a Bruel & Kjaer 5128 head simulator, to assess frequency response, isolation, and noise cancelation performance. We also conduct extensive subjective testing, evaluating comfort, build quality, and real-world performance across various music genres and listening environments.

To provide a more comprehensive understanding of sound quality, we use Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS), which simulate how a panel of listeners would rate various aspects of audio performance. This combination of objective data and subjective analysis ensures our reviews offer a well-rounded perspective on each product’s strengths and weaknesses. For a more detailed explanation of our testing procedures, please visit our How We Test page.

How we choose the best headphones for music

When selecting the best headphones for music, we consider several factors:

• Sound quality: We prioritize headphones that offer an pleasing frequency response suitable for various music genres. We also gut-check performance with HEAD acoustics’ Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores: a machine learning algorithm that projects Mean Opinion Scores of sound quality.
• Comfort: Long listening sessions require comfortable headphones, so we pay attention to factors like weight, padding, and clamping force.
• Build quality: Durability is essential for long-term use, so we consider the materials and construction of each pair.
• Value: We compare the price to the overall performance and features to ensure our recommendations offer good value for money.

Our selections aim to cater to different needs, preferences, and budgets while maintaining high standards for audio quality and user experience.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

At SoundGuys, we pride ourselves on our commitment to unbiased, thorough, and ethical reporting in the audio industry. Our team consists of experienced journalists and audio enthusiasts who adhere to strict standards:

• We maintain complete independence from manufacturers and advertisers, never accepting payment for positive coverage or reviews.
• Our writers are compensated solely for content creation, with no influence from advertising efforts.
• When we receive review units, they are always returned, or given away, never kept by our staff.
• We correct any factual inaccuracies promptly and transparently.
• Our testing methodology is standardized and rigorous, combining objective measurements with real-world usage. Our Headphone Preference Curve has been validated for use with over-and in-ears, and adopted by other sites in their coverage as well.

By upholding these principles, we strive to provide you with the most reliable and informative content to guide your audio purchase decisions. For more details on our ethics policy, please visit our Ethics page.

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