Selecting the best headphones that A) you can afford and B) meet your style and audio requirements can be a monumental task given the sheer range of options on offer.
There are hundreds of manufacturers producing on-ear, over-ear and in-ear models, which means there’s something out there for everyone but makes finding the perfect pair tricky, especially if you’ve been making do with the headphones included with your smartphone for the past few years.
Fortunately, we’re here to help. We’ve tested a huge number of personal listening devices and distilled them down into one neat list documenting the very best headphones on the market today along with some honourable mentions you may also wish to consider.
Before we jump into the list of entries, you’ll find a brief summary of our recommendations followed by a comprehensive buying guide detailing the most important things to look out for when shopping for the best headphones around.
Best headphones: At a glance
How to choose the best headphones for you
What style should I choose?
There are three main styles of headphones: over-ear, on-ear and in-ear, with a fourth – bone conduction – gradually gaining in popularity. Which is best for you is a matter of personal preference but each has its own pros and cons.
Over-ear headphones completely envelop and create a seal over your ears, providing greater sound isolation. They tend to be rather bulky and sacrifice some portability because of this, though many are foldable to enable easy transportation.
On-ear headphones are typically smaller and more portable but don’t provide the same level of sound isolation as they don’t envelop your ears totally. A common complaint about them is that they feel like they’re squashing your ears.
In-ear headphones are inserted into your ear and are either shaped to rest there without falling out or come with seals/eartips to help secure them in place. They take a number of forms and are the best choice for those looking for a portable, lightweight audio solution.
Wired earphones have earpieces connected by a length of wire, which then plugs into your audio output. Neckband earphones typically operate wirelessly but the earpieces remain connected to one another via a wire that runs behind your neck. True wireless earphones or earbuds as they’re more commonly known, get rid of wiring altogether and rely solely on Bluetooth for connectivity.
Bone conduction headphones rest on your cheekbones and create mini vibrations that move through bones in your skull and into the inner ear. For those with damaged eardrums or those wanting to be more aware of environmental sound, bone conduction headphones are a fantastic choice, though they’re not recommended if you’re after total immersion in your audio.
Wired or wireless?
Wired headphones connect directly to your audio source via a physical connection, be that a 3.5mm jack, USB-A or USB-C cable. This physical connection means the headphones don’t ever need charging, which is a big advantage, and audio quality is typically better compared to a wireless connection.
Depending on the devices you wish to use your headphones with, you’ll want to choose wired headphones that offer a compatible connection. For example, Apple’s new iPhones use a proprietary Lightning port so headphones sporting a 3.5mm connection won’t work with them without an adapter.
As Bluetooth connectivity has developed, we’ve seen more and more headphones making the switch to wireless functionality. Connect your smartphone or laptop to your headphones over Bluetooth and you can enjoy audio without the need for any wiring connecting them. This means the headphones will need to be charged regularly but in the case of earbuds, you get a portable charging case to help boost battery life. If you’re specifically interested in Bluetooth headphones, check out our list of the best Bluetooth headphones available.
What other features should I consider?
Active noise cancellation (ANC): ANC technology is designed to drown out external noise. It’s an essential feature if you want to zone out from the rest of the world when on a noisy commute. Read our list of the best ANC headphones for more details.
Integrated microphone and voice assistant: You’ll be hard-pressed to find a pair of headphones that don’t come with some kind of microphone built-in, but it’s well worth checking before you buy. A significant proportion support the use of your voice assistant, so if Google Assistant, Alexa or Siri are essential to your daily routine, make sure the headphones you buy have voice assistant support.
Touch controls: Touch controls allow you to control your audio without needing to access the device playing it. Over-complicated touch controls can be off-putting but you want to make sure the key commands, namely volume up/down and play/pause, are available.
Bluetooth codecs: Codecs determine how data is transmitted from your audio output to your headphones and not all of them are created equally. SBC is pretty much universal and works well enough but if you want an optimal wireless experience you should look out for codecs capable of transmitting high-resolution audio such as Qualcomm’s aptX HD. Bear in mind that not every device supports every codec so check for compatibility before buying.
Waterproofing: Having some level of sweat/waterproofing is always welcome. Be on the lookout for IP certification – anything higher than IPX4 means your headphones will survive a sudden downpour and are well cut out for use in the gym or while running.
The best headphones to buy
1. Sony WH-1000XM4: The best noise-cancelling headphones
Price: £350 | Buy now from Amazon
Sony’s WH-1000XM4 are the undisputed noise-cancelling kings of over-ear headphones. Sophisticated noise-cancelling technology adapts to your surroundings and actions, while also learning about the places you visit to provide noise cancellation best suited to your environment. It’s extremely effective and when fully engaged, blocks out a truly impressive amount of external sound.
But the WH-1000XM4 have more than one string to their bow. Sound quality is excellent no matter what genres you like to listen to; the headphones are comfortable when worn for long periods and they provide a range of handy features to create a seamless user experience. There’s multipoint pairing, which allows you to connect to two devices via Bluetooth simultaneously; wear detection for automatically pausing your music when you take the headphones off and Speak-to-Chat, which halts your music when you’re speaking to someone.
It was always going to take something special to surpass the excellent WH-1000XM3. Sony’s WH-1000XM4 are just that and are the best ANC headphones money can buy.
Read our Sony WH-1000XM4 review for more details
Key specs – Type: Over-ear, wireless; Connections: Bluetooth, 3.5mm jack plug; Weight: 254g; Cable length: 1.2m
Honourable mentions:
READ NEXT: Best noise-cancelling headphones and best over-ear headphones
2. Beats Solo Pro: The best on-ear headphones
Price: £179 | Buy now from Amazon
With excellent battery life, impressive active noise-cancellation and great sound quality, the Beats Solo Pro are the best on-ear wireless headphones on the market. You can’t control the ANC but the Solo Pro automatically adjust the level of cancelling based on your surroundings and other factors including whether you’re wearing glasses or have long hair interfering with the passive noise cancellation provided by the earcups.
Not only do the Beats Solo Pro sound superb, but they’re among the most stylish headphones out there and come six colours – black, grey, ivory, dark blue, light blue and red – so if you’re looking to make a fashion statement with your ear wear, they’re a mighty fine choice.
Read our Beats Solo Pro review for details
Key specs – Headphone type: On-ear; Connections: Bluetooth, USB-C to 3.5mm jack; Weight: 267g; Cable length: 1.5m
Honourable mentions:
READ NEXT: Best Bluetooth headphones
3. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: The best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds
Price: £250 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs – Type: True wireless earbuds; Connections: Bluetooth; Weight: 8.5g per earbud, 76g charging case; Cable length: N/A
Bose arrived late to the noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds party but the QC Earbuds were worth the wait. They deliver best-in-class ANC combined with an audio profile that’s wonderfully balanced across the whole frequency spectrum. There are ten levels of noise-cancellation to choose from and you can create three presets to cover a range of environmental conditions, switching seamlessly between them via the QC Earbuds’ touch controls.
The buds score highly on the comfort front, too, fitting cosily in your ears and not budging no matter what physical endeavours you’re undertaking while wearing them. That, plus IPX4 certification for sweat- and water-resistance makes them a fantastic choice for trips to the gym or a run in the park as well as those noisy commutes when the ANC is a godsend.
Read our Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review for more details
Honourable mentions:
READ NEXT: Best true wireless earbuds
4. SoundMagic E11: The best value wired earphones
Price: £40 | Buy now from Amazon
The SoundMagic E11 are the successor to SoundMagic’s excellent E10 earphones. They’re slightly dearer, but are sonically and aesthetically superior. The earphones have a better soundstage, a more energetic treble and a tamer low-end, delivering a balanced sound signature throughout. There are better sounding wired in-ear headphones out there, including the vastly more expensive Creative SXFI Trio linked in the section below but pound-for-pound, the E11 can’t be beaten due to what great value for money they are.
Read our SoundMagic E11 review for more details
Key specs – Type: In-ear, wired; Connections: 3.5mm jack plug; Weight: Unknown; Cable length: 1.2m
Honourable mentions:
- Creative SXFI Trio: Outstanding holographic audio quality | Buy now
- RHA MA650i: Attractive earphones with a Lightning connection | Buy now
- Sennheiser CX300: Affordable earphones from an audiophile brand | Buy now
READ NEXT: Best cheap headphones
5. NuraLoop: The best wireless earphones
Price: £199 | Buy now from Currys
To make it onto this list, a pair of headphones must be something special – and the NuraLoop are just that. These wireless headphones analyse your hearing and create a unique sound profile that takes into account your sensitivity to various frequencies. The result is personalised EQ that sounds sensational. The NuraLoop aren’t a one-trick pony, though. Active noise-cancellation is extremely effective, there’s a handy Social Mode for allowing in ambient sound, Immersion Mode for boosting bass, intuitive touch controls and sweat-resistance.
On top of all this, the NuraLoop offer a secure and comfortable fit and a massive 16 hours of battery life at half volume. Those of a more traditional disposition can rest easy: these earphones can be used wired with the analogue cable that’s included in the box. If you’re an audiophile that’s yet to experience Nura’s patented technology, you owe it to yourself to give the NuraLoop or their Impressive predecessors, the Nuraphone, a try!
Read our NuraLoop review for more details
Key specs – Type: In-ear, wireless/wired; Connections: Bluetooth, 3.5mm analogue cable; Weight: 27g; Cable length: 1.3m
Buy now from Currys
Honourable mentions:
READ NEXT: Our favourite wireless headphones
6. Lindy BNX-100XT: The best over-ear headphones under £100
Price: £100 | Buy now from Amazon
Though not a huge upgrade from their predecessors the BNX-100, these headphones do pretty much everything you could ask of a pair of affordable over-ear cans. They have a useful auto-pause/resume feature when you take them off, incorporate effective active noise-cancellation in addition to an audio passthrough mode and their earcup controls and simple and intuitive to use. Sound quality is good, particularly when ANC is off, with a decent bass response combining with detailed articulation of mids and treble. Bass does suffer a little when ANC is engaged though, which is a shame.
Included in the price is a generous range of accessories, including a sturdy carrying case, dual-plug flight adapter and a 6.3mm stereo-plug adapter. All of those goodies make what was already a very attractive purchase even more appealing. If you’re after over-ear headphones offering excellent value for money, the Lindy BNX-100XT should be right at the top of your list.
Read our full Lindy BNX-100XT review for details
Key specs – Type: Over-ear, wireless; Connections: Bluetooth; Weight: 541g; Cable length: 1.5m
Honourable mentions:
- One Odio A10: Impressive ANC for just £50 | Buy now
- Lindy BNX-80: Supreme battery life and ANC | Buy now
- Tribit XFree Go: Over-ear sound that belies a budget price | Buy now
READ NEXT: Best over-ear headphones
7. Creative Outlier Air V2: The best wireless earbuds under £100
Price: £75 | Buy now from Amazon
They may not have some of the fancy features present in premium earbuds, such as ANC and in-ear detection, but the Creative Outlier Air V2 deliver where it matters: sound quality and comfort. Audio is energetic, with plenty of bass underpinning clear mids and treble, while excellent passive noise cancellation courtesy of a super-snug fit ensures you’re able to enjoy your music without worrying too much about the outside world.
The incorporation of touch controls – the biggest difference between the V2 and the original Outlier Air – is handled extremely effectively and the extended battery life of both the buds and their charging case is very welcome. At a total 34 hours of audio playback, they’re among the longest-lasting buds around and thanks to IPX5 certification they’re gym-ready, too.
Read our full Creative Outlier Air V2 review for details
Key specs – Type: True wireless earbuds; Connections: Bluetooth; Weight: 6g per earbud, 60g charging case; Cable length: N/A
Honourable mentions:
- 1MORE Colorbuds: Extremely ergonomic earbuds | Buy now
- Tronsmart Spunky Beat: The best cheap option | Buy now
- 1MORE PistonBuds: Our favourite buds under £50 | Buy now
READ NEXT: Our favourite wireless earbuds and best budget headphones
8. AfterShokz Aeropex: The best bone conduction headphones
Price: £150 | Buy now from Amazon
If in-, on- or over-ear headphones aren’t for you, it’s worth checking out AfterShokz’ range of bone conduction headphones. These deliver sound vibrations through your cheekbones so are great for those with ear issues or simply those wanting to leave their ears free while still enjoying music.
The Aeropex are lightweight, Bluetooth enabled and IP67-rated, meaning they’re fully sweat- and waterproof, so are an excellent choice for runners, particularly as you’re still able to hear everything going on around you. Despite the bone conduction design, they don’t leak too much sound and are sonically very impressive.
Key specs – Type: Bone conduction; Connections: Bluetooth; Weight: 26g; Cable length: N/A
Honourable mentions:
READ NEXT: Best running headphones and best gym headphones
The post Best headphones 2021: The top wired and wireless headphones to buy appeared first on abangtech.
source https://abangtech.com/best-headphones-2021-the-top-wired-and-wireless-headphones-to-buy/
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