Headphones

  1. Electronics
  2. Headphones
From cheap earbuds to replace the ones that came with your phone to high-end over-ear headphones, our experts (and our listening panels) have found the best headphones in every category so you can get the best sound for your buck. We list both wired and wireless options to make sure you can listen to your favorite songs or podcasts in every situation you might want to.
  • Two gaming headsets resting side by side alongside a mechanical keyboard.

    The Best Gaming Headsets

    by Haley Perry

    The HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 offers better sound than many more-expensive gaming headsets, has an excellent onboard microphone, and is comfortable enough to wear for hours.

  • The ear muffs of multiple over ear headphones sitting on a wood table.

    The Best Over-Ear Headphones

    by Lauren Dragan

    Whether you’re looking for the best sound or just to cancel out the noise, we’ve picked the best headphones for anyone who wants an immersive experience.

  • Half a dozen of our best headphones picks arranged on a wood surface.

    The Best Headphones

    by Lauren Dragan

    We’ve tested several hundred headphones, including wireless, noise-cancelling, and even kids headphones, to pick the best headphones in each category.

  • Our picks for the Best Audiophile Headphones for Everyday Use.

    The Best Audiophile Headphones for Everyday Use

    by Lauren Dragan and Brent Butterworth

    Audiophile headphones focus on delivering the best sound quality, period. We’ve tested hundreds of them and selected our favorites for different uses.

  • All of the earplugs and earmuffs we tested and recommend.

    The Best Earplugs for Concerts

    by Lauren Dragan

    While custom earplugs are best for pro musicians and regular concert-goers, we like the Loop Earplugs for the occasional concert, club, or spin class.

  • The Klipsch The One II speaker sits among a few tabletop objects, including an iPhone playing Spotify.

    11 Great Gifts for Listening to Music

    by Samantha Schoech

    All our best equipment and tech to help the music lover in your life enjoy their passion to the fullest.

  • Our picks for best workout headphones displayed in a row, next to a pair of exercise hand weights.

    The Best Workout Headphones

    by Lauren Dragan

    The JBL Reflect Aero TWS are our favorite earbuds for the gym. We love their secure fit, simple controls, waterproof design, and ability to block noise.

  • runningheadphones-2048px-0748-2x1

    The Best Headphones for Running

    by Lauren Dragan

    When it comes to running headphones, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. So we have multiple recommendations based on style, features, and price.

  • Five pairs of kids headphones sit against an orange backdrop, with an iPhone playing music.

    The Best Kids Headphones

    by Lauren Dragan

    Whether you need kids headphones for entertainment, school, or travel, we have recommendations—and they all limit the maximum volume to protect young ears.

  • Four sets of wireless earbuds, each pair arranged in front of its case.

    The Best Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds

    by Lauren Dragan

    The Soundcore Space A40 true wireless earbuds perform so well, it’s hard to believe they’re priced so affordably.

  • Our four picks for the best Bluetooth wireless headphones laying next to each other.

    The Best Bluetooth Wireless Headphones

    by Lauren Dragan

    The JBL Tour One M2 over-ear Bluetooth headphones sound great, have a long battery life, and offer premium features at a lower price than the competition.

  • Our favorite noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds, displayed next to a computer keyboard and a notepad, in front of a blue background.

    The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones

    by Lauren Dragan

    Whether you prefer over-ear or in-ear noise-cancelling headphones, we have recommendations to help bring peace to your next trip.

  • A pair of white in-ear headphones plugged into a bluetooth headphone adapter, next to a smartphone playing music.

    The Best Bluetooth Headphone Adapter

    by Adrienne Maxwell

    If you want to use your favorite wired headphones over a wireless connection, the easy-to-use 1Mii ML100 is the best Bluetooth headphone adapter for most people.

  • Several headsets of different styles and sizes.

    The Best Wireless and Wired Headsets

    by Kaitlyn Wells and Melanie Pinola

    Whether you prefer the freedom of Bluetooth or the reliability of a wired headset, we have picks to suit all budgets and fit preferences.

  • Different brands of wired earbuds in a circle.

    The Best Wired Earbuds

    by Ian D. White

    The FiiO FD3 Pro is our favorite pair of wired earbuds under $200 because it offers excellent sound and build quality, plus a ton of helpful accessories.

  • Three different earbud sets pictured together.

    The Best Earbuds Under $50

    by Lauren Dragan

    Not everyone wants to spend an arm and a leg to get earbuds, and the good-sounding, features-laden EarFun Free 2S proves that you don’t have to.

  • Two Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controllers sitting one in front of the other, one in light pink and blue, one in dark pink and blue

    The 20 Best Gifts for Gamers

    by Wirecutter Staff

    You needn’t be an avid gamer to give an avid gamer something incredible. Our gifts team has you covered, with a range of Wirecutter-tested accessories and our favorite games of the year.

  • Five of our best headphones picks arranged on a table.

    The Best Headphones Under $100

    by Lauren Dragan

    If you’re looking for backup headphones or just don’t want to spend a lot, we reviewed all the best cheap headphones for you.

  • The two best wireless TV headphones, the Insignia NS-HAWHP2 and the Power Acoustik HP-902RFT.

    The Best Wireless TV Headphones

    by Nena Farrell and Lauren Dragan

    Wireless TV headphones let you watch TV or play games without disturbing others. We like Insignia’s NS-HAWHP2 for its comfort, ease of use, and minimal lag.

  • A person wearing over-ear headphones while standing outside on a sunny day.

    How to Improve the Sound of Your Headphones

    by Lauren Dragan

    If you’re unhappy with the sound quality of your new headphones, don’t return them right away. You might be able to improve the sound through EQ.

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