Best Quality Headphones in 2023

If you’re looking for the best earphones, then you know that outstanding sound, as well as comfort, are two of the most important features in a good pair of earphones. You’ll also know that choosing the right pair will enhance your listening experience, and make your favorite songs sound even better.

To ensure that you make the right choice and invest your money in the best headphones for you, you need to think about the features you want. Do you want them to be wireless? You'll need an excellent Bluetooth connection. Or do you want noise canceling technology? Consider this list and buyer’s guide to help you decide.

At a glance: Our top 3 picks

Our team's top 3 recommendations
Best Overall

Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II)

  • Adjustable, acoustic noise cancellation
  • Super soft ear cushions
  • Durable, hard-wearing construction
  • Works well with voice recognition technology
  • 20-hour battery life

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Premium Quality

Beats Studio3 Wireless

  • Adjustable, acoustic noise cancellation
  • Super soft ear cushions
  • Durable, hard-wearing construction
  • Works well with voice recognition technology
  • 20-hour battery life

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Great value

Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones

  • Adjustable, acoustic noise cancellation
  • Super soft ear cushions
  • Durable, hard-wearing construction
  • Works well with voice recognition technology
  • 20-hour battery life

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View The Best Quality Headphones Below

1. Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II)

Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II)

The QuietComfort 35 Headphones by Bose is the very definition of best over-ear wireless headphones for quality. They include an acoustic noise cancellation system that has three levels which can be easily adjusted via the action button. This button can also be used to operate your voice recognition software, such as Siri or Alexa.

The materials they have been constructed out of are very durable, with the ear cushions made from a very soft, synthetic protein leather, and the headband has been wrapped in Alcantara – a soft suede – so that you get enhanced comfort.

They have an amazing battery life, at 20 hours. This means you can listen for hours without being interrupted by your battery life dying.

Pros:
+ Adjustable, acoustic noise cancellation
+ Super soft ear cushions
+ Durable, hard-wearing construction
+ Works well with voice recognition technology
+ 20-hour battery life

Why We Liked It - Bose knows how to create great products, and with excellent drivers and a great battery life, these headphones are a perfect example of what the best earphones should look, feel, and sound like.

2. Beats Studio3 Wireless

Beats Studio3 Wireless

Every celebrity seems to wear Beats headphones these days. Why? Because they want to wear the best over-ear headphones that offer amazing sound, as well as looking stylish too. These wireless headphones have an adaptive, pure noise cancellation system so that no irritating noises will harm your listening experience.

In fact, there is nothing at all about these earphones that will make you want to take them off. The ventilated, soft ear cushions ensure you won’t overheat, and the ergonomic design offers you outstanding comfort. The controls are easy to use too.

Pros:
+ They look great
+ Very big bass
+ Comfy to wear
+ Ventilated ear cushions
+ Excellent noise cancellation technology
+ Wireless - great for portibility

Why We Liked It - The best over ear headphones combine looks, comfort, and usability with offering jaw-dropping sound. The Beats Studio3 have all these characteristics in abundance.

3. Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones

Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones

If you’re looking for the best in-ear headphones to wear while you’re on-the-go or exercising, then the Powerbeats3 could be ideal for you. Besides offering the well-renowned Beats’ sound, they also include an excellent charging feature, which means that you only need a five-minute charge to get an hour of wireless playback.

Because these headphones have been designed for exercise, they are sweat and water-resistant, which means you can listen to your favorite tunes. You can get that famous Beats’ bass, while on the treadmill, and you don’t have to worry about your sweat shorting the battery.

Speaking of battery life, these earphones feature 12 hours. This is an excellent battery life for earbuds - you can listen for hours without being interrupted.

Pros:
+ Sweat and water resistant
+ Fast charge
+ Great quality sound
+ Different ear tips so you can find one to suit your ear size
+ In-built microphone
+ Wireless

Why We Liked It - These wireless earphones offer you great sound while remaining light and stable, so they’re the best headphones to wear for exercise.

4. Beats EP On-Ear Headphones

Beats EP On-Ear Headphones

The best headphones don’t necessarily need to be wireless, and the Beats EP is a perfect example of why. This wired headphone offers outstanding sound quality. There’s no need to charge the battery - as they're corded, there isn’t one.

The cable includes RemoteTalk technology, which means that you can control your music and answer calls all on the cable itself. They have been constructed to be very durable and sturdy. Beats promise that they are well-suited to everyday wear. And considering how great the sound is, you’ll want to wear them every single day too.

Pros:
+ Cabled
+ Excellent sound quality
+ No battery
+ Easy-to-use controls
+ Lightweight

Why We Liked It - If you buy Beats, then you’re always ensured great sound with a lot of bass. These wire headphones will certainly do justice to your favorite tunes.

Quality Headphones Buyers Guide

Finding the right earphones can be tricky, but one way to do it is to think about all the features you want. Are you looking for a wire headphone? Something with noise canceling technology?

To make sure that you buy the very best earphones, consider this buyer’s guide first - it's sure to help you make the right choice!

Sound Quality

This is the number one feature of all the best earphones, whether that's wired headphones, wireless, or earbuds. The quality of the sound will vary from each pair to the next, with some offering more powerful bass, and others being more balanced, giving you better mid and high tones.

If a particular genre of music is important to you, then choose earphones that suit this music. For example, headphones that emphasize bass will be ideal for hip-hop fans.

Noise Cancelation

The best headphones will usually offer you some form of noise cancelling technology. This could be passive noise cancellation, which is created through the design of the earphones. The material and style of ear cushions will be important here. They also might have active noise cancelling technology; this requires power to be operated and is the best way of blocking out all unwanted sounds. Active noise cancelling headphones will use up your battery life quickly, though. Earphones with noise canceling technology will probably be more expensive than earphones without. If you really want to listen to your music in peace, then get a pair of noise cancelling headphones.

Wireless or Corded

Wireless headphones are convenient, but they come with some drawbacks, too. For example, you need to charge them. And many audiophiles believe that the sound is inferior compared to corded headphones. You have to choose the right type for your needs.

Do on-ear headphones give better sound than in-ear headphones?

Generally, yes. On-ear headphones offer better sound because they generally have a bigger driver in them, which also allows for more range of frequency. When it comes to sound quality, though, it tends to depend more on the headphones themselves, as opposed to the style.

For example, high-quality earbuds will be better than low-quality headphones, but the absolute best earphones will give you much better sound than the best quality earbuds.

If you still can't decide, another great pair of earphones that we didn't mention on this list is the Sony WH 1000XM3. Sony has been known for making amazing products, and it's no different with the Sony WH 1000XM3.

Expert Tip

To make sure that you choose the right earphones for you, do some research into what elements are enhanced by the particular pair of earphones and then check that it's suitable for your favorite style of music.

It would be a mistake to purchase a pair of excellent headphones that offer very powerful bass when you are a classical music fan. This is because you'll really need a pair of quality headphones that offer outstanding clarity, precision, and balance when it comes to sound. Over-ear options are best if you're looking more noise canceling technology, even if it's just passive.

Did you know?

The most expensive earphones in the world are made by a jeweler named Tournaire, and they cost a remarkable $120,000. The 18-carat gold and 6-carat diamonds that the earphones are made from, explain the price tag.

Conclusion

There are some really good earphones and headsets on the market. The best earphones will be comfortable to wear, offer you great sound quality, have noise cancellation technology integrated into them, and will be well-suited to the style of music you like to listen to.

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