10 Best Sounding Headphones in 2024

You shouldn’t have to settle for anything less than the best headphones in the world, and these simple yet gorgeous quality headphones are about as close as you can get! They come in black and white, offer a deep and immersive sound that compares to very few other high-quality headphones so that you can enjoy your favorite music in a way you have never experienced before.

The latest Bluetooth technology along with the improved EQ surprises the listener with perhaps the most pleasant listening experience yet! A rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers up to 15 hours of playtime when used wirelessly, they have an advanced microphone system with HD voice to prevent interference from outside sounds, and you can use it switching back and forth between two Bluetooth devices simultaneously.

Pros:
+ Dual Bluetooth device capacity
+ Drastically improved EQ
+ 15 hours of uninterrupted playtime
+ 30 feet (9 meters) wireless range

Why We Liked It - When you want the best over-ear headphones, it is impossible not to look at these beauties! Superior sound quality and 15 hours worth of playtime on a single charge - what else could you wish for?

These over-the-ear headphones have replaceable (and incredibly soft) ear-pads that will keep you comfortable even after hours of use. They are perfect for listening to music, playing video games or for anything else that requires superb audio quality, and the open-back design makes sure there is no uncomfortable pressure added anywhere.

What is so great about this product is that it comes with two cables, included for your convenience, where one is a 2.1-meter cable with a 3.5 mm jack and the other is a 3-meter cable with a 6.3 mm jack.

This new Sennheiser series gives the concept of ‘top headphones’ a whole new meaning thanks to its superior natural tonal balance and its timeless design, and they are without much doubt the best headphones for music lovers and avid gaming enthusiasts that value both function, comfort, and style (and they are also perhaps the best Sennheiser headphones).

Pros:
+ Two quality cables included
+ Improved pressure point free construction
+ Impressive natural tonal balance
+ Extreme comfort and open acoustic design

Why We Liked It - When you spend hours wearing your headphones, you need a pair of the most comfortable headphones available, and that’s where these top over-ear headphones exceed.

For these redesigned top overear headphones, you have multiple color options to choose from! Get them in standard black, blue, navy blue or charcoal black, and enjoy the many fabulous features of the best stereo headphones in their price class.

Their profile is now slimmer than before, offering an even better fit with a padded headband and memory-foam ear cushions, and the fold-flat ear cups make them easy to take with you wherever you go. A soft carrying bag is included with each pair, and the cable is detachable to avoid tangling.

There is one version made especially for Apple products, and another made for Samsung and other Android products, which makes each one perfectly optimized for the products they are meant to be used for.

Pros:
+ Ear cushions with memory foam
+ Four unique color options
+ Padded headband for comfort
+ Soft carrying bag included

Why We Liked It - The memory foam added to the ear cushions will surprise you with the way they mold themselves to the side of your head and to your ears, which guarantees maximal- and long-lasting comfort.

Over-ear headphones should offer comfort, excellent sound and durability, and that is exactly what you get with these metallic top-ten headphones! Whether you prefer them in white, red, purple, pink, green, blue or black - there is a pair for you, and they have upgraded ear cushions that are soft and gentle on the ear, plus a noise cancellation function made to work well both when using these nice headphones connected or as wireless audiophile headphones.

The powerful and crisp sound is perfect for music and games, and you can also wear them when you just want to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet, without outside noise distractions. These are possibly the best over-ear headphones under 200 USD, thanks to the accurate bass response and overall sound.

Pros:
+ Great quality for the price
+ Effective noise cancellation function
+ Highly accurate bass response
+ 30-hour playtime with built-in 800mAh battery

Why We Liked It - The powerful Bluetooth function and the long battery life places these among the best over-the-ear headphones.

With an adjustable headband that is both stretchable and adjustable, soft ear cushions (90-degree swiveling capacity), high-quality material and with a design you won’t find anywhere else - it is no wonder that this product is considered some of the best wired-headphones on the market.

Controlled bass and excellent dynamics is delivered thanks to the 50mm neodymium driver, they fold flat and can easily be slipped into the included pouch for easy transport, and the included spring cable comes with two plugs - 3.5mm and 6.3mm, so that you have something for every possible situation. This product comes from one of the best headphone brands, and it won’t let you down.

Pros:
+ Crisp high tones for perfect hi-fi sound
+ Detachable DJ-style 9.8-foot cord
+ With dual-duty cable
+ Single-side monitoring

Why We Liked It - The dual-duty cable means you won’t have to worry about getting an adapter, as it has two plugs to be used in accordance with the circumstances.

Fast-Fuel technology is perhaps the most revolutionary thing about these earphones, as it means you can charge your headphones for only 5 minutes, and get a total of 2 hours extra of listening time.

This is something available in very few of even the best audiophile headphones, and in combination with how portable these small but powerful earphones are - you’ll be getting the best headphones for listening to music when traveling, since they take up virtually no space at all in your luggage. You can also use them to take calls and activate functions like Siri, and four ear tips in different sizes, to make sure they fit your ear perfectly.

Pros:
+ Small and highly portable
+ Lightning to USB-A charging cable
+ Flex-form cable for comfort
+ Fast-Fuel quick charge function

Why We Liked It - There are many different products claiming to be the best audio Technica headphones, but if what you need is for your headphones to be easy to transport and take with you - you can’t go wrong with these!

You can use these headphones at any volume and still get a clear, crisp and superb audio experience, and the world-class noise cancellation keeps any exterior sound out. The dual-microphone system is also noise-rejecting, so that you can talk freely with excellent sound quality while you are gaming or wanting to talk on the phone, and these are some of the best headphones under 400 dollars.

By downloading the Bose Connect app (currently only available for iOS devices), you get access to future updates, hassle-free Bluetooth pairing, and personalized settings, and you can further personalize the headphones by choosing between the colors black, pink and silver.

Pros:
+ Alexa-enabled voice access
+ Impressive noise cancellation
+ Noise-rejecting dual microphone
+ App available for updates

Why We Liked It - That this is one of our top 10 headphones should come as no surprise! It is a bit more expensive than some of the other headphone brands, but the quality and the option to upgrade your earphones using the app makes it worth it.

These headphones can be used as wired headphones if you are sitting in a fixed place and prefer not to waste the battery, or you can unplug them and get all the freedom you can expect from a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones.

Whenever the battery is low, a mere 10 minutes of charging will give you two hours of battery time to continue listening to your music, the foldable design and the included carry bag makes them easy to store and transport.

They have a soft and padded headband with a stainless steel slider and the memory-protein material makes sure they sit just right on your head. You get immersive hi-fi sound (with CSR chip) thanks to the closed-back design and 20 hours of music time so that your earphones are ready whenever you are.

Pros:
+ Use wired or as wireless headphones
+ Practical quick-charge function
+ Offer immersive and crisp hi-fi sound
+ Stainless steel slider and memory-foam

Why We Liked It - The best overear headphones do not need to be expensive, and these are a great and affordable option for anyone who is on a budget.

Are you looking for a pair of headphones that will stand out when you walk through a crowd, but that will still qualify as not only the most comfortable over-ear headphones, but also as the best headphones under 200 dollars? Well, if so - you have found them!

Get these classy active noise-canceling earphones in black, blue, green, purple, red or white, and rest assured that you won’t have to pay a fortune. NFC technology and the built-in microphone sets you up for taking calls with excellent sound quality, where your voice will sound just as clear as if you were in the next room.

Pros:
+ Built-in microphone and NFC technology
+ Available in five different colors
+ Powerful Bluetooth function
+ Eliminates all outside noise

Why We Liked It - They have 90-degree swiveling ear cups, professional protein ear pads, and 40mm Large-aperture Drivers, which means you get features and qualities we are used to seeing in much pricier headphones.

Good over-ear headphones can be great in some situations, but perhaps you are looking for something more discrete and lightweight? The MPOW’s have a rich base and HD stereo sound, they provide an excellent listening experience for workouts, gym sessions and sports (such as running), where you need a product that will stay on also as you move.

The Nano coating technology and IPX7 waterproof shell makes sweating a non-issue, so that you can give it your best without having to worry about damaging your earphones. These have been named the top headphones 2024 and the top headphones 2018 in some reviews, and they are especially great when you need the best music headphone that can keep up with an active lifestyle.

Pros:
+ IPX7 waterproof shell
+ HD stereo sound
+ Nano coating technology
+ Lightweight and comfortable

Why We Liked It - When you go for a run, it is important to have good sound that can continue to motivate you, despite disturbing environmental noises. These stay on as you move, and are waterproof to protect them from sweat and light rain.

Best Sounding Headphones Buyers Guide

Good sound becomes increasingly important when you have been a headphone user for a while, as flaws start to become more evident. Whether you use them to listen to music, to play computer games or to talk on the phone, you deserve the best product out there, that can give you satisfying sound quality.

You can look through reviews for the best over-ear headphones 2016, the best headphones 2024 or the best sounding headphones 2018, but the truth is that new products are constantly being released, and what is best for you depends mostly on what your expectations and your needs are. This guide will help you learn what to look for when shopping for the best sounding headphones.

Active Noise Cancelation vs. Noise Isolation

When you aren’t too familiar with headphone features, these two can seem to be more or less the same. While they have a similar purpose, they actually work quite differently. Headphones with noise isolation refer to the way the headphones sit around your ears, and how they physically provide a snug fit to keep any outside noise from disturbing you as you enjoy your music or listen to the sounds of a computer game.

Active Noise Cancelation, also known as ANC, is a whole different technology that has taken time and effort to develop. These types of headphones have a small and discrete microphone installed inside the earphones, which will then absorb any outside noise.

What happens next is that instead of passing the sounds on to you, they admit the exact opposite type of soundwaves - silence - which results in an absolute silence provided you have chosen a quality product.

Battery Life

Read the product description to see how long the battery life of a set of earphones is, as this could determine whether or not they will work for you. If you plan to use them mostly at home, then perhaps battery life is less important, but if you want to be out with them, work out with them or travel with them - you probably won’t want your headphones to die on you within the first couple of hours. Some headphones offer about 8 hours of battery time, while others could have battery times reaching a total of up to 30 hours!

You may also be interested in headphones with a quick-charge feature if you are out and about a lot, as these will allow you to charge them somewhere between 5-10 minutes, and get an extra 2 hours of battery life. Very convenient if you don’t like waiting around for your headphones to charge.

Closed Back vs. Open Back

We have chosen to feature both open-back and closed-back headphones in this review article, and before you decide what you prefer - you will want to know what it is that you are getting.

The most common type of headphones is closed-back headphones, as these are constructed in a way that “traps” the sound that comes out and makes it stay inside the earcup, something that is highly convenient when listening to music in public, as you won’t be bothering anyone else with it. These models also prevent outside noise from getting in and interfering with what you are listening to.

If your earphones are open back then the drivers are not enclosed inside the ear cup, which means outside noise can get in, and other people are likely to hear what you are listening to, depending on the volume.

Some gamers and music enthusiasts prefer this when they intend to use them mostly at home in a more private (and quiet) environment, as the soundstage when listening to music tends to be slightly better.

Collapsible Ear Cupsz

This only applies to over-ear headphones, but it is a smart feature that especially benefits those who travel with their earphones or who enjoys taking them with them everywhere, as a product with collapsible ear cups is significantly easier to store.

Those that are not collapsible can easily get bulky and difficult to store without risking the headphones getting damaged, and that is something you want to avoid regardless of how much your earphones are worth.

Best sounding headphones for running?

It can be difficult to run with over-the-ear headphones, so if you intend to use your earphones for running or other sports, an in-ear option might be a better fit. Make sure they are waterproof, to avoid them getting damaged if it rains or if you sweat.

Best sounding headphones for traveling?

It can get noisy when you are traveling, so consider a pair of quality closed-back headphones, possibly with active noise cancellation depending on how quiet you want it to get when you put them on.

Best sounding headphones for gaming?

If you will be gaming mostly by yourself in your house, you can go with either open-back headphones or closed-back headphones, but I there will be other gamers around - closed back is a better option due to the sound isolating features. Also make sure it has a microphone, and decide whether you need it to be wireless, or if you rather spare yourself the trouble of charging them by using headphones with a wire.

Conclusion

It is such a great feeling to find those perfect headphones, and it all depends on what you plan to use them for. We have put together this list o quality headphones so that you won’t have to waste time browsing through products that won’t live up to what they promise and to save you the time you could instead use for something else.

There are so many concepts to grasp and to take into consideration when you shop for headphones, such as in-ear, over-the-ear, closed-back, open back and ANC, and we hope that this guide can help bring some clarity, both as to what all of this is, but also in the strive to figure out what would work best for you.

Whether you are looking for the best headphones under 300 dollars or if you are willing to go higher - there are good options for you out there.

Expert Tip

Once you have found your perfect headphones - take care of them! Store them in a pouch if possible, and make sure you wipe off dust and dirt from time to time, to prolong their durability.

Did You Know

Not all headphones have microphones, so if you are hoping to talk to someone while wearing yours - double-check that the product you choose has a microphone.

If you've enjoyed this review by Music Critic, please leave a positive rating: