At a time when most people use music streaming services and even those with local libraries mostly rely on Bluetooth, it might seem like wired headphones are a relic of the past. But if you’re reading this, it’s because you know, deep in your heart, that a quality wired signal is still superior to just about any streaming signal. You might need an adapter these days to use wired headphones with your mobile device, but for many, the better sound quality is worth the fairly inexpensive accessory.
Here, we take a look at both headphones (on-ear and over-ear) and earphones (in-ears) that still use cables. Yes, there are even better models available than the ones we list here, but we’re cutting it off at $600 to keep things reasonable. If you’re really looking to go all out, head over to our stories on the best headphones for audiophiles and studio musicians.
Keep in mind that an increasing number of wireless headphones (and especially noise-cancelling models) can work passively via an aux cable. To keep the focus here purely on wired headphones, however, we’re excluding those products. That gives us plenty of space to talk about cabled headphones and earphones that simply output audio and, for the most part, aren’t meant to do anything else.
With all that in mind, here’s what to look for when you shop for wired headphones.
Etymotic ER4 XR
Best Earphones for Sound Professionals
Bottom Line:
The stunning Etymotic ER4 XR earphones deliver the sonic accuracy sound professionals need, and add some subtle depth in the lows to complement modern mixes.
PROS
- Exceptionally accurate mids and highs coupled with rich, full bass response.
- Detachable, high-quality cable.
- Plethora of eartip options in various sizes and styles.
- Ships with several accessories, including zip-up case.
CONS
- No inline remote control or mic.
Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
Best for Home and Studio Use
Bottom Line:
Beyerdynamic’s wired DT 700 Pro X headphones are ideal for both personal and professional listening, delivering accurate audio without sacrificing comfort.
PROS
- Accurate, rich, detailed, and balanced audio
- Closed design ideal for studio recording and mixing
- Comfortable fit
CONS
- Cables lack mics
- Not for those seeking overwhelming bass depth
Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro
Best Headphones for Musicians and Engineers
Bottom Line:
The expensive Beyerdynamic Dt 1770 Pro is a wonderful headphone pair for musicians and engineers seeking an accurate frequency response in critical listening scenarios.
PROS
- Superb sonic performance gives clarity and equal representation to the entire frequency range.
- Secure circumaural fit.
- Ships with two long, removable cables—one semi-coiled, one straight.
- Swappable velour and leatherette earpads.
CONS
- Can get a tad uncomfortable over very long listening sessions.
- Expensive.
Shure SRH1540
Best for Sonic Accuracy
Bottom Line:
The Shure SRH1540 is among the more accurate headphone pairs we’ve tested, delivering deep lows and crisp highs clearly with very little boosting.
PROS
- Excellent audio performance.
- Impressively lightweight despite large size.
- Exceptionally comfortable.
- Ships with two detachable cables, a replacement pair of earcups, and the sturdiest hard-shell headphone case we’ve ever seen.
CONS
- No inline remote control or mic on either cable.
- Not for booming bass lovers.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Best Midrange Studio Monitors
Bottom Line:
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones give equal attention to the lows, mids, and highs, which makes them ideal for studio use.
PROS
- Accurate bass depth and ideal high-frequency clarity
- Comfortable, secure over-ear fit
- Ships with three detachable cables of varying lengths
CONS
- Plastic-heavy build
- Not for those seeking a modern (boosted) bass response
Campfire Audio Honeydew
Best (Relatively) Affordable In-Ear Monitors
Bottom Line:
Campfire Audio’s Honeydew earphones deliver a rich, bass-forward sound signature for those seeking a little more low-end response from their in-ear monitors.
PROS
- Bass-forward, warm sound signature
- Attractive, sturdy design with detachable cable
- Numerous eartip options
CONS
- Cable is relatively short
- No quarter-inch headphone jack adapter
Philips Fidelio X3
Best for Audiophiles
Bottom Line:
The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones deliver clean and balanced audio performance that will appeal to anyone seeking accuracy over boosted bass and sculpted highs.
PROS
- Excellent audio performance with accurate bass depth and detailed highs
- High-quality materials and cabling
- Comfortable, self-adjusting fit
CONS
- Expensive
- No adapter for devices with Lightning ports
Rode NTH-100
Best for Long Listening Sessions
Bottom Line:
The studio-focused Rode NTH-100 headphones deliver clear, accurate audio and are comfortable to wear over extended listening sessions.
PROS
- Accurate audio performance with a focus on clarity
- Comfortable, cool design
- Headband features locking mechanisms for a consistent fit
- Detachable cable
CONS
- No inline remote or mic cable options
Buying Guide: The Best Wired Headphones for 2022
Do Headphone Drivers Matter?
Between headphones and earphones, there’s a range of driver styles. In headphones, the most common option is the dynamic driver—headphones typically only employ a single full-range driver in each earcup’s enclosure. In recent years, audiophiles have gotten excited about planar magnetic drivers, which use a magnetic field to vibrate a large (compared with a dynamic driver) flat surface area. Planar magnetic drivers are typically sought after for their ability to deliver high levels of detail throughout the frequency range with very little distortion and a highly accurate bass response. Like the even less common (and far more expensive) electrostatic drivers, the enclosures for these headphones are often large and not really ideal for wearing out of the house. The few earphones that employ planar magnetic drivers look rather bulky and odd as well.
Dynamic drivers or balanced armature are most common in earphones. Balanced armature drivers are notable for how tiny and lightweight they can be; these qualities allow manufacturers to include multiple balanced armature drivers in a single earpiece that cover different frequency ranges. Like two-way or three-way stereo speaker setups, this tends to lead to a more accurate sound signature, but it all depends on the driver tuning.
None of the above-mentioned options are necessarily better than the others, but they do affect the sound signature.
Etymotic ER4 XR
(Credit: Etymotic)
Earphones vs. Earbuds
Let’s keep this short: There are no earbuds on this list. That’s because no earbuds seal off the ear canal. Any in-ears that rest outside of the ear canal create a host of sonic problems—ear-to-ear balance is compromised, as is bass response.
In-ear models that slightly seal off the ear canal (otherwise known as earphones) ensure proper left/right channel balance and can reproduce bass more effectively. People might use these terms interchangeably, and that’s fine, but for the sake of this story, the distinction is important.
Over-Ear vs. On-Ear Headphones
There are two basic builds for headphones. Circumaural designs fit over and around the ear, encircling it with earpads that typically create a soft seal against the skin and scalp. Supra-aural models rest on the ear and don’t create a seal around it. These models are often called, respectively, over-ear and on-ear headphones—and frankly, both of those terms are much easier to remember for most people.
Audiophile-level headphones are more often than not over-ear; a seal around the ear leads to a more immersive experience, after all. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find top-notch on-ears models. It might ultimately depend on your preference and use case: If you need headphones for recording or overdubbing in a studio, for example, over-ear headphones are often the way to go because they are less likely to leak audio.
Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
(Credit: Beyerdynamic)
Open vs. Closed Headphones
Not all over-ear headphones prevent audio from leaking, however. In fact, some purposefully push audio out—these are referred to as open, or open-back, designs. Why would you want headphones that purposefully leak audio? Because the open-back design, which allows you to hear your surroundings a bit, often provides a magical spatial feel that many headphones can’t come close to approximating. Open-back designs also allow more airflow around the drivers.
Closed headphones can also deliver magic, however, and are more appropriate for studio, office, and public settings, as they tend to leak far less audio.
Choose Your Sound Signature
Our goal is to highlight those options that we think sound best, so our choices don’t include super-bass-boosted options, simply because they don’t provide an accurate audio experience. Finding mega-bass headphones isn’t hard, however—if anything, it’s been the trend for years now, and finding accurate pairs is the problem.
In our reviews, you might often see the terms “flat response” or “flat sound signature.” This might sound like a negative thing, but a flat sound signature merely means that it’s an accurate—or close to accurate—sound that doesn’t boost and sculpt the frequency range too much.
Recommended by Our Editors
That said, all sound signatures have some boosting and sculpting—if they didn’t, everything would sound the same. In recent years, many accuracy-focused headphones and earphones have added in some bass depth because speakers and subwoofers have become more capable of reproducing deep bass rumble, and once that’s possible, artists and producers want to include deeper bass in their mixes. Thus, it’s not audiophile sacrilege to include some serious bass depth in a sound signature. As long as the bass is clean and accurate, it helps to replicate the deep lows that many modern mixes (and films) include.
4 ways you’re using your headphones totally wrong — Clarification Please
What to Look for in a Headphone Cable
One nice feature to keep your eye out for is a removable cable. It’s far easier and more affordable to replace a cable than an entire pair of headphones and cables are usually the culprit when things go awry.
If you need to use your headphones or earphones to take calls, pay attention to whether the cable has an inline mic and remote control. Plenty of the audiophile or studio models skip remotes and mics, though some products include two cables, one with and one without. Most wired headphones also ship with a quarter-inch headphone jack adapter for stereo and pro audio gear. This is rarely the case with earphones, but nearly all 3.5mm earphone work with a quarter-inch adapter.
How Much Should You Spend on Wired Headphones?
As we mentioned earlier, we’ve capped choices here at $600. Why? There are simply too many quality options out there below $500 to focus on pairs that cost $1,000 or more. We included models that might have debuted at a higher price but have become more affordable over time. These price drops are rarely a reflection in quality, which brings us to another point: Wired headphones aren’t like cell phones. There’s not necessarily a new, better model every year. Some of the models we list here have been on the market for years and have only had minor updates. When you get something right the first time, there’s no need to change it.
Remember, wired headphones require a little more maintenance than wireless models. Once you find the perfect pair, read up on our easy tips to extend the life of your headphones and the many ways you’re using your headphones wrong.
Hits: 0
