The 13 Best Headphones - Fall 2019
Reviews

The best headphones that we've tested so far are the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. They’re remarkably comfortable and have a simple, physical control scheme that’s responsive and easy-to-use. They sound great and have impressive noise cancelling, which makes them very good travel headphones. Their 20-hour battery life is perfect for international flights or long car rides, and they also have an auto-off timer to help save power if you forget to turn them off. They can also be used passively without noise cancelling when the battery dies, as long as you have a 1/16" TRRS cable on you. They can connect to two devices simultaneously, so you can switch between your laptop and smartphone without having to reconnect each time, and they support NFC pairing as well.

Unfortunately, they leak a considerable amount of sound, especially compared to the newer Bose 700 Headphones Wireless, so you might bother others if you like to listen to your music a bit loudly. Their noise cancelling performance also weakened a bit after a recent firmware update (4.5.2), but it’s still great. While the Bose Connect app doesn’t offer many customization options, the QC 35 II deliver a great overall experience thanks to their comfortable fit and well-balanced sound. If you're looking for hassle-free headphones that just work, then they’re a great choice.

The best wireless earbuds that we’ve tested so far are the Jaybird Tarah Pro. They’re sports-oriented earbuds that are rated IPX7 for superior water resistance and have rotating earbuds so you can find the most stable yet comfortable fit for you. They’re very well-built with a smooth braided cable and curved in-line remote that’s easy-to-use. They have magnetic earbuds that snap together for easier cable management and, in doing so, trigger an auto-off timer that helps extend their 13-hour battery life. They sound decent and are compatible with the Jaybird MySound app, which provides access to a great parametric EQ, community presets, button mapping options, and dedicated Spotify playlists for athletes.

On the downside, like most Jaybird headphones, they use a proprietary charging cradle that can’t be used with any other device except these headphones. This means that if you leave the charger at home, you won’t be able to just borrow a micro-USB cable off your friends or colleagues, which can be annoying. That said, it’s a small price to pay for these otherwise very-well performing wireless earbuds.

The best true wireless earbuds that we’ve tested so far are the Samsung Galaxy Buds. They’re quite comfortable for truly wireless in-ear headphones and have a compact, portable design that makes them great for use on-the-go. They have great audio reproduction out-of-the-box and are compatible with the Samsung Wearable app, which provides a couple of EQ presets so you can slightly customize the way they sound. They have a decent 7.5-hour battery life, which is surprisingly good for truly wireless earbuds, and their charging case even provides an extra charge so they can last all day.

Unfortunately, the Samsung Wearable app is only available on Android, so iOS users won’t be able to access their customizable features. This can be disappointing to fans of bass who use an iPhone, since these headphones are a little bass-shy and can only be EQ’d on Android. Also, volume controls are also only available via the button-mapping feature in the app, so iOS users are stuck with the default control scheme. That said, they’re the best wireless earbuds for Android that we’ve tested so far thanks to their comfortable fit and solid performance.

The best audiophile headphones that we’ve tested so far are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. They’re top-of-the-line reference-class headphones that sound outstanding and are the best headphones for soundstage that we’ve tried to date. They have excellent audio reproduction and a neutral, balanced sound profile that caters well to music of all genres. They’re a little shy on bass and sound a bit bright overall, but they don’t sound as sharp or piercing as other open-back headphones we’ve tested.

While they sound superb, they’re a significant investment. You’ll need to drive them with a powerful amplifier, and you may want a dedicated EQ if you prefer a bit more bass. They also benefit greatly from a quiet listening room since their open-back design encourages sound leakage and provides very little noise isolation. If you’re looking for headphones that sound nearly just as good but that aren’t as expensive, then consider the HiFiMan Ananda. They don’t sound quite as spacious as the Sennheiser, but they pack a touch more thump and rumble That said, HiFiMan don’t have the quality control of a brand like Sennheiser, and some of their units are prone to manufacturing defects. All things considered, if you have the right setup and they fit within your budget, the Sennheiser provide an exceptional listening experience that you’ll want to relive time and time again.

The best headphones for gaming that we’ve tested so far are the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. They come with a great base transmitter that has lots of input and connectivity options, as well as a bunch of customizable features at your fingertips. The transmitter provides a low-latency wireless connection for gaming, and the headphones themselves support Bluetooth, so you can even chat on your smartphone while playing your favorite game. They have impressive sound quality with a very neutral frequency response that’s great not only for video games but also for TV and movies. They have a great boom microphone and come with two swappable, rechargeable batteries so you never run out of power.

Unfortunately, they don’t have full wireless audio and microphone support on the Xbox One. If you’re an Xbox gamer, consider the Astro A50 Wireless with the Xbox One + PC Platform. They’re fully compatible with the Xbox One and are slightly more comfortable. However, if you prefer being able to use your headset with Bluetooth too, you might want to check out the SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless, which are very similar to the Pro Wireless but don’t come with a base transmitter since they support Xbox Wireless. That said, if you’re a PC or PS4 gamer looking for one pair of headphones to do it all, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless are a solid choice.

The best budget wireless headphones we've tested so far are the Mixcder E9. They sound pretty good, especially for their price, and are much better constructed than similarly priced over-ear headphones. They have excellent bass with lots of thump and rumble for EDM and hip-hop. They are quite comfortable with a well-built yet lightweight design that makes them feel much more premium than most headphones we've tested in this price range. They also offer a great control scheme with large, clicky buttons that allow you to play/pause, adjust volume, skip tracks, and take calls as well.

While they provide ANC, it doesn't work nearly as well as some of the competition. Thankfully, they don't leak much sound so you should be able to raise your volume to mask ambient noise without bothering people around you. If you're looking for similarly priced headphones with better noise cancellation, consider the Mpow H10, although they have a much cheaper-feeling build quality. Overall, the Mixcder are a decent pair of headphones which offer good sound quality and alright noise cancellation with a satisfactory build quality.

The best cheap wireless earbuds that we’ve tested so far are the Anker Soundbuds Curve. They provide outstanding value for their price thanks to their exciting bass-rich sound and versatile design. They’re more comfortable than most in-ear headphones we’ve tested and have stable ear-hooks that help keep them securely in place. Their battery provides nearly 13 hours of continuous playback and they support aptX for better-than-average Bluetooth latency performance.

Like most budget headphones, they aren’t compatible with a companion app, so you won't have access to any customizable features and you'll need to use a third-party EQ if you want to change the way they sound. They also can’t be paired with multiple devices, which means you’ll need to reconnect them every time you switch between your laptop and smartphone. The AUKEY Latitude support multi-device pairing and are better travel headphones since they isolate a lot of noise, but they’re less comfortable. Overall, the Curve perform exceptionally well for their price and are easy to recommend for most uses.

The best noise cancelling earbuds that we’ve tested so far are the Bose QuietControl 30. They have a comfortable earbud design with very good active noise cancelling. They have a balanced sound and are suitable for most genres of music. Their neckband design ensures your music is always at arm’s reach and they effectively isolate disruptive noises in loud environments without leaking much sound, which makes them the best noise cancelling office earbuds we’ve reviewed to date. They’re easy-to-use and they support multi-device pairing and NFC too.

Although they have a decent battery, they don’t last as long as noise cancelling over-ear headphones. They also have some issues with their build quality since the rubber neckband sleeve tends to peel away after only a couple months of use. That said, they’re still very well-rounded, versatile earbuds that are worth considering, especially if you value comfort and noise isolation.

The best wired earbuds that we’ve tested so far are the 1More Triple Driver. They’re well-built headphones that are fairly comfortable and come with 9 different earbud tips to help you find a perfect fit. They’re pretty easy to use and come with a nice hard carrying case. They have great audio reproduction and a balanced sound that’s suitable for nearly all genres of music. Their in-line microphone has good recording quality too, which makes them a decent choice for casual use and even gaming.

Even though their earbuds feel very solid and durable, they don’t have a detachable cable. This means that if their cable breaks, you’ll need to replace them entirely. The TIN Audio T3 and the KZ AS10 are also wired earbuds that perform well overall, but they don’t sound quite as balanced as the 1More Triple Driver and they aren’t as comfortable.