The 6 Best Headphones For Music - Winter 2021 Reviews

The best headphones for music with extra bass that we've tested are the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. These comfortable Bluetooth over-ears have an overemphasized bass response that may be perceived as a little boomy by some listeners but should please fans of EDM and hip hop who crave some extra thump and rumble.

They're compatible with the Sony | Headphones Connect companion app, which grants you access to a graphic EQ as well as audio presets to fine-tune your listening experience. They have a remarkably effective ANC system that filters out a wide range of ambient noise, from passing trucks to the high-pitched hum of an AC unit, so you can enjoy your music even in loud or crowded environments. While they should last for over 37 hours on a single charge, they come with a 1/8 inch TRS audio cable, allowing for passive audio playback if you've run out of battery.

Unfortunately, their integrated microphone delivers sub-par recording quality and makes your voice sound thin and muffled, so they may not be the best option if you also happen to make a lot of phone calls through your headphones. Their touch-sensitive control scheme may also take some time to get used to, though it's quite intuitive once you've figured it out. If you're looking for extra thump and rumble, these are also among the best bass headphones that we've tested.

The Sennheiser HD 800 S are the best headphones for soundstage that we've tested. These premium open-backs generate an incredibly natural, spacious, and wholly immersive listening experience that makes your music sound like it's coming from all around you. Their well-balanced sound profile should also please audiophiles, as their very neutral mid and treble response makes vocals and lead instruments sound clear, present, detailed, and airy, though some may find them to be a little too bright.

They're very well-built with a sturdy-feeling design made of high-grade plastic reinforced by a metal frame and a braided detachable audio cable. Their spacious, well-padded ear cups should ensure you don't experience any discomfort, even during long listening sessions. They're also fairly breathable, so your ears shouldn't sweat too much while wearing them.

Unfortunately, they're very expensive. That's without mentioning an amplifier is needed to get the most out of them. As to be expected for a pair of open-backs, they do an awful job of blocking out ambient noise, so they're particularly ill-suited for listening in a loud environment. Still, considering their ability to provide an impressively well-balanced and immersive listening experience, these are among the best open-back headphones we've tested.

The best headphones for vocals and instruments that we've tested are the Philips SHP9500. They're impressive for neutral sound, and their comfortable design is ideal for long listening sessions. Due to their wired design, you don't have to worry about running out of battery while listening, which is nice.

They have balanced, neutral mid and treble ranges that help reproduce clear and accurate vocals and lead instruments. Thanks to their open-back design, they can create an open, spacious soundstage. As a result, you really feel immersed in your favorite songs when listening with these headphones.

Unfortunately, like most open-back headphones, they struggle to reproduce low-bass, which can be disappointing for fans of bass-heavy genres. Also, they have terrible noise isolation, and they leak a lot of noise. However, if you like listening to vocal and instrument-centric music at home, they're a solid choice.

The best headphones for music in the budget category that we've tested are the Anker SoundBuds Curve Upgraded 2019. They offer an excellent price-to-performance ratio, and their 18.4-hour battery life is the longest we've tested on a pair of wireless in-ears. They don't enter the ear canal as deeply as most other in-ear options, making them quite comfortable, even during longer listening sessions.

Their sound profile is fairly excited with a good amount of extra bass that isn't overpowering or boomy, making them well-suited for most popular music genres from rock to EDM or pop. If you want to quickly skip to the next track or pause your music, it's easy to do with their intuitive and easy-to-use in-line remote, and they're even rated IPX7 for sweat and water resistance, though this isn't something we test for.

While the earbuds are made from good quality and dense plastic, unfortunately, the cable connecting the L/R buds is quite thin, though this is common with headphones at this price point. They also don't have a dedicated companion app, so you can't change their sound reproduction via EQ settings. That said, they provide outstanding value overall and are among the best headphones that we've tested.