Whether you're a fan of jazz, rock, or EDM, sound quality is important, even when shopping for wireless earbuds. While there's no true one-size-fits-all approach to determining what sounds best to everyone, there are certain qualities you want to keep an eye on. A neutral sound profile is ideal since it's versatile - most people find it sounds good with a wide range of music genres. However, some people prefer more bass, while others like a brighter sound. As long as there's a balance between bass and treble, with a clear and even mid-range in-between, you can find something that suits your tastes without sounding muddy, cluttered, or dull.
We've tested over 205 wireless earbuds and in-ears, and below are our top recommendations for the best wireless earbuds for fans of neutral sound. See our recommendations for the best earbuds and in-ears, the best earbuds for bass, the best neckband headphones, and the best truly wireless earbuds.
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless are the best wireless earbuds for sound quality that we've tested. Out of the box, these earbuds have a very flat and neutral sound profile that's versatile enough for a variety of audio content. Although they have a small dip in the mid-mid which can nudge vocals and lead instruments to the back of your mix, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust them to your liking.
These buds are well-built with a comfortable and stable in-ear fit. They're also are rated IP57 for dust and water resistance, which is nice if you want to wear them during your run or workout. Their continuous battery life of over eight hours should last through long days on the go, and if you need to top their battery off, their carrying case holds roughly three additional charges.
That said, they don't support multi-device pairing, so you can't connect to your smartphone and laptop at the same time. Although they have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system, it also doesn't offer much of an improvement over the buds' own passive isolation capabilities. However, although they struggle to block out the low rumble of bus engines, they can still passively isolate you from office chatter and the hum of an AC unit.
The best sounding wireless noise cancelling earbuds we've tested are the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. These truly wireless earbuds have a very neutral sound profile to suit many musical genres, and you can adjust their sound using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets.
These earbuds have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system that filters out ambient noise to an impressive degree, letting you stay focused on your music even in loud or crowded environments. They're also very well-built and provide more than seven hours of playback time on a single charge. They come with a case that supplies roughly two additional charges, which should be enough to get you through your day. Also, thanks to their stability wings, they shouldn't have trouble staying in place during workouts.
Unfortunately, they're relatively bulky as far as truly wireless earbuds are concerned, and they stick out quite far from your ears. If you're looking for truly wireless earbuds with a premium-feeling design and a well-balanced sound profile, they're a good option.
If you're looking for neutral-sounding earbuds with a more comfortable fit, you may prefer the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless. Compared to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless, their sound lacks low-bass. However, it's very well-balanced overall, and the earbuds have a sleeker, lighter design that's more comfortable for most listeners. Their ANC system also does a great job blocking out ambient sound, including the low rumble of bus and plane engines and office-type noise like background conversations at work. Their continuous battery life is shorter than the Bose's, but they come with a compact, well-built case that holds about five extra charges. Unfortunately, they don't have a companion app and don't come with sound customization features.
If you want the headphones that do a better job of reproducing low bass, go for the Βose, but consider the Apple instead if you prioritize a more comfortable fit or want slightly better noise isolation.
The JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless are the best wireless earbuds for sound quality under $100 that we've tested. These budget-friendly earbuds offer a very neutral sound profile out of the box. Their treble response is slightly underemphasized, so vocals and lead instruments lack some detail and brightness, but their sound is still suitable for most genres.
If you prefer a different sound, their app includes a graphic EQ and presets that you can use to customize their sound profile. They have a comfortable fit and don't put much pressure on your ears, so you shouldn't experience too much fatigue during long listening sessions. Their somewhat short 5.4-hour continuous battery life may not get you through the day, but their case holds a few extra charges, so you can top them up in a pinch.
Unfortunately, although they have an ANC feature, it does a disappointing job of isolating you from ambient sound, so they aren't the best if you're looking for earbuds to use during your commute. They also don't support multi-device pairing, which isn't ideal if you often switch between using your phone and computer. Otherwise, if you're looking for affordable earbuds with a neutral sound, they're a solid option.
The Sony WI-C310 Wireless are the best sounding Βluetooth earbuds at a budget price that we've tested. These headphones have a smooth and warm sound profile that's well-suited for genres like rock or jazz. Their boom shouldn't overwhelm vocals and lead instruments, so these sounds are still accurately reproduced.
Their neck cable design is decently comfortable, and you can wear them around your neck when you're not actively listening to audio. They also have roughly 17 hours of continuous battery life, so they should easily last through long listening sessions. If you like to listen to audio at high volumes in shared spaces like an office, they don't leak much audio at high volumes either.
Unfortunately, they don't feel very durable as parts of their build feel particularly fragile. They also lack sound customization features like an EQ or presets to help you tweak their sound to suit your tastes. However, if you don't mind their fairly no-frills design, they offer a well-balanced sound suitable for most users.
Apr 04, 2022: Added the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless to Notable Mentions.
Feb 03, 2022: Replaced the JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless with the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless as the Jabra have a more neutral and flat sound profile. Move the JBL to a new category: 'Best Sounding Wireless Earbuds Under $100'. Moved the JBL Vibe 1000TWS True Wireless and EarFun Air Pro 2 True Wireless to Notable Mentions.
Nov 26, 2021: We've overhauled our article to add better-performing wireless in-ears and earbuds. Added the JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True WIreless, EarFun Air Pro 2 True Wireless, Sony WI-C310 Wireless, and JBL Vibe 100TWS True Wireless.
Sep 29, 2021: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock. There were no changes to picks but added the Wyze Buds Pro Truly Wireless to the Notable Mentions because of their very neutral sound profile.
Aug 03, 2021: Replaced the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 79 Truly Wireless with the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air Truly Wireless as the 'Truly Wireless Alternative' to the JBL Endurance Sprint Wireless because the TaoTronics are out of stock. Added the Sony WI-C310 Wireless to Notable Mentions.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best sounding Βluetooth earbuds and in-ear headphones to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for wireless earbuds and in-ear headphones. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.