The 6 Best Wired Headphones - Winter 2021 Reviews

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are the best wired over-ear headphones that we've tested. They're well-built and designed for audiophiles, and they're good for neutral sound. Thanks to their wired design, you don't have to worry about them running out of battery life during long listening sessions.

They have a neutral, balanced sound profile suitable for listening to a wide range of music genres. They reproduce vocals and lead instruments clearly and accurately and can reproduce deep thumps and rumbles in bass-heavy music, too. Also, their comfortable fit means you can listen to your favorite songs for a long time without feeling a lot of fatigue.

Unfortunately, they don't come with a microphone, so they aren't suitable for making phone calls. Also, they have poor noise isolation performance, so they can't block out background noises typically found during your commute or in an office setting. However, they rank among the best audiophile headphones we've tested.

The best wired earbuds that we've tested are the 1More Triple Driver. These in-ears are decently well-built, with solid-feeling metal buds and a fabric-coated audio cable. Their also exceptionally lightweight and very portable, and they come with a stylized hard case that should protect them from drops and bumps.

These in-ears have a bass-heavy sound profile that makes them a good fit for genres like EDM or hip-hop, though some users may find that their overemphasized bass response gives some mixes a boomy quality and muddies vocals and lead instruments slightly. Thankfully, they leak very little audio, so you can listen to content at high volumes without annoying people nearby, and their in-line mic makes your voice sound clear and fairly natural.

Unfortunately, they struggle to block out low-end ambient noise, like the rumble of bus or plane engines, though they do a good job of filtering out ambient chatter or the higher-pitched hum of an AC unit. Also, while their audio cable does feel fairly sturdy, it isn't detachable, so if it gets damaged, the entire unit needs to be replaced. Still, thanks to their reasonably premium construction, portable design, and punchy sound profile, they're also among the best earbuds for bass that we've tested.

The best wired headphones for audiophiles that we've tested are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. These high-end open-back headphones have a very well-balanced sound profile, making them a good match for a wide variety of genres. Their passive soundstage is also fantastic and provides a spacious, natural listening experience that leads to sounds originating from speakers placed around you.

They're very well-built, with a high-grade plastic and metal construction that looks and feels quite premium. Their spacious ear cups should accommodate many different ear shapes and sizes and are lined with a suede-like material that feels quite nice on the skin. Despite their bulky size, their open-back enclosure allows for a good amount of airflow, and you shouldn't sweat too much while wearing these headphones.

Unfortunately, their open-back enclosure also results in high levels of audio leakage and terrible noise isolation performance. Combined with their lack of on-board controls or a mic, they're really only suited for use in a quiet room. Still, if you're looking for an immersive listening experience above all else, these are a great option.

The best wired headphones for gaming that we've tested are the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019. These gaming headphones offer lag-free performance, sturdy construction, all-day comfort, and a high level of customizability, thanks to the included MixAmp Pro controller. The latter has physical controls for volume, channel mixing, EQ presets (which can be modified via a companion app), and Dolby Surround Sound.

Communicating with teammates won’t be an issue even in the rowdiest of gaming tournaments, as the boom microphone delivers great recording quality and excellent noise handling. They also deliver very good bass and mid accuracy, giving even the most explosive in-game moments a bit of extra punch. That’s further enhanced by their open-back design, which allows for an expansive, natural soundstage.

Unfortunately, that same open-back design also means that they experience a high degree of leakage and poor noise isolation. Combined with their bulky size and lack of a carrying case, this makes them a poor choice for travel, as not only will you hear everything being said by your fellow commuters, they’ll hear everything you’re listening to. If this represents a significant issue for you, a kit is available for purchase from Astro that can be used to convert them to a set of closed-back headphones.