The 7 Best Wired Headphones - Spring 2020
Reviews

The best wired headphones for casual use that we’ve tested so far are the Bose QuietComfort 25/QC25. They’re versatile over-ear headphones with excellent noise cancelling. They’re outstandingly comfortable, sound very good, are easy-to-use, and are quite reasonably priced compared to Bose’s other noise cancelling headsets.

These headphones have a balanced sound that lends itself well to music of a wide variety of genres as well as podcasts or audiobooks. They isolate a remarkable amount of noise across the board and will help block out everything from the deep rumble of bus and plane engines to the chatter of a lively office quite effectively. They use AAA batteries to power their noise cancelling system and can last for over 30 hours of playback before the batteries need to be changed.

On the downside, they leak quite a bit of sound, so they’re not the ideal headphones to use if you work in a noise-sensitive office since you might bother your colleagues with your music. Also, you can only purchase them in Apple or Android-specific variants, which can be frustrating if you have an Android phone but also an iPad, for example. That said, they’re still the most well-rounded wired headphones we’ve tested so far and are easy to recommend for casual use.

The best audiophile headphones that we've tested so far are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. They may be out of reach for most people, as spending this much for headphones can seem rather exuberant, but they're a great example of how far we've come in terms of audio fidelity. At this price point, one would expect that the build quality is unmatched, and that's the case here. Their premium build is a mix of metal and plastic, while the ear cups are well-padded with a suede-like material that's very breathable.

The sound signature of these headphones is, in one word, superb. However, they may be a little shy on the bass to our modern ears and there's a bit of muddiness in the upper bass and lower mids. Overall, they're well-suited to a variety of genres, especially instrumental and vocal-centric music. As these are open-back headphones, they naturally have an amazing soundstage, creating a spaciousness that feels like having a loudspeaker setup next to your ears.

Unfortunately, if you want to experience these headphones to their fullest potential, you'll also need a good amplifier to drive them, which adds to the already eye-watering price tag. That said, if you have the means and you want a unique experience, these headphones are the ones to get.

The best wired earphones we've tested so far are the 1More Triple Driver. Lightweight and ultra-portable, these in-ear headphones are a great choice if you're looking for wired headphones.

They have a balanced sound profile, making them good for a variety of audio genres. They're also decently comfortable: coming with nine tip options including silicone and foam, you'll be able to find your ideal fit. If you're using these at the office or school, you don't have to worry about cranking the volume - these earbuds barely leak so most people won't hear what you're listening to. When you're on the move, the stylized hard case is great for protecting your earbuds from drops and falls.

While the earbuds themselves are well-built, the cables leading to the earbuds feel thinner than the rest of the audio cord, making them prone to wear and tear. Unfortunately, the cable also isn't detachable - you'll have to replace the entire thing if the wire is damaged. Being wired has its advantages, though: there's no latency, making them great for playing video games and watching video.

The best wired headphones for gaming are the Astro A40 TR + MixAmp Pro 2019. Comfortable for long gaming sessions, they reproduce sound well and are among the best Xbox One headphones we’ve tested so far. They also work with PC and PS4, making them a great choice for wired gaming.

Unique to these headphones is the MixAmp Pro: this is a physical control box that offers more customization of your audio experience, including volume control for both regular and channel mixing. If you want to make more adjustments, you can also connect these headphones to the Astro Command Center on PC and create custom EQ presets to use while playing on a console. The microphone is great; you'll be heard clearly when you're calling the shots, even in loud environments like gaming tournaments.

As open-back headphones, they don't isolate sound well by design. This can be good if you like openness in your audio, but your roommates or partner might find this disturbing while you game. However, if you don't mind paying extra, you can purchase a kit from Astro to turn them into closed-back headphones.