The 8 Best Wired Headphones - Winter 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 seems 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, naturally, they 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. They’re lightweight, ultra-portable in-ear headphones that come with a great carrying case to help protect them on-the-go. They come with nine tip options, including both silicone and foam tips to help you find your ideal fit, and they feel like premium earbuds.

These earbuds have great audio reproduction and are well-suited for a variety of genres. Also, since they're wired, you don't have to worry about any latency, which makes them a solid choice if you like to watch videos on your phone.

Although they feel fairly durable overall, the section of their cable leading up to the earbuds feels thinner than the rest and prone to breakage. The cable is also not detachable, so if it ever breaks you would need to repurchase the earbuds entirely. Consider the KZ AS10 if you’re looking for better-built wired earbuds with a detachable cable, but some find they sound a bit bright.

The best wired headphones for gaming are the Astro A40 TR + MixAmp Pro 2019. They’re among the best Xbox One headphones we’ve tested so far, especially if you don’t like having to worry about battery life or latency. They’re comfortable, well-built headphones that you can get for the Xbox One or the PS4, and they work with PC as well.

They come with a physical control box they call the MixAmp Pro that helps provide a highly customizable gaming experience. When you connect the headphones to the Astro Command Center on your PC, you can create custom EQ presets and assign them to the MixAmp so you can tweak your sound even if you’re gaming on a console.

They're open-back headphones, so they don’t isolate any sound by design. Some gamers will appreciate the openness, but this can be disruptive if you have roommates or live with a partner and don’t want to disturb them while gaming. You can purchase a kit from Astro that transforms them into closed-back headphones, but it’s expensive. The SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC are closed-back wired gaming headphones that are great for PC and PS4, but have limited compatibility with the Xbox One.