Skip to content
2025-05-25 16:05:15 -0400
.jpg)
It can be hard to know where to start if you're looking for a new pair of headphones. Even if you've narrowed your needs to something fairly specific, like earbuds for sports, how do you know the best earbuds brand? While the biggest brands tend to make something for everyone, some focus on specific groups, like athletes or professional musicians. While you can get a decent pair of headphones from most brands these days, there's no hard and fast answer as to the best headphones brand for you. Each company has a unique way of doing things, even catering to similar needs. That said, some brands stand out among the rest.
We've tested headphones from over 100 brands, and below are our recommendations of the 10 best headphone brands. The brands aren't ordered by rank or position; the first brand listed isn't necessarily our top pick, and the last brand isn't the worst. Instead, we've listed the brands by use or specialty, keeping brands with similar audiences together to make it easier to find what best suits your needs.
Bose
.jpg)
You've probably heard of Bose if you care about noise isolation. They're well-known for their powerful noise cancelling technology and made their mark by producing the first commercial acoustic noise cancelling headset for pilots. Since then, they've updated and expanded their active noise cancelling (ANC) systems for consumer use. Most models fall under the QuietComfort line, and they've even widened their offerings to include home audio systems like soundbars and speakers. Their headphones have powerful noise isolation performances with fairly neutral and balanced sound profiles. They've even produced a lineup of audio sunglasses with speakers built into the arms, so you can still listen to audio without blocking your ears.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless are the best Bose headphones we've tested. These top-of-the-line over-ears have a powerful noise-filtering performance. Their ANC easily cuts down the low rumble of bus and plane engines, ambient chatter, and high-pitched sounds, like the whine of computer fans, so you can focus on your audio. With their ANC on, they last 29 hours continuously. They also support features like multi-device pairing, sound customization via their companion app, and aptX Adaptive codec, which dynamically adapts to your content to lower latency or improve audio quality. If you're looking for more portable headphones, try the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. These earbuds have a similarly fantastic noise isolation performance but aren't quite as comfortable and don't support multi-device pairing.
Sony
_(1).jpg)
Sony is one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world. They make everything from cameras and TVs to a broad line of headphones suited to diverse needs. Whether you're looking for noise cancelling over-ears to help cut down ambient sound during your commute, sports-oriented earbuds with great stability, or niche products like bassy headphones, Sony can meet your needs. Many Sony headphones are also compatible with the Sony | Headphones Connect app, which offers customization features like an EQ or button mapping. However, sorting through their large selection can be overwhelming, especially as there's a lot of overlap between models. Still, their high-end Bluetooth models are among the best we've tested, offering versatile performance for most users.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are a solid choice if you prefer an over-ear fit. Although they're the previous generation of the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless, they offer a better overall noise isolation performance, thanks to their powerful ANC. They're also comfortable enough for long listening sessions and last over 37 hours continuously. With their companion app's graphic EQ and presets, you can tweak their bass-heavy sound to suit your tastes. If you prefer an in-ear fit, the best Sony earbuds we've tested are the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless. These noise cancelling Bluetooth in-ears are a great choice for on-the-go use, though they aren't quite as comfortable or as well-built as the over-ear alternative, and their battery life isn't as long-lasting.
Apple
_(1).jpg)
Apple is an iconic American company producing consumer electronics like speakers, smartphones, and computers. Although their headphone lineup is much smaller than their competitors, their easily recognizable products have impacted the retail landscape. Their in-ears have a distinct, glossy white look that's been imitated by other manufacturers. They were also one of the brands that pushed true wireless products into greater popularity when they removed the headphone jack from their iPhones. Apple is also the best earbuds brand if you're already integrated into the Apple ecosystem because their products also boast a couple of extra features unique to iOS. Their wireless headphones have H1/H2 chips so that you can seamlessly pair them with iOS devices. Newer products support Spatial Audio, which reorients sound as you move your head in a virtual surround sound, on iOS/iPadOS 14 or later. Although their companion interface lacks an EQ or presets, if you have an up-to-date iOS device, you can access sound customization features via the 'Accessibility' tab.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are the best Apple headphones we've tested. These in-ears follow the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless and have an even better ANC system than the original. They can easily cut out noise from passing traffic and noisy coworkers. Their default sound profile is warm, with more bass than the original Pro and a balanced mix that's versatile enough for most genres of music. While their nearly six-hour continuous battery life is short, their carrying case holds four additional charges, and the buds go into standby mode when not in use. If you prefer over-ear headphones, you may want to consider the Apple AirPods Max Wireless, which are premium noise cancelling headphones with a sleek aluminum design. However, they're heavy and can be fatiguing for long listening sessions.
Sennheiser
_(1).jpg)
Sennheiser was originally established in Germany, and now, with international hubs, their products are well-reputed among musicians and audiophiles. They're renowned for their live music and music production equipment, like microphones and peripherals, but they also make a small selection of soundbars. The manufacturer's wide range of open-back headphones with good performance at various price points contributes to their prestige. However, they also make Bluetooth models for more casual listening and dedicated TV headphones to enjoy your favorite shows wirelessly without sync issues. They make over- and in-ears but don't have many truly wireless models, although the ones they have tend to perform well. Also, like Sony, it can be hard to know which of their headphones provide the best value since they have so many overlapping models with only minor differences. They're a reliable brand with a good reputation for consistent products worth recommendation.
The best Sennheiser headphones we've tested are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. These reference-class over-ears have an open-back design, resulting in a spacious and immersive soundstage. Combined with an expertly tuned sound signature, they're a stellar choice for listening to your favorite high-fidelity tracks in a quiet room. They're quite the investment, so audiophiles on a budget will want to consider the more affordable Sennheiser HD 560S, which don't sound as immersive but provide better value for the price. If you prefer the versatility of a wireless noise cancelling design, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have a bass-rich sound with a stylish, comfortable fit for everyday use. However, they offer a less immersive listening experience due to their closed-back design.
JBL
.jpg)
JBL is an American manufacturer that offers various audio equipment like speakers and headphones. A subsidiary of Harman, most of their extensive lineup of headphones feature a neutral default sound profile, which will please most listeners. However, select models have excited bass- and treble-heavy, V-shaped frequency responses. Some of these headphones are compatible with the JBL Headphones app, offering a parametric EQ and presets to customize them. Particularly, JBL is one of the few brands with a wide selection of on-ear headphones, which seem to be a less common style these days. JBL also produces a variety of headphones at different price points, and many of them come in a couple of fun colorways, so there's something for everyone from this brand.
The JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless are the best JBL headphones we've tested. These well-built buds offer versatile performance and have a few handy features for day-to-day life. They have an ANC feature with a great overall performance, blocking everything from bus and plane engines to office chatter. With their ANC on, they also last over eight hours continuously, and their case holds an extra three charges if you need it. Their V-shaped sound is well-suited for genres like rock and pop, but if you prefer a different sound, their companion app has a parametric EQ and presets so you can fine-tune their sound. They can also be paired with up to two devices at a time, which is handy if you like to switch audio sources.
You can use and set up the https://disqus.com/ application to manage comments