Jeff's headphone buying guide

There's no shortage of headphones out there. We offer more than 350 different models, spanning all types of styles, colors, and features.

So how do you find the best headphones for you? I've written about and tried lots of headphones, so I can help you narrow down your choices. 

The right headphones for the situation

Here’s the most important thing to think about: how and where you plan to use headphones. Different headphones work better in different situations. In the sections below, I’ll take you through the main categories and uses, and point out some features to look for.  

Fit options

There are some basics you should know about fit. Here are the three styles: 

You'll find that earcup sizes can vary greatly. That's why we take photos of most of our on-ear and over-ear headphones on a mannequin to show scale. Look for them in the photo carousel at the top of product pages.

Wired vs wireless headphones

Most of our top-selling headphones right now are Bluetooth headphones, and I expect their popularity to keep growing. They let you listen to music without connecting a wire to your phone — where most of us keep our music and podcasts. That makes them super convenient.

Plus, Bluetooth's sound quality and reliability have greatly improved over the past 4 or 5 years. And now that that the iPhone and other popular phones no longer feature a headphone jack, even more of us are turning to wireless.  

(See my picks for Best Bluetooth headphones of 2021)

 

Even so, audio purists prefer wired headphones to deliver the best possible sound. And the highest-end headphones rely on a wired connection. When I'm not checking out a new pair of headphones at my desk, my go-to listening rig includes a pair of wired over-ears. 

Noise-canceling headphones

Noise-canceling headphones take sound isolation a big step further than closed-back headphones. They use internal circuitry to neutralize the sound around you. I strongly recommend them for air travel — they can block out the plane’s engine drone so you can watch movies or listen to music at safer volumes.

Many customers associate noise-cancelling headphones with Bose, who pioneered and popularized the category. I actually had a chance to interview legendary Bose engineer Dan Gauger, who was there from the beginning. He told me the whole fascinating history of noise-canceling headphones, from Dr. Amar Bose's original concept in the late 70s, to their latest Bose QuietComfort Earbuds — which cancel noise better than any other in-ear headphone I’ve ever tried.  

But Bose is no longer the only game in town. In fact, our best-selling over-ears right now are the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless noise-cancellers. In my own hands-on review, I concluded that they are the best all-around headphones available right now.

Features to look for:

• "Adaptive" or "Adjustable" noise cancellation. Some noise-canceling headphones can be adjusted according to your environment. While some offer manual adjustments, others do it automatically based on the level of external noise.     

(Read our Noise-canceling headphones guide)

Running and working out

Sports headphones are durable, sweat-proof in-ear models. I think comfort and fit are most important for running and exercising. You need your earbuds to stay put while you move around.

And long workouts are tough enough — you don’t want headphones causing more pain.

Feature to look for:

• Reflective neckband/cord. Safety is paramount when you’re running in public. Make sure you are visible to passing cars. 

"True" wireless earbuds

When Apple dropped the headphone jack, they introduced the Apple Air Pods. These high-tech headphones include Apple’s special W1 chip to improve the wireless connection and performance.

Since then, we've seen a wave of True Wireless headphones (also called "truly wireless"). Just like other in-ear Bluetooth headphones, they'll play music wirelessly from your phone. But each earbud rests in your ear without a cord connecting the two, making them 100% wire-free.

Feature to look for:

• Charging case. Most of these headphones recharge wirelessly inside their included charging case — check our product details to see how many hours of power the case can bank. 

(See my picks of the best true wireless headphones)

Gaming headphones

Some video games are considered works of art — or at least an innovative, interactive way to tell a story. With all the time and effort spent to make these games sound as good as possible, there should be headphones that can do them justice.

Most gaming headphones feature surround sound processing to give you an immersive gaming experience. Some also give you a competitive advantage: you can hear spatial cues or opponents trying to sneak up from behind. 

The Audeze Mobius headphones take it a step further with real-time head-tracking technology for realistic 3D surround sound. "Through the Mobius headphones, the sound was as enchanting as the graphics and the gameplay," said Crutchfield IT specialist Jenny, an avid gamer. "I felt like I was in the middle of the game."

Features to look for:

• "Boom" mic.  Gaming headsets usually include a microphone so you can communicate with teammates — or trash talk opponents — more clearly. In some cases, the mic is detachable.      

(Read our articles "Audeze Mobius headphones review" and "Best gaming headsets")

Wireless TV headphones

We always get questions about headphones for watching TV. I think Sennheiser's line of transmitter-based headphones are the most reliable TV headphones. The transmitter connects to your TV or stereo and beams sound wirelessly to your headphones. Perfect for late-night viewing.

Feature to look for:

• Effects modes and/or dialogue boost. What matters most to you? Clear, intelligible speech? Rollicking, immersive surround effects? Rich, balanced music sound? There are transmitter-based headphones that excel in each area.

(Read our article "Wireless headphones for TV listening")