In an increasingly wireless world, buying wired headphones may seem counterintuitive, or at least eye-wateringly retro. However, this is far from the truth, as wired headphones still offer many advantages over cordless ones.
Of course, these advantages start with sound quality and connection stability, but they go far beyond that and include more diverse designs, better prices, longer lifespan, and more devices to choose from. If you really want to listen to your music attentively, staying wired is still the best option.
After two months of using wired headphones, I understand why old technology feels new again
Going back to wired headphones is more convenient and higher quality than I expected, but wireless ones still do a better job.
So whether you’re a beginner audiophile looking for your first decent set of wired headphones, or a seasoned music lover looking for another pair to spruce up your headphone stand, here are the best you can get right now Wired headphones.
Best wired headphones: Our top picks
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Sennheiser HD 660S2
Best Overall
Old friend Sunny
Sennheiser HD 660S2 delivers balanced sound and premium soundstage for an immersive listening experience. They deliver clear highs and lows, but the bass is somewhat compromised due to their open construction. They are the gateway into the world of premium sound, offering stunning performance at a reasonable price (in the audiophile world).
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Sony MDR-7506
Best for balancing sound
Hear the sound the artist intended
Since its debut in 1991, the Sony MDR-7506 has been a staple in the recording studio. They offer a neutral, detailed sound that’s perfect for careful listening and mixing. If you appreciate the detail in every note and want to hear the music the artist intended, they are a great, affordable option as far as studio headphones go.
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AKG K702
Best for wide soundstages
get lost in your music
AKG’s K702 open-back headphones exemplify the company’s industry-leading soundstage. They have a treble-forward sound with a bit of rolloff in the bass, which means music with prominent vocals will sound top-notch using them. Combined with an extremely wide soundstage and excellent imaging, it’s easy to get lost in the music with these headphones.
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Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO
Best Value
The name of the game is value for money
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is a must-have in every best headphone collection thanks to its incredible value for money and excellent sound quality. These closed-back headphones offer a reasonably V-shaped sound profile, with both the treble and bass slightly emphasized for a more interesting sound profile. Combined with detailed sound and a reasonable price, these are a great value package.
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Moondrop Blessing 3
Best in-ear headphones
Small headphones, big sound
The Moondrop Blessing 3’s sturdy yet low-profile body delivers neutral, detailed sound. Their combination of dynamic and armature drivers ensures excellent soundscape coverage, while their lightweight and over-the-ear design improves wearing comfort. Their detachable cable also adds versatility, as you can also add a built-in microphone for all your calling needs.
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Chaole HD 681
best budget headphones
Enjoy premium audio on a budget
Typically priced under $50, the Superlux HD681’s sound quality is incredible – with detailed sound and a wide soundstage thanks to its semi-open design. They have noticeable treble and well-balanced mids, with a bit of rolloff in the bass, but still enough low-end performance that they don’t sound harsh. They’re a staple of budget audio, proving that great sound can be achieved on the cheap.
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Linsoul Kiwi Ears
Best Budget In-Ear Headphones
Great at heart
The Kiwi Ears Cadenza is a shining example of why Chi-Fi (Chinese Hi-Fi) equipment is so taken seriously. The Kiwi Ears cost a fraction of the competition, but offer excellent sound quality that easily competes with competitors costing several times the price. Their audio profile is a bit V-shaped, but not overdone, either in the treble or bass.
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SR80X class
The best on-ear headphones
bright and cheerful
The Grado SR80X delivers a fairly balanced sound in the mid-bass range, with a noticeable bump in the treble, resulting in a airy, bright sound that’s perfect for string instruments and vocals. They may not block out much outside noise and heavy sound leakage, but their lightweight construction and detailed sound make them a great set of headphones.
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HiFiMan Arya invisible
The best planar magnetic headphones
High-end audio here we come
The HiFiMan Arya is a great example of why planar magnetic headphones are so popular in the high-end audio world. Thanks to their unique drivers, they are able to deliver exceptionally detailed and clear sound that is difficult to match with dynamic drivers, while remaining consistently balanced and neutral throughout the soundscape.
Bottom line: What are the best wired headphones?
Overall, we think the Sennheiser HD660S2 are the best wired headphones to buy right now. They deliver a stunningly neutral sound that’s suitable for most music you’re listening to, while also giving you an incredibly detailed experience worthy of true audiophile headphones. They also have an excellent soundstage thanks to their open-back design, which combined with top-notch imaging makes for a very immersive listening experience.
Sennheiser HD 660S2
$400 $600 Save $200
That being said, there are plenty of great options when it comes to buying wired headphones. If you value a wide soundstage, the AKG K702 is a good choice, and if you’re looking for a pair of flat, balanced studio monitors, the Sony MDR7506 are a mainstay in the mix room, and for good reason.
If you’re looking to keep the budget down, the Superlux HD 681 is an excellent choice, often priced under $50, and if you prefer IEMs, the Linsoul Kiwi Ears Cadenza are well above their price. Speaking of IEMs, if you’re ready to spend more on a pair of in-ear headphones, the Moondrop Blessing is a perfect choice.
FAQ
Q: What are the advantages of wired headphones?
Generally speaking, wired headphones perform well in terms of sound quality and price. They sound much better than similarly priced wireless headphones because manufacturers don’t need to equip them with additional hardware, such as batteries or Bluetooth receivers, amplifiers, etc. You can also spend a lot of money on a pair of wired headphones that sound great. It’s less expensive than wireless for exactly the same reason.
Wires are also more reliable in terms of connection quality and stability. You don’t have to risk any connection issues due to range or interference, or worry about different audio codecs to get the most out of your high-quality music files.
Q: What type of headphones should I choose?
Choosing a pair of wired headphones is one thing, but choosing which ones to buy is another thing entirely. They all have pros and cons, and choosing one that suits your needs is key to making your purchase satisfying. Here are the basic types of wired headphones and their benefits:
- open-back headphones – They excel at delivering a wide soundstage and imaging, as well as bright highs and clear mids. However, they often struggle with lower sound frequencies.
- closed back headphones – They are very good at delivering clear, natural lows and lows, as well as balanced sound in other areas. However, getting a wider soundstage with closed-back headphones is more difficult.
- over-ear headphones – Over-ear headphones are the type of headphones you carry with you and generally provide you with the most comfortable experience, giving your ears more room to breathe, which is great for long listening sessions. However, they are the largest and bulkiest type of headphones.
- On-ear headphones – On-ear headphones fit over your ears, which means they are smaller and lighter than over-ear designs. However, they are also generally less comfortable when you wear them for longer periods of time and have less passive sound isolation.
- IEM or in-ear headphones/earbuds – IEMs are standard in-ear headphones, usually with silicone ear tips. They’re the smallest, most portable type of headphones and have the most diverse sounds, ranging from bassy to balanced to really bright options. However, they sometimes lag behind in terms of soundstage and imaging.
- Planar magnetic headphones – As you get into more advanced (and more expensive) headphones, you’ll start hearing about planar magnetic drivers. These are essentially another type of driver (or speaker inside headphones) that doesn’t use magnets and plastic domes, but instead a membrane with printed wires. This makes planar magnetic drives generally more accurate than dynamic drives, but they are also more expensive and require more powerful amplifiers to drive.