Headphones

Audio is purely subjective, your tastes may vary! These are just some popular options that are well-reviewed online!

In-Ear

Wireless

• under $100: OnePlus Buds 3 ($99) / Soundcore Liberty 4 NC ($99) / Earfun Air 4 Pro ($95 $89)

The Samsung Buds FE and Sony WF-C700N are both good under $100 TWS buds, but the above options offer better value

• under $150: Sony LinkBuds S ($159 $129)
• under $200: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 ($299 $199) / Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 ($279 $199) / Technics AZ80 ($199)

The Sony WF-1000XM5 ($299 $249) is also quite good with class-leading ANC

• open-ear: Sony LinkBuds Open ($199 $179)

Jabra is out of the consumer audio market, meaning they won’t release new Elite buds

Wired

• under $50: Kiwi Ears Cadenza ($34) / 7Hz Zero:2 ($24)
• under $100: Moondrop Aria 2 ($89) / Truthear Hexa ($89) / Truthear Zero ($59) or Zero:RED ($64)
• under $250: Kiwi Ears Quintet ($219) / 7Hz Timeless ($219) / Letshouer S12 Pro ($169)
• under $400: Moondrop Blessing 3 or Dusk ($359)

Over-Ear

Wireless

• around $100: Sennheiser HD 350BT ($119) / Soundcore Space One ($99) / JBL Tune 770NC ($129) / Sony WH-CH720N ($129 $99)

The HD 350BT is just the 450BT ($179) with no ANC. THe 450BT is a very good deal for that price!

• under $200: JBL Live 770NC ($199) / Sennheiser Accentum Plus ($199)
• under $300: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ($379 $259)

The Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399 $349) has better ANC, but the Momentum 4 by Sennheiser has 60 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE!

The newest WH-1000XM6 ($449) improves on the XM5 with a foldable design and better ANC but comes with an increased price. If you want the best ANC, these are probably the ones to get…for a price.

Note that due to the huge battery, the Sennheisers are a bit heavier but I would still consider them quite comfortable. If you want a more lightweight option, the Sonys are quite good and are very comfortable!

Wired

• under $150
  • AKG K361 ($119)
  • Fiio FT1 ($149)
  • Hifiman HE400SE ($109)
  • Phillips SHP9600 ($69)
  • Sony MDR-7506 ($99)
• under $250
  • AKG K371 ($179)
  • Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro ($149)
  • Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX ($219 $199)
  • Sennheiser HD 560S ($229 $199)
• under $300
  • Hifiman Sundara ($279)
  • Sennheiser HD 550 ($299)
• under $500
  • Sony MDR-MV1 ($399)
  • Sennheiser HD 620 S ($349) or HD 490 Pro ($399)
  • Sennheiser HD 600 ($449) or HD 650 ($499)
• under $1000
  • Focal Clear ($990 $790) or Hadeyns ($699 $649)