Wired headphones offer portability and simplicity. Between wired and wireless options, wireless headphones pretty much only win in convenience---wired headphones offer a lot more than that.
Let's explore the best wired headphones on the market this year.
Sometimes you don't want just any pair of headphones; sometimes, you want something that ticks every box you can think of. If this sounds like you, be sure to give the Sony WH1000XM4/B Over-Ear Headphones a look.
The price tag alone rivals that of some entry-level smartphones and PCs, but it's for a good reason. It has active noise cancellation and five microphones for voice calls. You can use it wired, but it comes with Bluetooth compatibility and a 30-hour battery time if you want to travel.
These Sony headphones then go the extra mile to ensure you're getting the right bang for your buck. For instance, the headphones forgo media control buttons and instead uses an innovative touch sensor system.
Just make small gestures with your finger on the ear cup to play, pause, go back and forth between tracks, or pick up a phone call. The headphones even detect when you take them off and pauses your music automatically.
- Can be used wirelessly with 30 hours of battery
- Comes with touch controls
- Automatically pauses your music when removed
- Brand: Sony
- Battery Life: 30 hours
- Material: Synthetic leather
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes, ANC
- Amazing audio and voice quality
- Features great noise cancelation
- Requires an app to unlock all of the features
If you don't have a lot of money to spend on headphones, there's plenty out there you can pick from. If you stick with purely-wired headphones, you save money by forgoing any Bluetooth connectivity.
While there are plenty of cheap headphones out there, not all of them are good. The PeohZarr On-Ear Headphones, however, are a reasonable exception. For the very agreeable price tag, you get a pair of wired headphones that are lightweight, foldable, and come with a microphone.
The headphones are designed for maximum comfort, with soft padded earphones and an adjustable slider for hassle-free wearing. These headphones also use a 1.5-meter cable that is designed to be tangle-free and prevents nasty knots.
- Can fold up
- Comes in six different colors
- Brand: PeohZarr
- Material: Synthetic leather
- Bluetooth: No
- Noise Cancellation: Yes, Passive
- Good sound quality for the price
- The cable doesn't tangle
- The noise cancellation could be better
The Vogek On Ear Headphones are an excellent choice for people on a tight budget. They come with a built-in microphone, 1.5 meters of cable, and an attractive range of colors to choose from.
Fortunately, despite the low price point, the Vogek headphones have decent audio quality. It's not studio-levels by any means, but it still punches above its weight class.
- Comes in nine colors
- Has a 1.5m audio cable
- Brand: Vogek
- Material: Protein leather
- Bluetooth: No
- Noise Cancellation: Yes, Passive
- Good passive noise cancellation for the price
- Made of protein leather, so suitable for vegans
- Audio quality could be better
Although the Grado SR80e Prestige were released back in 2014, they're still on our radar today. The headphones have a sleek and compact design, though blemished slightly by the cups' prominent text. They are also very comfortable, and you can tell right away that this is a well-made product.
The sound produced by the SR80e is great---from low notes through to high frequencies and even through the mid-range. The audio profile is excellent, regardless of volume level. Just note that the cans are open-backed, so you'll be able to hear everything going on around you even as you listen.
- Open-backed design
- Large, comfortable earpads
- Brand: Grado
- Battery Life: N/A
- Material: Leather
- Bluetooth: No
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Superior audio quality
- Comes with a generous six-foot cable
- Can't be folded up
Fancy a little more from your buds without paying a great deal of money? Try the Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass Earbuds. The built-in microphone and media controls make it ideal for smartphone usage, while its extra bass is great for home use.
These earphones are designed for maximum comfort while you're out and about. It comes with four different sizes of earbuds so you can find the perfect fit. The earbuds are designed with passive noise cancellation so that you can focus on your tunes.
The cable is anti-tangle, so it doesn't bundle up while you're on a run. When you want to put it away, you can store the headphones in the included carry bag to keep it clean.
- Features excellent bass
- Has a microphone and media controls
- Brand: Sony
- Bluetooth: No
- Additional Tips: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Highly durable
- Excellent sound quality
- The earplugs can easily fall out if you run with them
The Panasonic ErgoFit costs little, but you can't tell from looking at it alone. As you might expect from its name, the ErgoFit offers comfort without sacrificing sound quality.
Considering the price, you might not expect a good pair of headphones that sound halfway decent and won't chafe your ears. However, the ErgoFit ticks both of these boxes, making them some of the best cheap wired earbuds. Just be careful with them, as they aren't exactly durable.
- Features a 3.6-foot cable
- Available in a wide range of colors
- Brand: Panasonic
- Bluetooth: No
- Additional Tips: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Very comfortable
- Decent sound quality
- Not very durable
Do you want the seal of quality that Apple delivers on all of its products, but you don't want to shell out for a new pair of headphones? Look no further than the Apple EarPods.
With the EarPods, you get all of the design intricacies that come with an Apple product. For instance, each pod is ergonomically shaped to the contours of your ear, meaning they feel comfortable to wear all day long.
That's not to say the sound quality is terrible, either. The headphones give a crisp and clear sound that makes listening to music a joy. Unfortunately, the headphones tend to be on the fragile side, but it's still worth a look at this price point.
- Features an ergonomic design for comfortable wearing
- Available with a 3.5mm audio connector or Lightning connector
- Brand: Apple
- Bluetooth: No
- Additional Tips: No
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Hits high and low notes very well
- Good audio quality from the microphone
- Quite fragile
FAQ
Q: What Are Noise-Cancelling Earphones?
When headphones are labeled as noise-canceling, it means they're designed to block out the sounds around you. The headphones achieve this in one of two ways: passive cancellation or active noise cancellation.
Passive noise cancellation uses sound-deadening materials to block out noise. In contrast, active noise cancellation uses microphones to identify the sounds around you and emits a canceling wave to block it out.
Q: Are High-Quality Headphones Worth It?
It's always good to get a pair of high-quality headphones for the best experience, but don't feel pressured to continually shell out for the most expensive model if you plan to use them for everyday use.
Expensive, top-of-the-line headphones will have outstanding sound quality, but they're only genuinely essential for studio use and audiophiles. If you just want something to play music while you're out and about, you'll get good mileage from cheaper headsets.
Q: Are Wired Headphones Better Than Wireless Ones?
Selecting between wired and wireless headphones comes down to personal preference. Wired headphones don't have signal drops, don't need to be charged, and have less latency. Wireless headphones, however, let you listen to music without being tied to wires.
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