PORTABLE HEADPHONES

BIN THE BUNDLED BUDS AND INVEST IN BETTER SOUND

Soundmagic E11C £50

Best wired in-ear headphones under £100, Awards 2023 ★★★★★ The latest version of Soundmagic’s budget in-ears continues to impress with a full-bodied, energetic and informative sound. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m

Beyerdynamic Soul Byrd £69

April 2019 ★★★★★

You’ll struggle to find a better pair of in-ear headphones costing less than £70 than these Beyerdynamics.

In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m

Klipsch T5M Wired £70

Best wired in-ear headphones £50-£100, Awards 2021 ★★★★★ Not only do they have some of the most comfortable tips around, but these T5M Wireds also show a maturity that’s rare at this price. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.3m

Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEI £70

Best in-ears £50-£100, Awards 2017 ★★★★★

You wouldn’t think anything so small could sound quite so good – not for just £70. But they are wonderfully smooth, expressive and balanced. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.3m

Shure Aonic 3 £190

Best wired in-ear headphones over £100, Awards 2023 ★★★★★ Breathtakingly musical and comfy to wear, the Shure Aonic 3s set a new benchmark for in-ear headphones at this level.

In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m

Austrian Audio HI-X15 £99

Best wired on-ear headphones under £100, Awards 2023 ★★★★★

An analytical pair of headphones, but they still manage to make music entertaining – they extract bags of detail but keep the soul of your music intact. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 255g

Grado SR80X £130

Best wired on-ear headphones £100-£200, Awards 2022 ★★★★★

Grado hasn’t torn up its own rulebook and revolutionised its legendary headphones. At this money, the SR80 model remains the best in the market. Type Open Connection 3.5/6.3mm Weight 240g

Røde NTH-100 £149

Best wired on-ear headphones £100-£200, Awards 2023 ★★★★★

The Røde NTH-100 outperform our previously high expectations comfortably; if you can live with a long cable, they are outstanding value. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 350g

Austrian Audio HI-X50 £199

May 2021 ★★★★★

If you’re looking for well-designed wired on-ear headphones for portable or domestic use, these Austrian Audios should be at the top of your shortlist. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 285g

Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X £219

April 2022 ★★★★★

Beyerdynamic might officially be aiming the DT 700 Pro X at content creators and producers, but we think they are a great option for music fans, full stop. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 350g

Grado SR325X £330

Best wired on-ear headphones over £200, Awards 2023 ★★★★★

Successors to our 2020 Award winners prove that evolution is a more reliable way of making things better than headline-grabbing design revolution. Type Open Connection 3.5mm/6.5mm Weight 340g

Beyerdynamic Amiron £415

Best wired on-ear headphones over £400, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ Beyerdynamic has produced a pair of headphones that sound as good as they feel. Be careful though; their open-backed nature leaks sound. Type Open Connection 3.5mm/6.3mm Weight 340g

Grado RS1X £800

November 2022 ★★★★★

Four generations in, the top Reference Series model is more entertaining (and exotic) than ever before.

Type Open Connection 3.5mm/6.3mm Weight 320g

Beyerdynamic T1 (3rd Generation) £899

February 2021 ★★★★★

The latest T1 over-ears are a step up in performance and compatibility from their predecessor; among the best headphones at this price.

Type Open Connection 3.5mm/6.3mmweight 360g

Sony MDR-Z1R £1650

April 2017 ★★★★★

The finest closed-back headphones we have heard. Feed them with quality electronics and there is no doubt the Z1RS will shine. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm/6.3mm Weight 385g

Sennheiser HD820 £1999

October 2018 ★★★★★

Probably the best-sounding closed-back headphones we have heard. They have lots of detail, plenty of punch and a strong bass performance. Type Closed Connection 4.4mm/6.3mm/xlr4 Weight 360g

Focal Utopia £3499

June 2017 ★★★★★

With these cans Focal has aimed for the moon and reached it, delivering one of the finest pairs of headphones we’ve heard. Type Open Connection 6.3mm Weight 490g

Sony WF-C500 £59

Best wireless earbuds under £80, Awards 2023 ★★★★★

Sony has managed to bring a lot of what makes its expensive true wireless in-ears such a success without cutting too many corners too obviously. Controls Yes Battery 10 hours (20 hours with charging case)

Sennheiser HD 250 BT £60

Best wireless headphones under £150, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ Underestimate these headphones at your peril. Sennheiser’s ultra-affordable and durable headphones do not disappoint sonically for the price. Controls Yes Battery 25 hours

Earfun Air £55

Best wireless in-ears under £75, Awards 2020 ★★★★★

If you’re looking for inexpensive, good-sounding waterproof buds, the Earfun Air are tough to beat.

Controls Yes Battery 7 hours (35 hours with charging case)

Google Pixel Buds A-series £99

October 2021 ★★★★★

Everything their pricier Pixel Buds 2 provided as far as smart abilities go, but with a performance that stands up with the best in the market at the price. Controls Yes Battery 5 hours (plus 19 hours via charging case)

Panasonic RZ-S500W £100

Best wireless earbuds under £150, Awards 2021 ★★★★★

The RZ-S500W make for a classy debut as Panasonic’s first noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds. Detailed presentation and fine noise-cancelling. Controls Yes Battery 6.5 hours (plus 13 hours via charging case)

Sony WF-C700N £100

Best wireless earbuds £80-£200, Awards 2023 ★★★★★

Sony adds another pair of excellent-sounding wireless earbuds to this supercompetitive sector. For the money, their abilities make them a no-brainer. Controls Yes Battery 7.5 hours (15 hours with charging case)

Sony WH-CH720N £100

Best wireless headphones under £150, Awards 2023 ★★★★★

Sony has done it again. With their pleasing build quality and punchy sound, the WH-CH720N justify their place in the market with consummate ease. Controls Yes Battery Up to 50 hours

JBL Live Pro 2 TWS £130

May 2023 ★★★★★

Not shy in coming forward, especially in the lower frequencies where there is plenty of power on tap, the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS deliver a solid, robust sound. Controls Yes Battery 8 hours (plus 22 from case)

JBL Reflect Flow Pro £160

March 2022 ★★★★★

Putting big, bold ticks in the boxes of style and sound quality, these sport earbuds are easy to recommend, with a comfortable, secure fit. Controls Yes Battery 10 hours (plus 20 from case)

Grado GW100X £169

July 2023 ★★★★★

We have dubbed Grado the kings of open-back headphones. With the excellent and hugely listenable GW100X, that crown remains firmly in place. Controls No Battery 46 hours

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 £219

August 2022 ★★★★★

The True Wireless 3 keep the momentum going strong. Five years into the true wireless game, Sennheiser is as competitive as ever in this space. Controls Yes Battery 7 hours (28 with case) Noise-cancelling Yes

Sony WF-1000XM5 £259

Best wireless earbuds over £200, Awards 2023 ★★★★★

If you are looking for the clearest and most detailed sonic performance on the market right now, the WF-1000XM5 produce it – by quite some distance. Controls Yes Battery 8 hours (24 with case) Noise-cancelling Yes

Bose Quietcomfort Ultra Earbuds £259

February 2024 ★★★★★

History repeats itself with Bose’s new flagship wireless earbuds – they nail comfort, noise-cancelling and sound quality.

Controls Yes Battery 6 hours (24 with case) Noise-cancelling Yes

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless £300

November 2022 ★★★★★

Highly competitive in the sound and features departments at this price, the latest Momentums keep the legacy alive despite a less luxurious appearance. Folding No Battery 60 hours Noise-cancelling Yes

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e2 £379

January 2024 ★★★★★

Class-leading insight and a more compelling balance over their forebears, with a fine sense of style; the Px7 S2e are a wonderfully complete package. Folding No Battery 30 hours Noise-cancelling Yes

Sony WH-1000XM5 £379

Best wireless headphones over £150, Awards 2023 ★★★★★

Redesigning its premium noise-cancelling headphones wasn’t without risk, but the Sony WH-1000XM5 are a sonic triumph.

Folding No Battery 30 hours Noise-cancelling Yes

Apple Airpods Max £549

Best wireless headphones over £300, Awards 2021 ★★★★★

There’s no denying that they cost a lot more than typical products in this class but, if sound quality is king, there’s equally no denying that they’re worth it.. Folding No Battery 20 hours Noise-cancelling Yes

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 £599

January 2023 ★★★★★

Hugely capable performers that justify their price with a combination of build and sound quality that cheaper alternatives just can’t match.

Folding No Battery 30 hours Noise-cancelling Yes

Focal Bathys £699

January 2023 ★★★★★

Focal blends Bluetooth into its high-end headphones recipe with great success. Highly recommendable if you’re after portables at this price. Folding No Battery 30 hours Noise-cancelling Yes

Mark Levinson No. 5909 £999

March 2023 ★★★★★

Perceived value may not get top marks, but sonic value certainly does – and that’s really what matters. Mark our words, these headphones really wow. Folding Earcups fold flat Battery 34 hours Noise-cancelling Yes

T+A Solitaire T £1200

November 2023 ★★★★★

The most convincing wired/wireless hybrids we have heard. In a league of their own for those who prioritise convenience and sound quality equally, Folding Yes Battery 35-70 hours Noise-cancelling Yes