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How to buy headphones

Can't quite figure out what kind of headphone to buy? CNET's on the case with a buying guide to help you narrow down your choices.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
David Carnoy
11 min read
Watch this: What to look for when buying your next pair of headphones

When buying a headphone these days people typically debate the style of headphone they want (in-ear, on-ear, around-ear) whether to go wired or wireless (or even totally wireless) and whether to opt for such extra features as active noise-cancellation to help muffle ambient noise. Oh, and then there's price. Everybody has a budget.

If you've narrowed your choice down, we have plenty of models to choose from in our list of the best headphones, with breakdown of the best headphones in various categories including wireless, sports, noise-cancelling and cheap.

But if you're still a little lost in the headphone maze, here's some info that will hopefully help steer you in the right direction.

Forms and styles

The distinctions of portable and home headphones has melted away, but the following rundown of headphone types will clarify your buying options. How you intend to use your headphones (for music , home theater or gaming) and where you plan to do your listening (at home or on the go) will narrow the range of possible types you'll want to research.

1. Earbud headphones

Also known as: In-ear headphones.

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Panasonic ErgoFit RP-HJE120 earbud headphones

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Earbud-style headphones range from the disposable models you get on a plane to the ones that are included with your smartphone to high-performance buds that offer sonics rivaling full-size models. Their tiny earpieces rest on the outer ear or need to be inserted into the ear canal, and some models, particularly sport buds, include wings or fins for a more tailored, secure fit.

Upside: Ultracompact and lightweight; most models have a microphone and track navigation controls built into the wire; can provide moderate to excellent isolation from external noise; little to no interference with earrings, glasses, hats or hairstyles.

Downside: Sound quality and bass response often not comparable with full-size models; can sometimes cause discomfort over extended use; some reference models are difficult to insert and remove, making them less than ideal for office environments; dual-cable design means more possibilities for tangled wires.

Extra features: Five-button remote to control volume; variety of ear tip sizes and materials (foam, rubber, silicone); over-ear guides; multiple balanced-armature drivers with crossover.

See reviews of our top in-ear headphones here.

2. On-ear headphones

Also known as: Supra-aural headphones, open-backed headphones, semi-open headphones, closed-back headphones, earpad headphones.

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The Beats Solo3 Wireless is a popular on-ear model.

Sarah Tew/CNET

These headphones rest on top of your outer ears and run the gamut from inexpensive portables to high-end home models. While on-ear headphones can have closed designs that cover the ears, some prefer fully sealed circumaural models (see below) for their increased sound isolation and the fact that they won't leak sound to neighbors. Still, the earpad headphone is preferred in places like office environments, where users still benefit from hearing the outside world.

Upside: Relatively compact; less prone to overheating ears than full-size headphones; some models fold up for easy transport.

Downside: Less-effective noise isolation than in-ear or full-size models; less-powerful bass compared with full-size headphones; leaks noise to neighbors.

Extra features: Microphone and track navigation controls on the wire; extra earpad set included; carrying case; folding design; coiled and straight cord.

See reviews of our top on-ear headphones here.

3. Full-size headphones

Also known as: Circumaural headphones; closed-back headphones; earcup headphones; over-the-ear headphones.

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The comfortable, excellent sounding Sony MDR-1A.

The tech-speak description for this type of headphone is "circumaural," which includes any headphones with earcups that fully enclose your ears. Because of their size and their acoustic isolation, full-size headphones are often considered to be better-suited to home use rather than as a portable option, but the recent popularity of full-size, noise-canceling Beats headphones are challenging the rule.

Upside: Large headphones offer potential for maximum bass and loudness levels; earcups create larger sound stage; surround-sound effectively blocks outside noises, seals music in.

Downside: Large footprint can be cumbersome for portable use; some full-size models have problems with heat on the ears; wide headband can often interfere with earrings, glasses, and some hairstyles.

Extra features: Folding design; detachable cord; microphone, track navigation, and volume controls on the wire; replaceable pads; extra 3.5mm plug for daisy-chain sessions with multiple listeners.

See reviews of our top full-size headphones here.

4. Wireless headphones

Also known as: Bluetooth headphones, transmitter headphones.

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Bowers & Wilkins P7 Wireless.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The most popular format for transmitting wireless music is Bluetooth, but keep in mind that you'll sacrifice some sound quality due to the file compression process. To combat this audio degradation, some models support the aptX Bluetooth codec that offers slightly improved fidelity.

Home-theater headphones that employ RF connectivity are also available, and Wi-Fi headphones are now trickling onto the market.

Upside: No wire between headphone and audio device. You can stream audio from up to 33 feet (10m) away from your device -- and sometimes farther.

Downside: The music stops when your battery dies; compressed audio files can leave your music sounding less dynamic.

Extras: Active noise-cancellation; 3.5mm port, and cable for a hardwired connection; replaceable earpads; travel case.

See reviews of our top wireless headphones here.

5. Totally wireless headphones

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Apple's AirPods feature two independent wireless buds that connect wirelessly to form a stereo pair.

Sarah Tew/CNET

There are a growing number of totally wireless earphones arriving on the market. Some, like Apple 's AirPods and Alpha Audio's Skybuds, try to keep things simple and have a relatively limited set of features. However, higher-end models like Bragi's The Dash Pro and Doppler Labs' Hear One tout more advanced "smart" features.

Upside: No wires whatsoever.

Downside: Battery life can be relatively short; you have to be extra careful not to lose one or both of the buds; good models with reliable performance tend to be more expensive than standard wireless headphones.

Extras: Charging case, built-in heart-rate sensor; on-ear touch navigation; advanced noise filtering.

6. Noise-canceling headphones

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The Bose QuietComfort 35 is a full-size, around-ear wireless Bluetooth headphone that also includes active noise-cancellation and doubles as an advanced headset for making cell phone calls.

Sarah Tew/CNET

These headphones hush ambient noise by creating anti-noise that obviates the noise at your ear. They don't eliminate the outside world, but the better models significantly reduce the whoosh of airplanes' air-conditioning systems. Noise-canceling headphones come in all forms, from full-size to earbuds. Since you no longer have to crank up the volume to overcome background noise, this type of headphone lets you listen at lower levels, which leads to reduced ear fatigue. You'll also hear more low-level detail in your music.

Upside: Active noise-canceling technology eliminates ambient noise; ideal for plane rides and morning commutes.

Downside: Alters the "natural" qualities of music; some people experience an "underwater" nausea effect from the noise-canceling hum.

Extras: Wireless connection; travel case; rechargeable batteries; on-ear navigation and volume controls.

See reviews of our top noise-canceling headphones here.

7. Lightning or USB-C wired headphones

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The JBL Reflect Aware plugs directly into the Lightning port on your iOS device.

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With a Lightning a USB-C headphone you plug the headphone directly into the Lightning port (on Apple devices) or USB-C port (on Android devices). A standard headphone plug is an analog connection while this creates a direct digital connection. The headphones are powered by your phone (they use only a little bit of battery power) and have an integrated DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that's usually superior to the DAC in your phone.

There aren't a lot of these headphones available, but they are available in various styles (in-ear, on-ear and over-ear).

Upside: Direct digital connection can sound cleaner.

Downside: Need a converter to plug into a standard analog audio jack; sips a little battery life from your phone; can be more expensive than a standard wired headphone.

Extras: Integrated active noise-cancelling powered by your phone.

8. Sports headphones

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The Bose SoundSport Pulse has an integrated heart-rate monitor.

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Sports headphones are among the most popular types of headphones and the best ones are now wireless. Sweat-resistant or even totally waterproof, they can be used at the gym or for running or biking. Some are have an open or semi-open design to let some sound in for safety reasons (so you can hear traffic noise). However, other models have a sealed, noise-isolating design.

Most will work fine as an everyday headphone, though some work better than others for everyday use.

Upside: Designed to be used during athletic activity; sweat-resistant or even waterproof.

Downside: Some models have an open design and are not good for noisier environments.

Extras: Heart-rate sensor; carrying case

See reviews of our top sports headphone here.

Features

The size, type and technology of a pair of headphones are all critical to a purchasing decision. But it's important to demystify the bevy of features and headphone-specific vocabulary. Listed below are the most important features you'll need to consider before finding the perfect pair of headphones.

  • Bass: Even at its very best, headphone bass is never the sort of pants-flapping, sock-it-to-your-gut experience you literally feel from massive speakers or subwoofers, but many manufacturers custom tune their "signature sound" to emphasize the lower frequencies, albeit at the cost of instrument separation and natural delivery.

    Earbuds are tiny and portable, but -- except for a couple of high-end models -- they can't compete with full-size, over-the-ear headphones for deep bass response or visceral dynamic range.

  • Sealed (closed) vs. open: Sealed headphones -- the noise-isolating, in-ear models or the full-size earcup designs -- acoustically isolate your ears from your environment. Of course, the degree of isolation varies from one pair of headphones to another, and the seal limits the leakage of the headphones' sound out to the room.

    Sealed models are ideal for private listening, where you don't want the sound to be heard by other people. Open headphones -- such as foam earpad models and many sports designs -- are acoustically transparent and allow outside sound to be heard by the headphone wearer, and a good deal of the headphones' sound will be audible to anyone near the listener.

    Generally speaking, such headphones produce better, more "open" sound than sealed designs. Because they don't block out everything from the outside world, open-backed headphones are recommended for outdoor activities, such as jogging, which require awareness of your environment.

  • Comfort and weight: Assessing sound quality is always a subjective exercise, but the only way to judge comfort is to put them on and listen for at least 10 minutes.

    Do the earpads exert too much pressure on your ears? Headphones that enclose or cover your ears can get uncomfortably hot, but you'll have to wear them for a while to find out. Some of the bigger sealed models with cushy leatherette pads are the worst offenders.

    Pro-style headphones are comparatively bulky and can feel uncomfortably heavy after hours of use. Lighter headband-style headphones are almost always more comfortable than heavier ones. And even if they're not, they're less of a hassle to carry around.

  • Durability: There's no reason a headphone should be treated as disposable technology. Unlike almost everything else in the realm of consumer electronics, this year's headphones won't be obsolete six months or a year from now. In fact, there's no reason a good pair of headphones can't last for the better part of a decade.

    Be sure to assess the build quality of your prospective headphones. Some earbuds and portable devices are relatively fragile, for instance. If the headphones fold up for easy storage, are the hinges robust, or will they fall apart in a month or two? Don't forget to consider that the earpads and earbuds will get extensive wear and tear over the life of the headphones.

  • Cable dressing and length: Most stereo headphones have just one cable, usually attached to the left earpiece (sometimes called single-sided cabling). Some models -- and all earbuds -- use a Y-cable that connects to both earpieces (double-sided). The actual cable plug, meanwhile, is usually one of two designs: a straight I-plug or an angled L-plug; the latter may be useful if your portable player has a side- or bottom-mounted headphone jack.
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In-line remote.

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Preferences for the length of headphone cables vary for portable users, especially depending on where you prefer to wear your device: a backpack or a pants pocket necessitates a longer cable, while you'll opt for a short one when wearing a player on a neck lavalier or an armband. But a cable length at either extreme need not be a fatal flaw: extension cables can lengthen those that are too short, and cable wraps can tighten up ones that are too long.

Quick reference glossary

You'll find a few of the following specifications on the headphones' box or on the manufacturer's Web site. Here's what they mean:

Frequency response: Frequency-response specifications in full-size loudspeakers are generally pretty useless in predicting sound quality, but headphone frequency-response numbers are even worse. Manufacturers have routinely exaggerated frequency-response figures to the point that they're irrelevant. Even the flimsiest, cheap headphones routinely boast extremely low bass-response performance --15Hz or 20Hz -- but almost always sound lightweight and bright. Generally, bass buffs will be happier sticking with larger 'phones.

Total harmonic distortion: True, headphones with lower actual total harmonic distortion (THD) will sound better than those with higher THD. But the quoted THD numbers -- "less than 1 percent" -- aren't helpful in predicting sound quality. Listen to recordings of simply recorded acoustic guitar to assess the distortion of one set of headphones versus another. Some will sound appreciably cleaner than others.

Impedance: Generally speaking, the lower the headphones' electrical impedance (aka resistance), the easier it is to get higher volume. But here again, the low impedance is no guarantee of high volume capability; other factors can still limit loudness potential. Since many MP3 players have feeble power output -- the iPod is a notable exception -- smart shoppers should check the loudness before purchasing any pair of headphones. To be sure, listen with your player.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need a headphone amplifier?

A: What you plug your headphones into can significantly affect their sound, and the quality of the amplifiers built into portable CD/MP3 players is generally awful. It's not their fault: the little guys have to power their electronics and their internal amplifier using a few puny volts. Even some of the better home AV receivers ' headphone jacks offer highly variable sound quality.

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If you find yourself listening to headphones a lot of the time and care about sound quality, you might want to consider purchasing a headphone amp. Both home and portable headphone amplifiers are available, and Steve Guttenberg writes about some of them on his high-end audio blog on CNET, The Audiophiliac.

Q: I lost the ear tips that came with my earbuds -- do I have to buy a whole new pair of headphones?

A: Absolutely not... unless you're just looking for an excuse to try something new. But if you're not made of money, you can always hit up the manufacturer for a pair of replacement tips. Most earbuds only come with one set of each size, so losing one can be annoying. If you're in an experimental mood, Comply offers aftermarket tips that fit your brand and come in a variety of materials.

Q: Does a higher price tag mean the headphones will sound better?

A: Not necessarily. We're continually surprised that people drop hundreds of dollars on a smartphone and still refuse to invest in a quality pair of headphones to use with it. On the other hand, not all inexpensive headphones should be assumed to be cheap.

Case in point: the Koss PortaPro headphones first hit the market in 1984 and have become such a favorite with audiophiles that the company leaves the design (and the price tag) untouched. You can still pick one up for less than $50, and they come with a lifetime warranty, no receipt necessary. Check out our favorite budget headphones for more selections.

Ready to go shopping? Head over to the CNET Headphones page to get started.