Compare Headphones

The smart rating takes into account technical specifications, features, and ratings from the following sources: What HiFi, CNET, PC Mag, and Good Gear Guide.

Low-sensitivity headphones require more power to produce the same sound volume as their high-sensitivity counterparts.If you’re looking to buy headphones for portable devices, high sensitivity headphones are best.

The impedance is also known as signal obstruction (measured in Ohms).With high impedance, you’ll get a better sound quality. However, with high impedance, the headphones need more power to get the right output volume (this is why some larger, more powerful headphones need batteries when you use them with MP3 players or smartphones). Because of this, low impedance headphones (~100) are best with MP3 players/laptops, because you won’t need to buy batteries for them, while higher quality headphones with higher impedances are best for use with amplifiers and other devices.

The approximate retail price of the headphones.A really nice pair of headphones will cost you. First pick what you’ll be using them for, then filter our list based on your needs.

The category classification is dictated by the intended use of the headphones.Though hardcore listeners might want the best sound quality in headphones, athletes may opt for a lighter, sporty pair. We have divided our list into several categories according to their performance and designated use:

• Budget Headphones are perfect for everyday music listening if you’re not too bothered with sound quality. These headphones will have more distortion when you play them at high volume and you’ll notice that they can’t usually hit deep tones, unlike the quality you’d find in other more expensive headphones. Still, these headphones are great for a wide range of uses: audio books, acoustic music, and any other time when the best quality sound is not absolutely necessary.
• Sport Headphones come in earbud or in-ear styles – they sometimes have a plastic bar that wraps around your ear to make sure they stay on when you’re moving around a lot (a great feature if you’re using them at the gym, for example). The quality of these headphones will vary depending on how much you spend on them. You can get cheap ones that won’t have great quality, or more expensive ones with great sound. It all depends on what you want from the pair of headphones.
• Gaming Headphones are great for gamers because they usually come in the over-ear style—covering the entire ear—and have a microphone for talking to other players. If you’re playing a multiplayer game that is chat-capable, you’ll want to get a pair of gaming headphones with a microphone.
• Audiophile Headphones are the best option for people who need top audio quality, but who don’t want to pay for studio or reference headphones. Consumer-oriented brands, like Beats by Dre or Skullcandy, are considered audiophile. Audiophile headphones can be very different in look and style, and performance will depend on how much you spend on them. Still, you don’t always need to spend a ton to get a great pair of headphones. At a certain point, you won’t be able to tell the difference in sound between two pairs of high quality headphones.
• DJ Headphones are usually over-ear style headphones that are high-sensitivity to allow enough volume in high external noise situations. These headphones come with large drivers – the device that powers the sound – and will be able to reach very low notes a lot better than the average headphone.
• Studio Headphones are best used for audio production, reference or monitoring in a studio. You’ll find that they are able to hit the lowest and highest notes while maintaining a flat frequency response time. Studio headphones will usually cost quite a bit more than an audiophile counterpart, so you should choose a style like this only if you know you need a high-accuracy pair of headphones.

There are four basic styles of headphones, based on their intended use. Here, they are separated into categories by style (or how they will fit on your ears) to help you decide on which pair on headphones will fit your needs:

• Earbud Headphones fit in your ear, but don’t enter the ear canal. Unlike in-ear headphones, these won’t isolate any external noise. As a result, they have sometimes been linked to hearing damage because listeners keep them at a very high volume. Still, these headphones are less expensive and are more popular because they are usually bundled with MP3 players and smartphones.
• In Ear Headphonesare inserted directly into the ear canal and provide a seal to keep out external noise. A very good alternative to ear buds, you can listen to them at a low volume because they keep out external noises very well.
• On Ear Headphones have larger drivers – the mechanism that produces the sound – than other headphones. They are designed to fit around your ear, usually with a plastic band that goes over or behind your head. Pick this style if you’re looking for headphones that will fit snug.
• Over Ear Headphones cover your whole ear with pads around the ear that create space between that actual headphone and your ear. You’ll find these bulkier headphones in studios or with DJs because they have the largest drivers (and also the best bass sound). Still, other headphones that might be less expensive can also have great bass – survey your options before you settle on a pair of these.