Best Headphones
Check out the best headphones, as rated by Digital Trends’ expert reviewers.
Making a short list of the best headphones is tantamount to trying to pick the best craft beers in the Pacific Northwest or the best wines from California’s Napa valley. There are gobs of options, and no matter how carefully you choose, someone is bound to come along and point out an obvious omission. Truthfully though, we’re glad there are so many great headphone options these days. In a well-saturated market, the consumer usually wins; but where do you start looking? We’ve compiled a list of our favorites to help get you going. We can assure you that all headphones listed here sound great, are very comfortable and fill specific needs for listeners. Have fun and good luck!
Our best headphones list is continually updated as we review new products that enter the market.
Yamaha EPH-100
The Yamaha EPH-100 are the steal of the decade in affordable high-performance personal audio.
Pros Balanced, articulate, dynamic and reve...
Cons No inline mic or controls
Our Rating:
Specifications
Design In-Ear
Features Sound Isolating
Use TravelAiaiai TMA-1
The Aiaiai TMA-1 are an excellent sounding set of closed-back headphones that stay true to the recordings they reproduce and are amongst the best we've tested to date.
Pros Excellent, lush sound, Great sensitivi...
Cons No padding on headband, Don’t fold dow...
Our Rating:
Reader Rating: Specifications
Features Detachable Cable
Use DJ/Live Music
Design Over-the-EarAudio-Technica ATH-ANC23
Their sonic clarity, strength and agility put the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 canalphones on par with designer models that cost as much as $300 to $400.
Pros Extremely effective noise cancellation...
Cons Awkward cable lengths, Slightly muddy ...
Our Rating:
Specifications
Features Active Noise-Canceling
Design In-Ear
Use TravelDenon AH-D1100
Denon’s AH-D1100 over-the-ear headphones shun style and celebrity shenanigans for old-school audiophile sound quality.
Pros Warm, relaxed sound, Super comfortable...
Cons Bass may be a little heavy for some li...
Our Rating:
Specifications
Design Over-the-Ear
Use Studio/HomeMonster Miles Davis Tribute
Jazz fans will fall for the Monster Tribute’s open midrange, accurate bass, and the swath of Miles Davis extras includes with every pair of earbuds.
Pros Very clean sound, Comfortable, secure ...
Cons Bass response may be light for some, I...
Our Rating:
Specifications
Design In-Ear
Features Sound Isolating
Use TravelSennheiser HD800
Uncompromising design standards have produced a truly outstanding product in Sennheiser
Pros Exceptional Sound, High Quality Constr...
Cons Not easily portable, Ambient noise is ...
Our Rating:
Specifications
Features No
Design Over-the-Ear
Use Studio/HomePhonak Audeo PFE122
The Audeo PFE122s are an excellent choice for music lovers of any stripe, and a perfect solution for those who value comfort and security as much as sound quality.
Pros Superbly-balanced, detailed, clear and...
Cons Slightly rolled off and recessed upper...
Our Rating:
Specifications
Design In-Ear
Features In-Line Microphone
Use TravelKlipsch Image S4A
The Klipsch Image S4A is not only the first but, for the time being, also the only product to provide Android users with this kind of music player and phone control in an earphone.
Pros Small, light, and comfortable, Lively ...
Cons Using in-line control for music pulls ...
Our Rating:
Reader Rating: 
Specifications
Design In-Ear
Features In-Line Microphone
Use TravelNocs NS400
There’s no doubt that the NS400 are a tremendous value. Sure, they’re short on accessories, but who cares when every cent of the purchase price pays off with premium performance.
Pros Balanced, accurate sound, Incredibly r...
Cons Short cord, Occasionally aggressive tr...
Our Rating:
Specifications
Design In-Ear
Features In-Line Microphone
Use TravelSennheiser HD 598
Based on the merits of sound quality alone, we would rate the HD 598 a 9.5. These cans sound remarkable, perhaps the best we’ve heard under $500.
Pros Remarkable Sound, Extremely Comfortabl...
Cons Unattractive Color, No case/pouch, Awk...
Our Rating:
Reader Rating: 
Specifications
Design Over-the-Ear
Use Studio/Home
Best Headphones 
