The Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless Headphone is our best headphones and the circumaural design of the headphone also adds to the neatness and the comfort factor of the listener. This pair of headphones has a wireless mechanism so it eliminates the mechanism of wires and helps keep your system clutter free due to its neat design and this headphone system also has a closed back design so it provides great comfort for the user.
Our step-up pick is the Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless headphones II and the headphones come in different designs such as black and white depending on your preferences. The headphones can last on an average of about 15 hours using the lithium ion battery that can last a long time due to the fact that it does not have memory effect compared to other battery types out there. The EQ of this headphone is very professional and the sounds of this headphone will definitely captivate you.
The budget pick is the Sennheiser HD 202 II Professional Headphones and its sound pressure level is 115 decibels and it has a closed and dynamic design. This budget pick is so awesome as a pair of headphones for just about any purpose whatsoever and the cable has a y-style design and reaches up to 10 feet in length so it is highly flexible as a wired headphone. It can be used by DJs, recording artists, gamers, aviation crew and much more due to its awesome quality and versatile design.
A Little Background
Headphones can be used in a wide variety of ways and for different purposes. The most common use for a headphone is for music. Whether you are listening to music or making music or even recording music, you definitely need a nice pair of headphones that deliver unprecedented quality. The headphones used for music must also be highly comfortable and can be worn for long hours of music without getting your ears strained.
Headphones used for regular purposes such as watching videos, TV shows or monitoring things may also require a high quality of output. Most of all, portability is highly important feature for a pair of headphones. Wireless headphones are advantageous for their ease of use and portability.
Headphones are very important when it comes to the modern times due to their functions. People who often play or practice instruments need headphones to accurately practice their instrument without interrupting others or waking up the neighbors outside.
How We Picked
Choosing the best headphones out there, you have to consider the following:
Design – headphones can be closed back, open ear, over ear, on-ear, circumaural or many other designs. These designs affect the overall comfort and noise rejection quality of any headphone.
Impedance – in any headphone, always look for the impedance, which is what dictates the quality of the headphone’s sound quality. This is often measured in ohms and a standard high quality of a headphone is typically around 32 ohms of impedance. For musicians, look out for whether you want bass headphones
Mic – Do you need a headphone with mic? Very handy if you do calls regularly
Portability – it is an important issue when it comes to having reliable headphones that you can use anywhere and take calls hands-free with it.
Wireless or bluetooth – For those who hate wires, going wireless is a good option. Here you have the option of bluetooth headphones or wireless headphones. Different technologies, but the resulting experience is similar.
Specialized – If you need specialized picks, we have also identified the best aviation headset, best gaming headset and best studio headphones. If you need headphones that can withstand some wear and tear, and that are light enough for exercise, try getting the best running headphones.
Finally, for DJs or people practicing in a rifle range, you will need the best noise cancelling headphones to protect your ears from damage.
Our Pick
Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless Headphone
Our best headphones, the Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless Headphone, has a wireless mechanism so it eliminates the mechanism of wires and helps keep your system clutter free due to its neat design. The transmission of this wireless headphone can reach up to a line of site of 100 meters or equivalent to 328 feet in its capability. With a closed back design so it provides great comfort for the user, the circumaural design of the headphone also adds to the neatness and the comfort factor of the listener.
Because of the multi-receiver transmission of this headphone, you can also user two pairs of headphones at the same time due to its transmitter capabilities. The docking station is very convenient in its slim and sturdy design and the cradle charger is also very convenient due to its integration with the transmitter of the whole headphone system so it is a multiple function transmitter in its build.
The virtual surround sound feature helps you feel the sound better than regular headphones and the bass boost is a helpful feature if you want to use it for monitoring your favorite music or for music production or recording and mixing songs. Charging at 8 hours fully, the headphones are powered up by 3 AAA batteries and you can just replace them with any battery set.
With an output for analog audio using a 3.5 mm headphone output or RCA cord, you can use it for a wide variety of activities such as watching TV, watching movies, listening to music or anything else while cleaning the house or doing some other activity because of its wireless design and also charge on the docking station for convenience.
The batteries are rechargeable and can last up to 18 hours of regular use so you can listen to more music with one single full charge and the design of the closed back style of the headphones allow you to keep up a protection against ambient noise so you can focus your attention more on the sounds that you hear. The low frequency power adds the bass boost and better capability of this set of headphones for a high quality listening experience.
You would not get any sound drop off or signal interference because of its superb signal and anti-interference capabilities. Because it is a tight fit in the design, it will not fall of so you can use them when you are moving around yet they are not very uncomfortable at all to wear for long hours. This is a great high end headphone to consider with a sleek design and is backed by a warranty of 2 years. If you are a big Sennheiser fan, consider our pick for the best Sennheiser Headphones.
Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
There are a few things about the Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless Headphone as our best headphones that may not be all that satisfactory but nonetheless do not stain the quality of the headphones. For example, even if you can use two headphones with the docking station, you can only charge one at a time.
Step-up Pick
Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless headphones II
Our step-up pick, the Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless headphones II, is equipped with a high quality microphone system that is quite advanced to help you reduce the noise in such environments where listening to headphones can be a bit hard due to its HD voice quality that gives you crisp clear audios for music or calls even in windy situations. Coming in different designs such as black and white depending on your preferences, it has an around the ear design so it will help you trap the sounds from the headphones and keep the noise outside away for a great uninterrupted listening experience.
Lasting on an average of about 15 hours using the lithium ion battery that can last a long time due to the fact that it does not have memory effect compared to other battery types out there, the Bluetooth technology that is used is the latest in its technology and build so you can easily sync audio or video and connect it to any device and play seamless music, voice or calls at your disposal.
You can also have the option to choose between two different Bluetooth devices so you can connect to your smartphone while you are still watching another video elsewhere. The EQ is very professional and the sounds of this headphone will definitely captivate you due to the deep and high quality sounds even as a wireless headphone.
Budget Pick
Sennheiser HD 202 II Professional Headphones
This budget pick, the Sennheiser HD 202 II Professional Headphones, has a total harmonic distortion value of less than 0.5 percent so you can be assured that it is of high quality even as a budget headphone due to its low amount of noise and distortion. Its impedance is 32 ohms so you are assured that its quality is excellent for its price and it has a wide frequency range of 18 Hz up to 18 kHz so you can hear more sounds in different frequencies due to its diversity.
Excess cables are not a problem due to the very fact that it has an organization belt clip that winds up your cable to make it tangle-free with your professional headphones. With ear cups that are detachable so you can work on them with style and comfort and also portability, it uses a standard jack plug at either 6.35 mm or 3.5 mm at stereo quality. The bass response is deep and superb with this amazing headphone and the clean quality of audio can be expected from this pair of headphones for your chosen purpose or activity.
It can be used by DJs, recording artists, gamers, aviation crew and much more due to its awesome quality and versatile design. The cable has a y-style design and reaches up to 10 feet in length so it is highly flexible and signal levels are great with this headphone due to its sophisticated yet powerful technology for processing audio signals. At less than 1 pound in weight so it is truly portable, its sound pressure level is 115 decibels and it has a closed and dynamic design.
It can also be used with mobile phones or with your computer or anything with high fidelity source of music or entertainment and the damping perforation is what helps you achieve a full blast of bass sounds without distorting them. It also uses a diaphragm material equipped with a special turbine feature that is embossed to give you the richest low bass sounds possible without the problem of noise, overdrive and distortion. The OFC copper cable that is highly conductive is used for the 3-meter cord.
Because it is very light weight, it can be used for extended hours of listening without the weight and strain on your head or ears. Ambient noise will not disturb you due to its great attenuation feature. Magnets are made from neodymium that give you light weight quality in your headphone and helps you achieve higher sound levels without compromising quality of the audio. A great and must-have headphone for modern music listening due to its powerful bass capability, the ear pads can also be replaced and are made from ultra comfortable leathertte material that will not strain your ears for hours of listening. The headphone is also backed by a warranty of 2 years.
Ideal Headphones with Over Ear Design
Beats Studio Wireless Gold Over-Ear Headphone
Nost DJs and music lovers often have a simple yet fancy and functional Beats Studio headphone, the Beats Studio Wireless Gold Over-Ear Headphone, due to its affordable price, great quality, reliable features and trustworthy name. You can use this awesome headphone for pairing with any Bluetooth device with a capable range of 30 feet so you can directly play music from within that range, making it also an effective Bluetooth headphone.
The headphone also has an over-ear design so it is able to help you focus more on the music better than the ambient noise in the background and the noise cancelling feature of this headphone is due to its dual mode adaptive capabilities so it helps you stay mentally focused on your beats rather than the people chattering in the background. The cable used is a standard 3.5 mm audio cable which also includes a RemoteTalk function. There is also a secondary 3.5 mm audio cable other than the one with a RemoteTalk feature.
The built-in microphone also lets you use it for regular calls, video conferencing, gaming and the like at a hands-free pace for portability and convenience anywhere you go. There is also a fuel gauge for the battery of this headphone so you know when to charge the headphone and the battery can be charged fully at about 12 hours or so for a regular period of use. There is also a USB 2.0 cable that allows you to connect it to your PC or to any capable device with a micro-B USB head on one end.
There is also a carabineer clip included with the carrying case that comes fully packed with a hard shell for extra protection for your headphones. Available in various designs, you can choose your own flavor of style and sense of individuality and simplicity with Beats headphones. The gold plated finish and designs on this over-ear headphone from Beats are very intricate yet classy in looks and adds to the visual appeal of the headphone overall. The total length of the cable of this Beats by Dr. Dre headphone is 4.6 feet and it is super light weight at only 9 ounces so it will not strain your ears in hours of recording or music production.
It has an over-ear design with tremendous amounts of noise cancelling capabilities so it is a great consumer headphone to consider in the market nowadays. It uses high quality DSP software that is built-in within to provide you with ample amount of quality and diversity for various genres such as electronic music, RNB, hip-hop, pop, rock and much more and it does not lose audio quality even when used wirelessly. The battery can last up to 20 hours on regular use with wires or 12 hours when used wirelessly and there is also an automatic on / off feature so you can save more battery in the long run. And just like most electronic devices nowadays, this headphone can be conveniently charged using the micro USB cable for power banks or computers.
Best Bass Headphones
Sony MDRXB950BT/B Extra Bass Bluetooth Headphones
The Sony MDRXB950BT/B Extra Bass Bluetooth Headphones gives you extra bass due to its tremendous amount of electronic bass boost so you can listen to your favorite music in a heartbeat with unmatched quality from Sony’s latest music technologies. The circuitry used in this headphone is very superb and carries on with the modern times so it is very reliable when it comes down to playing the latest beats or using it for various purposes other than for listening to music, such as watching movies or TV shows with the extra bump for action packed scenes.
You can choose from three different designs for this headphone and it is very simple yet stylish and straightforward in its looks. The headphones are capable of handling Bluetooth devices so you can experience wireless listening on the go and it also supports AAC formats as well as apt-X. The quality of audio streaming that you can experience from this headphone is very clear, crisp and unmatched.
The frequency response of this headphone is very wide because of the fact that it has powerful drivers at 40 mm. Answering calls on the phone can give you a hands-free experience due to the built-in microphone in the headphone system so you can call anyone anytime and anywhere. You can use this headphone for around 20 hours of regular use due to its great and powerful battery capability that is rechargeable so it is also very portable. When corded, it can also be used for your PC or phone as a music player or monitor / output for sounds due to its passive mode.
The design of this headphone is around the ear that gives the user enough comfort to stay plugged with the headphones for hours without compromising ear health and experiencing fatigue. Portability is also added by its swiveling design which is unique to this headphone as compared to competitors with a stereotypical design as a headphone. Its frequency response is from 20 Hz up to 20,000 Hz so it is very wide when it comes to audio streaming.
When connected with any audio cable for use with PCs or similar devices, you can enjoy a wider frequency response range from 3 Hz up to 28,000 Hz. You can use NFC (Near Field Commnications) to connect via Bluetooth for excellent quality on audio streaming. The low frequencies on this awesome headphone can be really felt as if you are in a club and the drivers at 40 mm help drive the bass into your ears and into your emotions.
With a charging cable (micro USB) plus a standard 1.2 m audio cable comes with the package for charging your headphones, it has a stand by battery life of around 200 hours on the average. There is also a low battery indicator when you press the power button, indicated by the number of flashes that the LED indicator blinks, or alternative, you can use most tablets or smartphones to confirm the battery levels of your headphones.
You can even pair the headphones with up to two Bluetooth enabled devices at the same time so you do not have to manually switch from your PC to your phone when somebody is calling you. If you want to give your tracks the extra punch, especially for those who listen to a lot of electronic beats, this headphone will definitely satisfy you with its extra bass levels.
Best Noise Cancelling Headphones
Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Headphones
If you want a terrific pair of headphones that can be depended upon with cancelling out ambient noise in the background then the Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Headphones is a great buy. If you often travel then this headphone will definitely help you listen to tunes without worrying about noise in the background.
Its noise reduction capability is superb so it is highly reliable for crowded situations where you just want to relax and enjoy the music or make a hands-free call with someone. There is a built-in microphone to use for calls and there is also a remote for controlling your music without having to search your pocket for your phone in public places. It works for Apple devices (iPod, iPad, iPhone, etc.) as well as Samsung, Black Berry and Android devices and is available in different designs.
Delivering a very powerful and straightforward sound, this headphone will reward you with hours of clear music without dropped signals or ruined audio quality. Super light weight at only 6 ounces, it is a must-have for those who would want to listen for hours and not get their ears strained due to the weight of the headphones. It is powered up by any AAA battery although it already includes one with the headphone and it uses TriPort technology as well as Active EQ to help you hear better bass sounds and clear highs with every music or voice call you use the headphones with and also comes with an adapter for airlines so you can definitely use it for air travel.
The remote included is a QC25 inline remote that measures 56 inches and its distinctive and intuitive design lets you use the headphones in any situation. The ear cups are also equipped with a pivoting feature so it is highly flexible and portable for storage with the included carrying case that is small enough for travel purposes. A must-have for airplane travelers due to its great amount of noise cancelling power, comfort is never compromised for audio quality with this headphone.
Ideal Headphones for Sports
Fuleadture Wireless Stereo V4.1 Bluetooth Headphones
If you are a sporty person who wants a good pair of headphones then the Fuleadture Wireless Stereo V4.1 Bluetooth Headphones is highly recommended because it has a built-in pedometer on its headphone system. You can take calls in a hands-free way while jogging due to its built-in microphone that lets you answer people while running, cycling and performing other physical activities.
It can accept just about any device that is Bluetooth enabled so it is quite versatile and it connects to any NFC supported device as a wireless headphone that is powered by Bluetooth. The headphone is also designed with an over-ear look so it is extra comfortable and keeps the ambient noise away from your music and it uses the latest Bluetooth 4.1 technology so you can pair devices faster and experience less hassle when it comes to audio streaming on the go.
Stereo sound that can be experienced with this headphone is of high quality even on Bluetooth connections. Because it has a pedometer, you can use it to track your fitness goals while listening to energizing music on the go. It uses CVC 6.0 noise reduction technology so it can really help you filter out background noise to concentrate more on the audio you are currently listening to using the headphones and you can also use it to pair up to two simultaneous devices so you can separate business matters with personal matters by pairing two smartphones at the same time for easy switching.
The Bluetooth wireless range of this headphone is up to 33 feet so it is definitely ideal for sporty people and it has a standby time of around 180 hours on regular use and about 45 hours of listening time for music and 60 hours of calls when used wirelessly. The great battery capacity is thanks to the rechargeable lithium battery at 800 mAh of capacity.
Because it is foldable and light weight, it is also very flexible and portable so you can definitely take it wherever you go. Control your music by skipping songs, pausing or playing or changing the volume due to its intuitive controls without having to pick up your phone in public. It can be used for airplanes, gaming, home entertainment systems, construction sites, work that involves power tools and much more other than for music.
Best Bluetooth Headphones
Skullcandy Hesh 2 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
The Skullcandy Hesh 2 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones uses a reliable Bluetooth pairing technology for audio clarity even when streaming from afar. In a full charge, you can use the headphones for up to 12 hours. The aesthetic yet simple design adds to its visual appeal. It is powered up with 50 mm drivers so you can listen to uninterrupted quality music and there is a remote for easily controlling your music or taking calls on the go. The leather seal fits perfectly around your ears to isolate noise and there is also a built-in microphone for hands-free calling.
Reliable On-Ear Headphones
Panasonic RP-HT21 Lightweight On-Ear Stereo Headphones
The Panasonic RP-HT21 Lightweight On-Ear Stereo Headphones is backed by a 4.5-feet cable that gives you portability and comfort along with its foam ear cups which are cushioned to prevent ear straining. At only 1 ounce of weight, this open air headphone is very convenient for light listening. It uses neodymium drivers at 30 mm to give you a perfect listening quality and its frequency response is from 16 Hz up to 22 kHz. The on-ear design of the headphones makes it highly breathable and comfortable.
Ideal Headphones for Home Entertainment Systems
Sennheiser HDR120 Supplemental HiFi Wireless Headphone
Built for entertainment systems, this wireless headphone, the Sennheiser HDR120 Supplemental HiFi Wireless Headphone, is a must-have for watching movies in HD or TV shows in full quality or just for music or recording. Very comfortable and does not strain your ears, it has a supraaural and open design and it delivers superb stereo quality with a great bass response. It works well with a lot of high definition TVs, smart TVs and the like to watch privately without waking up others.
The Competition
Some headphones were not satisfactory when it comes to its specs and quality as well as comfort factor. It is highly important for headphones to be fully functional and also give comfort to the user for prolonged listening, talking or any activity at all.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it okay to use headphones at work?
A: According to Time Management Ninja , it depends on your work nature but make sure you focus on the job and only use the music to motivate you. The volume levels should also be just fine so you still know what’s going on around you.
Q: Any tips on taking care of headphones?
A: According to Gizmodo , it is common knowledge to keep it away from high humidity and liquid to keep it away from short circuit. Take extra caution with pulling the cord so you do not break it and read the cleaning instructions of the headphones for best results.
Wrapping It Up
Overall, the Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless Headphone is our best headphones whether you are an audiophile, a music producer, a recording artist, a sporty person or just someone who needs to listen privately to anything.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.