10 Best Wired Headphones In 2020

Budget: Vogek On Ear Headphones

Vogek On Ear HeadphonesVogek On Ear Headphones BUY NOW ON AMAZON$13.79

The Vogek On Ear Headphones are a great choice for people on a tight budget. They come with a built-in microphone, 1.5 meters of cable, and an attractive range of colors to choose from.

Fortunately, despite the low price point, the Vogek headphones have decent audio quality. It’s not studio-levels by any means, but it still punches above its weight class.

Enthusiast: Grado SR80e Prestige

Grado SR80e PrestigeGrado SR80e Prestige BUY NOW ON AMAZON$91.08

Although the Grado SR80e Prestige were released back in 2014, they’re still on our radar today. The headphones have a sleek and compact design, though blemished slightly by the prominent text on the cups. They are also very comfortable, and you can tell right away that this is a well-made product.

The sound produced by the SR80e is great—from low notes through to high notes, and even through the middle notes. The audio profile is excellent regardless of volume level. Just note that the cans are open-backed, so you’ll be able to hear everything going on around you even as you listen.

Audiophile: Audio-Technica ATH-ESW990H

Audio-Technica ATH-ESW990HAudio-Technica ATH-ESW990H BUY NOW ON AMAZON$349.00

Audio-Technica are known for producing great audio devices across all budgets, and the Audio-Technica ATH-ESW990H are no exception. It’s hard to find on-ear headphones in this price range that sound as good as these, all the way from bass to treble.

Notable features include 42mm drivers, a detachable 3.9-foot cord with microphone and volume controls, durable leather earpads for long-term comfort, and wooden can housings made from polished sycamore.

The Best Over-Ear Wired Headphones

Over-ear headphones tend to produce the best sound quality, if only because the circumaural cups are excellent at isolating ambient noise (but only when the cups are closed-back). If you’re worried about the stuffiness and dampness of over-ear headphones, opt for ones with open-back cups (which won’t be as good at isolating noise).

Budget: Creative Aurvana Live!

Creative Aurvana Live!Creative Aurvana Live! BUY NOW ON AMAZON$49.28

The Creative Aurvana Live! are, in a word, impressive. You shouldn’t expect top-grade performance out of them, but at this price point, it’s rare to find audio quality that sounds even half as good. Audio quality is decent, especially in the lower notes.

The earpads are detachable, which is fantastic for cleaning and for when they need replacing. The cord is five feet long and comes with a 3.5mm-to-6.3mm adapter for use with home audio equipment. This makes the Creative Aurvana Live! a choice pick for those on a budget.

Enthusiast: Audio-Technica ATH-M50X

Audio-Technica ATH-ESW990HAudio-Technica ATH-ESW990H BUY NOW ON AMAZON$349.00

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50X are some of the best headphones the company has ever put out, and they are regularly used by professionals—even though it’s a consumer-grade set of headphones.

One of the best parts about the ATH-M50X is their exceptional noise isolation. These were, after all, designed as studio monitors—so if you want perfect audio without any distracting background or ambient noise and at a reasonable price, this is the set for you.

Audiophile: Sony MDR-1A

Sony MDR-1ASony MDR-1A BUY NOW ON AMAZON$315.00

If you’re looking for something a little better than the ATH-M50X and you’re willing to pay about double the price, the Sony MDR-1A is a solid choice. They delivers excellent sound with maximum comfort and are built for comfort, too.

The Best Noise-Canceling Wired Headphones

A lot of people hear noise-cancelling and immediately think that these headphones will block out everything. Unfortunately, that’s not true. When active, they can block out certain kinds of sounds such as background and ambient noises, but you may still hear loud conversations, buses driving by, etc. The feature can also reduce audio fidelity while active.

Budget: FMLOVES Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

FMLOVES Active Noise Cancelling HeadphonesFMLOVES Active Noise Cancelling Headphones BUY NOW ON AMAZON

When you’re on a budget, you’re never going to get truly high-quality noise cancellation. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist on the budget level, however. The FMLOVES Active Noise Cancelling Headphones make a decent attempt at blocking out ambiance so you can enjoy your tunes.

Despite being wired headphones, noise-canceling models still have a battery on-board to power the technology behind the cancellation. Fortunately, even at the budget level, these headphones can last 20 hours with noise cancellation on before they need a recharge.

Enthusiast: Bose QuietComfort 25

Bose QuietComfort 25Bose QuietComfort 25 BUY NOW ON AMAZON$125.07

For top-notch consumer-grade noise cancellation, you really can’t go wrong with the QuietComfort series. The Bose QuietComfort 25 are over-ear models, making them very effective when you need to block out as much noise as possible without sacrificing comfort.

The sound quality is the best you are likely to get with noise-canceling headphones. Despite this, the quality is far from disappointing, so these should suffice for all but the pickiest of audiophiles.