If you're after the biggest sound and best audio from a pair of headphones, you'll likely be looking toward over-ear headphones. But, for all their audio chops, those big, bulky headphones aren't always the best option in everyday life. When you're on the go, commuting, or at the gym, a pair of earbuds is more likely to be a worthy companion.
Earbuds are much easier to pack into a bag, purse, or pocket. And, if you're wearing them while you're on the move, the minimal weight of the earbuds themselves leaves them less prone to shaking around and falling off your head. While you can still run into tangled cords, that issue is resolved by the many wireless earbuds available. As an added perk, many of the best earbuds are a bit more affordable than the comparable over-ear headphones, perhaps thanks in part to a lower bill of materials.
We've picked out some winning options to help you jam out and enjoy media on the go. They come in a variety of sizes and price points, so you can find one that's going to work just right for you.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Earbuds:
- 1More Triple Driver
- Sennheiser CX 300S
- Creative Outlier Air V2
- Optoma NuForce Be Live5
- JLab Epic Air Sport ANC
- Apple Airpods
- Shure SE215
- Audeze Euclid
- Bose Sport Open Earbuds
1. 1More Triple Driver
Best Earbuds
You could go out and spend a few hundred dollars on a pair of earbuds, believe it or not, but the best earbuds should offer not only good sound quality but also a solid feature set and a good value. That's just where the 1More Triple Driver earbuds land. These earbuds aren't cheap, though they're not insanely expensive either, and you're getting what you pay for.
The 1More Triple Driver earbuds have a chic design with metallic casings and two-tone styling. Delivering on audio quality, the earbuds feature two balanced armature drivers and a third dynamic driver giving them an impressive frequency response range. Bass comes through punchy despite the earbuds' size, and mid-tones are nice and warm. The treble could be more pronounced, but the overall sound quality is impressive for the price. 1More also includes a range of tips in the box, so you can get a perfect fit for your ears.
2. Sennheiser CX 300S
Best Budget Earbuds
For a pair of simple, affordable earbuds you can plug into any old 3.5mm headphone jack, the Sennheiser CX 300S get the job done. These earbuds aren’t too flashy, but they do provide a bit of style with matching color accents on the earbuds and cable. The Sennheiser logo is also a touch on the shiny side. They may not be Bluetooth, but that means they also won’t suffer from audio syncing or pairing issues.
The Sennheiser CX 300S will make it easy to get a good fit and seal as they include four different ear adapter sizes. That improved fit will also make for a better listening experience. The earbuds include a simple in-line control to play and pause audio or to answer a call. They also feature a microphone, so you can leave your phone in your pocket when you’re on the go and need to take a call.
3. Creative Outlier Air V2
Best Wireless Earbuds
Creative's Outlier Air V2 earbuds improve on what were already a phenomenal pair of wireless earbuds with the original Outlier Air. While costing less than much of the competition, the Outlier Air V2 manage to offer features that even their more expensive rivals can lack.
The Outlier Air V2 earbuds feature 5.6mm graphene drivers that can manage a typical frequency response range, and that'll let you take advantage of the support for AAC and aptX codecs. That means better audio quality than some basic earbuds that only support SBC. The Outlier Air V2 also offer up a compelling 12-hour battery life in the buds themselves with even more juice available from the charging case. Between the case and buds, you can go for 34 hours without needing to plug into a power outlet, and you'll be able to use a USB-C cable when you do need to charge. Creative didn't forget about water resistance either, so you're safe to break a sweat in these buds.
4. Optoma NuForce Be Live5
Best Bluetooth Earbuds
As slick as they are, true wireless stereo Bluetooth earbuds might not be for everyone. If you’re constantly having to take your earbuds out and put them back in (pestering co-workers, perhaps?), you don’t want to have to fuss around with a case. So there’s still a place for tethered Bluetooth earbuds, and the Optoma NuForce Be Live5 are the best option you’ll find.
These Bluetooth earbuds provide a solid audio experience through the combination of 8mm drivers pumping out sound and support for aptX and AAC codecs to keep the bitrate of your audio high. You’ll be able to tune into your audio for the long run with an eight-hour battery life on the Optoma NuForce Be Live5, and you won’t have to stop that marathon listening session if things get a bit wet — the buds have an IPX5 rating to hold up against a bit of rain or sweat.
5. JLab Epic Air Sport ANC
Best Sports Earbuds
With the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC, you won't have to cut your workout short. These earbuds wrap around your ears to keep them securely in your ears even during the wildest workouts. And, with an IP66 rating, they'll hold up even during the sweatiest hot yoga sessions. To top it off, the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC have a top-notch battery life, offering up to 15 hours from the earbuds themselves and an additional 55 hours in the charging case (and maybe we're wrong, but you probably shouldn't be working out for 15 hours straight anyway).
These earbuds can deliver a quality audio connection over Bluetooth 5.0 and support the AAC codec. And, you'll get to focus on your audio even if there are distracting outside noises thanks to the active noise cancellation available through these earbuds. That said, if you want to take them on an outdoor run, you should be able to hear your surroundings for safety, and that's where the buds' Be Aware' mode can come in handy.
6. Apple Airpods
Best Earbuds for Apple Users
No list of desirable earbuds would be complete without Apple's spectacular Airpods. If you own any combination of an iPhone, iPad, Mac computer, or Apple TV, you almost owe it yourself to a pair of these easy to connect wireless earbuds.
Of course, you can use Airpods with Android and Windows devices as well, but you'll miss out on some of the features. However, you'll still get the main benefits including total wireless freedom, all-day comfort, and superb audio quality. Battery life isn't the best at only five hours per charge, but that's certainly enough for your commute or a half marathon.
7. Shure SE215
Best Sound-Isolating Earbuds
If you’ve spent any time around a microphone, you’ve undoubtedly encountered the Shure brand. The company makes more than just mics though, as Shure also produces quality audio electronics such as these great earbuds. The SE215-K also fit nicely and snug in your ear.
Beyond the excellent sound clarity and comfort for $100, the SE215-K have a unique feature where the cable between the earbuds is actually detachable and replaceable. You can go wireless too with an optional Bluetooth cable.
8. Audeze Euclid
Best High-End Earbuds
For high-quality audio, you can step above the common dynamic drivers and step into the world of planar magnetic transducers. And, with the Audeze Euclid, you can get this technology in a compact earbud. The Audeze Euclid earbuds features 18mm planar magnetic transducers that can deliver a refined and details audio experience. And, with an impedance of just 12 ohms, you shouldn't have much trouble powering these earbuds with a wide variety of audio sources.
The Audeze Euclid earbuds come with a braided cable MMCX cable that ends in a 3.5mm jack. But, that doesn't mean that's how you have to use them. You can pair these earbuds with your own MMCX cables. Audeze also has plans to release 4.4mm balanced cables to pair with these earbuds as well as a Bluetooth adapter for wireless use.
9. Bose Sport Open Earbuds
Best Earbuds for Running
When you're out running, it's natural to want to enjoy your pump-up music. Some solid tunes can not only give you a bit of extra energy but can also distract you from the muscles and bones getting more and more sore the further you go. But, if you've got earbuds deep in your ears blocking out all external sounds, you might accidentally get sore in a different way. Running around with music can be dangerous if it keeps you from hearing things like cars coming out of alleys or driving up behind you. The Bose Sport Open Earbuds solve this issue.
These earbuds hook around your ear and position the speakers themselves just outside of your ear canal. They direct sound into your ear without actually blocking your ear. So, you not only hear your tunes, but you also get to hear the world around you. You'll be safer while you're out on your runs, and you can hold a conversation with a running buddy without needing to ditch your tunes. Since the earbuds hook around your ears, they can also stay in place while you're running. And, you can rely on these even if you're planning to run a marathon, as they offer eight hours of battery life.
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
