Best Headphones of 2024: The 8 Best to Buy
Whether you are immersed in the wonderful world of music alone or enjoying a moment of peace in the busy city, headphones have always been the best choice for music lovers and working professionals. From intense sports to professional studio monitoring, headphones carry our desire for sound and pursuit of quality.
In this digital age, the market is flooded with a wide variety of headphones, ranging from affordable entry-level products to luxurious high-end models. Therefore, to help you find the best headphones among the many options available, we have conducted a series of comprehensive headphone reviews.
In this article, we'll take you on a voyage through the sea of headphones, focusing on a comparative exploration of various brands and models in terms of sound performance, comfort, noise cancellation, durability, and value for money. We'll provide you with the best options in every aspect!
Let's embark on a headphone journey together!
Sound Performance
👑Sony WH-1000XM4 : Powerful bass effect, Quality sound
✨Bose QuietComfort 35 II : Tonal balance, Quality bass effects
🌸Sennheiser HD 650 : Wide soundstage, natural timbre
Comfort Performance
👑Bose QuietComfort 35 II : Soft, comfortable and lightweight
✨Sony WH-1000XM4 : Soft and comfortable
🌸Jabra Elite 85h : Buffer design
Noise Reduction Effect
👑Sony WH-1000XM4 : Editor's Pick
✨Bose QuietComfort 35 II : Suppression of low-frequency noise
🌸Jabra Elite 85h : Active Noise Reduction Technology
Durability
👑Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO : Ruggedized main structure
✨Sennheiser HD 280 PRO : High-quality wear-resistant
🌸Audio-Technica ATH-M50x : Wear-resistant material
Cost-Effective Options
👑Audio-Technica ATH-M50x : Affordable for professionals
✨Sennheiser HD 280 PRO : Entry-level professional monitor headphones
🌸Sony MDR-7506 : Lower priced professional monitor headphones
Sony WH-1000XM4:
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a highly acclaimed wireless noise-canceling headset known for its excellent sound quality, powerful noise-canceling effect and comfortable wearing experience. Featuring advanced active noise cancellation technology, it effectively reduces ambient noise to provide a clear music and call experience. The ear cups and headband are designed to be comfortable and suitable for long time wearing. In addition, there are rich functional features such as Bluetooth connectivity, smart touch and voice assistant support, and up to 30 hours of battery life, making it a high-end headset for daily use.
Pros:
- Outstanding Sound Quality: featuring Sony's proprietary audio technology, it delivers clear, balanced sound with rich detail and powerful bass.
- Powerful Noise Cancellation: Equipped with advanced active noise cancellation technology to effectively reduce ambient noise and provide a clearer music and call experience.
- Excellent Comfort: The design of the ear cups and headband is carefully tuned and made of soft material, which is comfortable to wear and suitable for long time use.
- Rich Functions: With Bluetooth connectivity, smart touch control, voice assistant support and other functions.
- Long Battery Life: The battery life is up to 30 hours (when the ANC is turned off), which meets the daily needs.
Cons:
- High Price Point: The price is relatively high.
- Conservative Design: The design is relatively conservative compared to some other brands of headphones.
Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony WH-1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones feature industry-leading noise-canceling technology that blocks out ambient noise and distractions, allowing you to immerse yourself in your music or audio content without interference from the outside world.
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is a highly acclaimed wireless noise-canceling headset known for its excellent noise cancellation, comfortable fit and premium sound quality. Featuring active noise cancellation technology, it effectively reduces ambient noise to provide a clear music and call experience. The ear cups and headband are designed to be comfortable for extended wear. In addition, there are rich features such as Bluetooth connectivity, smart touch and voice assistant support, making these high-performance headphones suitable for daily use.
Pros:
- Excellent Noise Cooling: Active noise cancellation technology is renowned in the industry for its ability to effectively reduce ambient noise and provide a clearer music and call experience.
- Outstanding Comfort: Made of soft materials for a comfortable fit.
- Good sound performance: Provides clear, natural sound with excellent mid- and high-frequency band performance and excellent bass extension.
- Long Battery Life: Provides up to 20 hours of battery life to meet daily needs
Cons:
- Higher Price: The price is slightly higher, which may be beyond the budget of some users.
- Conservative Design: The exterior design is relatively conservative and may lack some novelty and style.
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Experience unparalleled tranquility with the Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones, featuring world-class noise cancellation technology that blocks out ambient noise and distractions, allowing you to focus on your music, podcasts, or calls with crystal-clear clarity.
Sennheiser HD 650
The Sennheiser HD 650 is one of Sennheiser's classic products and is a highly acclaimed open professional headphone. It utilizes Sennheiser's high quality drivers and advanced acoustic technology to deliver outstanding sound performance. HD 650's sound is characterized by a balanced, natural sound with rich detail, clear midrange, rich lows, and soft highs, which are capable of presenting the true subtleties of a musical composition.
The open design of these headphones makes music sound more transparent and breathable, while also increasing comfort. The earcups are made of soft material, which is not easy for the ears to feel compressed, and you will not feel uncomfortable even if you wear them for a long time. The headband is well-designed and evenly distributed, effectively reducing the pressure on the head and making it more comfortable to wear.
Pros:
- Outstanding Sound Quality: HD 650 sound quality performance is excellent, balanced and natural sound, rich in detail, low and medium frequency full, high frequency soft, can present the music of the real delicate.
- Open Design: The open design makes the sound of music more transparent and breathable, and also helps to reduce the pressure on the ears.
- Wide Applicability: HD 650 is suitable for enjoying all types of music, whether it is classical, pop, rock or jazz,and can show excellent sound quality performance.
Cons:
- Higher Price: The HD 650 is relatively expensive compared to typical consumer-grade headphones
- Requires Higher Driving Power: Due to its high impedance design, the HD 650 requires a higher level of driving power for optimal sound performance, so it may need to be used with better audio equipment.
Sennheiser HD 650
Sennheiser HD 650
Immerse yourself in pristine sound with the Sennheiser HD 650 headphones, featuring dynamic drivers and open-back design that deliver natural, transparent audio reproduction with exceptional clarity, detail, and precision.
Jabra Elite 85h
The Jabra Elite 85h excels in performance. It comes with advanced Active Noise Cancellation technology that effectively reduces ambient noise to provide a clearer music and call experience. The headset's sound quality is excellent, providing clear, balanced sound with a natural timbre. In addition, the Elite 85h's Bluetooth connection is stable and reliable, the Smart Touch function is easy to operate, and the long battery life meets the needs of daily use. Comfortable wearing experience is also a highlight, with soft ear cups and headband design to ensure no discomfort even after long hours of wearing. Overall, the Elite 85h is an excellent performer for those who need a high-quality music experience and effective noise reduction.
Pros:
- Excellent Noise Cooling: The Elite 85h is equipped with advanced active noise cancellation technology that effectively reduces ambient noise to provide a clearer music and call experience.
- Comfortable Wearing Experience: The ear cups and headband are designed to be comfortable and made of soft material, which makes them comfortable and firm to wear and suitable for long time use.
- Strong Durability: high durability to meet daily needs.
Cons:
- Larger Size: Larger size, not easy to carry.
- Higher Price: The price is higher.
Jabra Elite 85h
Jabra Elite 85h
Immerse yourself in pure sound with the Jabra Elite 85h headphones, featuring Smart Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology that automatically adapts to your surroundings and eliminates unwanted background noise.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO is a highly acclaimed closed-back professional headphone known for its excellent sound performance, closed-back design and comfortable wearing experience. It delivers clear, balanced sound with rich low and mid-range frequencies and translucent high frequencies for the enjoyment of a wide range of music genres. The closed-back design of the headphones effectively isolates external noise, providing a more private music experience with added comfort. The ear cups and headband are made of soft materials and are well-designed for long hours of wear. Overall, the DT 770 PRO is a professional headphone with stable performance and excellent sound quality for professional studio and stage performances.
Pros:
- Closed Design: Effectively isolate external noise, provide a more private music experience, suitable for use in noisy environments.
- Comfortable Wearing Experience: The ear cups and headband are made of soft materials, well-designed and suitable for long time use.
- Strong Durability: the headphones are designed with high-quality materials and structures, suitable for professional studios and stage performances.
Cons:
- Closed-back design may lead to heat buildup and possible discomfort after extended wear.
- Sound is a bit too balanced and lacks some individualized tonal characteristics.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO
Experience powerful bass, clear mids, and sparkling highs that bring your music to life with stunning clarity and precision, making these headphones ideal for critical listening and professional audio production.
Sennheiser HD 280 PRO
The Sennheiser HD 280 PRO is a highly acclaimed closed-back professional monitor headphone for professional use in studio monitoring, music production and audio engineering. Known for its excellent sound performance, these headphones deliver clear, balanced sound with excellent mid-range performance and rich bass, enabling users to hear details and layers in music accurately. Its closed-back design effectively isolates external noise, providing users with a private, immersive music experience that is suitable for use in noisy environments. It is a professional headphone with stable performance and excellent sound quality, suitable for professional monitoring and music production use.
Pros:
- Closed Design: Effectively isolate external noise, provide a private music experience, suitable for use in noisy environments.
- Durable: Made of high-quality materials and structural design, they have high durability and are suitable for frequent use and carrying.
- Better Value for Money: Suitable for users with budget constraints.
Cons:
- Large And Bulky: The HD 280 PRO is large and not easy to carry.
- May Feel Compressed While Wearing: The closed design may cause some users to feel more pressure on their head when worn for extended periods of time.
Sennheiser HD 280 PRO
Sennheiser HD 280 PRO
The Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones feature a foldable design that allows for easy storage and transportation, making them ideal for musicians, audio engineers, and content creators who need a portable solution for studio monitoring and audio production.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is a highly acclaimed closed-back professional headphone that is widely regarded as one of the best headphones for the money. It is known for its excellent sound performance, durable design and comfortable wearing experience.The ATH-M50x delivers clear, balanced sound with rich low and mid-range frequencies and translucent highs, making it suitable for a wide range of music enjoyment. The closed-back design of the headphones effectively isolates the headphones from outside noise and provides a private music experience, making them suitable for use in noisy environments. The ear cups and headband are made of soft material, which is comfortable to wear and suitable for long time use. Overall, the ATH-M50x is a professional headphone with stable performance and excellent sound quality, suitable for studio monitoring, music production and daily music appreciation scenarios.
Pros:
- Outstanding Sound Quality: clear, balanced sound.
- Enclosed Design: effective soundproofing, private music experience.
- Durable: high quality material, suitable for long time use.
- Comfortable To Wear: Soft material, not tiring to wear for a long time.
Cons:
- Slightly heavier weight.
- Narrower soundstage.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Experience deep, impactful bass, smooth mids, and sparkling highs that bring your music to life with stunning realism and precision, making these headphones ideal for studio monitoring, mixing, and critical listening.
Sony MDR-7506
The Sony MDR-7506 is a highly acclaimed closed-back professional monitor headphone. It is known for its excellent sound performance, durable design and comfortable wearing experience.The MDR-7506 delivers clear, well-balanced sound with rich low and mid-range frequencies and translucent highs, making it suitable for a wide range of music listening genres. The closed-back design of the headphones effectively isolates external noise and provides a private music experience, making them suitable for use in noisy environments. The ear cups and headband are made of soft material, which is comfortable to wear and suitable for long time use. Overall, the MDR-7506 is a professional headphone with stable performance and excellent sound quality for scenarios such as studio monitoring, music production and daily music appreciation.
Pros:
- Excellent Sound Quality: The MDR-7506 delivers clear, balanced sound for a wide range of music genres.
- Good Sound Insulation: The enclosed design effectively isolates external noise, providing a private music experience.
- High Durability: Sturdy construction and high-quality materials make it suitable for long time use and frequent carrying.
- Comfortable Wearing Experience: The ear cups and headband are made of soft material, comfortable to wear and suitable for long time use.
Cons:
- Lack of Vibrancy: Some users found the sound to be relatively bland, lacking some vibrancy and charm.
Sony MDR-7506
Sony MDR-7506
Immerse yourself in precise, detailed sound with the Sony MDR-7506 headphones, featuring neodymium magnets and 40mm drivers that deliver clear, balanced audio across the entire frequency spectrum.