At any given moment, I've got somewhere between five and 10 pairs of headphones scattered around my house. That's because, as the Good Housekeeping Institute's resident music producer and DJ, I evaluate the latest releases from audio brands using a mix of rigorous Lab testing and real-world listening. That means measuring their performance in the Tech & Engineering Lab before taking them with me to nightclubs, studio sessions, and the gym. Whenever someone learns about my job—that I test headphones for a living—their first question is inevitably, “What’s the best pair of headphones?” Naturally, I have my favorites, but I've also learned that the "best" headphones depend almost entirely on how and where you plan to use them.
Today's headphones come in dozens of shapes, styles, and price points so making the right choice the first time is important. And for many people, phrases like “frequency response curve,” “drivers,” “custom equalizers,” and “spatial audio” can feel more like sci-fi terms rather than real factors to weigh when considering which pair to buy. So, to demystify the audio terminology, and provide real, practical advice for picking a pair that fits your lifestyle, I’ve created the following guide.
Start with the type
The easiest way to narrow down your options is to begin with the headphone type. You can think of this as the primary shape of the headphones, and there’s a variety to choose from:
Over-ear: These are what most people picture when they think of headphones. The ear cushions completely surround your ears, creating a seal that can help block outside noise while making your music feel more immersive. These are a great type for anyone who wants to feel immersed by whatever they’re listening to, although the headband on some models can clamp tightly and some users may get fatigued from wearing a pair for a long period of time.
On-ear: These are shaped much like over-ear headphones, with the caveat that the speakers’ pads sit directly on top of your ear. Many on-ear headphones don’t feature superb passive or active noise cancellation, but you’re often trading those features for a lighter weight and more comfortable listening experience. Their lightweight frames sometimes lend themselves to folding or super-compact designs and they also tend to be a little cheaper than premium over-ear models.
Earbuds (in-ear): These compact headphones come in two types: the kind that have a silicone tip and fit just inside the entrance of the ear canal, and those that sit just outside of it (as popularized by Apple’s classic EarPods). Earbuds with silicone tips are good for those seeking a secure fit or intense noise cancelling. The issues many often have (myself included) are that can be uncomfortable or they struggle to find the right fit for their ears even after trying different sized tips. EarPods and similar styles can feel less invasive at the cost of letting in more passive noise.
Open-ear (clips): These are probably the newest form to become trendy. They almost resemble clip-on earrings, with the main portion of the bud wrapping around the exterior of your ear and the speaker sitting just on the inside of the curved portion of your ear. Their biggest advantage is that, unlike earbuds which can passively (or sometimes actively) block noise, they let you hear what’s going on in the world around you, making them a great pick for runners and cyclists who need to be aware of their surroundings. They also manage to stay secure despite not fitting directly into your ear, thanks to the clip design.
Bone conduction: This type of headphones typically works by sending vibrations through your cheekbones to your inner ear. You can find this technology frequently in headphones designed for outdoor activities, and they often feature impressive durability, though they tend to compromise on sound quality.
Which type of headphones is right for you?
If you prefer close listening and immersion, choose over-ear headphones. Need something pocket size but still want noise cancellation? In-ear is your best bet. Going on lots of runs on busy city streets? Open-ear will help keep you aware of your surroundings. Most people don’t have the luxury of owning one of every type listed above. Any of them can work in pretty much any situation so I recommend picking ones that best fit the scenarios in which you most often listen.
To find the best sound, test them IRL when you can
Once you’ve narrowed down which category of headphones you’re interested in, sound is the largest differentiator among models. But first, I want to dispel a common headphone misconception from the jump: The price of a pair of headphones is not a reliable predictor of their sound quality. I’ve tested dozens in our Labs, from headphones you can buy at a gas station to ones that cost double my monthly New York City rent. The truth is there are models at lower price points that outperform ones that cost significantly more.
So, if you can’t use price as a predictor, what can you use? Driver size? Manufacturer-reported frequency range? AI audio enhancement? The reality is that none of those specifications can reliably gauge how a pair of headphones will actually sound. Two sets of headphones may advertise the same frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, but sound entirely different, since that doesn’t tell you much about how they reproduce those frequencies across such a vast range. A frequency response graph can reveal much more than a simple frequency range, but interpreting one takes practice—and many manufacturers don't publish them. Since headphones can be so expensive, and what you or I perceive as “good” sound is so subjective, I would almost never recommend blind-buying a pair before listening with them when possible.
Comfort is more important than you’d expect
Many people either need or want to wear their headphones for hours at a time. It’s not uncommon when I’m trying out a new pair of headphones that I’ll find myself with an irritated scalp or tension headache after wearing the pair for just a few hours. When picking out a pair of headphones, there are a few things worth paying attention to:
If you’re looking at over-ear headphones:
Weight matters—a heavier pair will fatigue your head more quickly. Additionally, seek headbands that are highly cushioned and don’t feature jagged edges that can dig into your scalp. I also love headbands that have an added fabric strap under the main component that reduces the pressure placed on the scalp. If you wear glasses or sunglasses, pay particular attention to the clamp force and softness of the ear pads, since tight-fitting headphones can often cause the frames to dig into your head.
If you’re considering earbuds:
Try to see if they feature swappable silicone tips or opt for the kind that doesn’t sit inside the entrance of your ear canal. In my experience, open-ear earbuds offer the greatest amount of comfort since they sit on the external portion of the ear and can feel pretty weightless—I often forget I even have mine on while I’m wearing them.
Controls are king
Something you can assess better without getting your hands on the headphones are their controls, and how much they matter to you. There’s a wide range of methods manufacturers have developed for controlling audio playback, switching noise cancellation on and off, and adjusting volume.
If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t mind whipping out your phone every time you want to change tracks or pause playback, the type of controls matters far less. If you’re like me, however, the controls on headphones can mean the difference between a good model and a superb one. In my testing, I consistently prefer headphones with tactile, easy-to-distinguish controls instead of relying entirely on swipe gestures or identical-feeling buttons. The best models use dedicated switches, rollers, and buttons for different functions, making them much easier to operate without having to take them off.
Determine if noise cancellation and transparency matters to you
If you’re easily bothered by noises like the hum of AC or the drone of an airplane in flight, active noise cancellation (ANC) is a must. Both in-ear and over-ear headphones offer noise cancellation, but over-ear headphones often perform better in this area, according to the Tech & Engineering Lab’s testing. The reason is two-fold: First, over-ear headphones can passively block out sound around your head by covering your entire ear. Second, over-ear headphones tend to have more space for larger processors and better-positioned microphones to deliver more powerful active noise cancellation.
Noise cancellation isn’t always beneficial for everyone though. Often, pairs that feature active noise cancellation are more expensive, thanks to the additional hardware they require to operate. Most models feature a “transparency” mode (which plays outside noise recorded by the headphone’s microphones inside your ears, so you can stay aware of your surroundings), but they actually aren’t the best for when you need to be mindful of what’s going on around you. Consider whether the feature is worth shelling out additional cash for and how often you think you’ll really use it. Personally, I rarely use active noise cancellation in my everyday life since I usually want to be able to hear what’s going on around me.
Pay attention to battery life and charging options
I hate having to remember to charge my devices, so I’m always looking for headphones that offer long runtimes. When comparing headphone battery lives that are reported by their manufacturers, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. If a manufacturer says “14 hours battery with ANC on,” you should make sure you’re comparing it to another model’s longevity that’s also reported with “ANC on” because ANC tends to drain the battery more quickly than if its off. When looking at earbuds, generally you’ll want to understand both how long they can stay charged outside of their case and how much power the case can supply to them, since many now feature charging cases that extend the time before you need to plug them back in.
In terms of charging options, headphones that don’t use a proprietary or unusual charger will always trump those that do in terms of convenience. It’s annoying to have to carry around additional cables, and the simple use of a USB-C will mean you’re pretty much always in a situation where you can top them up if you’re low on battery. I also love over-ear headphones that feature 3.5 mm or USB-C wired backup when they aren’t charged. You might lose some functionality like ANC, but you won’t be caught in a pinch if the pair has run out of battery and you’re about to hop on an important meeting.
Weigh the bells and whistles
All the features listed above are the things I’d consider as highly important to most people looking to buy a new set of headphones. Beyond these, there are a few additional features I think might be nice-to-haves for some people.
Spatial audio
Spatial audio is being advertised more and more with headphone releases, but it’s something for which I’ve found little utility. Most music today is still mixed in stereo, and there is a very small subset that’s been up-mixed to support spatial audio. If you’re a fan of certain albums that feature Dolby Atmos or similar technology, play video games that support directionality in their audio mixing, or love films made with the technology, you may enjoy the listening experience. That said, I find turning on spatial audio on otherwise stereo listening can be distracting and distort the original intended experience.
Tracking features
Tracking features are underrated in terms of importance, especially for smaller headphones like open-ear or in-ear models that are so easy to misplace and even harder to find. The ability to simply play a loud sound from them can save you the frustration of tearing up your place in search of your lost pair.
Durability features
If you rely on your headphones for working out in particular, you may want to take a look at the model’s durability. For headphones that feature some sort of water and dust protection, the manufacturer will usually report an ingress protection (IP) rating. This is typically reported using the letters “IP” followed by two numbers, which indicate the protection against dust and water respectively. The higher the number, the greater the level of protection. For working out, I generally recommend an IP rating of at least IPX4, meaning the headphones can survive splashes of water from any angle, keeping them safe from sweat or an accidental spill of a water bottle.
Multi-point Bluetooth
If you connect your headphones to multiple devices throughout the day, multi-point Bluetooth can help alleviate the inconvenience of having to disconnect and reconnect every time a new device comes into the picture. I particularly like this feature when I’m working at the office, where I can easily switch from taking video calls on my laptop to playing music on my phone.
Repairability
Finally, repairability is a crucial factor for those of us who are accident prone. In particular, over-ear headphones that feature replaceable ear pads and have manufacturers that will either send you them for free or sell them for a low price are highly desirable. In my testing experience, the ear pads are the first part of the headphone to get worn down after extended use, and I’ve totally ruined some after just a few months of wear. Without the ability to replace them, you’re looking at a hefty price tag to replace the entire headset.
How much should you spend?
Price is perhaps the biggest factor in deciding which headphones to buy. In the past few years, we’ve seen the ceiling on flagship headphones’ pricing rise significantly. I’ll be the first to say that you do not need to spend upwards of $500 to get a great-sounding pair of headphones—in fact, there are many pairs I love that are less than $100, including the pair I use every day for casual listening. The graph below illustrates how our Lab’s top-tested headphones are mostly reasonably priced.
If you feel very particular about the sound you want, require very powerful noise cancellation, or are seeking extra features that don’t exist on cheaper models, by all means go for the splurge. But for everyday listeners, there’s a large variety of cheaper models available that deliver comparable sound quality.
If you do end up buying a more expensive pair, make sure to check out the brand’s warranty policy to ensure you won’t be out of luck if the pair malfunctions. It’s also worth taking the time to look up other users’ reviews to see if there have been any complaints about the headphones not working after an extended period of time.
If you have to compromise because of price, I'd prioritize comfort and sound over extra features. You'll notice those every time you wear your headphones, while things like spatial audio or gesture controls tend to matter much less for most people. If you're looking for specific recommendations, we've also tested and ranked our favorite noise-cancelling headphones, workout headphones, and earbuds. But, at the end of the day, don’t take my word for it, and whenever possible try and listen to them in real life. Everyone’s preferences for sound and comfort are different, and that’s not something you can parse by only reading articles online.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Nikolas Greenwald, data & product operations manager at the Good Housekeeping Institute, has been testing headphones and audio equipment for over four years. When he’s not in the Lab developing tools and testing protocols for Good Housekeeping Institute staff, you’ll find him producing music and DJ’ing around Manhattan and Brooklyn.
