Best headphones of 2020

If you’re looking for the best headphones on the market, it’s tough to get a straight answer. What works for some people doesn’t work for others, and few product categories are as diverse as headphones. In-ears, on-ears, over-ears—there’s just so much to choose from, and it’s hard to tell what’s right for you.

Editor’s note: this list was updated on February 3, 2020, to account for price changes and include information about Bluetooth LE Audio’s LC3 codec and Bluetooth multipoint functionality.

The best noise cancelling options are the Sony WH-1000X M3 and WF-1000XM3

If you were searching for a new pair of headphones at any point in the last year or two, you probably saw that Sony had the consensus best noise cancelling (ANC) headphones in the WH-1000XM2 and WH-1000XM3. Those headphones still top our over-ear rankings, but Sony also added a noise cancelling true wireless option in the WF-1000XM3. These models of consumer audio products represent the best of the active noise cancelling market. 

While it may seem strange to highlight a company and not a single model of headphones or earphones, both Sony models shown here are the best in their categories by a country mile—so it made less sense to us to exclude one in order to fit a 5-item list.

Both the WH-1000XM3 and the WF-1000XM3 offer top of the line specs and features, including voice assistant support, passthrough features, and customizable sound performance. Dollar for dollar, each of these models outperforms their closest competitors in sound quality, noise attenuation, and comes close on battery life. Consequently, we recommend the WH-1000M3 for over-ear fans, and the WF-1000XM3 for true wireless fans. You can’t go wrong with either option.

Obviously, each model is a little different, and has different foibles. The WH-1000XM3 supports Sony’s LDAC codec, while the WF-1000XM3 only supports SBC and AAC, for example. Even if LDAC isn’t perfect it’s still more than good enough for most people. 

If you want a budget alternative, the Sony WH-XB900N is a solid ANC headset if you can find it. However, you’ll only save $100, as the price tag is most often around $250. The fact of the matter is that good ANC is tough to get at a good price, and Sony currently has the best.

See also: Best noise canceling headphones

If you value sound quality, these open-back headphones are exceptional

Whether we like to admit it or not, very few of us can afford to shell out a grand for something as small as headphones. Given that the best headphones you can own are, well, the ones you can buy: it makes picking our best models a little easier.

If you don’t mind spending a little more cash for the best headphones, the Monoprice Monolith M1060 puts the bang in your buck. Though at $270 it’s not cheap, these planar magnetic headphones perform on-par with other models that are significantly more expensive. As Chris Thomas put it in the full review, it’s “value taken to its logical extreme.” It shouldn’t come as a surprise because of how good Monoprice is at making its products inexpensive, but it is. The Monolith doesn’t come cheap; however, the price compensates for the fact that you don’t need to use an amp.

These have a good amount of low-end present, but the main pro to these is just how clear everything sounds. Little to no distortion is apparent regardless of what you’re listening to, and there aren’t really any objective tweaks that would make these sound better than they do. If you’re not looking to spend upwards of $500, Monoprice has done it again with the Monolith M1060 headphones.

The best true wireless earbuds are the Apple AirPods

True wireless earphones took the market by storm after being dominated by the Apple AirPods for so long. Now: there’s plenty of options, even some for under $100 if you don’t have a lot of cash to spend. They come in all shapes and sizes, even some that conform to your head. However, the best on the market right now is still the Apple AirPods Pro. They offer good ANC, sound quality to match, and sound better than their predecessors simply by virtue of the fact that they can seal your ear canal.

These buds have a solidly-good battery compared to other models we’ve tested—and sound pretty decent too. We aren’t going to pretend that they’ll be best for everyone, but they’ll be very close for most people. True wireless earbuds are a bit of a challenge to get right, and Apple finally listened to their critics that unsealed earbuds are the worst.

If you’re an iPhone user, these are easily the best true wireless earphones to get if you want ANC and creature-comfort features. However, you may find that you prefer the Beats Powerbeats Pro instead if you’re more worried about battery life and working out. However, the Beats’ dominant battery comes at a cost, as these true wireless earphones are far bulkier than any others.

Can’t go wrong with “old standby” Sony MDR-7506

It may seem cliche to point out, but headphones that have been around for over 30 years are able to do it because they have something to offer. If you’re on a budget and need a set of high-quality closed-back headphones for under $100: people have been picking the Sony MDR-7506 for decades.

That’s not because these are super bassy, or that they’re flashy—if anything they’re the opposite of both. These headphones have stuck around so long because aspiring musicians, TV crews, and students all have been using it as a dependable studio monitor. It has a flat frequency response, which may not sound the best to some, but it’s much clearer and far easier to tweak to your liking.

Sure, these are a set of wired cans with a rather cumbersome cable. But if you’re listening at home or working at the coffee shop: these are the headphones you want.

The best bang for your buck is the Drop x Sennheiser HD 6XX

If you’re looking for the absolute best way to spend money on headphones for the computer, Drop’s partnership with Sennheiser brought a legendary audiophile option—the HD 650—down to roughly half the original asking price. Budget-conscious audiophiles would be doing themselves a disservice by not giving these a spin.

There are a few minor differences between the HD 6XX and the HD 650, but most are cosmetic in nature. The performance of the HD 6XX is top-notch, and is much lighter than it looks. If you’re the kind of listener who spends a lot of time at the computer, this is the kind of headphones you should be looking for. Just be aware that the open back is a double-edged sword: it allows for better sound quality and clarity, but it also lets in all the outside noise around you.

What you should know

Bluetooth is great, but it also sucks

This list has a few wired options if you want great sound, but we also have a few wireless options if you prefer convenience. If you opt for a Bluetooth pair, there are a few things you should know. First and foremost, the rumors you’ve heard are true. Bluetooth just can’t party with wired headphones just yet, at least as it pertains to sound quality. Even some of the best codecs available aren’t as great as they seem at first glance. AAC is basically only good if you’re on an iOS device which means Android users should probably stick to aptX, and LDAC isn’t truly hi-res. The good news is that you most likely can’t hear any of the details in the data that’s being dropped, but it’s still not a great selling point. Of course, if you do think that you have superhuman hearing feel free to test yourself with our simple hearing test.

There is hope, though: Bluetooth SIG announced LE Audio and the LC3 codec, an efficient alternative to SBC. We’re excited to see the benefits to the hard-of-hearing community play out in the real world, and know that LC3 will provide a 50% increase in audio quality relative to SBC. What’s more, headphone stutters will be lessened as packet-loss-management is improved, so instead of hearing annoying, intermittent drops, the dropout process will be much smoother. Even the best headphones will benefit from the new codec.

Related: What is Bluetooth multipoint and why is it so rare?

What are codecs?

We mentioned codecs in the last section, but what exactly are they? If Bluetooth is the technology that enables two devices to communicate with each other, then codecs can be thought of as the language that they speak. When two devices speak the same language, they can communicate faster and send more data between each other which results in better sound quality. Some of the best codecs have high transfer rates if both devices are compatible, and if they aren’t then everything just reverts down to the basic codec called SBC. Unfortunately, codecs can be a bit finicky and as we mentioned before don’t always work the way they’re intended to which is why wired headphones usually sound better. Though it is worth mentioning that Qualcomm has a new codec coming called aptX adaptive that seems promising, but we’ll have to wait to test it ourselves before we get our hopes up.

How does active noise cancelling work?

For the past two years, Sony headphones have been on our top pick. Both the WH-1000X M2 and the newer WH-1000X M3 have good sound and great active noise cancelling. If you were wondering how active noise cancellation works, don’t worry you’re not alone. There’s a lot that goes into it and some companies like Bose and Sony have their own ways of achieving it technologically, but it all comes down to basic physics. Active noise cancelling is actually something called destructive interference. If you take one wave with an amplitude of +1 and combine it with another wave that has an amplitude of -1, you’re left with zero.

Active noise cancelling headphones take advantage of this by using tiny microphones to hear what sounds are around you and then creating an opposite sound wave to cancel that before it reaches your ears. Of course, this isn’t perfect and works better for long, droning sounds then sudden, screeching ones. So don’t expect ANC headphones to block out that crying baby on your next flight. But when you combine noise cancelling technology with good isolation, you can get pretty close to completely blocking the outside world.

This is harder to achieve when it comes to earbuds, as they don’t completely cover your ear. So instead, a solid pair of memory foam ear tips might be worth looking into as they do a better job at isolating sound than the silicone ones that come with most ‘buds.

How we chose the best headphones

If you’d seen this list before, you’ll probably notice that it’s completely different than it was in years past. Now it’s a perpetually-updated piece. Gone is the Sennheiser HD 800, and the rest of the exorbitantly expensive headphones. That’s because we realized that what’s “best” objectively, isn’t what’s “best” for everyone… so our selections needed a bit of tweaking.

Just like it is with power tools and kitchen utensils, different headphones are built for different purposes. Using the right tool for the job is important, and ensures that you get the best experience possible. You wouldn’t use a chainsaw to cut butter any more than you’d use a set of AKG K7XX on an airplane.

In that light, we took extra time to take into account how most people actually use headphones. What makes a good pair of gym headphones? What makes a good pair of true wireless earbuds? What’s the good in having a best headphones list that doesn’t help most people buy headphones they like?

While we took the time to highlight some Bluetooth headphones, active noise cancelers, and open-backed cans—be sure to read the descriptions to see if they’re right for you. Many people want a set of headphones that will do everything, but those models are few and far between. That’s why our winner isn’t a set of headphones you’d see on other outlets’ top 10. It’s more about what people actually want than what’s objectively the best performing set out there.

What’s the good in having a best headphones list that doesn’t help most people buy headphones they like?

With that being said, all of our picks were used by at least one team member, and all of these picks sound fantastic. Because our ad-free business model relies on you enjoying your headphones without returning them, this list represents what we earnestly feel is the most deserving of your money. We knew that we wanted to create a list of financially attainable headphones that meet realistic use cases, rather a drool-inducing, unrealistic list for your average consumer.

During our testing for the previous best lists, Adam, Chris, and Lily clocked in hundreds of hours with the listed models. From quantifying the effectiveness of the Sony WH-1000X M2’s ANC unit with a test head, to sweating profusely with the Jaybird X4, we made sure to push each pair of headphones appropriately. Not only that, but we also gathered information from primary, secondary and tertiary sources such as manufacturers’ websites, alternative tech review sites and user-based reviews, respectively.

We respect that our best lists may not always perfectly align with your experiences, but they’re our earnest attempt to get the best-suited product on your wish list.

While many might be upset that we chose more consumer-geared models than the stunning halo products of audiophile lore: it’s important to us that our readers aren’t dissatisfied with their headphones. To that end, we find that the ultra-expensive headphones are generally a poor fit for most, often leaving your average consumer frustrated and feeling like they wasted a lot of money. Those with a more developed idea of what kind of headphones they want should also check out our other best lists. Not every best headphones model listed here will meet all of your needs.

Why you should trust us on the best headphones

In short, you should trust us because we show our work, strive to provide as much unimpeachable information to you, and pin our revenue model on the happiness of our readers with our recommendations. If you return the product we suggest, we don’t see a dime.

When it comes to audio, the SoundGuys team has years of experience reviewing products between them (and even more listening to them). Chris spent years reviewing audio products, among other things, at publications such as USA Today and Reviewed.com, Lily clocked in countless hours at radio stations and reviewing products independently before joining our team, and Adam has been listening to headphones and speakers for nearly five years as part of SoundGuys. So needless to say, if a product makes best headphones list it’s because we were genuinely impressed by them and had some hands-on experience with them (or at the very least put in hours of research).

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