The 12 Best Earbuds of 2024

Best Earbuds for Most People

Jabra Elite 10

Earbud Location Tracking	Yes
Active Noise Cancelling	Yes
Measured Battery Life i	8.0 hr
Waterproofing i	IP57
Measured Weight i	0.20 oz

Whether you use an iPhone or Android, we think you'll love the Jabra Elite 10, which earned our top Editors' Choice pick due to its mesmerizing sound quality, comfort, and impressive, easy-to-use app. More than any other earbuds, the Elite 10 offers compelling all-around performance. While not the very best on every performance metric, it was always among the best, whether it was their #3 ranking out of 25 on sound quality or 4th place out of 25 on noise cancellation, we found these Jabra's to perform very good across the board. Even without any custom EQ tuning, the factory settings deliver a perfectly balanced sound mix, featuring warm, rich bass and crisp, clear treble. They are also some of the most comfortable buds we've tried on. At only 0.20 ounces, these buds feel light in our ears, with little to no pressure. This superior sound quality, coupled with an exceptionally comfortable and secure fit, makes these earbuds versatile enough for everything from work to outdoor trails or gym sessions. These also come with one of the highest waterproof ratings of IP57. This means you could sweat as much as you want in them. “I feel comfortable doing athletic endeavors with these buds,” our tester, Gena Bradshaw, noted. Finally, their eight-hour battery life will be enough to get you through the workday.

A standout feature of the Elite 10 is its extremely user-friendly app interface, which makes setup and daily use effortless. It also comes with location tracking in case you lose your buds. Between the intuitive interface and exceptional comfort, many of us choose the Jabra Elite 10 earbuds even over better-sounding alternatives.

The Jabra app is loaded with useful functions, allowing users to adjust the frequency response curve using either preset or manual EQ settings. A personalized hearing test will tailor the sound mix to your auditory profile, enhancing the listening experience just for you.

The Elite 10 delivered a significant upgrade over previous versions with enhanced sound quality and active noise cancellation that can block up to around 30 decibels below 500 hertz.

Compared to other top-performing products like the Apple AirPods Pro 2, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the lower-end Jabra Elite 8, and the Google Pixel Buds Pro, the Elite 10 buds hold their own. Compared to the Bose Ultra, the Elite 10 costs less, but the Ultra offers slightly better sound quality and the very best in noise cancellation. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 list for the same price, but deliver slightly worse sound quality, slightly better noise cancellation, and significantly better call quality. If you don't need the ultimate noise cancellation (the Elite 10 ANC is still very good) and would love a pair of earbuds that sound astounding and are so comfortable you'll forget you're wearing them, the Elite 10 buds are going to be just right for you.

For about the same price, you could opt for the Bose QuietComfort II, which boast better noise cancellation and call quality for phone calls. They fall short of the Elite 10 in terms of sound quality, comfort, and security, though. If you are looking to save some money, consider the Jabra Elite 8 buds, which cost less but also deliver less impressive sound and noise cancellation (albeit with better 11.9-hour battery life compared to the Elite 10's eight hours). But, for our money, the Jabra Elite 10 buds have the best balance of all-around performance in our testing and are the product we recommend to our friends who are looking for top-performing earbuds.

Read more: Jabra Elite 10 review

Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Earbud Location Tracking	No
Active Noise Cancelling	Yes
Measured Battery Life i	6.2 hr
Waterproofing i	IPX4
Measured Weight i	0.22 oz

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds earn top scores due to a unique combination of “stunning” noise cancellation and immersive audio settings that converge to create a triumphant sound mix. With these features activated, they take you to a world built of sound, which rises and falls with the music. It makes listening to our favorite songs a nearly spiritual pursuit. Bass-heavy hip-hop and pop tracks like “Pursuit of Happiness” by Kid Cudi and “Therefore I Am” by Billie Eilish resonant, and the spectacular treble tones in classical pieces like “Clair de Lune” by the London Philharmonic Orchestra sparkle.

The Ultra's are simply unmatched when it comes to noise cancellation, which you can hear for yourself in the video below (be sure to click on the speaker icon to unmute the video sound).

These earbuds are a dream for audiophiles who value breathtaking sonic landscapes above all else. Their quality is almost unreal — you can even hear vocalists breathe on some tracks. Their active noise cancellation is the best we've experienced in our lineup, making them a perfect tool in the office and maximum relaxation at home. You could even mow the lawn in these and only hear a gentle hum. Our testers dubbed these as the “Cone of Silence.”

While the bass and treble registers really shine, the mid tones are less emphasized in the mix. If you prefer a richer tone in the mid-range, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 might be a better fit. They offer good sound quality overall, superior battery life, and enhanced call clarity. But they're optimized for iPhone users and feature less impressive ANC. The Bose Ultras also have one of the highest rates of connectivity issues of all the earbuds we tested, with 3.79% of users reporting problems, and they do not include earbud location tracking despite being one of the most expensive earbud options on the market. For an excellent, if less immersive, audio experience with better overall connectivity and included location tracking, consider the Jabra Elite 10 and Jabra Elite 8 Active, which also offer better comfort and security for active use. Lastly, these have one of the shorter battery lives of the earbuds we tested. If you want a great pair of earbuds that will last longer, the Jabra Elite 8 Active have a measured battery life of almost 12 hours.

Read more: Bose QuietComfort Ultra review

Easiest for Apple Users

Apple AirPods Pro 2

Earbud Location Tracking	Yes
Active Noise Cancelling	Yes
Measured Battery Life i	8.5 hr
Waterproofing i	IPX4
Measured Weight i	0.38 oz

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 earned our Editors' Choice award as the best earbuds when integrated with the iPhone. They offer a very easy-to-use app, great connectivity with the iPhone, the best call quality of any earbud, and very good all-around sound and noise cancellation performance when used with an iPhone. We do not recommend the AirPods Pro 2 for Android users — there are much better options for use with Android. But, if you're committed to the Apple universe and the price is within your reach, these earbuds offer the best and easiest all-around experience in our review. They sound great, have the very best call quality, are easy to use and wear, and have a robust 8.5 hour battery life with four recharges built into the case.

The AirPod Pro 2 buds provide significantly improved sound quality over the original AirPod Pro and excellent active noise cancellation (ANC). “I must say that the Pro 2 has noticeably better noise-blocking, which creates a more immersive listening experience than Apple's first generation AirPods,” said Bradshaw. The ANC performance ranked 3rd best out of 25 products in our tests, with only the Bose products besting the AirPod Pro 2. In our audio-lab measurements of ANC abilities, the Pro 2 managed to cancel out nearly 34 decibels, which dampened the sound around us quite a bit. For reference, the top noise cancelling earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, can cancel out nearly 41 decibels in mid frequencies — leaving the Pro 2 performance in the dust. But, we still consider the AirPod Pro 2 noise cancellation to be excellent and near the best.

The immersive spatial audio feature of the AirPod Pro 2 allows for an incredible music experience, placing you in the midst of classics from Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac to 2Pac and Quincy Jones. Infectious tracks like Taylor Swift's “Lavender Haze” envelop the listener with each component –- from the deep lows at the intro to the soaring highs at the 0:50 mark –- clearly defined in the mix. Their frequency response also follows our Target Response Curve more closely than others.

Sound quality is very good, especially when using Apple Music, but if you want the very best in sound quality, you'll want to skip over the AirPod Pro 2 for competing products. The AirPod Pro 2 finished in 8th place out of 25 products in our tests. Consider the amazing Bose QuietComfort Ultra, which bests the Pro 2 with a one-two punch of much better ANC and significantly better sound quality. The Ultra's price tag is higher, but if noise cancellation is one of your top concerns, you won't be disappointed. For most people, we think the Jabra Elite 10 is the best alternative to the Pro 2s to consider, offering better sound quality for about the same price, with all other features like ANC and battery life about the same.

In our call quality testing, the AirPod Pro 2 delivered the best performance for making phone calls as their mics expertly separate your voice from background noise. Lastly, these earbuds have a measured battery life of eight and a half hours, so they will likely make it through your work day and the commute back home.

They also combine good comfort and security with an intuitive interface optimized for Apple product users. We especially appreciated the “Find My” feature, which showed us a rough location of the earbuds on the “Find My” app. One caveat being that if your earbuds are dead, this feature is rendered useless. The app is also limited to Apple users, so if you're an Android user who wants earbud tracking, we recommend the Jabra Elite 10 or Jabra Elite 8 Active.

While all of these features and enhancements are great, it won't matter if they're out of your price range, and these are a real investment for many people. While they do well in each test, they're not the very best in most of the tests we performed. They're also one of the heaviest pairs of buds we tested, with a single bud weighing 0.38 ounces, which hinders their comfort after wearing them for several hours. If you want to spend less, the Jaybird Vista 2 earbuds sound nearly as good as the AirPods at a significantly lower price, though they aren't as comfortable and lack battery life and ANC prowess. If budget isn't a concern and you can live without superb ANC, the Jabra Elite 10 stands out for its exquisite sound and exceptional comfort. The Jabra Elite 8 Active buds are not only cost-effective but also among the most comfortable and durable earbuds we've tested.

Read more: Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

Best Budget Wireless Earbuds

Jaybird Vista 2

Earbud Location Tracking	Yes
Active Noise Cancelling	Yes
Measured Battery Life i	6.3 hr
Waterproofing i	IP68
Measured Weight i	0.24 oz

The Jaybird Vista 2 earbuds are the best option for those shopping for wireless earbuds on a budget who desire great sound quality across all genres and want to wear their buds on jogs or to the gym. The Jaybirds impressed us with a balanced mix and powerful sound signature suitable for various music genres. They offer strong, expansive basslines that set an excellent stage for electronic dance musicians like Major Lazer and DJ Snake. While the low tones are impressive, they never overpower the mix, allowing warm, full midtones and crisp treble tones to shine, making your favorite songs feel layered, rich, and multidirectional. From running to climbing at the gym, we never worry about the Vista 2 earbuds flying out of our ears. We highly recommend these for those on a budget who need a great pair of workout earbuds, but stay away if you have small ears.

Our panel of experts described their listening experience with words like “stunning” and “masterful” after testing everything from country to EDM to hip-hop and pop. The Jaybird Vista's also offer a secure fit and some of the best dust and water resistance in our tests, with a rating of IP68. So, you could dunk these in water and they would work just fine. The Jabra Elite 8 Active buds also boast the same impressive IP68 dust and water protection, but cost much more than the Vista 2. That said, they're significantly more comfortable and sound just as good.

The Jaybirds are large, with a tight fit that can be uncomfortable even for testers with large ears, impacting the sonic experience and requiring frequent breaks due to pressure points. You'll want to make sure they feel good in your ears before committing. If you do, that tight fit blocks out quite a bit of noise in higher frequencies, compensating for their less impressive ANC. But, if comfort and stability are one of your top priorities, we think you should seriously consider the Bose Ultra Open earbuds. These are the most comfortable and stable earbuds we've ever tested in GearLab history. Despite not coming with an array of ear tips, these buds fit all of our testers no matter the size of their ears. We did headstands and cartwheels in them, but they never faltered even a little bit. That said, they are infinitely more expensive than the Jaybirds, and their bass is severely lacking in comparison. So, if you like to listen to R&B, rap, or hip-hop, the Jaybirds would be the better option.

We should also mention that despite the Jaybirds adding ANC to this new generation (the older version of the Jaybirds lack ANC altogether), it's useless in lower frequencies, which is where ANC matters the most. According to our sound measurements, these block out a total of zero decibels until you reach 500 hertz. That means you wouldn't wear these on a plane if you want to block the noise of the engine, but they will block the sound of the baby crying in the seat next to you.

If you have smaller ears and don't think the Jaybird buds would fit or meet your ANC requirements, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, which offered a better size range for our testers and nearly matched the Jaybird's sound quality. They also offer much better ANC, cancelling out around 28 decibels, and have better call quality for a slightly higher price. They can often be found on sale for a similar price to the Jaybirds. Also in this price range are the Beats Studio Buds +. Their noise cancellation is more effective than the Jaybirds, and they offer moderately better comfort for those with smaller ears. But, the sound quality pales in comparison to the Jaybird Vista's. Since great sound is often more important than noise cancelling when you're working out, we recommend the Jaybird Vista 2's for active use for those with larger ears.

The Jaybird's have a pretty low battery life compared to most (we measured a mere 6.3 hours while the average number is around eight). So, if you don't want to deal with the hassle of your earbuds dying but also want top-notch sound quality at a budget-friendly price, the UliX Rider wired earbuds are an excellent choice. Dealing with wires is a commitment, and their noise cancelling is also subpar, but they never run out of batteries. The Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X wired earbuds also have comparable sound quality to the UliX Rider and offer the next-best passive seal of all the wired earbuds we tested, and were only bested in this metric by the Moondrop Blessing 3, which costs hundreds of dollars more. But, all told, we think the Jaybirds are the best budget-friendly pair of wireless earbuds.

Read more: Jaybird Vista 2 review

Best Wireless Earbuds on a Tight Budget

Amazon Echo Buds 2023

Earbud Location Tracking	Yes
Active Noise Cancelling	No
Measured Battery Life i	5.9 hr
Waterproofing i	IPX2
Measured Weight i	0.18 oz

The Amazon Echo Buds 2023 are our go-to recommendation for thrifty shoppers who just want an affordable set of wireless earbuds with decent sound and acceptable call quality, with the added bonus of Amazon Alexa app compatibility. The Echo Buds provide a user-friendly experience through Amazon's Alexa and a reasonably pleasant sound profile at a very affordable price. They also offer warm, clean mid-tones, which are well-suited for tracks like “Heartbreak Swing” by Sumbuck and “Say So” by Doja Cat. That said, if you don't mind dealing with wires, the Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X and UliX Rider are half the price of the Echo Buds and provide superior sound and call quality, and eliminate battery concerns.

The Amazon Echo Buds semi-in-ear design lets them rest in your ear without fully sealing it, making them ideal for those who want to enjoy music while remaining aware of their surroundings. They provide a soundtrack that integrates with your daily life. This design sacrifices the immersive experience of earbuds with active noise cancelling though, making it harder to hear music over ambient noise and leaving bass frequencies less powerful. A single Echo bud weighs only 0.18 ounces, making this pair one of the lightest of the lineup and adding to their comfort. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that these budget-friendly earbuds come with earbud location tracking, while premium earbuds like the Bose Ultras, which cost hundreds of dollars, don't include this handy feature.

These earbuds are especially ideal for anyone already using Amazon's Alexa App, as they integrate seamlessly into your setup. They're also a good choice if you dislike in-ear tips and prefer more open designs that let your ears breathe. If you're picky about audio quality, you may find them lacking since their weaker bass and inconsistent treble can affect the feel of your favorite tunes.

The greatest difference between this iteration of Amazon buds from their previous version, the Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen), is the substantial price cut, which may be due to the fact that they also removed their ANC. So, if you require ANC for focusing on tasks or relaxing after a long day, we recommend increasing your budget and checking out the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro can cancel high frequencies up to 38 decibels from their passive seal and their ANC cancels out up to about 30 decibels in the low mid ranges. These can also often be caught on sale for less than $200. The Beats Studio Buds + can also be found in this price range and come with acceptable noise cancelling. These can block up to around 43 decibels in the highest frequencies with their seal-tip and nearly 19 decibels in lower frequencies with their ANC turned on.

Unfortunately, the Amazon Echo Buds have one of the lowest measured battery life in our testing at about six hours and have a waterproof rating of IPX2 — meaning that these aren't the best workout earbuds. If you want better battery life, waterproofing, and sound quality, you'll need to increase your budget. If you decide to invest more in your earbuds, we think the Jabra Elite 8 Active buds are a great choice. They deliver powerful, well-balanced, and expansive sound, IP68 waterproofing, and a whopping 12 hours of battery life. While their active noise cancelling isn't the best, it's a significant improvement over the Echo Buds, which lack ANC entirely.

Read more: Amazon Echo Buds 2023 review

Top Seamless Android Earbuds

Google Pixel Buds Pro

Earbud Location Tracking	Yes
Active Noise Cancelling	Yes
Measured Battery Life i	11.3 hr
Waterproofing i	IPX4
Measured Weight i	0.22 oz

The Google Pixel Buds Pro earbuds are at the top of our list for Android users for their seamless integration with Android devices (particularly Google Pixel devices) and offer exceptional comfort, a lengthy battery life, superb audio quality, and impressive call quality. If you're an Android user integrated with Google's ecosystem, we think you'll like these earbuds. Their sound profile is impressively balanced, and it articulates fine details beautifully. They produce a much richer sound than previous models, with vibrant, lively tones that work marvelously with genres like pop, alternative, and hip-hop. We feel that these have a fuller sound than the other Google buds, like the A-Series. “The soundstage feels bigger, more expanded. Richer and more resonant sound,” said one tester.

We highly recommend experiencing Taylor Swift's Midnights album through these earbuds. They reveal subtleties and textures in the music that we missed with lesser earbuds. Their vibrant, precise, and dynamic soundscape makes revisiting your favorite albums a delight. The 11.3-hour battery life lets the moment last.

This light and comfy pair of buds weighs only 0.22 ounces per earbud and are quite sweat-resistant with IPX4 waterproofing. The accompanying app is feature-rich, allowing you to manually EQ the mix with seven different modes to choose from, and you can track your sound exposure and ear health. You can even use the app to check how well the seal fits your ear for optimal sound-blocking.

If you're an Apple user, the excellent Apple AirPods Pro 2 will be a far better fit. These have incredible sound and call quality in our testing, scoring even better than the Google Pixel Buds Pro on both fronts and seamlessly integrate with your iPhone. But, if you're an Android user and want the very best sound quality, you should check out the Sennheiser Momentum 4 earbuds. These offer a better soundstage that allows us to place which instruments are playing in songs like “Hannah” by Ray LaMontagne. Our testers noted that these buds sound “clean, crisp, balanced, and warm” at each frequency. The Jabra Elite 10 buds also deliver superior sound quality and a slightly more robust and intuitive app than the Google Pixel's, but their battery life is notably shorter by just over three hours.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro aren't without flaws. Their active noise cancellation isn't the best, and they struggle to isolate your voice during noisy phone calls. If that's a dealbreaker for you, you'll want to opt for the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, which have incredible call quality in our testing and the very best noise cancelling, managing to block out just over 40 decibels. But, if you don't need to completely lose yourself in a song and just want to hear a great one while you go about your business, the Pixel Buds Pro are a great option for you.

Read more: Google Pixel Buds Pro review

Best Sound Quality

Sennheiser Momentum 4

Earbud Location Tracking	No
Active Noise Cancelling	Yes
Measured Battery Life i	7.5 hr
Waterproofing i	IPX4
Measured Weight i	0.21 oz

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 earbuds are perfect for audiophiles as they deliver a balanced EQ that closely follows the pattern of our GearLab House Curve. These buds have the most outstanding audio quality of our entire earbud lineup, with impressive clarity and an expansive soundstage. Their neutral and proportional EQ provide an exceptional experience across a range of genres. Whether you're enjoying the layered vocals in songs like “Makey My” by The Roots or the melodic flow of “Moves” by Suki Waterhouse, these earbuds offer a rich listening experience with exceptional definition in the middle frequencies. The treble range is warm and well-developed, as evidenced by the clarity in “Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op.48” by the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and Michael Forster's “On the Nature of Daylight”. Fully developed bass tones provide depth without overwhelming the track. In “Wildfire” by Cautious Clay, the earbuds capture the warmth and body of the low frequencies beautifully. After listening to both these and their previous iteration (the Sennheiser Momentum 3, we found that the 4's sound slightly better but somehow have worse noise cancelling abilities.

These earbuds also come equipped with useful tools like EQ adjustments and Sound Zones that automatically adjust your settings based on your location. So, if you're an audiophile with either an Android device, these may be the best option for you, but you'll have to make some sacrifices in other departments.

Unfortunately, while their audio quality is outstanding, many of the other features fall short. The noise-cancelling capabilities are terrible and only manage to block only 26.2 decibels up to 200 hertz, making them less effective for blocking out noise on a plane or in a bustling coffee shop. Surprisingly, the noise-cancelling on the Sennheiser Momentum 3 earbuds was more effective, although not by much. That said, if we crank the volume a bit, we have no problem falling into the music, though we do worry about our long-term ear health when we do so. The call quality could also be better.

We think those who value noise cancellation and call quality should look into the Bose QuietComfort Ultras or Jabra Elite 10's if you're an Android user and the Apple AirPod Pro's for iPhone users. All of these scored far better in our noise cancellation and call quality testing. Shockingly, even the wired Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X buds scored better in our noise cancellation testing, and they don't even have ANC but instead a mere passive seal. They also have slightly better call quality and similar sound quality, which is laughable considering that they're hundreds of dollars cheaper than the Sennheiser Momentum 4's.

Considering their premium price tag, we expected better performance across the board. These don't even come with a tracking system to find your earbuds, and they have a middling battery life of seven and a half hours. Still, if your priority is simply the best sound available for an Android, these are our top recommendations. We don't recommend these earbuds for anyone in the Apple ecosystem since we experienced consistent connectivity issues with iPhones.

Read more: Sennheiser Momentum 4 review

Best Workout Earbuds with ANC

Jabra Elite 8 Active

Earbud Location Tracking	Yes
Active Noise Cancelling	Yes
Measured Battery Life i	11.9 hr
Waterproofing i	IP68
Measured Weight i	0.18 oz

The Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds stand out as our favorite choice for those with active lifestyles who also want ANC capabilities. With their non-slip grip and lightweight design, these earbuds are perfect for all-day active use. Whether it's a long hike or a climbing session at the crag, the music never has to stop. The matte gel finish feels great in hand and is easier to hold than your typical hard plastic earbuds. This is a surprisingly important feature when your hands are sweaty. They offer exceptional comfort, a dust-tight build, and impressive water resistance of IP68, making them perfect for outdoor activities on rainy days. We would even wear them in the pool or a hot tub without fear.

Another great pair of buds that we would use outdoors are the Bose Ultra Open buds. If you want maximum breathability for your ears and like to be aware of what's going on around you, these are another great option. But keep in mind that they don't come with ANC or even a passive seal and are much more expensive. Their bass is also pretty minimal. The Jaybird Vista 2 is another great option for active use as they also include IP68 water resistance and were very steady in our stability testing thanks to their tight seal, emphasis on the tight, since they run larger and are not as well-suited for small ears. They're also worse at actively blocking out sound than the Jabra 8, but they match the 8's sound quality.

The sound quality of the Jabra Elite 8 Active is excellent, providing a balanced mix of treble, mid, and bass frequencies that do justice to any music genre. They are particularly effective with pop and electronic dance music. While their noise cancellation has improved since their predecessor, the Jabra Elite 7 Active, the 8 Active is still in the middle of the pack compared to other premium models in this department. Their measured battery life is truly exceptional, and the second longest battery life we tested at 12 hours (with the Sony's having the top measured battery life at 14 hours), and just five minutes of charging will earn you an additional hour of battery life. This alone makes the Elite 8 a worthwhile investment.

If you lead an active lifestyle, you'll appreciate the comfortable fit, durable design, exceptional sound quality, and impressive battery life of these earbuds. The user-friendly app and solid call quality are major pluses. For a similar comfort level with even better sound and slightly improved noise cancellation, the Jabra Elite 10 is more expensive but offers less battery life at just eight hours. They also offer slightly less impressive waterproofing of IP57.

The main downfall of these buds is their middling noise cancellation abilities, which cancel out about 24 decibels up to 200 hertz in our noise cancelling test. Although this is acceptable for being at the gym or outdoors where most would want to be at least somewhat aware of their surroundings, it may not be for those looking for top-notch noise cancelling to stay focused at home or in a noisy office, these might not be the best fit. If effective noise blocking is a priority, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Bose QuietComfort II are top choices, offering exceptional soundscapes but at premium prices.

Read more: Jabra Elite 8 Active review

Best Battery Life for Wireless Earbuds

Sony WF-1000XM5

Earbud Location Tracking	Yes
Active Noise Cancelling	Yes
Measured Battery Life i	14.0 hr
Waterproofing i	IPX4
Measured Weight i	0.21 oz

The Sony WF-1000XM5 buds dominated our battery test, and the case provides two additional charges, making them ideal for long flights, full workdays, or audiobook enthusiasts. This is thanks to their astounding 14-hour battery life while continuously playing music, surpassing Sony's 12-hour claim. We think these are well equipped for anyone who wants to wear their earbuds for hours on end.

The Sony's are very user-friendly, offering exceptional comfort and acceptable sound quality. Their neutral profile works well for atmospheric pop like Miki Fiki's “Just Fine” and the folk vibes of “I Am California” by John Craigie. The percussive clink that happens at the 0:08 mark of “If It Feels Good” (then It Must Be) by Leon Bridges doesn't sound sharp or thin. While the Sony's audio quality is decent, other options like Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4  provide a fuller, richer sound at similar price points.

We nicknamed the Sony WF-1000XM5 the “ironman of earbuds” for their incredible battery life and extreme comfort. They offer four sizes of moldable foam ear tips instead of silicone, which contour to the ear like protective earplugs, avoiding pressure points and ensuring a good fit. Foam tips are less durable than silicone, though, and we noticed some wear and tear over the months of testing. The Google Pixel Buds Pro and Jabra Elite 8 Active also offer impressive comfort and battery life, and last 11.3 and 11.9 hours respectively.

These earbuds are an excellent choice if you prioritize comfort and all-day battery life over top-tier sound quality and can handle some volume and phone call quirks. With an IPX4 water resistance rating, they can handle some sweat if you want to wear them while exercising.

Although the Sony WF-1000XM5 have improved noise cancellation from their last version, the WF-1000XM4, it still wasn't great, and only cancelled up to around 25 decibels under 200 hertz, which is when ANC comes in most handy. They also have modest call quality that sounds good at its baseline, but you wouldn't catch us taking calls with them in the Subway. In this same price range, you can find top-tier call quality in the loudest places with the AirPods Pro 2. Or, if you want great call quality for less, the Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X wired earbuds are almost as cheap as you can get and had some of the best call quality in our testing. Plus, you don't need to worry about battery life with wired buds. All told, the tried and true feature of the XM5 is its impressive battery life. So ask yourself, do you want those extra hours of listening to your favorite podcast or jamming to your personal playlists?

Read more: Sony WF-1000XM5 review

Best Open Workout Earbuds

Bose Ultra Open

Earbud Location Tracking	No
Active Noise Cancelling	No
Measured Battery Life i	8.3 hr
Waterproofing i	IPX4
Measured Weight i	0.23 oz

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are our favorite pair for taking on early morning or late night runs due to their intentional open design and unshakeable stability. These buds allow listeners to hear everything happening around them. They also allow air to flow between the bud and your ear, so you won't get that wet feeling while you're wearing them during an intense workout. The Bose are incredibly secure — you can run, jump, do cartwheels, or do any sort of rigorous activity, and these won't fall out of your ears. They have an IPX4 waterproof rating, so you can sweat as much as you want in these or even take them running in the rain. They even have a decent battery life, which we measured to be 8.3 hours long. And, if you take 10 minutes to charge them, you'll get an extra couple hours of battery life. “If I had a quiver of earbuds, I would reach for these first for bike rides and runs because they have great overall sound quality while still allowing in outside noises without sounding distorted,” testers noted.

Best of all, the Bose are one of the most comfortable earbuds we've ever worn. Testers noted that these feel “feathery light”, despite being in the middle of the pack in terms of weight at 0.23 ounces per bud. Thanks to their unique design, they don't put any pressure on our ears or give us any sort of discomfort. They can fit any ear shape without requiring different-sized seal tips because they don't reach very far inside your ears. Just put them in and forget the rest. If you value comfort but want to spend a little less and require ANC, the Jabra Elite 8 Active buds are a worthy alternative. They even track the location of your earbuds, which the Bose Ultra Opens sadly do not. The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds also rival the Ultra Open's in comfort and stability and even have slightly better sound quality, but their call quality isn't very good. The Jabra Elite 10 buds are also very comfortable and stable and even come with a more robust app that allows you to find your earbuds when they're lost. That said, nothing can beat the comfort and stability of the Bose Ultra Open buds.

We think the Bose Ultra Open buds are best for folks with active hobbies who want to be aware of their surroundings. In particular, we think these are perfect for those who like to jog or hike alone or even those on the ski hill.

Although we think the Bose Ultra Open do sound good, their bass is definitely lacking. The lower bass levels are lost due to the open design of these buds. Luckily, the app can help you adjust your EQ settings for a higher bass, but even with the adjustments, we still wanted more. They're also quite expensive for a pair of earbuds that don't come with any sort of active noise cancelling (even a passive seal). For the ultimate bass-boosted sound and top-tier active noise cancelling in this price range, we recommend the Bose QuietComfort Ultra's.

Read more: Bose Ultra Open review

Best Wired Earbud

UliX Rider - 3.5mm

Earbud Location Tracking	No
Active Noise Cancelling	No
Measured Battery Life i	N/A
Waterproofing i	N/A
Measured Weight i	0.62 oz

Wireless earbuds tend to fill the main stage when it comes to performance and popularity, but the wired UliX Rider - 3.5mm stands amongst the most competitive products in our sound quality testing for hundreds of dollars less. If you don't want to cut the cord or compromise the joy of listening to your playlists, these are the buds for you. They offer sophisticated audio quality, with a perfectly balanced mix creating a lush and expansive soundscape. Despite their retro look and feel, they provide one of our favorite neutral sound profiles, allowing your favorite songs to shine as the artists intended. They're also comfortable and secure, with powerful volume levels if you like your music loud. Though they have wires and lack noise cancellation, their low price makes them an attractive option. For reference, the Bose QuietComfort II buds score the same for sound quality but cost over 10 times as much. In our call quality tests, we were able to hear each other on the Subway and in crowded offices, except our voices weren't 100% clear. Although the Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X earbuds don't quite match the UliX in sound quality, they excel in noise isolation and offer slightly better call quality at a similar price point.

Audiophiles will appreciate the power and crisp audio quality of the UliX Rider earbuds. They stand out with a richly layered yet balanced and natural audio experience. The resulting sound excels across genres, providing a vast soundstage for atmospheric folk like Angel Olsen's “Those Were the Days” and polished R&B like Russ's “Wife You Up.” Testers stated that “regardless of the genre, it doesn't sound influenced, forced, or sculpted to fit into a certain box.”

For simple, affordable earbuds with great sound, it's hard to do better than this. They're an exceptional option if you can't afford wireless earbuds or don't want to deal with the hassle of keeping them charged and downloading an app to control them. While the wires can be annoying, everyone managed to deal with them just fine until very recently.

The UliX Rider earbuds aren't great at blocking ambient noise, lacking both active noise cancellation and passive isolation. Their passive seal only manages to cancel out around 14 decibels above 2500 hertz. So, just about all sounds will bleed through. Although wired earbuds have a disadvantage without ANC, the Linsoul KZ has a better seal, reducing sound by 19 decibels on average across our frequency spread, with a maximum reduction of about 37 decibels at 16,000 hertz. The UliX are also not the most comfortable earbuds we've tested. We weighed these in at 0.62 ounces, making them far heavier than others we've tested and, thus, slightly less comfortable than lighter earbuds. All told, it's hard to find such great sound quality at this price.

Read more: UliX Rider - 3.5mm review

Best Entry Level Studio Monitor

Sennheiser IE 100 Pro

Earbud Location Tracking	No
Active Noise Cancelling	No
Measured Battery Life i	N/A
Waterproofing i	N/A
Measured Weight i	0.74 oz

The Sennheiser IE 100 Pro earbuds are designed for musicians; they help performers hear themselves in the studio or on stage without affecting the microphone or recordings. They sound good, too, with warm bass tones, a full mid-range, and crisp highs. While they lack the top-tier clarity of high-end models like the Sennheiser Momentum 4's or Bose QuietComfort Ultra's, we appreciate their balanced soundstage. 

Once you get used to modeling the wire over your ear, they're easy to place and comfortable, too. While they can get loud, clarity diminishes at high volumes, particularly in the treble range. If you want wired earbuds with even better sound quality that hold onto their clarity at higher volumes, the Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X earbuds are a respectable option at a remarkably lower price. The UliX Rider wired earbuds also surpass both in sound quality and comfort but offer minimal noise blocking, making them less ideal for loud stages.

While these wired earbuds aren't well suited to casual listening, they are a fantastic option for budget-conscious musicians. They provide reliable performance for the stage or recording and are enjoyable enough to relax to some music between gigs.

The downside of these buds is that they are bulky, less breathable, and one of the heaviest pairs of earbuds we tested as we weighed them to be 0.74 ounces. They also don't come with ANC, but instead, a mere passive seal that cancels out up to around 36 decibels between 2500 and 20000 hertz. The Moondrop Blessing 3 had the best passive seal of any wired earbuds we tested, blocking out a maximum of 36.8 decibels in the higher ranges. But, the Moondrop is hundreds of dollars more than the Sennheiser IE 100 Pro and has inferior sound quality. Finally, despite being a fairly expensive pair of wired buds, the Sennheisers do not come with a microphone to make calls. If you want a great-sounding pair of wired buds that can take calls just about anywhere, we recommend the UliX Rider's.

Read more: Sennheiser IE 100 Pro review

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	80	Jabra Elite 10 Best Earbuds for Most People	$250
	79	Apple AirPods Pro 2 Easiest for Apple Users	$249
	79	Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds	$299
	78	Jabra Elite 8 Active Best Workout Earbuds with ANC	$200
	78	Bose QuietComfort II	$280
	77	Google Pixel Buds Pro Top Seamless Android Earbuds	$200
	74	Sennheiser Momentum 4 Best Sound Quality	$300
	72	Sony WF-1000XM5 Best Battery Life for Wireless Earbuds	$300
	71	UliX Rider - 3.5mm Best Wired Earbud	$18
	70	Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro	$230
	69	Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X	$24
	67	Bose Ultra Open Best Open Workout Earbuds	$299
	66	Jaybird Vista 2 Best Budget Wireless Earbuds	$150
	66	Beats Studio Buds +	$170
	66	Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro	$249
	63	Sennheiser IE 100 Pro Best Entry Level Studio Monitor	$100
	62	Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2	$399
	61	Google Pixel Buds A-Series	$99
	58	Apple EarPods - USB-C	$19
	57	Moondrop Blessing 3	$320
	56	Apple AirPods 3	$130
	53	JBL Vibe Beam	$50
	51	Amazon Echo Buds 2023 Best Wireless Earbuds on a Tight Budget	$50
	50	Apple AirPods 2	$130
	47	Bmani Sport with LED	$59

How We Test Earbuds

We spent more than 2,000 hours listening to and testing each of these earbuds using what we believe is the most thorough and comprehensive earbud testing, rating, and review process in the world. Our test protocol includes both extensive hands-on use of each earbud and lab-testing to record each product's output precisely and objectively.

Our expert listening panel completes side-by-side sound quality comparisons with a wide variety of music genres. We curate a wide-ranging playlist with songs that push each earbud to its limits, allowing us to compare their performance in base, mid, and treble frequencies.

The mix includes tracks from the Beastie Boys' “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” to “Clair de Lune” by Debussy, and our panelists evaluate each earbud meticulously. We scrub through test tracks over and over to hear the subtle and blatant performance advantages and disadvantages of each earbud.

We also wear each earbud continuously for hours to ascertain their relative comfort and to see how stable they are in ear. We put them to work, wearing them while running, mountain biking, hiking, practicing yoga, skiing, and at the gym.

We also test their ability to cancel background noise and isolate your voice during phone calls in the real world. We make dozens of calls in scenarios ranging from serene to utter chaos before recording and evaluating the clarity of the call. Then we head back to the lab, using our Brüel & Kjaer Type 5128 head simulator (aka Darwin) to record the sound emitted by each earbud. We then measured the sound using its sibling software, SoundCheck, to objectively test each pair. After all that, we measured each earbud's battery life to learn how long they'll last, which is an important consideration if you like music as much as we do.

Our professional audio studio testing equipment, software, and lab testing processes align with protocols designed by the experts at Listen Inc and are the brainchild of Listen Inc.'s founder and President Steve Temme. Listen Inc has been developing the world's highest-quality professional audio testing software and systems for 25 years. Before founding Listen Inc, Steve worked as an acoustic test and measurement applications engineer at Brüel & Kjaer and as a loudspeaker design engineer at Apogee Acoustics. We are grateful for the support and guidance of Steve and ListenInc in building our state-of-the-art audio testing studio.

Our professional sound studio uses commercial-grade audio testing equipment to make detailed measurements of each earbud's performance under various conditions. We use a Brüel & Kjaer head simulator connected to a B&K 1704C-102 to power the ear simulators and a high-quality audio interface to digitize the signal. A supercomputer controls the measurements, and we use Listen Inc's SoundCheck software to record, analyze, and export the data.

For more information, see our companion article on How We Tested Earbuds.

Our earbud performance ratings are divided into five rating metrics:

• Sound Quality (40% of total score weighting)

• User Experience (20% weighting)

• Noise Cancellation (15% weighting)

• Battery Life (15% weighting)

• Call Quality (10% weighting)

Why Trust GearLab

Leading our sound quality testing and evaluation process is Senior Audio Analyst Dave Berkman and Senior Research Analyst Genaveve Bradshaw. Dave has over 20 years of background in audio recording and production. His professional experience is anchored in location audio and runs the gamut from music recording to composition. In his career, Dave has amassed an impressive list of clientele, including the History Channel, Apple, and the Food Network.

Genaveve is a talented musician and vocalist who pursues music as a personal love and academic passion. She earned her bachelor's degree in Music from the University of New Mexico and is an accomplished classical vocalist.

Our earbud testing and review team also includes Alex Hocevar-Smith, Graham Faulknor, and Clark Tate.

Senior Review Editor Clark Tate studied audio production at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and has worked in the industry for three years. She's written and edited product reviews for GearLab since 2017.

Senior Research Analyst Graham Faulknor has more than 15 years of experience utilizing test and measurement systems. He has designed radiotherapy machines, race cars, and satellites and has several patents to his name. His keen eye for detail and problem-solving are invaluable when designing objective earbud testing protocols and gathering data from our expert panel of listeners to help create our GearLab House Curve.

Alex, our Senior Audio Editor, is a passionate audiophile, is an audio-visual technician who specializes in delivering the highest quality live sound and video production. He has over a decade of experience troubleshooting complex technical systems in live audio production.

To fine-tune our testing process and earbud testing protocol, we consulted with multiple audio engineers and music experts, including the team at Listen Inc.

Analysis and Test Results

In the following sections, we compare and contrast the performance of standout earbuds to help you find the best option for your needs. To get the most out of it, decide which of our testing metrics is most important to you, and spend the most time in those sections.

What's the Best Value?

When it comes to the question of which earbuds offer the best bang for your buck, wireless earbuds are the first that come to mind. We get that. We love our wireless earbuds. And, we'll get to talking about which ones offer the best value shortly. But first, we need to talk about the shockingly impressive performance per dollar spent offered by old-school wired earbuds.

Wired Earbuds Offer Great Price vs. Performance

While it may seem retro, the math is clear: wired earbuds are a bargain. When you purely look at the performance of products, like we do here at GearLab, it is impossible to ignore how much you get for your money from wired earbuds. Take a look at our Price vs. Performance chart (above) and notice those dots lined up on the bottom around $20. Those dots are low on the chart, meaning they offer the lowest price, but there are three dots right off the mid-point on the chart, meaning that they offer above-average performance.

Now take a look at this comparison table showing the highly regarded $300 Sony WF-1000XM5 versus the three best wired earbuds. The Apple EarPods sell for just $19 bucks, but still offer good sound quality and excellent call quality. But, the UliX Rider and Linsoul Pro X are even more impressive, selling for just $18 and $24 respectively, yet outperforming that highly-regarded Sony on Sound Quality. Who knew?

The $18 Buds vs. $300 Sony

The UliX Rider's may look like just another modest pair of wired earbuds from a little-known brand, but their sound is anything but. The chart below compares their $18 buds sound when stacked up against the Sony's (which cost hundreds of dollars more) in our expert listener panel's sound quality ratings. That is just stunning to us! You can get better sound quality (and much better call quality) from a cheap $18 wired earbud, than the famous $300 Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless buds deliver.

Expert Panel Sound Quality Ratings Sony vs UliX Rider

Product	Bass	Mid-Range	Treble
UliX Rider - 3.5mm	8.8	8.0	8.3
Sony WF-1000XM5	5.3	6.8	7.3

The bottom line here is that you should be aware of how much performance you can get by rolling it old school, with a quality wired earbud. If you don't mind dealing with wires, the UliX Rider earbuds offer a rich, expansive, and layered sound for a lot less than any other pair of earbuds in our lineup.

Best Deals in Wireless Earbuds

When it comes to value, we think the Jaybird Vista 2's are the best deal out there, and an all-around solid pair of budget wireless earbuds. They sound great, with a balanced profile, and offer impressive water resistance of up to IP68, which is the highest waterproofing of any earbud in our lineup sans the much more expensive Jabra Elite 8 Active buds, making the Jaybirds one of the most appealing options for active use. That said, their bulky size can be uncomfortable for those with smaller ears.

There are some more expensive options that do offer great value. We find the Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active punch above their weight with phenomenal comfort, durable construction, and spectacular sound.

We also think the Amazon Echo Buds 2023 are a sensible option for those on a tight budget who just want wireless earbuds with acceptable sound quality and reasonable comfort. The Echo Buds even come with useful features like a smart app and earbud location tracking that premium earbuds like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra's notably lack. But, we think you'd be happier spending a bit more for the better sonic experience of the Jaybird Vista 2. Unfortunately, bonus features like active noise cancelling and great call quality don't impress at this price point.

While you may be tempted to purchase the JBL's over the Amazon Echo Buds due to their similar price and slightly higher overall score, we'd discourage you due to their truly awful sound quality. The JBLs sound like being in the parking lot of a concert, and while the Amazon Echo Buds don't exactly give you a backstage pass, they at least get you a ticket to the show for less than $100.

On the other end of the value spectrum, we're shocked by the poor performance offered by the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 earbuds relative to their premium $400 list price. Despite their excessive price tag, these offer subpar performance in several metrics. Their audio quality is good but not great, offering a reasonably smooth, warm, buttery signature, but their active noise cancelling barely registers in our tests. In fact, the ANC setting obscures our music with a hissing layer of white noise.

Sound Quality

Sound quality is the most important performance metric for audio products like earbuds. To evaluate it, we combine expert opinions informed by thousands of hours of listening to music with state-of-the-art studio testing methods such as frequency response analysis. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 blew us away with a “captivating soundscape”, leaving us utterly entranced. It also has the most balanced EQ of any earbud in the test.

Expert Panel Sound Quality Ratings

Product	Bass	Mid-Range	Treble
Sennheiser Momentum TW4	8.7	9.0	9.0
Bose QuietComfort Ultra	8.8	8.5	8.9
Jabra Elite 10	8.5	8.5	8.5
UliX Rider - 3.5mm	8.8	8.0	8.3
Bose QuietComfort II	8.5	7.8	8.5
Jaybird Vista 2	8.5	8.0	7.0
Jabra Elite 8 Active	7.8	8.0	7.5
Apple AirPods Pro 2	7.8	7.8	7.5
Sennheiser IE 100 Pro	7.8	7.5	7.5
Google Pixel Buds Pro	8.0	7.5	6.5
Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X	7.3	7.8	6.5
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2	6.5	7.3	7.5
Sony WF-1000XM5	5.3	6.8	7.3
Apple AirPods 3	6.0	6.5	6.5
Apple EarPods - USB-C	5.5	6.5	6.8
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro	7.0	6.0	5.8
Apple AirPods 2	5.3	7.5	6.0
Bose Ultra Open	4.0	7.8	6.8
Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro	6.8	6.5	5.0
Google Pixel Buds A-Series	6.5	5.0	6.3
Beats Studio Buds +	6.0	5.3	5.0
Moondrop Blessing 3	5.0	4.5	6.0
Amazon Echo Buds 2023	5.0	5.5	4.0
Bmani Sport with LED	4.0	4.3	3.0
JBL Vibe Beam	2.0	3.5	3.0

The audiophiles that comprise our expert panel agreed that the nearly perfect EQ mix Sennheiser Momentum 4 provided unmatched clarity. This is especially true in their airy yet well-defined mid-range, which is often easy to overemphasize to the detriment of sound quality overall. This balance shines through on songs like “Hannah” by Ray LaMontagne, a hard-panned mix with clear definitions between instrument tracks.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra buds excel across genres and deliver the most delicious bass and treble tones in the test. Bass-driven tracks like “Therefore I Am” by Billie Eilish, atmospheric and emotive tracks like “Wildfire” by Cautious Clay sound impeccable, and the velvety treble polish classical pieces like “Clair de Lune” by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In “Money” by Cardi B, testers noted that the mixed high treble and bass outro at mark 2:47 feels “…fully developed and present without being overpowering.”

While Bose QuietComfort Ultra hit us to the core with its powerful bass and sparkling treble, we found the Jabra Elite 10 offers a more organic sound that feels nearly as vast and captivating. The full bass and crisp treble ranges are highlighted just enough to enhance the drama without sounding unnatural. In the Berlin Philharmonic's performance of “Rite of Spring” conducted by Herbert von Karajan, these earbuds expertly manage the dynamic shifts in the treble range, delivering a vibrant and rich sound while maintaining clarity.

Although the sound profile of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is slightly less dramatic than its predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort II, it remains delightful with sparkling treble, rich mid-tones, and a warm bassline.

The treble balance of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 doesn't shine with the same crystalline brilliance as the Utra earbuds, and the midtones can muddy at higher volume levels. Don't get us wrong, the AirPods are delightful, with a lovely mix.

In folk rock classics like Neil Young's “Harvest Moon,” the rhythmic broom sweeps, mellow bass, and acoustic guitar are beautifully balanced. When the dreamy pedal steel guitar joins in at 0:18, testers stated, “The textural contrast highlights each instrument while maintaining the track's cohesive feel.”

The bass frequencies are less developed in the Jabra Elite 10 earbuds than the QuietComfort Ultra option, and the treble can slide into sibilance with lower quality or older recordings. Still, the Elite 10 earbuds have a more nuanced and layered sound than the Jabra Elite 8 Active option.

The Elite 8 earbuds shine in the bass and mid ranges, while their treble tones are a bit subdued and less crisp than we'd like. “Surefire” by Wilderado showcases their clean, clear sound during the chorus at 1:06, where each instrument and vocal layer is easily accessible and compliments rather than muddles the others.

If you're interested in a natural, neutral sound like the Jabra Elite 10, and don't mind the idea of wires, the UliX Rider have a similar lush yet authentic signature. They're crisp with clearly identifiable bass, mid, and treble threads in the mix. There's a lack of booming bass lines, but we love the lively low-mids and strong, balanced treble. Abby Webster's distinctive high twang at 0:11 sounds excellent in “Tall Boy,” and the vibrant high notes at 0:17 stand out in “Sunny” by Boney M.

For Android users, the Google Pixel Buds Pro earbuds offer a big, energetic, and joyful soundscape, though they don't quite dazzle like the top performers. Their warm, rich mix enhances electronic tracks with a bright, bouncy sound. Songs like 'This Could Be Us' by Rae Sremmurd are exhilarating, while Hozier's “Too Sweet” demonstrates their prowess in handling complex textures with clarity.

The Jaybird Vista 2 earbuds are another sound quality standout. Their mix is balanced, with big, powerful bass lines, full mid tones, and crisp treble notes. They handle the layers of Charley Crockett's “Oh so Shaky” in stride. The first percussive hit drops into a warm, full rhythm at 0:45. Brass accents beginning at 0:54 sound powerful but never pitchy, and the stacked harmonies at 1:52 are clear and distinct enough to highlight each singers' voice, despite a unified sound overall.

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 also sound great with an immersive feel, booming bass and buttery signature but their high price and poor performance in other important metrics keep us from highlighting them overall.

Soundstage

The soundstage of an earbud refers to where, in physical space, you hear the music coming from and the sensory atmosphere it creates. For example, live music typically comes from a stage in front of you, while in a movie theater, surround sound speakers pull you into the action, making it feel like you're in the middle of the scene.

Earbuds have the challenge of trying to replicate those experiences with small speakers that sit directly inside your ears. This often results in an “in-your-head” listening experience rather than making the music seem like it's coming from the world around you. For discerning listeners, a high-quality soundstage can significantly enhance the experience.

Soundstage Ratings

Product	Soundstage Rating
Bose QuietComfort Ultra	10.0
UliX Rider - 3.5mm	9.0
Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X	9.0
Sony WF-1000XM5	9.0
Apple AirPods Pro 2	9.0
Bose QuietComfort II	9.0
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2	9.0
Sennheiser Momentum TW4	8.5
Jabra Elite 10	8.5
Jabra Elite 8 Active	8.5
Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro	8.0
Sennheiser IE 100 Pro	8.0
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro	8.0
Bose Ultra Open	8.0
Google Pixel Buds Pro	8.0
Moondrop Blessing 3	7.0
Google Pixel Buds A-Series	7.0
Beats Studio Buds +	7.0
Jaybird Vista 2	6.5
Apple AirPods 3	6.0
JBL Vibe Beam	5.0
Apple AirPods 2	5.0
Amazon Echo Buds 2023	5.0
Bmani Sport with LED	4.0
Apple EarPods - USB-C	4.0

The Bose Ultra's spatial audio mode creates an astonishingly immersive soundstage. It's a sound bath, allowing you to hear individual instruments and place them precisely in space. It's the closest you can get to having a live concert experience at your fingertips. While the spatial audio modes don't work as well in the Apple AirPods Pro 2 or Jabra Elite 10, they're still impressive.

Whereas the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Pro 2, and Jabra Elite 10 all put you in the room with the band, the Elite 8 Active earbuds provide a narrower soundstage. You're definitely in the crowd with these earbuds, but it's still a spectacular concert.

The natural, neutral profile of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 creates a clear soundstage. As one panelist described, “If you close your eyes, it's almost like you're in the room as the musicians play.” The Jaybird Vista 2 can also create an expansive sound at times, but they're big, crowding the ear and compressing the stage for many of our testers.

Frequency Response

To add objective rigor to the opinions of our expert listener panel, we measured each unit's frequency response with our Brüel & Kjaer Type 5128 head simulator — affectionately nicknamed “Darwin” — and measured the frequencies using the companion software, SoundCheck. The curve illustrates the relative volume or intensity of each frequency within the audible range. It can give you a pretty good idea of how an earbud will sound, and our GearLab House Curve represents the frequency response that we think sounds best in a pair of earbuds.

As you can see in the graph above, the booming bass that we appreciate in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and the Google Pixel Buds Pro shows up in their frequency response curves. Interestingly, while our expert listeners love the strong bass lines in the UliX Rider and Sennheiser Momentum, their curves do not reflect what we experienced, showing lower bass levels than we would expect.

Considering the relatively similar sound quality scores of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sennheiser Momentum, it's interesting to look at the nuanced differences reflected in the frequency response curve below. Although many earbuds feature adjustable EQ settings, and ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, the standard EQ setting sets the tone, quite literally. While the flatter, more balanced curve of the Sennheiser translates to a more natural sound that will likely appeal to audiophiles with a trained ear, the emphasized — or “boosted” — bass and lower-range treble of the QuietComfort Ultra delivers a more powerful sound that seems to enhance the music. As a result, we think that the average listener will enjoy the Bose buds.

The mid-tones that sounded best to our testers belong to the Apple AirPods Pro 2, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Jaybird Vista 2, and the Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active. Their frequency curves align closely with or surpass the GearLab House Curve in the mid-frequencies, reinforcing our positive impressions. While we usually find that a smoother curve sounds better to the ear, the Jabra options break the trend a bit and still sound wonderful.

For treble tones, our top picks are the Bose QuietComfort II and Ultra earbuds. While their charted levels don't match the House Curve precisely, they get close. In the chaotic world of high-frequency sounds, that's as good as it gets.

As for the earbuds that didn't sound good to our testers, that data shows up in their response curves too. As one tester put it, “The bass whispers in the JBL Vibe Beam while the lower frequencies of the Apple EarPods - USB-C lack power, though they have decent clarity.”

The JBL Vibe Beam earbuds also falter on the other end of the spectrum with subpar treble. We found ourselves flinching at harmonicas and cymbals at higher volumes. In Lorde's “Supercut,” the crashing drums at 2:35 lose clarity in their sharp and piercing sound. Their frequency response curve peaked and dipped oddly, perhaps explaining the uneven sound.

They're joined by the Amazon Echo Buds 2023, which also deviates from the House Curve. We noticed slightly distorted vocals and lackluster clarity in the high notes, akin to reading with dirty glasses. Linda Ronstadt's soaring vocals in the chorus of “Blue Bayou” at 0:47 sound piercing through these earbuds.

Overall Sound Quality

Based on our extensive testing of sound quality, starting with hundreds of hours of our expert panel listening critically to each earbud to assess bass, midrange, treble, sound stage, and more, then combined with hundreds of hours of technical lab analysis in our state-of-the-art sound studio, including frequency response analysis and more, our overall scores for Sound Quality are shown in the chart below.

User Experience

We evaluate each set of earbuds for their comfort, stability, fit, adjustability, connectivity, and tunability. As you can see throughout our review, our ears come in all shapes and sizes, so we had more than a dozen people try on and test each pair for comfort and fit. We wore them at the office, for daily use, and for active use, including mountain bike rides, jumping jacks, and long, sweaty trail runs. We also explored every aspect of their functionality to find out which models are the most user-friendly.

Comfort

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds take the cake for comfort. Their unique cuff design is featherlight, resting on your ears rather than in them, which allows for uninterrupted airflow. It's hard to imagine a less obtrusive design. In contrast, the Sony WF-1000XM5 tuck into your ears, but their moldable foam tip makes it a painless experience. We do worry about the foam wearing out, but we never have to worry about pressure against our ears.

Everyone was able to achieve a perfect fit using one of the four silicone ear tips provided with both the Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active earbuds. These excellently designed earbuds are comfortable enough for all-day wear. The Google Pixel Buds Pro are nearly as comfy, with a light, airy feel that lets us forget that we're wearing them at times.

Have larger ears? Then the Jaybird Vista 2 earbuds may work well for you, though we have to say, none who wore these praised them for their comfort. Those of us with small ears had to take frequent breaks.

Stability

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds win this award too — we have a hard time imagining them falling out. Even when we pulled sweaters and hoodies off over our heads, they stayed in place, then passed our standard run/hike/bike tests with ease.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro are also great, withstanding headstands and headbanging sessions with panache. From route setting in the gym to long work days, they can keep up. The Jabra Elite 10 and Elite Active 8 also excel for active use, and both boast impressive protection from splashes of water and blasts of dusk.

The Jabra 8 Active is the more hardcore option, with an ingress protection rating of IP68, which is only matched by the Jaybird Vista 2 earbuds, but the Jaybirds aren't as secure in your ears. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are incredibly stable and passed our headstand, headbanger, and sweaty summer bike ride tests.

That's a big step up from previous AirPods. The Apple AirPods 2 and Apple EarPods - USB-C fall out when you turn your head quickly, earning some of the lowest scores in the stability tests. The Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X are just as bad. The wires easily catch throughout the day and pull them out of place.

Customization

Some earbuds offer simple plug-and-play operation, while others feature a range of app-based adjustments and options, allowing you to tailor their performance to your preferences. While most are compatible with both Apple and Android devices, products from Apple, Google, and Samsung work much better in their own ecosystems.

All the award-winning earbuds offer some level of equalization control over their audio mix, with the exception of the Apple AirPods Pro 2, Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X, Sennheiser IE 100 Pro, and UliX Rider. It's important to note that our sound quality tests were all conducted in the earbuds factory settings. If the app gives you some control over the bass, mid, and treble levels, you may be able to improve the sound for your tastes.

Then there are the products with all the bells and whistles, including active noise cancellation that blocks out noise and transparency modes that let it through. The glitziest new feature in the earbud world is immersion or spatial audio that's meant to create a surround sound feeling, as if the music is coming from different parts of the room you're in. The earbuds that include this feature are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Pro 2, and Google Pixel Buds Pro. Of them, only the QuietComfort Ultra blows our socks off, but all three offer a more immersive soundscape than the rest.

Another aspect to consider is how easy the app is to navigate. Most work well, but one worked wonderfully, and the Jabra Elite 10 earned a top pick award for providing the best user experience in that test. The Elite 8 Active offers the same app, making it another excellent option.

Connectivity

Wireless earbuds need to connect to your phone or laptop or whatever your sound source is, retain a reliable connection, and generally work as expected. To evaluate connectivity performance, we note any observed connectivity issues in our extensive hands-on testing with multiple devices.

In addition to direct observations of connectivity in our hands-on testing, we also performed a statistical analysis of 1-star Amazon User Reviews, tallying up the number of negative reviews that cite a connectivity issue as a percentage of the overall number of user reviews. This statistical analysis provides us with a relative measure, in a statistically significant apples-to-apples manner, of which products have more or less complaints about connectivity issues. As you can see in the chart below, some products have a much higher frequency of complaints about connectivity than others.

Reported Connectivity Issues

Product	Percent Cited
Bose QuietComfort II	3.83
Bose QuietComfort Ultra	3.79
Sennheiser Momentum TW4	2.45
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2	2.09
Sony WF-1000XM5	1.82
Jabra Elite 10	1.64
Amazon Echo Buds 2023	1.42
Jaybird Vista 2	1.3
Bose Ultra Open	1.09
Apple AirPods 3	1.06
Beats Studio Buds +	1.03
Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro	0.96
Jabra Elite 8 Active	0.85
Google Pixel Buds Pro	0.56
Google Pixel Buds A-Series	0.55
Bmani Sport with LED	0.5
Apple AirPods Pro 2	0.27
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro	0.25
JBL Vibe Beam	0.22
Apple AirPods 2	0.1

In our findings, the earbuds with the highest percentage of users citing connectivity issues were the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Bose QuietComfort II. While testing these buds, we found that they both had connectivity issues, specifically when using iPhones. One of our earbuds would erratically stop working, and we would have to reset them in the app, which felt cumbersome and time-consuming. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 was another set of earbuds that hit some interesting snags in our testing, with one tester saying, “These earbuds randomly call people!”. Other users allegedly had some issues regarding connectivity, as the Sennheisers also have a higher percentage of reported problems. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 were two other pairs that had a higher rate of negative feedback among users. While we did not have as much trouble with these, it is worth considering in your purchase decision. The wireless earbuds with the lowest ratio of connectivity issues were the Apple AirPods 2, followed closely by the JBL Vibe Beam, and the Google Pixel Buds A-Series. Similarly, our in-house testers had no notable issues with these models, especially within the Apple-to-Apple and Google-to-Google ecosystems.

Because every product has negative feedback, we focus on the ratio of negative feedback focused on connectivity and compare that with the total amount of reviews given to a set of earbuds. All Bluetooth devices receive some level of criticism for connection, so no product is unscathed when it comes to connectivity. What we focus on are the ones that have a high amount of negative feedback. That, paired with our own experiences, can help guide you in making your decision. All told, even the highest number of connectivity issue reports does not necessarily mean that you will have a poor experience, but it is something we think you should be aware of.

Overall User Experience

We ran, biked, climbed, cartwheeled, and wore these earbuds for hours on end to determine each unit's comfort and stability. We then assessed how well each bud worked with both Apple and Android phones. Finally, we took note of their ability to equalize sound as well as how robust the customization of each app was. We gave a final score for each of these tests, which you can read down below.

User Experience Ratings

Product	Comfort	Stability	Customization
Bose Ultra Open	10.0	10.0	7.5
Sony WF-1000XM5	9.0	9.0	8.0
Jabra Elite 10	9.0	8.0	9.0
Jabra Elite 8 Active	9.0	8.0	8.5
Google Pixel Buds Pro	8.5	8.0	7.5
Apple AirPods Pro 2	8.5	8.5	6.5
Sennheiser Momentum TW4	7.0	7.5	9.0
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro	8.0	7.5	7.5
Google Pixel Buds A-Series	8.0	8.0	6.0
Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro	8.0	9.0	4.0
Jaybird Vista 2	5.5	6.0	8.0
Amazon Echo Buds 2023	6.0	6.0	6.5
Bose QuietComfort Ultra	6.0	6.0	6.5
Bose QuietComfort II	6.0	6.0	6.5
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2	7.0	7.0	4.0
Beats Studio Buds +	7.0	6.0	5.0
JBL Vibe Beam	7.0	4.5	6.0
UliX Rider - 3.5mm	8.0	8.0	0.0
Sennheiser IE 100 Pro	8.0	7.0	0.0
Apple AirPods 3	5.0	5.0	5.0
Bmani Sport with LED	6.0	7.0	0.0
Moondrop Blessing 3	5.0	8.0	0.0
Apple AirPods 2	4.0	4.0	4.0
Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X	7.0	4.0	0.0
Apple EarPods - USB-C	5.0	4.0	0.0

Noise Cancellation

Whether you're trying to concentrate at the office or rest while traveling, active noise cancellation (ANC) can be a huge help. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are so effective that testers described the experience as “otherworldly.” Like most ANC functions, they effectively mute low-pitched, consistent sounds like airplane engines. Unlike most, they dampen high frequencies too.

During our cafe test, the Bose Ultra earbuds rendered sounds like the clattering of cups to be barely audible. They eliminate distractions so efficiently that we are able to immerse ourselves in our music or work like never before. Noisy offices, crowded bus terminals, and overly distracting coffee shops are no match for these earbuds as you can hear for yourself in the video with actual sound recordings included below.

Nearly as impressive, the Bose Quiet Comfort II earbuds score almost as well. We detected ever so slightly more noise through these earbuds than through the Ultras. It may be hard to hear the difference, but according to our measurements pulled from SoundCheck, the Ultras remove a bit more noise.

We were surprised by both Bose earbuds while stress testing the noise cancellation in a replicated bustling cafe. Most earbuds struggle with pinpointing and silencing high-pitched clanks of coffee cups, but as you can hear above and below, both are able to dim the back kitchen noise while also muffling the customer chit-chat.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds' first-class ANC offers new depths of tranquility at the climbing gym and a haven from the relentless chatter at the office. These earbuds let you hear your music clearly at low volumes.

We also consider the ANC of Jabra Elite 10 and Google Pixel Buds Pro to be good enough to help you work and relax more effectively. They aren't great, but they do create a separate space, apart from those around you. The lower scoring options leave you in the room, just a slightly quieter one.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Jaybird Vista 2 offer lackluster ANC. Turning it on makes little difference, and you can still hear all of the surrounding cafe noise. It muffles some of the loud, sharp noises, like the meat slicer in a cafe, by passively blocking those sounds.

Bass is Really What Matters in ANC

It's important to highlight that ANC tends to block out sound below 500 hertz and that it's actually the seal of your earbud that blocks out higher frequencies. Most annoying and repetitive sounds that we encounter in everyday life, like road noise, machinery, or AC units, tend to live in those mid to low frequencies, so we graded these earbuds primarily on how well they blocked noise under 1000 hertz. This is where ANC shines. Earbuds with proper functioning ANC can take a world of chaos and turn it into a quiet, secure space.

As you can see in the noise cancelling graph above, wired earbuds with no ANC capabilities manage to block out quite a bit of sound above 2000 hertz from the seal tip alone.

ANC Performance by Frequency Range

Product	Low	Mid	High
Bose QuietComfort II	9.9	9.7	10.0
Bose QuietComfort Ultra	10.0	10.0	9.3
Apple AirPods Pro 2	9.5	6.4	5.7
Jabra Elite 10	8.0	6.2	6.5
Google Pixel Buds Pro	8.0	4.4	6.5
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro	7.3	5.0	6.5
Beats Studio Buds +	6.2	4.5	6.5
Sony WF-1000XM5	6.4	3.5	6.4
Jabra Elite 8 Active	6.5	5.3	4.0
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2	4.5	3.7	6.4
Jaybird Vista 2	3.0	3.7	6.6
Sennheiser Momentum TW4	4.7	3.0	3.0

You can find the final score of the noise cancelling performance in each frequency in the graph beneath.

Battery

Maintaining good charging habits is the biggest challenge of owning wireless earbuds. A long-lasting battery can make life far easier. We tested each manufacturers' claims by streaming our playlist at 75% volume until the music died. The Sony WF-1000XM5 blew us away, running for 14 hours straight, which is 2 hours past their 12 hour claim.

Like many of these earbuds, you can also charge the Sony case to give your buds a boost on the go. When you do, they'll give you two full recharges before you need an outlet, or 42 hours of entertainment, and just three minutes on the charger will give you an hour of battery life back. Most charging cases offer more than two charges at a time, and some provide up to five. Still, these last so long on one go that they still give you the most freedom of any earbud.

The Jabra Elite 8 Active aren't far behind, reaching 12 hours and 10 minutes on a single charge. The case gives you another three boosts for 36.5 hours total. The Google Pixel Buds Pro are also impressive with a runtime of 11 hours and 15 mins, but they only recharge in the case twice, for a total of 22.5 hours.

The Amazon Echo Buds 2nd Gen and Bose QuietComfort Ultra both suffer in this metric, lasting only 8.5 and 6.4 hours, respectively. Their runtime is in line with their manufacturers' claims. Apple gives you four case-based charges for a total of 34 hours of music. Bose gives you a whopping five charges in the QuietComfort Ultra case. That's 32 hours of goodness, more than the Google Pixel Buds Pro listed above, you will have to wait for recharge in between uses, but five minutes on the charger gets you another hour of run time.

It's worth noting that the wired options in our lineup never need to be recharged. Just plug them in and go.

Call Quality

There's nothing more disappointing than phoning a friend and carrying on a conversation that consists only of “Can you hear me now?” Of the earbuds we tested, the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen are likely to save you from that fate. They are able to isolate and transmit both male and female voices in a number of challenging conditions, including a recording of subway station noise blaring in the background.

To test call quality, we made daily calls in loud environments and tested the earbuds' microphone in the lab, challenging it to isolate our voices from background tracks of office sounds and subway screeches. The effectiveness of voice calling depends on the number, quality, and placement of microphones, but many earbuds also use advanced algorithms to separate your voice from ambient sounds.

Call Quality Ratings

Product	Voice Stress Test	Baseline Voice Quality
Apple AirPods Pro 2	9.0	9.5
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro	9.0	9.0
Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X	9.0	9.0
Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro	8.0	10.0
Bose Ultra Open	8.8	9.0
UliX Rider - 3.5mm	8.5	9.0
Bose QuietComfort II	8.5	9.0
Bmani Sport with LED	8.5	9.0
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2	9.0	8.0
Bose QuietComfort Ultra	9.0	8.0
Google Pixel Buds A-Series	7.5	9.0
Jaybird Vista 2	8.5	7.0
Google Pixel Buds Pro	5.0	10.0
JBL Vibe Beam	6.0	9.0
Apple EarPods - USB-C	6.0	8.9
Jabra Elite 10	5.0	9.0
Jabra Elite 8 Active	5.0	9.0
Sennheiser Momentum TW4	7.0	7.0
Amazon Echo Buds 2023	7.0	6.5
Apple AirPods 2	7.0	6.0
Apple AirPods 3	7.0	6.0
Beats Studio Buds +	6.0	6.5
Sony WF-1000XM5	3.5	7.0

Subway Noise Call Quality Test

The Subway test, with its erratic cadence, pitch, and tone is a real trial. It's important to note that this is the absolute worst-case scenario for your call quality and showcases just how far call quality technology has to go. There are only a handful of earbuds that we would willingly use to take calls in this kind of chaos.

Click in to see how our best (above) performs against our worst (below) in our most challenging call test. The top scoring Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen passes with flying colors, as you can hear in the first recording above. It's worth noting that the Subway noise is still annoying, but you can hear the caller, which is pretty rare in this ultimate stress test.

For contrast, we placed the recording from the worst performer in this test, the Sony WF-1000XM5 just below it. Can you hear the difference? We record both a male and female voice speaking as they hit different frequencies. The woman's voice completely drops out of the call with the Sony earbuds, possibly because the microphone can't differentiate between her voice and the background noise.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Bose Ultra Open, and Beats Studio Buds +, are other top performers. Above, you can hear how the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro fare. Notice that you can still hear the background noise, but it doesn't take over the call. There are some sounds, which are annoying, but don't detract from hearing the callers voice. The Jabra Elite 10 and Elite Active 8 sound great in a quiet room, but not with much noise in the background.

Office Noise Call Quality

As much as we'd like to take our calls in a private room, life often has other plans. So, we used a vibrant environment full of talking, as well as other notable distractions like typing and phones ringing, to see how these buds call quality would fare.

As expected, the Apple AirPods Pro eliminated much of the background noise. You can still hear another man speaking in the background, but it's muffled. Both low and high-frequency voices maintain good quality and don't sound too warped.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 did fine in this test overall, but we found that these earbuds tend to distort voices rather than replicate them. That said, they do a good job of blocking out background noise in congested places like the office.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 again was a monumental disappointment. The man's voice frequently breaks in and out of our call, making it seem like he's going through a tunnel or has terrible service. The woman's voice is especially difficult to understand, which indicates that these likely have a hard time reproducing higher-frequency voices.

Wired Earbud Call Quality

Only a few of the wired earbuds in our lineup actually came with microphones that allow us to make calls. Those include the Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X, Apple EarPods USB-C, and the UliX Rider 3.5mm. They all perform very similarly overall with equal baseline quality across the board, but the Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X was slightly better at blocking out Subway noise than the other two in this test.

The UliX Rider wired earbuds and Apple EarPods - USB-C offer great sound in a quiet room or in the office but don't do as much to reduce the background noise in the Subway.

Baseline Voice Quality

Being able to understand each other's voices is a bare minimum requirement, but it must be met. Some earbuds can make callers sound robotic, which can be irritating to listen to. They can also produce a lot of static, which is equally frustrating. So, we recorded ourselves talking in soundless environments to see how well each pair captured our voices.

The Google Pixel buds are a great example of what each earbud should strive for: No added white noise, and accurate depiction of the callers true voice. For comparison, see how one of the worst performers sound in the best conditions by playing the audio below.

Overall Call Quality

The complete call score includes the final results from our call quality tests: Subway noise, office chatter, and baseline voice quality, combined into a final score for those who value their privacy during phone calls.

How to Choose Earbuds

With so many earbuds on the market, it's hard to know where to start. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, list the features you absolutely need, those you simply want, and decide on your budget. Key factors to consider include price, sound quality, comfort and fit, battery life, active noise cancellation, call quality, and whether or not you can deal with wires.

Going True Wireless

If you find cords annoying, you'll likely love the freedom of wireless earbuds. You will have to remember to charge them, but batteries get better all the time and charging cases can keep you powered on the go. If you're worried about your earbuds keeping up with you, be sure to pay attention to the battery life metric. If you don't mind wires, you can avoid the hassle, spend much less money, and even access better, more consistent sound quality on occasion.

What Sound Profile Do You Favor?

While comfort and convenience are nice, excellent sound quality is a showstopper. The best earbuds showcase songs with an impeccable mix of bass, mid, and treble frequencies. Each unique sound profile can be charted in a frequency response curve, and we have a data-backed opinion of what the ideal curve should look like.

The right balance will sound exactly as the artists intended. This feat is rarely achieved in lower quality devices like car speakers or budget headphones and earbuds. That means you have the chance to experience your favorite songs for the first time all over again, with fresh details and sparkling sonic moments emerging.

While each set of earbuds arrive with a unique, factory-setting sound mix, many of them also allow you to customize the experience with preset or manual equalization (EQ) adjustments. Take a moment to consider your music tastes, and pay attention to which earbuds are best suited to accommodate them.

Genres like electronic dance music, dub, hip hop, and reggae usually feature prominent bass lines. For pop, folk, country, R&B, and soul enthusiasts, rich, warm, and detailed midtones will polish your music to a shine. Jazz, metal, classical pop, and electronic music benefit from clear, brilliant high notes to capture their emotional peaks.

What Features Do You Need?

Earbuds offer a suite of features to customize your experience. Here's a rundown of the most popular add-ons to help you decide which are the most important to you.

 

Equalization (EQ) — Manual or preset equalization adjustments let you tweak the sound profile, or frequency curve, by raising or lowering the relative volume of the bass, mid, and treble ranges to suit your tastes. If you have a well-tuned ear, this could be an important tool for you.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) — All earbuds block a bit of noise, and some also actively cancel it. Noise cancelling helps you focus at the office and keep calm in airports, but it's not ideal for commuting or workouts.

Transparency Mode — Earbuds that physically seal your ear can sound incredibly immersive but block so much background noise that you feel a bit too disconnected. Transparency modes will pipe external sounds to your ear when you need to know what's happening around you. 

 

Spatial Sound — Some earbuds offer spatial audio settings that create a surround sound effect. Many of these also track your head movements to enhance the experience. While immersive, it's often too engaging for multitasking and or casual listening.

Touch controls — These can be handy, but ensure they are well-placed to avoid accidental touches. Also, evaluate the app's intuitiveness and the level of control it provides over your listening experience. Look for apps that allow you to customize the EQ settings, track battery life, and locate lost earbuds. Not all earbuds come with these features, so prioritize them based on your needs.

Call Quality - Being able to call your friends and family from the airport or subway commute shouldn't have to be a frustrating experience. Earbuds that include proper call quality can do wonders for your call quality. Even though this technology still has a long way to go, as even the best earbuds in our lineup are far from perfect, being able to hear the person on the other line can be critical.

Where Do You Plan to Use Them?

Knowing where and how you plan to use your earbuds will really help you decide which features you need to prioritize. Excellent sound quality is always a plus, but it may not be a top priority for you. Here are a few things to think about:

In the office — Offices are noisy, and active noise cancelling can improve focus. Comfort is key for long days at the desk, but a secure fit is less critical if you're stationary.

While traveling — Solid noise cancellation is invaluable to reduce noise and anxiety on buses and planes. Comfort, security, and battery life are also important.

On your commute — An effective transparency mode or an open-ear model will let you hear your surroundings while crossing streets or biking to work.

During workouts — Secure, water-resistant earbuds (IPX4 or higher) are needed for sweating.

Relaxing on the couch — Prioritizing excellent sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort will help you chillax.

House chores — Wires can be cumbersome for active tasks, and noise cancelling is nice for noisy chores like vacuuming.

Budget Breakdown

As you can see in the value chart below, cost doesn't always correlate with performance. That said, certain features do tend to cost more, like effective noise cancellation and high levels of water resistance. Interestingly, sound quality is less tied to price, partially because it's easier for wired earbuds to transmit high-quality files than it is for more expensive wireless versions to get past the air gap. But you'll also find great-sounding wireless earbuds for a bargain.

What more advice on how to choose earbuds? Take a look at our article which covers this topic in more extensive detail, How to Choose the Right Pair of Earbuds.

Conclusion

It's the simple things in life, like listening to a new album in the quiet of your room or on your daily walk, that can turn your day around. We hope our testing results have helped you weed through the abundance of earbuds on the market to find the sound you've been seeking.