Headphone features

Headphones Buying Guide

Whether you want to listen to music or movies without disturbing others, get the best out of your MP3 player, or drown out background noise while exercising, there's a set of headphones for you. You can buy a portable pair for $10 or spend up to $500 for headphones with active noise-reduction technology.

Shopping tips

Noise-canceling headphones

Stereo headphones

Headphone selector (beta)

Sort our Ratings based on features, brands and other factors.

Features

With headphones, comfort is crucial, so look for headphone or earphone features that will enable you to adjust or customize the fit. Ease of use and maintenance also matter, so look for the headphone features mentioned below.

Headbands

Adjustable headbands can provide a better fit on your head, while models with foldable and collapsible bands might be easier to carry.

Ear cups, ear pads, and canal tips

Having ear cups that pivot, or choosing earphones that come with different-sized adapters, foam pads, or canal tips can you to help achieve a proper, comfortable fit.

Replaceable, removable ear pads and canal tips

These can be replaced or washed, making it easier to maintain headphones.

Weight

Smaller, lighter headphones are generally more comfortable than bulkier models, though there could be a tradeoff in sound quality.

Cords

Compared with a Y-exit cord, models with a single-exit cord reduce tangling. Also, some come with asymmetrical cords, where one cord is longer or shorter than the other.

Volume Control

A volume control is useful, especially if you're sitting far from the source, such as a TV. Some controls are on the headphone's earpiece, while others are along the cord's length.