Headphone Buying Guide

All headphones are technically “portable,” but we use the term to describe small, lightweight models, most of which can be tucked away in a pocket or purse when not in use. Some people find smaller, lighter headphones to be more comfortable, but you might trade sound quality for comfort.

We use the term “home/studio style” for the larger headphones that look like earmuffs, with two ear cups connected by an adjustable headband. Some fold for storage and come with carrying pouches. They’re bulkier, but the best-sounding models in our ratings tend to be this style.

These come in two types. “Closed back” models have sealed ear cups, which keep in more sound and muffle ambient noise. But they might also block out some things you want to hear, such as a doorbell or a ringing phone. “Open back” headphones have openings in the ear cups, which are intended to give the audio a clearer, more natural feel. They let in more external sound, and noise can bleed out as well—perhaps enough to disturb someone nearby.

These are typically lighter than over-ear models, and they press on the ears instead of the sides of your head. Some users find them to be more comfortable than over-ear models and less likely to make their ears hot during long listening sessions. On-ear headphones, like over-ear models, also come in open-back and closed-back varieties, but regardless, they often let in more outside sound because they typically don’t form as tight of a seal with the ear. Some can fold for storage and come with carrying pouches.

Earbuds rest in the bowl of the ear, outside the ear canal, though a portion might extend into the canal itself. Earbuds have become ubiquitous companions for smartphones, and they’re essential tools for millions of consumers. Insert-style models are inserted into the ear canal, often forming a seal that can help keep out more extraneous noise. Most come with additional earpieces (canal tips) of varying sizes to ensure a secure fit.

Wireless models are common and typically use Bluetooth, which has a range of up to 30 feet or so, to connect to smartphones, laptops, and even some TVs. Once a novelty, wireless models became indispensable in recent years as most phone manufacturers abandoned the headphone jack. They come with a variety of features, from compatibility with Alexa and other digital assistants to ambient sound monitoring modes, which let in noise from your environment on purpose, so you can keep an ear on your surroundings.

Many headphones have an isolating design that physically muffles ambient noise, often referred to as “passive noise-canceling.” Active noise-canceling models go further. These battery-powered headphones use tiny microphones to monitor the frequencies of outside noise, then produce those same frequencies out of phase in an effort to cancel them. Some work with noise reduction turned off, so you can still use them if the batteries die, while others work only with noise cancellation on.

True wireless is the term for headphones that don’t have a cord or a cable connecting the earpieces. They’re the ultimate when it comes to portability, and the technology has improved over the years, with better sound and more options at lower prices. They come with a carrying case that doubles as a portable charger. When you’re shopping for a true wireless model, consider how many times the case will refuel the headphones on the go before it needs to be plugged in again—the battery life tends to be shorter on these models.