If you’re looking for exceptional audio quality, you need look no further than a set of the best wired headphones. Our expert audio team has spent years testing and reviewing hundreds of pairs of headphones. Which means you can trust our judgement when it comes to selecting the top models for build, sound and performance. Each pair in this guide has undergone rigorous testing in a range of environments, which means they all come with our seal of approval.
The best wireless headphones can sound and feel good, but they still rely on Bluetooth, which compresses audio and can sacrifice detail. Whereas wired headphones are the best headphones for audiophiles seeking uncompressed, high-fidelity sound directly from their devices. They deliver pure, unaltered sound and dependable performance, with sturdy cables and lightweight, comfortable designs. Plus, without batteries to worry about, they’re often lighter and more portable.
This guide brings you our pick of the best wired over-ear and on-ear headphones you can buy right now. If you’re looking for a more compact choice, take a look at our best wired earbuds guide instead, perfect for those who prefer in-ear models.
I've reviewed over 150 audio products since becoming a tech journalist, ranging from super-budget earbuds to high-end Hi-Res Audio music players. Before joining TechRadar, I spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing everything the world of audio had to offer; before that, I was a professional dancer. I'll always extol the virtues of listening (and dancing) to the best musical file quality and audio gear your budget can stretch to, and wired headphones often tend to be the best.
January 26, 2026
Refreshed the introduction. Made two product switches, replacing the Meze Audio Liric with the Meze Audio 105 Silva, and the Focal Bathys MG in for the old Focal Bathys. Added several new picks to our 'also consider' section based on recent reviews, including the Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen and Fiio FT13. Finally, had a check of all of the copy and references in the guide to make sure everything is up to date.
The best wired headphones you can buy today
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best wired headphones overall
✅ You deal with audio professionally: Whether it’s podcasting, mixing, or sound design, these are a top pick.
✅ You're all about that bass: The low end is crisp and true, which is worlds apart from your average commercial headphones.
❌ You want them for commuting or the office: They’re open-backed, so sound leakage is a thing. You can wear them out and about, but they’re not ideal for noisy environments.
❌ You need the latest smart features: No Bluetooth, ANC, voice assistants, or any flashy extras – this is pure, stripped-back audio.
These talented wired headphones were made for the mixing booth, but they're also excellent for all-round music listening thanks to their neutral sound recreation, oodles of crisp bass response, plush cushioning and the rigid headband needed to prevent vibration while you listen to your favorite tracks.
As open-backed headphones, do they leak sound? Actually, there isn’t a huge amount of sound leakage with the HD-660S, so you should be able to sit near someone without sharing your deepest and most niche music tastes. You won’t be able to use them on the subway, though – there’s little-to-no sound isolation here and thus, they will only really suit those who listen to their albums al desko at work (or lounging in a comfy listening chair when the working day is done).
Unlike many of the best over-ear headphones we've tested, there's no Bluetooth or alternative wireless connectivity other than a detachable cable here but then, you came here for the best in wired listening, didn't you?
Ultimately, the HD-660S2 are best for static listening, sound mixing, or nursing a favorite album in high quality sound at home without the fear of missing a doorbell.
Read our full Sennehiser HD-660S2 review
Sennehiser HD-660S2 scorecard
Attributes | Score |
|---|---|
Fit / comfort | 4.5 / 5 |
Sound | 4.5 / 5 |
Cable length / quality | 4 / 5 |
The best budget wired headphones
✅ You like long listening sessions: Super comfortable, with earpads that stay cool – no overheating like some rivals.
✅ You want a direct and revealing listen: They deliver impressive clarity with an engaging, entertaining sound. It’s a brilliant combo.
❌ You're after a bass heavy sound: The lows are precise, no doubt, but if you want booming bass, these aren’t the heaviest hitters in the lineup.
❌ You’re not a fan of long cables: There’s 3 meters of cable to deal with. Great if you’re at a desk, less fun anywhere else.
The Austrian Audio Hi-X20 closed-back over-ears are our top budget pick. Austrian Audio has built a strong reputation for producing high-quality, affordable headphones, and the Hi-X20s continue that tradition. They tick all the right boxes, offering impressive sound quality paired with an understated yet comfortable design.
These headphones don’t boast a long list of features, which is typical for passive, wired over-ear models. What sets them apart is their high-excursion 44mm dynamic drivers, delivering a confident and engaging sound. They come with a 3m cable that connects via a secure click-and-twist mechanism to a 2.5mm socket on the left ear cup, with a 3.5mm termination that includes a 6.3mm adapter. While we imagine the 3m cable could be practical in some scenarios, it feels a bit too long for casual home use – a shorter cable option in the box would have been a welcome addition.
In our review, we noted that the Hi-X20 headphones deliver “sound quality that makes the asking price seem a bit like a misprint.” They offer an accomplished listening experience, excelling in rhythm, tempo, and soundstage clarity. The only drawback is a slightly underwhelming low-end, but the overall performance is still solid and satisfying.
Aesthetically, the Hi-X20s are understated but are a step up in design and build quality from previous Austrian Audio models. Comfort is a standout feature, thanks to memory foam ear pads and a solid (but not too tight) clamping force. During our testing, we liked that you can adjust the headband and fold them down to fit into the small and soft bag they come with.
If you’re after a simple, comfortable design with great sound quality and don’t mind a longer cable, the Austrian Audio Hi-X20 headphones offer outstanding value for money.
Read our full Austrian Audio Hi-X20 review
Austrian Audio Hi-X20 scorecard
Attributes | Score |
|---|---|
Fit / comfort | 4.5 / 5 |
Sound | 4 / 5 |
Cable length / quality | 4 / 5 |
The best audiophile wired headphones
✅ You value comfort: They're lightweight with plush cushioning and a self-adjusting headband.
✅ You enjoy jazz: Most things sounds good but with a silky mid-range and robust low-end, jazz sounds great.
❌ You like a wide soundstage: It's fine and even fun here, but you'll find a wider and more expansive listen from rivals.
❌ You're particular about bass: We described it as "bloomy" in our review, which will suit some listeners, but not all.
The Meze Audio 105 Silva are passive, open-back headphones. But here’s the thing, they don’t behave like open-backs usually do. Where this design might trade bassy fullness for structure, the 105 Silvas deliver a surprisingly, even pillowy low end that feels more immersive than analytical. It’s a sound that we found leans towards comfort and it’s very hard not to enjoy, making these headphones our top audiophile pick.
At this level, they offer some of the best treble performance around. The highs have air and texture, giving tracks space to breathe while keeping everything smooth and listenable. They’re the kind of headphones that will be ideal for at-home listening, especially if your collection skews towards acoustic, dynamic and jazz.
Like all Meze Audio products, there are no gimmicks or flashy tech tracks here. Just great sound done with confidence. They’re also some of the most supremely comfortable headphones we’ve tested, with a lightweight build, self-adjusting headband and velour ear cushions. They feel fantastic for long listening sessions and they look it too. Everything about the design is tasteful, the proportions, materials and minimalism.
They’re a fantastic pair of headphones, but not everyone will love the tuning. The soundstage isn’t especially wide for open-backs and that “fluffy” low-end warmth won’t appeal to purists. But if you want an immersive, comfortable listen that makes your music feel inviting, then the 105 Silvas are an easy recommendation. A brilliant mid-range choice for at-home audiophile listening.
Read our full Meze Audio 105 Silva review
Meze Audio 105 Silva scorecard
Attributes | Score |
|---|---|
Fit / comfort | 5 / 5 |
Sound | 4.5 / 5 |
Cable length / quality | 4.5 / 5 |
The best wired and wireless combo headphones
✅ You like wired and wireless: These powered, wired USB-C over-ears also give you the option of Bluetooth. Best of both worlds.
✅ You want expansive, informative audio: Even tracks you're familiar with are going to sound fresh when you're listening with these headphones.
❌ You want a detailed control app: It does the basics well but its functionality is much more restricted compared to rivals, like Sony.
❌ You need the best wireless tech: These headphones are not at the forefront where the latest Bluetooth specs are concerned.
Yes, Focal is marketing the Bathys MG headphones as another top-tier wireless over-ear option. But we’d argue they’re just as compelling as a wired option too. Because plug them in via USB-C in DAC mode and you’ll get hi-res audio up to 24bit/192kHz. Oh, and in case it needs saying, they’re also utterly gorgeous, with the kind of premium finish that makes most rivals look a bit ordinary.
Focal makes some of the best over-ear headphones we’ve ever tested but the Bathys MG are expensive. Though they do a lot to justify the asking price with an impeccable build, excellent battery life, and a brilliantly versatile setup that works wireless and wired, doubling as a USB DAC for desktop listening.
They sound the part too. Those French-made 40mm magnesium ‘M’-dome drivers deliver a spacious, punchy and beautifully organized presentation, with heaps of detail and a smooth, even balance across the frequency range.
That said, they’re not quite perfect. Codec support for Bluetooth listening isn’t what you’d hope at this level, which you can tell when you compare the two. And, while ANC is good, it’s certainly not best-in-class. But if you’re willing to splash out for a premium finish and build and premium, versatile listening, you won’t be disappointed.
Read our full Focal Bathys MG review
Focal Bathys MG scorecard
Attributes | Score |
|---|---|
Fit / comfort | 4.5 / 5 |
Sound | 4.5 / 5 |
Cable length / quality | 4 / 5 |
The best cheap on-ear wired headphones
✅ You want clear, detailed sound: These Grados deliver an enjoyable listen with clarity and precision front and center.
✅ You’re after no-frills headphones: No fancy extras here – just pure, great sound that plugs straight into your device. Minimalists, rejoice.
❌ You need a quiet environment: Sound leakage is inevitable, so if you’re after total silence, these won’t cut it.
❌ You’re not a fan of wires: These are fully wired. If you’re craving Bluetooth or true wireless freedom, look elsewhere.
You’d usually have to pay much more for a pair of audiophile-grade headphones such as these. Design-wise, everything about them – how they look as well as how they feel – makes the SR80x headphones seem more expensive than they are. They have a relatively simple headband with a silent adjustable slider and super soft padding inside. The cups are constructed from plastic, and the set is pleasingly light at just 245g.
They have an aesthetic that we described as brutalist and almost steampunk in our first impressions, and we stand by that description now. A honeycomb-like metal mesh on the earcups emphasizes the open-back design of the Grado SR80x headphones and sound does leak directly from these holes. The trade off for that minor inconvenience is excellent audio quality. And we do mean excellent.
Of course, if you don’t like the idea of sound leakage or getting used to a pair of wired headphones again, these aren’t for you. But if you’re looking for affordable headphones that sound sensational and feel very good, consider the Grado SR80x headphones. If you can handle those minor inconveniences, you will not regret it.
Read our full Grado SR80x review
Grado SR80x scorecard
Attributes | Score |
|---|---|
Fit / comfort | 4 / 5 |
Sound | 4 / 5 |
Cable length / quality | 4.5 / 5 |
The best wired headphones for analytical sound
✅ You’re a headphones geek: Planar magnetic tech is an audiophile favorite – and it usually costs a lot more than this.
✅ You’ve got multiple music sources: The FT5 comes with four different connection options, so hooking up to your favorite players is a breeze.
❌ You listen around others a lot: Like all open-backed headphones, the FT5 leak a fair bit of sound – probably not ideal for company.
❌ Your head is on the smaller side: There’s limited headband adjustment, and nothing’s worse than headphones that won’t stay put.
Fiio has always been about value for money and it might just have outdone itself with the FT3, wired over-ears that are an astonishingly good deal, marrying impressive sound performance with a build and finish that screams high-end.
Never doubt that Fiio thinks ahead, either. Over 10 years ago, the company ordered a large amount of an especially good audio cable – it's now been discontinued, but these headphones make (good) use of it. Why Fiio has chosen to make that cable 3m / 10 feet long, though, given that the company’s supply is finite, is more confusing – that's a lot of cable to get tangled. But aside from that, and the fact that you'll need a worthwhile (read: reasonably expensive) digital audio player or DAC/headphone amp to hear them at their best, the FT3 soundstage is big and generous, with the spaces on it given just as much prominence and emphasis as the occurrences – and the silences are black and, well, silent.
The tonal balance from the top of the frequency range to the bottom is convincing, too, and even though the Fiio headphones push the midrange forward just a touch, they still sound natural and believable.
Read our full Fiio FT3 review
Fiio FT3 scorecard
Attributes | Score |
|---|---|
Fit / comfort | 4.5 / 5 |
Sound | 4.5 / 5 |
Cable length / quality | 4 / 5 |
The best planar magnetic wired headphones
✅ You know a bargain when you hear one: They’re not perfect, but at this price the FT3 nails the sound – and gets very little wrong.
✅ You sit still when you listen: These are wired, so wandering is tricky. Though the long cable does give you a bit of wiggle room.
❌ You’re a bit clumsy: 10 feet of cable is plenty – maybe too plenty – if you’re prone to getting tangled.
❌ You’ve got a smaller head: They’re not the biggest headphones out there, but the FT3 can still feel oversized on petite heads.
The USP here is FiiO's implementation of big (huge! 90mm) planar magnetic drivers. Why? Because at this level, the more pragmatic dynamic driver is far more prevalent – but FiiO decided, before releasing them (in December 2023) that planar magentic drivers were the best way to get “intense energy like a thunderstorm” from these cans – and we're truly grateful FiiO's engineers persisted.
To drill down into that tech, each earcup features a large, extraordinarily thin (6µm) planar magnetic driver, with 11 neodymium magnets on one side and nine on the other. And with it, he FT5 strike an ideal balance in every respect, from the classy build to the way they sound. If it’s total sonic neutrality you’re after, you may need to pass – but if you fancy an entertaining sound with a good dollop of audiophile credibility thrown in, do give them a whirl at your local dealership.
They’re able to hone in on the finest details, while managing to stay engaged and entertaining at the same time. The FT5 are quick off the mark with complex rhythmic passages while allowing any vocalist they're dealt to sound positive, emotive and visceral.
Any flies in the ointment? One: Tonally, the FiiO are on the ‘fractionally warm’ side, but it’s such a small issue we mention it more as a trait than a flaw. Highly recommended.
Read our full FiiO FT5 review
FiiO FT5 scorecard
Attributes | Score |
|---|---|
Fit / comfort | 4.5 / 5 |
Sound | 4.5 / 5 |
Cable length / quality | 4 / 5 |
The best elite planar wired headphones
✅ You admire innovative engineering: Final Audio has really gone to town with the build of these, and the results speak for themselves.
✅ You love detailed, revealing sound: The D7000’s open design and impressive detail retrieval make for a seriously absorbing listen.
❌ Your head’s on the smaller side: No polite way to put it – the D7000’s earcups are bloody massive.
❌ You crave sonic excitement: They stunning clarity and detail, but if your playlists lean heavy (think grime or thrash metal), you might find more punch elsewhere.
There's a reason we've included the Final D7000 headphones as our 'best elite planar' pick in this best wired headphones buying guide. That's because everything about these cans is elite, including their sky-high $3,499 / £2,999 / AU$5,899 price. We'd never go so far as to say that this huge price is solid value, but we will say that Final has gone all out in making these planar magnetic headphones shine in every respect.
Without getting into the technical weeds, Final has developed a bunch of new audio technologies here to deliver a top-tier audiophile listening experience. Everything is excellent here, the wide soundstage, power and detail. In our final D7000 review, we wrote: "They’re fun to listen to, musical in their approach, and have so many pertinent observations to make about the minutiae of recordings that each listen is a little voyage of discovery." Our only criticism? During our testing, we noted a lack of dynamism, struggling to accommodate big shifts in volume and intensity at times – though, to be clear, that's 'struggling' in the relative sense, compared to similarly high-priced headphones.
At 437g, these headphones feel a little big and bulky when you wear them. Luckily, the earcups and headband are comfortable, and Final has used a light and breathable fabric that makes them feel much lighter on your head than you'd expect from headphones of this size.
They also need a good headphone amp to drive them if you want to make them sing – our pick of the best headphones amps has some suitable options. It's also odd that these only come with the option of an unbalanced 6.3mm cable.
If you want to spend big on a pair of headphones that are impeccably well built and finished, packed with innovative technologies and sound fantastic in every respect except dynamic responses, we can't recommend the D7000 highly enough.
Read our full Final D7000 review
Final D7000 scorecard
Attributes | Score |
|---|---|
Fit / comfort | 4 / 5 |
Sound | 4 / 5 |
Cable length / quality | 3.5 / 5 |
The best closed-back wired headphones
✅ You like the finer things: Big, bold, and beautifully built with leather cups, brushed copper accents, and a seriously premium finish.
✅ You enjoy precise, open sound: An absolute delight to listen to – everything comes through with stunning clarity and depth.
❌ You can't stretch to a luxury price tag: These are seriously high-end – and seriously expensive. Only worth considering if your budget’s as big as your wish list.
❌ You love minimalism: Feature-packed and visually striking, they’re impressive – but if you’re after something simple and stripped-back, these aren’t it.
Focal Stellia's luxurious looks are matched by the classy build quality – the headband and cups are full-grain leather (note to vegans, it's real) and the cups have memory foam cushions that are designed to mold to shape of your ears.
This is a set of cans made to be looked at, but despite their size we found them to be extremely comfortable even while listening for long periods of time. In fact, every aspect of Focal's build here just screams opulence, right down to the leather-effect box they come in. Inside, you’ll find a sturdy woven carrying case that could easily pass as a designer handbag, as well as a leather-style wallet containing user manuals. It’s this attention to detail that makes the $3,000 price tag almost feel justified… almost.
And the Focal Stellia sound absolutely fantastic. Their wide-open soundstage and detailed, accurate sound treatment means they make any genre of music come alive and open out before your very ears. Listen to songs you think you know like the back of your hand and the Stellia's surgical separation means you'll likely hear details you’ve never noticed before. The impressive thing is how close it comes to feeling as natural as open-backed headphones, but with the sound isolation of closed-back. But that's what you're paying for.
Those who like to keep things minimal when it comes to portable headgear probably won’t like the showy, opulent design of the Focal Stellia (and they can feel a little chunky on the commute), but if luxury is your thing, the aesthetic might appeal – and the sound definitely will.
Read our full Focal Stellia review
Focal Stellia scorecard
Attributes | Score |
|---|---|
Fit / comfort | 5 / 5 |
Sound | 5 / 5 |
Cable length / quality | 5 / 5 |
The best wired headphones for larger heads
✅ You enjoy vivid, widescreen sound: The HW600 offer a spacious, well-defined listen, with crystal-clear positioning of every element on the stage.
✅ You appreciate quality craftsmanship: If you’re happy with the materials, it’s hard not to admire Shanling’s impressive build and finish on the HW600.
❌ Your head’s even remotely petite: Big money here means big sound – and big headphones.
❌ You’re vegetarian: Yet again, an audio brand leans on animal hide as shorthand for “luxury.” Not ideal if you’re avoiding leather.
The Shanling HW600 headphones are premium through and through. They're well-appointed, planar magnetic headphones that pack in a lot of sonic excellence, which we'll get to in a minute. But although they certainly deserve a spot in this best wired headphones guide for their audio alone, they're our top recommendation for those with larger heads.
The reason for this is that planar magnetic headphones tend to be on the bigger side as a general rule. But these are still large, even for our reviewer who's over 6-feet tall. Think this doesn't matter so much? Nope, think again. Finding the right over-ears for larger heads is as much an issue as finding earbuds for small ears – and we know this, because we launched a full investigation into headphones coming up short and recorded our measurements. It's also worth mentioning there's another design choice here that might not be right for you: lambskin. It's on the ear cups, so we don't blame vegans for steering clear.
Otherwise, they're very nicely finished, with a two-tier headband arrangement and comfortable memory foam earcups that distribute their 480g weight incredibly well – perfect for long listening sessions.
The audio quality here is exceptional. During our testing, we praised the Shanling HW600 for their "spacious and well-defined sonic layout". But the soundstage doesn't just feel open and expansive, but incredibly detailed and dynamic too. The only place you could notice a slight drop in excellence is at the lower end of the frequency range. However, as we noted in our review, this is only going to impact those who like EDM or other content that relies on eloquence down at the low end. Everyone else will be more than happy.
Each earcup houses a 110 x 86mm planar magnetic driver, just 8µm thick, with a silver-plated aluminium ‘switchback’ coil placed between 14 neodymium/iron/boron magnets in a seven-a-side setup. The wired earcups use standard 3.5mm connectors, making cable replacement simple. However, Shanling’s included 1.5m loosely braided single-crystal copper cable with a balanced 4.4mm termination is worth testing thoroughly first. A 6.3mm adapter is also included in the box.
They're premium headphones and they're not mainstream, with a couple of fairly big caveats, but they're also excellent in almost every other way.
Read our full Shanling HW600 review
Shanling HW600 scorecard
Attributes | Score |
|---|---|
Fit / comfort | 4 / 5 |
Sound | 5 / 5 |
Cable length / quality | 4.5 / 5 |
Other wireless headphones to consider
FiiO FT1: Read our full FiiO FT1 review and you'll see we did enjoy the lively sound and premium materials when we tested these headphones, but they were a letdown in other ways. For example, the sound was too confined and you can't fold them down, which makes them annoying to travel with.
FiiO FT13: FiiO always bring us great products and the unique design and organized sound on offer from these headphones are no exception. But they do lack a bit of bite that stops them entering this guide. Read our Fiio FT13 review for our full hands-on experience.
Final DX30000CL: Incredibly detailed headphones that are well made and comfortable. So they're very good indeed, but the lack of a case is annoying and they could be more engaging, which means they can't quite compete with the exceptional picks in this guide. Though do read our full Final DX30000CL review to find out more.
Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen: Let's be clear, there's a lot to love about these headphones from Meze. The low-end is rich, they look stunning and they're comfortable. But they're mid-range good and have some notable flaws, which we explain in detail over in our full Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen review.
Sivga Oriole: The Sivga Oriole were our 'best budget' pick in this guide for a long time, but they were removed because they've been out a while now and the newer and higher-rated Austrian Audio Hi-X20 headphones beat them, representing better value. However, as you'll see from our Sivga Oriole review, we still recommend these headphones because they look fantastic, sound good and they're cheap.
Wired earbuds: If none of the best wired headphones in this guide are what you're looking for, do consider the options in our best wired earbuds guide instead. They'll suit people who want a much smaller design and don't mind the feeling of buds in their ears rather than on or around them.
How to choose the best wired headphones for you
Which is best: over-ear, on-ear or in-ear?
A lot of this will come down to personal preference. Do your ears tend to overheat a bit during long listening sessions? A set of in-ears might feel cooler. Want people to know you're wearing headphones and leave you be? Nothing says 'Do not disturb' like a set of over-ears. Interested in the idea of over-ears but need something small enough to throw in a bag for your commute? On-ears might be ideal.
Audiophiles often suggest that passive noise isolation levels are better when your listening gear physically covers the entirety of your ear, (in a circum-aural or over-ear design) as opposed to a supra-aural set (read: on-ears) but then again, on-ear designs can be cheaper – as the Grado option in our list above certainly is. Sonically, there are merits to both. This is all about you.
Some people dislike the intrusive nature of in-ears and find the experience a little claustrophobic, while for others it opens up sonic realms as yet uncharted. Our advice? Weigh up the priorities we've mentioned above in our best wired headphones guide then take a look at our best wired earbuds guide, head down to a local dealership to try out some headphones – and of course, use our 'how to choose your next headphones guide'.
What about planar magnetic designs vs. dynamic drivers?
OK, let's do this: a planar magnetic driver is different to the more typically-used dynamic drivers in headphones in that it uses a flat diaphragm rather than the traditional cone or dome shaped membrane. This is then sandwiched between an array of magnets to create an evenly-suspended diaphragm in between permanent magnetic fields. Why is that good? Planar magnetic drivers make the headphones that use them extremely resistant to various types of audio and electronic distortion – aka clearer, more detailed, better music.
Some extremely talented over-ears in this list sport planar magnetic drivers. That said, plenty more headphones in this list use just one dynamic driver, while others use a mind-bending array of multiple dynamic units, crossovers and balanced armatures where each driver handles a certain frequency. When done well, it can be magical – but integration across the frequencies is key and that is not easy.
What's the difference between open-back and closed-back headphones?
Here's the thing: open-back headphones tend to be the sole preserve of audiophiles who crave this design's typically superior audio quality above all else – above convenience and above keeping your playlist private.
And there's another thing too. High fidelity almost always involves some sort of compromise. Here, the trade off for audio transparency and three-dimensional clarity means headphones that leak sound to people nearby.
To explain the issue: in closed-back headphones, the audibility of any playlist you might stream is largely trapped inside the ear cup, which keeps your choice of music private but can lead to a narrow soundstage where audio feels as if it's coming directly from inside your head – hardly a natural experience.
However, the free movement of sound in and out of the cups in open-backed headphones means the soundstage feels far wider and less "closed off", almost as if you're at a live gig. The issue is that other people are being subjected to your aforementioned virtual gig too. Is it worth it? It depends on your priorities and where you'll be listening; we wouldn't suggest open-backed designs for crowded streets or subways. Then again, for the home listener going open-back can be a great thing.
How we test the best wired headphones
Just like our readers, our writers' and editors' ear shapes, ages, hearing profiles, musical tastes and listening priorities all differ hugely, which is why we "second-listen" extensively among the team and we do not cut corners in any part of our reviewing process.
As always when testing wired headphones, a thorough 48-hour run-in period is crucial to allow components to bed in and for those drivers get used to the quick business of moving air.
Review samples are tested against the class leaders at the level (and by level, we do mean similar price points), over a period of weeks, not days. We listen to various playlists (spanning everything from acid jazz to thrash metal) on the best music streaming sites but we also have a healthy collection of hi-res files to load onto some of the best hi-res audio players – and a collection of the best portable DACs and amps for harder-to-drive cans, too.
And having been at this game for more years than we'd care to admit, we know what's good and durable from a design perspective – and we know what isn't. We know when cables will be noisy; we know when a headband clicks; we know when the treble rolls off and we know when the bass is overcooked.
The latest update to this best wired headphones guide
January 26, 2026
Refreshed the introduction. Made two product switches, replacing the Meze Audio Liric with the Meze Audio 105 Silva, and the Focal Bathys MG in for the old Focal Bathys. Added several new picks to our 'also consider' section based on recent reviews, including the Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen and Fiio FT13. Finally, had a check of all of the copy and references in the guide to make sure everything is up to date.
Read more updates…
May 2, 2025
Added new 'buy it if / don't buy if' bullet points to each entry so readers can get a quick sense of which recommendations are right for them.
January 24, 2025
Refreshed the introduction to focus on our years of expertise when it comes to testing the best headphones. Added the Shanling HW600 at the no. 10 spot as our 'best for larger heads' choice. Chose extra photos to showcase each product and added a gallery alongside our recommendations to give readers a better sense of what the headphones look like. Added score cards to the end of each entry, so readers can quickly get a look at the key specs and things they need to know.
December 12, 2024
Refreshed the introduction. Replaced the Sivga Oriole with the Austrian Audio Hi-X20 as our 'best budget' pick based on our recent testing. Added an 'also consider' section filled with recently-reviewed headphones that didn't make this guide to offer readers alternative suggestions. Updated all copy to make sure it's relevant and timely.
September 23, 2024
Removed mentions of earbuds, which you can now find in our best wired earbuds guide, to focus solely on the best wired over-ear and in-ear designs. Added the Final D7000 as the 'best elite planar' choice based on our recent review.
June 20, 2024
Added a quick-link to this update log at the top of the guide and reordered the format to make top products easier to navigate to. Added an 'Also consider' section and mentioned that we'll be splitting this guide to 'best wired earbuds' and 'best wired headphones' soon, because of the plethora of testing we've recently done (and the renewed popularity of going wired, to get hi-res audio)
March 4, 2024
Added FiiO FT5 owing to its new five-star review, updated copy throughout, updated author bio.
February 23, 2024
Added FiiO FT3, removed the Westone Mach 70 as it has largely been out-performed by the Campfire Audio Solaris Stella Horizon. Updated copy throughout.
June 30, 2023
The guide launches! The products have been chosen by our team based on our recent reviews and testing of the headphones here.