The 6 Best Wired Headphones - Spring 2025

The best wired headphones we've tested are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. These top-of-the-line headphones are for people looking for the best audiophile cans and willing to pay the price. Their high cost already puts them out of reach of most people, and you'll also want to consider adding a powerful amp or audio interface to drive them, which is an extra expense if you don't already have one. However, if you're prepared to shell out the money, these well-known headphones create an incredibly spacious and immersive passive soundstage thanks to their open-back design.

They're also very comfortable, so they won't cause fatigue during long studio sessions. They have a well-balanced sound profile with a very neutral mid-range, ensuring accurate vocals and lead instruments. Because of their open-back design, they lack low-bass but still have some warmth to their sound, thanks to a small bump in the high-bass. As open-back headphones, they bleed audio by design, so it's best to use them in a quiet room.

If you're looking for high-end open-back headphones that can reproduce more bass, try the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version. These over-ears have planar magnetic drivers, which help improve their bass reproduction and low-frequency extension. However, the HiFiMan aren't as well-built and weigh more. Still, where it counts regarding the sound, they're a solid choice, too.

Don't let our top pick fool you into thinking you need to spend a fortune to enjoy a high-quality listening experience. The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO are much more affordable than the Sennheiser HD 800 S and offer excellent performance. Like the flagship HD 800 S, they use dynamic drivers tuned for a consistently well-balanced sound signature. The flat mid-range ensures voices and instruments are reproduced accurately, while the treble has enough detail to keep fans of sparkly ride cymbals happy. And if you're a bass head, the HD 490 PRO might actually be a better pick than the HD 800 S, because they reproduce a bit more thump and punch in the low- and mid-bass. As a bonus, they come with a second set of swappable ear cups, letting you tweak the sound signature to better suit your preferences.

Still, the HD 490 PRO do have a few downsides. Their plastic yokes feel less durable than the rest of their build, giving them a slightly less sturdy overall feel than the pricier HD 800 S. That said, they're the lightest headphones on our list and extremely comfortable. Plus, since they're open-backs, you probably won't be taking them out and about with you very much. The main benefit of that open-back design is a decent soundstage, since your audio mingles with your environment, creating a natural sense of space.

If you're looking for a great pair of wired headphones at a mid-range price point, consider the HiFiMan Edition XS. Unlike the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO, these headphones have planar magnetic drivers instead of dynamic drivers, but both pairs have remarkably similar sound profiles with more low-end than your typical open-back. The Edition XS' versatile sound profile clearly reproduces vocals and instruments, although a dip in their high-mids can make vocals in dense mixes seem a little distant. Sibilants like hi-hats are bright without being piercing. 

You can drive these headphones to adequate volume levels without a headphone amplifier, and they deliver audio consistently, so you don't need to worry much about getting a different sound from use to use. Their open-back design creates an open, spacious, and natural passive soundstage, which helps make your audio more immersive. One downside is their padded headband feels heavy on your head compared to the ski-band headband styles found on other over-ears from this manufacturer like the HiFiMan Sundara 2020, and the headphones feel big if you have a small head. But, overall, they're still well-built and fit comfortably on most people. 

The Sennheiser HD 560S are our best lower mid-range pick for wired headphones. These cans have different strengths from the HiFiMan Edition XS, despite both pairs being open-backs. The Sennheiser are a bit less bulky and have a tighter clamping force than the HiFiMan, making them more stable on your head. But the HiFiMan boast a stronger low-bass response, which fans of EDM may prefer. Nonetheless, the Sennheiser still provide an even sound with a good amount of boom on kick drums, a clear mid-range, and a treble response that plays back detailed harmonics of cymbals and vocals.

Their open-backed design allows your audio to interact with your environment as well, lending dimension and acoustic excitement to your music, too. One of the upsides of these headphones is that they're quite easy to drive with a variety of audio sources, thanks to their 120 ohms at 110 dB rating. It's unlikely that you'll need a headphone amp with these, meaning you can plug them into your gaming console controller as easily as your audio interface and anticipate a suitable output level. Their cable is a standard stereo 1/8" TRS to 1/4" TRS, so if it ever breaks or gets lost, you don't have to buy a proprietary replacement either.

For audiophiles on a shoestring budget, the best wired over-ear headphones we've tested are the Philips SHP9500. They're not as stable on the head as the more expensive Sennheiser HD 560S, but they're still worth checking out, as their open-back design creates a great passive soundstage that feels spacious and wide, making your listening experience more immersive. They also have a very comfortable fit for long listening sessions.

These headphones have a generally balanced sound profile that's well-suited for a variety of genres and types of content. Their mid-range is virtually flat, so instruments sound true-to-life and detailed, even in dense mixes, and their treble response has plenty of detail and shimmer. That said, the treble isn't as well-controlled as the HD 560S and can get a bit piercing at times. Finally, they put out even less low-end than the other open-backs on this list, so bass fans may find these a bit boring. 

If rumbly low frequencies are important to you, the Superlux HD 681 are a great alternative to the Philips. The Superlux have a stronger bass response that reproduces basslines with a bit more punch and warmth. Unfortunately, their treble response is sharper, which makes sibilants and high percussion-like cymbals sound rather piercing, and their build quality feels cheap.

The Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO are the best closed-back headphones we've tested. These top-of-the-line headphones are worth considering if you want a pair of headphones that can block out some background noise and leak less audio. They boast an excellent build quality and come with a sturdy carrying case that, while a bit bulky, offers solid protection when not in use. Unlike the more budget-friendly Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, the DT 1770 PRO feature a detachable audio cable, making replacements simple if it gets damaged.

Their sound profile is generally well-balanced, so they reproduce vocals and instruments clearly and with detail. That said, their slightly bright response makes elements like cymbals or S and T sounds seem piercing. Their audio delivery is also inconsistent, so people who wear glasses or have thick hair might notice a drop in bass as the fit isn't as predictable as options like the Sennheiser HD 560S. Because they are closed-backs, the Beyerdynamic also produce a more focused and less immersive passive soundstage than most of the other headphones on this list.

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are the best wired earbuds we've tested. These premium in-ear monitors (IEMs) are designed for good sound quality and offer some versatility over the over-ears listed since you can buy a cable with a mic if you want to make phone calls. They have a hybrid driver design, which utilizes dynamic drivers as well as four armature drivers for the mid and treble ranges. This arrangement helps them accurately reproduce higher frequencies and ensures a natural and detailed sound.

Their bass response is also very neutral, so it accurately reproduces rumble, punch, and boom in mixes. They have a very sturdy design, and the audio cable is detachable, making it less likely to break if it snags on something. These headphones also have a comfortable fit. The cables loop around your ears, which helps prevent them from falling out, even if you move your head around a lot. They don't have ANC, which is normal for IEMs, but they still passively block out an impressive amount of mid-range noise, like background conversations, offering some additional utility if you want something for on-the-go that the other picks don't suit.

That said, they aren't cheap and aren't for everyone. Consider the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED if you want solid wired earbuds at a much more affordable price. While these lack the slightly more complicated hybrid driver configuration of the MOONDROP IEMs, their dynamic drivers' performance relays a similarly balanced sound profile from the bass range through the low treble. It really only deviates notably in the mid-treble, where harmonic content of instruments like cymbals sound less open and detailed.