<p>Below, I’ve shared my favourite picks for wired headphones in 2025, including top overear headphones and wired earphones (which are also known as “inear monitors”).</p><p>Whether you’re a budding audiophile looking for the best sound or just want a nofuss option, I’ve got something for you.</p><p>But, a word of warning, there’s loads of competition out there and my list only scratches the surface for beginners getting into the headphone hobby – there’s far more to discover, if you want to get serious about it.</p><p class=”bodytip”><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/productreviews/g684571/besttrulywirelessheadphones/” target=”_blank”>Best true wireless earbuds</a> | <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/productreviews/tech/g26004577/bestwirelessoverearheadphones/” target=”_blank”>Best wireless overear headphones</a> | <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/productreviews/tech/g23918336/bestnoisecancellingheadphones/” target=”_blank”>Best noisecancelling headphones</a> | <a href=”http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/productreviews/tech/g26061431/bestcheapheadphones/” target=”_blank”>Best headphones under £50</a> | <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/productreviews/tech/g60199734/bestopenearbuds/” target=”_blank”>Best open earbuds</a> | <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/productreviews/tech/g42799072/bestkidsheadphones/” target=”_blank”>Best headphones for kids</a> | <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/productreviews/tech/g25731746/bestexerciseheadphones/” target=”_blank”>Best headphones for exercise</a></p>” datanexthead/>
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and moneysaving advice guides and edited thousands of indepth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.You can follow Simon on Instagram at @simonrcocks, on Threads at @simonrcocks, and on Twitter/X at @simoncocks.
“,”jobTitle”:”Technology Ecommerce Editor”,”image”:”https://hips.hearstapps.com/rover/profile_photos/4ce2e87213f0455d8dd56368b2f0729b_1727686501.file”,”email”:”Simon.cocks@hearst.co.uk”,”sameAs”:[“www.twitter.com/simoncocks”,”www.instagram.com/simonrcocks”]},”@context”:”http://schema.org”,”about”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”numberOfItems”:13,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:1,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”M20x”,”description”:”You’ll find that AudioTechnica’s ATHM20x are favourites among budding audio engineers on a budget. They’re affordable at under £50, and have a comfortable and lightweight design. Unsurprisingly, the balanced sound profile is one of the big benefits here.It makes them good for studio monitoring and casual listening, and you should be able to wear them for hours at a time without getting tired of them. Aesthetically, they’re a little utilitarian and plasticky, but durable enough if well cared for. I could come up with some downsides, including that the cable isn’t detachable. But, overall, you won’t be disappointed if you’re taking a first step into wired sound.”,”image”:”https://vaderprod.s3.amazonaws.com/17208045111685975972atm20x647df3825931e.jpg”,”sku”:”B00HVLUR18″,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”AudioTechnica”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”M20x”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Simon Cocks”}]},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HVLUR18″,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”47.99″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.wexphotovideo.com/audiotechnicaathm20xclosedbackdynamicheadphones1764689/”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”49.00″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”wexphotovideo”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.scan.co.uk/products/audiotechnicaathm20xheadphones”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”49.00″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”scan.co.uk”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:2,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”Chu II”,”description”:”Honestly, the Moondrop Chu II inear monitors (IEMs) are pretty remarkable for anyone venturing into the audiophile world on a budget. They’re priced at under £20 and you might find they’re all you need for highquality sound. I’m a fan of the sturdy metal build and detachable cable (great for keeping them functional if you need to replace the cord), which are features usually reserved for pricier pairs.They’re tuned for a neutral sound signature and deliver a lot of detail and clarity. It’s worth knowing that you need to twist the cord behind your ear to wear them properly, but once you get the hang of it, it’s second nature. As an ultraaffordable entry point for those after the highfidelity sound, these are always my first recommendation.”,”image”:”https://vaderprod.s3.amazonaws.com/17392012731717428777moondropchu2ds665de207a13b4.jpg”,”sku”:”B0CB8HHS8V”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Moondrop”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”Chu II”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Simon Cocks”}]},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CB8HHS8V”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”18.99″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:3,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”FT1″,”description”:”There’s a lot of hype around the FiiO FT1 wired headphones, after they seemingly took the audio world by storm in 2024. They pack in exceptional value to challenge higherpriced competitors, offering a premium experience for under £140. I particularly love the natural solid wood earcups, plush earpads, and large 60mm dynamic drivers. These deliver an engaging and energetic sound that brings the best out of all music genres.FiiO is generous with accessories too, providing both 3.5mm and 4.4mm cables, along with a hard storage case. These may look a little bit enormous on most people’s heads and they’re far from portable, but I reach for them over almost all other options when I’m listening to music at home.”,”image”:”https://vaderprod.s3.amazonaws.com/1739201394fiioft10267aa1b5cac9d7.jpg”,”sku”:”fiioft132olargedynamicdriverheadphoneswithsolidwoodcups”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”FiiO”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”FT1″,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Simon Cocks”}]},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/fiioft132olargedynamicdriverheadphoneswithsolidwoodcups”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”139.99″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”advancedmp3players.co.uk”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:4,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”Alba”,”description”:”If you’re after exceptional value from inear monitors, I’d recommend looking at the Meze Alba wired earphones. Meze Audio is a highend Romanian company known for equipment that can cost thousands, so I’m impressed that you get so much quality for around £150 from these compact buds. They’re made with zinc alloy and aluminium shells, with a lovely pearlescent finish, and they come with a neat little storage case. They also have a USBC to 3.5mm adapter, so you don’t need to worry about providing your own.Inside these inears are 10.8mm dynamic driver speakers that deliver a rich and detailed sound signature. They’re ideal for a natural and engaging musical experience across a wide range of genres, although I’m not certain that they’ll suit those after a more clinical reference sound. These are especially great for hearing the nuances of vocals and instrumental separation, though.”,”image”:”https://vaderprod.s3.amazonaws.com/1739201538mezealba0167aa1be8830df.jpg”,”sku”:”B0CXPVF7SR”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Meze”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”Alba”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Simon Cocks”}]},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CXPVF7SR”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”155.72″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:5,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”IE 200″,”description”:”For balanced and precise audio, you can’t go wrong with Sennheiser. The German brand specialises in reproducing natural sound, and has done so since 1945. The IE 200 earphones are a reasonably priced yet highly impressive option for pinpointing details and experiencing music on a wide soundstage. They’re fantastic for bringing out nuances in your favourite songs.It’s worth saying, though, that you may need some time to get used to the less bassheavy sound of a more neutral option like these. Once you do, though, it’s easy to appreciate the level of clarity and richness that they offer. They’re also lightweight and comfortable for long listening sessions, and they come with a soft pouch for travel too. The only things you might miss are inline controls and a microphone for calls.”,”image”:”https://vaderprod.s3.amazonaws.com/17392016461685975771ie200647df2cdd9a60.png”,”sku”:”B0BRXQYJFN”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Sennheiser”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”IE 200″,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Simon Cocks”}]},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRXQYJFN”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”109.99″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:6,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”99 Classics”,”description”:”They may feel like a pricier option, but it’s worth mentioning that highend wired headphones can cost thousands of pounds. As I mentioned above, this list isn’t going to scratch the surface for those deep in the hobby! For what you pay, though, there’s a lot to recommend with the Meze 99 Classics and their oldschool design. The build features handfinished wooden ear cups and a selfadjusting headband, with no plastic or glue in sight. The premium materials and use of screws mean these are designed for longevity, with repairable parts.The 99 Classics are excellent for allday comfort, so they won’t let you down if you want to listen to your favourite albums backtoback for hours. The sound isn’t what I’d call clinical, leaning more towards a warm and engaging experience, with some slightly pronounced bass frequencies. They provide a detailed and musical sound, and I’m a fan of the throwback style. The one thing I’d say is just to make sure you put them on carefully – nobody’s going to want to get their hair caught in the steel frames!”,”image”:”https://vaderprod.s3.amazonaws.com/1739201740167878970420230314apc0129edited64104c3c8f2e9.jpg”,”sku”:”B01EJMYOHO”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Meze”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”99 Classics”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Simon Cocks”}]},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01EJMYOHO”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”269.00″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:7,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”E11C”,”description”:”Want a pair of goto earphones you can rely on every day? Soundmagic’s E11C also features on Good Housekeeping’s list of the best headphones under £50 for good reason. They’re a versatile and affordable choice for music lovers, and I really like the durable cable with its builtin microphone and threebutton controls. I find this makes it easy to handle playback and volume without digging my phone out of my pocket, and it’s not always a feature you’ll find on other IEMs.These also have a straightforward fit that doesn’t require you to twist a cable behind your ear. And the sound they deliver is impressive, wellbalanced, energetic and detailed. It matches the experience of much more expensive models, and is a much more sensible option than Apple’s EarPods (which get constantly tangled, in my experience). Another pair I’d recommend at the sub£50 price point is the Final E3000. They’ve got a lovely stainless steel chassis, can be bought with a builtin microphone and deliver a fantastic sound quality without a high cost.”,”image”:”https://vaderprod.s3.amazonaws.com/17392018871704467277e11cgh67aa1d3fbdaca.jpg”,”sku”:”B07H2VPWFR”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Soundmagic”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”E11C”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Simon Cocks”}]},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H2VPWFR”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”39.98″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:8,”item”:{“@type”:”Thing”,”name”:”Why choose wired headphones?”,”url”:”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/productreviews/tech/g28686795/bestwiredheadphones/?slide=8″,”description”:”Why choose wired headphones?Serious headphone hobbyists will tell you that they’d barely even consider most wireless options for critical listening. But why, exactly? In some areas, it’s true that Bluetooth tech isn’t lagging that far behind, but there are a couple of sticking points where you’re simply better off sticking with oldschool headphones. Here are the key issues, from my perspective.Battery life: For me, this is a big one. Wired headphones don’t need charging, which means they’re always ready to go. You’ll never have to worry about them dying on you, especially during long trips where music or podcasts are essential.Sound quality: In the simplest terms, it’s a lot harder for Bluetooth headphones to keep up with the quality of a wire because they need to compress audio to send it from your source to your ears. Thanks to the absence of Bluetooth compression in wired options, there’s often a noticeable improvement in audio quality, especially for keen listeners.Latency and call performance: Additionally, wired options tend to have lower latency or lag. This is most crucial when watching live videos or playing games, where even a slight delay can be annoying. Plus, if you’re on Zoom or FaceTime calls, the inline microphones on some wired headsets tend to deliver better clarity, although not all options include microphones.”,”image”:”https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmgprod/images/listiclelinebreaktransparency667177e347af6.png”}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:9,”item”:{“@type”:”Thing”,”name”:”Why choose wireless headphones?”,”url”:”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/productreviews/tech/g28686795/bestwiredheadphones/?slide=9″,”description”:”There are several good reasons why wireless headphones remain the more popular option and why we’re probably never headed back to a time when “wired” is the default.Portability and convenience: There’s no getting around it, going wirefree is much better if you’re transporting your headphones from placetoplace, and not having to worry about a wired connection means you’re not going to get said wire caught on anything or tangled up. The controls are also on the headphones themselves, rather than built into the wire, which ends up being simpler.Noisecancellation: This is such a major selling point for most of us, and something that significantly improves commutes, flights and days at the office. Active noisecancellation, or ANC, uses microphones to hear the sound waves of the outside world around your headphones and then “invert” them to silence them in your ears. It can be an absolute gamechanger if you’re often in noisy environments.Extra features and customisation: Beyond ANC, you’ll find there are a plethora of features on wireless headphones once they’re connected to a companion app on a smartphone. These include the likes of personalised audio, customised controls, spatial 360degree audio, wearing detection, battery monitoring, wind noise reduction and much more. With a wired pair, you’re stuck with one sound experience, which could make them feel much less versatile. “,”image”:”https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmgprod/images/listiclelinebreaktransparency667177e347af6.png”}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:10,”item”:{“@type”:”Thing”,”name”:”How to connect to wired headphones”,”url”:”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/productreviews/tech/g28686795/bestwiredheadphones/?slide=10″,”description”:”Unfortunately, most flagship smartphones no longer include headphone jacks.Thankfully, though, affordable adapters are widely available, allowing you to connect your wired headphones to USBC ports easily. You’ll see these called portable DACs (digital to analogue converters) – I’ve tried several, and I have included my favourites below.”,”image”:”https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmgprod/images/listiclelinebreaktransparency667177e347af6.png”}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:11,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”USBC to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter”,”description”:”Apple’s adapter is great for the basics. It’s simple and affordable, and works seamlessly with USBC devices. On test, it delivered clear and reliable audio and it’s wellregarded for its compatibility and value. If I have any downsides, they’re that it feels a bit flimsy and only comes in white. But, at this low price, it’s the goto pick for a nofuss solution.”,”image”:”https://vaderprod.s3.amazonaws.com/17392078881698139570appleusbctoheadphone65378da4db4a7.jpg”,”sku”:”argos_9160408″,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Apple”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”USBC to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Simon Cocks”}]},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9160408″,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”9.00″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Argos”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://ao.com/product/mu7e2zmaappleusbcto35mmheadphonejackadaptercablesandadapterwhite63644267.aspx”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”10.00″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”AO”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/appleusbcto35mmheadphonejackadapter”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”10.99″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Robert Dyas”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.littlewoods.com/appleusbcto35mmheadphonejackadapter/1600324793.prd”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”12.00″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”littlewoods”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.currys.co.uk/products/appleusbtypecto3.5mmheadphonejackadapter10185505.html”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”8.99″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Curry’s”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:12,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”GO link DAC & Amplifier”,”description”:”This is a definite upgrade on budget dongles, offering some clear benefits when it comes to getting the most out of your music. To my ears, it delivers a notable improvement in richness, depth and detail, but these differences are also quite subtle and hard to notice without comparing it to the cheaper options sidebyside and really listening for differences. However, it does also have a better build quality and is just as portable.”,”image”:”https://vaderprod.s3.amazonaws.com/17392079321706883589ifigolinkds65bcf9ec0fe31.jpg”,”sku”:”B0BN6MM822″,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”iFi”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”GO link DAC & Amplifier”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Simon Cocks”}]},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BN6MM822″,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”59.00″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:13,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”BTR13 Bluetooth Headphone Amplifier”,”description”:”This is a bit more than just a digitaltoanalogue converter, as it also works as a Bluetooth receiver and has a tiny screen. Overall, I was impressed when trying it. It’s a versatile option to pair with headphones, offering wireless support for highresolution files and excellent wired support that results in clear and rich sound. It also has a clip and USBC charging, but is just a little bulkier and pricier than a basic dongle.”,”image”:”https://vaderprod.s3.amazonaws.com/17392079911731339180fiiobtr1367aa351fb532e.jpg”,”sku”:”B0DF2X7XGR”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”FiiO”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”BTR13 Bluetooth Headphone Amplifier”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Simon Cocks”}]},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DF2X7XGR”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”64.99″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/Discontinued”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://petertyson.co.uk/fiiobtr13bluetoothheadphoneamplifierblack”,”priceCurrency”:”GBP”,”price”:”64.99″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”petertyson.co.uk”}}]}}]}}
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Best budget inear wired headphones
Moondrop Chu II
Honestly, the Moondrop Chu II inear monitors (IEMs) are pretty remarkable for anyone venturing into the audiophile world on a budget. They’re priced at under £20 and you might find they’re all you need for highquality sound. I’m a fan of the sturdy metal build and detachable cable (great for keeping them functional if you need to replace the cord), which are features usually reserved for pricier pairs.
They’re tuned for a neutral sound signature and deliver a lot of detail and clarity. It’s worth knowing that you need to twist the cord behind your ear to wear them properly, but once you get the hang of it, it’s second nature. As an ultraaffordable entry point for those after the highfidelity sound, these are always my first recommendation.
Key specifications
| Type | Inear |
|---|---|
| InLine Controls and Microphone | Available either with or without a microphone |
| Weight | 8g per earbud |
Best value overear wired headphones
FiiO FT1
There’s a lot of hype around the FiiO FT1 wired headphones, after they seemingly took the audio world by storm in 2024. They pack in exceptional value to challenge higherpriced competitors, offering a premium experience for under £140. I particularly love the natural solid wood earcups, plush earpads, and large 60mm dynamic drivers. These deliver an engaging and energetic sound that brings the best out of all music genres.
FiiO is generous with accessories too, providing both 3.5mm and 4.4mm cables, along with a hard storage case. These may look a little bit enormous on most people’s heads and they’re far from portable, but I reach for them over almost all other options when I’m listening to music at home.
Key specifications
| Type | Overear (closed back) |
|---|---|
| InLine Controls and Microphone | No |
| Weight | 340g |
Best value inear wired headphones
Meze Alba
If you’re after exceptional value from inear monitors, I’d recommend looking at the Meze Alba wired earphones. Meze Audio is a highend Romanian company known for equipment that can cost thousands, so I’m impressed that you get so much quality for around £150 from these compact buds. They’re made with zinc alloy and aluminium shells, with a lovely pearlescent finish, and they come with a neat little storage case. They also have a USBC to 3.5mm adapter, so you don’t need to worry about providing your own.
Inside these inears are 10.8mm dynamic driver speakers that deliver a rich and detailed sound signature. They’re ideal for a natural and engaging musical experience across a wide range of genres, although I’m not certain that they’ll suit those after a more clinical reference sound. These are especially great for hearing the nuances of vocals and instrumental separation, though.
Key specifications
| Type | Inear |
|---|---|
| InLine Controls and Microphone | No |
| Weight | 7g per earbud |
Best inear wired headphones for balanced sound
Sennheiser IE 200
For balanced and precise audio, you can’t go wrong with Sennheiser. The German brand specialises in reproducing natural sound, and has done so since 1945. The IE 200 earphones are a reasonably priced yet highly impressive option for pinpointing details and experiencing music on a wide soundstage. They’re fantastic for bringing out nuances in your favourite songs.
It’s worth saying, though, that you may need some time to get used to the less bassheavy sound of a more neutral option like these. Once you do, though, it’s easy to appreciate the level of clarity and richness that they offer. They’re also lightweight and comfortable for long listening sessions, and they come with a soft pouch for travel too. The only things you might miss are inline controls and a microphone for calls.
Key specifications
| Type | Inear |
|---|---|
| InLine Controls and Microphone | No |
| Weight | 4g per earbud |
Best overear wired headphones for comfort
Meze 99 Classics
They may feel like a pricier option, but it’s worth mentioning that highend wired headphones can cost thousands of pounds. As I mentioned above, this list isn’t going to scratch the surface for those deep in the hobby! For what you pay, though, there’s a lot to recommend with the Meze 99 Classics and their oldschool design. The build features handfinished wooden ear cups and a selfadjusting headband, with no plastic or glue in sight. The premium materials and use of screws mean these are designed for longevity, with repairable parts.
The 99 Classics are excellent for allday comfort, so they won’t let you down if you want to listen to your favourite albums backtoback for hours. The sound isn’t what I’d call clinical, leaning more towards a warm and engaging experience, with some slightly pronounced bass frequencies. They provide a detailed and musical sound, and I’m a fan of the throwback style. The one thing I’d say is just to make sure you put them on carefully – nobody’s going to want to get their hair caught in the steel frames!
Key specifications
| Type | Overear (closed back) |
|---|---|
| InLine Controls and Microphone | Includes a 3m cable (without a microphone) and a 1.2m cable (with a microphone) |
| Weight | 260g |
Best cheap inear wired headphones for versatility
Soundmagic E11C
Want a pair of goto earphones you can rely on every day? Soundmagic’s E11C also features on Good Housekeeping‘s list of the best headphones under £50 for good reason. They’re a versatile and affordable choice for music lovers, and I really like the durable cable with its builtin microphone and threebutton controls. I find this makes it easy to handle playback and volume without digging my phone out of my pocket, and it’s not always a feature you’ll find on other IEMs.
These also have a straightforward fit that doesn’t require you to twist a cable behind your ear. And the sound they deliver is impressive, wellbalanced, energetic and detailed. It matches the experience of much more expensive models, and is a much more sensible option than Apple’s EarPods (which get constantly tangled, in my experience). Another pair I’d recommend at the sub£50 price point is the Final E3000. They’ve got a lovely stainless steel chassis, can be bought with a builtin microphone and deliver a fantastic sound quality without a high cost.
Key specifications
| Type | Inear |
|---|---|
| InLine Controls and Microphone | Yes |
| Weight | 15g (in total) |
Why choose wired headphones?
Why choose wired headphones?
Serious headphone hobbyists will tell you that they’d barely even consider most wireless options for critical listening. But why, exactly? In some areas, it’s true that Bluetooth tech isn’t lagging that far behind, but there are a couple of sticking points where you’re simply better off sticking with oldschool headphones. Here are the key issues, from my perspective.
Battery life: For me, this is a big one. Wired headphones don’t need charging, which means they’re always ready to go. You’ll never have to worry about them dying on you, especially during long trips where music or podcasts are essential.
Sound quality: In the simplest terms, it’s a lot harder for Bluetooth headphones to keep up with the quality of a wire because they need to compress audio to send it from your source to your ears. Thanks to the absence of Bluetooth compression in wired options, there’s often a noticeable improvement in audio quality, especially for keen listeners.
Latency and call performance: Additionally, wired options tend to have lower latency or lag. This is most crucial when watching live videos or playing games, where even a slight delay can be annoying. Plus, if you’re on Zoom or FaceTime calls, the inline microphones on some wired headsets tend to deliver better clarity, although not all options include microphones.
Why choose wireless headphones?
There are several good reasons why wireless headphones remain the more popular option and why we’re probably never headed back to a time when “wired” is the default.
Portability and convenience: There’s no getting around it, going wirefree is much better if you’re transporting your headphones from placetoplace, and not having to worry about a wired connection means you’re not going to get said wire caught on anything or tangled up. The controls are also on the headphones themselves, rather than built into the wire, which ends up being simpler.
Noisecancellation: This is such a major selling point for most of us, and something that significantly improves commutes, flights and days at the office. Active noisecancellation, or ANC, uses microphones to hear the sound waves of the outside world around your headphones and then “invert” them to silence them in your ears. It can be an absolute gamechanger if you’re often in noisy environments.
Extra features and customisation: Beyond ANC, you’ll find there are a plethora of features on wireless headphones once they’re connected to a companion app on a smartphone. These include the likes of personalised audio, customised controls, spatial 360degree audio, wearing detection, battery monitoring, wind noise reduction and much more. With a wired pair, you’re stuck with one sound experience, which could make them feel much less versatile.
How to connect to wired headphones
Unfortunately, most flagship smartphones no longer include headphone jacks.
Thankfully, though, affordable adapters are widely available, allowing you to connect your wired headphones to USBC ports easily. You’ll see these called portable DACs (digital to analogue converters) – I’ve tried several, and I have included my favourites below.
The basic option
Apple USBC to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
Apple’s adapter is great for the basics. It’s simple and affordable, and works seamlessly with USBC devices. On test, it delivered clear and reliable audio and it’s wellregarded for its compatibility and value. If I have any downsides, they’re that it feels a bit flimsy and only comes in white. But, at this low price, it’s the goto pick for a nofuss solution.
The allpurpose option
iFi GO link DAC & Amplifier
This is a definite upgrade on budget dongles, offering some clear benefits when it comes to getting the most out of your music. To my ears, it delivers a notable improvement in richness, depth and detail, but these differences are also quite subtle and hard to notice without comparing it to the cheaper options sidebyside and really listening for differences. However, it does also have a better build quality and is just as portable.
The featurepacked option
FiiO BTR13 Bluetooth Headphone Amplifier
This is a bit more than just a digitaltoanalogue converter, as it also works as a Bluetooth receiver and has a tiny screen. Overall, I was impressed when trying it. It’s a versatile option to pair with headphones, offering wireless support for highresolution files and excellent wired support that results in clear and rich sound. It also has a clip and USBC charging, but is just a little bulkier and pricier than a basic dongle.
Simon Cocks is Hearst UK’s Technology Ecommerce Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy across a range of titles including Good Housekeeping UK, Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, ebook readers and smartphones. He’s reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and moneysaving advice guides and edited thousands of indepth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.You can follow Simon on Instagram at @simonrcocks, on Threads at @simonrcocks, and on Twitter/X at @simoncocks.
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