You might then want to delve into one of our specific buying guides, or perhaps take a glance at our very favourite pairs across all styles, feature offerings and price points. If you're still not sure which way to go, take a look at our guide on how to choose the right pair of headphones. Lastly, if you're a fitness fiend who wants to prioritise a secure fit and waterproofing, you're better off going for a pair of sport headphones. These days, wired noise-cancelling headphones are a rare breed. Noise-cancelling helps isolate you from the world by actively blocking ambient noise, and these days the feature is becoming more and more popular on premium wireless pairs. Then there are ANC headphones (active noise cancelling headphones), which may be high on your hit list if you're looking for a pair to silence the outside sounds of everyday life. Wireless headphones and wireless earbuds are great for their cable-free convenience, but it's a technology that generally attracts a higher price tag compared to wired counterparts of similar sonic quality. Your next decision is between wired and wireless. And if that's the case, you'll have to decide whether you want the uber-portability of the best earbuds or the less intrusive fit of on-ear headphones – and both styles vary in terms of budget and features. You can read all about the closed-back vs open-back headphones differences here.įor a pair to use with your phone on the go, though, you might want something more portable. You'll then have to choose whether you want an open-back design (which leaks sound but offers sonic advantages) or the more traditional and common closed-back form (which isn't leaky).

If you want a pair for home use, to plug into your hi-fi system or music player, then a wired pair of the best over-ear headphones is best.

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget.

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