Best Headphones To Buy In 2023! Our Recommendations

A great pair of headphones shouldn't only sound rich and balanced but should also be comfortable, versatile, well-built, and feature-packed. While you can get some surprisingly decent budget models, the best headphones tend to come with more extra features, like active noise cancelling (ANC), dedicated companion apps for customization, multi-device pairing, and NFC compatibility. While less expensive pairs of headphones tend to miss out on some of these premium features, you can still find some well-rounded and versatile options that provide great value.

Recommended Headphones in this video:

—
00:00 Intro
00:51 Best Overall
02:14 Best Upper Mid-Range
03:15 Best Mid-Range
04:23 Best Budget
05:22 Best Audiophile
06:21 Best Entry-Level Audiophile
06:46 Conclusion

[HeyYall]

Upon viewing your comprehensive video analysis, along with the comparative study between the XM5 and XM4, I was compelled to subscribe to your channel. The precision of your evaluations earns a stellar five-star rating from me. Your team presents a balanced review without succumbing to the temptation of unnecessary hype, and I find that your commentary aligns seamlessly with real-world experiences. Well done.

[PerfectionHunter]

Winter 2022 i was on the hunt for new truly High-End headphones for gaming, and i had my eyes set on a few different models ranging $500-$1000 each. I had spent months reading reviews. I went to the shop and had brough tracks (in my phone) that i know sound bad. Some tracks are too sharp, some are overly bassy, some have digital artifacts in them, but some tracks that are just pure perfection, very detailed and deep orchestras etc. And two Dolby-Surround Test tracks. Then i ran them all through all the headphones.

My goal was to find the headphone that could make everything sound good no matter how bad the recording was. But when testing the ones i had my eyes on, i was somewhat disappointed. I kept switching for like an hour but wasn't satisfied.

Frustrated i reached out and plucked a pair of B&O H95 from the stand. My eyes started to tear up the sound was so beautiful. My hearing is sensitive to sharp Treble and these cut the Treble just right but still leave it detailed. Never heard headphones like that before. And the positioning is just minblowing. When i play Cyberpunk2077 or Bordelands 3 with these i can hear if someone is shooting at me from behind me, to my left, two stories up. Just insane.

They were more expensive than what i had planned to buy but damned worth it!

The H95 drivers are 40mm Titanium so expect a full year of use before complete burn in. However the biggest change will be heard after the first 250+ hours before coming into bloom. The H95 i tested in store was a year old and sounded like a dream. My new ones was stiff and flat in comparison. I left them connected to my computer to do Hertz Sweeps over night during the first month. That broke them in real good.

Now, more than half a year later, i only regret not getting them earlier. I love them. They outclass my ATH M50X on a level i can't describe. The ATH are fatiguing in comparison to H95's silky sound.

[shonen]

As a Sony fan who bought every single XM headphone: I wholly agree with your pick. The XM4 is the top of the line-up! Great other options mentioned here as well!

[piliff_e]

I was buying headphones several month ago and I was planning to get the Soundcore Q45. But when I tested them in a music shop, I was absolutely disappointed by their sound signature (too digital for me, yet entertaining) and I didn’t really feel the difference between ANC and Transparency modes (likely because I was in a shop). So I decided to fork out for Sony 1000-XM4 and never regretted! They are excellent. The only weird thing I noticed is that in the Transparency mode they cut out bass. This is both useful (you hear more of your surrounding) and stupid (you can’t enjoy some bass-heavy music). I hope this isn’t only my unit’s problem…

[elliveshow]

Been using the sony wh-1000xm4 for two months and they are great, but the headphones that give you goosebumps when listening are denon ah-d600. I have never listened to better headphones than denon and they are fantastic. Denon is most underrated headphones in my opinion.

[subashchandra]

Very interesting that you put the HD 800's on the list at $1800, and an SHP9500 on at $80... No mention at all of the HD 500/600/6xx or the ATHM50s or the DT 990s or the Planar Magnetic HiFiMans for the $200-500 range? Very weird and interesting choices here that have lead me to disregard any opinions stated in this video. Please do more/better research next time. Now all your reviews for monitors and other tech will be called into question.

[teatrumyslurpg]

I love you guys, You helped me to pick right products and without all the knowledge about headphones and many other products I would have been lost. I appreciate this amazing work!

[ANTICK]

I don't know how would be possible to measure, but the built quality is certainly impacting the audio experience - I mean that you measure the headphones in a resting state, while when you walk in them, they got shaked and by this they produce noise. But yes, idk how to measure it objectively :/

[joetraina]

Just so you know, I've had a little OCD spell for over the ear headphones lately and YOUR reviews played a huge part in that. I now own 11 sets of cans and I'm holding you personally responsible 😂. Amazing work on your website and I'm really glad I now found your YouTube channel.

[Lordbugbug]

shp9500s can be transformed into an Amazing headset with a simple EQ adjustment, get on it!!

[TN.]

You showed the same result for bose qc45 noice cancellation like 1 year ago but there was an update that improve the noise cancelation A lot! (3.0.2) and now they are on the level of xm5 and even better.

[jakers]

owned the wh1000xm4s for about 2 years now and they started glitching

[herbieIIDX]

Major props for the Eurobeat Intensifies shirt!!

[deanstarkey]

Just an FYI but 5:50 DAC doesn’t stand for “Digital Audio Converter” it stands for Digital-to-Analogue Converter.

[UCmiwlBlRthCtZEojtg]

Thanks for this video, I was set on the latest sonys but after watching your video actually went to the store and tried them and they were a lot less comfortable than the previous gen and ended up buying those instead!

[philipm.]

The Soundcore Q20+s come with the app with eq options and multipoint. Just seem to be harder to find.
The + really is a plus😊

[youarecorrectiamwrongbecau]

Can someone with actual experience with both help me decide between the XM4 and XM5?
I'm really confused as ANC is my top priority and sound quality just after that. I'm really leaning towards XM4 considering their incredible ANC + I prefer XM4's design over XM5 and most importantly they are significantly cheaper, XM5 are almost 30% costlier than XM4 where I live.
But every review I've seen for both, almost everyone said XM5 have significantly better ANC than XM4. This is the only channel which says XM4 has better ANC + XM5 has much better mic for calling which I prefer to do on the headphones if I'm wearing them while the call comes. So it has become really confusing for me. Anyone with real experience with both, I'd really appreciate your opinion.

[ANTICK]

I love that you have signed off Daniel Radcliffe for that episode to play that audio geek role ❤

[WhyHelloThere]

Quick underdog that I had for a while taotronics soundsurge, they are incredible for the price point

[papasmurfication]

We really need reviews not only about sound quality but built-in microphone quality