If you’re after the biggest sound and best audio from a pair of headphones, you’ll likely be looking toward over-ear headphones. But, for all their audio chops, those big, bulky headphones aren’t always the best option in everyday life. When you’re on the go, commuting, or at the gym, a pair of earbuds is more likely to be a worthy companion.Earbuds are much easier to pack into a bag, purse, or pocket. And, if you’re wearing them while you’re on the move, the minimal weight of the earbuds themselves leaves them less prone to shaking around and falling off your head. While you can still run into tangled cords, that issue is resolved by the many wireless earbuds available. As an added perk, many of the best earbuds are a bit more affordable than the comparable over-ear headphones, perhaps thanks in part to a lower bill of materials.We’ve picked out some winning options to help you jam out and enjoy media on the go. They come in a variety of sizes and price points, so you can find one that’s going to work just right for you.
TL;DR These Are the Best Earbuds:
1. 1More Triple Driver
Best Earbuds
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz Weight: 18g
Out of all the earbuds we’ve tested 1MORE’s Triple Driver offer the best balance of value to audio quality and feature. Available in either a gold or titanium finish, the Triple Driver earbuds come with metal casings and a thick audio cable. Aesthetics aside, the 1More Triple Driver features a good deal of passive noise isolation and well-balanced audio.These in-ear headphones produce punchy bass while mids offer a warm tonal notes to the vocal and acoustic part of your music. High notes and treble, however, lack some detail, but overall we’re very impressed by the sound quality you can squeeze our of earbuds this affordable.
2. Marshall Mode
Best Budget Earbuds
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz Weight: 17g
We could have put more high-dollar earbuds on this list, but lets face it: not everyone wants to spend $100 or more on in-ear headphones. If youre like me and have a tendency to leave these little earbuds behind somewhere, never to be seen again, the Marshall Mode is an incredible set of earbuds for about $50.The bass on these wired earbuds kicks nicely without overpowering everything else. The touch of gold on these matte black headphones is also pretty slick. That said, for this low, low price you only get a single-button remote and a basic microphone, but this is a great, cheap option if you just need a pair of earbuds to throw around.
3. Creative Outlier Air
Best Wireless Earbuds
Drivers: 5.6mm Interface: Bluetooth 5.0 Audio Codec: aptX, AAC, SBC Battery Life: 10 hours Battery Life (case): 20 hours IP Rating: IPX5 Weight: 10g (54g case)
Most modern smartphones and even tablets are starting to drop the headphone jack like a bad habit. While it’s frustrating, it’s led to a massive step forward in wireless earbud technology and one of the best pairs you can buy is the Creative Outlier Air.At $70, the Creative Outlier Air is almost as affordable as our top pick in this list, you can completely ditch any cables for truly wireless connectivity. They’re one of the most well-rounded sets of wireless earbuds with 10 hours of battery life and another 30 in it’s accompanying charging case. It also supports the latest Bluetooth 5.0 standard and all the low-latency audio codecs.
4. Optoma NuForce Be Live5
Best Bluetooth Earbuds
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz Drivers: 8mm Interface: Bluetooth 4.1 Audio Codec: aptX, AAC, SBC Battery Life: 8 hours IP Rating: IPX5 Weight: 13.8g
If you like the idea of wireless earbuds but still have some anxiety about them falling out and down a sewer grate, then maybe a pair of Bluetooth earbuds is what you need. The Optoma NuForce Be Live5, as all Bluetooth earbuds do, comes with a cord connecting the two earbuds that lays on the back of your neck.Not only does this provide a little more security, but the neckband also gives you a way of dangling the earbuds should you need to take one or both of them out. The large band on Bluetooth earbuds can also hold a larger battery, which typically last longer than the small cells built into truly wireless options.
5. JLab Epic Air Sport
Best Earbuds for Running
Drivers: 8mm Interface: Bluetooth 5.0 Audio Codec: SBC Battery Life: 10+ hours Battery Life (case): 60+ hours IP Rating: IP66 Weight: 10g each (144g case)
If you like to move for hours on end, the JLab Epic Air Sport earbuds are a marathon champ. That’s partly on account of their marathon battery life, which offers over 10 hours on a charge. Even the case is loaded with power, delivering an extra 60 hours of battery life to the earbuds. The Epic Air Sport earbuds are particularly well suited for running because of their earhooks, which can help keep them in place even during aggressive running, as well as the array of different eartips that JLab includes in the box. You should have an easy time getting a good fit. Once you’re set, you’re ready to sweat thanks to the IP66 rating. These earbuds also have a key safety feature for running: the ability to turn on ambient sound so you can hear traffic and other potential hazards along your run.6. Apple Airpods
Best Earbuds for Apple Users
Interface: Bluetooth 4.2 Audio Codec: AAC Battery Life: 5 hours Battery Life (case): 24 hours Weight: 8g (38g case)
No list of desirable earbuds would be complete without Apple’s spectacular Airpods. If you own any combination of an iPhone, iPad, Mac computer, or Apple TV, you almost owe it yourself to a pair of these easy to connect wireless earbuds.Of course, you can use Airpods with Android and Windows devices as well, but you’ll miss out on some of the features. However, you’ll still get the main benefits including total wireless freedom, all-day comfort, and superb audio quality. Battery life isn’t the best at only five hours per charge, but that’s certainly enough for your commute or a half marathon.
7. Shure SE215
Best Sound-Isolating Earbuds
Frequency Response: 22Hz-17.5kHz Weight: 28.35g
If youve spent any time around a microphone, youve undoubtedly encountered the Shure brand. The company makes more than just mics though, as Shure also produces quality audio electronics such as these great earbuds. The SE215-K also fit nicely and snug in your ear.Beyond the excellent sound clarity and comfort for $100, the SE215-K have a unique feature where the cable between the earbuds is actually detachable and replaceable. You can go wireless too with an optional Bluetooth cable.
8. RHA CL2 Planar
Best High-End Earbuds
Drivers: 10mm Planar Magnetic driver Interface: Bluetooth, 3.5mm, 2.5mm Frequency Response: 16Hz – 45kHz Impedance: 15 ohms Audio Codec: SBC, AptX Battery Life: 12 hours Weight: 9 grams
There’s only so much you can get out of standard dynamic drivers when they’re shrunk down and jammed into the tiny confines of an earbud. But, what if you didn’t have to rely on a dynamic driver? RHA’s CL2 earbuds rely instead on planar magnetic drivers, which are the go-to option for truly high-fidelity audio. The far greater control over the diaphragm lets these earbuds deliver a much higher-quality audio than you’ll find from your run-of-the-mill earbuds and headphones.They offer a wide frequency response from 16Hz to 45kHz, earning them Hi-Res Audio certification. Plus, these earbuds are more versatile than most others you’ll find, with Bluetooth connectivity alongside multiple wired connection option. So, whether you’re on the go needing quality sounds or a musician wanting mulit-functional, in-ear monitors, these are a top-notch pick.
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
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