Technically speaking, in-the-ear devices for listening to sound have existed for over a century. Early telephones were developed that used ear sets instead of the familiar handset that phones would eventually evolve to use and even early phonographs used headphones that looked quite similar to the ones manufactured today. However, most historians would probably agree that Sony introduced modern earbuds, an innovation that would take the world by storm.
Nowadays, there seem to be versions of the headphones everywhere a person looks. Which can make it difficult for people to choose the best earbuds possible for their particular needs. After all, how do you sort the good ones from the bad ones? Fortunately, we have an answer to that question. We’ve listed ten of the best models possible. One of these are bound to be perfect for even the most jaded audiophile.
Best Earbuds
10Vomercy Wired Earphones With Mic
These headphones come equipped with a number of features which are usually only found on higher-end in-ear models. This includes high-fidelity sound drivers that deliver crisp highs and deep bass notes, a built-in microphone with inline controls and compatibility with a wide array of devices include personal computers, tablets, laptops, Android and iPhones and any other device which uses a 3.5mm audio jack. They also have a stylish design that makes them ideal for use at home, at the office or just about anywhere else good sound quality is desired. And it’s all delivered at a reasonable price.
9Cyber Cart Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
These Bluetooth headphones have a number of features which make it a useful tool for audiophiles, gamers, and anyone else who desires high-quality sound. They have decent sound drivers which kick out beautifully crisp high notes and soulful bass notes and can be paired with not only one device at a time but two. They are also equipped with a high definition microphone with inline controls that allow the user to answer a call and turn the volume up or down. Other features which can be found on these headphones include a durable cord that connects the two ear sets together and soft ear tips which remain comfortable in the user’s ears.
8PWOW In-Ear Wired Earphones With Mic
These headphones are designed to be unobtrusive yet still contain many of the features that audiophiles are looking for in a pair of headphones. They feature 10mm sound drivers which deliver rich, crisp audio and have an anti-winding line that helps keep them in the user’s ears without becoming tangled. They are also equipped with a built-in microphone that reproduces the user’s voice clearly and inline controls that can turn the volume up or down and answer calls. And since these headphones use a 3.5mm audio jack, they can be used with a variety of different devices.
7USTEK Stereo Earphones With Mic
While these headphones only cost a fraction of what other comparable headphones cost, they come with a host of features which will make them useful to just about anybody. They have a stylish and ergonomic design that’s easy to wear for long periods of time and is designed to stay in the user’s ears, even during intense workouts. These headphones also have high-quality sound drivers which can reproduce a nice audio range and allow the wearer to immerse themselves in a truly dynamic listening experience. Other features which are packed into these headphones include a tangle-free stereo cord, a 3.5mm audio jack, a high-quality microphone and inline controls.
6OUCOMI Wired In-Ear Sports Headphones
These headphones come with a number of features which makes them suitable for just about anyone from the casual music listener to people who expect a little bit more out of their headphones. They have a 3.9-foot cable that can be connected to a variety of devices using a 3.5mm audio jack and delivers a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 KHz with a speaker impedance of 16Ω±15%. They also have a built-in microphone which allows the user to use them for hands-free calling and also have an ergonomic design that comes complete with ear hooks for added comfort and stability.
5Mxstudio Wired Sports Earphones With Mic
These headphones are not only designed to be budget friendly but are also designed to deliver high-quality stereo sound as well. It does this using high-quality sound drivers that can drive crisp highs and beautiful mid-range notes, all without sacrificing some of the lower bass notes that cheap headphones often sacrifice. These headphones come with a 3.5mm audio jack, so they can be used with a number of devices including smartphones, tablets, MP4 players and other portable music players. They are also equipped with a high-quality microphone that does a good job of capturing the user’s voice and enables them to use the headphone for hands-free calling.
4BYZ In-Ear Headphones With Mic
These stereo headphones are not only lightweight but they are also packed with several important features. For example, they have high-quality sound drivers which deliver crisp and sharp audio and they also come with three sets of soft ear gels in different sizes so users can choose the ones that fit them the best. These headphones have a premium cable that’s made from TPE, which makes it durable and able to withstand a lot of day-to-day use. Other features which can be found these headphones include compatible with a number of different devices, a high-quality microphone, and inline controls.
3TAIR Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
These headphones are not only comfortable to wear but come with a number of features which makes them quite useful. They have a magnetic design that allows the headphones to be worn as a necklace around the user’s neck when not in use and has soft ear tips which make them comfortable to wear for long periods of time. These wireless headphones quickly and easily pair with Bluetooth devices up to a distance of 33-feet and maintain a stable connection with the device. They also feature noise-canceling technology built right into them that allows the wearer to enjoy their music uninterrupted by the outside world.
2Marsno M1 Wired In-Ear Headphones With Mic
These wired metal headphones are designed to not only stand up to day-to-day use but are made to deliver high-quality precision sound. They are manufactured using an aluminum allow that’s resistant to corrosion and is more durable than many competing headphones. They are also made using oxygen-free copper wires that transmit true sound quality without distortion or interference. And to ensure that the connection is as strong as possible, its 3.5mm jack is plated in gold. Other features that can be found on these headphones include a durable TPE cord, inline control, and a built-in microphone.
1UiiSii DT200 In-Ear Headphone With Mic
These headphones are not only stylish but also deliver great sound quality. They allow the user to immerse themselves in a complete audio experience complete with an extended bass response. They also feature a waterproof microphone and volume controls that allow the user to receive calls easily, no matter what weather conditions they are faced with. These headphones are designed to be compatible with a large variety of different devices including iOS and Android smartphones, tablets and desktop computers. And since it has an ergonomic design with soft silicone ear tips, it can be used for extended periods of time without discomfort.
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How to Find the Best Earbuds
Although most users will choose earphones on a number of factors which really don’t make much sense, such as how much they cost, the manufacturer who makes them and how they look, there are actually more legitimate ways of determining which pair of headphones are right for the consumer. All that a person has to look at are a few variables and they can find a pair of earphones which will provide the sound quality they desire and the features they want. Here are some things to look at when choosing ear buds.
Frequency, Impedance, and Sensitivity
While there isn’t another space in this article to discuss these three factors in detail, there are a few things that we can cover in the scope of this guide. Let’s take a brief overview of them.
The frequency range the headphone provide is measured in hertz and is usually represented by a number such as 15Hz to 20 KHz. While it’s common to see these numbers on headphone listings, they don’t mean much to the average user but do in fact give a lot of information about the headphones. The lower number represents how deep the bass is going to be for a particular set of earphones and the higher number is how high of a treble the unit is going to have. Of course, the human ear can only hear up to 20KHz, so just try to buy a pair of headphones that has a pretty good range.
Impedance is measured in Ohms and lets the user know how much hiss the headphones have. As a general rule, you’ll want to find headphones that have as high as an Ohm value as possible. In other words, try to buy a pair of headphones in your price range that has the highest impedance possible.
Sensitivity is another term which often confuses users. This term is measured in decibels and sound pressure levels. Most people try to get the highest sensitivity levels possible. The higher the sensitivity, the louder the sound will get. Users should beware of sensitivity values too high because human hearing only goes up to 85 decibels. Any louder than this can cause permanent hearing loss.
Sound Drivers
The larger the driver, the better the sound quality usually is. Which is why over-the-ear models can deliver better sound quality than earphones, because they can place the appropriate sized drivers. Generally speaking, a pair of drivers 8mm to 10mm in a pair of earphones is pretty decent.
Ear Hooks
Now that we’ve sorted out sound quality, it’s time to turn out attention to design and one of the first aspects we’re going to look at are if the headphones have ear hooks or not. While most people don’t give them much though, ear hooks really do a good job of holding earphones in a person’s ears. Of course, some people may not like how they feel, so this makes this feature completely optional.
Wired or Wireless
This is another feature which is completely optional. Some people like the convenience of wireless headphones, while other people may not like having to pair the headphones with the device. If you choose a wireless model, be sure that it conforms to the Bluetooth 4.1 standard, or higher. This ensures that it will pair easily with the device and will keep a stable connection. For those of you who plan on using wired headphones, be sure to choose one that has a cord made from a durable material such as TPE, uses oxygen-free copper and uses a gold-plated 3.5mm audio jack. This ensures the best connection possible.
Noise-Canceling Features
Headphones which have noise-cancellation are usually more expensive than models which don’t have them. Of course, not everyone needs this feature or need to shell out the extra money to have this feature. If you don’t plan on using your headphones for receiving calls, then you can probably skip this feature altogether.
Microphones
As is the case with noise cancellation, not everyone needs a microphone, much less an HD one. If you plan on using your headphones for answering or making calls, then be sure to get one with the best microphone possible, but if you intend on only using them for listening to music, then you can skip this feature altogether.
Price
No discussion on earphones would be complete without mentioning the price. Always be sure to shop within your budget and not try to spend extra money on features that you may not need. If you keep within your budget, you can rest assured that most of your purchases will make you happy and you won’t end up feeling cheated. Just because a pair of headphones is expensive doesn’t mean it’s all that much better than a more affordable model.
