First of all, thank to
In-ear headphones are for the social listener. They're lighter, smaller, and altogether more portable than their over- or on-ear cousins, while their placement in the ear canals gives them natural noise-isolating abilities. As a result, they're most in their element when used on the go, whether that's on a morning commute, a red eye flight, or a run at the gym.
Perhaps more than anything else, in-ears are convenient. There's a reason they're usually the type of headphones that come bundled with other devices: They're easy to replace, easy to pack, and easy to carry on your person. They're commonly the most affordable type of headphones that you'll find, too.
Naturally, those positives beget a set of negatives. For one, it's difficult to maintain a high level of sound quality when you shrink the speakers that sound is coming through. Especially on the budget end, in-ear headphones generally lack the fullness and definition of roomier cans.
Since these things are made to be jammed into your ears, it's also difficult to find a pair of in-ears that are totally comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. They're more prone to shoddier builds as well, and their dual wires are quicker to tangle.
You can bypass most of those downsides, however, if you know where to look. There are thousands of in-ear headphones vying for your internet dollars these days, but only a select few have that magic combination of portability, comfort, rich sound quality, respectable build quality, and overall value for their price.
After scouring dozens of expert reviews across the web and sorting through a few hundred candidates, we think we've found those select few. We've also given them a "BI Rating," which blends our opinions with those of fellow headphone reviewers across the web. (Read
more about that here.) Here are our picks for the best in-ear headphones you can pick up today, for any price range.
Update (11/25/15): We've tested a number of new in-ear headphones since this guide was first published, and we'll have a refreshed list very soon. While we stand by all of our picks below, we can say right now that we're going to add the Master & Dynamic ME05 (which we've previously reviewed) and RHA S500(i) to the "For Premium Performance" and "For Budget Buyers" sections, respectively.
FOR BUDGET BUYERS
AmazonPanasonic RPTCM125K Headphones, $10.97.
The Panasonic RP-TCM125 Ergo Fits are one of those rare tech jewels that are both good and cheap. Hovering around a comically low $10, the
RP-TCM125s have a remarkably balanced sound that works across genres, in a design that rarely gets loose in your ears. You can't expect the world for $10, but the performance here is well above the price point.
They aren't much to look at, but they come in a range of colors, and they include an inline remote (sans volume control) and microphone for added utility.
The Verge,
The Wirecutter,
Tom's Guide, and virtually any other review outlet we could find have sung the RP-TCM125's praises as well. This is simply an outstanding bargain.
Pros:
- Super affordable
- Good, bass-forward sound for the price
- Light and snug
Cons:
- Bland design
- Can only get so much performance at this price
AmazonMEElectronics A151 Balanced Armature In-Ear Headphones, $32.65.
These
black and silver beauties were priced at $75 when they launched in 2011, but after a few cuts they now find themselves as one of the better values on the market. Although they're a tad light on the bass, they excel in the highs and mids, providing consistently warm, clean, and detailed tones.
Beyond that, they're mature looking, include five sets of ear tips to ensure you find a good fit, and feature a braided cable that's a bit more resistant to tangling than most competitors. Reviewers at
The Wirecutter,
CNET,
In Ear Matters,
Head-Fi, and many others have approved over the years. They may only be $35 — or $40 for a mic'd up model — but that low price isn't indicative of the A151's quality.
Pros:
- Highly detailed and pleasant sound for the money
- Well-built with good cable
- Comes with multiple ear tips
Cons:
- Not for bass fans
- No volume control on remote
AmazonSony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass Earbud Headset, $31.97.
We could've gone many ways with our final budget-level recommendation, but in the end we didn't want to leave the bassheads out in the cold. The
MDR-XB50s are bass specialists, so they're best suited for hip-hop and electronic tracks, but those lows are both strong and satisfying without muddying up everything around it. Build wise, the MDR-XB50s are large, but well-made, with a durable, tangle-resistant cable, and earpieces that don't slip easily.
They're fantastic thumpers, and at $35, they aren't much of a risk either. They also come backed by stellar user reviews across retailers. If you'd like a more sonically balanced alternative to our two choices above, however, have a look at the
Brainwavz Delta — just be warned of the many build quality complaints that have been directed towards it — or the
Sol Republic Relays Sport — which don't sound as great but are superbly comfortable for active use.
Pros:
- Good, heavy bass
- Comfortable in the ear
Cons:
- Large for an IEM
- Mids and highs take a back seat
FOR THE MID-RANGE
AmazonSony XBAH1 Hybrid 2-Way Driver In-Ear Headphones, $148.
Like any kind of tech, in-ear headphones noticeably improve in quality the higher you go up the price scale. That much is evident as we highlight the
XBA-H1s, a higher-end pair of Sonys that best the aforementioned XB50s in every way.
These are
The Wirecutter's pick for best $200 in-ear headphones, but what's great about them is that they don't even cost that much. For $150, they offer supremely accurate and well-balanced sound across frequencies and musical genres, along with a svelte design and various eartips that aren't uncomfortable in the ear.
TechRadar has kind words to say about them, too. The one notable downside here is the XBA-H1's lack of inline controls, but that's easy to forgive when you get a sound profile with so few weaknesses.
Pros:
- Superbly balanced and clear sound
- Stylish and finely crafted
- Includes lots of ear tips
Cons:
- No built-in remote or mic
AmazonRHA MA750 Noise Isolating Premium In-Ear Headphone, $119.95.
Reid and Heath Acoustics isn't as big of a name as some of the other entries on our shortlist, but the Glasgow-based company has been pumping out refined, high-performing in-ears for years now. The $120
MA-750s get our attention here for a few reasons: They're beautiful, for one, with a sturdy stainless steel finish that gives off a high-class look and feel. They also sound wonderful for the money — spacious and detailed, with highs and lows that are noticeably forceful. There's a good bit of noise isolation here, too.
The only trip up comes with actually getting the things on, since their copper cable swings around the ear and the buds themselves are a little weighty. RHA provides a truckload of tips for you to choose from, however, and once they're on they're quite comfortable.
Countless reviews across the web have lauded the MA-750s; combine that with their included three-year warranty, and you have one of the surest bets on our list.
Pros:
- Powerful sound with rich lows
- Stainless steel design
- Good noise isolation
Cons:
- Heavy
- Can be awkward to put on
- Mids could be a little more defined
AmazonSennheiser Momentum In-Ear (Android version), $95.
This
entry in Sennheiser's bass-centric Momentum line isn't quite as spectacular as some of the German manufacturer's past efforts — for $100, though, it provides a reliable and affordable way for fans of the low-end to get their fix. It throws a truckload of powerful yet clear bass at everything it touches, which is glorious for the crowd it's aiming at. That comes at the expense some of sharpness in the mids, but its treble is crisp enough, and nothing ever really gets close to being unbearable.
Again, it's great for what it is, but it's worth knowing what you're getting into. Either way, the Momentum's buds are stylish despite their largely plastic build, and the whole thing comes with a functional inline mic and control set for either iOS or Android devices. It fits well, too.
Virtually every
review we've
found for the
Momentum has been
positive.
Pros:
- Thunderous yet clear bass
- Lightweight and good looking
Cons:
- Mids get swallowed a bit
- Made of plastic
FOR PREMIUM PERFORMANCE
AmazonBose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones, $299.
Although they lack the sonic qualities of fellow $250 buds,
Bose's QuietComfort 20s are the king of noise-cancelling in-ear headphones. They hold a stellar 4.5 user rating on Amazon after more than 1,600 reviews, and professional
testers are just as approving.
While all in-ears can quiet external noises to an extent, few, if any, competitors in this category can hush the outside world as deeply as the QC20s can. At the same time, the buds also come with a feature Bose calls "Aware Mode," which tones down the noise-cancelling tech at the press of a button to help you hear your surroundings without muting your music.
Although the QC20s are noticeably comfortable in the ear, you should only pay for them if you need that noise-cancelling tech. The actual sound quality of the buds is good, but nothing special. It lacks in bass and is generally not as expressive as a $250 pair of headphones should be.
As noise-cancelling headphones, the QC20s also come with a small built-in battery pack, which is a pain to lug around even if it gets you up around 15 hours of near-silence on a single charge. That said, if you need the peace and quiet, the QC20s are far and away the go-to pick.
Pros:
- Best in class noise cancellation
- Remarkably compact and comfortable
Cons:
- Sound quality is decent, but not on level of others in price range
- Battery isn't replaceable
AmazonHiFiMan RE-600 Songbird High Performance In-Ear Monitor, $149.
HiFiMan's RE-600s aren't the flashiest looking pair of in-ears in the world, but they more than make up for that blandness by providing some of the clearest reproduction on this side of the market. They specialize in being as faithful to a given recording as possible. Neither the high-end nor the low-end is particularly boosted here; instead, every type of track is just laid out as it is, clean and neutral.
There's no inline mic or phone controls, but the RE-600s' aluminum earpieces are tiny and light, even by typical in-ear standards. From both a comfort and a sonic standpoint, they're easy to slip in and forget about. Formerly priced around $400, the audiophile-focused buds now go for $195 (and occasionally less than that). Once again,
reviews across the
web are
favorable.
Pros:
- Wonderfully transparent sound
- Very light and tiny
Cons:
- No inline controls
- Not particularly stylish
AmazonBowers & Wilkins C5 S2 In-Ear Headphones (Black), $174.95.
The follow-up to Bowers & Wilkins' popular C5 earbuds, the $160
C5 Series 2 are a bountiful high-end option for bass lovers. Like their predecessors, the C5 S2s can sound absolutely massive without distorting sounds on any end, even at higher decibel levels. Full, lively bass is definitely the focal point, but the highs here are still bright and clear as the lows thump away. All of that's aided by a remote and microphone combo that's specifically tailored towards iPhone users. (Sorry, Android and Windows Phone fans.)
Most reviews of the C5 S2s
tend to
agree on its
sound quality, but responses are more mixed when it comes to its design. What's there looks slick, but it's not totally practical. The in-ears use a loop design that's meant to stick within your ear — but they could either have a hard time staying still if your ears are too big, or just give you some soreness if your ears are too small. You'll definitely want to make sure everything fits before committing; thankfully, B&W gives you a 2-year warranty with any purchase. If everything checks out, you'll have plenty of rich lows to bump to.
Pros:
- Strong, bass-forward yet balanced sound
- Striking looks
Cons:
- Might be a difficult fit
- Inline controls leave non-iOS users in the cold
