Today the streets are crowded with young people with headphones in their ears. Everyone is passionate about music: both young and old, which is why the supply of audio devices on the market has increased so sharply. They offer headsets for every taste, from banal plugs to cool audiophile versions. But how do you choose a really good pair among such abundance? Our headphone rating will help you with this, bringing together the most prominent representatives of various categories. So, let's start getting acquainted.
Open type
Open-back headphones are designed to allow the user to perceive surrounding sounds while listening to music. They can be either earbuds or plugs, or a full-size model, where the outer and side walls allow air and sounds to pass through as much as possible.
Earbuds
Let's start our review of open-back headphones with the simplest earbuds. They are devoid of resonating components that provide external noise reduction, so the listener receives the full effect of stage sound.
CGPods Lite
pros
- Low price
- Moisture resistance
- Surround soft sound
- 20 hours of work away from the socket
- Convenient control from headphones
Minuses
- The case is not waterproof
From 3500 ₽
Headphones from the Tyumen brand CaseGuru are moisture-resistant. This is an extremely rare option for wireless headphones - even the expensive Apple AirPods are not protected from moisture. But CGPods Lite is four times cheaper than headphones from the Apple brand.
CGPods Lite can be washed and you can shower in them. They are equipped with a so-called “anti-stress case” with a velvety coating. This case is very pleasant to turn in your hands and click the lid with a magnetic lock.
You can only purchase CaseGuru headphones and other accessories online. At a fair price directly from the manufacturer. With delivery throughout Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Apple AirPods 2 with Charging Case
pros
- 5 hours of work
- voice dialing, microphone
- weight 4 g
- box charging for 24 hours
Minuses
- volume control from phone
From 11280 ₽
Apple's most popular wireless headphones with microphones in each ear, capable of working for up to 5 hours at a time. Controlled by sensors or using Siri with voice control. As if by magic, Apple's wireless headphones have become one of the company's most popular products. The built-in noise-cancelling microphone ensures high-quality voice capture during calls.
Panasonic RP-HV094
pros
- price
- impedance 17 ohms
- wire 1.2 m
- loud noise
Minuses
- no clothespin
- without microphone
From 209 ₽
At this price you shouldn't expect rich sound, but Panasonic showed that you can make high-quality and reliable ears even for 200 rubles. The L-shaped plug is wear-resistant. The bass, however, only hints at its presence, but otherwise it’s an excellent model.
Plug-in
Open-type headphones reproduce mostly mid and high frequencies. Bass lovers should take a closer look at closed ear pad options. Such models are well suited for those who like to listen to classical recordings.
Sony MDR-EX450
pros
- L-shaped gold plated plug
- 4 pairs of ear pads
- adjustable wire 1.2 m
Minuses
- without microphone
From 1474 ₽
Wired headphones reproduce a wide frequency range, 5-25,000 Hz, and thanks to the aluminum housing, vibrations are minimal. The length of the wire is adjusted with a slider. There is a remote control for tracks and calls. There is no microphone.
Creative EP-630
pros
- impedance 16 ohms
- double cord 1.2 m
- Neodymium magnets
- 3 pairs of ear pads
Minuses
- without remote control
- the ear pads are falling off
From 878 ₽
A good model of headphones for a phone with a harmonious frequency distribution. If we compare it with Sony, then this one loses, and its price is lower. Gold-plated straight L-shaped plug and neodymium magnets provide great sound. But control is only from the phone.
Invoices
On-ear headphones themselves partially transmit sounds, and due to their open type, you don’t have to worry about noise absorption. Below we will compare the headphones of 2 mastodons of musical technology, Sony and Koss. Who will win? You decide.
Sony MDR-ZX660AP
pros
- fabric headband
- microphone
- weight 193 g
- Neodymium magnets
Minuses
- permanent cable
- 1 control button
From 2504 ₽
The device gives the impression of flimsiness due to cheap plastic and rough, non-removable wire. But the sound is good, to say the least. The headband presses a little, but this is the case with almost all over-ear versions. The microphone has good audibility.
Koss Porta Pro Casual
pros
- folding
- weight 79 g
- deep bass
Minuses
- high impedance, 60 ohms
- denim style
From 2190 ₽
The skeleton model will appeal to gamers. Here everything is adjusted manually: seating depth, fit. The body of these gaming headphones conveniently folds into a ring. The 1.2 m cord ends with a straight gold-plated 3.5 mm jack. A resistance of 60 ohms requires an appropriate source.
Full size
Among the full-size (covering the entire ear) models, we will take the most interesting options from the best manufacturers of headphones for music - Audio-Technica and Shure. Large ear pads provide a comfortable fit, and powerful membranes provide rich sound.
Shure SRH1440
pros
- detachable cord 2.1 m
- range 15-27,000 Hz
- power up to 1,000 mW
- replaceable pads
Minuses
- weight 343 g
- without microphone
From 16614 ₽
These are top-of-the-line studio headphones with a detachable Kevlar-sheathed cable. There is an adapter from 3.5 mm jack to 6.5 mm. The sound is bomb, the highs are especially audible. An impedance of 37 Ohms allows you to connect a player.
Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X
pros
- range 5-30,000 Hz
- power up to 500 mW
- membrane 53 mm
- 3 m cable with 6.5 mm adapter
Minuses
- clings to hair
- permanent wire
From 11290 ₽
The headphones provide balanced sound with high detail. This is a good gaming or studio option. The only pity is that the cable cannot be replaced with a shorter one, otherwise everything is fine. There is no sound insulation at all, so it is better to use them at home as headphones for a computer or laptop.
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
The best wireless noise-canceling headphones.
The well-deserved silver in the ranking of the best full-size headphones of 2021 goes to wireless headphones with excellent noise reduction - BOSE NOISE CANCELLING 700 ($275).
Wireless headphones with active noise cancellation, built-in voice assistant and level switching.
Main characteristics
- Noise Cancellation: Active (ANC)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
- Work profile support: Handsfree, A2DP, Headset, AVRCP
- Range: 10 m
- Support: AAC, Handsfree, A2DP, Headset, AVRCP
- Fast charging: 15 minutes - 3.5 hours of operation
- Working time: 20 h
- Charging time: 2.5 h
- Connector: USB Type-C
Equipment
- Headphones
- Carrying case
- USB A-Type-C cable
- Cable 2.5 mm - 3.5 mm
- User guide
Video review
- Excellent noise reduction.
- Sound quality.
- Adequate touch controls.
- Design.
- Quality of materials and workmanship.
- Great job as a headset.
- Convenience. Slightly less comfortable in the headband than the Bose 35 II or Sony 1000 MX3.
- Price.
Closed type
Many people believe that the best headphones for music are closed models. After all, the ear pads in them are created in such a way as to isolate the listener as much as possible from extraneous noise. We won’t argue: there is no comrade according to taste and color. We’ll just list the most worthy closed-back headphones of various variations.
Earbuds
Among the earbuds, we invite you to compare the characteristics of Bluetooth ears and their wired counterpart. Some transmit sound quickly, but require you to constantly carry a smartphone, while others allow freedom of movement (approx. 10 m), but slightly “slow down” sound transmission.
Sennheiser MX 170
pros
- impedance 32 Ohm
- volume 109 dB
- L-shaped cord 1.2 m
- ear pads
Minuses
- thin wire
- no microphone, remote control
From 329 ₽
The headphones are equipped with removable ear pads for greater sound insulation. The wire, according to users, is flimsy and gets dull in the cold. But it has a normal length, although the track control panel and microphone are missing. The sound is average for the class.
Canyon CNS-SBTHS1
pros
- resistance 16 ohms
- 6 hours of work via Bluetooth
- convenient remote control
- 3 pairs of ear pads
Minuses
- signal disappears
From 890 ₽
A modern bluetooth headset that is suitable for sports. The manufacturer claims a battery life of 6 hours, users say that 3 hours is the limit. Strong, fits tightly in the ears, music is 4-ku. The connection periodically disappears.
You might be interested in:
- TOP 20 good headphones with microphone
- Top 20 jbl headphones: the best models for every taste
Plug-in
Among closed-back in-ear headphones, the top includes models from Sennheiser and Fostex. Candidates were selected based on sound quality and reliability. Sound insulation was not the last criterion.
Sennheiser IE 40 Pro
pros
- build quality
- wire 1.3 m
- 4 types of ear pads
- good sound
Minuses
- no microphone
From 6983 ₽
This model is new for 2021. The company has released completely new headphones, not similar to the previous model. The body has been enlarged, and a mount behind the ears has appeared with free rotation of the wire. The sound is clear, without distortion. Bass is audible, but not prominent.
Fostex TE-04
pros
- microphone, remote control
- power up to 5 mW
- detachable cable
- 4 pairs of ear pads
Minuses
- thin braided cord
From 3717 ₽
Judging by the sound, here it is balanced. Conversations over the microphone are also not satisfactory; its location is just right. It's good that the cable is removable, otherwise the original one is too thin.
Invoices
The editors chose the unbreakable Urbanears Plattan 2 headphones and a beautiful pair of Onkyo H500M as the best closed-back over-ear models. Both leaders are lightweight, wired, with acceptable sound quality.
Urbanears Plattan 2
pros
- design
- iPhone support
- detachable cable
- strong
Minuses
- the rim fabric gets smeared
- no volume control
From 2189 ₽
In this model of headphones for iPhone, the high frequencies are slightly overestimated, which is corrected by the equalizer settings. The headband presses on the head, like almost all false ears. The build quality is simply excellent, the cables (2) are braided with fabric. The remote control, however, does not have a volume control: a flaw.
Onkyo H500M
pros
- stylish, foldable
- low impedance, 16 ohms
- range 7-40,000 Hz
- cord 3.5 m
Minuses
- no volume settings
- broken temples
From 6399 ₽
These headphones easily play audio files from any players due to their low impedance, and also play music in the range of 7-40 thousand Hertz. The cord is long, replaceable, but without volume control. The rim is fragile and requires care.
Full size
Full-size closed ears are the very creation that will allow you to enjoy clear sound without extraneous noise and the risk of damaging your eardrum with too loud music. Plus: no one can hear what's playing in their ears.
Pioneer SE-MS5T
pros
- range 9-40,000 Hz
- beautiful
- microphone, remote control
- full sound
Minuses
- weight 290 g
- plastic fasteners
From 3688 ₽
Let's start with the cons. For large cups, they are secured with plastic clips, which often break. The service does not fix them. The rest is just positives. Playback requires individual settings, but then plays perfectly. The isolation in these noise-canceling headphones is 5-star.
Sony MDR-7506
pros
- convenient for work
- Neodymium magnets
- clear sound of instruments
Minuses
- acid HF
From 6950 ₽
This model is intended for studio work. The impedance of 63 Ohms and the 6.3 mm adapter with gold-plated contacts are proof of this. Each instrument is clearly distinguishable, but frequencies of 4-7 Hz sound slightly acidic. These are some of the best headphones.
TOP best full-size headphones for home in 2021
| № | Name | Description | Price |
| 1. | Sony MDR-1A | The best over-ear wired headphones of 2021 | 245$ |
| 2. | Master&Dynamic MW65 | The best closed-back monitor headphones | 380$ |
| 3. | Jabra Evolve 65 | Best headphones for phone calls | 160$ |
| 4. | Denon AH-D9200 | The best full-size high-end closed-back headphones | 1650$ |
| 5. | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT | The best professional headphones for the studio | 165$ |
Semi-open type
Semi-open headphones are a reasonable compromise between open and closed versions. They don't make your ears so tired when used for a long time, but sound insulation will be present to some extent. Below we will consider insert, overhead and full-size options.
Plug-in
The best in-ear, semi-open headphone models are usually made from metal: it is more reliable than plastic and does not create audio interference. As a result, sound quality improves. We present the semi-professional device Dunu Titan 5 and a simpler option, Onkyo E700M.
Dunu Titan 5
pros
- ergonomics
- choice of ear pads
- 6.3 mm jack adapter
- removable cable 1.2 m with remote control
Minuses
- no microphone
From 6105 ₽
The ear-friendly headset features a titanium membrane and delivers clear sound. The bass is clearly audible, no adjustments with equalizers or other enhancers are needed: put it on and listen. The remote control does not have a microphone, this is a mistake, but not critical.
Onkyo E700M
pros
- fit tightly in the ears
- double wire
- instruments can be heard clearly
Minuses
- no volume control
From 3799 ₽
This model does not strain your ears if you listen to music for a long time. Good sound of different genres, from rock to jazz and classical, even when using a smartphone. Yes, the volume is adjustable from the player, but this is the only negative.
Invoices
Due to the shape and size of the ear pads, over-ear headphones fit the definition of a semi-open headset. They do not completely cover the pinna, allowing external sounds to reach the user's hearing. Wired and Bluetooth models have been selected for testing.
Nobby Comfort B-215
pros
- touch control
- Bluetooth and wire
- 15 hours of autonomy
Minuses
- microphone is weak
From 989 ₽
If you need to buy a wireless headset for watching movies, then this is an excellent choice. The ears provide a stable connection even through 2 walls and sudden movements. The microphone works at 3, the music is also not pleasing with its depth.
SmartBuy Trio
pros
- bright
- headband adjustment
- sound without distortion
Minuses
- no volume control, microphone
- put pressure on the ears
From 424 ₽
The headphones are suitable for teenagers or girls with small heads: the headband compresses very much. And acidic colors speak about the purpose of the accessory. You can't talk on the phone in them. The sound is not bad, but it can only be adjusted by the player.
Full size
Large semi-open headphones are good because, thanks to the presence of holes in the body, the ears and head have the opportunity to rest when wearing the accessory for a long time. Plus, you can hear what’s going on around you without being too overloaded with sounds from the device.
Fostex T60RP
pros
- headband adjustment
- cord 1.5 m
- adapter 6.3 mm
- gold plated connectors
Minuses
- weight 380 g
From 22490 ₽
Professional model with a resistance of 50 Ohms and a maximum power of 3000 mW. Very picky about the quality of audio media. Gives a super wide scene with crisp detail. The ears do not get tired at all, despite the weight.
Axelvox HD242
pros
- detachable cable
- adapter 6.3 mm
- sound transmission
Minuses
- ears are sweating
From 2534 ₽
Inexpensive headphones with good sound and gold-plated contacts. They are suitable for home audio mixing. Lightweight, only 222 g, does not weigh on your head. Sound with a wide stage, rich bass. The downside is the leatherette ear pads.
Jays v-Jays: the lightest headphones
Very modest and fragile headphones in appearance. And their cost can make a music lover laugh. However, all complaints disappear after you start trying the Jays v-Jays headphones in action. They sound very good. And the minimal weight greatly simplifies transportation. Many owners of this accessory use it even on the street, connecting it to their smartphone. The absence of any sound insulation at such moments only helps - it provides a chance to hear the approaching danger. But much more often, headphones are used in conjunction with a laptop.
Advantages:
- Low impedance - only 24 Ohms;
- Minimum weight of approximately 59 grams;
- Convenient folding design;
- The sound quality isn't bad;
- An extension cord is included in the kit;
- Gold-plated connectors are used;
- There are two pairs of replaceable ear pads;
- Minimum cost - headphones can be purchased for 1000 rubles.
Flaws:
- The lack of soundproofing may confuse some;
- Two-way cable connection is used;
- The cable is very short by default - its length does not exceed 60 cm.
The most expensive
Here we will look at a Hi-End headset from Shure, capable of working autonomously and with a wire, as well as professional full-size headphones from Beyerdynamic. And for a snack, let’s introduce the universal Westone W60 plugs with ideal sound insulation.
Shure SE846
pros
- impedance 9 ohms
- 4-way
- detachable cables
- sound insulation 37 dB
- Bluetooth up to 8 hours
Minuses
- short cable
From 31350 ₽
Hi-End class headphones have 4 armature drivers, which ensures clear reproduction of low, mid and high frequencies, but especially bass (2 drivers). They work both with a wire and autonomously. Compatible with all devices.
Beyerdynamic T 5p
pros
- range 5-50,000 Hz
- distortion 0.05%
- 3 m extension cable, aircraft adapter
- professional sound
Minuses
- weight 350 g
- permanent thin wire
From 55550 ₽
This full-size headset delivers highly detailed audio with a wide frequency range. A separate musical instrument and voice intonations are clearly audible, and the nuances of sound are captured. The rim doesn't press. A non-removable wire is bad.
Westone W60
pros
- reinforcement, 6 drivers
- 100% soundproofing
- loud
- detachable wire
- replaceable body pads, ear pads
Minuses
- pads break
- the price bites
From 58851 ₽
Despite their size, these earbuds are the most expensive headphones in the review. It cannot be otherwise: there are as many as 6 drivers here, bringing the sound to crystal clarity. In-ear position and 25 dB isolation allow you to fully enjoy your music.
Which monitor headphones are best to buy?
Which monitor headphones are better and which ones to choose?
The rating of monitor headphones for 2021 is based on studio models under $100 . Inexpensive monitor headphones are mostly 2-in-1 home stationary headphones, both for work and for music. These headphones are best suited for home studios and equipment that is not as powerful as in studios.
By and large, there is no difference between the names “studio” and “monitor” headphones. These are slang unofficial names that mean one thing - high-quality full-size headphones with natural sound for working with sound. Accordingly, the choice of monitor headphones is no different from the choice of studio headphones. But the choice of full-size headphones is much wider, for example.
