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If you want to listen to your favourite music while you’re out and about, you need the best wired earbuds. You can listen to motivational music at the gym, classical music on a long flight, or a bunch of the best podcasts on your way to and from work.
Even though some phones don’t have headphone jacks, that doesn’t mean that earbuds are a thing of the past. Earbuds are easy to use and can cost much less than wireless headphones.
The first AirPods from Apple were met with some scepticism at first, but the idea of cordless earbuds quickly caught on. Since then, many other brands have done the same, and wireless headphones are now the most popular way to listen to music.
Best Wired Earbuds
Etymotic ER2SE
Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 7.4 x 4.2 x 2.2 inches |
| Item Weight | 6.7 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Etymotic Research |
| Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth |
If you don’t mind how it fits, you’ll find that, like the Shure AONIC Free, the ER2SE cancels out background noise. The narrow-diameter nozzles and multi-flange ear tips are what make this great isolation possible.
Etymotic comes with a bunch of different ear tips that you can try out and a carrying case. For the price, it will be hard to find a better pair of headphones that block out background noise.
Pros
- better pair of headphones
- multi-flange ear tips
Cons
- background noise
Sennheiser CX 300S
Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 8.03 x 1.1 x 4.33 inches |
| Item Weight | 0.352 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Sennheiser |
| Form Factor | In Ear |
| Color | Black |
Sennheiser is one of the most well-known brands of audio equipment. The CX 300S wired earbuds are a top choice because they give the average listener a lot of value without breaking the bank.
The headphones have a traditional “bullet-style” look and feel, and they fit low in your ears. This style is great if you want a subtle look, but it might not work for people who need a tighter fit.
Pros
- Simple, classic design
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Nothing flashy in the sound department
Sony Wired Extra Bass
Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 8.03 x 1.1 x 4.33 inches |
| Item Weight | 0.352 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Sennheiser |
| Form Factor | In Ear |
The Sony Extra Bass In-Ear Headphones are our top pick for headphones with wires. They use a bass duct design to keep low-end sounds clear and separate magnetic drivers are small and compact, but they are also very sensitive.
With four sizes of tips, you can be sure that they will fit your ears well, no matter how big or small they are. The cable doesn’t get tangled, and it’s almost 4 feet long, so you can put your device in your pocket or on a table in front of you without straining.
Pros
- reasonably priced
- built-in mic
Cons
- standard 3.5mm jack
1More Triple Driver
Specifications
| Acoustic design | Closed |
| Weight | N/A |
| Frequency response | 20 – 40,000Hz |
| Drivers | Dynamic |
The 1More Triple Driver in-ear headphones are the best wired earbuds you can buy today. After using the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones and the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones for a few weeks, we were amazed at how much value each one gave for its price.
At this price, it’s hard to find earphones that sound better than the 1MORE Triple Driver. Still, even at twice the price, the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones are a great deal if you want a little more style and high-end materials.
Pros
- Lush sound quality
- Excellent build and design
Cons
- Plastic remote feels cheap
Moondrop – Starfield IEMs
Specifications
| Form Factor | In Ear |
| Dimensions | 6.38 x 4.17 x 2.44 inches |
| Item Weight | 9.9 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Moondrop |
If you have around $100 to spend, a lot of users and even pros will tell you that you should get IEMs instead of headphones. The Moondrop Starfield IEMs make a strong case for this. The Starfields look and feel very high-end right off the bat.
The bright blue paint job and grey logos and graphics make it look like the money was well spent. Zinc-aluminum alloy is used to make the die-cast shells, which makes me think of two things: high performance and durability.
Pros
- Well priced
- Well built
Cons
- Cable design
KZ ZSN Pro X
Specifications
| Item Weight | 2.08 ounces |
| Manufacturer | CCA |
| Model Name | ZSN PRO X |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
The isolation is also surprisingly good, and KZ gives you four sets of silicone ear tips with sizes ranging from 10 to 14 mm. It’s important to take a moment to figure out which ear tips fit your ears best.
Even though this headset doesn’t have a lot of features, it does come with a built-in mic and remote so you can take calls and control your music. The “return to previous track” button on our headset doesn’t work, but it does on all others.
Pros
- silicone ear tips
Cons
- background noise
FAQs
Which is the best wired earbuds?
- Sony – MDRXB55AP
- Moondrop – Starfield IEMs
- Final Audio – A4000
- Campfire Audio
Are there still wired earbuds?
Even though wireless headphones have taken over the market, wired earbuds may still have a place. More and more people are buying wireless headphones like Apple’s AirPods, but there are still reasons why wired earbuds won’t go away anytime soon.
Do wired earbuds make sense?
Yes, they are a bit inconvenient because they have cords, but you get a lot for the trouble. Wired headphones are a good deal because they have better sound quality, last longer, don’t need to be charged, and don’t cause latency.