The Best Wired Headphones for Budding Audiophiles in 2024

While we’ve dubbed the Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X as our top pick for beginner audiophiles, we’d probably recommend most newbies start out on a value pair of wired over-ears like this Audio-Technica option. They go for less than fifty quid and we’re sure you’ll recognise the design – with its massive logo across the headband – as a mainstay in studios and glimpsed on the head of many podcasters.

Let’s be honest, the look of these may be a bit sterile and boring, but they’re lightweight and focused on conveying details within music and recordings. These are solid cans that are happy to be used every single day and are made for monitoring or studio production – at this price point, they may well be unmatched.

Sennheiser’s IE 200 earbuds are tuned to get the most out of your playlists, with an exceptional level of detail and an expansive soundstage that brings out the best in all genres, but particularly impressed when we listened to rock and indie music. You’ll see them described as “precise” and “balanced” – and that’s exactly what you get. This is an affordable route into audiophile-grade quality.

It took us a moment to appreciate the buds’ neutral approach when we stuck them in our ears straight after wearing a bass-heavy pair of headphones (the Sennheiser Momentum 4) but when it clicks, it clicks. We fired up Muse’s Hysteria, Rage Against the Machine’s Bombtrack and the Arctic Monkeys' Hello You and heard tiny instrumental details that we’ve never spotted before when listening on chunkier over-ears or non-wired Bluetooth buds.

While finding the right fit is fiddly, they are lightweight and comfy to wear, plus the build is excellent throughout, especially the braided cable which feels durable. The overall design of the buds is fairly standard – only coming in black – but we really like that they come with both silicone and foam tips and that the wiring closest to the buds is thicker so it can be shaped around your ear for a stronger hold. That said, we did find the wire got in the way when we were trying to find the right seal.

There’s a lot of shared design language between Grado headphones, so you aren’t going to see a massive difference in style between a more entry-level pair like the SR80x when compared to the more expensive SR325x. However, you’re getting a ton of value for £99 when you pick up this set of cans, which deliver a pure hi-fi experience without any extra frills. Like every Grado, they’re handmade in Brooklyn, New York and focus on sound quality above everything else. The stripped-back and distinctive aesthetic keeps these lightweight (more so than the SR325x) and Grado says its SR80 line is its oldest “continuously-made” model, going back to 1991.

The same concerns that apply to other Grado headphones still exist here – the open-back design leaks a lot of sound if you play them loud and they’re not comfortable to wear for hours on end – but that open-back approach also means you get a much more expansive soundstage over closed-back rivals, and there’s quite a lot of treble on these compared to “consumer” cans.

There’s also punchy and controlled bass too, and a fantastic amount of energy and detail. Like any other Grado pair, these are repairable and you can replace the foam ear pads if they start to wear down. If you need a new cable or a more complex repair, they may need to go back to the “Grado Labs” in the US – reassuring, but not the most convenient if you don’t live in America.

These terrific in-ears are tuned to enhance your playlists, with excellent stereo imaging, a wide soundstage, loads of detail, punchy bass and clear highs. We’ve got no complaints whatsoever when it comes to the audio – these sound gorgeous with all music, whether we’re listening to vocal-heavy tracks, thumpy electronica or sweeping soundtracks. They boast an exceptional level of detail and expansive spaciousness, and offer loads of comfort for long listening sessions in addition to the terrific passive noise isolation that works just as well as noise-cancelling.

We're big fans of the classy “Shibo” finish of Final headphones like the ZE8000 flagship true wireless buds and the UX3000 over-ears, and these sport that same fingerprint-resistant texture (which is a lot like what you’ll find on high-end cameras). They come with loads of different ear tips to help you find the right fit and are small enough to deliver a cosy fit, with the cables bending over behind your ear. It’s great that Final includes some ear hooks to help with this process, but we found them more than comfortable enough without using the hooks.

We’re big fans of the simplicity on offer from the Final VR2000 and while we know some will worry about the lack of removable cable, you’re not going to find anything better for gaming at this price. We reckon this offers terrific audio for video games and its rendition of live performances and complex electronic music that makes the most of three-dimensional sound.

That’s because they’re designed to have a large soundstage with exceptional detail, which makes them a perfect pick for gamers who need to pick out every subtle sound like the rustle of footsteps behind them in Call of Duty. Basically, these give you that “superhuman” hearing effect and make the whole thing that much more immersive.

The VR2000 makes for a super easy plug-and-play option with loads of great-fitting ear tips in the box, a sleek design overall and some excellent passive isolation to keep you focused on your game and not distracted by the outside world. For £60, you can’t ask for much more.

For a remarkable performer at a low price, we’d go with the SoundMagic E11C, which you can pick up for under fifty quid. They’ve got a sturdy cable, in-line microphone and controls, a great selection of ear tips for a comfortable fit and impressive audio performance that puts them in competition with several models that cost a whole lot more. We appreciate the detail, energy and dynamism of the sound, as well as the quality of the microphone, which is of course far better than anything you’ll find on even the best Bluetooth models.

We’re happy to see these come with a useful protective pouch, and the look of the buds is straightforward and understated without looking too cheap. We also think this will suit those just starting out with wired models much better, as it’s a more traditional fit compared to some pairs where you have to twist the cable over and behind your ears to get them in place. There’s no worrying about that with these. While we weren’t about to subject the cable to any kind of stress test, we can attest that it never gets tangled and that makes these a better pick than Apple’s EarPods.

Yes, you’re reading that right and it’s not a typo. These cost under £20 and get loads of respect from audiophiles within this price range. They may be some of the most lauded cheap earbuds around, but is the hype justified? We’d say so. These may exist in the ultra-budget space but they still deliver high-end ear tips and a metal construction, and that’s before we even talk about the sound.

They’re tuned for a neutral signature so are an ideal option if you’re stepping into the audiophile world and looking for balance, detail and accuracy over punchy treble and deep bass. All you need to know is that these don’t look or sound like they should be this affordable, yet come with a pocket money price tag. It’s no overstatement to say these were a game-changer for the in-ear monitor market at launch, and they remain a terrific option today. The main downside here is the lack of a removal cable, so we’d recommend also looking at the Linsoul 7Hz Salnotes Zero for bargain audiophile buds with a little more flexibility.

Grado is one manufacturer that can say its designs are “timeless” – the family-owned and Brooklyn-based company has barely changed its core design principles since it first introduced the HP 1000 headphones back in 1989. Take a look at the successor SR100, SR200 and SR300 models from the 90s and they still look virtually identical to what the brand sells in 2024.

Well, if it ain't broke, don’t fix it, right? We love the metal finish and retro design philosophy of the SR325x, and these minimalist cans deliver serious audio power. They’re balanced, controlled, and detailed, and help you hear musical subtleties. It can be hard to hear high-resolution differences without premium gear, and with these, we got our best-ever results on audio-quality quizzes.

That massive chunky cable is also designed to last for years, and the foam earpads are easily upgradeable with replacements available on Amazon. We’ve got our concerns with these, of course, they’re not the most comfortable for extended listening sessions and the open-back approach leaks loads of sound if you set them to higher volumes. But for detailed home listening they’re tremendous. And, if you just want to dip your toes into the Grado world, we’d also recommend the affordable £99 Grado SR80x, which also offers an audiophile sound and bare-bones design.

We’ve got a lot of headphones, so the best way to illustrate just how much we love the 99 Classics might be with this hypothetical scenario: if some fiend was to force us to hand over every single pair, leaving us with just one model for the rest of our days, these Romanian cans would be our pick. We’re yet to experience another model that delivers on comfort like these do, with the self-adjusting headband leaving you feeling like they’re barely there at all, and they come with all the cables and adapters you need in a sleek case.

The sound from the lightweight wooden ear cups is beautiful, warm, dynamic, detailed and engaging, elevating every track we threw at them. They’re a bit bassier than some audiophiles might like, but the neutral and accurate approach isn’t going to suit every person, and these are perfect for our tastes.

Introduced in 2015, they’re an ideal model for longevity and repairability, with Meze offering all the replacement parts you’d need. And, there’s no plastic or glue in sight so they’re fully serviceable. If you’re adept with a screwdriver, it’s entirely possible to fix them yourself. As we said, they’re the wired headphones we’d pick for life.

We keep a pair of 1More’s flagship earbuds in our laptop bag for one key reason – the in-line microphone. It makes us sound significantly better on all our work calls, improving on the built-in laptop mic or anything most Bluetooth buds can manage. From the sound perspective, these are no slouch too. 1More has updated these earphones to be more detailed than its already great Triple and Quad bud, tossing in extra drivers (we’re up to five now) and focusing on the balance and dynamism of the audio. It’s not as simple as “more drivers deliver better sound”, but we are now hearing a stage that’s more expansive and detailed.

These come with a USB-C to 3.5mm jack adapter in the box, along with an outrageously comprehensive selection of different ear tips sizes and materials (we’re fond of the memory foam ones), so you’ll be able to connect to newer iPhones, Androids, tablets, laptops, your Nintendo Switch and everything in between. With a sub-£200 price, these are great value, and the combination of this performance, a removal cable and an in-line mic puts them now among the best bang for the buck wired earbuds around We also recommend the older Quad Driver and the Triple Driver from 1More for their mic and sound performance, and these are now some of the best value buds you’ll find.

Don’t want to fuss around with cables and adapters at all? We get it. Now that the iPhones have switched to USB-C, we’re all in on the connector, and our new favourite go-to pair of earbuds with a built-in USB-C plug rather than a 3.5mm jack are the Moondrop Quarks DSP, a straightforward companion to connect straight to your phone, tablet, laptop, Nintendo Switch or whatever else you want with a USB-C port on it.

The basic build is to be expected at the price, but the sound quality is simply terrific for the low cost of the buds. They’ve got a good bass response, a balanced signature, loads of detail and an impressive performance when it comes to vocals. Some may have quibbles when it comes to imaging, lack of customisation, or build quality (yes, these are pretty plasticky and the cable can’t detach) but they’re a massive upgrade compared to most of the wired earphones that may have used to come bundled with a phone, and we’re sure to be keeping them in our bag for those times as a reliable backup pair.

Before you jump headfirst into the world of audiophile gear, it’s important to note that studio headphones are designed to reproduce a flat frequency response that is technically excellent for noticing details, ensuring unaltered accuracy and tonal balance.

The thing is, this won’t always sound great to many of us that are used to a slightly enhanced bass – for some, it’ll be an acquired taste and for others, it may just sound unexciting. That’s a long-winded way of saying that if you want a neutral-sounding pair without any exaggerations, this Beyerdynamic set is a great place to start if you’re new to the audiophile world.

They prioritise comfort and deliver a natural quality that’ll make for easy listening over long sessions. Overall, these deliver as both studio cans and a model that any music lover can appreciate, especially for the level of performance they provide for a sensible price.

If you want “reference-grade” sound quality without a high price tag, this model from Sennheiser is probably the ideal starting point and the one we’ve been using when testing high-end audio players like the Astell and Kern SP3000. The key thing to note here is that it’s an open-back option, unlike several other over-ears on this list. That means that they’re not even designed to keep music isolated and whatever you listen to will be heard by others around you.

The reason for an open-back approach is that it improves the sense that music is natural and spacious, although it’ll have less of a powerful low-end. The audio leakage, of course, means these aren’t a pick for your commute or use in the office. For at-home listening, though, these are tremendous value, offering an ideal sound for analytical music lovers.

This Audio-Technica pair comes with many of the same positives as the other neutral headphones within this roundup, and are another excellent pick if you want an affordable over-ear set for detail, balance and in-studio monitoring.

We like the well-built foldable design and how these are sturdy yet lightweight, and they have qualities that make them as useful for podcasters and audio producers as they are for anyone looking for a solid pair for everyday listening.

The sound profile is good for analytical listeners while not being so flat that it isn’t approachable for those used to consumer headphones like the Bose 700. We think it may be worth paying the extra for these over the M20x if you want more than the basics, as you’ll get extra detachable cables and a more protective hard carry case.

If you’ve arrived at this article after already researching your purchase for some time, you definitely won’t be surprised to see the revered HD 600 on this list. Introduced to the German brand’s lineup in 1997, they remain a firm favourite among audiophiles to this day and are respected as some of the best-sounding headphones you can buy for all-around performance.

They deliver a great neutral sound across every genre of music and are constructed in a hard plastic that’s resilient and comfortable to wear for a long time. They sound natural, balanced and detailed and make for an ideal pick for any music lovers or analytical listeners. They’re still in production for good reason, boasting an iconic design and terrific sonic quality. At this price, you’d struggle to find a better and more beloved pair of open-back cans.

There’s a reason or two that every DJ and their mum uses the Sennheiser HD 25: they’re comfy, versatile, block out loads of sound and, crucially, feature a swivelling ear cup design so you can listen with just one ear at a time.

These nightclub essentials are also ideal for anyone after a lightweight pair for professional monitoring, podcast creation, video recording and on-the-go use. This is a design that debuted in 1988, so we’re pretty confident we can call these legendary given their reputation in the world of filmmaking and broadcast production.

How about sound? You’re likely to hear about the accuracy, detail and balance of these cans when it comes to their benefits, but you should know they’re not designed to boost up the bass like a lot of consumer-focused headphones. One downside worth noting, though, is that the on-ear approach isn’t quite as good for sound isolation as the over-ear pairs on this list.

As mentioned, the basic Apple dongle is more than good enough for 99% of people listening through most headphones. It’s a top product at a decent price, so you can probably afford to grab a handful of them. Audio boffins confirm that it tests well and works with no issues on all USB-C devices.

Of course, Apple makes a great Lightning-only version too. If we were to be picky about the downsides though, we’d have to say that it feels a bit flimsy and doesn’t have the best build quality. We’d also like it if it came in black or grey rather than only white.

We’d call this the default upgrade dongle for developing audiophiles. It’s a straightforward USB-C DAC and amplifier that comes with adapters for Lightning and USB-A in the box, and in side-by-side comparisons with the Apple 3.5mm adapter, we can confirm that this delivers a noticeable audio improvement.

Whether it’ll transform your listening experience will depend on how sensitive you are to the subtle changes, but we can hear more richness, depth and detail out of our favourite wired in-ears and headphones. You’re also unlikely to notice a big difference beyond this without buying something much more expensive and even if we recommend the build quality of the Astell & Kern HC3, we prefer the portability and price-to-performance ratio of the iFi model.

Now this is a much more expensive alternative that promises to upgrade your smartphone listening experience. It’s about the size of a flash storage drive and has a chunkier USB-C connector on one end with a strong braided cable connecting the two parts. This handles high-resolution audio files and headphone amplification, and we reckon it’s excellent for getting both more volume and more detail out of your cans and in-ear monitors.

We’ve used it with iPhone 15 models, the Google Pixel 7, laptops and tablets, and it works well albeit with some issues on certain other Android devices. We like using this when we’re in the ideal listening conditions with the best headphones like the Grado SR325x. But we should stress that for most people, the cheaper dongles are more than decent enough.