The best wired headphones are the go-to choice for those who prioritize exceptional audio quality. They provide uncompressed sound directly from your device, making them perfect for audiophiles who want the best headphones and best sound for their money.
While wireless headphones dominate the market, wired models still have the edge when it comes to audio. Bluetooth has come a long way, and the best wireless headphones offer impressive sound and convenience, but Bluetooth streaming still compresses audio and means some detail is always lost. Wired headphones also offer dependable performance, with sturdy cables that securely connect to lightweight, padded ear cups – and without the need for a battery, they can be lighter to wear.
The TechRadar team has reviewed countless headphones, giving us the expertise to identify the models that excel in both sound and build quality. Every pair featured in this guide has been rigorously tested to ensure they meet our high standards.
This guide focuses specifically on the best wired over-ear and on-ear headphones. If you're looking for something smaller, check out our guide to the best wired earbuds, which are designed to fit inside your ears.
The quick list
Want to cut to the chase and find out which wired headphones are the best? Below, you’ll find a roundup of our choices. You can also jump to a more detailed write-up of every pick, and our price comparison tool helps you find the best deals.
The best wired headphones overall
A cool open-back design, comfortable fit and consistent, neutral sound makes these our go-to recommendation for both casual listeners and pros.
The best budget wired headphones
If your budget is what it is, Austrian Audio has a new pair of wired over-ears that are well worth your time with a detailed and revealing sound and high-standard of build and finish considering they're so cheap.
The best audiophile wired headphones
The price and configuration means they aren’t for everyone – and you need a high-end amp to drive them. But you’re in for a treat if they suit you.
The best wired and wireless combo headphones
The Focal Bathys are novel in that they offer wireless listening and a dedicated DAC mode, but it's in their wired USB-C audio mode that these cans truly shine.
The best cheap on-ear wired headphones
Grado's affordable open-back headphones ooze sophistication. They also leak sound – but that sound is so good for the money that you won't care.
The best wired headphones for affordable analytical sound
Fiio's first headphones shouldn't by rights be this good. And if they're going to be so talented, they shouldn't be this affordable (relatively speaking) either.
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The best planar magnetic wired headphones
FiiO's doing well here, isn't it? We don't make the rules. FiiO's December 2023 cans are big, planar magnetic, powerful and the sound quality superb.
The best elite planar wired headphones
An exceptionally well-built pair of headphones that deliver astounding sound. They're expensive and need a good amp to drive them, but their audio truly delivers.
The best high-end closed back wired headphones
OK so they're very very expensive, but if you want chocolate-colored closed-back headphones that look utterly beautiful and sound even better, you've just found them.
I've reviewed over 150 audio products since becoming a tech journalist, ranging from super-budget earbuds to high-end Hi-Res Audio music players. Before joining TechRadar, I spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing everything the world of audio had to offer; before that, I was a professional dancer. I'll always extol the virtues of listening (and dancing) to the best musical file quality and audio gear your budget can stretch to, and wired headphones often tend to be the best.
The best wired headphones 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best wired headphones overall
These talented wired headphones were made for the mixing booth, but they're also excellent for all-round music listening thanks to their neutral sound recreation, oodles of crisp bass response, plush cushioning and the rigid headband needed to prevent vibration while you listen to your favorite tracks.
As open-backed headphones, do they leak sound? Actually, there isn’t a huge amount of sound leakage with the HD-660S, so you should be able to sit near someone without sharing your deepest and most niche music tastes. You won’t be able to use them on the subway, though – there’s little-to-no sound isolation here and thus, they will only really suit those who listen to their albums al desko at work (or lounging in a comfy listening chair when the working day is done).
Unlike many of the best over-ear headphones we've tested, there's no Bluetooth or alternative wireless connectivity other than a detachable cable here but then, you came here for the best in wired listening, didn't you?
Ultimately, the HD-660S2 are best for static listening, sound mixing, or nursing a favorite album in high quality sound at home without the fear of missing a doorbell.
Read our full Sennehiser HD-660S2 review
The best budget wired headphones
The Austrian Audio Hi-X20 closed-back over-ears are our top budget pick. Austrian Audio has built a strong reputation for producing high-quality, affordable headphones, and the Hi-X20s continue that tradition. They tick all the right boxes, offering impressive sound quality paired with an understated yet comfortable design.
These headphones don’t boast a long list of features, which is typical for passive, wired over-ear models. What sets them apart is their high-excursion 44mm dynamic drivers, delivering a confident and engaging sound. They come with a 3m cable that connects via a secure click-and-twist mechanism to a 2.5mm socket on the left ear cup, with a 3.5mm termination that includes a 6.3mm adapter. While we imagine the 3m cable could be practical in some scenarios, it feels a bit too long for casual home use – a shorter cable option in the box would have been a welcome addition.
In our review, we noted that the Hi-X20 headphones deliver “sound quality that makes the asking price seem a bit like a misprint.” They offer an accomplished listening experience, excelling in rhythm, tempo, and soundstage clarity. The only drawback is a slightly underwhelming low-end, but the overall performance is still solid and satisfying.
Aesthetically, the Hi-X20s are understated but are a step up in design and build quality from previous Austrian Audio models. Comfort is a standout feature, thanks to memory foam ear pads and a solid (but not too tight) clamping force. During our testing, we liked that you can adjust the headband and fold them down to fit into the small and soft bag they come with.
If you’re after a simple, comfortable design with great sound quality and don’t mind a longer cable, the Austrian Audio Hi-X20 headphones offer outstanding value for money.
Read our full Austrian Audio Hi-X20 review
The best audiophile wired headphones
Now then. At nearly two grand’s-worth of wired headphone prowess, if you’re attaching these cans to a mediocre music source you simply won't be getting your money's worth – and that will be on you. This is audiophile territory. Spotify free-tier subscribers, owners of virtually all smartphones that still have a physical headphone connection and folks who want to hook them straight into the side of their laptop should all a) look elsewhere, and b) spend much less money on headphones. The Liric are unapologetically intolerant of all of this.
Extended functionality? Nope. Mainstream pricing? Again no. Adaptable or undemanding? Hardly. You don’t get pampered by the Meze Audio Liric wired over-ear headphones. Buy a pair and it's you who’ll be doing most of the pampering.
That said, a considerable amount of money put Meze Audio’s way buys big, hard-wired headphones fitted with esoteric planar magnetic drivers – and though their closed-back configuration and (laughably big) carry-case makes them a bit better for your commute than most Meze Audio over-ear headphones, they’re neither discreet nor especially portable.
What they are is beautifully made, from high-quality materials. And if there's anything you take away from this bit of text, it should be that they sound superb. If it’s detail you want, a proper reading of a recording as a performance, insight into tone and timbre and shape of individual notes, the Liric are a convincing and utterly musical listen, and ranking among the best over-ear headphones for sheer fidelity.
Read our full Meze Audio Liric review
The best wired and wireless combo headphones
While Focal is marketing these talented cans as its first-ever shot at wireless over-ears, we'd like to posit them as a very talented wired option, because if you use the USB-C cable in DAC mode, you've got hi-res audio up to 21bit/192kHz. Oh, and in case it needs to be stated after looking at the picture above, they're utterly stunning to look at.
The company makes some of the best over-ear headphones we've ever had the pleasure of placing over our ears but (there's no easy way to say this) the Bathys are expensive. We understand the reasons behind the asking fee – those patented aluminum/magnesium "M”-dome speaker drivers made in France don't come cheap; neither does the backlit flame emblem in the center of each beautiful earcup – but they're more expensive than the AirPods Max and the new Bowers & Wilkins PX8, which is significant and comes with it no small amount of pressure to perform.
But put them on and you feel beautiful, buoyed up by their detail, insight and clarity. That said, the on-ear wireless controls feel a little less than high-end, the app is acceptable rather than excellent, and the noise-cancellation (you get 'silent', 'soft' and 'transparent' options) isn't at the level of the very best noise-cancelling headphones.
Read our full Focal Bathys review
The best cheap on-ear wired headphones
You’d usually have to pay much more for a pair of audiophile-grade headphones such as these. Design-wise, everything about them – how they look as well as how they feel – makes the SR80x headphones seem more expensive than they are. They have a relatively simple headband with a silent adjustable slider and super soft padding inside. The cups are constructed from plastic, and the set is pleasingly light at just 245g.
They have an aesthetic that we described as brutalist and almost steampunk in our first impressions, and we stand by that description now. A honeycomb-like metal mesh on the earcups emphasizes the open-back design of the Grado SR80x headphones and sound does leak directly from these holes. The trade off for that minor inconvenience is excellent audio quality. And we do mean excellent.
Of course, if you don’t like the idea of sound leakage or getting used to a pair of wired headphones again, these aren’t for you. But if you’re looking for affordable headphones that sound sensational and feel very good, consider the Grado SR80x headphones. If you can handle those minor inconveniences, you will not regret it.
Read our full Grado SR80x review
The best wired headphones for analytical sound
Fiio has always been about value for money and it might just have outdone itself with the FT3, wired over-ears that are an astonishingly good deal, marrying impressive sound performance with a build and finish that screams high-end.
Never doubt that Fiio thinks ahead, either. Over 10 years ago, the company ordered a large amount of an especially good audio cable – it's now been discontinued, but these headphones make (good) use of it. Why Fiio has chosen to make that cable 3m / 10 feet long, though, given that the company’s supply is finite, is more confusing – that's a lot of cable to get tangled. But aside from that, and the fact that you'll need a worthwhile (read: reasonably expensive) digital audio player or DAC/headphone amp to hear them at their best, the FT3 soundstage is big and generous, with the spaces on it given just as much prominence and emphasis as the occurrences – and the silences are black and, well, silent.
The tonal balance from the top of the frequency range to the bottom is convincing, too, and even though the Fiio headphones push the midrange forward just a touch, they still sound natural and believable.
Read our full Fiio FT3 review
The best planar magnetic wired headphones
The USP here is FiiO's implementation of big (huge! 90mm) planar magnetic drivers. Why? Because at this level, the more pragmatic dynamic driver is far more prevalent – but FiiO decided, before releasing them (in December 2023) that planar magentic drivers were the best way to get “intense energy like a thunderstorm” from these cans – and we're truly grateful FiiO's engineers persisted.
To drill down into that tech, each earcup features a large, extraordinarily thin (6µm) planar magnetic driver, with 11 neodymium magnets on one side and nine on the other. And with it, he FT5 strike an ideal balance in every respect, from the classy build to the way they sound. If it’s total sonic neutrality you’re after, you may need to pass – but if you fancy an entertaining sound with a good dollop of audiophile credibility thrown in, do give them a whirl at your local dealership.
They’re able to hone in on the finest details, while managing to stay engaged and entertaining at the same time. The FT5 are quick off the mark with complex rhythmic passages while allowing any vocalist they're dealt to sound positive, emotive and visceral.
Any flies in the ointment? One: Tonally, the FiiO are on the ‘fractionally warm’ side, but it’s such a small issue we mention it more as a trait than a flaw. Highly recommended.
Read our full FiiO FT5 review
The best elite planar wired headphones
There's a reason we've included the Final D7000 headphones as our 'best elite planar' pick in this best wired headphones buying guide. That's because everything about these cans is elite, including their sky-high $3,499 / £2,999 / AU$5,899 price. We'd never go so far as to say that this huge price is solid value, but we will say that Final has gone all out in making these planar magnetic headphones shine in every respect.
Without getting into the technical weeds, Final has developed a bunch of new audio technologies here to deliver a top-tier audiophile listening experience. Everything is excellent here, the wide soundstage, power and detail. In our final D7000 review, we wrote: "They’re fun to listen to, musical in their approach, and have so many pertinent observations to make about the minutiae of recordings that each listen is a little voyage of discovery." Our only criticism? During our testing, we noted a lack of dynamism, struggling to accommodate big shifts in volume and intensity at times – though, to be clear, that's 'struggling' in the relative sense, compared to similarly high-priced headphones.
At 437g, these headphones feel a little big and bulky when you wear them. Luckily, the earcups and headband are comfortable, and Final has used a light and breathable fabric that makes them feel much lighter on your head than you'd expect from headphones of this size.
They also need a good headphone amp to drive them if you want to make them sing – our pick of the best headphones amps has some suitable options. It's also odd that these only come with the option of an unbalanced 6.3mm cable.
If you want to spend big on a pair of headphones that are impeccably well built and finished, packed with innovative technologies and sound fantastic in every respect except dynamic responses, we can't recommend the D7000 highly enough.
Read our full Final D7000 review
The best closed-back wired headphones
Focal Stellia's luxurious looks are matched by the classy build quality – the headband and cups are full-grain leather (note to vegans, it's real) and the cups have memory foam cushions that are designed to mold to shape of your ears.
This is a set of cans made to be looked at, but despite their size we found them to be extremely comfortable even while listening for long periods of time. In fact, every aspect of Focal's build here just screams opulence, right down to the leather-effect box they come in. Inside, you’ll find a sturdy woven carrying case that could easily pass as a designer handbag, as well as a leather-style wallet containing user manuals. It’s this attention to detail that makes the $3,000 price tag almost feel justified… almost.
And the Focal Stellia sound absolutely fantastic. Their wide-open soundstage and detailed, accurate sound treatment means they make any genre of music come alive and open out before your very ears. Listen to songs you think you know like the back of your hand and the Stellia's surgical separation means you'll likely hear details you’ve never noticed before. The impressive thing is how close it comes to feeling as natural as open-backed headphones, but with the sound isolation of closed-back. But that's what you're paying for.
Those who like to keep things minimal when it comes to portable headgear probably won’t like the showy, opulent design of the Focal Stellia (and they can feel a little chunky on the commute), but if luxury is your thing, the aesthetic might appeal – and the sound definitely will.
Read our full Focal Stellia review
Other wireless headphones to consider
Sivga Oriole: The Sivga Oriole were our 'best budget' pick in this guide for a long time, but they were removed because they've been out a while now and the newer and higher-rated Austrian Audio Hi-X20 headphones beat them, representing better value. However, as you'll see from our Sivga Oriole review, we still recommend these headphones because they look fantastic, sound good and they're cheap.
FiiO FT1: We recently published our FiiO FT1 review. We did enjoy the lively sound and premium materials when we tested these headphones, but they were a letdown in other ways. For example, the sound was too confined and you can't fold them down, which makes them annoying to travel with.
Wired earbuds: If none of the best wired headphones in this guide are what you're looking for, do consider the options in our best wired earbuds guide instead. They'll suit people who want a much smaller design and don't mind the feeling of buds in their ears rather than on or around them.
How to choose the best wired headphones for you
Which is best: over-ear, on-ear or in-ear?
A lot of this will come down to personal preference. Do your ears tend to overheat a bit during long listening sessions? A set of in-ears might feel cooler. Want people to know you're wearing headphones and leave you be? Nothing says 'Do not disturb' like a set of over-ears. Interested in the idea of over-ears but need something small enough to throw in a bag for your commute? On-ears might be ideal.
Audiophiles often suggest that passive noise isolation levels are better when your listening gear physically covers the entirety of your ear, (in a circum-aural or over-ear design) as opposed to a supra-aural set (read: on-ears) but then again, on-ear designs can be cheaper – as the Grado option in our list above certainly is. Sonically, there are merits to both. This is all about you.
Some people dislike the intrusive nature of in-ears and find the experience a little claustrophobic, while for others it opens up sonic realms as yet uncharted. Our advice? Weigh up the priorities we've mentioned above in our best wired headphones guide then take a look at our best wired earbuds guide, head down to a local dealership to try out some headphones – and of course, use our 'how to choose your next headphones guide'.
What about planar magnetic designs vs. dynamic drivers?
OK, let's do this: a planar magnetic driver is different to the more typically-used dynamic drivers in headphones in that it uses a flat diaphragm rather than the traditional cone or dome shaped membrane. This is then sandwiched between an array of magnets to create an evenly-suspended diaphragm in between permanent magnetic fields. Why is that good? Planar magnetic drivers make the headphones that use them extremely resistant to various types of audio and electronic distortion – aka clearer, more detailed, better music.
Some extremely talented over-ears in this list sport planar magnetic drivers. That said, plenty more headphones in this list use just one dynamic driver, while others use a mind-bending array of multiple dynamic units, crossovers and balanced armatures where each driver handles a certain frequency. When done well, it can be magical – but integration across the frequencies is key and that is not easy.
What's the difference between open-back and closed-back headphones?
Here's the thing: open-back headphones tend to be the sole preserve of audiophiles who crave this design's typically superior audio quality above all else – above convenience and above keeping your playlist private.
And there's another thing too. High fidelity almost always involves some sort of compromise. Here, the trade off for audio transparency and three-dimensional clarity means headphones that leak sound to people nearby.
To explain the issue: in closed-back headphones, the audibility of any playlist you might stream is largely trapped inside the ear cup, which keeps your choice of music private but can lead to a narrow soundstage where audio feels as if it's coming directly from inside your head – hardly a natural experience.
However, the free movement of sound in and out of the cups in open-backed headphones means the soundstage feels far wider and less "closed off", almost as if you're at a live gig. The issue is that other people are being subjected to your aforementioned virtual gig too. Is it worth it? It depends on your priorities and where you'll be listening; we wouldn't suggest open-backed designs for crowded streets or subways. Then again, for the home listener going open-back can be a great thing.
How we test the best wired headphones
Just like our readers, our writers' and editors' ear shapes, ages, hearing profiles, musical tastes and listening priorities all differ hugely, which is why we "second-listen" extensively among the team and we do not cut corners in any part of our reviewing process.
As always when testing wired headphones, a thorough 48-hour run-in period is crucial to allow components to bed in and for those drivers get used to the quick business of moving air.
Review samples are tested against the class leaders at the level (and by level, we do mean similar price points), over a period of weeks, not days. We listen to various playlists (spanning everything from acid jazz to thrash metal) on the best music streaming sites but we also have a healthy collection of hi-res files to load onto some of the best hi-res audio players – and a collection of the best portable DACs and amps for harder-to-drive cans, too.
And having been at this game for more years than we'd care to admit, we know what's good and durable from a design perspective – and we know what isn't. We know when cables will be noisy; we know when a headband clicks; we know when the treble rolls off and we know when the bass is overcooked.
The latest update to this best wired headphones guide
December 12, 2024
Refreshed the introduction. Replaced the Sivga Oriole with the Austrian Audio Hi-X20 as our 'best budget' pick based on our recent testing. Added an 'also consider' section filled with recently-reviewed headphones that didn't make this guide to offer readers alternative suggestions. Updated all copy to make sure it's relevant and timely.
September 23, 2024
Removed mentions of earbuds, which you can now find in our best wired earbuds guide, to focus solely on the best wired over-ear and in-ear designs. Added the Final D7000 as the 'best elite planar' choice based on our recent review.
June 20, 2024
Added a quick-link to this update log at the top of the guide and reordered the format to make top products easier to navigate to. Added an 'Also consider' section and mentioned that we'll be splitting this guide to 'best wired earbuds' and 'best wired headphones' soon, because of the plethora of testing we've recently done (and the renewed popularity of going wired, to get hi-res audio)
Read more updates…
March 4, 2024
Added FiiO FT5 owing to its new five-star review, updated copy throughout, updated author bio.
February 23, 2024
Added FiiO FT3, removed the Westone Mach 70 as it has largely been out-performed by the Campfire Audio Solaris Stella Horizon. Updated copy throughout.
June 30, 2023
The guide launches! The products have been chosen by our team based on our recent reviews and testing of the headphones here.
