Top Earbud Headphones 2023

V-Moda's gym-friendly Forza earphones deliver a bass-forward yet balanced sound signature in a traditional wired design.

The noise cancellation will get your attention for all the right reasons, but the way it handles your music library may get your attention for all the wrong reasons.

Some people don’t like how the T5 II ANC fits or feels, but those who can find a good fit will enjoy a lot of good features and good sound quality. The price may deter the budget-conscious among us, but a decent equalizer app, great noise cancellation, and Dirac HD Sound make the T5 II True Wireless ANC experience a pleasure, at least while the short battery lasts.

A respectable pair of wireless sport earbuds, but for this price there are more capable all-rounders available.

The Denon AH-C830NCW is an example of a well-made pair of earbuds that doesn’t cause any trouble. Even though there isn’t an app, it sounds good, the Bluetooth connection is stable, and the ANC is great. What else could you want?

Strong ANC, high-quality audio and long battery life make the Edifier NeoBuds S a tempting option for those who want premium earbuds. You’ll need to download the app if you want the full experience, and remember that Snapdragon Sound is limited to a handful of smartphones at present.

The MOONDROP Aria are good for neutral sound. They have a fairly neutral sound profile tuned with a touch of extra punch and warmth to help balance out their light-handed low-bass. Mids sound clear and present, although a little recessed, which can nudge vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. Their rolled-off treble veils vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix while sibilants like cymbals are very lispy.

The 7HZ Timeless are good for neutral sound. Unlike most IEMs, they have a planar magnetic transducer, which can help tighten their bass response. As a result, they have a very neutral sound profile and can reproduce bass well, ensuring your mixes have adequate thump and punch. Their mid-range is also fairly flat, although their underemphasized treble veils vocals and lead instruments while sibilants like cymbals are dull. Unfortunately, due to their in-ear design, their passive soundstage seems closed-off, and sound is perceived as if coming from inside your head.

The Mobvoi Earbuds ANC don’t have the best noise cancelling on offer for cheap buds but good audio quality and other features make them solid buy for those on a budget.

JBL's true wireless Tune 230NC earphones deliver good audio performance and active noise cancellation for the price, but they don't quite stand out.