Top Earbud Headphones 2023

The Yamaha EPH-M200 is a secure-fitting pair of earphones for lovers of deep bass.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro are satisfactory for neutral sound. Although our graphs show that they have a fairly flat sound, their real-life sound is more v-shaped. It's likely due to the buds popping out of our test rig's ears since even in their smallest size, they don't fit the ears well. Subjectively, they deliver extra thump and rumble with extra brightness devoted to vocals, lead instruments, and sibilants. You can adjust their sound using their app's graphic EQ and presets, though. Unfortunately, they're closed-back in-ear headphones, so their passive soundstage doesn't sound very immersive.

The Skullcandy Grind Fuel are satisfactory for commute and travel. Their battery lasts for nearly 10 hours of continuous use from a single charge, which is convenient for long trips, and they come with a case that holds about 3.4 extra charges. The case is also small enough to fit into most pockets and purses. They don't put too much pressure on your ears but have a deep in-ear fit, which some may find uncomfortable. They also lack an ANC feature and don't block out noises like the rumble of bus and plane engines.

The Shure SE215 are alright for neutral sound listening. They have a surprisingly more balanced sound than the higher-end Shure SE315 and Shure SE425. They have good bass and a decently balanced mid-range, although the slight overemphasis in the lower frequencies makes them sound a bit boomy and cluttered. Their treble range is also slightly inconsistent and will sound sharp on certain frequencies, but a bit recessed overall, which makes instruments and vocals a bit less detailed. Like most in-ear designs, the small closed-back earbuds cannot create a soundstage as spacious as more neutral listening focused open-back over-ears.

Mediocre for neutral listening. The SE425 improve slightly on the sound quality of the SE315 with better a Mid and Treble range. However, they still have a big emphasis on low-mid that extends to the high-mid which makes their sound a bit boomy and muddy while pushing instruments and vocals to the forefront of any track. Unfortunately, those instruments and vocals do not sound as clear and detailed as some other in-ear headphones due to their somewhat inconsistent high tones. That and their closed-back, in-ear fit means they have a poor Soundstage that won't be ideal for more neutral listeners.

The Technics EAH-AZ60M2 earphones feature excellent connectivity options and produce good sound, but some similarly priced models offer slightly better noise cancellation.

The Bose Sport Open Earbuds are made for people who like to be outside and want to listen to music while they do so. Even though the design is open, the music sounds pretty good, and the earbuds don’t fall out when you do any kind of exercise.

The Skullcandy Fuel Grind has a lot of features and sets the stage for future products, but it also loses sight of the basics.

The bass and play time of the Tribit MoveBuds H1 are good enough to keep you working out for hours, but you need to be in better shape to use them.

The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless are good for commuting and travel. They're comfortable, portable, and have an eight-hour continuous battery life. They can passively block out some noise, and while they have an ANC system, they still have a hard time blocking out the low rumbles of bus and plane engines. They can still help cut down mid-range sounds like ambient chatter.