Top Headphones 2023

The Sennheiser HD 598 headphones offer deep, audiophile-quality sound with a fun, retro design at an affordable price.

If you don't mind a high price for a device best-suited to a single task, the SteelSeries H Wireless Headset is one of the better wireless gaming headsets you can buy.

The comfortable Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear headphones deliver a boosted-bass response that manages to not overwhelm the overall balance of the mix.

The Marshall Monitor headphone pair is a victory of style, for sure, but there's also plenty of substance here in the form of deep, rich bass and crisp highs.

Logitech's $100 UE 4000 headphones deliver clean, powerful audio with an emphasis on crisp mids and highs.

The Logitech UE 9000, which can be used as a wired or a wireless Bluetooth headphone pair, is a high-quality, but very expensive, option.

The Sennheiser HD 660S2 are very good for neutral sound. They have a warm sound profile and, despite being open-back, pack more thump and rumble than their predecessor. Their exceptionally neutral mids also ensure that vocals and instruments sound natural and present. A dip in the low-treble hurts the clarity and detail of these sounds, while the following peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants sound more aggressive and piercing, comparatively. Their soundstage, which feels spacious and open, struggles to produce an out-of-head audio experience too, and you'll need an amp to power these over-ears. On the upside, they deliver bass and treble consistently across reseats.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 are good for wired gaming. Their default sound profile is boomy, which helps bring out sound effects in gameplay, but if you prefer a different sound, you can customize them to your liking using their companion software's EQ and presets. They also have a good mic, so you'll have no problem being heard clearly in the heat of the moment. That said, they're prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, so it's important to take the time to adjust their fit, positioning, and seal each time you use them.

The Razer Kraken V3 are decent for wired gaming. They have a USB-A connection with low latency and have robust companion software so that you can tweak their sound and mic to your liking. They also have a virtual surround feature, and their mic offers decent overall performance. However, you can't connect them to Xbox consoles. They're also very prone to inconsistencies in bass and treble delivery.

The AKG N700NC M2 are very good for commute and travel. These over-ears have a comfortable, well-built design and have an ANC system that can adapt to your environment to block out background noise more efficiently. Thanks to this system, they can block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines. Their over 20-hour battery life will also last through long commutes or trips without too much of a problem.