5 Top Earphone Brands That Provide the Best Sound Quality

I've been a music lover my entire life. I've always been looking for the best possible sound quality when it comes to earphones.

How to Find the Best Earphone Brands

These days, the market is overflowing with different earphone brands. No matter what the market condition, there are five brands that produce excellent earphones. These five brands manufacture earphones that provide mind-blowing sound quality and are beloved by most music fans. You cannot go wrong with any of these five companies, and they will make your search for great earphones much easier.

Each one of these companies offers a wide variety of products that cover in-ear and over-ear headphones and earphones. For those looking for portability along with great sound quality and bass response, an in-ear headphone or earphone is the way to go. Just keep in mind that earphones go in the ear canal and thus they can cause some discomfort if they do not fit the shape of your ear.

The Following Five Companies Are the Top Earphone Brands:

1. Bose
2. Sennheiser
3. JBL
4. Sony
5. Skullcandy

1. Bose

When you are looking for the best possible sound quality and craftsmanship, this is the company to go with. Bose has been making high-quality headphones and speaker systems for over five decades, so their reputation is impressive.

Pros:

• Excellent sound quality

• Robust design

• Innovative technology

Cons:

• Expensive

• Bulky

2. Sennheiser

This brand is another top player in the earphone industry. Sennheiser earphones are generally moderately priced, and the brand is often preferred by music enthusiasts over other brands. There are some really expensive Sennheiser earphones as well, so if you are a total audiophile, you will find plenty of options to choose from.

Pros:

• Wide dynamic range

• Moderately priced

• Sturdy build quality

• Built to last

• Distinct look

Cons:

• Bulky look

• Lack of midrange frequencies

3. JBL

When it comes to earphones, JBL is fantastic too. While the company is primarily known for their high output speaker systems, which are used in concert venues around the world, JBL puts the same kind of precision into their headphones and earphones.

Pros:

• Affordable price range

• Sturdy designs that last for years

Cons:

• Lacks dynamic range

• Average sound quality

4. Sony

As one of the largest corporations in the world, Sony has a strong presence in most categories of electronics, and they have developed an award-winning reputation as the industry standard for earphones.

Pros:

• A diverse amount of products from entry-level to audiophile

• Impeccable quality

• Wide frequency range

Cons:

• Expensive

• Not that portable in comparison to other brands

5. Skullcandy

Skullcandy is another great name in the earphone market. As a newcomer to the world of earphones, the company has been quick to develop plenty of incredible products. Skullcandy has focused on making in-ear earphones that still retain the dynamic range of over-ear headphones, and their products do a great job of this.

Pros:

• Portable

• Eye-catching design

• Good sound quality

• Affordable

Cons:

• Flimsy build

• Prone to breakage

• Lack of bass frequencies

Top Headphone Brands

The above five brands literally rule the earphone/headphone world. There are many other great companies too which make nice earphones, however, none are as great as the above five brands as far as consistency is concerned.

That being said there are some other companies to check out depending on what type of earphone or headphone you are looking to buy. With the shift in focus to noise-canceling and wireless technology, it can be daunting to figure out what to purchase. I have listed some suggestions below.

Best Wireless Earphones

More and more music fans (and podcast listeners) are ditching the clunky wires of traditional headphones for wireless products. In recent years there has been an explosion in wireless earphones, with every big brand making an entry into the world of wireless. Here are five exceptional earphones that are worth checking out.

• Apple Airpods: while they look like regular apple earbuds, these are a big upgrade in sound quality and come with their own convenient charging station. Plenty of great integration with other Apple products makes it easy for Apple owners to integrate the Airpods into their devices seamlessly. The only downside is the design allows a lot of ambient noise into your ear, which detracts from the immersive feel earphones typically provide. Additionally, they are not cheap, but just about every wireless earphone is going to be pricey.

• Sony WF-1000X: Sony's answer to Apple has some really strong things going for it, namely great sound quality and great sound-canceling technology. The downside is that the earphones do not fit into everyone's ear and with some ears, they just won't stay in place.

• Samsung Gear IconX: These are the best-fitting of the bunch, and they are designed to more closely resemble the in-ear monitors that professional musicians use while performing on stage. They do not have the same kind of high-end sound as the Sony's, but they still sound excellent. These work better for sports enthusiasts, and they stay in your ear better.

• Jaybird Run: Much like the Samsung model, these earphones are designed to be used in active situations and as such they are sweatproof and have a pretty long battery life. They fit in your ear very well though they can get a bit uncomfortable if you leave them in there for too long.

• Bose SoundSport Free: Like all Bose headphones, these sound incredible, and they offer the best overall sound quality of any of the earphones on this list. They are a bit bulky and they stick out of your ears quite a bit but overall these are worth it.

Best Noise-Canceling Headphones

In 2006 Bose first introduced their groundbreaking Quiet Comfort noise-canceling headphones, which used active noise control to cancel out the ambient noise and give listeners a better listening experience. Since then every major audio company has released similar versions of noise-canceling headphones. These headphones are pricey, and they are not for everyone but for those looking for an unparalleled and distraction-free listening experience, this type of headphone is worth it.

• Beats Studio3 Wireless: While the company has received a lot of flak over the years for shoddy build quality, the latest version of these noise-canceling headphones are superb. They have clearly worked on addressing the sound quality issue as this version is the best-sounding product Beats has put out. Paired with an Apple chip for easy integration and long battery life, these headphones are a great starting point for those interested in getting into the noise-canceling world.

• Sony WH-1000XM2: Sony has done a great job at crafting a set of headphones that offer the same level of sound quality as anything from Bose. Sony has added in some nifty special features as well to make this the go-to headphone for long plane rides. The battery life is excellent, and that makes the WH-1000XM2 one of the top products you can buy when it comes to noise-canceling headphones.

• Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless: While these headphones do not have the same kind of hype associated with them as other products mentioned in this article, these are a steal and a great entry-level headphone. Significantly cheaper and more portable than the other products on this list, Sennheiser has crafted another solid product. The only real drawback is that these are not as comfortable around your ear, so you may find it difficult to wear them for extended periods of time.

• AKG N60NC Wireless: Sporting a sleek and compact design, these are the best on-ear headphones out there. AKG has improved its noise-canceling technology over the years, and it shows as these headphones are exceptional when it comes to removing ambient noise. On-ear headphones are a bit awkward for some people, but they are more comfortable than traditional over-ear headphones.

• Bose Quiet Comfort 25: Bose's flagship headphone has gotten better, with improved dynamic range and improved ambient noise reduction. Bose has worked on making the Quiet Comfort easier to fold and carry, and the sleeker design still retains the high-quality build that the company is known for. You can't go wrong with these headphones, and if noise-canceling is your thing, it is worth picking up a pair.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

© 2013 faithshore

Please leave your comment below

Mariana on July 19, 2020:

DON'T BUY JBL!!! I bought the jbl run endurance and I had problems twice and the store chaned for me to the jbl endurance sprint and I had another problem!! terrible quality

Hamza on February 14, 2020:

This creator is certainly not an audiophile.

I concur with your choice to incorporate Bose at the highest priority on the rundown, be that as it may, they are truly costly.

Different brands are simply colossally attractive organizations and thus individuals like this creator think just about them.

I would encourage individuals to investigate brands like RHA and Soundmagic. They offer incredible headphones at a better than average cost. Furthermore, they are made by genuine audiophiles.

Pj on October 17, 2019:

And where is boat?

pean on April 19, 2019:

RHA? t20i?

weed king on December 11, 2018:

what about beats

ed on November 12, 2018:

is there any other comps that werent listed that are popular

hi on October 31, 2018:

apple?

groot on July 12, 2018:

Urbanista? Maybe some more options but it was useful anyway.

Tanndgr8 on April 01, 2018:

Where is Beyerdynamics, Shure, Grade,Audeze, AKG?? The author is a noob..No true audiophile can settle with the above brandd

King on March 22, 2018:

this is ok

unknown on March 12, 2018:

Audio Technica is better than sony and skullcandy

Toby on March 08, 2018:

Miss you Sonyericsson ...

Simply Buds Corporation on February 27, 2018:

have you tried Simply Buds?

Ravnit on February 14, 2018:

I think it Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, Skullcandy and JBL they all are best

But it depends on how much cost

The earphones cost Higher more more best sound quality will be there

Madalyn on February 04, 2018:

I love my JLab earbuds. They are found pretty cheap at local stores for the sound quality they deliver.

savant @sk. on February 04, 2018:

skullcandy...is best....it is the modern age ....

salaoni on January 02, 2018:

where is BoAt and Ship headset

Harry on November 28, 2017:

They are talks about commercial level companies. Which is pretty fair enough

If you are talks about Shure and Noble Audio or Audeze earbuds they are pretty expensive for public

Boss on November 23, 2017:

Where is philips ?

amith on November 10, 2017:

how about senhiser cx

Adam on November 05, 2017:

How come Sennheiser is 2nd?

You know they call it Father of the Modern Sound?

Sennheiser in sound is like Bugatti and Lamburgini in Cars

kumag on November 04, 2017:

Auditotechnica is not on top 5? Why?

Prince Ngonyama on October 25, 2017:

What about tdk's?

Santanu on October 22, 2017:

U cannot compromise with skullcandy it's the best

Saanu on September 18, 2017:

Ur wrong.......

One of best no:1 headphone brand is BEATS... By Dr dre

Lalu on September 16, 2017:

I am confused which one is the best one..to buy can any one suggest

Ashpak Patel on July 31, 2017:

I had skull candy...but it got fault in couple of month now tring with JBL.....

Finley on June 29, 2017:

Um... where's Shure?

Skullcandy, really? :I

jagdish sawant on June 10, 2017:

Sony

Headphoneguy on April 16, 2017:

Where is shure in that list? I think they provide much better sound than all of those brand

Navi on March 31, 2017:

Audio technica is better and clear sound quality ...than other...

Nayanabh on March 25, 2017:

This author is definitely not an audiophile.

I agree with your decision to include Bose at the top of the list, however they are pretty expensive.

The other brands are just hugely marketable companies and hence people like this author knows only about them.

I would advice people to look into brands like RHA and Soundmagic. They offer great earphones at a decent price. And they are made by serious audiophiles.

janaki on February 26, 2017:

what about creative..?

Tariro Vito on February 25, 2017:

What about Shure

jf on February 14, 2017:

Which brand is the best

amar bennur on December 29, 2016:

jbl and sennhiser

Aritra on December 23, 2016:

I think Sony is the best now..i love sony..Its the best headset brand..

Emir on December 15, 2016:

so what about the marshall brand?

Anonymous on December 13, 2016:

Where is audio technica. They are also one of the finest headphones manufacturer.

plumbeaver on November 20, 2016:

What about Jabra?

Rajeshkumar TAN on November 15, 2016:

I am Rajesh. I used many more brands like skull candy, sound magic, jbl, Sony, sennheiser. But I really love sennheiser headphones.

It is expensive but that is not a matter here we talk about sound quality only.

Not a loud sound. You are a lover of music means definitely choose sennheiser. Value for money and all headphones comes 2 years of warranty.

Definitely you feel extreme and luxury sound quality.

Only for music lovers.

If you want loud music means choose skull candy.

Simply you want quality sound and price range little bit low compares others means go for Sony.

Low price and get a clear sound to invest to sound magic.

Otherwise jbl is a good brand but can invest more than 3500rs means get a better sound.

Bose is top level one. But that is not for middle level users. That is truly more expensive.

Beats dr. Dre is expensive but that is best for beat sounds only. Like English songs. Lady gaga, arash etc..

I feel

1. Sennheiser

2. Sony

3. Jbl

4. Beats dr. Dre

5. Sound magic

6. Skull candy

Thank you...

Wederdire on November 07, 2016:

Where's Shure?? Or Grado??

Saur on November 01, 2016:

Nope - except sennheiser or probably to certain extent bose, all other brands mentioned above gimmick companies cheap products, easily selling in third world countries - India falls prey. One because good sound is not affordable for mass & there is no place where one can try products other than a fee cheap model mentioned above.

Try Audio Technicia, Grado, AKG, Beyer Dynamics. For expensive brands B & O, B&W.

There are some really cheap headphones/ ear pods giving equivalent to expensive names.

subham on October 28, 2016:

senheiser is best

Rip va Winkle on October 26, 2016:

Shure? Beyerdynamics?Grado? Ultrasone?. Except sennheiser, all the brand from this list is just famous and overprice. They are not for audiophiles or studios just for casual consumers.

Kimodo on October 06, 2016:

How about Philips?

First on September 18, 2016:

JBL Best!!!! great list

Ashish on September 03, 2016:

what about Audio thecnica

RonnieDP on August 25, 2016:

Where is Polk on this list? Their headphones are killer when it comes to clarity. Bose has the best NC hands down but when it comes to performance and clarity, Polk makes them look more like Skullcandy. Which BTW shouldn't be anywhere near this list.

manoj on August 20, 2016:

then what about beats

herehavemyopinion on May 28, 2016:

skullcandy are not sustainable. i bought mine and within 3 weeks they broke

Vigneshraj on February 20, 2016:

What about other companies ,it's like house of marly and beats etc

rap on January 17, 2016:

how about Shure?

vicky on November 15, 2015:

lol skullcandy

bikki on November 13, 2015:

Tekfusion twinwoofers, this s d best brand. Economical price, best sound quality and most reliable.

:D on November 04, 2015:

LOL BOSE WORTH THE PRICE IS THIS A JOKE ?

elangok2oct@gmail.com on October 20, 2015:

Sennheiser is the best of all, not soo expensive, good performance nd built quality

faithshore (author) on August 31, 2015:

@fayis: Pioneer and Panasonic are both very good brands. If you like them, go for them by all means. The only reason I didn't include them is because both the brands excel in making over-the-ear models, but not so much when it comes to earbuds. Panasonic mostly dominates the cheap market.

@annon, boster: I am sorry that you had bad experience with Skullcandy. Yes, to some extent, I agree that the brand does not always make very durable products. Still, they provide great sound when you consider value for money.

boster on August 28, 2015:

skull is very bad company

annon on August 21, 2015:

i havent had a great experience with skull candy. my earphones soon after the purchase, probably a month from then, were faulty. first the left ear

fayis on July 29, 2015:

what about pioneer and panasonic.......?????????

faithshore (author) on May 19, 2015:

Hey Bob, yeah Skullcandy headphones are not the most expensive ones out there, true. But, the top models almost always provide excellent sound quality!

Bob on April 07, 2015:

srsly, skullcandy?

faithshore (author) on March 18, 2014:

That's a pretty good list!

Shashank Bhardwaj on March 17, 2014:

For novices, this might help http://bitly.com/1n1IuJN