Step 1. What Are Your Priorities When Listening to Music? Firstly, think about what you prioritise in a pair of earphones. There are 4 main factors to consider when picking one:
- Sound quality
- Portability
- Comfort
- Price
A Tip For Sound Quality
Sound quality is a very subjective topic because everyone has their own definition of what’s great. A general rule of thumb is that more expensive headphones will have better sound quality. Then again, there are exceptions to this rule. A better approach would be to think about what kind of music you enjoy listening to, then decide what kind of sounds you prefer. For example, if you enjoy electronic and rock music with heavy drums and basslines, a pair of headphones with stronger bass will suit you better. Likewise, for fans of classical music or acoustic ballads, earphones that emphasise brighter tones will be ideal.Step 2: Types of Headphones and the Best Headphones for Your Budget
There are 4 main types of headphones for you to choose from in the market. We’ll be going through the pros and cons of each category so you can decide which is the best headphones for you!In-Ear Headphones
[caption id="attachment_15626" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]![In-ear Headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/rsz_1alex-blajan-223771-unsplash-1024x656.jpg)
SoundMagic E10C: Best In-Ear Headphones Below $100
[caption id="attachment_15628" align="aligncenter" width="717"]![SoundMagic E10C In ear best headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/SoundMagic-E10C.png)
- Price: $49.90 — $55.90
1MORE Triple-Driver: Best In-Ear Headphones Between $100-$200
[caption id="attachment_15629" align="aligncenter" width="442"]![1MORE Triple Driver In Ear best Headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/1MORE-Triple-Driver.png)
- Price: $169
Shure SE535: Best In-Ear Headphones Above $300
[caption id="attachment_15631" align="aligncenter" width="444"]![se535 in ear headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Shure-SE535.png)
- Price: $729
Over-Ear Headphones
[caption id="attachment_15633" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]![Girl listening to over the ear headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/igor-starkov-537079-unsplash-1024x711.jpg)
Audio Technica ATH-M20X: Best Over-Ear Headphones Below $100
[caption id="attachment_15634" align="aligncenter" width="427"]![ATH M20X over the ear headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ATH-M20X.png)
- Price: $78
AKG Y-50: Best Over-Ear Headphones Between $100-300
[caption id="attachment_15636" align="aligncenter" width="443"]![AKG Y50 over the ear headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/AKG-Y50.png)
- Price: $169
Sennheiser Momentum: Best Over-Ear Headphones Above $300
[caption id="attachment_15637" align="aligncenter" width="438"]![Sennheiser momentum over the ear best headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sennheiser-Momentum.png)
- Price: $499
On-Ear Headphones
[caption id="attachment_15639" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]![Man using on ear headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cellphone-device-facial-hair-901236-1024x683.jpg)
Sennheiser HD 2.10: Best On-Ear Headphones Below $100
[caption id="attachment_15641" align="aligncenter" width="438"]![sennheiser hd 2.10 on ear headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sennheiser-HD-2.10.png)
- Price: $71
Grado SR80E: Best On-Ear Headphones Between $100-300
[caption id="attachment_15644" align="aligncenter" width="442"]![Grado SR80E on ear best headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Grado-SR80E.png)
AKG N60NC: Best On-Ear Headphones Above $300
[caption id="attachment_15643" align="aligncenter" width="441"]![AKG N60NC on ear headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/AKG-N60NC.png)
- Price: $449
Wireless Headphones
With more smartphone manufacturers removing the headphone jack from new phone models, wireless headphones may be a sensible choice for you. These provide the most portability because you don’t need to worry about additional dongles taking up space in your bag. Look out for folding ones to save even more space! One of the biggest complaints about wireless headphones is the sound quality. As wireless headphones use Bluetooth signals to receive audio from the source, sound quality may be lower than wired ones. Whether this bothers you is another matter, since you may not be able to tell the difference.JBL T450BT: Best Wireless Headphones Below $100
[caption id="attachment_15646" align="aligncenter" width="439"]![JBL T450BT wireless headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/JBL.png)
- Price: $79.90
Jabra MOVE: Best Wireless Headphones Between $100-300
[caption id="attachment_15648" align="aligncenter" width="446"]![Jabra move wireless headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Jabra-Move.png)
- Price: $138
Bose QC35 Quiet Comfort: Best Wireless Headphones Above $300
[caption id="attachment_15649" align="aligncenter" width="441"]![Bose qc35 wireless headphones](https://shopee.sg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bose-QC35.png)
- Price: $529
Step 3: What Are You Going to Use Your Headphones For?
Now that you know the different types, it’s time to think about which will suit your lifestyle. Here are some common usage scenarios and our recommendations- For work: Over-ear headphones are comfortable for long periods of use, and they isolate ambient noise well so you can focus on your work. Try out Beyerdynamic DT 770 over-ear headphones for excellent sound quality and comfort.
- For travel: In-ear and on-ear headphones are more suitable since they take up less space in your bag. You may consider wireless variants too if you don’t want to deal with tangled wires. The Sennheiser Momentum in-ears are a stylish choice.
- For sports: You’re going to want waterproof-certified ones so you can wash away your sweat afterwards. Try wireless options like the JBL Under Armour wireless in-ear headphones.
- For gaming: For gamers, a microphone is essential for team communication. The Razer ManO’War is a great option for gaming.