Jordan Lent

Jordan is not only a professional content creator and writer but also an audio engineer, music producer, and session musician himself. He is an experienced guitarist and enjoys listening to and playing many different genres of music. Apart from that he also (in his own words) loves to educate people in ways that are easy for everyone to understand. His past work experience mainly focuses on sound engineering, music, and technology. He has over 4 years of experience as a live sound engineer.

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In this article, we鈥檒l cover the best headphone brands available in 2023. We will include the best companies that make higher-end headphones as well as the best companies that make headphones for the mass markets.

We choose our products by comparing a number of reputable products and brands. We have partnerships with many major retailers, and although this may have an impact on the selection of products for the article, our recommendations depend on the editorial staff's professional assessment of the best products.

Our research team evaluates the products on parameters such as:

The above is kept up against price and quality. It is important to mention that the order does not represent a ranking of products, but rather a review of some of the best products for different needs.

While there won鈥檛 be any individual product reviews, you鈥檒l get recommendations of various headphones from each company as well as the pros and cons of each brand.

I will mainly be judging each brand based on their headphone prices, the variety of their products, progressiveness, durability, and sound.

High-end quality, mass-market prices

Sennheiser is easily one of the most popular headphone brands. They are well-loved and have a long history with plenty of great products that came with years of research, trial and error, and listening to what buyers want.

The company was created in 1945 by Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, and its leading breakout product was an omnidirectional dynamic mic. From there they branched out and began creating other products, which leads us to their headphones.

Sennheiser is known for creating audiophile-quality headphones but keeping them priced more affordably, so that those with smaller budgets can still enjoy them. I would say they are in the low to upper mid price range, anywhere from $200 to $700 or so, but this also depends on the product and how new it is.

Sennheiser has a lot of different headphone models, most of them being open-back, but they also have plenty of models that are closed-back as well as models that are wireless and Bluetooth compatible. Sennheiser really keeps up with modern trends in the audio world and incorporates that into their headphones when they can. For example, some of their newer Bluetooth headphones can be EQ鈥檇 with a separate EQ app.

Most, if not all, of Sennheiser鈥檚 headphones have noise cancelling technology that makes listening to music in the studio, at home, or on the go an absolute joy. All of their headphones are durable yet lightweight, even the ones that have added technological features. Battery life is long on their battery-powered headphones, and Bluetooth connectivity is always strong.

All of the Sennheiser headphones I鈥檝e ever used sounded great due to their large frequency response range and circuitry inside the headphone speakers which made them sound clear, bright, and smooth. They were also very comfortable, with thick ear pads that didn鈥檛 bother my skin after hours of wearing them.

Sennheiser is the first brand you should check out. They make such good-quality headphones with features that are helpful and easy to employ. They are great for any age range regardless of whether you want to listen to music or make it yourself.

Another all-around solid choice

JBL is another company that has plenty of top-end headphones and other equipment that will provide you with hours of enjoyable listening. JBL鈥檚 headphones are more tailored towards mass markets for recreational uses, but they also make studio monitors and subwoofers meant for professional use.

JBL has been up and running in the music industry for over 70 years, and they first started out making PA systems and improving speaker designs. JBL is easily one of the most innovative headphone companies out there, and their philosophy sums up as ‘If they need a part that doesn鈥檛 exist, they make it.’ This philosophy has led to some really great inventions on their part, like the Image Control Waveguide and Slipstream port on their subwoofer.

Getting into more details, JBL鈥檚 products are even more affordable than Sennheiser鈥檚, making them more accessible and better for casual listening. The variety of headphones made by JBL is quite large, there are wireless headphones and earbuds, in-ear headphones, over-ear and on-ear headphones, sport headphones, and you can even purchase refurbished models if you want to save some money.

JBL is also a great brand if you want bright, colorful headphones. In terms of progressiveness, JBL has kept up with the technology demand and has implemented various features in their headphones and has come out with many Bluetooth headphones.

Their headphones are extremely durable and the company is known to make portable speakers and headphones meant for exercising and sports, so they will very likely hold up better against rough handling than other brands. They are also lightweight and comfortable.

As for sound, JBL is known for boosted bass frequencies, but overall their headphones sound very rich and full. My favorite JBL model is the LIVE 650BTNC, a sleek, Bluetooth-compatible, noise-cancelling over the ear headphone.

JBL is the perfect choice for another all-around great top headphone brand. With their very affordable, durable yet comfortable products, JBL is ideal for those who are very active as well as those who like boosted bass. They also have a kid鈥檚 line for the younger generations who want to experience the quality that JBL鈥檚 headphones offer.

High-end feel, high-end price

I鈥檓 sure you鈥檝e heard of Sony considering they鈥檙e one of the biggest top companies when it comes to high-quality audio solutions and equipment. In 1946, Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita joined forces and created the Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation) which then was renamed in 1958 to Sony.

Sony was the first company to create a tape recorder in Japan; they named it the Type G. The majority of Sony鈥檚 headphones are geared towards audiophiles, and Sony鈥檚 prices also reflect that: their Z1R premium headphones are almost $2000. While they do have some very cheap options here and there, those are mainly tailored towards specific target audiences (for example their Extra Bass headphones).

Like the aforementioned brands, Sony has a variety of headphones, both wireless and wired, but unlike JBL, Sony doesn鈥檛 have very many options for sport headphones. Sony definitely focuses more on audiophile-grade headphones, and pairs them with price tags that match.

As one of the leading companies in electronics for audio, video, home theater, live performances, and more, Sony has definitely kept up with the latest trends in technology and has some noteworthy features specific to their headphone products that make them worth checking out. Sony also has headphone amplifiers to pair with your Sony audiophile headphones.

As for their durability, Sony headphones definitely don鈥檛 feel cheap, and are even more on the heavy side. Part of this is because of the giant ear pads they put on some of their noise-cancelling headphones, and part of it is because they use high-quality materials.

Sony鈥檚 headphones sound extraordinary, very bright and clean with a flat frequency response which is something I particularly like when looking for headphones. They also have boosted bass models that tailor towards bass lovers. One of the most popular headphone models Sony has to offer that I suggest you look into is the WH-1000XM3 headphones, a wireless noise-cancelling model.

Sony is worth checking out if you have a large budget and can spend a couple thousand dollars on headphones. If you want a cheaper headphone I suggest just getting something from a completely different brand rather than one of Sony鈥檚 cheaper options.

A brand we鈥檙e all familiar with

Like Sony, Bose is another top-rated company that we鈥檝e all seen either on TV or online. Bose is a company that focuses on details both big and small to leave you astounded by products that initially may seem unassuming and inferior.

Bose was created in 1964 by Amar Bose. The headphones Bose offers span through a big range of prices, but overall, Bose seems to be a higher end middle of the road company. A lot of their products start in the $300-$400 price range and only go up. That being said, with how well-known Bose is, it doesn鈥檛 necessarily surprise me that their products are on the more expensive side of affordable.

Even though the prices may disappoint you a bit, Bose鈥檚 variety of headphones will not. Since Bose has branched out from only making equipment for users in music studios and for recreational listening, they now offer products like hearing devices and aviation headsets, which I think is something that is few and far between.

As for progressiveness, Bose has kept up with the ever-changing world of technology and has plenty of wireless options, noise-cancelling headphones, as well as headphones for sports. Many of their headphones have accessibility features for those who are hearing or vision impaired.

In regards to durability, Boss鈥檚 headphones are quite durable. I wouldn鈥檛 recommend throwing them around because they will break at some point, but dropping them once or twice surely won鈥檛 ruin them.

As far as sound goes, Bose focuses more on a pleasant listening experience as opposed to an accurate one, meaning that they have headphones that are more ideal for casual listening than mixing in a studio. The company definitely has some headphones that have pleasurable frequency curves. One of the best Bose headphones that I recommend you look into are the QuietComfort 35 headphones.

If Bose is the brand you鈥檙e interested in, you are sure to be satisfied. While there are some better brands out there to choose from, headphones from Bose are still reliable and uphold a great, impressive sound quality.

Feel the music, don鈥檛 just hear it

Beats by Dre have been around for a while now and are definitely a popular and well-loved line of headphones made for the modern generation of music lovers.

Beats by Dre was created back in 2006 by the music producer and rapper Dr. Dre and the co-founder of Interscope Records, Jimmy Iovine. Beats by Dre is a subsidiary of Apple, Inc that specifically sells headphones and speakers. The price of Beats headphones is around $60 to $400 depending on whether you get earbuds or headphones, so they鈥檙e affordable enough for those on a budget until you get to the newest models.

Even though Beats only sells headphones and speakers, they have a pretty wide variety: sport earbuds, entry-level headphones, and audiophile headphones being some of them.

All of Beats by Dre鈥檚 newer headphones and earbuds are completely wireless and use Bluetooth, so they鈥檝e definitely kept up with the technology industry over the years, however I鈥檇 personally like to see them add more features to Beats.

As for durability, Beats are fairly durable. I would say that they are very slightly on the more breakable side of durable, but they鈥檙e not going to snap in your hand or on your head or anything like that.

As for the sound of Beats, they are tailored to provide the most pleasurable listening experience, which usually means boosted bass and high end frequencies. Beats by Dre boosts these frequencies tastefully. My favorite pair of Beats that I recommend are the Powerbeats; the bass is strong enough in them that you can feel the vibrations in your ears which is something that I enjoy.

Beats by Dre is definitely a brand to check out if you want something to listen to rap and bass heavy music on; that鈥檚 where it shines. I wouldn鈥檛 necessarily recommend the brand to people who like classical music or jazz due to the tailored frequency curve.

An up-and-coming brand

Bang & Olufsen is a very old brand (founded in 1925) from Denmark that focuses on audiophile headphones and other high-end, luxury audio solutions. Although they鈥檝e been around for a long time, their headphones are becoming increasingly popular as of the past year.

Their headphones and earbuds sell at a mid to upper mid price range around $200 to $500, which I think is very reasonable for specifically audiophile-quality headphones.

They don鈥檛 have a very large variety of products, just some staple models, but really that鈥檚 all you need. With a more limited product range, Bang & Olufsen can focus more intimately on their headphone models rather than making many mediocre models. All of their headphones are up to date with current technology, having wireless and Bluetooth capability as well as touch controls on some of them.

The design for a lot of their headphones is very sleek and sophisticated-looking. As for durability, headphones from Bang & Olufsen are pretty durable and last a long time as long as you don鈥檛 get them wet.

As for sound, the Bang & Olufsen signature sound is there, with clean highs, rich mids, and deep lows. It鈥檚 definitely satisfying and very enjoyable to listen to music with Bang & Olufsen headphones, and are very comfortable thanks to thick ear pads.

Bang & Olufsen is a good brand for sophisticated music lovers. Their products are nice to look at as well as listen with, and I鈥檇 recommend B&O headphones for people who want a high-quality listening experience for not very much money.

A skater classic that keeps improving

Skullcandy is a brand that was popular with skaters back in the early 2000s (founded in 2003) and they鈥檝e been coming out with new and improved products all these years. Their prices range from $20 to $225, so they are definitely more geared toward mass markets.

Skullcandy has a lot of different headphones and earbuds with different features, and they come in many different colors. If you like colors other than black and white, you鈥檒l like Skullcandy. There are wireless headphones and wireless earbuds, so they鈥檝e stayed in tune with technology and they have control features that also show that they鈥檝e stuck with technology as it’s improved.

Skullcandy makes durable headphones, but if they break, they鈥檙e cheap enough to replace. This is an ideal situation, especially if you are a skater or are active in general. Even the cheaper Skullcandy headphones look high-end. As for sound, there are boosted bass and highs, but overall, everything sounds full and clear, which is something most listeners will want. I recommend their Crusher headphones.

If you want many great budget options for headphones, Skullcandy is the ideal brand for you. Skullcandy headphones sound great, look great, and really are fantastic. If you used to like the brand back when they first got popular, you鈥檒l like them even more now. Due to their affordability and quality, Skullcandy鈥檚 headphones are ideal for anyone, whether you鈥檙e 8, 18, or 80 years old.

Made for musicians and producers

Audio-Technica is an audio company that was founded in 1962 in Japan. The company focuses on audio equipment that is affordable yet high-end, and their headphones show this.

Audio-Technica鈥檚 headphones are priced pretty widely, they have cheap options for gaming headsets all the way to more expensive high-end options for audiophiles. They can easily range from $150 to $1500. Because of this, I鈥檇 say they鈥檙e another good all-around brand, but they shine with equipment and headphones for music studios.

Over the past years they鈥檝e definitely been progressive and kept up with technology and have added new features to their models that needed them. Audio-Technica鈥檚 headphones are super comfortable as well as very durable; I鈥檝e dropped mine in the studio many times and they still sound and work great. They also sound absolutely amazing. Audio-Technica鈥檚 headphones are some of the nicest sounding flat response headphones I鈥檝e used. Check out their ATH-M70x model.

Audio-Technica is a good brand to check out if you want headphones that are better for making music or performing on stage. Although they have excellent recreational options, they are first and foremost an audio equipment company and therefore their highest-quality headphones are the professional series models.

For home office and entertainment

Beyerdynamic was founded in 1924 in Germany as an audio solutions company for the home office and entertainment purposes. They remain very popular due to their headphones and microphones.

Their headphones span a wide range of prices, the lowest being around $60 and the highest being well over $1000, so I鈥檇 say they are definitely a higher-end company.

The variety of products they have is pretty large; there are different models of wireless headphones, wireless earbuds, gaming headsets, headsets for the office, as well as headphones for mixing and mastering, and headphones for audiophile-fidelity listening. They also sell headphone amps for the audiophile headphones.

All of Beyerdynamic鈥檚 wireless headphones are Bluetooth-compatible and have high-quality chips in them to optimize speed and audio quality. Technology has allowed them to use special drivers and other features, and Beyerdynamic even paired with Tesla to improve on technology even more for optimum sound quality.

The technology of Beyerdynamic鈥檚 headphones isn鈥檛 the only thing that鈥檚 helped them to remain popular – they are also very durable. They鈥檙e a bit heavier than a few of the headphones here, mainly due to using Tesla鈥檚 drivers in the speakers, but they鈥檙e light enough to be comfortable for long periods of wearing them, and they do last a long time.

They sound absolutely amazing, with rich bass, smooth highs, and full but clear mids. Battery life on their wireless headphones is quite long, around 30 hours after just a 2 hour charge. I highly recommend their Amiron wireless headphones.

For a high-quality solution, Beyerdynamic offers many different options in many different price ranges, making the company a great establishment to buy from. Anyone can enjoy their monitoring products due to there being something for everyone, from gamers to businessmen to music producers.

Professional use headphones and earbuds

AKG Acoustics is a manufacturer of headphones, microphones, and other audio gear, and was founded in 1947 in Austria. AKG Acoustics doesn鈥檛 have very many cheap options, their prices start at around $60 and go up into $1500 and higher pretty quickly with the majority of the headphones they offer being in the $300 to $600 range.

AKG Acoustics sells headphones mainly meant for professional use. Along with professional mixing and mastering headphones, AKG also sells earbuds, wireless headphones, and other over-ear and on-ear headphones for recreational use. All of their latest wireless models have Bluetooth and either feature noise cancelling technology, customizable audio, or have special drivers.

The headphones offered by AKG are all lightweight yet durable, made with heavy plastic. They feel nice and it鈥檚 hard to even scratch them. They also sound really good, with a very flat and clean response, but still pack a punch in the bass frequencies.

I鈥檝e used AKG headphones before and I鈥檝e liked them quite a bit; they were comfortable and the ear cups isolated noise as well as created a big soundstage for what I was listening to. The model I used was the K702 model, which is an open-back pair of over the ear headphones.

AKG Acoustics is definitely a superb brand for headphones. With noise cancelling technology, plenty of durability, and 23 pairs of headphones meant for professional use, buying from AKG is a no brainer. AKG鈥檚 products would be good for any professional, whether you are in an office or in a music studio.

Use this list of the top 10 best headphone brands the next time you go out shopping for a new pair of 鈥榩hones. With all of these choices of the best manufacturers here, you鈥檙e sure to find a good match for your listening and monitoring needs.