These days, you don't need to sacrifice portability or affordability if you want headphones that make your music sound good. While earbuds can't create the expansive, natural soundstage that some over-ears can, you still have plenty of choices if you want earbuds with quality sound. There's no genuine one-size-fits-all approach to determine what sounds best to everyone, but there are certain qualities you'll want to keep an eye on.
A neutral sound profile is ideal since it's versatile—most people find it sounds good with a wide range of music genres. However, some people prefer more bass, while others like a brighter sound. As long as there's a balance between bass and treble, with a clear and even mid-range in-between, you can find something that suits your tastes without sounding muddy, cluttered, or dull. Some earbuds also offer extra features like an EQ, so you can adjust the sound profile or virtual surround sound for a more immersive listening experience.
We've tested over 280 wireless earbuds and in-ears, and below are our top recommendations for the best wireless earbuds for sound quality. See our recommendations for the best in-ear headphones, the best earbuds for bass, the best neckband headphones, and the best true wireless earbuds.
The best sounding wireless earbuds we've tested are the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2. These high-end buds have a neutral sound profile with a slightly more full bass that won't mask vocals or instruments. Their smooth sound suits a wide variety of audio, but if you prefer a little more sizzle to your audio, you can customize these earbuds to your taste using their companion app's graphic EQs. The Jabra earbuds also support multi-device pairing, which is handy if you like to switch between your phone and laptop throughout the day.
That said, they don't have an H1 or H2 chip for quick pairing with your Apple devices, so if you're heavily invested in Apple's ecosystem, you might prefer the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The Apple earbuds are comparable to the Jabras in many ways, though their virtual surround sound feature isn't compatible with Android. Only iOS users will be able to take advantage of the head tracking of Spatial Audio, which orients audio based on your head movements to make your audio feel more immersive. Additionally, the Jabra have a better microphone and a longer continuous battery life than the AirPods Pro, and they're a bit more stable in your ears, which might be important if you often find yourself dashing for a bus when running late!
The Nothing Ear are a great pick for their sound as our upper mid-range pick. Like the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2, the Nothing buds and their app are compatible with Android and iOS, though they also lack an H2 chip for seamless pairing with your iOS devices. Nonetheless, out of the box, the Nothing earbuds have a few tricks up their sleeves, such as a generally balanced default sound profile that has a little extra thump, boom, and punch. Their lightly rolled-off treble might sound dull to sound listeners, but their very comprehensive equalizer offers a pared-back graphic EQ with presets, as well as an advanced parametric EQ that lets you tweak specific frequencies of your choosing. Plus, the app includes sound personalization based on your hearing.
Their continuous battery life is a solid 7.5 hours with ANC enabled. These earbuds also have your Bluetooth connectivity covered with multi-device pairing and a great selection of codecs: AAC for iOS devices and high-quality codecs for Android like LDAC and LHDC. They also come with an IP54 rating, so they'll survive dusty trails and splashes from the rain. However, you don't get virtual surround sound, and the ANC isn't quite as powerful as that of our top pick.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, consider the close relative of the Nothing Ear, the Nothing Ear (a). These earbuds are comfortable and have responsive controls. From the factory, these buds have a mostly neutral sound profile, with a slightly elevated bass that adds thump without overwhelming instruments and voices. Their treble is smooth. If you prefer more sparkle, you can use their companion app's graphic EQ and presets to tweak the sound to your liking. Unlike their more expensive sibling, the Ear (a) have a shorter 5.5-hour battery life and worse microphone quality. That said, they still support the LDAC codec for high-quality audio and have decent ANC.
Compared to our top pick, the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2, the Nothing Ear (a) buds lack a spatial audio feature and aren't as good at isolating you from distractions. Still, where it counts, these buds deliver very good sound and value for their price, even if they lack a few features.
The JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless offer good performance for a budget-friendly price. They have a generally well-balanced sound signature that is out of the box, with a little extra bass on tap, which hip-hop fans might appreciate. Their mid-range renders voices accurately and with detail, while their treble range adds just the right amount of sparkle to cymbals without making them sound piercing. They don't offer ANC like the Nothing Ear (a), but they still come with a companion app that lets you tweak their sound to your preferences. And their almost nine hours of continuous battery life is actually longer than the more expensive Nothing's.
If you like the sound of ANC but want to stick to the budget category, the JBL Tune Buds True Wireless are worth checking out. It's not the best ANC, only blocking out a little more noise than the Vibe Buds' passive isolation. But it's something. The Tune Buds have a big boost in the low-bass that adds thump to EDM kick drums but a relatively balanced mid-range and treble that will suit a wide variety of genres. They're a bit more expensive than our pick, though.
If you want cheap earbuds that punch above their weight, look no further than the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless. They have a well-balanced sound profile, with a bit of extra bass on tap, an accurate mid-range, and a bright treble response that adds sizzle to sibilants. While they don't have a graphic EQ that you can't tweak yourself like the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless, they do have three built-in EQ presets to adjust the sound a little. These in-ears don't have an active noise cancellation function, but they still block out a decent amount of noise passively and have some premium features, like Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
They have a stable, reasonably comfortable fit, and their battery lasts over eight hours on a single charge, which is enough to get you through long days at the office. They have a deep in-ear fit that won't feel natural for everyone, but if you're happy with their fit, you'll find it stable. And at this price, you can't expect perfection.
Consider the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless if you want premium buds that can stream high-resolution audio. These earbuds support LDAC, Sony's proprietary high-resolution audio codec, allowing you to listen to higher-quality audio if your streaming service supports it. They also do an amazing job of isolating you against noise of all types, which you might want if you're looking for earbuds for commuting. Their memory foam ear tips help with isolation and provide a comfortable fit, especially if you have smaller ear canals.
Their sound profile is warm, with extra boom and warmth. But their mid- and treble ranges are generally well-balanced, so voices sound clear and true-to-life. They also support multi-device pairing and Sony's 360 Reality Audio, which adds head-tracking and immersive audio qualities via compatible apps like TIDAL. Sadly, they don't have sound personalization based on your hearing like the Nothing Ear, but you can manually adjust the sound profile with an in-app graphic EQ.
The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are also a good choice if you're looking for cheaper earbuds that can still stream high-resolution audio. They have an ANC feature that does a great job of blocking out ambient sound, including bass-range noise like rumbling engines and higher-pitched sounds like voices. However, their default sound can make instruments and vocals sound a bit veiled.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless are our top pick for bass-heavy earbuds. These comfortable buds have an excellent array of features that rival the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 in many ways, but their sound profile out of the box is much thumpier, with loads of rumbly low-bass on tap. They feature Bose's CustomTune technology, which adapts their sound profile based on the shape of your ear and listening habits. Further sound customization is also available via the graphic EQ and presets in the Bose Music app.
These buds are among the first to feature the manufacturer's Immersive Audio technology, which tracks your head to add depth to your audio. Their excellent ANC performance also means they block out a wide range of ambient noise, from low engine rumble to office chatter, so you can focus on your tunes without distractions. Like most Bose headphones, they have a pretty comfortable fit, too, and last about seven hours continuously. There are three additional charges in the carrying case if you need it, though.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 and the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 perform very similarly. Where the Jabras have a smoother sound that some might find dull, the Technics have a bit more sizzle. If that's your thing, these are a great pick, but it's worth knowing you'll miss out on the Jabra's better ANC.
See our reviewThe JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless replace the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4NC Truly Wireless as our budget pick because of their more balanced sound and cheaper price.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless are the new top pick, replacing the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4. The Nothing Ear (a) Truly Wireless replace the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless as the mid-range pick after being updated to v1.8 of our test bench. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Truly Wireless are the new budget pick with the JBL Tune Buds True Wireless as a comparison, as they both bring ANC to the ~$50 range. Removed the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless comparison as the relevant pick had other options for high-quality audio codecs outside Samsung Scalable.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 are our new top pick because their cross-platform companion app allows both Android and iOS users to customize the sound profile to suit their taste. The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are now an alternative top pick for users who are heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem.
Jul 31, 2024 : The Nothing Ear Truly Wireless are the new upper mid-range pick, with the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless as an alternative. We've removed the Jabra Elite 75t Truly Wireless from the Notable Mentions, and text edits have been made throughout for clarity.
Jul 08, 2024 : The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 were added as an alternative to our top pick because they perform similarly to our pick but lack virtual soundstage features. The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless replaced the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless as the alternative pick in the upper mid-range category due to changes resulting from Test Bench 1.7. Finally, we added the Technics EAH-AZ80 True Wireless as a Notable Mention.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best wireless earbuds for sound quality to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for wireless earbuds and in-ear headphones. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying recommendation from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.
Update: Mentioned the newly reviewed Roku Select Series in the Compared To Other TVs section of this review.
Hi there, I just looked at the audio settings in our setting photos, and it does not look like you have much in terms of advanced audio adjustment. No manual adjust equalizer that I can see. May I ask why you want the extra adjustability?
Hi, Thanks for the reply…. Had an older Vizio that had a 5-band but it died, and it’s going in a smaller room. I just like the flexibility of an EQ built-in, but haven’t found any 43" FIRE TV’s with an built-in EQ. I tried the HiSense Google TV because it had it, but didnt care for the Google format. I prefer the Fire platform. I just like the ability to make fine adjustments instead of the Bass/Treble only.🤝
Hi, I’m looking at getting the Fire TV version, the S450F, but want to know if there’s an equalizer setting under the advanced audio options. Is there one on the S450G? If so, how many bands? Thanks!
Hi there,
I just looked at the audio settings in our setting photos, and it does not look like you have much in terms of advanced audio adjustment. No manual adjust equalizer that I can see. May I ask why you want the extra adjustability?
Hi, I’m looking at getting the Fire TV version, the S450F, but want to know if there’s an equalizer setting under the advanced audio options. Is there one on the S450G? If so, how many bands? Thanks!
Does anyone know if the remote for the TCL 43S450G is infrared or Bluetooth? I bought this TV for an elderly parent, and they are struggling with the remote, so I’m looking for some type of universal one that I can pair with it. Thank You
Update: We bought and tested the TCL S4/S470G, and added a few comparisons below in the Differences Between Sizes And Variants and the Color Gamut sections.
Hi there, I just looked at the audio settings in our setting photos, and it does not look like you have much in terms of advanced audio adjustment. No manual adjust equalizer that I can see. May I ask why you want the extra adjustability?
Hi, Thanks for the reply…. Had an older Vizio that had a 5-band but it died, and it’s going in a smaller room. I just like the flexibility of an EQ built-in, but haven’t found any 43" FIRE TV’s with an built-in EQ. I tried the HiSense Google TV because it had it, but didnt care for the Google format. I prefer the Fire platform. I just like the ability to make fine adjustments instead of the Bass/Treble only.🤝
Hi, I’m looking at getting the Fire TV version, the S450F, but want to know if there’s an equalizer setting under the advanced audio options. Is there one on the S450G? If so, how many bands? Thanks!
Hi there,
I just looked at the audio settings in our setting photos, and it does not look like you have much in terms of advanced audio adjustment. No manual adjust equalizer that I can see. May I ask why you want the extra adjustability?
Hi, I’m looking at getting the Fire TV version, the S450F, but want to know if there’s an equalizer setting under the advanced audio options. Is there one on the S450G? If so, how many bands? Thanks!
Does anyone know if the remote for the TCL 43S450G is infrared or Bluetooth? I bought this TV for an elderly parent, and they are struggling with the remote, so I’m looking for some type of universal one that I can pair with it. Thank You
Update: We bought and tested the TCL S4/S470G, and added a few comparisons below in the Differences Between Sizes And Variants and the Color Gamut sections.