It can be hard to know where to start if you're looking for a new pair of headphones. Even if you've narrowed your needs to something fairly specific, like earbuds for sports, how do you know the best earbuds brand? While the biggest brands tend to make something for everyone, some focus on specific groups, like athletes or professional musicians. While you can get a decent pair of headphones from most brands these days, there's no hard-and-fast answer as to the best headphone brand for you. Each company has a unique way of doing things, even catering to similar needs. That said, some brands stand out among the rest.
We've tested headphones from over 100 brands, and below are our recommendations for the nine best headphone brands. The brands aren't ranked or ordered; the first brand listed isn't necessarily our top pick, and the last isn't necessarily the worst. Instead, we've listed the brands by use or specialty, keeping brands with similar audiences together to make it easier to find what best suits your needs. You can also check out our best headphones article for our recommendations sorted by price.