After several hours of research in around thirty models of wired headphones, we have come to the conclusion that the most interesting choice is the Beyerdynamics DT240 Pro. Both sedentary and nomadic, it offers first-rate audio quality without neglecting the manufacturing quality.
Our choice, Best mid-range
Beyerdynamics DT240 Pro
Intended for lovers of audio quality, it is both sedentary and nomadic. It offers good comfort of use while offering a natural and balanced look.
With its clear and balanced sound quality in all areas, it can be used for professional listening as much as for pleasure, even if it is primarily intended for audiophiles. However, it has a perfectible sound insulation and its size can inconvenience the larger ears.
Best cheap
AKG K72
Semi-professional equipment at a low price, that’s what AKG offers you with this model. Its entry-level position does not prevent it from offering very good audio quality.
By combining first-rate comfort and high sound quality for its price, AKG has rightly hit the nail on the head. It can even boast of offering a certain listening pleasure thanks to its sufficiently present bass. The only complaints we can make are related to its irremovable cable and the quality of its mediums.
Best high end
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
With its very good manufacturing quality and its detailed and balanced sound, it is still one of the best products on the market. It is also very comfortable, which promises long listening sessions.
Despite the arrival of a new version with the MSR7B, this model is still an excellent choice, especially at the price at which it is offered. Whether you are an audiophile or a professional, it offers very high precision, free from distortion. It is certainly not made to be used on the move with its fairly limited passive insulation … But that is not what it is intended for.
Cheap alternative
Shure SRH145
True to the brand’s reputation for audio, it offers extremely high sound quality in a compact and easily transportable format, making it a good companion for your daily journeys.
Despite its on-ear design, these headphones offer neat audio quality combined with good sound insulation. It has beautiful qualities such as a rich and detailed sound, comfort suitable for all sizes and a reliable construction. In the end, its only faults are related to its size and its price range: the bass slightly lack power and the outer coating, of lower quality, is sensitive to scratches.
Mid-range alternative
Sony MDR-7506
Having arrived on the market for many years, this range of headphones is the industry benchmark when it comes to monitoring headphones. It is mainly characterized by its exceptional sound quality.
If you want a balance between price and sound quality, then the MDR-7506 is ideal. It is certainly not the most practical with its long and robust cable but in terms of audio, it is a reference. We find it unfortunate that the brand did not pay more attention to its visual, which is not at the level of its skills.
our selection
Our choice, Best mid-range | Best cheap | Best high end | Cheap alternative | Mid-range alternative |
Beyerdynamics DT240 Pro | AKG K72 | Audio-Technica ATH-M50X | Shure SRH145 | Sony MDR-7506 |
Intended for lovers of audio quality, it is both sedentary and nomadic. It offers good comfort of use while offering a natural and balanced look. | Semi-professional equipment at a low price, that’s what AKG offers you with this model. Its entry-level position does not prevent it from offering very good audio quality. | With its very good manufacturing quality and its detailed and balanced sound, it is still one of the best products on the market. It is also very comfortable, which promises long listening sessions. | True to the brand’s reputation for audio, it offers extremely high sound quality in a compact and easily transportable format, making it a good companion for your daily journeys. | Having arrived on the market for many years, this range of headphones is the industry benchmark when it comes to monitoring headphones. It is mainly characterized by its exceptional sound quality. |
See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Fnac | See on Amazon |
Why trust us ?
The Selectos editorial team spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and comparing products in order to find those that offer the best value for money.
None of our articles are sponsored. We sometimes receive a commission when you buy a product through our links, which allows us to finance our work while remaining completely impartial.
How did we choose?
The world of headphones is full of possibilities. The main difficulty in choosing the model that best suits us comes from the variety of products available to us. In the context of this article, we have focused on headsets for amateur audiophiles by favoring models designed for sound fidelity.
We therefore sought the best balance between the criteria defined below:
- The sound quality: in the case of wired headphones, the type of sound sought is oriented towards neutrality in order to guarantee a natural rendering whatever the listening medium. In this sense, the headphones must guarantee the flattest possible frequency response in order to avoid any excessive emphasis on certain elements, unlike general public headsets which have a particular color of sound. This type of headphone is mainly used for monitoring or by audiophiles.
- Comfort: look at the thickness and the material of the pads. The thicker they are, the longer you can keep the headphones on your ears. Then, the arch must be designed with good material, but also be adjustable, to best match the morphology of your head and thus ensure good support. Some emit a strong pressure on the skull, making the headphones uncomfortable during long periods of listening. Weight is also an important element.
- Noise isolation: For a good reproduction of the sound scene, audiophiles generally opt for so-called open models, which allow the different sounds to filter more. As a result, insulation is often overlooked, but some helmets try to compensate for this defect. The thickness and size of the pads also influence this factor. If this is important to you, turn to closed models instead.
- Mobility: if you want to opt for mobile use, the robustness and practicality of your helmet are important. To favor these factors, opt for models favoring more noble materials or, failing that, a higher quality plastic. Some helmets offer swivel earphones as a bonus, making it possible to reduce their size. For wired models, a final factor comes into play: the length of the cable. It is indeed quite difficult to slip more than 2 meters of cable into your pocket.
We started from around thirty models and only retained 10 after analyzing these criteria. Then, we consulted several critical English and French speaking sites, forums, blogs, etc. and we managed to establish a final selection of the 5 best wired headphones of the moment according to different price ranges.
PS: as we have already mentioned, different technologies and specific uses exist. If you are looking for more information about them, do not hesitate to visit our other articles dedicated to gaming headsets , noise reduction headsets , as well as bluetooth headsets. We particularly recommend these for your travels.
Our Choice: Beyerdynamics DT240 Pro
Our choice, Best mid-range
Beyerdynamics DT240 Pro
Intended for lovers of audio quality, it is both sedentary and nomadic. It offers good comfort of use while offering a natural and balanced look.
With its clean and balanced rendering in all areas, it can be used for professional listening as well as for pleasure, even if it is primarily intended for audiophiles. However, it has a perfectible sound insulation and its size can inconvenience the larger ears.
The DT240 Pro is a good example that studio-quality headphones can be practical on a daily basis.
Thus, its audio quality without particular color allows a clean and very well balanced rendering. The different tones are linked without snagging, avoiding any confusion, regardless of the style of music chosen. If you want to focus on listening to “pleasure”, you can easily change the equalization with a program or an app.
It provides good comfort thanks to its studied ergonomics. Its headband and pads are covered with a good quality imitation leather and the set is flexible and light, which gives it a good hold without it tightening too much. However, if you have large ears, you will not be able to take advantage of its “over-ear” format, because the size of the headphones is quite small, transforming it into an “on-ear” model for larger users.
This does not allow good sound insulation when its closed format should, on the contrary, help it. It is therefore not recommended for noisy environments.
However, it has good qualities which make it very practical: it is robust and well-constructed (thanks to the use of metal and aluminum), can fold flat and has a cable short enough to be practical on the move (1.5 m base, up to 3 m with the extension supplied). It is also quite flexible which minimizes the risk of breakage.
The best cheap wired headphones: AKG K72
Best cheap
AKG K72
Semi-professional equipment at a low price, that’s what AKG offers you with this model. Its entry-level position does not prevent it from offering very good audio quality.
By combining first-rate comfort and high sound quality for its price, AKG has rightly hit the nail on the head. It can even boast of offering a certain listening pleasure thanks to its sufficiently present bass. The only complaints we can make are related to its irremovable cable and the quality of its mediums.
Who says audio fidelity is expensive? With the K72, AKG proves that even on a low budget, an audiophile can find happiness. Indeed, its real strong point is precisely its quality / price ratio.
It offers a wide, detailed and deep sound rarely seen at this level of range. It has enough bass to be enjoyable for both critical listening and entertainment while maintaining excellent neutrality. Complex sounds are well mastered thanks to good management of the different elements. The only small downside comes from the mediums which may seem a little less coherent by their strangled side but, for this price … we can forgive him.
Comfort is not neglected. Its “over-ear” design is suitable for most large ears. It is equipped with very good quality imitation leather pads, a double hoop and a hammock to combine rigidity and comfort of use which guarantees you that you can wear it all day without problem.
Unfortunately, where the costs have been reduced, it is at the level of the insulation which is simply not at the level of the rest of the helmet and this, even if it is a closed model.
You should also know that it is intended more for sedentary use. Thus, it is adorned with a thick cable of 3 m, inconvenient when traveling. It is also not removable which makes it difficult to replace in the event of a problem.
In the end, if you are an audiophile who takes pleasure in listening to his favorite tracks installed on his sofa, it is perfect. Especially if you don’t want to ruin yourself.
The best high-end wired headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
Best high end
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
With its very good manufacturing quality and its detailed and balanced sound, it is still one of the best products on the market. It is also very comfortable, which promises long listening sessions.
Despite the arrival of a new version with the MSR7B , this model is still an excellent choice, especially at the price at which it is offered. Whether you are an audiophile or a professional, it offers very high precision, free from distortion. It is certainly not made to be used on the move with its fairly limited passive insulation … But that is not what it is intended for.
In terms of sound quality, nothing to complain about. The M50X is intended purely and simply for monitoring which makes loyalty the key word. It offers a well-balanced reproduction with sufficient bass input. Its mediums allow you to effectively transcribe the instruments and the voices and treble are not neglected. The only slight black spot comes from the sound scene, somewhat limited by the closed design chosen by the brand.
In comfort, quality is also there. It follows the contour of your head effectively while being easily adjustable. The “over-ear” headphones can pivot on a vertical and horizontal axis, which allows them to both adapt to your body and fold them up for transport. The pads are comfortable even if they are quite thin. They are covered with imitation leather which, unfortunately, can cause a feeling of heating after a long period of use.
Passive reduction of ambient noise is quite effective, which allows you to enjoy it regardless of the environment where you are. Of course, it is not as effective as the active reduction of more expensive helmets but, for the price, it is a good performance.
Finally, you may want to consider using it while on the go. It is adorned with sturdy plastic which allows it to have some impact and, as we said above, it can be completely folded down which makes it easier to store in a bag. The cable is removable and the brand provides you with 3 formats: 1 coiled cord, practical on the move and 2 rights of different lengths. Take care of it because they have a proprietary connection which makes them more expensive to replace.
In the end, if you have the necessary budget, it is a good solution to listen to a natural and clear reproduction of your favorite tracks, whether at home or on the go.
A cheap alternative: Shure SRH145
Cheap alternative
Shure SRH145
True to the brand’s reputation for audio, it offers extremely high sound quality in a compact and easily transportable format, making it a good companion for your daily journeys.
Despite its on-ear design, these headphones offer high audio quality combined with good sound insulation. It has beautiful qualities such as a rich and detailed sound, comfort suitable for all sizes and a reliable construction. In the end, its only faults are related to its size and its price range: the bass slightly lack power and the outer coating, of lower quality, is sensitive to scratches.
Shure is well known to music lovers, especially for its excellent camera microphones. It is, therefore, natural that one of their helmets should be in our selection. Thus, faithful to the philosophy of the brand, it offers audio quality worthy of the name: the bass has a good definition (even if they lack a little power) and the treble are sharp. The result is a rich, detailed and relatively precise sound.
As a result, it is suitable for listening to a good variety of music.
Lightweight and easily adjustable, it can suit all heads… and all ears thanks to its port on the ear. It is therefore comfortable to wear it for several hours, in particular thanks to the fact that it does not exert too much pressure on the sides of the head. Its contained weight means that little padding is necessary, for the benefit of its compactness.
As a bonus, a rare occurrence for on-ear, the sound insulation is interesting. Admittedly, it will not filter all ambient noise as the best over-ear but the level of attenuated noise is sufficient to allow it to be used on the move.
Finally, when we focus on mobility, he is one of the best students in this selection. Its fully foldable design conceals quality construction despite the use of plastic. It has a cable short enough not to get tangled in it (1.5 m) and requires little power which makes it easy to use with all kinds of sources.
Unfortunately, its metallic effect coating is quite sensitive to scratches. So make sure you have a pocket to protect it.
To sum up, if you are looking for a good balance between portability and audio quality, it is perfect.
A mid-range alternative: Sony MDR-7506
Mid-range alternative
Sony MDR-7506
Having arrived on the market for many years, this range of headphones is the industry benchmark when it comes to monitoring headphones. It is mainly characterized by its exceptional sound quality.
Price not available on Amazon
If you want a balance between price and sound quality, then the MDR-7506 is ideal. It is certainly not the most practical with its long and robust cable but in terms of audio, it is a reference. We find it unfortunate that the brand did not pay more attention to its visual, which is not at the level of its skills.
So let’s start with its main asset: sound. Reserved for audiophiles, it perfectly reproduces the entire soundstage, without any particular color. It is considered an industry standard as it is efficient in this area. Monitoring professionals appreciate it mainly because it effectively transcribes each variation present in the audio track.
As it is primarily intended for professionals, the brand ignores a worked design without sacrificing comfort. Thus, even if the pads do not have memory foam, they are very comfortable for long hours of use. In addition, it remains relatively light. Some users still note a small lack of padding and a hoop that can tighten a little too hard the more sensitive heads.
Sound insulation level, its over-ear design promotes passive noise reduction while minimizing leaks. You can, therefore, enjoy your titles without deterioration due to external sources.
Finally, it is essentially in mobility that the shoe pinches. It is equipped with a long and thick cable which, although robust, is anything but practical on the move. It adds significant weight to the whole and its length can be inconvenient. As a bonus, it is made entirely of plastic which makes it less durable and it requires a good level of power which closes the door on many smartphones. Its only advantage on this point is its fully folding design which makes it rather compact.
In short, if you want a very good headset for sedentary listening and you don’t care much about the design, it is the perfect model … otherwise, go your way.
Honorable mentions
Audio-Technica MSR7B :
evolution of our best high-end, it pays more attention to the consumer by combining its excellent audio quality with an increase in manufacturing quality, reduced impedance and more practical features such as a cable containing a remote control and a microphone. The frequency amplitude is revised upwards, making it compatible with high-resolution audio.