*     The best headphones not only sound great but also do everything else you need, whether that means fitting in your pocket, blocking out noise on your subway commute, or remaining secure in your ears during workouts.

 

*     We’ve tested hundreds of headphones for a variety of uses and at a variety of prices. This article provides some shopping guidance, as well as an overview of all our top headphone and earbud picks, with links to the full guides.

 

*     What you need to know

*     How will you use them?

Do you need an all-purpose pair of headphones that does everything well or a pair that excels at one thing, like vocal clarity or sweat resistance?

 

*     ANC isn’t a cure-all

Though active noise cancellation can be very effective for sustained, lower-pitched sounds like airplane noise, it doesn’t work well for voices.

 

*     Wearable tech

Headphones have to fit your body. Choose a style that makes you feel comfortable so that you’ll enjoy wearing them for the long term.

 

*     Bluetooth or not?

Wireless headphones can feel liberating, but they don’t connect to every computer. And they can cost more for the same sound quality as a wired pair.