Notable Mentions:

The truth is there are lots of awesome companies out there making very good headphones. Below is an extended list of more of the best headphone brands that can be trusted in 2025.

JBL:

JBL headphones are known for their bold sound and strong bass, catering to a younger audience looking for durable, portable options. They are particularly notable for offering good value headphones and earphones while also creating lots of new tech and pushing the boundaries of design features like they have done with their Tour Pro 2 model which features a screen built into the earbuds to control the settings.

Bang & Olufsen:

Focusing on high-end, luxury audio products, Bang & Olufsen headphones are known for their elegant design and excellent sound quality. I have reviewed a number of them and have been impressed with their improvements over the past few years. What caught the eye was the build quality on the Beoplay H8 and more recently, they greatly improved their earbud game and now have what I consider one of the best-sounding audiophile earbuds on the market with the EX ranking highly on my list of the best wireless earbuds.

Skullcandy:

Offering a fun, vibrant design with a strong bass response, Skullcandy headphones are popular among a younger crowd looking for affordable but stylish options. They aren’t renknowned for sound quality which we would describe as consumer grade at best but they do have a number of cool designs and one innovative bit of tech in the Skullcrusher headphones which vibrate with the music to create a really immersive listening experience.

Bowers & Wilkins:

Renowned for their high-end, luxurious designs, B&W headphones deliver exceptional sound quality and are favored by audiophiles and high-end audio enthusiasts. They are in the category that straddles a well-recognized luxury brand and a true audiophile experience. My pick of their latest crop is the PX8, which came third in my list of the best wireless headphones

Shure:

With a focus on durability and professional audio quality, Shure headphones are a staple in the music industry, known for their clarity and sound isolation. They briefly got recognition about a decade ago in the consumer market but, in the past few years, have gone back to their core buyer base of professional musicians and studio-grade products as well as those designed for audiophiles.

Philips:

Offering a range of affordable options, Philips headphones are known for their comfort and balanced sound, which is suitable for everyday use. They are a brand well known by regular consumers but they offer headphones and earphones for almost any use case. Whether you are an audiophile, runner, or just looking for something well-priced, Phillips is usually a good choice, and they have lots of visibility in regular electronic stores like Best Buy and Costco.

Panasonic:

Panasonic offers a variety of headphones known for their reliability and balanced sound profile, appealing to casual listeners. They are a competitor with Phillips but perhaps with a more prestigious reputation in the audio space. While they used to focus a lot on high-end stuff, sadly, in recent years, they have churned out a lot of junk products aimed at the lower end of the market.

Pioneer:

Pioneer headphones are favored by DJs and professional users for their durability and excellent sound reproduction, particularly in the bass frequencies. You will see these in clubs and studio music production settings, especially in the EDM space.

Klipsch:

Known for their comfort and dynamic sound, Klipsch headphones offer a unique listening experience, combining clarity with a robust bass response. They are a well-known consumer brand for their headphones, but most users don’t even know they have some of the best-sounding speakers in the world aimed (and priced) squarely at audiophiles. That means they have the resources to create great headphones but in recent years we see them focus less on this area of their business.

V-Moda:

V-Moda is renowned for its durable build and stylish design. Its headphones, which offer deep bass and crisp highs, are popular among DJs and electronic music enthusiasts. My criticism of V-Moda is that they haven’t really made something substantially new in years and seem to be a bit of a dying brand, especially in terms of innovation or keeping up with their competitors.

Focal:

Focal headphones are known for their exceptional build quality and sound precision, offering a high-fidelity listening experience for audio purists.

Focal Stellia Review

Focal Utopia Review

Plantronics:

Known for their wireless technology and comfortable design, Plantronics headphones are ideal for business and communication use, offering clear sound quality and practical features. While the headphones are ok they are better at making headsets for office use.

AKG:

Offering a combination of quality, comfort, and durability, AKG headphones are widely used in professional settings and are known for their detailed sound. Like Shure, in recent years, we see that they have reverted back to serving professional and audiophile markets instead of pursuing the consumer section. The one exception would be in Japan, where they are very highly regarded and a well-known household name.