The Best Earbuds

Our pick

Final E4000

The best wired earbuds under $200

These earbuds may not sound completely neutral, but they’re generally well balanced and fun to listen to. The cable is replaceable but has neither a remote nor a mic.

Buying Options

$146 from Amazon

$150 from Audio 46

The Final E4000 wired earbuds have a fun, bass-forward sound that works for many different types of music. Unlike most bass-heavy earbuds, the E4000 set is tuned so that the bass doesn’t swallow up male vocals or guitars. Male vocals still come across clearly, acoustic guitars still sound rich, and higher frequencies are not piercing. Final includes optional over-ear hooks and plenty of tips, so the E4000 set should fit most ears comfortably and securely. These earbuds have a replaceable cable but no remote or mic (though you can buy third-party options separately), and Final protects them with a two-year warranty.

Also great

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H3

If you need a remote and mic

The H3 sounds especially good with hip-hop and rock music, but the sound is a little lacking in space and detail.

Buying Options

$95 from Amazon

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H3 is a former top pick that still holds up, especially for music with electronic instruments like rock, hip-hop, and EDM. These earbuds have less of a bass bump than the Final E4000, but they don’t offer the same sense of space and detail. The Beoplay H3 earbuds are comfortable, equipped with an iOS-friendly three-button remote and mic, and backed by a two-year warranty.