The numerous technological advancements over the last decade have led to considerable improvements in the design and efficiency of earphones. You can now enjoy balanced, accurate and powerful sound outputs, even with devices that don’t have an over-the-ear design. Some models support Active Noise Cancellation as well, further enhancing your listening experience. Moreover, such earphones now come in different form factors such as truly wireless, neckband-style and wired ones. Keeping all this in mind, we have curated a list of some of the best in-ear earphones to consider if you want to enjoy a top-notch music-listening experience. Note that all these products are available on Amazon and have made to this list based on their features.
Here is a premium pair of truly wireless earphones from Sony that uses Active Noise Cancellation. This should help it deliver a virtually noise-proof sound output, as claimed by the brand. It uses smart listening technology, which helps alter the level of noise-cancelling as per the ambient noises in play. It has a Quick Attention Mode that should come in handy – you just need to keep your finger over the left earbud to lower the volume of the output, enabling you to talk to people in between songs or verses. It has easy touch controls, allowing you to manage calls, music and voice assistants smoothly. It is said to deliver a playback time of eight hours on a single charge and then gives you three additional charges with the case, taking the total battery life up to 32 hours.
Shure’s SE215 are in-ear earphones with an over-the-ear configuration, which makes them stay on longer and more securely. Their HD mono drivers deliver clear audio with impactful bass, while their sound-isolation sleeves block upto 37 dB of ambient noise. There are in-line controls for volume control, music playback, call functions and voice commands. There is also a switch to select between iOS and Android device connection. The pair comes wired with a 64 inch cable which ends in a gold-plated 3.5 mm straight plug, and the cable is detachable. If you purchase a separate Bluetooth kit from Shure, you can turn these IEMs into a wireless headset that supports Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity with 10 hours of playback. You can also buy accessory cables with Lightning or USB-C ports, in case your phone doesn’t have a headphone jack. Remember, this model we’ve listed here has only wired 3.5 mm connectivity.
Lightweight and with an angled in-ear design, these earphones deliver JBL’s signature extra deep bass courtesy their powerful 9 mm drivers capable of 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response. The earphones themselves are of a premium metallic finish, while the 1.2 m cable terminates in a gold-plated 3.5 mm straight plug. There is an inbuilt noise-isolating microphone and a universal remote control in-line for receiving or rejecting calls, music playback and long-pressing the single button activates the voice assistant.
The BassBuds X1 sport ear fins for a secure, snug fit and a rugged Kevlar-reinforced cable, which, along with the fact that they have a lightweight aluminium body, make them an excellent choice of earphones for the sporty types. Employing neodymium magnets, their 10 mm aerospace grade aluminium alloy drivers deliver HD sound with extra strong bass which doesn’t play down the mids and highs. The earphones have an in-line condenser microphone (which is better at capturing human speech than a regular, dynamic microphone) and one-button universal control for music playback, call functions and voice assistant activation. They work across all operating systems, so compatibility is never an issue. Finally, they are IPX5 rated, which means that they can withstand sweat and water splashes.
Compatible with any device which sports a 3.5 mm jack, the BassHeads 100 have a crested, hawk-inspired design which is unique enough to make heads turn and faces green with envy. Their durable PVC cable is tangle-free and of the perfect length (1.2 m). The 10 mm drivers deliver super extra bass which pounds into your ears through the angled earbuds, while the in-line microphone has noise isolation capability. Next to it is an integrated multi-function button for the standard controls, including voice assistant activation.
This Sennheiser pair of earphones doesn’t have a microphone, so you cannot take calls with it. Its larger-than-average dynamic (moving coil) drivers with neodymium magnets deliver powerful bass-driven stereo sound that more than just a few users have felt was better than the performance of other similar products. Its relatively higher impedance of 16 ohms provides it with enhanced noise attenuation, so background ambient noise shouldn’t be a bother while listening on these earphones. The 1.2 m long cable ends in a gold-plated 3.5 mm right-angled plug, while a single button for track control is housed in a V-shaped panel that rests at about sternum height.