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Although the popularity of on-ear headphones has waned over the years, many people still find them to be a good compromise between the portability of in-ears and the comfort of over-ears. They have smaller ear cups that fit directly on your ears, making them generally more compact and breathable than over-ears without needing earbuds sticking inside your ear canal. However, they tend to fit tighter than over-ears, which can put an uncomfortable amount of pressure on your ears, depending on the design. Good on-ears have a fit that works for you and a sound profile that suits the type of music you listen to. The best even have Bluetooth support and active noise cancelling (ANC).
We've tested over 65 pairs of on-ear headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best headphones with an on-ear design. We'll also be testing theSennheiser HD 25 soon and will update this article when we do.Check out our recommendations for thebest headphones, thebest over-ear headphones, and thebest wireless Bluetooth headphones.
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Best On-Ear Headphones
Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless 3
Neutral Sound
7.2
Commute/Travel
6.6
Sports/Fitness
7.3
Office
6.4
Wireless Gaming
5.6
Wired Gaming
5.3
Phone Calls
6.0
Type On-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic Yes
See all our test results
The Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless are the best on-ear headphones we've tested. These iconic on-ear headphones have their manufacturer's signature design and a colorful look that helps them stand out. With a versatile performance, they're a great choice for listening to music no matter where you go. They have a W1 chip for seamless pairing with Apple devices, and their over 38 hours of continuous playback time means they'll easily survive long days on the go without a recharge.
See AlsoBest on-ear headphones 2024: wired and wireless, premium and budgetBest on-ear headphones in 2024, tried and tested | CNN UnderscoredThe best on-ear headphones to buy in 2023 | Expert ReviewsThe 8 Best On-Ear Headphones for 2024: Sony, Beats, Sennheiser and MoreLike newer Beats headphones, these on-ears have a bass-heavy sound that delivers extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes, making them a great choice for genres like EDM and hip-hop. The extra bass muddies the rest of the mix, though, and the headphones lack customization features to help you adjust their sound. Unlike their higher-end (and unfortunately discontinued) sibling, the Beats Solo Pro Wireless, they also lack noise cancelling (ANC) and won't block out much background noise like bus engines and ambient chatter. Still, they're worth checking out if you love the on-ear look.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range On-Ear Headphones
JBL Live 460NC Wireless 2
Neutral Sound
7.6
Commute/Travel
7.4
Sports/Fitness
7.2
Office
7.3
Wireless Gaming
5.8
Wired Gaming
7.4
Phone Calls
6.7
Type On-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
The JBL Live 460NC Wireless are the best on-ear wireless headphones we've tested in the mid-price range. Their price can fluctuate slightly, but they're a good option when you can get them for less than $100. Out-of-the-box, these versatile headphones offer a well-balanced sound suitable for many different audio genres. Their companion app's parametric EQ and presets let you customize their sound. They also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected with your computer and phone simultaneously.
Unlike the Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless, they have an ANC system. It has trouble effectively reducing bass-range noise like rumbling bus and plane engines but does better with higher-pitched sounds like ambient chatter, which is handy if you want to focus on your work at the office or in a cafe. Their 29-hour continuous battery life is impressive, albeit not as much as the Beats'. Still, they easily last through a workday or long flight without a recharge. They're also well-built and decently comfortable, though their high clamping force can get fatiguing over time.
See our review
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Best Budget On-Ear Headphones
Neutral Sound
7.4
Commute/Travel
6.3
Sports/Fitness
7.0
Office
6.6
Wireless Gaming
5.7
Wired Gaming
5.5
Phone Calls
6.7
Type On-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic Yes
See all our test results
The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless are the next-best option if you want to spend less. These budget-friendly headphones have some extra features that make them worth checking out. Their price also fluctuates, and they're an especially good deal if you can get them for less than $50. They have a slightly warm sound profile out of the box that results in smooth-sounding vocals and instruments, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets so that you can tailor it to your needs. They're also compatible with a virtual soundstage feature to help make your audio more immersive, and they support multi-device pairing to let you stay connected to your smartphone and PC simultaneously.
These on-ears last over 52 hours continuously, which is great for long days on the go or at your desk. They also have a decently comfortable fit and are fairly well-built. Their plastic design isn't the sturdiest, but that's normal at this price point. However, unlike the JBL 460NC Wireless, they lack noise cancelling and struggle to block ambient sound. They also don't have an AUX port, so you can't use them wired. If you care about optional analog connectivity, consider the Skullcandy Riff Wireless 2, which have full audio and mic compatibility via analog, but you can still use them wirelessly. However, they're less well-built and comfortable than the Sony headphones.
See our review
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Best Wired On-Ear Headphones
Audio-Technica ATH-M60x 0
Mixed Usage
5.8
Neutral Sound
7.5
Commute/Travel
5.3
Sports/Fitness
5.7
Office
5.8
Wireless Gaming
4.5
Wired Gaming
6.3
Phone Call
2.0
Type On-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic No
See all our test results
The best wired on-ear headphones we've tested are the Audio-Technica ATH-M60x. Wired headphones are a good option if you want the lowest latency option for watching videos or care about audio quality. These come with a detachable cable and two 1/8" to 1/4" adapters, meaning you can easily plug them into a mixer, amp, phone, or computer. Their design keeps audiophiles in mind, so unlike the Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless, they don't have a mic or onboard controls. As a result, you can't use them to make phone calls or easily skip a track when you're on the go.
Their sound profile is neutral and well-balanced, so they're suitable for fans of different genres and types of content. While most of the bass response is very accurate, there's some overemphasis in the high-bass range, adding a touch of extra boom and warmth to mixes. Vocals and lead instruments still sound present and clear, though you can't customize their mix since they aren't compatible with a companion app. Fortunately, these on-ears are decently comfortable and well-built. They even come with a soft pouch to keep dust off the headphones when not in use.
See our review
Recent Updates
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Feb 01, 2024: We've checked to ensure that all our picks remain in stock and added a mention of the Sennheiser HD 25, which we'll test soon.
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Jan 04, 2024: We've checked our picks for accuracy and availability but our picks remain the same.
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Nov 06, 2023: We've checked that the picks represent the best recommendations in their categories and that the products are in stock.
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Oct 10, 2023: We've made minor text changes to this article to keep it up-to-date and accurate. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations, though.
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Sep 12, 2023: No changes in product picks after verifying their accuracy and availability.
All Reviews
Our recommendations aboveare what we think are currently the best on-ear Bluetooth headphones and on-ear wired headphones for most people to buy. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to findor almostout of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose foryourself, here is the list of all our reviews for on-ear headphones. Be careful not togetcaught up in the details. There are no perfectheadphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
