The Best Headphones of 2017
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Turn on, tune in, rock out.
Beats Solo3 Wireless ($300)
The comfy, do-everything Solo3 offers rich, thumpy sound and is great during commutes and on runs, where the rubberized headband helps it stay put. Its Bluetooth boasts a nearly unprecedented range of 400 feet. Battery life runs 40 hours, and a quick five-minute plug-in gives your Beats three hours of juice if you’re rushing out the door.
iFrogz Summit Wireless ($35)
Lightweight and sweat-resistant, the Summit comes in at a remarkably low price for Bluetooth earphones and sounds surprisingly good. The earpieces wedge in snugly, and the cord snaps onto your shirt collar, which alleviates the constant tug you can get from other behind-the-neck models. Its plastic build and thin wires don’t inspire total confidence, though.
Shure SE215m+SPE ($119)
Don’t overlook wired earphones: they eliminate the need for charging—simply plug and play. Dynamic MicroDrivers produce stellar sound quality that doesn’t overdo the bass and is as crisp as that of any model we tested, while a secure fit is accomplished via moldable, Kevlar-reinforced over-ear cables.
Monster iSport Victory BT ($100)
With its solid build, sweat resistance, impressive sound that stays clear at high volumes, and reflective cable for nighttime safety, the Victory BT comes close to perfecting wireless workout buds. But best of all are the just-right rubber wings that leverage the shape of your ear to wedge them in place.
JLab Epic2 Bluetooth ($100)
The Epic2 emerged as our favorite wireless sports headphones this year. While the buds are a bit chunky (though not heavy) and might not sit right in smaller ears, the powerful oomph of its rich, bass-heavy audio makes up for the size. Plus it’s water-resistant and can be rinsed off briefly after a particularly sweaty outing.
Sony MDR-1000X ($350)
Sony has trodden into Bose territory with these frequent-flier-friendly cans. Throw together Bluetooth connectivity, customizable filtering for blocking out ambient sounds and voices, digital sound enhancement, supple over-ear cups with touch controls on the outside, and a 20-hour battery life and the result is the ideal—albeit expensive—pair of travel headphones.