The Best Earbuds and In-Ear Headphones on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers

With over 35,000 five-star reviews, these Panasonic headphones are a tried and true favorite for their sound quality, durability, and fit — all for a mere $10. “Just buy these, seriously,” says one shopper. “I am at work, next to the window, and there is a literal jackhammer outside the window. I have these headphones in, listening to music, and I can’t hear it at all. If you want that in your life, these are the earbuds for you.” One shopper, who says that she has always had trouble finding earbuds that actually stay in her ears, writes, “When I inserted it into my ear I could feel the instant comfort and ‘click,’ if you will. It just fit so well! I think I audibly gasped in shock and awe.” And they’re long-lasting, according to reviewers. “These are the best earbuds, period,” writes one. “I had a pair for YEARS with no problems but I lost them, which caused me much emotional turmoil … The sound is FANTASTIC for the $10 price tag.” Plenty of other shoppers noted the low price, too. “Four years on a product that works on a daily basis and fits great for price of $6-$10? No brainer. Incredibly reliable and good quality,” says one. Another writes, “The sound quality is equal to or better than most headphones four times the price.”

Shoppers looking for earbuds with bass loved this pair from Sony. “The bass is next to none,” writes one reviewer. “First off, there is a LOT of bass, which I love. The clarity is also really great. I can really hear the vocals, even when there’s a lot of music.” Another reviewer writes, “These have better bass than any other headphones I’ve had in this price range. Good bass, too, not the cheap stuff that hurts your ears.” And a third describes the bass as “punchy and powerful, but it doesn’t overpower.” Reviewers also said that these were good for more than just bass, and made an all-around great, balanced headphone. “A balanced sound stage with crisp mids, clear highs and punchy bass: If that’s what you’re looking for, then these earbuds are the way to go,” says one shopper. “For 30 bucks, they are double the price of most ‘okay’ earbuds, but quadruple the quality.”

“I am ASTOUNDED with these things’ capabilities,” writes one reviewer. “Rich, focused bass. Woody timbre and REAL depth. I can’t wait to hear what they can do with Miles Davis, Morbid Angel, or Stravinsky.” Many other shoppers agreed that these earbuds had excellent bass and quality sound at an affordable price. “There are many things that I appreciate about these earbuds,” says one. “I truly enjoy the sound that comes from these — nice, deep bass to nice treble. Incredible sound for the price range.” Another writer describes the sound as “Amazingly balanced, great but not overpowering bass.”

For those who prefer earbuds that plug into their devices, this pair stays tangle-free, thanks to the flat cord, and though that might sound too good to be true, one reviewer calls the claim “legitimate. I haven’t had one tangling issue yet, and I’ve used them a lot already. It sucks fighting the cords; that isn’t an issue with these earphones.” Another says, “These earbuds have done everything to stand up to all of the environments they meet. No tangles in the cord even if shoved into your pocket.” They even passed one reviewer’s “tangle test,” in which the shopper “wraps them up and rubs them together until they tangle” (which they did not).

“I will never be without noise-canceling headphones. I received an earlier version of these Bose QuietComfort in-ear noise-canceling headphones as a gift a couple of years ago; I purchased these as a replacement. These are a true game changer for travelers or anyone who wants to shut out the world and focus. I prefer the in-ear vs. the big over-ear versions because they take up much less room in my bag, they’re easier to sleep in on planes, and I can shift my head around much more easily. I will say to watch for where the wire meets the battery pack. After a couple of years of winding and unwinding my original pair of these headphones, the rubber around the wire wore down on the headphone side of the battery pack and exposed the metal wire. (It’s probably the one point that gets bent and moved the most.) Other than that, I love them.”

For a less expensive, but still high-quality noise-canceling option, shoppers raved about this pair. “I’ve never loved any pair of headphones more,” says one reviewer. “I ride the bus to school and I would find it difficult listening to music without turning the volume up loudly and even then, I could not hear any bass. With these, I can keep my volume to less than halfway on the volume bar and the bass sounds nice and full.” Another happy shopper writes, “They’re quite literally perfect. Excellent noise and bass levels, excellent noise cancelation. Super comfortable. Get them.” The fabric-covered cord was also a draw for reviewers. “Wonderful quality and I love the fabric cord that my cats can’t chew through! (I think I’ve lost at least ten earbuds from that!),” says one.

Those looking for a particularly soft and secure earbud fit praised this gummy pair, which comes in a variety of colors. “What I really love is the gummy piece that goes into the ear,” writes one shopper. “It’s supersoft and squishy so even if you wear these buds for many hours (and I have) they are still comfortable.” Another reviewer, who has tried several pairs of earbuds, says that they have “come to the conclusion that JVC Gummies are the best earbuds,” and that these “last a long time before you need to replace,” and are “sturdy yet very comfortable in the ear.” Plus, many reviewers appreciate that these earbuds come in a rainbow of colors.

Over-the-ear earbuds offer a secure fit, and shoppers found that these did the job, especially when on the move. “It stays in place when I work out,” says one. “No more earbuds falling out and getting in the way of everything when I bend or twist.” Another says, “They stay in place securely with no anxiety of them falling out. I recently spent the night away and I used them to block out the snoring my friend made while sleeping. The quality is excellent. Listening to music is great.” Reviewers with small ears particularly liked this pair, too. One person writes, “I have very small ears for an adult and most earbuds work their way out or are uncomfortable. These are comfortable and stay in place.” Another shopper says, “ I have tiny ear openings and have found it difficult to keep ear plugs in my ears. These work awesome … and they don’t make my ears sore.”

“I like to keep an ear free, especially while taking walks,” says one reviewer, explaining why they bought this single earbud. “The earbud is comfortable and stays in my ear while I’m on the go. The sound is excellent and that’s the main thing, of course.” Another reviewer, who is a runner and cyclist, says that these allow safe listening to full stereo music while working out, but still let in surrounding sounds, like “cars, dogs, other people.” “The sound is great, the ear bud stays secure, and the flat wire adds a nice, higher quality touch,” they write. “The metal piece on the back of the ear bud also makes it seem a bit higher end. Very nice, especially for $20.” And one shopper, who has been using these for three months, is still impressed. “Three month daily use update: still going strong. Great product,” they write.