The 5 best audiophile earbuds of 2024, wired and wireless

What if you want to listen to music in the highest possible quality while on the move?

I’m here to give you some options, with an article focused on earbuds for audiophiles: wired and wireless, affordable and not much so.

If you thought you couldn’t listen to all the intricacies of hi-def music while on your way to work, these beauties will make you think again.

Quick recommendations

After listening to a wide range of options, I think the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 offer the best value for audiophiles in the earbuds market right now.

A perfect combination of cutting-edge technology and decades of experience in sonic craftsmanship, B&W brought to life an exceptional earphone that sounds magnificent, is incredibly comfortable, and looks timeless.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 are for those looking for a great sound and the best possible active noise cancellation.

Just like the Pi8, the XM5 comes with tech designed to elevate audio sources to new heights, with a refined and accurate sound you’ll never get bored of.

Finally, the wired Sennheiser IE 900 are uncompromising in-ear headphones that reproduce a spacious and natural soundstage with absolute accuracy.

They come with a hefty price tag, but there’s no doubt in my mind that they’re the best you can get for listening sessions on the go.

Contents

Use these jump links to navigate to the desired section of the review.

• Why trust me
• How I chose and tested
• Everything I recommend

Why you should trust me

I’m an audiophile and music producer. During my years in London, the daily commute to Bethnal Green became a moment of deep music listening.

Those journeys also became an opportunity to explore audiophile-level earbuds for the first time.

Since then, high-quality in-ear headphones have become a must-have for everyday use outside of the house, and as they kept evolving, so did my interest in learning more about their potential and high-fidelity reproduction.

How I chose my top picks

As always, sound quality is a top priority: frequency responsiveness, but also agility, transparency, and balance.

I use earbuds for pleasure but also for work: they’re a critical component when I make mixing decisions, and some of the earbuds below accompanied me on stage in the past as in-ear monitors, which is why I love earphones that favor accuracy over coloration.

Comfort and build quality are almost as important. Leaving earbuds into your ear canal for hours every day requires them to have a comfortable design and multiple fit options for everyone.

Finally, the choice between wired and wireless is a personal one, so I decided to include both options in the list.

Here are my top recommendations for the best audiophile earbuds:

• Best overall: Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
• Best for bass: Devialet Gemini II
• Best ANC: Sony WF-1000XM5
• Best budget: Shure Aonic 3
• Best high-end: Sennheiser IE 900

Best overall: Bowers & Wilkins Pi8

• Type: Wireless
• Noise attenuation: ANC
• Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on)

I wasn’t impressed by the Pi7. Even when the second generation came out, I always felt they were overpriced for what they offered in terms of sound and features. The Pi8 are a whole new ballgame.

These earbuds come with a dedicated DAC/DSP that offers impressive codec support, from aptX to aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless. The sound can be customized through the Bowers & Wilkins Music App, with its five-band equalizer and TrueSound mode.

The active noise cancellation in these earbuds also works perfectly and does not impact the soundstage in any way.

But what makes the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 unique is the sound coming out of them, which is nothing short of magnificent: accurate, articulate, deep, and refined.

There’s something unique in the precision and agility of these earbuds, which can enhance the beauty of anything you want to listen to, be it classical, thrash metal, or anything in between.

The design of the B&W Pi8 translates the level of class and refinement of the soundstage into the physical realm.

All in all, these are truly exceptional earphones, and the best you can get if you’re looking for audiophile-level earbuds at this price. They’re not cheap, but I feel the cost is totally justified.

See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best for bass: Devialet Gemini II

• Type: Wireless
• Noise attenuation: ANC
• Battery life: 4.5 hours (ANC on)

Produced by the audiophile experts at Devialet, the Gemini II are a high-end pair of earbuds that deliver an immersive and engaging sound experience.

I’m especially in awe by the way they reproduce bass: the low-end is powerful, yet tight and controlled, giving an impressive punch for earphones of this size.

The Gemini II come with noise cancellation technology that does the job admirably and a dedicated app that allows you to craft their output in seconds. The 10 mm titanium-coated driver is a testament to Devialet’s dedication to delivering sophisticated earbuds that look and sound amazing.

All in all, the Gemini II are great if you’re into deep bass, accurate sound reproduction, and a stylish design.

There are caveats, though: they’re expensive, and battery life is nothing to be impressed by (4 – 5 hours of normal use).

See current price at: Amazon

Best ANC: Sony WF-1000XM5

• Type: Wireless
• Noise attenuation: ANC
• Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on)

You just can’t go wrong with the Sony WF-1000XM5. The upgraded version of the already excellent XM4, this new model comes in a smaller size but still features impressive 8.4 mm drivers that bring to life a realistic and highly adaptable soundstage.

One of their best features is undoubtedly the top-notch low-frequency noise attenuation of over 30 dB, which works in unison with the pristine audio reproduction that these earbuds deliver across any genre.

The result is a total focus on the music wherever you are, and a detailed reproduction that takes audio appreciation to a new level.

But that’s not all. Features like Sound Control, support for hi-res and 360 Reality Audio, as well as a Speak-to-Chat feature, make the WF-1000XM5 a perfect example of high-end tech that brings to life a natural, accurate, and articulate sonic image.

See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best budget: Shure Aonic 3

• Type: Wired
• Noise attenuation: Passive

If sound accuracy is your priority and you’re not interested in wireless technology, there are earphones you can get that won’t cost you a fortune and will still give you everything you need. Entering the Shure Aonic 3.

I’ve used these on stage and for everyday use, and they never disappoint. The sound is accurate and natural, with a built-in isolation that provides 37 dB of isolation in total comfort.

The balanced armature drivers tend to enhance clarity, especially on the higher spectrum, offering a vibrant soundstage that works admirably for audiophiles and musicians alike.

The earbuds come with a detachable cable, which is great if you ever need to replace it, and a fit kit with five tip shapes and different sizes to make sure they fit perfectly.

The comfort, combined with the clear soundstage and natural noise cancellation, brings to life an immersive soundstage that’s truly one of a kind.

If your budget is below $200 and you can live without wireless earbuds, the Shure Aonic 3 is the best you can get.

See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best high-end: Sennheiser IE 900

• Type: Wired
• Noise attenuation: Passive

Premium wired earbuds are not as trendy as they used to be. And so what? If your objective is to get the best sound quality possible, wireless technology and ANC should be nothing more than the icing on the cake.

If this resonates with you, and you’re willing to spend $1000+ on earphones, the Sennheiser IE 900 will reveal new layers of sounds you never thought existed.

Pair them with a good-quality portable DAP or amplification, and you’ll be amazed by how insightful and open-sounding they are.

The IE 900 magnify every note and element in the mix without causing fatigue, with an expansive sound that’s nothing short of an engineering miracle for these single 7 mm drive units.

If you want to take the quality of your audiophile-level listening room with you during the day, the IE 900 can do it, and then some.

These are earphones that demand audio sources and amplification of the highest quality, so connecting them straight to your laptop or smartphone feels a bit of a waste to me.

If you’re looking for the utmost sound quality, don’t care about technological embellishments, and can spend on premium products, these earbuds are for you.

See current price at: Amazon

Honorable mentions

• Beats Studio Buds+. Not a big fan of the Beats’ sound signature (or the brand for that matter), but there’s no doubt the Buds+ do offer a lot for their price. In my experience, they’re superior to the Airpods Pro in terms of sound, noise-cancelling tech and battery life, but what makes them stand out are the great ergonomics and galvanizing bass. These earbuds are a great choice if fashion has a critical role in your decision-making process.
• Technics EAH-AZ80. These are some of the most comfortable earbuds you’ll ever find, which, combined with a rich and immersive sound, makes the AZ80 a valid alternative to any of the earphones above. While they sound less engaging than any of my top five recommendations, these earbuds are incredibly elegant, lightweight, and fit so comfortably that it seems like you’re not wearing them at all. The noise-cancelling technology is top-notch, and the reasonable price makes them a budget-conscious alternative to more blazoned earphones.

Final thoughts

I hope this list helped you identify the best earbuds for your audiophile needs. Do let me know in the comments if there are other earphones worth talking about.

Before buying audiophile-level earbuds, all you have to do is define your priorities. Do you need a high-quality ANC, or are you just interested in audio quality?

Whether you’re an audio purist or a commuter who doesn’t want to compromise on sound quality, I’m sure any of the picks above will help you refine your sound and take it with you through the day.

Happy listening!