If you are an audiophile and need the right equipment to accompany your listening taste, chances are you are looking for earbuds that will provide high-quality sound. To make sure that you find the best audiophile wireless earbuds, there are several factors that you will have to consider, such as comfort, as you will be spending a lot of your time using them.
The best audiophile wireless earbuds should be able to provide you with top-tier sounds to enable you to connect to the music you are listening to. At the same time, most people think that the best earbuds would cost a fortune. In most situations, that is not the case.
Some high-end wireless brands justify their price because of their luxury finishes, but some don’t deliver the best sound quality as they might have substandard features. Historically wireless earbuds have been known to offer inferior sound quality compared to their wired counterparts.
With the development of technology, some brands are able to match or even exceed in providing a premium listening experience compared to wired versions. This article will take you through the five best earbuds that elevated my listening experience.
Sony offers one of the most dynamic sound quality and balanced performance in the market, and the WF-1000XM4 version lives up to the brand’s expectations. These wireless earbuds offer the highest sound quality I have ever listened to, as I could feel the texture of every audio file I played on them.
Their music delivery is the best, and I recommend it to audiophiles looking to take a break from wired headphones.
Their battery capacity does not disappoint either, as you can get up to 8 hours of playback time with the noise cancellation feature on. The advanced noise cancellation of the buds is also integrated with the V1 processor to solidify its position at the industry’s top.
The new ear tip design is also quite comfortable to wear and does a great job assisting in noise isolation. It also has IPX4 water resistance.
If you are looking for the best audiophile wireless earbuds that offer a premium experience, Bang & Olufsen has you covered with the Beoplay EX. Though buds are light and comfortable, they are extremely powerful compared to the average earbuds.
They provide the best premium and admirable performance when it comes to music. When using them, rest assured you will always get a clean and balanced sound. The adaptive active noise canceling technology can enable you to tune out the worst of environments so that you enjoy crisp and clear audio.
The earbuds are also designed with precision craftsmanship, and the material used is premium. Rest assured that they are durable and can withstand the toughest environments. The buds have beam-forming microphones that can cut background noise to support clearer calls.
Philips Fidelio used its precise engineering and cutting-edge technology to build one of the most advanced Active noise-canceling features on earbuds.
The multiple microphones on it focus on the sound of your environment to reduce the noise surrounding your world. Even the wind noise you experience outdoors can be filtered out so that you experience premium clarity.
The earbuds are perfectly crafted for listening; you can experience music as if you were at the studio. The design is round and detailed, with eye-catching leather trim.
They are also designed with an effort multitasking feature where you can be able to connect with a pair of compatible devices with a simple tap.
The Phips Fidelio has one of the best battery life capacities on the market, as you will be able to experience up to 48 hours of listening time.
If you are on a budget and looking for the best audiophile earbuds, I would recommend the Sennheiser Momentum, as they have superior sound quality despite their budget price range.
The sound is powered by a True Response transducer and aptX adaptive codec for higher audio resolution. With the combination of an in-built equalizer, pre-sets, and sound personalization, you can get bespoke audio.
The buds come with multiple-sized silicone ear adapters and fins to ensure comfort when using them over longer hours. You can also be able to use them continuously for 7 hours on a single full charge with an additional 21 hours of the charge stored in the charging case.
They also have high-quality microphones to ensure clarity of speech even when you are in noisy areas. It also has an application for a better experience when using it, as you will be able to use multiple additional features that come with it.
Compared to the other best audiophile wireless earbuds, the LG TONE is more focused on exceptional sound quality. The drivers add more focus to vocal output and hard-hitting bass. This can be attained through the Dolby Atmos, the first of its kind on any earbuds.
They also have multipoint and multi-pairing that lets you switch between connected devices. The medical-grade ear gels will also give the user a comfortable fit and help prevent irritation. You can choose from the three sizes it comes with to get the perfect seal.
The wireless buds can provide 9 hours of continuous playback on a single full charge. The first charging case also can carry a total of 27 hours of battery life, all from a single charge.
Things to Consider When Buying Audiophile Wireless Earbuds
Numerous factors come to mind before settling on a particular brand of earbuds. Some of them include the following:
Budget
The first major factor you must consider before selling on any brand is the amount of money you are willing to spend on a pair of earbuds. Big brand names will command a higher price range compared to generic brands.
This is because the companies will command a little bit extra than their competitors as their brands might contain additional features that can enhance your listening experience.
Expensive does not necessarily mean the best; cheaper varieties might compromise some features. It would help if you relied on other factors before settling on the best version.
It is usually a bad experience when you spend a lot of money on a particular brand of earbuds only for you to realize that you also need to purchase additional accessories separately.
Some brands will price their earbuds fairly, but they might not come with accessories and will use this technique to drive more sales for their other products.
You should make sure that the brand you purchase comes with a carrying case, additional ear tips, a charging case, and a cable.
Sound Quality
Since you are trying to buy the best audiophile wireless earbuds, sound quality is a given. Wireless earbuds’ sound quality will depend on the codec used. Codec determines how sound is distributed over a wireless connection.
Though this factor can be technical, you can check the features of the earbuds you are interested in if it supports aptX, LD900, and aptX Hd. These types of codecs are way better than SBC codecs because they can transmit sound data faster and support higher-resolution music.
Comfort
Since you will be using your earbuds for long hours, it is important that your ears are comfortable at all times. Ear tips are a very important part of wireless earbuds, as having less comfortable tips will be a nuisance to you despite your listening device having the best sound quality.
Ear tips come in different materials, shapes, and sizes. Different ear-tip materials can achieve different objectives, such as noise isolation.
Many audiophiles recommend foam ear-tips as they comfortably fit the ear canal. They are essentially earplugs with hollow rubber tubes to transmit sound.
Foam ear-tips are known for creating a seal in the war that can cancel sound from the external surrounding. However, there are other great choices, such as silicone tips which are chemically inert, and you will likely not experience irritation after prolonged usage. They are quite easy to clean.
Battery Life
Some manufacturers claim their wireless earbuds can support long hours of playtime, but the real-world performance can be about two hours lower than what is written in the description.
You should make sure the model you choose has a premium casing that can support long hours of fast charging. This will come in handy when they run out of battery, as you will only need a short while before you are back to enjoying your playlist.
Controls
Some of the best earbuds models have control pads or controls that enable you to perform tasks such as volume increase, skip a track, or do voice commands.
Cheaper wireless brands will not have this feature, so you will have to have the connected device close to you at all times. Some of the best models will pause what you are listening to when you remove the earbuds.
It is worth having wireless earbuds with advanced and responsive controls to improve your user experience.
Noise Cancellation
For a brand to be among the best audiophile wireless earbuds, it must have a noise-cancellation feature. This premium feature was reserved for wired earphones a few years back, but over recent years, many wireless brands have been incorporating it into their earbuds.
The feature will allow you to listen to your music at low volume as the earbuds will isolate the noise surrounding you.
FAQs
Can audiophile headphones be wireless?
For an Audiophile, sound quality is the most important feature above all other features that a can headphone offers. This will allow them to monitor the small details when listening to music.
While it is known that wired headphones offer the best listening experience, some wireless brands can match the sound quality.
However, an audiophile will have to pay more money to get wireless headphones with exceptional sound quality. The added advantage of doing so is that they will have a listening device that can connect to multiple devices and is more portable.
Do audiophiles prefer headphones or speakers?
Most audiophiles prefer listening to sound using headphones as they are not dependent on the acoustics of the user’s surroundings. Headphones are more accurate in conveying the sound of a recording as they will directly inject sound into your ear.
That is why you can hear the subtle details of a performance, such as a singer’s short pauses and breaths, over the headphones. These small details can easily be missed when you use a speaker.
Though most audiophiles will choose headphones, some consider speakers a better variety because of the bass. Speakers will outperform headphones when it comes to bass and stereo imaging.
The debate between speakers and headphones will always continue to exist, but all in all, it usually depends on the user’s preference.
Bluetooth technology has come a long way since its inception at the beginning of the 21st century. While Bluetooth audio devices were considered inferior to wired counterparts, newer versions can support an array of advanced codecs.
Current versions of Bluetooth can transmit high-quality sound as they take less time to do audio syncing and data translation. Though there is a small difference to wired, it is less recognizable in high-quality Bluetooth audio devices.
Why do audiophiles dislike Bose?
Most audiophiles do not like Bose despite the brand being one of the biggest audio industry companies. There are multiple reasons why they do not like them, and after going through a couple of forums, this is what I have gathered.
The first and main reason why audiophiles don’t like Bose is because of the nature of their output sound. Most of the company’s products are not built to transmit high-quality, high-resolution audio. The substandard audio quality is enough to make audiophiles stay away from the brand’s products.
The other reason they are not preferred is the price of their products. The brand’s high price is attributed to being considered a luxury audio brand. This was attained through excellent marketing, advertisement, and celebrities being associated with the brand.
Conclusion
The brands I listed are up to the task if you are looking for the best audiophile wireless earbuds with the best sound for a serious listening session.
You do not have to break the bank while shopping for earbuds that offer a supreme listening experience, as the above wireless buds will offer high-quality sound and various additional features.
I have tested hundreds of audiophile earbuds and handpicked the top brands based on the various categories I have listed.
Although wireless earbuds are known to have a lesser sound quality compared to their wired counterparts, these five brands will deliver a closer sonic experience. I hope the guide helps you get the best wireless earbuds to suit your listening experience.
Is a musician and journalist with over 13 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands. Ray loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar gear and synths, to microphones and music production hardware.
