Shop for headphones/headsets

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.0 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 30 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Klipsch Image S4 earphones offer up sound quality on par with and better than sets that cost many times as much; they are a spectacular choice for anyone looking for new earbuds. Read review

Specs: Headphones, In-ear canalphone, Stereo, Gold-plated plug

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 80 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Plantronics Voyager Pro might not look like much, but it has the best sound quality of any Bluetooth headset we've ever tried. Read review

Specs: Microphone Built-in Boom, Headset, In-ear ear-bud (with over-the-ear mount), 0.6 oz, AudioIQ, QuickPair, 20 band EQ, Mute button, Volume control, Answer/end button, Noise canceling circuit, 1 year Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 22 reviews

The Bottom Line: Despite its finicky controls, the Plantronics Discovery 975 is a stylish headset with a comfortable fit, a great feature set, and excellent call quality. Read review

Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, In-ear ear-bud, 0.3 oz, Mono, AudioIQ, QuickPair, WindSmart, Volume control, Answer/end button, Multipoint technology, 1 year Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 76 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Aliph Jawbone Prime is a great Bluetooth headset that combines high style with high performance. Read review

Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, In-ear ear-bud (with over-the-ear mount), NoiseAssasin 2.0, Acoustic voice activity detector, 1 year Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 16 reviews

The Bottom Line: While they're no bargain, the Bose QuietComfort 15s currently offer the best sound and silencing capabilities in a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, Silver, 7.3 oz, Stereo, Noise cancelling circuit, Foam ear cushions, Active equalization

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 26 reviews

The Bottom Line: The unique and stylish Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones offer solid audio, useful accessories, and a look that's anything but copycat. For fashion-forward folks with cash to spare, they're a great option. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, Black, 9.2 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Foldable, 1 year Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 67 reviews

The Bottom Line: Koss hit a home run with the PortaPros. Love or hate the design, there's no denying the sound quality here: they're the ideal companion for mobile audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Semi-open, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Foldable, Lifetime Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: The JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones make a great travel companion for those who demand quality sound. And they may not be cheap, but they seem that way next to the Bose QuietComfort 3. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, 5.3 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Foldable, Noise canceling circuit, Noise-Cancelling Switch

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 376 reviews

The Bottom Line: Despite its quirks, the Aliph Jawbone 2 is quite possibly the ultimate Bluetooth headset in terms of design and sound quality. Read review

Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, Over-the-ear, Built-in DSP, Voice activated, 1 year Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 52 reviews

The Bottom Line: Despite a few minor issues, the BlueAnt Q1's voice controls and good audio quality sets this apart from other headsets. Read review

Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, 0.4 oz, Mono, Built-in DSP, Volume control, Echo cancellation, Noise canceling circuit, Voice Isolation Technology, BlueGenie voice user interface, 2 years Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 62 reviews

The Bottom Line: Travel-happy audiophiles will be infinitely pleased with the Shure SE530s, but these earbuds should also be a consideration for anyone who has half a grand to drop on some sweet headphones. Read review

Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, 1.1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold-plated plug, 2 years Limited warranty Parts and labor

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Jabra BT8030 is great for those who want a Bluetooth speaker and headphones all in one device, but beware of certain design pitfalls. Read review

Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, Convertible, 10.9 oz, Stereo, Speaker mode, Volume control, Answer/end button, Built-in amplifier

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 60 reviews

The Bottom Line: With the QuietComfort 3s, Bose has done a remarkable job of shrinking its popular noise-canceling headphones while achieving similarly impressive sound quality--but that engineering feat doesn't come cheap. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, 5.6 oz, Stereo, Noise canceling circuit

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 182 reviews

The Bottom Line: Bose's standard-setting noise-canceling headphones have just upped the ante. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, 7.3 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Noise canceling circuit, Battery level indication

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 165 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones offer a worthy choice for wireless cell phone sound. Read review

Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, Behind-the-neck, 1.1 oz, Stereo, Mute button, Volume control, Sweat resistant, Water resistant, Track select buttons

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.7 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 244 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Bose In-Ear Headphones are a hybrid set, falling right between regular earbuds and canalphones. They don't block out noise, but they do provide much more bass than stock earbuds--almost too much, in fact. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-bud, Black, 0.6 oz, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, TriPort acoustic headphone structure

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 is a ruggedly constructed, thoughtfully conceived, and sonically impressive stereo Bluetooth headset, but the one-size-fits-all design may disappoint some users. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Behind-the-neck, 12 oz, Stereo, Bass Boost

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 12 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Altec Lansing BackBeat 906 is a ruggedly-constructed, thoughtfully conceived, and sonically impressive stereo Bluetooth headset, but the one-size-fits-all design may disappoint some users. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Behind-the-neck, 12 oz, Stereo, Bass Boost

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 17 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Motorola Motorokr T505 sports a superb set of features beyond that of a simple speakerphone, also integrating Bluetooth music devices with car stereos. Read review

Specs: Microphone Built-in, Speaker phone, Mono, EasyPair technology

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 19 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sennheiser's featherweight noise-canceling headphones are supercomfy and produce sound quality approaching that of some full-size models. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Semi-open, Black, 2.3 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Foldable, NoiseGard active noise compensation, 2 years Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 14 reviews

The Bottom Line: The solid-sounding Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphones are an excellent option for anyone looking for the very smallest Bluetooth headset money can buy to use with an A2DP-compatible music phone or MP3 player. Read review

Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, In-ear ear-bud, Stereo, Voice dialing, Auto volume adjustment

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The AKG K 702 Open Back Dynamic Reference Headphones offer an ultracomfortable way to enjoy sound that is remarkably more open than most sets; they're like personal speakers for your head. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, 8.3 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold plated connectors, 2 years Limited warranty Parts and labor

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 96 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sennheiser's versatile headphones sound great on DVDs and all kinds of music. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, Black, 10.1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 2 years Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 23 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones offer much in the way of style and sound, but the extra-long earpieces my cause comfort and fit issues for some users. Read review

Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, 0.7 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, MicroStrand conductors, Patented magnetic FluxTube, 24K gold contacts, In-ear noise isolation, 1 year Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.2 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you can get past its tedious setup, the AX Pro 5.1 Gaming Headset performs extremely well and is compatible with pretty much every gaming PC and game console except the Wii. Read review

Specs: Microphone External Boom, Headset, Ear-cup, 5.1 channel surround, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm x 4, 8 speakers, 4 in each ear cup, 5.1 audio controller, Detachable microphone