As we mentioned earlier, we've capped choices here at around $1,000. Why? There are simply too many quality options below that price. Many we highlight are also available for less than their original retail price, but that's rarely a reflection of audio quality. Wired headphones aren't like cell phones. There’s not necessarily a new, better model every year. Some of these models have been on the market for years and have only had minor updates. When you get something right the first time, there’s no need to change it.

Remember, wired headphones require a little more maintenance than wireless models. Once you find the perfect pair, read up on our easy tips to extend the life of your headphones and the many ways you're using your headphones wrong.

Between headphones and earphones, there's a range of driver styles. In headphones, the most common option is the dynamic driver—headphones typically only employ a single full-range driver in each earcup’s enclosure.

In recent years, audiophiles have gotten excited about planar magnetic drivers, which use a magnetic field to vibrate a large (compared with a dynamic driver) flat surface area. Planar magnetic drivers are typically sought after for their ability to deliver high levels of detail throughout the frequency range with little distortion and a highly accurate bass response. Like the even less common (and far more expensive) electrostatic drivers, the enclosures for these headphones are often large and not ideal for wearing out of the house. Many earphones that employ planar magnetic drivers look rather bulky and odd as well.

We are also starting to see microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology in consumer products. These silicon-based, solid-state drivers can produce faster transients and are more precise than alternatives. Moreover, manufacturers can ensure a more consistent driver-to-driver build since they don’t rely on multiple moving parts.

Dynamic or balanced armature drivers are the most common in earphones. Balanced armature drivers are notable for being tiny and lightweight, allowing manufacturers to include multiple in a single earpiece to cover different frequency ranges. Like two-way or three-way stereo speaker setups, this tends to lead to a more accurate sound signature, but it all depends on the driver tuning.

None of the above-mentioned options are necessarily better than the others, but they do affect the sound signature.

Our goal is to highlight those options that we think sound best. You won't find any options here with overly boosted bass simply because they don't provide an accurate audio experience. Finding mega-bass headphones isn't difficult, however, if that's what you prefer.

In our reviews, you might often see the terms “flat response” or “flat sound signature.” This might sound like a negative thing, but a flat sound signature merely means that it’s an accurate—or close to accurate—sound that doesn’t boost and sculpt the frequency range too much.

That said, all sound signatures have some boosting and sculpting—if they didn’t, everything would sound the same. In recent years, many accuracy-focused headphones and earphones have added in some bass depth because speakers and subwoofers have become more capable of reproducing deep bass rumble. Artists and producers have followed in step by including deeper bass in their mixes. Thus, it’s not audiophile sacrilege to include some serious bass in a sound signature. As long as the bass is clean and accurate, it can help you enjoy the deep lows that many modern mixes (and films) include.