In my job as a senior reviews writer, I test and review all different kinds of tech. From the best drones to the best gaming headsets, I wear many different hats, and that includes reviewing the best headphones too. That means I get to listen to music — something I adore doing all the time — for work.
As the year comes to a close, I've been thinking of the audio gear that has left a strong impression on me. There have been a few products, for certain, and not all of them are from heavy-hitters like Bose or JBL. This year, I tested earbuds designed specifically for ASMR, and as an ASMR hater, they converted me. I also fell in love with wired in-ear monitors (IEMs) that were a cut above the rest.
And there's more where that came from. I've rounded up the top five headphones I tested in 2025 — in-ears, over-ears and on-ears. If you're looking to treat yourself this Christmas, I can't recommend the following headphones enough. They make great gifts too, of course. So, without further ado, let me take you through it.
As a senior reviews writer, I test all kinds of consumer tech, including headphones, earbuds and speakers. I love listening to music and I do so whenever possible. My favorite genres include alt rock, psychedelic rock, experimental, and a bit of video game music too. My go-to headphones are the Marshall Monitor III.
Listen along to my roundup with some of my favorite testing tracks:
My favorite over-ear headphones
Over-ear headphones are my go-to as I find them the most comfortable of all types. While I tried many great ones from big names this year, one set of cans felt like a class apart, and I believe the JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition headphones are a dark horse. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy reviewing them, my partner has actually been using them as her daily drivers for the past few months!
First, the Epic Lux Labs look über cool, thanks to their triangular-shaped earcups and low-key branding. Their "cloud foam" faux leather ear cushions are mighty comfortable and spacious enough that your ears don't feel suffocated, and they're lightweight, so you don't feel much pressure on your head. But what makes the Epic Lux Labs worth the money is the outstanding sound quality.
The 32mm dynamic drivers deliver outstanding sound quality across most genres. Whether I was listening to a bass-heavy track like Pink Floyd's 'Money' or a percussion-heavy one, like Four Tet's 'Three Drums,' the Epic Lux Labs made everything sound beautiful. Couple that with the headphones' excellent, isolating ANC and you've got yourself an immersive listening session. Although spatial audio is a little lacking, I didn't find much else to complain about, and I doubt you will too.
My favorite on-ear headphones
2025 was the year I changed my mind about on-ear headphones. Like I said, I prefer over-ears above everything else, and my problem with on-ears is that they sit on your ears. They make my ears feel suffocated, but the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 on-ears converted me after I spent a month using and testing them. With any pair of headphones or earbuds, comfort level will always be subjective, so I'm going to skip that (you can read about it in my Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 review) and talk about its USPs instead.
The Aventho 100s' bass response is some of the best I've ever heard. The headphones' large 45mm drivers with "studio-quality tuning" deliver full-bodied bass with plenty of low-end impact, detailed percussion as well as crystal clear vocals. Tame Impala's high-pitch vocals never sounded piercing in any of his tracks that I listened to, while the bass and electronic instruments didn't overpower him either.
What's even better is that audio never sounds muffled or distorted at 100% volume — although I advise against listening to music at such high volumes, as it can have a negative effect on your hearing. ANC is strong, while the 60-hour battery life is more than welcome. If you're after a pair of on-ear cans, I really can't fault the Aventho 100s.
My favorite in-ear earbuds
I tested two pairs of outstanding wireless earbuds this year, and one of them was the 2024 updated version of the Bose QuietComfort buds. I liked them, but I didn't love them. You know which earbuds I'd recommend over the pricey QuietComforts? The Sony WF-C710Ns, 4.5-star buds that are Bose-level good for a lot less money. After I finished reviewing the WF-C710Ns, I ended up hanging on to them for three months, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them.
The key selling point of the WF-C710Ns is the highly effective active noise cancellation. I'm someone who doesn't like to be disturbed when I'm enjoying my favorite tunes, and I like to block out all noise on my commute to and from work. Sony's flagship buds are more than up to the challenge, both indoors and outdoors. They also incorporate a Wind Noise Reduction design which, basically, reduces the sound of wind buffeting so you can hear music more clearly.
I also love the WF-C710Ns' Glass Blue color, and the see-through design is a winner in my books. You can see the internal hardware which gives the earbuds a distinct look and sets them apart from competition. Honestly, I'd drop my own money on these earbuds just for that unique design!
My favorite wired earbuds
Retro tech made somewhat of a comeback in 2025, and this included me seeing more and more people using wired earbuds on public transport. Of course, wired earbuds never went out of production, but I do love the resurgence. I was lucky enough to test a pair of wired buds — or in-ear monitors (IEMs) — that left me gobsmacked. Meet the Sennheiser IE 200 earbuds, and if you haven't tried them yet, you're missing out.
As is the nature of IEMs, the IE 200s feature incredible instrument separation so they're the perfect buds for detailed listening, whether you're a musician, producer or someone who just enjoys music. These buds are fitted with a 7mm extra-wideband True Response transducer which helps reproduce sound with precision so you can appreciate every single instrument in a song — and you totally can. Whether you're listening to an orchestral, operatic arrangement, or a heavy metal track, the IE 200s can make anything sound beautiful.
Look, I get it if you own wireless earbuds and prefer using them when you're out and about, but I still believe you need to own a pair of wired buds for when you want to appreciate music in a whole new way — and the IE 200s do just that.
My favorite wild card earbuds
If, a year ago, you'd told me I'd be testing earbuds designed specifically for ASMR, I would have laughed. I've never been a big fan of autonomous sensory meridian response, and I always skip ASMR videos when they randomly pop up on my TikTok or Instagram Reels. I don't like strangers whispering too close to the mic; it triggers my fight-or-flight syndrome.
But I'd be lying if I said I didn't absolutely love the Final ZE500 ASMR earbuds — in fact, I awarded them 4.5-stars and the coveted Editor's Choice Award. Even though I reviewed them back in July, I still use them almost daily. Right out of the box, the ZE500s are extremely comfortable, sporting a pressure-relieving, lightweight design which helps them burrow into your ears and sit their snugly.
Their biggest selling point, though, is the incredible and accurate instrument and layer separation. This is great not just for ASMR, but music listening too. This means that you can appreciate every single soft and loud sound in an audio clip, making it more immersive and three-dimensional. Whether I was listening to whale sounds to fall asleep quicker or watching the cast of 'Agatha All Along' do ASMR, everything sounded precise, and the directional audio ensured I had an immersive experience.
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