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Wired headphones are back, and I'm here for it — 6 prime picks, from $9
Are you an astute trendsetter? An iconoclast who scoffs at what all those supposedly hip, tech-forward folks are doing? Perhaps you're a bred-in-the-bone contrarian or a cranky old coot (read: Baby Boomer) like me who believes that just because something's contemporary and ubiquitous doesn't mean it's better. I'm a loud and proud advocate of wired cans, speaking live from the third decade of the 21st century. Bluetooth? I don't need no stinking Bluetooth! Whether you're like me and just like the solidity of wired sound, or you just can't resist the allure of making a so-uncool-it's-cool style statement, there's a terrific pair of wired cans out there with your name on it. Here are some of the best on offer right now, from Apple to Sony...
You don't need me to throw a bunch of tech metrics at you — they're Sonys; ergo, they're going to sound great. I'll confess up front: Amid my mad love for wired headphones, Sony's reign supreme. These feature a gold-plated four-conductor plug, a mic with an in-line elecret condenser and a whole lotta classic cool. If you're not looking to go full retro with your choice, know that there are blue- and red-accented varieties of these 'phones.
"I was very impressed with the sound that these make, particularly the bass," said one music maven. "If you’re nervous about the sound quality, they’re right on par with Apple EarPods. Obviously, they’re better 'cause of the better volume and comfort."
If you're looking for corded cans particularly to make a style statement, well, how cool do these look? Their quasi-industrial design will tell the world, "Why, yes, I am a record producer." One especially nice feature: Dual plug options — 3.5mm and 6.35mm — meaning you can use these with a computer, cellphone, home stereo, DJ console or guitar amp.
"We purchased these headphones to use with our Yamaha p-125 keyboard," reported this musically minded mama. "They sound amazing. I use them so I can play while our baby is napping or my husband has meetings, but they sound so good that I actually prefer playing with them."
Featuring JBL's patented Pure Bass sound, these offer legacy-brand classicism with some present-day conveniences like foldability and a flat, tangle-free cord. Available in blue too.
"Best boom for your buck!" trumpeted an alliterative advocate. "These budget headphones did not disappoint! Rich bass, crisp mids and highs pack a punch. It doesn't get any better for the money."
Here's an opportunity to home-school the young 'uns as to the right way to enjoy personal audio. The braided nylon cord on these kid-sized cans will stand up to all manner of juvenile jostling, yanking and tossing around; the price will be music to the ears of any budget-conscious mama or papa.
"Perfect for tweens!" beamed this pandemic-inspired parent. "I bought three pairs of these for my tweens to use during the emergency e-learning.... They have held up fantastically! They use them for video chatting and video games.
Okay, so maybe this isn't the boldest anti-cordless statement you could make, and, yeah, I prefer full-size, over-the-ear numbers, but 1) These are Apples, so you know the sound quality is going to be, um, music to your ears, and 2) Get a load of that markdown — over 40% off!
"Just opened these, and I’ve got to say that so far they are PERFECT," said this reviewer, one of over 150,000 who rave about these. "Just like the classic headphones I remember. Bass is perfect, sound quality is crisp and, if I really wanted to, I could blast my ears to another dimension." Be my guest.
Are you a cheapskate? Tightwad? Maybe you just need a cheap-and-dirty pair of cans that can take a beating and keep on delivering the beats. Or, hey, maybe you want to show someone you care...but not that much. All that said, these buds are nothing to sneeze at. You've got clear sound, an on-wire remote and a one-year warranty.
Also nothing to sneeze at? Their 8,000-plus five-star reviews, including this one: "I've brought dozens of low-priced ear-buds over the years. This pair, however, has been a tremendous surprise! Sound comes through well, they 'sit' in the ears comfortably, and best of all has been the resiliency; the buds have remained attached the entire time I've owned them (a miracle compared with other brands), and the leads haven't frayed or come lose from the buds or the jack!"
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
