You Should Probably Buy Wired Headphones Now

In a world of RAM shortages and tariffs, it’s not often that we get to celebrate the cheapening of goods nowadays. Things are just expensive right now, and if I were to place a bet or two, the situation is likely to get worse. Sorry for the grim prediction; just being real. Despite the impending RAMpocalypse, there is one area that doesn’t seem to be sliding in the wrong direction, and if you’re an audiophile, you’re in luck.

Headphones are not only better than ever, but they’re also ridiculously cheap, especially if you’re okay with having wires. Take Sennheiser’s newly released USB-C HD 400U headphones, for example. They cost $99, which is very competitive in the world of over-ear headphones, and promise 24-bit audio at a sample rate of 96kHz—about double the average sample rate of a pair of Bluetooth headphones. There’s nothing flashy here, but that’s kind of the point: hi-res, wired audio from a reputable name in the over-ear headphones space. If headphones don’t scratch your audio itch, Sennheiser also updated a pair of its wired earbuds, the CX 80S, adding USB-C and giving them the same sample rate as its updated headphones. Those cost just $40 if you can believe it.

And as affordable as these headphones/earbuds are, things can get even cheaper and quirkier in the headphone space right now.

Exhibit A: these over-ear headphones from Moondrop, which are extremely ’90s-coded. Anyone who romanticizes the Walkman vibe will probably find something that appeals to them here, and while they’re not as convenient as Sennheiser’s USB-C headphones or as adept with passive noise cancellation, they’re—and I kid you not—only $25. If you’re okay with a 3.5mm connection, these are a solid deal, especially if you plan on pairing them with a mini DAC that connects to your phone.

Moondrop is far from the only option in that price range, too. One of my favorite pairs out there is the FiiO Snowsky Wind, which has a similarly retro look, but with a silver headband and orange earcups. Again, you have to be okay with 3.5mm connections like back in the day, but for literally $17 on Amazon, it’s hard not to justify.

As trendy as wired earbuds have been, I think (for me) wired headphones make even more sense. If you’re going to put up with having a wire, which is—I’m sorry to say—objectively more annoying compared to the tetherless Bluetooth options, then you should at least maximize the benefits of wired audio. That’s not to say that wired earbuds can’t sound great, but headphones often have bigger drivers and more room for the stuff that nuanced audio makes. Plus, if you’re not the type who likes shoving silicone ear tips in your ears, the form factor is much more preferable.

Just like wired earbuds are so back, wired headphones appear to be back, too. I’m not saying you should throw your nice Bluetooth, noise-canceling headphones in the trash right now and buy a pair of $25 wired headphones to replace them, but I think we can all be grateful for the fact that if you wanted to get into the headphone game, you could do so cheaply without sacrificing your need for hi-res audio.