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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Lee Dunkley

I test headphones for a living and these are the best wired headphones for every budget

Focal Elegia being worn by our reviewer on New York street

While most of us get our music fix on the move, portability has undoubtedly become a key consideration when choosing the best wireless headphones, but there are plenty of reasons to consider wired headphone designs. Factors such as stronger durability, reliable connectivity, and better sound quality are chief considerations for many audio fans.

If that's not enough, wired models have a clear upgrade path that means the sound quality of wired headphones can be improved by adding a dedicated headphone amp/DAC (digital-to-analog converter) inline between the playback source and the headphones. This is rather than using the internal DAC and headphone jack from a laptop or smart phone.

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