Which headphones should I buy this Black Friday? I test audio kit – these 5 buys are all you need | Daily Reports Online
Audio-loving friends, I’m sure we all get why Black Friday is important; plenty of people can barely afford to feed their kids these days, yet here we are with holiday season approaching fast. And everyone should have something to open on the big day (or days).
And here I am recommending one-time $300 headphones (albeit heavily discounted, right now), but look, I’m not suggesting everyone should head to their online retailer of choice this instant and buy all five options I’ve listed here, to have a full and worthy gift-giving season. That’s not what I’m about.
I am simply saying that if you or someone you love is into music (what a great interest to have, by the way), and if you (or they) want to listen during work, rest and play, an ideal setup will include five different designs – and I’m going to tell you the best of each, along with the best Black Friday deals I’ve seen.
As someone who’s worked with music my entire life, I certainly know I require five pairs of headphones and earbuds, but of course you can (and likely do) make do with fewer. I support this fully. My job is simply to suggest and to recommend. And because each of these options has a very specific user case scenario – think the runner; the commuter; the at-home audiophile listener; the forgetful music lover – one model may speak to you above the rest, or suggest itself for the person you’re thinking of right now.
I promise you that if you only pick up one of these options this Black Friday, you’ll still be happier than you were before – and you certainly will not be buying a dud. I won’t allow it!
So what’s the deal – ie. which specific headphone types do I mean?
- Wireless, shut-out-the-world noise cancelling over-ear headphones
- Your ‘main’ wireless earbuds with top call-handling, ANC and more
- A secondary, chuck-em-in-a-pocket-or-bag set of cans or buds
- A wired option for hi-res audio (maybe from a dedicated player)
- An open-ear/bone conduction sporty set, with good IP rating
Again, maybe you’re only looking for one of these options right now, and that is absolutely fine.
As I mentioned, there are a ton Black Friday deals live now – I’ve also got a roundup of the best Sennheiser headphones and earbuds deals, my collection of the best Bose Black Friday headphones deals, my more general Black Friday headphones and earbuds deals recommendations or our dedicated Black Friday headphones deals live blog, if that’s what you’re after.
Or, of you’re not looking for headphones or earbuds and are wondering how you got here today, TechRadar’s more general Black Friday deals roundup will help – and don’t worry, it’s still curated by actual humans who know good tech when they see (and hear) it.
If you’re not sure which you need most, it’s worth thinking about how you tend to listen. Personally, my Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds (my ‘main’ buds and some of the best earbuds around) are the ones I’d keep in a fire – and as luck would have it, they’re heavily discounted in both the US and the UK for Black Friday! Why are they my top pick? Because I usually listen on the go (to work/from work/at my desk), I take calls a lot, and I need to pack light – my bag’s normally filled with dance shoes, so over-ears aren’t always viable.
Right, lengthy intro done. Let’s dig in to the categories and most importantly, the best deals around!
The best anti-social wireless over-ear headphones
These are your ride or die cans. They’re great on a cold and frosty morning, or just for when you’re feeling a little cold and frosty and don’t feel like making small talk.
I know time is of the essence here, so I won’t wax lyrical on how good each of these sets of flagship headphones is – but believe me when I tell you: these are the class-leaders.
These are your heavy-rotation, kept on a hook by the door, solid music machines. And you need to spend wisely, which is why you’re here. Trust me, you will not be disappointed in either of these pairs of excellent headphones.
And as luck would have it, they’re both reduced – in the US and in the UK! I’ll throw the deals below.
Not your set? See also Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 or Cambridge Audio Melomania P100
Best over-ear ANC headphones deals, US
Best over-ear headphones deals, UK
The ‘main’ pair of earbuds
In case I haven’t made it abundantly clear, I test headphones and earbuds for a living and have done since 2019. And I love both of these sets. The Technics feature triple device connectivity (sounds like a small perk, but it really isn’t), excellent call quality, very good ANC and a detailed, nuanced sound quality. Oh, and they fit securely, which you’d think would be a given, but no. The Bose set? They’re the kings of ANC and vigorous, exciting audio along with excellent Immersive spatial audio profiles.
Neither pair are typically cheap, but this is your main set of earbuds and one you’ll spend months of your music-loving life with. I wouldn’t be without mine. Also, they’re both on sale for Black Friday – I know!
Not your set? See also Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, the older Technics EAH-AZ80 or AirPods Pro 2
Best ‘main’ earbuds deals, US
Best ‘main’ earbuds deals, UK
The best ‘back-up earbuds or headphones’
Either of these options (over-ear or in-ear) from Nothing (or the company’s affordable arm, CMF by Nothing) is so good, it feels criminal to call them your inconsequential second set of buds – the ones you chuck in a pocket or bag for if your main set run out of juice (or a friend’s staying and wants to borrow a set), say.
The thing is, they recently came down again in prices for Black Friday, to the point that if you’re looking for something cheap, you really really should get them. The ANC is good, the app is great, the sound is fun and zealous, and the design is a quirky and novel delight. Both look so much more expensive than they are – there’s a reason Nothing won Black Friday this year.
Not your set? See also 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 or Sony WF-C710N
Best ‘cheap second set’ deals, US
Best ‘cheap second set’ deals, UK
The best wired option
4. Sennheiser IE 600 / Sennheiser HD660 S2
At some point, you or the music-lovers in your life are going to realise that wired audio still sounds better than wireless – and wired in-ears or open-backed over ears are the way to get it. It’s all because Bluetooth transmission still incurs loss, however next-gen the codec support sounds.
Don’t get me wrong, wireless is great: convenient, usually noise-nixing and with a bunch of fun features! But for truly hi-res audio from your phone – or one of the best hi-res players – you do need to feel the wind beneath your wires. And it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg! See my guide to the best wired earbuds for inexpensive options.
I’ve definitely not gone for the most affordable sets here, although there are great savings live now for Black Friday, as you’ll see. This is audiophile territory remember, so deals are rare. But I’ve listed the best here.
Not your set? See also 1More Triple Driver In-Ears or Meze Audio Poet
The best wired option deals, US
The best wired option deals, UK
The best sports-specific open earbuds / bone conduction headphones
I’ve actually got a dedicated feature on the only open earbuds you should look for this Black Friday, if that’s what you came here looking for. But this is my pick of the bunch in that world.
For a few years following their release, I liked the idea of open earbuds (great for road running and cycling – you can still hear traffic!) but not the notably thin sound quality that felt a little lean and lacked bass. But that has all changed now. These little beauties are much better now.
The biggest compliment I can pay the Shokz OpenDots One is that our reviewer genuinely forget they were open-fit cuff-style buds, during testing – and he felt that they challenged Bose’s Ultra Open buds, for a lot less. The feature-set is incredible for the humble asking fee, including a splash-proof IP54 rating.
And what of the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2? Well, they’re excellent for wearing while running and utilise bone conduction tech to bring you the goods. How’s the sound? Exceptional for this kind of design, friend! If you need more options, see our guide to the best bone conduction headphones but do note, the best deal I’ve found is right here.
Not your set? See also Shokz OpenFit Air or Honor Earbuds Open
The best sports-specific earbuds and headphones deals, US
The best sports-specific headphones and earbuds deals, UK
More Black Friday deals in the US
- Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
- Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
- Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
- Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
- Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
- Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
- Lowe’s: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
- Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
- Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
- T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
- Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
- Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor
