Nowadays, people prefer the auditory method of reading a book to visually reading it. This is great for auditory learners and those with visual impairments. But do you really need the best headphones for audio books? Not really. But that does not mean any old pair of headphones will do the trick.
If you are serious about understanding the contents of a podcast or an audiobook, then you need to get a headphone that has a clear sound. Besides, most of the locally manufactured earphones and headphones disintegrate within a few days of usage. By buying low-quality and cheap earphones, you are actually spending more money than you would have if you spent it on a slightly expensive yet good-quality headphone.
But what should you look for in headphones if you want to listen to audiobooks? How will you select the right headphone out of so many options? To clear the confusion, I have compiled a list of some of the good headphones for audiobooks. Keep reading!
LIST OF BEST HEADPHONES FOR AUDIO BOOKS
Product Image | Brand Name | Product Details | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 | BOSE | ||
 | COWIN | ||
 | MPOW | ||
 | ANKER | ||
 | BEYERDYNAMIC |
10 BEST HEADPHONES FOR AUDIO BOOKS REVIEW
1. BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 35 II - BEST WIRELESS HEADPHONES FOR AUDIO BOOKS
PRODUCT DETAILS
When you first receive the Bose QC35 II, you will be surprised to see how sturdy the carrying case is. This is a rare treat since most of the headphones do not come with such premium carrying cases. Moreover, when you are investing in premium-branded headphones, you would want one that offers both noise-cancellation and wireless operation.
This is not an easy feat to execute, considering the endless number of issues with Bluetooth-enabled devices. However, Bose is one of the first few brands to integrate voice assistant technology into wireless headphones.
With a simple press of a button, you can access your Google Assistant without having to yell "Ok Google." Design-wise, it has a pretty generic appearance and comes in two colors (black and silver).
This modest design makes it a great option for those who like the minimalistic design but might not be your cup of tea if you want a design that will make a statement.
But what makes it one of the best headphones for audio books?
It's excellent noise-canceling feature, of course! It does an excellent job at drowning out the hustle and bustle of cars, trains and voices. This makes it perfect for those who like taking their audiobooks along with them while commuting.
Moreover, it has a battery life of 20 hours with noise cancellation turned on. On the downside, it does not have instant mute or auto play/pause features. Otherwise, it is a good headphone at this price.
Pros
Cons
2. COWIN E7 PRO - BEST HEADPHONES FOR RECORDING AUDIO BOOKS
PRODUCT DETAILS
At first glance, the Cowin E7 Pro looks larger and bulkier than other regular headphones. But in terms of Cowin standards, the E7 Pro is slightly lighter than the original model. However, even if it is guilty, it is sturdy. Besides, it is also comfortable to wear, thanks to its leatherette material.
The headphones can also swivel 90 degrees and can also be kept flat on the floor. This means that it has a compact design, making it easier to travel with. The E7 Pro comes in four colors- Red, Black, Pink and Red. The Pro upgrade in terms of design includes the use of a metal finish on the outer part of the earcups.
This gives it a premium and sleek look. However, the plastic body might make many users back away from buying. But that can be forgiven since the plastic quality is not cheap. But the main problem with the Cowin E7 Pro is that it might put a lot of force on the temples of your head and cause headaches upon wearing them for a long time.
The Cowin E7 Pro has a great sound balance even with noise-cancellation on. It has a good bass response without sounding boomy. The midrange could have been better but, that is alright, considering the price of the device.
It also has 30 hours of playtime. This is great for those who often forget to charge their devices. Overall, it is a real steal for those looking for the best headphones for audio books.
Pros
Cons
3. MPOW CH6S WITH MICROPHONE - BEST WIRED HEADPHONES FOR AUDIO BOOKS
PRODUCT DETAILS
The Mpow CH6S is designed to be used by kids. But if you are an adult with a smaller head, go ahead and try it out yourself. The Mpow CH6S has all the features that would make it kid-friendly.
The color and design are simply adorable. It comes in eight colors which is a lot, so you can choose among these as per your preference. Firstly, it comes with a volume limiter which you can toggle off and on. This keeps the volume level within the safe range so that you don't exceed the volume to a dangerous level.
Do you or your child love to listen to audiobooks? Then the Mpow CH6S is the perfect fit! It is one of the best headphones for audiobooks. It has a clear sound, and its around-ear cushion design keeps unwanted background noise.
Now delve into the magical lands of audio stories without getting disturbed by noisy people around you! The headphones also have an in-built microphone that your child can use for calling and talking. This is useful, especially during online classes.
But the best part? It is a very inexpensive headphone that won't break the bank. On the contrary, it does have a cheap build, so don't expect a premium-grade quality build.
Pros
Cons
4. ANKER SOUNDCORE LIFE Q20 - BEST NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES FOR AUDIO BOOKS
PRODUCT DETAILS
The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 has a minimalistic and generic design. Moreover, it comes only in Black color. The body is built of plastic, making it light and comfortable, but it still feels cheaply built. The buttons are hard to press and make a strange 'clang' upon pressing.
On the other hand, the headphones have rotatable ear cups that you can fold up to fit into the carrying case. This is great for frequent travelers who love listening to music during their journeys. The Q20 won't win any design awards, but in terms of comfort, it is great. It has ultra-plush leatherette earcups which won't hurt your ears even after wearing them for a long time. This is great even for people who wear glasses.
What makes this headphone one of the best headphones for audio books is its battery life. It can run for 30 hours with noise-cancellation and 60 hours without it. Moreover, even if you're low on charge, it can still run for 4 hours after a mere five-minute charge.
This is perfect for those who listen to audiobooks regularly. Unfortunately, the noise-cancellation feature is mediocre. While it can minimize most low-volume background noises, it cannot do the same for high-frequency sounds.
On the contrary, the sound quality is good for listening to audiobooks as it has clean audio without much detail. This is best suited for those who wear headphones for prolonged periods.
Pros
Cons
5. BEYERDYNAMIC DT 770 PRO - BEST OVER EAR HEADPHONES FOR AUDIO BOOKS
PRODUCT DETAILS
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Studio is a studio-ready headphone with a reasonable price-tag. Even though it is an audiophile-grade headphone, it tries to hold a middle ground to balance between affordability and performance.
But strangely, the price tag between DT 770 Studio and DT 770 Pro varies, even though both of them deliver the same audio experience.
This best headphones for audio books have a heavily-knit all-black design. The earcups are made of hard plastic but that's alright since it feels durable. The success-point of DT 770 Studio is its comfort factor. The clamping force is just enough to feel secure, without making you feel like your skull is being crushed by the headphone.
The super-soft velour covering the earpads are incredibly comfortable and prevents fatigue even upon wearing the headphones for a long time. The padding on the headphone is removable which means that you won't have to buy a new pair of headphones once it gets torn up and dirty.
The cable is sturdy but not removable. This means that in case of any damage, you'll be stuck with a pair of dead headphone. However, the DT 770 Studio is one of the best headphones for audio books, thanks to its incredible performance.
You will get a balanced sound profile, where every little detail of your audiobook would have an equal amount of clarity. Despite some flaws, it is a great headphone if you are on a budget yet want a true audiophile experience.
Pros
Cons
6. SONY WH-1000XM4 NOISE CANCELING OVERHEAD HEADPHONES
PRODUCT DETAILS
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a successor to the WH-1000XM3. When you open the box, you will be greeted with a hardshell carrying case, a 3.5 audio cable and an airplane adapter. The WH-1000XM4 makes some reasonable upgrades to its successor.
It comes in two colors- white and black. The earpads are slightly bigger than their predecessor. The oval inside is wider, and the padding is also softer than before. These changes are supposed to reduce the clamping force and prevent migraines. It is integrated with voice assistant technology to keep up-to-date with your notifications and command it to play the music you like.
Its advanced noise-cancellation technology is what makes the WH-1000XM4 one of the best headphones for audio books. Additionally, it has a sensor that detects when you have the headphones on. This will save you a lot of battery. However, it does not support the Qualcomm aptX codec.
Pros
Cons
7. AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M20X PROFESSIONAL STUDIO MONITOR HEADPHONES
PRODUCT DETAILS
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20X has a design that screams "no-nonsense". It weighs around 190g and is on the heavier side but strangely does not feel uncomfortable. Even after listening to music for hours, you won't feel fatigued. The earcups are well-cushioned and cover the ears completely.
The headphones are not compatible with smartphones since most smartphones have low-powered amplifiers. This will create a muffled and muted sound. To enjoy the full potential of ATH-M20X, you need to use it with a desktop PC.
It has a clear and loud sound but if you are looking for depth and definition, you should look somewhere else. The sound is flat with no distortion. This is ideal for listening to audiobooks and that is the reason why the ATH-M20X is one of the best headphones for audio books. All-in-all, it is a good choice for those who want wallet-friendly studio headphones with no-compromise in quality.
Pros
Cons
8. SKULLCANDY HESH 2 WIRELESS OVER-EAR HEADPHONE
PRODUCT DETAILS
The design of Skullcandy Hesh 2 is a bit bulky but still lightweight. The earpads are well-cushioned. It does a good job of delivering deep lows with less distortion. The bass is just enough to give depth to the sound without being over the top.
The multifunction buttons include on/off buttons, the play/pause button and the call answer/end button. Although the Micro-USB charging port is placed in an odd position, hidden away at the top of the left earpiece. It has mediocre sound isolation which is a huge downside. But if you want a headphone for casual listening, this is a good option.
Pros
Cons
9. SENNHEISER HD280 PRO WIRED HEADPHONE
PRODUCT DETAILS
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro does a great job in letting you keep the headphones on without causing much fatigue. So, if you are anything like me, someone who wears headphones daily and for a long time, this is a perfect option for you.
It also succeeds in blocking thirty-percent of background noise. This makes it one of the best headphones for audio books. Moreover, the headphones snugly fit your head, preventing it from slipping off. The sound has very low-distortion and has a deep bass without compromising clarity. However, it has a bulky design and heavy mid-range so be aware.
Pros
Cons
10. BEATS EP WIRED ON-EAR HEADPHONES
PRODUCT DETAILS
Beats is known for creating expensive headphones. But the Beats EP is one of the best headphones for audio books when you consider value for money. For an on-ear headphone, it is surprisingly comfortable to wear, thanks to its decently cushioned earcups.
But it might be too tight for people with larger heads. You won't get noise-cancelling features which is a huge disadvantage but when you consider its sound quality, it is still worth it. The sound is well-balanced and crisp even though the mid-range can get a bit muddied. All-in-all, it is a good headphone if you are looking for clear sound.
Pros
Cons
CONCLUSION
Let us get back to our main question- what would you look for in the best headphones for audio books. You will want certain features to be present in a good pair of headphones. So what are they?
Firstly, you would want headphones that have good noise-cancellation. You wouldn't want to listen to a podcast while road construction is going in the background. Moreover, get a headphone that is comfortable to wear for long hours and finally, do not spend too much money if you are on a budget. That is all. Happy listening!
Hello, I’m Emma, music is the only thing I love a lot more than anything in this world. Sharing our known knowledge with others is the best quality. With that in mind, I hereby shared some of the best and most glossy musical equipment that I have tried ever in my life. Just keep reading my blog, if you are looking for the best musical equipments.