The 8 Best On-Ear Headphones for 2024: Sony, Beats, Sennheiser and More [CNET]

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What are the best on-ear headphones overall?

Though around-ear or over-ear headphones tend to deliver the best sound and listening experience, not everyone wants to walk around wearing full-size headphones, which can sometimes be a little bulky. Though headphones that sit on top of your ears aren’t everyone’s thing, on-ear models with smaller ear cups are more compact and travel-friendly, and tend to cost less (several models on this list are under $50). They’re also good for folks with smaller heads, including kids. Note that the majority of on-ear headphones don’t offer active noise canceling, though some do.

I’ve tested all the models on this list, evaluating their design, comfort level, sound quality, voice-calling performance and noise-canceling prowess (if they offer that feature). They’re all wireless headphones, but most of them also offer a wired connection. I recently added the Beats Solo 4 and JBL Live 670NC to the list and will continue to add worthy on-ear models as they hit the market. If none of these headphones piques your interest, you can check out CNET’s other headphone best lists, such as our best wireless earbuds list and our best noise-canceling headphones list.

Best on-ear headphones for 2024

original Sound Blaster Jam headphones that came out in 2015 and had a decidedly retro look and feel with good sound for the money. Now the headphone is available in a 2.0 version that has some key upgrades, including Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C charging, improved call quality and multipoint Bluetooth pairing that allows you to pair it to two devices simultaneously. Battery life is rated at up to 22 hours.

I was able to pair the headphones with a Mac Mini and an iPhone and then switch audio between them. Often when pairing Bluetooth headphones with Mac and Windows PCs, one can encounter some issues, but once I got the headphones paired with both my PC and phone, they made a good pair of work-from-home headphones. Also, the price is right for parents looking for a decent set of kids’ headphones for remote learning and everyday use.

Comfortable for on-ear headphones, the Jam V2 are lightweight and have nicely balanced sound with good detail and bass that’s ample but not overpowering. Call quality was good in my tests with callers saying they could hear me well even on the noisy streets of New York. No carry pouch is included, but you do get an extra set of foam ear pads, which is good because they will wear out over time.

The headphones have physical buttons for controlling volume and playback and there’s aptX support for devices that support the wireless streaming codec.

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I was a fan of Creative’s original Sound Blaster Jam headphones that came out in 2015 and had a decidedly retro look and feel with good sound for the money. Now the headphone is available in a 2.0 version that has some key upgrades, including Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C charging, improved call quality and multipoint Bluetooth pairing that allows you to pair it to two devices simultaneously. Battery life is rated at up to 22 hours.

I was able to pair the headphones with a Mac Mini and an iPhone and then switch audio between them. Often when pairing Bluetooth headphones with Mac and Windows PCs, one can encounter some issues, but once I got the headphones paired with both my PC and phone, they made a good pair of work-from-home headphones. Also, the price is right for parents looking for a decent set of kids’ headphones for remote learning and everyday use.

Comfortable for on-ear headphones, the Jam V2 are lightweight and have nicely balanced sound with good detail and bass that’s ample but not overpowering. Call quality was good in my tests with callers saying they could hear me well even on the noisy streets of New York. No carry pouch is included, but you do get an extra set of foam ear pads, which is good because they will wear out over time.

The headphones have physical buttons for controlling volume and playback and there’s aptX support for devices that support the wireless streaming codec.