These are the best headphones of 2017

The Audio-Technica MSR7s have been one of our favorite pairs for some time. They excelled in our labs, delivering superb audio quality that is well-balanced for a wide variety of genres and tastes. Beyond that, they're extremely comfy to wear for long stretches, affordable, and very stylish.

Though it costs a bit more money, if you travel a lot you may also want to consider the ATH-MSR7NC, which adds noise cancellation to the mix. Read our review.

The Sony MDR-7506 is the rare gadget that never seems to go out of style. Found in countless studios and production houses around the world, the Sony MDR-7506 has held up for over a decade thanks to their combination of low price and high quality.

Of course, the MDR-7506 isn't an ideal pair for all uses. The long, coiled cable is a pain if you travel, and they're hardly great for working out, but for a phenomenal set of studio-quality headphones, there's no better value in the market. Read our review.

Of all the headphones we tested this year, the 1More Triple Drivers might be our favorites. Not because they're the best, but because they have redefined what we expected from sub-$100 headphones—not to mention earbuds.

Sleek, powerful, and offering extremely detailed audio with rich bass, the 1More Triple Drivers are exceptional in every way. Unless you simply can't tolerate earbuds, there's simply no better pair for $100 or less. Read our review.

Finding cheap earbuds is easy—they are literally everywhere—but finding great ones for under $50 is tough. The Final Audio E2000 fit the bill thanks to good audio quality, rich bass, and a no-frills design that keeps the cost down.

Though the E2000 is missing a few features that we typically look for in earbuds like a tangle-free cable or in-line controls, for the money there isn't a better pair we've tested.

If you want affordable earbuds for working out or just for dealing with your daily commute, the JLab Fit 2.0 is an excellent choice. As with some other budget-friendly earbuds, the Fit 2.0 didn't blow us away with frills and features, but for the price they're great.

For less than $25 you get detailed audio, rich bass, and nice extras like an in-line remote and an earhook design to help them stay in place while running or working out. It's not much, but for the money it'll get the job done, and that's what matters.

While the Fit 2.0s are great for budget buyers, our favorite workout headphones are the Beats Powerbeats3. They have a very snug earhook design that is moldable to your ears, excellent connectivity, all-day battery life, and a special chip that makes them easier to pair with Apple products.

Though we're always a bit wary of the longevity of Bluetooth earbuds—something user reviews consistently bear out—we think for workout headphones it's worth it. They're simply the best option for athletes of all stripes. Read our review.

The Bose QuietComfort Series has proven consistently excellent over the years thanks to top-notch audio quality, comfort, and Bose's first-rate noise cancellation. The QuietComfort 35 (including the newer Series II models) exemplifies this, adding wireless connectivity to the mix, to boot.

The QC35s are some of our favorite headphones anywhere, but particularly for travel. There's simply nothing as pleasant during a long train ride, commute, or flight as putting on a pair and zoning the rest of the world out. Read our review.

As a parent, I know that it feels like there's always somebody selling you something designed to prevent your kids from harm. But when it comes to headphones, the hype is real: even cheap earbuds like the ones that came with your smartphone are capable of playing at dangerously high volumes.

Volume-limited headphones are not a perfect solution, but they do reduce the maximum volume that your device is playing back at. We tested the most popular models and the best, by far, was the Puro BT2200. They're not cheap, but they offer a safe and secure way for your kids to enjoy their shows and games without you having to monitor what level they're playing back at. Read our review.