The headphones our audio expert uses everyday

In a home abundant with headphones, these are the headphones our audio expert loves. [Wirecutter logo]( Lauren Dragan Headphones have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As an only child, a flimsy, foam-padded Walkman pair kept me company under a blanket fort on long summer afternoons. By high school, I’d sit up late at night listening to mixtapes of bands my parents didn’t approve of, my gray-and-black sport headphones acting as an umbilical cord to the freedom I was sure would come with adulthood. Now I test hundreds of headphones a year, something far beyond what my developing brain could have imagined. Outside of testing, I still rely on them just as often—to boost my energy when I’m pushing through a workout, to help me record a voiceover audition, or to communicate with my colleagues as part of a remote workforce. I know not everyone can (or perhaps should) own as many pairs as I do, but in a home abundant with headphones, here are some of the pairs that I reach for the most. — Lauren Dragan, senior staff writer When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Learn more]( → For everyday use: [Jabra Elite Active 75t]( Lauren Dragan These are [the earbuds]( that I reach for the most. I use them during video meetings, to listen to music while working, and when I’m working out at home. Their fantastic microphones reduce noise, are super-easy to use, and are very sweat resistant. Even after long days of wearing them, my ears don’t hurt. Plus, the ability to push a button and hear your surroundings is clutch when you need to have a conversation and don’t want to take your earbuds out. For really getting into the music: [Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2]( Photo: Lauren Dragan This is where the audio nerd comes out. When I want to listen to a new album for the first time or dive back into music I love, this is the pair of headphones. They rival the audio quality of headphones that cost thousands of dollars. Though audiophiles usually prefer the spacious feeling of open-backed headphones, in my busy house, I need closed-backed ones. The [Aeon 2]( does a great job of isolating me from distractions while still giving me a sense of space generally associated with those open-backed models. For the kiddo: [Puro Sound Labs BT2200]( Lauren Dragan Now that my own little one is old enough to use learning apps, the[Puro Sound Labs BT2200]( headphones are a daily companion for him and a sanity saver for me. Though I appreciate that repetition is the key to mastering a concept, I personally don’t need to hear the exceedingly cheery voices and music of PBS Kids over and over. Another way this pair gives me peace of mind is the volume limiting, which keeps the loudness levels in safer ranges for his growing ears. The battery saver mode automatically powers down after several minutes of inactivity, so I don’t need to charge as frequently. Plus, the build quality is solid enough that he could use the same pair well into middle school. For running: [Plantronics 3150]( Lauren Dragan I run because it makes my body healthier. But my body really hates running, so I need music to power through. The problem is that I am a woman living in a city, and I frequently run alone. For safety, I need to hear my surroundings, which the unsealed style of the [Plantronics 3150]( set allows me to do. I like that the true wireless design stays out of the way with no annoying bouncing cables. And the controls are large enough to use while in motion, which is good, because if I stop running, my legs really don’t want to start again. To avoid losing my hearing: [Loop Earplugs]( Photo: Lauren Dragan If you want to enjoy music well into your 90s, you’ll want to avoid volumes in excess of 85dB for more than a few hours. [Earplugs are so helpful for this](. In pre-pandemic times, I loved doing group exercise classes, like kickboxing, bootcamp, and spin. The music can get really loud, so I protect my ears with the [Loop](. I keep them attached to my gym bag with a keychain pill container. They reduce the volume, but I can still hear the music and my instructor. Fun fact: I can still hear my instructors yelling at me in my nightmares, too. Have a few favorites of your own you’d like to share? Enjoyed this and hope to see more staff picks in the future? Reply and let us know, or send us a [tweet](. Copyright © 2020 Wirecutter, Inc., all rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up for Wirecutter's newsletter. [Forward this email to a friend](. [View this email in your browser](. Getting too many emails from us? [Get only our Sunday newsletter](. To stop receiving all our emails, [unsubscribe here](. Our mailing address is: Wirecutter, Inc. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018‌ [Privacy Policy]( | [California Notices]( | [Terms of Service]( | [Contact Us](