What to know before you spend
At home, you are not fighting a train engine, so you can think about different things. How does the headband feel after two hours? Do the ear pads get warm? Can you hear the doorbell? The best home headphones disappear on your head and let the music, film or game take over.
Weight and clamp force matter most. A light pair with soft pads will beat a heavy pair with a clever feature every time. Look for memory foam or soft protein-leather pads, a headband that spreads weight evenly, and ear cups big enough to sit around your ears rather than on them.
Battery is easy at home because you can charge overnight. Still, a pair that lasts a week means you will never be caught out. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 can run for around 60 hours, which is plenty.
At home, comfort is the feature. Everything else is a bonus.
Our three picks
Best for long evenings
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Warm, detailed sound, a very long battery and a comfortable fit make these an easy pair to live with.
Likes
- Up to around 60 hours of battery
- Rich, balanced sound
- Comfortable for hours
Dislikes
- Cancelling is good, not best in class
- Case is on the large side
Best for TV and films
Sonos Ace
Soft, supportive and nicely built. If you own a compatible Sonos soundbar, you can send TV sound to the headphones for late-night viewing.
Likes
- Comfortable and well made
- Handy TV sound swap with some Sonos soundbars
Dislikes
- Premium price
- TV feature needs a compatible Sonos product
Best on a sensible budget
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
A wireless take on a studio favourite, with energetic sound and a battery that can reach about 50 hours.
Likes
- Lively, fun sound
- Very long battery life
- Good value
Dislikes
- Bulkier than rivals
- Not a tool for critical mixing
When a cable still wins
Wireless is brilliant, but it adds a small delay and compresses sound. For watching films, the delay is usually hidden by your device. For gaming or editing audio, it can get in the way.
If you make music, record podcasts or edit video, wired headphones are the safer tool. Studio favourites include the Sony MDR-7506, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro. They do not need charging, and they show you the sound as it really is.
Open-back or closed-back?
Closed-back headphones keep sound in and keep noise out, which is perfect for most homes. Open-back pairs, such as the Sennheiser HD 560S, sound airy and natural but leak sound both ways. They are lovely in a quiet room and awkward if anyone else is in it.
Home buying checklist
- Wear them for an evening, not five minutes.
- Check that your TV can send Bluetooth audio, or buy a small transmitter.
- Look for a headphone jack or USB-C audio for when the battery runs out.
- Choose pads you can replace later, as they wear out first.