BEST EARPHONES 2022

We know how important it is to find the right earbuds; whether they are for your smartphone, music player, DAP, laptop, tablet or hi-fi system. Whether you call them in ears, IEM, in-ear headphones, earphones, earbuds, or anything else, this is the post for you. We’ve gathered our picks for the best earbuds that you can buy today. Welcome to our Best Earphones 2022 breakdown!

BEST EARPHONES UNDER £50

1. final E500 Wired Earphones – £19.99

Designed with gaming and VR users in mind, the E500 delivers impressive spacial awareness and pin point accuracy. These qualities don’t only favour gamers – they give music an edge with clear imaging and a soundstage that brings you right into the mix. All of this for under £20 makes them a no brainer for those looking for a budget wired earphone.

2. SoundMAGIC E11/E11C Wired Earphones – £41.99/£52.99

We have awaited the SoundMAGIC E11 with some anticipation; with various models already available, what can the E11 bring to the table? We have found the E11 to be a grown-up earphone with a keen knack for giving a clear and accurate presentation across the board. A truly impressive earphone for the price and in our opinion, still the wired budget king.

BEST EARPHONES UNDER £100

3. Lypertek SoundFree S20 True Wireless Earphones – £69.99

For ultimate value, the best budget true wireless is the Lypertek SoundFree S20. If you want great sounding true wireless earbuds that are comfortable, well designed and you do not require ANC – then at just under £70, the SoundFree S20 is one of the most impressive options out there.

4. final VR3000 Gaming Earphones – £69.99

Japanese audio specialists final has entered the world of gaming with their new VR3000 earphones. Designed to maximise your experience – whether playing your favourite console or getting lost in VR. The Final VR3000 has been tuned to bring every detail to you with pin point accuracy, and their portability also makes them ideal for gaming on the move.

5. Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 True Wireless Earphones – £99

The multi award-winning Lypertek TEVI had a name change at the end of 2020. Newly named the PurePlay Z3, these true wireless earphones are still considered to be one of the best for under £100 – and deservedly so. 70 hours battery life, aptX and AAC codecs, LDX Audio, IPX7 waterproof rating and sound quality that regularly gets described as audiophile – we’d have to agree!

BEST EARPHONES UNDER £200

6. final ZE3000 True Wireless Earphones – £119

True wireless earphones for the audiophiles and purists out there. The final ZE3000 don’t have many of the bells and whistles. They have no ANC, no ambient mode nor wireless charging. However they were designed from the bottom up for ultimate sound quality and in that they totally succeeded. They also look abolutely fantastic and fit perfectly. What more could you ask for at £119!

7. Lypertek PurePlay Z5 True Wireless ANC Earphones – £119

The Lypertek PurePlay Z5 is one of the best, if not the best, true wireless earbuds for daily use. They have ANC, Ambient mode, wireless charging, accompanying app with LDX Audio and sound customisation and more – along with truly suburb sound quality for a low price.

8. Cleer Audio ARC True Wireless Sports Earphones – £129

cleer arc open true wireless sports earphones

Cleer are the masters of innovation and are always pushing boundaries with their new releases. Their latest true wireless earphone is the ARC – an open style true wireless earphone that lets you hear your surroundings while listening to audio. The ARC is ideally suited to sports and fitness users. As well as those that just enjoy wearing a pair of earphones that not only sound great but you’ll barely notice them. Freedom to enjoy life as it happens.

BEST EARPHONES UNDER £1000

9. Westone Audio Pro X30 Professional Earphones – £399

An update to Westone Audio’s bestselling pro model, the Pro X30 retains that ever-loved sound of the UM Pro30 while increasing the sound staging, along with ever so slightly better definition and clarity across the board. The Pro X30 uses three drivers, with this you get articulate and full lows, a nuanced and detailed midrange and clean highs that extend smoothly.

10. Campfire Audio Holocene Wired Earphones – £649

Campfire Audio have made somewhat of a baby Andromeda with the Holocene. With a focus on control and detail they are perfect for those wanting a more neutral and balanced sound signature. The Holocene is fairly linear with a slight bass lift that doesn’t bleed into the midrange, allowing that to cut through with clarity and accuracy. Overall they are one of the best at this price point and make a superb daily driver.

11. 64 Audio DUO Premium Dual Driver Earphones- £999

64 Audio really do know what they are doing when it comes to sound and they excel at making natural and refined earphones. The Duo has all the signature 64 Audio qualities in a more affordable package, add to that a little added fun factor and the Duo are a really impressive daily use earphone. They have enough drive to be fun, enough detail to please all but the diehard audiophiles and they are open and comfortable. For £999 they are really impressive value for money.

BEST EARPHONES OVER £1000

12. Campfire Audio Andromeda Premium Five Driver Earphones – £1099

campfire audio andromeda five driver earphones

The Andromeda sports a five BA design, with two for the lows, one for the mids and two for the highs which benefit from the TAEC treatment. The result is an earphone that has become very well known in the industry. With lows feeling fleshy and palpable, mids smooth and natural, and treble strikes a good balance between being revealing and laid back.

13. 64 Audio U12t Professional 12 Driver In Ear Monitors – £1999

One of the most popular models, the U12t is in the sweet spot for price/performance. The U12t is a superb all-rounder that has enough bass to satisfy most and has plenty of technical prowess too. Almost like a baby U18t, the U12t is very well balanced and even handed with punchy yet dynamic lows, detailed and open midrange and effortless highs. The lows can be tuned with the apex module, the M20 giving a subtle lift in the sub-bass over the default M15. The bass is fast and articulate yet has body and punch too.

14. final A8000 Audiophile Custom-Driver Earphones – £1999

With the A8000, final prove that multiple drivers aren’t necessary for producing mind blowing audio. One driver is all that’s needed! Final don’t settle with any old drivers either. For the A8000, Final has developed their custom made ultra thin Beryllium foil driver. Along with Final’s four chamber housing design, the A8000 gives high resolution a whole new meaning. These need to be heard to be believed.

15. Noble Audio Sultan Damascus Limited Edition High End 7 Driver Earphones – £3799

noble sultan damascus seven driver earphones

Noble has managed to pull off something quite difficult with the Sultan, an earphone that is fun and engaging with impeccable detail retrieval and air without coming across harsh or unpleasant. These are not a reference monitor, they designed to be listened to an enjoyed with a wide range of genres. These cost a lot of money, but they are a premium product using the finest materials possible. Simply put, they are up there with the best earphones out at the moment and packing all 3 driver technologies in harmony into a single earphone is also very impressive.