Which headphones to choose for home and which for office? A guide and expert tips

Source: Pavel Kupchenya. Photo: Onlíner. Cover: Maria Polischuk

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Some people need headphones for half an hour on the way to work, others for the entire workday, and some buy them for music at home. The same model hardly fits each scenario equally well. We examine which headphones to choose for different tasks, what features to pay attention to, and which models are most frequently ordered from the Onlíner Catalog.

What to consider when choosing headphones

Connectivity options

Usage scenarios

Noise cancellation

Acoustic design

Earpad material

Battery life

Driver type

Headphone ratings. Which models are bought most often

Current headphone brand ratings

In-ear headphones (earbuds)

Inserts

Over-ear headphones

Studio monitor headphones

Headsets

This article has already been published on Onlíner. We updated and expanded it in September 2026. The headphone guide has become even more accurate and up-to-date.

Most purchased headphones in 2026

According to orders in the Onlíner Catalog from June 1 to September 6, 2026.

Apple AirPods Pro 3
Apple EarPods
Huawei FreeBuds SE 3
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Apple AirPods 4 (with active noise cancellation)
Apple AirPods 4 (without active noise cancellation)
Marshall Major V
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds Core

What to consider when choosing headphones

If you're interested in how to choose AirPods and which models to consider, we have a separate article linked.

If you are choosing headphones for active gaming, pay attention to the rating and expert advice on selecting gaming headphones — the material is available via link.

Which headphones to choose: wired or wireless?

Wired connectivity has several noticeable advantages: a cable headset won't run out of power at an inconvenient moment, always works without latency, and can reproduce sound at the highest quality — Hi‑Fi models are wired.

The drawbacks of such devices include less convenient ergonomics: you have to constantly manage the

Wireless models on the latest Bluetooth versions operate with virtually no latency and are convenient for everyday use. However, these headphones cannot deliver Hi‑Fi quality, and their batteries wear out over time.

For monitor and over‑ear models, a good option is headphones with a detachable cable. You can use them on the go via Bluetooth, and at home connect them to an audio interface to enjoy a more detailed and “accurate” sound. We have a separate parameter for such headphones in our catalog.

How to choose headphones for specific tasks?

The scenario in which the headphones will be used determines which features to focus on. For example, when exercising, a secure fit is essential: in‑ear headphones or over‑ear models are suitable for that.

For use at home or in the office, closed‑back monitor headphones can be considered. They isolate you from external noise and also “muffle” your own sound for those around you.

If you plan to buy headphones for calls, don't focus on the cheapest models: they usually come with microphones of mediocre quality. It is also important to have a sizable battery so that the headset does not shut down during important conversations.

What is the difference between headphones with active and passive noise cancellation?

Noise cancellation in headphones is used to eliminate external noise. It is divided into passive and active:

Passive noise cancellation is created by the headphones' own design. For example, in‑ear models fit into the ear canal, thereby blocking external noise;

Active noise cancellation suppresses external noise using an internal microphone and a special algorithm, making the surrounding environment significantly quieter and allowing you to listen to music clearly even in noisy places.

Active noise cancellation is useful for people who frequently travel by public transport, work in open‑plan offices, or exercise in a gym. However, buying such models for home use is imprudent:

Closed monitor headphones effectively suppress external noise and the sound of the headset itself, making them comfortable to use even in noisy rooms and on busy streets. However, they emphasize the bass more, which distorts the overall sound.

Open headphones have a more “honest” sound, but they perform poorly in terms of sound isolation and are unsuitable for recording sessions or office work.

Semi‑open headphones are a compromise between closed and open designs. They offer a more even sound than closed models and provide better noise cancellation than open ones.

Which earpad material should you choose?

When choosing over‑ear and monitor headphones, it is important to pay attention to the materials of their ear pads:

Leather or faux‑leather ear pads provide a tighter fit, which makes passive noise isolation more effective and the bass deeper. However, the material is sensitive to moisture and high temperatures, and without proper care it can start to deform and “crumble”.

Fabric ear pads offer better ventilation, making them comfortable even in hot weather. However, the fabric does not fit the head as tightly as faux leather, which results in a loss of detail in the sound and less effective passive noise isolation. Additionally, this material tends to get dirty more quickly, so the headphones may lose their appearance sooner.

Should you pay attention to the battery life of headphones?

Battery life is one of the key parameters when buying wireless headphones. For in‑ear models and “pods”, you should consider two metrics: battery life with the case and without. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro can last 7 hours on a single charge, and with the case recharging they can last 30 hours.

With monitor and over‑ear headphones, it’s simpler: they run on a single battery integrated into their design.

Fast charging is extremely useful for wireless headphones. It allows you to charge the headphones quickly and avoid being without the accessory for long. And having wireless charging means you can simply place the headphones on a charging pad, without searching for and connecting the required cable.

What are the differences between headphone driver types?

The driver is the component of headphones responsible for producing sound. Each type of driver has its own distinct characteristics.

Dynamic drivers. They deliver a pronounced bass but lack the finest detail. They are suitable for listening to music genres with a prominent drum part (rock, hip‑hop, funk).

Balanced armature drivers. They are used in in‑ear monitors. With their detailed sound, they are suitable for acoustic and instrumental music (jazz, folk, chanson), but in rock and hip‑hop the lack of bass will be noticeable. Musicians often use them for precise monitoring during performances.

Planar drivers. They offer excellent bass clarity, which is why sound engineers frequently use them in mixing. They are relatively heavy, and to fully exploit their potential an additional audio interface may be required.

Electrostatic drivers. They are considered the most accurate type, free from resonances and distortion, but they are expensive and require an additional audio interface to operate at full power. They are suitable for use in sound‑isolated studios and Hi‑Fi enthusiasts.

Hybrid drivers. They combine several driver types to achieve high sound quality. For

Most purchased in‑ear headphones

Apple AirPods Pro 3
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds Core
Baseus Bass BP1 Pro

Buyers' choice

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 headphones

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61 offers

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616 ƃ

от 17,97 ƃ/мес

72 предложения

Какие накладные наушники выбрать?

Накладные наушники — компромисс между детальным звуком и компактностью. В них можно установить динамики большего диаметра, чем во внутриканальные и вставные модели, но они остаются достаточно компактными, чтобы везде брать их собой. За счет небольшого веса в них комфортно находиться продолжительное время. Однако шумоизоляция в таких моделях оставляет желать лучшего.

Самые покупаемые накладные наушники

Marshall Major V

JBL Tune 520BT

Marshall Major IV

Sony WH-CH520

Anker Soundcore H30i

Logitech H390

Onlíner рекомендует

Наушники Marshall Major V (черный)

35 отзывов

беспроводные наушники с микрофоном, накладные, портативные, съёмный аудиокабель, Bluetooth 5.3, 20-20000 Гц, быстрая зарядка, время работы 100 ч

255 ƃ

от 7,43 ƃ/мес

75 предложений

Наушники JBL Tune 520BT (черный)

46 отзывов

беспроводные наушники с микрофоном, накладные, портативные, Bluetooth 5.3, 20-20000 Гц, быстрая зарядка, время работы 57 ч

93,00 ƃ

от 2,72 ƃ/мес

66 предложений

Наушники Marshall Major IV (черный)

50 отзывов

беспроводные наушники с микрофоном, накладные, портативные, съёмный аудиокабель, Bluetooth 5.0, 20-20000 Гц, быстрая зарядка, время работы 80 ч

224 ƃ

от 6,53 ƃ/мес

52 предложения

Какие мониторные наушники выбрать?

Мониторные наушники сделаны таким образом, чтобы полностью охватывать ухо и обеспечивать точное и «правильное» звучание. Важно не прогадать с посадкой под индивидуальную анатомию. При правильном выборе гарнитуры в ней можно будет работать часами, а при ошибочном уже через час находиться с «мониторами» на голове может стать некомфортно.

Самые покупаемые мониторные наушники

Hoco W35 Air

Sony WH-CH720N

Marshall Monitor III ANC

Xiaomi Redmi Headphones Neo

Sony WH-1000XM6

Lunacy Louder

Наушники Hoco W35 Air (серебристый)

7 отзывов

беспроводные наушники с микрофоном, мониторные (охватывающие), портативные, съёмный аудиокабель, Bluetooth 5.3, 20-20000 Гц, время работы 45 ч

41,94 ƃ

от 1,67 ƃ/мес

29 предложений

Наушники Sony WH-CH720N (черный)

15 отзывов """

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wireless headphones with microphone, over‑ear (monitor), portable, detachable audio cable, Bluetooth 5.2, 7‑20000 Hz, fast charging, battery life 50 h, cable 1.2 m, active noise cancellation

339 ƃ

from 9.89 ƃ/month

28 offers

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Marshall Monitor III ANC headphones (black/gold)

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wireless headphones with microphone, over‑ear (monitor), portable, detachable audio cable, Bluetooth 5.