8 Best Earbuds That Don’t Go in Ear (Classic Earbuds) – 2023

Here are the best open classic earbuds (non-in-ear) you can get right now. Sometimes in-ears don’t feel right, and these are the best alternatives.

What’s the Difference Between Classic Earphones and In-Ear Headphones (In-Ear Monitors)?

The difference between classic earbuds and in-ear earbuds (also known as in-ear monitors (IEMs) or in-ear headphones) is their design.

• Classic earphones lay on the outside of your ear canal. There is no ear canal irritation, which can occur in in-ears. The classic Apple earbud design is one of the most popular ones to date. These earbuds don’t go into your inner ear but stay on the outside of the ear.

• In-ear earphones enter further in the inner canal. They’re also called in-ear monitors (IEMs). The in-ear headphones come with rubber or foam ear tips that you can replace to adjust the fit. Shure SE215 are one of the most popular in-ear earbuds by musicians and non-professional users alike.

What Does That Mean for User Experience?

Classic Earphones

In-Ear Headphones

The Confusion About the Name

Since the in-ear design (in-ear monitors (IEMs), in-ear headphones) has become the standard in popular consumer electronics, most people call them just earbuds even though that is technically incorrect.

Among the audiophile community, people understand the difference between earbuds and in-ear monitors and name them accordingly.

Since most people aren’t audiophiles we use the name “earbuds” for in-ear monitors/in-ear headphones because this is what people expect.

If you go to a store, most people will understand what you mean if you say classic earbuds or in-ear earbuds.

Now, let’s check detailed reviews of each classic earbud model below.

8 Best Classic Earphones/Earbuds

1. Apple AirPods 3

Hear the Apple AirPods 3 A/B Sound Test:

You get a (surprisingly) punchy, somewhat balanced sound quality that is suitable for casual listening. By design, the low-end is lacking sub-bass extension.

These wireless earphones work great with an Apple device. The H1 chip inside is making sure that pairing with an iPhone or MacBook is both super fast and stable.

There are also intelligent touch sensors on the outside of the earphone, that work really well. The new 3rd generation AirPods are equipped with a new case that can be wirelessly charged (Qi wireless and MagSafe compatible).

Another improvement compared to the previous generation is that they now support Spatial Audio and have an IPX4 rating, offering full sweat resistance.

Furthermore, earbuds are very comfortable to wear and provide decent stability thanks to the special “grippy” plastic they’re made of.

2. TaoTronics Soundliberty 80

The Soundliberty 80 audio quality is surprisingly full, despite the open-air design. You get a decent punch without bass distortion or driver rattling, whereas the mid-range and treble stay clean, articulate, and sibilance-free.

Earbuds are rocking AirPods design with long, pointy stems. They sit in your ears quite comfortably but don’t expect excellent stability.

On the inner earbud side, they have built-in proximity sensors. They’re extremely sensitive, and you can’t disable them.

These are the best classic earbuds for call quality. Active noise cancelling for microphones does a great job picking up your voice, even in the loudest situations.

Buds are overall very sturdy, more so than most other earbuds, and have a water-tight IPX8 rating.

3. Edifier P180

The exceptional sound quality of the Edifier H180’s powerful drivers is rather impressive, even at higher volume levels.

Bass frequencies are presented with a solid presence but aren’t overwhelming or over-pronounced like in best bass earbuds.

Highs are crisp and clear with good sibilance control. The soundstage is reasonably wide and provides good depth.

Most users will find Edifier H180 earphones more comfortable than other brands. The provided foam covers add an extra layer of padding and comfort level, with no pressure points.

The H180 earbuds tend to fit better and stay more secure than a lot of stock earbuds supplied by phone and electronics manufacturers.

The lack of ear tip insertion means poor ambient noise isolation. On the other hand, that can be a good thing for safety measures if you want to be aware of ambient noise.

The P180 version comes with an in-line mic.

4. TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92

The sound quality is surprisingly close to neutral, with a full-bodied midrange. That makes them musically superior to the AirPods and more enjoyable for all sorts of music genres.

TaoTronics classic earphone design makes them very comfortable. There is a small dip at the beginning of the stem, which grabs your ear lobe better, providing a slightly more stable fit.

Soundliberty 92 offer a crazy IPX8 water resistance rating, giving you the option to submerge or wash them fully.

You can command them via an intuitive remote control, with up to 5 hours of playback on one charge, with another 20 hours inside the charging case. A 5-minute quick charge gives you an hour’s worth of juice.

Here are similar alternatives. The best earbuds under $50.

5. JBL Tune 205BT

You usually don’t expect earbuds around $40 to sound good, especially earphones. While JBL advertises Tune 205BT as bass-heavy earbuds, they aren’t as monstrous.

Instead, you can expect good detail and control in the bass, reasonably balanced mids, and smooth higher frequencies that avoid being sibilant.

Otherwise, the wireless earbuds sport a minimalistic design, with flat, tangle-free cable. There are 2 modules on the wire, one is the battery, and the other houses a multi-function button and an in-line microphone.

The latter offers all the essential commands for controlling earbuds without touching your smartphone.

The battery life isn’t all that impressive, boasting only around 6 hours of playtime.

6. SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe

Hear the SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe A/B Sound Test:

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe are, so far, the best-sounding classic earbuds on the market. Even though they only cost $50.

Earbuds produce a relatively full, punchy sound, with natural mids and clear treble. They’re surprisingly clearer than Apple AirPods 3.

Furthermore, they have an app that works on iOS and Android, supplying both systems with extra features. Such as Adaptive EQ, Game mode, in-ear detection, and custom EQ.

The latter can make the sound even more natural (you can find our settings in the full review).

On top of that, earbuds are very comfortable to wear but only passable at providing a secure fit. They also only support IPX5, whereas most competition is fully waterproof.

Check the best noise cancelling earbuds if you want to block background noise.

7. Sennheiser MX 365

The soundstage is much better than in most earbuds and the overall sound signature is quite smooth and balanced. Bass is present and forward enough without sounding exaggerated and over-produced.

Mids are balanced, warm, and deliver good vocal clarity that isn’t too sharp. Highs are strong but can sound just slightly turned down, which can work well to combat ear fatigue if you’re listening for a long periods.

The plastic enclosure on Sennheiser earbuds feel very lightweight, which is ok for comfort and stability. The included foam earpads add a nice cushion if you want to soften the feel of the plastic earbud shell.

8. Venture Electronics Monks Plus

Monks are a bit midrange forward, with a warm presentation and smooth, rolled-off highs. The bass response has a punch and a decent speed but doesn’t go very low.

They are overall very dynamic and natural, with a good-sized soundstage, which makes their listening experience enjoyable.

The plastic earbud enclosures feel quite hard and durable. Although the strain relief isn’t very reassuring.

They come in different color choices. With the lightweight housing and foam covers, you don’t even know you are wearing them in your ears.

VE Monks Plus are a quality set of earbuds, that you should definitely have. Even if you already own much more expensive gear. They are a great example of how good the best cheap earbuds can be.

Honorable Mentions

Apple AirPods 2

Apple EarPods Wired

For more earbuds, check the guides below:

• Best earbuds under $50
• Best earbuds under $20

FAQ:

Related:

• Best earbuds under $100
• Best headphones for kids

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