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.
| Rating | Price | Connection | Mic & Controls | Water protection | More info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TaoTronics Soundliberty 80 Best wireless  | 4.2 | Under $80 | Bluetooth 5.0 |  | IPX8 | |
| Apple AirPods 2 Runner-up  | 4.8 | Under $200 | Bluetooth 5.0 |  | None | |
| Edifier P180 Best wired  | 4.2 | Under $20 | Wired – 3.5mm | P180 model | None | |
| TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Runner-up  | 4.4 | Under $40 | Bluetooth 5.0 |  | IPX8 | |
| 4.1 | Under $25 | Bluetooth 4.1 |  | n/a | ||
| 4.0 | Under $50 | Bluetooth 5.0 |  | IPX8 | ||
| 4.2 | Under $30 | Wired – 3.5mm |  | None | ||
| 4.4 | Under $10 | Wired – 3.5mm | Optional | None |
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
- Better environmental awareness since they don’t use tips to seal your ear canal.
- Airier sound due to open design without in-ear insertion.
- They’re more comfortable for most people since some dislike the in-ear fit with silicone ear tips.
- Sound can be quite good but not on par with proper in-ear headphones. Still, if you want a simple solution for audio books or casual listening, these are the way to go.
- Poor passive noise isolation means worse overall sound quality due to louder ambient noise. Also, the bass doesn’t get very deep due to the lack of a proper seal.
- Unstable fit for most users, which makes them a poor choice for intense workouts or commuting (since you don’t want them to fall out on the street).
In-Ear Headphones
- Wider frequency range due to better seal and deeper bass response. That also means that the sound quality can get much higher, even at lower volume level.
- Good passive noise isolation block more sound from the outside world.
- Superior stability since tips creates traction between them and the canal, preventing earbuds from falling out.
- Some users find in-ear fit uncomfortable due to tips scratching the ears, especially if they have smaller ear canals, or the tips creating unpleasant pressure.
- Due to deeper fit, tips push more earwax back into your ears, which could lead to infections.
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. TaoTronics Soundliberty 80
Best wireless 
TaoTronics Soundliberty 80 take the best things out of Soundliberty 88 and 92 and merges them together, making the best classic earbuds.
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 
Driver size: 12mm 
Frequency range: n/a - Good overall sound
- IPX8 water-resistant rating
- Excellent microphone quality
- Support for both AAC and aptX
- No audio lag with videos and games
- No passive isolation whatsoever
- Subpar battery life
- Poor stability
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 an 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.
TaoTronics Soundliberty 80 review
2. Apple AirPods 2
Runner-up 
Apple is making sure that its well-known classic earphone design is still relevant today. Airpods are one of the best classic earbuds of the past few years, combining the desirable looks with an impressive Apple ecosystem integration.
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 
Driver size: n/a 
Frequency range: n/a - Super comfortable for hours
- Easy setup
- Nice features on an iPhone
- Wireless charging case
- Mediocre sound
- No the most stable (especially when sweating)
- Somewhat pricey
You get an enjoyable, airy sound quality, that is very suitable for vocals. 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 2. generation AirPods are equipped with a new case that can be wirelessly charged.
Another improvement compared to the previous generation is that they are able to connect even faster.
These are very comfortable to wear. Although you do have to make sure that they can fit your ears.
3. Edifier P180
Best wired 
The Edifier P180 earphones deliver great sound in a traditional earbud design that fits well all for a low price. If you’re looking for a quality replacement for your smartphone earbuds, definitely check these out.
Connection: Wired – 3.5mm 
Driver size: 16mm 
Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz - Great sound for the price
- Good soundstage
- Decent build quality
- Users with smaller ears might find them uncomfortable
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 an 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 the ambient noise.
The P180 version comes with an in-line mic.
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4. TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92
An excellent budget and better-sounding alternative if you find Apple AirPods too expensive.
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 
Driver size: 13mm PU 
Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz - Comfortable and lightweight
- The fairly neutral sound signature
- Responsive touch controls
- 5-hour battery life on a single charge
- Good build quality
- IPX8 water-resistance
- Loose fit
- Poor noise isolation
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.
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 review
Here are similar alternatives. The best earbuds under $50.
5. JBL Tune 205BT
Simple wireless buds with classic design and surprisingly full sound.
Connection: Bluetooth 4.1 
Driver size: 12.5mm 
Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz - Decent sound quality
- Comfortable
- Older tech (Bluetooth 4.1, Micro-USB)
- Below average battery life
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. TaoTronics SoundLiberty 88
Another great substitute for AirPods, with good sound quality and the best microphones in even higher price ranges.
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 
Driver size: 10mm 
Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz - Comfortable and lightweight
- Exceptional midrange clarity
- Responsive touch controls
- IPX8 water-resistance
- 5-hour battery per single charge
- Poor fit
- Lack of noise isolation
10mm neodymium drivers output a balanced frequency response with a slight emphasis on the midrange. If you’re a vocal-centric music lover, you’ll like their audio performance.
As with all classic earphones, SoundLiberty 88 only hang in front of the ear canals. However, they do offer a comfortable fit for long listening sessions.
Build quality is also quite impressive, with an IPX8 rating and durable housing from hard plastic.
These are fantastic for making phone calls, with some of the best microphone noise cancellation in the price range. It can effectively eliminate outside noises.
Check the best noise cancelling earbuds if you want to block background noise.
5 hours of playback should be enough for a regular user, and you can always fast charge them if you need a quick refill.
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 88 review
7. Sennheiser MX 365
Don’t let the low price range fool you on these Sennheiser MX 365 earphones. The sound quality is much better than you might suspect coming from a sub-$20 product.
Connection: Wired – 3.5mm 
Driver size: n/a 
Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz - Smooth, balanced sound
- Spacious soundstage (for in-ears)
- Comfort depends on ear sizes
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 Plus are well-known earbuds in the audiophile community, holding a deserving spot in our best classic earbuds guide. They are worth checking if you are looking for Hi-Fi quality sound on a tight budget.
Connection: Wired – 3.5mm 
Driver size: 15.4mm 
Frequency range: 8-22.000Hz - Enjoyable, Hi-Fi sound
- Warm/smooth presentation
- Good soundstage
- Memory wire
- Poor quality foam covers
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.
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Honorable Mentions
Philips ActionFit SHQ1300LF – Sporty classic earbuds for more intense workout sessions that come in different color style options. They have ear gels with wings, a kind of an eartip replacement to ensure a secure fit inside your ears. Philips ActionFit earbuds are also very lightweight and sweat-resistant. (Check ActionFit SHQ1300LF price)
Apple EarPods Wired – The iconic earphone from the year 2012, that still comes included with the new iPhones. You can see many people using them on the streets. Soundwise they are basically like much more expensive AirPods, therefore a solid option for Apple users on the budget. (Check EarPods Wired price)
For more earbuds check the guides below:
Best earbuds under $50
Earbuds under $20
Are There Earbuds That Don’t Go in the Ear?
If you still find classic earphones too irritating, the bone conduction headphones are your next best bet. They transmit sound by vibrating your cheekbones, which is picked by your middle ear (headphones skip the outer ear entirely).
Of course, that doesn’t mean this solution is perfect. The bigger problem is the clarity of the sound and bass response, which is quite weak.
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