Gallery: Gift Guide: Headphones for 20 Different Types of People
Christie Hemm Klok/WIRED0101 Mrice E300 (WIRED PHOTO)
0202-Sony-MDR-222KD-(MANUFACUTER-PHOTO)
For Kids. The little ones love their *Dora* and *Diego*. But you sure don't. Give them some privacy with the [Sony MDR-222KD](http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-222KD-Childrens-Headphones-Black/dp/B00172T3Q2). Sized to fit their tiny noggins, they're also light, cheap ($17), and will stand up to kid-inflicted abuse. Choose from rad black or princess pink.
0303-JLab-Epic-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For The City Commuter. While riding the bus or traversing the grid at rush hour, the best companion is a comfortable, loud earbud with lots of isolation. That what you get with the [JLab JBuds Epic](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FZHCR04/) (around $30). They have great sound for something so inexpensive, and the little fins hold them in your ears—and block out the din.
0404-SoundMagic-ES19S-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For the Person With Two Phones. [SoundMagic's ES19S](http://www.soundmagic.com.cn/en/home/Default.html) earphones deliver high-quality audio for under $30. What makes them even cooler is a switch on the cable that allows the controls to work with either an iOS or Android device. Get them for the loved one with multiple handsets. These buds are new and can be tough to find outside of Europe and Asia. The ES18s are more common and sound great, but they lack the switch.
0505-Sony-MDR7506-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For the Podcaster. Is your special someone the host of her own weekly comedy special? Does she spend hours editing out vocal tics and mouth sounds? Get her these: The [Sony MDR7506](http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR7506-Professional-Diaphragm-Headphone/dp/B000AJIF4E) ($80) is the world's best headphone for professional audio work. All the podcasting experts, video editors, and studio pros agree. Music sounds great in them, too.
0606-AIAIAI-TMA-2-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For the Picky Person. There's always somebody on your list who can't be satisfied by any of the consumer offerings. So let them build their own experience. The [AIAIAI TMA-2](http://aiaiai.dk/headphones/tma-2) modular headphones are fully configurable, from the materials, to the size, to the sound profile of the speakers. Let them tweak the settings until they arrive at the perfect headphone for their tastes. The parts arrive in a cool little box, and they get to snap their creation together. $140 and up.
0707-Shure-SRH750DJ-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For the DJ. No matter what kind of music they're spinning, DJs need particular features in a headphone. Their cans have to fold up for transport, the earcups have to swivel (helpful when cueing up the next song), and they have to be very loud. The [Shure SRH750DJ](http://www.shure.com/americas/products/headphones/srh750dj-professional-dj-headphones) ($150) hits all those marks, and they're made by a company that's been a leader in DJ equipment since the dawn of the artform.
08audio-technica-ath-m50xdg-lmtd-edtion-pro-1113993
For the Worker Bee. Is your loved one sitting at a desk all day, making that bacon? Or, more likely, mashing that code? The [Audio Technica ATH-M50X](http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/headphones/99aff89488ddd6b1/) ($160) are the Cadillac of work headphones: Comfortable enough to wear all day, clampy enough to block out the gossip wafting from the water cooler, and absolutely pristine-sounding. These are office favorites at WIRED. Your own desk jockey will love them.
0909-Jaybird-X2-(Manufacturer-PHOTO)
For the Runner. When things get sweaty, most earphones fall out. Not these. The [Jaybird X2 Wireless Buds](http://www.jaybirdsport.com/shop/product/X2/) ($180) are made for working out. The little fins keep them jammed in your ears while you shvitz to the oldies. Also, they're Bluetooth; there's no long cable to flop around on your shirt. From treadmill to trail, these are a runner's best friend.
1010-Beyerdynamic-Custom-One-Pro-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For the Basshead. If there's a person on your list for whom the only good music is the kind that goes BOOM-BOOM, this is the headphone for them. Few cans bring the low end as heavy and direct as the [Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus](http://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/custom/?content=custom_plus) ($199). There's a little switch on the earcup to adjust the bass output, so your giftee can dial in whatever sound they wish, from delicate to delicioso.
1111-Bowers-&-Wilkins-P5-Series-2-(WIRED-PHOTO)
For the Frequent Flyer. The best headphone for the not-so-friendly skies is one that curbs ambient noise, but is still small enough to slip into a carry-on. The on-ear [Bowers & Wilkins P5](http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Headphones/Headphones/Headphones/P5-Series-2.html) have lobe-hugging memory foam pads, and they fold down to the size of your fist. The supreme sound, luxe leather, and handsome design are purely first class. $299. There's also a wireless model for $399.
1212-RHA-T20-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For the Person Who Must Have Silence At All Times. In-ear headphones are the best for those times of intense concentration, whether you're crunching budgets or playing side two of Pink Floyd's "Animals." The [RHA T20](http://www.rha-audio.com/us/t20.html) ($240) is a stellar, audiophile-quality in-ear with truly killer isolation. Place them in your ears, and the world disappears.
1313-V-Moda-Crossfade-M-100-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For the EDM-head. People who like dance music will love the [V-Moda Crossfade M-100](http://v-moda.com/crossfade-m-100/) ($270). Some of the world's top EDM artists, from Avicii to Giorgio Moroder, swear by these cans. Actually, we've found that all kinds of music sound phenomenal through the Crossdfades. The shields on the earcups are interchangeable, so they can slap on tasteful matte black for work, then get crazy with custom gold plates after hours. Also available in a wireless model.
1414-Astro-A50-Wireless-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For the Hardcore Gamer. Now that Fallout 4 is here, you're probably already sick of listening to it. Get your beneficiary a pair of Astro's excellent [A50 Wireless gaming headphones](http://www.astrogaming.com/a50-headset/A50-GEN2.html#start=1) ($300). The A50s are flexible; they work with Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and Mac. A boom mic flips down in front of the chin for titles with in-game chat.
1515-Bang-&-Olufsen-BeoPlay-H7-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For the Design-Conscious. Rare is the set of headphones that can also be displayed as a beautiful object. The Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen has created an exemplar of smart design in its wireless [BeoPlay H7](http://www.beoplay.com/products/beoplayh7) ($450). The beauty here is not skin-deep, however. Based on the cabled H6 headphone, the H7 retains the high-end sonic quality of its predecessor, but delivers it without wires. Works with all Bluetooth devices, even ugly ones.
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED1616-Master-&-Dynamic-MW60-(WIRED-PHOTO)
For the Mobile Executive. Of the many high-end wireless headphones, the [Master & Dynamic MW60](http://www.masterdynamic.com/products/mw60-wireless-over-ear-headphones) is the model with both the best looks and the best sound. The $549 headset is swathed in gorgeous leather, boasts a rock-solid Bluetooth antenna, and pumps out absolutely supreme sound. If your loved one regularly pooh-poohs wireless audio, this is the headphone that will make them a true believer.
1717-HiFiMan-HE560-(MANUFACTURER-PHOTO)
For the Jazz Lover. The planar-magnetic drivers inside the full-size earcups of the [HiFiMan HE560](http://www.hifiman.com/products/detail/167) headphone ($899) are renowned for their true-to-life reproduction of ensemble recordings, a quality that makes jazz and other small group performances shine. If your loved one digs the classic mid-century sounds of Miles, Dolphy, and Coltrane, these cans will put them right there in Rudy van Gelder's studio, swinging with the greats.
Ariel Zambelich/WIRED1818-Beyerdynamic-Testla-T-1-(WIRED-PHOTO)
For the Live Music Fanatic. Pretty much everything sounds awesome through [Beyerdynamic's Tesla T-1 headphones](http://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/shop/t-1-2-gen.html) ($1,000), but they do something really special to live performances. They produce a hyper-realistic feeling, as though you could extend your arm and touch the players. If you know a collector of concert recordings who deserves to be spoiled, this is the headphone for them.
Ariel Zambelich/WIRED1919-Sennheiser-HD-800-(WIRED-PHOTO)
For the Audiophile. Anyone who fancies his or herself a true audiophile already knows about the [Sennheiser HD800](http://en-us.sennheiser.com/dynamic-headphones-high-end-around-ear-hd-800). The $1,600 open-back headphones are widely regarded as the best in the world. No small praise, but to our ears it's true. If the sky's the limit for your gifting budget, get these. Your loved one will yelp and squeal and love you forever. The HD800s require a headphone amp, and [Sennheiser makes one](http://en-us.sennheiser.com/headphone-audio-amplification-hdva-600-acoustic) to match.
Ariel Zambelich/WIRED2020-Ultrasone-Edition-5-Limited-(WIRED-PHOTO)
For the Millionaire. OK, well if the sky really is the limit, then get these heavenly-sounding cans. Handmade in Germany and coated in ruthenium (how's that for exotic?), the [Ultrasone ED5 LTD Edition](http://www.ultrasone-headphones.com/en/products/editions/edition-5-unlimited) are $6,000 of audio perfection. These are the best pick for the person who likes to relax in a deck chair on their yacht while listening to James Taylor on their iPhone—yes, the Ultrasones work with the iPhone, no fancy headphone amp required.
