The Best Headphones for College Students

As the end of August approaches, plenty of students all around the country are getting ready to move back into their dorms. Starting classes again can be intimidating, no matter what year you're in. Even if you've gone back-to-school shopping a million times, you can never be too prepared. You'll need things like notebooks, folders, a backpack and plenty of other supplies. But what about the things that aren't so obvious, like a calendar, extension cords or even headphones? Because most students already own some type of headphones, they don't often think of upgrading. Unfortunately, that means students could be missing out on beneficial sound features that could truly take their class commute or study time to the next level. Below, we've provided our recommendations for the best headphones for college students. Keep reading to figure out which set is best for you and your listening habits.

When it comes to choosing headphones, some people are earbud loyalists while others prefer over-ear designs for further immersion. If you favor smaller, in-ear headphones, then the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are an ideal choice for you. These Bose earbuds are equipped with Bose Immersive Audio, which provides spatialized sound that completely absorbs you in all of your favorite music. No matter what you press play on, you'll be in the acoustic sweet spot with beats and melodies that sound realer than ever. On top of this, you'll get to enjoy world-class noise-cancellation technology. With CustomTune, these earbuds can analyze your ears and automatically adapt the noise cancellation to your unique ear shape.

The audio is quite literally tailored to you individually, creating an unmatched listening experience. Plus, you can choose from various noise cancellation modes including Quiet Mode, Aware Mode and Immersion Mode. If you use the Bose Music app with these headphones, you'll gain access to more special listening modes and adjustable EQ settings for further audio customization. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds offer 24 hours of total play time, plus they're extremely comfortable to wear all day long thanks to the nine different eartip options that come with the product. Altogether, these headphones will allow you to truly zone in on your work for longer periods, and the compact design makes it easier than ever to carry your device from class to class.

Some students have responsibilities outside of college classes, whether it's a job, an extracurricular sport, a club or even an internship. If this busy bee lifestyle sounds like you, then you need a dependable pair of headphones that are guaranteed to stay in your ear comfortably, no matter how much you hustle and bustle. In that case, we recommend the Google Pixel Buds A-Series earbuds. These earbuds feature custom-designed 12mm dynamic speaker drivers, which provide richer, higher-quality sound no matter what you're listening to. With just one tap, you can pair them with your Google Pixel phone or other Android device and start streaming whatever you want.

You can also connect to Apple iOS devices via a Bluetooth 4.0 connection. But you can do more than listen and stream with these earbuds. By using verbal commands like "Hey Google", you can have your notifications read to you, check the weather and more. Whatever you use your earbuds for, you can expect up to 2.5 hours of talk time or up to five hours of listening on a single charge. You can even listen in the rain, as the headphones are water-resistant. But the Google Pixel Buds were selected for their secure fit, so how exactly do they do it? Answer: With the help of a stabilizer arc, a flush design, and three different eartip sizes that can accommodate ears of all shapes and sizes.

If you're both a student and a music lover, you may want an advanced pair of headphones to support your music, but you may not be able to afford it on a college budget. Luckily, we've found the perfect pair for the audiophile looking to save a buck: the Sony Wireless Over-Ear Headphones. These headphones can attribute their top-notch sound abilities to the HD Noise-Canceling Processor QN1, a built-in analog amplifier, Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) diaphragms and strong 1.57-inch drivers. Together, these components deliver out-of-this-world audio quality with low distortion, no matter how heavy the beats get. The headphones also use Lossless Digital Audio Codec (LDAC), a technology developed by Sony to stream audio. LDAC has the power to transfer three times more data than a standard Bluetooth connection so you can enjoy your music in the highest resolution possible.

If you're listening to a compressed audio file, the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine and Sony's exclusive AI technology will upscale the file in real time, restoring lost details for a richer listening experience. The performance only gets better once you tap into noise cancellation mode. The headphones use dual noise sensors to capture ambient sound around you, and then that data is passed to the QN1 processor. After using an advanced algorithm, you can expect completely isolated sound that continues to adjust as your environment changes. If you download the Sony | Headphones Connect app, you can keep customizing and tailoring the audio to your exact liking too. There are plenty of other perks to mention about this product, including voice assistance, a proximity sensor, hands-free calling and more, so be sure to check it out on abt.com!

If you audiophiles are still reading after our last recommendation, we have another one for you. Maybe you've taken the budget-friendly route before and this time you're ready to invest in something truly luxury. If that's the case, consider the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 over-ear headphones. These headphones feature all-new 40mm carbon cones and a 24-bit digital signal processor, which deliver high-resolution audio with more detail and less distortion. With B&W technology on your side, you can enjoy your favorite music with more nuances than standard drive units can capture. The carbon cones, specifically, allow for sound with lower noise, impressive accuracy and improved clarity.

As most listeners listen to their music on a computer, cell phone or tablet, these headphones use aptXTM Adaptive wireless technology to optimize each wireless transmission to 24-bit resolution automatically. When you enable the noise-canceling feature, the six microphones built into the headphones will detect and shut out any unwanted disturbances for full immersion without affecting the energy and dynamics of your music. They can even improve your phone call quality too. If you download the Bowers & Wilkins Music App, you'll gain access to even more controls so you can adjust the EQ and noise canceling modes, monitor your battery and more.

What are open-ear headphones? What is bone conduction? You may be reading the title of this section and not know exactly what these products are or what they have to offer. Don't worry; we'll dive into our last recommendation and inform you along the way. While standard earbuds are inserted into your ear, the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones rest on the outside of your ear instead, right on top of your cheekbone. Using bone conduction Shokz TurboPitch Technology, sound waves will be transmitted through your skull rather than your ear canal (don't worry, it's not nearly as scary as it sounds).

The listening experience is the same as any other pair of headphones, only your ear canal gets to remain open and clear so you can multitask socially and stay aware of your surroundings. This is vital when walking alone on campus or during late-night study sessions. Not to mention, they're much more comfortable than earbuds and over-ear models. These specific Shokz headphones deliver premium audio quality thanks to the two bass enhancers that give each beat more depth and resonance. Even your phone calls home will sound better thanks to the dual noise-canceling microphone. You can further personalize this experience by downloading the Shokz app, which offers two EQ modes: Standard and Vocal Booster. Other perks of these headphones include the 10-hour battery life and IP55 water resistance.

With the fall semester just a week or two away, there's no time to wait. Take home a pair of high-tech headphones today and enjoy better sound and greater focus when you need it most. Still looking for the perfect pair? That's why we've provided our customers with more information and tips in our headphones buying guide. Any other questions about the audio solutions in this post can be answered by our expert team at 800-860-3577.