8 Best Headphones & Earbuds for Basketball in 2023
Being a basketball fan you must be very much passionate about it and looking up to each and everything related to basketball. If yes, then how can you skip basketball headphones? Most of the time you will find many of the most famous basketball players such as Lebron James, Luka Doncic, Steph Curry and many more wearing basketball headphones during their gameplay.
But why wear earphones while playing basketball? The answer to this question is very simple. Players normally wear basketball headphones to reduce their stress level while playing. Listening to sports music makes you feel like you’re in a comfort zone of your choice and you feel much more vigor and energy sweeping across you while playing that ultimately makes your gameplay more efficient. Players like headphones because they are comfortable and add fun and efficiency to their game. Therefore, you will often see basketball players wearing earbuds or headphones while playing.
Now, as mentioned above, if you are a real basketball lover and looking for a headphone to reduce your stress level and add fun and efficiency to your game play then you are at the right place. Here in this article we are going to present you with a list of top rated basketball headphones searched by our expert team of researchers. These headphone are worn by the top basketball players and due to their durability, robustness, sound quality and ease they are the best known basketball headphones in the market.
Top Rated Best Headphones & Earbuds for Basketball
Image | Product | Features | Price |
Best Overall | Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling | Brand | |
Best Budget | Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones | Brand | |
Best Ergonomic | Apple AirPods Pro | Brand | |
Best Waterproof | Jaybird X4 Wireless Bluetooth | Brand | |
Best Sweat & Water-Resistant | JLab Epic Air Sport | Brand | |
Best Wireless Range | Bose Sport Open Earbuds | Brand | |
Best In-Ear | JBL Reflect Mini 2 Wireless | Brand | |
Best Battery Life | JBL ENDURANCE PEAK | Brand |
Don’t forget to check our guide about the best outdoor basketballs
Available Types of Best Headphones for Basketball
Before choosing a headphone it comes to the first priority to consider the different types of headphones available in the market. Mostly they are found in two broad categories namely wired and wireless. Though wired headphones are best known for their voice quality and sound. But while training they might get entangled causing the wire to break and disturb the game on the contrary wireless headphones are of many advantages but again they also have certain disadvantages such as compatibility, range limit etc.
- Over-ear headphones
- On-ear headphones
- In-ear headphones
Over-ear headphones
Over-ear basketball headphones are bulky but very much comfortable as they fit flat on your head, and surround the ear completely. They are easy to wear for longer times and more comfortable comparatively. As they cover the whole ear it is almost unlikely that any kind of voice comes out or goes in while you wear them. They offer excellent sound quality adjustable at will ranging from low, mid to high. Such headphones are a bit expensive when compared to others.
On-ear headphones
On-ear headphones mostly come with the same features as offered by over-ear headphones but comparatively they are smaller in size and have a direct landing on your ear. Although for some people it is not comfortable, but most people prefer it as they are light, put less pressure, and are agile. For outdoor play permit voice from outside to get in. they also come with a decent voice quality ranging from lows and highs. Like most other basketball headphones they are also water resistant.
In-ear headphones
In-ear headphones are one of the most common basketball headphones available in the market. They are compact and are available in mini designs. In the past, they were originally available in wireless design but thanks to the advance in technology they are now available in wireless designs making them very easy to wear and their ergonomic design makes sure their stay in your ear for a long time without any fear of dropping during intense exercises and gameplay. They have both active and passive voice cancellation features making your gameplay more fun as per your desire.
Things to consider before buying a headphone for basketball?
As already mentioned above that multiple types of basketball headphones are available in the market to choose from but to select the one that best fits your requirement you have to consider the following before buying such as
- Type
- Comfort
- Sound Quality
- Battery Life
- Portability
- Connectivity
- Build Quality & Durability
- IP Rating
- Price & Warranty
Type
Headphone type comes to be the first consideration to be made before buying one. When you are with a limited budget it’s better to choose wired headphones or in case you like wireless only in- ear models will come up to your budget expectations. Although comparably they do not offer good sound quality but are durable and perfect to do the job. Over-ear wireless headphones are a bit more comfortable but bulky ones comparatively hence, cause more sweat while a hard warmup. And when it comes to on-ear headphones they are comparatively more suitable for good sound quality when you are with a low budget. Comparatively, they are a bit small in size and brag a decent battery life.
Sound Quality
There are two features that determine the sound quality of any headphones namely Ohms and the size of their speaker. In general, the headphones of smaller sizes have higher bass levels and the headphones of bigger sizes are more stable comparatively due to their speaker size. Some brands prefer the signature sound and some prefer studio-level sound i.e. BEATS prefers bass levels and Sony and JBL prefer a more level-headed sound approach. Brands offer both open-back and close-back headphones. Open back allows the sound to leak out offering an ambient experience
Comfort
Comfort is also one of the most important considerations to be made when choosing a basketball headphones. In-ear headphones come at the top when we talk about comfort. They are unlikely to drop from the head and don’t cause sweat. They can stay for a long time. People who don’t like to wear headphones for a long period of time prefer on-ear headphones. They come with silicon pads giving you as much comfort as a foam pillow. Some companies offer breathable pads in their earphones. They are a bit less sweaty than usual. Over-ear headphones are a bit bulky comparatively. But still are very much liked by the people because of their stability and sound quality.
Build Quality & Robustness
The Robustness and build directly is associated with the price of the headphone. The more costly more robust a headphone will be. Flexibility is one of the fundamental factors that determine the durability of the headphone. Flexibility ensures that the headphone does not break in case of accidental bends. The quality of the pads of the headphones and the plastic on their speakers also determine their build quality
Battery Life
The battery life of earphones determines whether it is a good choice or not for outdoor activities. They mostly come with a battery life ranging from 25-30 hours. There are also some brands that provide headphones having 30 hours of battery life which are a perfect choice for outdoor use. But they are a bit expensive comparatively.
Connectivity
Headphone connectivity is determined by their cable or Bluetooth connection. Mostly they come with a 3.5mm cable jack to connect to your device. But now most of the models today have a wireless design. Some headphones even today use older Bluetooth version such as 3.0 but the new ones mostly use 4.0 and up ensuring better connection even at longer distances ultimately resulting in stable signaling and better sound quality. Some expensive headphones also come with customizing features and microphones and chips as well giving you the power to control your device at your own wish
Portability
When portability is considered then in-ear headphones come at the top. They can be easily put in your pocket and their wireless charging makes it more comfortable to place them anywhere you want. On-ear and over-ear headphones are also now trying to come into the competition. They are now coming in more improved and lighter material. They have started coming in sizes and shapes folded and packed
IP Rating
The IP rating is one of the most important factors to be considered when choosing a headphone for any sports or outdoor activity. IP ratings are there to help you know about the water and dirt resistance quality of your headphone. A headphone rated by IP68 gives you 8 waterproofing and 6 dust Proof ratings
Warranty & Price
Now finally warranty and price can’t be ignored when picking up a headphone for your basketball match. If your budget is tight go for in-ear headphones they range from 20-100$. But if you want to have the best one then be ready to spend 300-400 dollars. But surely you will not regret spending this much for an amazingly superb sound quality, comfort, and durability. Most of the branded headphones come with a warrant of almost two years.
What Headphones do Some Pro Basketball Players Use?
Being a pro lover of basketball how can you pick up a headphone without knowing what Headphones do Some Pro Basketball Players Use? Let’s have a look at the choices of some of the great basketball players.
- Lebron James – Lebron James prefers Beats. He is famous for wearing multiple beats models.
- Luka Doncic – Luka Doncic prefers Quiet Comfort 35 (Gen-2) wireless headphones on the court.
- Steph Curry – Steph Curry prefers JBL Live 650 BTNCs both on and off the court.
- Kevin Durant – Kevin Durant prefers Beats. He is famous for wearing multiple beats models.
- James Harden – James Harden also prefers Powerboats
Other players such as Blake Griffin and Damian Lillard, also go for JBL, Beats Everest Beats Studio3, and Elite 300
1. Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling
Top Pick
Features
- Available as Over-Ear Headphones
- Feature adaptive noise canceling (ANC)
- Available with Built-in controls and mic
- Comes with USB-C charging
Product Review
They brag about excellent bass production along with greater noise cancellation. Their battery life lasts up to 22 hours. They come with amazingly soft cushioning having an ergonomic mechanism. They come with Apple chip W1 ensuring great Bluetooth connectivity having multiple controls and high signal strength
May be you are also interested to read about the Best Basketball Backpacks
2. Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones
Top Pick
Features
- They come in wireless designs
- Are bulky having larger pads
- Available in 7 different colors
- Offer amazing sound quality
Product Review
The Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones have an excellent sound quality and are a bit cheaper than others. They come with a bass-rich sound. They are a bit bulky and hence their pads are also larger comparatively resulting in more sweat on your head. They are available in 7 different colors and have sound ranging from lows and mids to highs
3. Apple AirPods Pro
Top Pick
Features
- They have In Ear placement
- Come with Wireless Connectivity
- Comes with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC):
- Battery life ranges up to 24 hours
- They are Sweat, Water, and dust Resistant
Product Review
Apple AirPods Pro features active noise cancellation technology, permitting you to pay attention exclusively to the game. They come with customizable silicone tips ensuring a perfect fit. They come in old designs and feature white color only. Along with a transparency mode they come with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). They have their own EQ. their battery life ranges 5 hours along with charging case having 24 hours range
4. Jaybird X4 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
Top Pick
Features
- Come with thermo-reactive tips for fitment
- They are IPX7 waterproof rated
- Connectivity rage is 33 feet
- Excellent sound quality
Product Review
The Jaybird X4 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are known for excellent build quality, brilliant sound, and their thermo-reactive tips fitment. They are IPX7 rated. They have a battery life ranging up to 8 hours. Their connectivity rage is 33 feet. They are a bit expensive and come with their own EQ
5. JLab Epic Air Sport
Top Pick
Features
- They have In Ear placement
- Come with Wireless Connectivity
- Comes with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC):
- Battery life ranges up to 15 hours along with 55-Hour Case
- They are Sweat, Water, and dust Resistant
Product Review
JLab Epic Air Sport basketball headphones come in the form of a hook for the ear along with 6 different sets of ear tips ranging from small to large size. They are weather resistant and come with a sensor making sure that it’s on while wearing and automatically becomes off when not worn. They come with double connectivity and C3 Calling features. They come with an Active Noise Cancelling feature having three customizable modes. Brags 70 hours of battery life collectively
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6. Bose Sports Open Earbuds
Top Pick
Features
- They have Open-ear placement
- Come with Wireless Connectivity
- Comes with no Active Noise Cancellation (ANC):
- Battery life ranges up to 8 hours
- They are Sweat & Water Resistant
Product Review
Bose Sport Open headphones come in the form of a hook for the ear. They come with a carrying exterior for charging. IPX4 resistance, able to hold out sweat, and are weather resistant. They come with a mic system and brag Siri and Google as your virtual assistant and have 16mm, drivers. They have 5.1 Bluetooth version having 30 feet wireless capacity connection. Their battery life lasts up to 8 hours when fully charged.
7. JBL Reflect Mini 2 Wireless
Top Pick
Features
- JBL Reflect Mini 2 come with a connective wire that has remote control features
- Comparatively very cheap in price
- Have four silicone-made ergonomic ear tips
- battery life lasts around 8-10 hours
- 3.0 Bluetooth version
Product Review
JBL Reflect Mini 2 Wireless are not truly wireless as they come with a connection cord having a remote connection allowing you to have better control over your device and are comparatively much cheaper n prize comparatively. They come with four silicone-made ergonomic ear tips which cause it to best fit in your ear. Their battery life lasts around 8-10 hours when fully charged and come with 3.0 Bluetooth version
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8. JBL Endurance Peak True Wireless Earbuds
Top Pick
Features
- JBL Endurance Peak comes in wireless designs
- Long-lasting battery life ranges to 28 hours
- Built-in microphone allows you to better control your device
- JBL Endurance is IPX7 waterproof
Product Review
The Endurace Peaks are best known for their wireless designs and long battery life having the capacity to work for up to 28 hours when fully charged. They come with a charging case and a built-in microphone. They are IPX7 waterproof and come in multiple colors
Conclusion: Best Headphones & Earbuds for Basketball
As already mentioned buying basketball headphones is really a task to do as multiple options are there to choose from. And each brand brags about its advantages over the other. But the key is to filter out the ones that don’t fit your requirements. But for this, you need experts to tell you the specifications of the existing basketball headphones and help you to select the right one. Above given are the best basketball headphones researched by our expert team of researchers. We hope by having a look at them you might have reached a conclusion that which headphones best fit you.