The best wireless headphones to block out the world

Rumors that the iPhone 7 will come without a headphone jack have caused panic in the streets — or at least a lot of hand-wringing by those attached to their wired headphones. But even if Apple keeps the jack, you may want to quit it and go wireless.

Bluetooth headphones don’t need a wired connection to play sound from your phone or tablet. The lack of a cord frees you up: You’re not tethered to a device, so you can get up and move around. You don’t even need to be within reach of your audio source, thanks to the controls that many headphones have on the earcup or remote.

Wireless headphones come with some tradeoffs, though:

• Premium cost: They are usually more expensive than their wired counterparts.
• Batteries required: Bluetooth requires a power source — meaning you’ll have yet another device you have to remember to charge.
• Lower fidelity: A headphone jack is capable of CD-quality sound, Bluetooth not so much. But if you’re streaming standard MP3s, you probably won’t notice a difference.

When you’re buying wireless headphones — especially earbuds — the fit is key. Try to buy from a place where you can return if you and your new ‘phones aren’t an ideal match.

There’s no doubt the future of headphones is wireless, and there are now plenty of wireless headphones to choose from.

The gilded lily

Bose, the maker of the best wired noise-canceling headphones, now also makes the best wireless ones. Released earlier this year, the QuietComfort 35, which sells for $349.99 (as of Aug. 31), has everything you’re looking for in wireless, over-ear headphones — they’re light and comfortable, have 20 hours of battery life, feature controls on the earcup, and function as a headset for taking calls — and offer best-in-class noise cancellation.

If you prefer earbuds, Bose is expected to release its in-ear, wireless noise-canceling model in September 2016.

Affordable and awesome

Even with a budget south of $100, you can still go wireless without sacrificing sound quality thanks to popular company Skullcandy. If you crave the bigger sound you get from an on-ear headphone, you’ll get nice boom for your buck with the Grind Wireless, which goes for $87.99 (as of Aug. 31). In addition to driving bass, it has 12 hours of battery life, doubles as a headset, and feels very comfortable on your head.

Similarly, Skullcandy Ink’d Wireless, selling for $39.99 (as of Aug. 31), delivers impressive bass for an earbud.

The Ink’d Wireless opts for the collar design — putting the Bluetooth receiver and battery in a horseshoe-like collar that drapes around your neck. This design helps keep the weight out of the earbuds.

Best of both worlds

Big over-ear headphones generally sound better than earbuds, especially when it comes to detailed bass. But those cans take up a lot of room in your bag. Here’s a solution that meets both needs without much compromise: The Marshall Major II Bluetooth, which goes for $148.70 (as of Aug. 31), packs a punch when it comes to sound quality, but folds up to easily tuck away. With 30 hours of battery life, you also don’t need to worry about recharging very often.

Adjusted to the conditions

Everybody hears a little differently — which is why an app that personalizes the sound the way you like it is a great advantage. JBL’s Everest Elite 700, which sells for $299.99 (as of Aug. 31), is over-ear headphones that work with its free My JBL Headphones app, which can calibrate the headphones’ sound to how they fit your ears. You can also manage the level of noise cancellation if you want to allow some ambient sounds in.

Sometimes controlling the fit of an earbud is as important as tweaking the sound. Jaybird’s Freedom earbuds, going for $169.99 (as of Aug. 31), come with an array of tips — including memory foam and noise-isolating — in various sizes to better fit your ear canal, as well as fins to help keep them from falling out. Its MySound app lets you create a custom EQ setting that’s saved to the earbuds.

Ready to move

Wireless headphones and exercise are a perfect match. No more yanking the earpiece from your ear when you catch a wire while swinging a kettle bell. But you need headphones that can handle the sweat. Bose’s SoundSport Wireless, $149.99 (as of Aug. 31), is sweatproof and uses an open design to allow ambient noise in — important for safety when you’re biking or running. If you plan to get your headphones really wet — like swim with them — Plantronics $130 BackBeat Fit are waterproof for up to 30 minutes in 1 meter of water.

If you’re just not an earbud kind of person, UrbanEars Active Hellas, selling for $119 (as of Aug. 31), is an on-ear design that comes with washable headband and ear cushion so you won’t have to worry about lingering odors after a sweaty workout.

So don’t sweat the wireless future. There’s a wireless headphone to match your needs — and in many cases, the features improve on their wired counterparts. If you find that you really can’t part with your old headphones, don’t worry too much — you can be sure there will be adapters that retrofit the new headphone jack-less devices.