Rock fans love listening to music loud - not inaudible, fuzzed out levels of loud - but loud enough for us to be able to properly experience chunky riffs, slabs of bass and pounding drums. In my experience, in-ear headphones are perfect for use when I'm out and about - whether I'm on a quick shopping trip or out running - and they even have their place when I'm kicking back on the sofa late at night. But when I don't want to annoy the neighbours or my family but still want to experience rock music the way it was meant to be played, it's hard to beat a pair of the loudest headphones.
I've complied the guide below by focusing on headphones that do the music we love justice, and while the aim might be on getting the most volume out of them, the collection below also enhance the finer points of the music and will expand your enjoyment of your favourite artists.
I also have some guidance on what it takes to qualify as ‘loud’ in my book, along with what you should be looking for in your next ear-crushing set of headphones. Hit the ‘buying advice’ button above to head straight to there.
Steve is a home entertainment technology specialist who contributes to a variety of UK websites and mags, including Louder, Yahoo UK, Trusted Reviews, T3, The Luxe Review and Home Cinema Choice. Steve began his career as a music journo, writing for legendary rock weekly Sounds, under the nom de plume Steve Keaton. His coverage of post-punk music was cited in the 2015 British Library exhibition Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination, as a seminal influence on the Goth music scene.
Quick list
The Philips Fidelio X3 are my top pick in this list of the loudest headphones due to their huge soundstage and no-frills design. They're wired, so no need for Bluetooth integration, and are ideal for indoor use. I found them comfortable to wear during long listening sessions and they retain their audio clarity even when cranked up to 11.
I love Marshall's design covering both their speakers and headphones - and the Major V headphones hit the sweet spot for rock fans. Guitars sound fantastic and bass is punchy without being over the top thanks to the Major V's 40mm dynamic drivers. Battery life is simply awesome too with an earth-shaking 100-hours of music playback. Highly recommended.
As much as I love the old 1000XM4, it's hard to argue against the all-round audio performance and exceptional active noise cancellation on the Sony WH-1000XM5. They are a fabulous set of headphones with up to 40 hours of battery life and while the don't fold down like the older model, they're comfy for long listening stretches.
The Sennheiser HD 560S are a great choice if you're after audiophile quality sounds - and they won't break the bank. They're wired headphones so don't feature Bluetooth or noise cancelling, but they more than make up for this with their overall quality. They're lightweight so good for longer sessions, but these over-ears are open-backed so audio will leak.
Catering for both wired and wireless use, the AKG K371-BT boast balanced audio with nice attention to detail. They're a good choice for studio sessions, with the ear cups able to swivel 90 degrees for single ear monitoring. There's no noise cancelling tech onboard and they're a bit clunky, but they're worth a closer look if you want a pair of indoor headphones
The Lindy NC-60 headphones offer noise cancelling on a budget - although there's no Bluetooth so you'll have to have an audio device with a 3.5mm audio jack. So they may lack the bells and whistles of other headphones in the list, but the Lindy NC-60 offer great value for money. Audio quality is above average thanks to their 40mm drivers and are a good all-'round fit.
The Louder choice
✅ Buy if you want a pair of all-round performers: The Philips Fidelio X3 sound excellent and deliver crystal clear audio thanks to their 50mm drivers.
❌ Avoid if you want wireless headphones: There's no Bluetooth here as the X3 are wired only.
Philips rebooted its Fidelio brand with these flagship X3 Hi-Fi reference cans, and I was blown away. The X3 could never be described as casual. They are neither wireless nor Bluetooth enabled. They’re unapologetic indoor head-fi, complete with Kvadrat Fabric backed earcups, disguising the fact that they are open backed over-ear design.
They have soft velour ear pads and a headband that is lightly sprung for a really secure fit. Actually, they look a lot like the brand’s 2015 vintage X2s, but closer inspection reveals key differences. Swapping the outside of the enclosure from a metal mesh to Kvadrat cloth has required a complete redesign of the earcups and the internal components.
Inside, a 50mm driver adopts a three-layer design with a damping gel sandwiched between polymer layers. Philips says this combats resonance. The technique works really well. You can take these headphones to extreme volume, and they never lose control.
That open-back design creates a huge soundstage. Listen to AC/DC’s Thunderstuck and you can visualise Brian Johnson’s grizzled performance. There’s a clarity of purpose here that’s simply jaw-dropping.
The headphones offer a lush low end, that’s tight and rewarding, while the midrange glistens with detail. They articulate brilliantly. The vocal histrionics of Tom Petty on Refugee are surgically presented, his energetic slurring a joy, while Satellite Of Love reveals snippets of contrasting ambiance on Lou Reed’s mesmeric vocal.
The X3 are astonishingly immersive, and come highly recommended.
Read the full Philips Fidelio X3 review
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Clear and balanced | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | Light and secure | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery | N/A - wired only | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
Best battery life
✅ Buy if you want massive battery life: Combining Marshall's awesome audio with a battery life of 100 hours, you can't go wrong with these headphones.
❌ Avoid if you want noise cancelling: The battery life probably tells you that these on-ear Marshall's don't have ANC. Look elsewhere if that's what you need.
There’s no arguing with the street cred of Marshall's headphones. The Major V are the most recent in their range and a step up from the much-loved Major IV. The main difference between the two models is an increase on the Major IV's already impressive 80-hour of battery life, with the newer headphones boasting a phenomenal 100-hours of music playback from a full charge.
Bluetooth has also been improved from 5.0 to LE Audio enabled which means audio sync will be improved while watching videos on your tablet or phone and you'll get a wider streaming range.
Like the Major IV, the Marshall Major V also fold down and a quick-charge of just 15 minutes will give you up to 15 hours of wire-free listening.
The Major V employ 40mm dynamic drivers, able to rumble like Sabaton on manoeuvres. I stupidly edged the tolling bells intro The Last Stand to max, only to spill my coffee when the band suddenly opened fire.
The drivers have been custom-tuned to deliver Marshall’s signature sound, which favours a smooth guitar-friendly midrange and gutty bass attack. Audio performance doesn’t fray under pressure. Tony Iommi’s portentous picking on Black Sabbath’s Electric Funeral is a rich swagger, and they keep pace when things speed up.
Eric Bloom’s vocals on Blue Oyster Cult's Flaming Telepaths confirmed they’re a little sharp at volume, but the cascading keyboards and soaring guitar sound so good we never felt tempted to ease back the volume.
While most will opt to use these headphones wireless, there is the option of a 3.5mm cord when the battery dies, or if you want to use them with your Nintendo Switch. In fact, the only fly in the ointment is a lack of ANC, but I can certainly live with this given the awesome all-round performance
Read the full Marshall Major V review
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Punchy, balanced sound | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | Not everyone likes on-ears | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery | 100 hours | ★★★★★ |
Best noise cancelling
✅ Buy if you want the best ANC: After using my pair for a couple of years, I'm still blown away by the amazing noise cancelling on the XM5. They also sound amazing.
❌ Avoid if you travel a lot: Unlike some other Sony headphones, the XM5s don't fold away - and the carry case is pretty big.
My personal favourite noise cancelling over-ear headphones are the Sony WH-1000XM5 - and after owning a pair for a couple of years, I can tell you that they don't disappoint when it comes to high octane audio delivery either.
They’re awash with smart AI features, including DSEE Extreme which goes a long way to making non high-res audio palatable at louder volume and when it comes to the audio performance of the Sony WH-1000XM5, it's easy to see why the audio giant refers to them as offering "superlative” sound. The soundstage is wide and really well balanced - and perfect for my tastes which means they're not bass-heavy at all.
The timing is on point, too, and no matter how much the tempo of my music chopped and changed, the Sony WH-1000XM5 remained as calm and collected as a Las Vegas croupier.
Battery life is great at 30 hours with ANC activated (you'll get 40 hours with this feature switched off) and a swift 3-minute charge will give you a brilliant 3 hours of music which is ideal if you're in a rush to get out of the door.
Sure, they don't fold away like the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the carry case is pretty big - two factors that aren't ideal if you're travelling a lot, but I've not had any problems with long-listening comfort with the XM5 (they're also 250g compared to the older model's 254g) and I regularly wear them for long stretches without any issues.
Read the full Sony WH-1000XM5 review
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Crystal clear & balanced | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | Great for long sessions | ★★★★★ |
| Battery | Up to 40 hours | ★★★★☆ |
Best wired option
✅ Buy if you want a quality pair of wired cans: Sennheiser's headphones deliver superb audio and the HD 560S are no different. Blistering audio coupled with affordability.
❌ Avoid if you're after closed-back headphones: The Sennheiser HD 560 headphones have an open-back design, so sound will leak out when you're rocking out.
Audiophile grade headphones typically come with a wince-inducing price tag, but these serious sounding headphones from Sennheiser won’t break the bank. They definitely sound more expensive than they are.
Wired only, the HD 560S ship with a generous 3m cable, terminated for use with dedicated headphone amplifiers and full-blown amplifiers, and because they’re wired, that means no on-cup controls, Bluetooth or noise cancelling.
Their low cost is largely attributable to the plastic build. The benefit is that the chassis is really light, but they don’t feel particularly premium. I found the lightweight headband and velour cushioned ear pads comfortable, although they did clamp with some force. The design is over-ear and open-backed, so soundwaves from each cup permeate out, creating a larger, more naturalistic listening experience.
Tonally they’re analytical, even dry. But surprisingly if you want to dissect Eddie Van Halen’s virtuoso guitar work, they’re ideal and at volume, they create a wide, exciting sound stage.
The over-ear cups may be generous, but the drivers are a mere 38mm. Size isn’t everything, it seems.
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | A little dry | ★★★☆☆ |
| Comfort | Cushioned earpads | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery | N/A - wired | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
Best for studios
✅ Buy if you want top studio performers: The AKG K371-BT offer detail in spades and will see you through long evenings in the studio.
❌ Avoid if you want a sleek pair of headphones: The design here won't be for everyone and will be a wee bit too bulky for some.
With their pro-style and generously-sized ear-cups, these AKG’s reek of long nights in dark recording studios.
With the option of Bluetooth and wired (via a mini XLR) connectivity, the K371-BT utilise titanium-coated 50mm transducers, designed to match AKG’s Reference Response acoustic target, which translated means well balanced audio and delicious detail.
They may not pack noise cancelling, but I found the oval design fitted well and offered decent isolation. The earcups swivel 90 degrees, for single-ear monitoring, while battery life is outstanding, coming in at around 40 hours thanks to that highly efficient Bluetooth v5 codec.
While they sound great, design is another matter. The K371-BT are quite a contraption. The ear-cup sliders stick out like Eskimo Callboy at a vicarage tea party, and the XLR cable input on the left hand cup bulges as if bolted on as an afterthought.
Gesture control is a bit iffy too. I started to panic when I couldn’t get the volume to increase, furiously stroking the left cup top get a response. It seems the touch control requires some serious finger pressure.
On the plus side, these headphones sound great. Their mid-range performance is peerless, benefiting vocals and rhythm sections alike. They drop deep too. Hatebreed’s Weight Of The False Self stompathon lands like repeated blows to the side of the head, which is always a good thing.
Great performers for home listening, but definitely not my first choice to wear out and about.
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Detailed & rich | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | Bulky | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery | Up to 40 hours | ★★★★☆ |
Best budget
✅ Buy if you want value for money: The Lindy NC-60's audio is above average - and they have active noise cancellation just for extra fun.
❌ Avoid if you want wireless listening: You won't find Bluetooth here and you'll need a device with a 3.5mm jack to use them.
There are caveats attached to Lindy’s NC-60 but they’re still well worth considering if you’re on a budget - especially when you realise they have active noise cancelling which, given the low price, is amazing.
First off, the NC-60 aren’t Bluetooth enabled, so wireless streaming is out of the question, and second, these headphones require your phone or tablet to have a 3.5mm audio jack - not a given these days.
But, while noise cancellation can’t compare to some of the other more expensive headphones in this list, audio delivery is really rather good. That’s down to the Lindy NC-60 ’s 40mm drivers which offer above average detail and they’re capable of excellent stereophonic imaging.
They also have a comfortable cushioned/adjustable headband which does the job nicely when listening to your favourite prog albums - and while they don’t fold down, the ear cups can be rotated to make storage a little easier.
These wired headphones also have a two-year warranty so if you want a pair of jobbing headphones that will do justice to raucous rock'n'roll when you’re on the bus to work, the Lindy NC-60 are well worth an audition.
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Above average for the price | ★★★☆☆ |
| Comfort | Cushioned and secure | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery | N/A - wires | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
FAQ
How do I choose the best loudest headphones?
If you want to really experience the visceral vibes of your favourite bands, I recommend shopping for headphones that feature large dynamic drivers. 40mm should be the goal when you’re shopping for the loudest headphones, but look around and you’ll find some options with 50mm transducers, making them all the better for volume and clarity.
Well-fitting ear cups are also key to performance. They help isolate your tunes from background hubbub (noise cancelling technology is an additional aid here), which in turn makes for a more immediate and immersive listening experience. If you’re after Hi-Fi-quality headphones for use in the home, also consider a pair with an open back design. These tend to create a more realistic soundstage, like standing next to a pair of physical speakers.
But be warned: open-back headphones leak sound so those around you will have a pretty good idea of what you’re listening to if you have the volume cranked.
Of course, larger drivers are not just concerned with volume. The other benefit is a more accurate sonic presentation. Instruments are more clearly defined, band members spatially delineated; in a nutshell, they offer a better sense of presence and reproduce the music as the artist intended. Several of the loudest headphones in this guide have recording studio DNA, bringing you even closer to that authentic studio experience.
How loud is too loud?
We wouldn't be a responsible music site if we didn't include a word on hearing damage. As much as we love volume, we don't love tinnitus, so we must remind you that excessive volume for extended periods of time can adversely impact your hearing, so please rock responsibly.
Want to know more? Check out the advice this tinnitus expert gave us, find out what it's like living with tinnitus and read about the rising issue of hearing loss among musicians.
And if you're a regular gig-goer, consider investing in a good set of earplugs.
How we test
At Louder, we don't put our headphones through their paces in a studio or sound-proof room - instead, we test them from the comfort of our own homes or when we're on the way to work, out for a run, or during a gym session. We believe this gives you a more accurate take on what each set of the loudest headphones will deliver when you get your hands on them.
In this particular guide to the loudest headphones, we cranked up the volume to see how the headphones coped. Was there any distortion at higher levels? Did the audio start to crackle and break? And did the headphones still perform while all the way up at 11?
The music we choose covers many genres including rock, metal, prog, jazz, hip-hop, punk, goth and alternative so we can get a proper feel for what the headphones can and cannot do. If one of the loudest headphones in this guide has an accompanying app, we also utilise this to tinker with EQ settings and update firmware when required.
Of course, we also love comparing various sets of headphones while listening to our favourite albums - and this always throws up wide-eyed surprises. It's not unusual for us to hear audio details that have somehow passed us by despite owning a certain album 30 years or more and thinking we know it inside out. We check to see if the audio detail even at loud levels stands up.
To cap off how we test the loudest headphones, we also delve into the hardware to let you know about the tech they're pushing, how comfortable they are, and, in terms of Bluetooth headsets, how much battery life you'll get from a single charge - even when cranked all the way up.
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You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.
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