You know, no one can ever understand the pain of having to wear headphones, for any reason, when you have your glasses on unless you wear glasses.
Having the arms of your glasses pressed so hard against your temples for hours and hours, or the wires tangling along with them and taking your hair along are some of the worst forms of torture.
Surely, glasses-wearers have the right to enjoy their headphones just as much as the next person. That’s why we’ve gone through countless headphones to bring you this list of the seven best headphones for glasses. The two main keywords for this research have to be comfort and flexibility.
Contents
Comparison Table:
| Model | Price | Type | Noise Cancellation | Wireless/Wired |
| HyperX Cloud II | CLICK FOR PRICE | Over-Ear/Closed-Back | Passive | Wired |
| Bose QuietComfort 35 II | CLICK FOR PRICE | Over-Ear/Closed-Back | Active | Both |
| Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO | CLICK FOR PRICE | Over-Ear/Closed-Back | Passive | Wired |
| Audio-Technica ATH-M50x | CLICK FOR PRICE | Over-Ear/Closed-Back | Passive | Both |
| Sennheiser HD 600 | CLICK FOR PRICE | Over-Ear/Open-Back | Passive | Wired |
| Audio-Technica ATH-M30x | CLICK FOR PRICE | Over-Ear/Closed-Back | Passive | Wired |
| COWIN SE7 | CLICK FOR PRICE | Over-Ear/Closed-Back | Active | Both |
The 7 Best Headphones for Glasses in 2020
We’ve gone over the technical details of our seven headphones. Now, let’s dive into the detailed reviews that explain why each one has earned its place here.
1. HyperX Cloud II – Best Overall
These wired headphones by HyperX are among the most famous gaming sets to ever grace the market. They’re designed with concepts of stability, durability, and comfort in mind, as they come with memory foam ear cushions covered by velour, which can be replaced whenever worn out.
That over-ear, closed-back design, along with the detachable noise-canceling mic, makes for a relatively good noise cancellation system that still allows excellent quality sound to pass. One thing that’s incredibly attractive about this set is its build; the aluminum frame and the high-quality plastic parts certainly give it an air of robustness.
On the other hand, the USB cable that comes with these headphones is absolutely horrid and useless. Furthermore, the only way to control these headphones or modify some of their settings is through a third-party app, as the headphones themselves don’t come with such a thing. Lastly, they have no active noise cancellation, so you’ll have to rely on the passive one.
- Great build
- Velour replaceable ear pads
- Clear sound
- Detachable, noise-canceling microphone
- Bad USB cable
- No modifying software
- Only passive noise cancellation
Final Verdict
HyperX Cloud II never fails. This is a durable set of headphones that will see you through many years of listening. They provide excellent sound quality and a comfortable fit at all times!
2. Bose QuietComfort 35 II – Runner-Up
These headphones are our premium pick, providing you with this unique smooth experience. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is designed with three different levels of world-class active noise cancellation and inbuilt microphone noise rejection system, completely isolating you from the outside world.
Moreover, you get an auto-connection to Alexa so that you can multitask around the house by giving her voice commands. What’s more, these headphones come with the Bose Connect App, which opens the door to a plethora of different options that you can change in order to suit yourself better and updates that will take your listening experience to a whole new level.
These headphones are over-ear, closed-back ones, so they’re capable of providing high-quality sound with a balanced audio performance no matter what volume you choose to listen to.
Additionally, they come in three different colors and can operate either with or without a wire, extending their 20 hours of playtime into unlimited playtime.
Sadly, the disadvantages here include a fixed battery, so if your headphones are to die, you’ll have to put them to charge and won’t be able to use them. While if you could have the option to replace the batteries, you’d be able to use them momentarily.
Also, the auto-connection is designed for Alexa, leaving connection with Siri severely wanting. Lastly, these headphones are quite expensive, which can be a deal-breaker for a lot of people.
- Three levels of active noise cancellation
- Noise rejection microphone system
- Bose Connect app
- Alexa compatibility
- Expensive
- Hard to pair with Siri
- Fixed batteries
Final Verdict
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is a superior pick that will last you quite some time while giving you a steady performance of 20 hours of playtime, three levels of world-class active noise cancellation, and continuous updates through the Bose Connect App.
Find Bose QuietComfort 35 II featured in:
3. Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO – Most Comfortable
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO is one of the best headphone sets used by professionals everywhere. They’ve got an uncanny ability to reproduce sound with superior quality while still maintaining their users’ comfort.
Furthermore, their over-ear, closed-back design definitely helps create this exceptional sound quality by not allowing any waves to escape. Their build is generally meant for people with large heads; that’s why they’re among the favorites of the bespeckled individuals, as they can accommodate glasses without pressuring them into their heads.
The headband is made from ultra-flexible steel, adjustable, and padded entirely with leather. Additionally, the earcups rotate and are made of hard plastic for durability. Hence, overall, these headphones will go through a lot with you before breaking down.
The earpads are made out of velour, which allows air circulation in order to relieve the buildup of heat from your ears, and they’re easily replaceable whenever they’re worn out.
All in all, the headphones are lightweight, which also contributes to your comfort as you wouldn’t be applying too much pressure to your head. Plus, the cable is one-sided to eliminate hassle and tangles when dealing with it.
On the other side of the spectrum lies the disadvantages of these headphones, such as the absence of active noise cancellation. Although the passive noise cancellation does a great job due to the design of the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, the active type definitely boosts any headphones quite a few levels.
Moreover, although it’s nice that the cord is placed on one side, the fact that it’s fixed limits movement and freedom on that side. Lastly, these headphones are not portable at all since they’re not foldable.
- Extra flexible padded headband
- Velour ear pads
- Great professional sound
- Single-sided cable
- Adjustable ear cups
- Lightweight
- Fixed cable
- Not foldable
- Only passive noise cancellation
Final Verdict
To wrap up this product, it’s the perfect pick for professionals who have to wear glasses. They’re incredibly flexible and comfortable while maintaining durability and strength. They’re even fit for studio recordings.
Check out our guide for Headphones for Classical Music – Buyer’s Guide
4. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x – Best Music Variety
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is designed to be used anywhere and for anything. It has such a wide range of frequency, which leads to unprecedented clarity no matter what volume you’re listening to or what kind of music or sound is coming out of it.
These headphones are over-ear, closed-back ones; therefore, they provide significant passive noise cancellation. They’re designed to take the shape of their wearers’ ears in order to achieve that perfect fit.
Moreover, the headband is adjustable, flexible, and padded, creating a lot of freedom when putting them on. Furthermore, your ear cups can swivel up to 90° with their professional-grade earpads, which provide comfort.
Additionally, the design of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is incredibly attractive as the exterior of the ear cup has the company’s logo on it in silver, which cuts the solid-color look. They also come in three different colors.
Lastly, these headphones are entirely portable as the cable is detachable, so you don’t have to be running around with a wire on you. This means that these headphones can operate both with and without a cord.
When you do choose to use the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x wirelessly, you’ll get a whopping 40 hours of playtime. Plus, they’re entirely foldable; therefore, they save you a lot of space.
As for the drawbacks of these headphones, just like many of their peers, they don’t enjoy active noise cancellation.
- Portable
- Extremely balanced sound
- Flexible headbands
- Foldable
- Only passive noise cancellation
- Quality control
Final Verdict
If you’re a glasses-wearer who’s always migrating between different types of music and in-need of comfortable headphones, then the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is an excellent choice for you. Also, the fact that they’re entirely portable is always a great plus.
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5. Sennheiser HD 600 – Best Open-Back
Our first and only open-back headphones are the Sennheiser HD 600, and they’re a fantastic pair, as they’re totally different from everything we’ve discussed before.
These headphones focus more on giving you this natural sound so that you don’t feel so dislocated from everything around you. Rather, they tend to merge the sound with your environment, leading to a production of sharp and clear sound at all times without it being too overpowering.
Moreover, they come with a premium microphone system that catches on everything with little effort from you. As for the design, they’re over-ear large headphones with a comfortable padded headband. This headband actually comes with four unique pads that create an empty space between your head and the headphones.
This space allows for air circulation; therefore, it takes the brunt of the built-up pressure and heat off your head. It also comes with some extra space for your glasses, prioritizing comfort.
Furthermore, the Sennheiser HD 600 is designed to last, which shows when you see the detachable oxygen-free copper cable, which has been Kevlar-reinforced for extra strength. Lastly, these headphones are lightweight, making them portable and even more comfortable.
Nevertheless, they still come with drawbacks, including the absence of active noise cancellation and the fact that the recording system’s clarity might be a little bit too much for some people. The microphone will literally catch on any sound happening around you; that’s why the recording environment has to be on point.
- Warm natural sound
- Padded headband
- Kevlar reinforced detachable cord
- High-quality microphone
- Sound leaks
- Not suitable for noisy environments
- Microphone clarity maybe too much
Final Verdict
The Sennheiser HD 600 is the best choice when it comes to natural sounds that will intertwine with the environment. Also, if your work or hobby includes super-clear recording, then you won’t find a better alternative.
6. Audio-Technica ATH-M30x – Best Budget
Our second product by Audio-Technica is the ATH-M30x, which is considered the father of the ATH-M50x, which we’ve already spoken about. Although they’re older, they still come with a pretty impressive package for a fraction of the price tag that many other headphones with similar features sport.
Moreover, they’re quite comfortable due to a lot of factors, firstly being that they’re over-ear, closed-back headphones with relatively large oval ear cups that will encircle your ear comfortably and snuggly.
The headband is padded and comes with a single cord attached to one side in order to eliminate the possibility of tangles as much as possible. Additionally, the clamping force of these headphones can be described as mild to firm, so you won’t find your head to be sandwiched while using the Audio-Technica ATH-M30x.
Furthermore, they’re portable because they’re collapsible to a relatively small size that can be stored in the package-included protective pouch. Thus, you can easily fold up your headphones, store them in a bag designed to protect them, and throw them in your backpack without worry.
The sound produced here is clear, sharp, and contained, so there are no sound leaks and no interruptions from outside sounds due to the high-quality passive noise cancellation.
What we don’t like about this pair of headphones is that the cord is not detachable. So, you’ll have to wrap it around the body of the headphones when storing them. Also, they come without active noise cancellation and heavy bass; hence, if that’s what you’re into, perhaps you should rethink your choice.
Lastly, when you move your headphones from your head to your neck to rest a little bit, you’ll find them to be uncomfortable around your neck, but not to the extent of pain. However, you’ll be conscious of their presence at all times.
- Budget-friendly
- Single-sided cable
- Portable
- Comes with a protective pouch
- Excellent microphone
- Great fit
- Uncomfortable around the neck
- No heavy bass
- Only passive noise cancellation
Final Verdict
If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on headphones that will still offer you sharp, clear sound, a comfortable fit, a durable build, and a nice package, then the Audio-Technica ATH-M30x is the perfect choice for you.
7. COWIN SE7 – Best Earpad Design
The COWIN SE7 headphone set makes you feel as if you’re wearing nothing when using them. They’re incredibly comfortable and lightweight, which has put them on this list next to the pioneers of glasses-friendly headphones.
First of all, they come with active noise cancellation, which can eliminate up to 80% of external sounds, which is pretty impressive. As for the design, the ear pads are made from comfortable, breathable materials that give you that feeling of lightness and relief.
Additionally, they’re over-ear, closed-back headphones, so they encircle your ear without forming pressure points on it.
Furthermore, these headphones can operate with and without a wire. When you’re working wirelessly, they give you up to 30 hours of steady, uninterrupted playtime.
On the other hand, though, an unfortunate detail is that you cannot operate both the noise-canceling feature and the bass feature together; you’ll have to cancel one of them to enjoy the other.
- Lightweight
- Comfortable earpads
- Active noise cancellation
- Clear sound
- 30 hrs playtime
- Can’t operate noise cancellation and bass together
Final Verdict
As long as you’re not a great fan of either bass or noise cancellation and can cancel one of them, these headphones are a great choice for glasses-wearers
How to Pick the Best Headphones for Glasses
Technicalities check, detailed reviews check; now, it’s time for the essential features and specs that will make your experience with headphones, as a person who wears glasses, a lot more enjoyable.
Type
Headphones are generally divided into four categories; each is designed in a unique way offering specific advantages and disadvantages. So, you’ll need to go through these types and decide which one of them is best suited for you.
The common types are over-ear, on-ear, closed-back, and open-back. Naturally, since we’re discussing headphones that will go with glasses, the lighter types will better suit you.
Over-Ear
since the whole point of over-ear headphones is to encircle the entire ear and eliminate pressure points that result from pressing it, they’ll make your headphone experience relatively easier.
Still, they’re not discomfort-free. It’s advised to take breaks in order to relieve the pressure that’s been accumulating between the earpads, the glasses, and your temples.
On-Ear
On-ear headphones undoubtedly have their fan base; they’re lighter, smaller, and more compact. Therefore, they’re more portable and allow some air circulation, relieving some heat from your ear.
Yet, they’re catastrophic if you combine them with glasses. Your glasses and ears will be sandwiched between the headphones and your temples, horridly boosting the pain levels, and making you incredibly uncomfortable. Therefore, we’d advise any person with glasses to steer clear from them.
Open-Back
Open-back headphones are those who have a perforated outer shell. So, it doesn’t really have that much of an effect on glasses other than that you’ll have to deal with further deterioration of your sound quality.
You see, the thing is if the fit is not proper, sound quality will decrease, and open-back headphones already do allow some sound to leak further, reducing the sound quality. However, they do let in some air to relieve heat and pressure.
Closed-Back
Closed-back headphones enjoy a solid exterior shell. Just like the open-back, they don’t have a significant effect on glasses other than that you’ll have to deal with heat buildup and echo on top of your discomfort due to improper fit if you choose the wrong headphones.
Design
Design is critical for picking the right headphones for you with or without glasses, specifically when you’re someone who wears glasses. In this case, you’ll want to go for comfort and flexibility to be able to maneuver the headphones around your head. This will achieve the perfect fit that will not cost you sound quality.
Headband
First of all, is, of course, the headband. Try to go for an adjustable headband, as the glasses will add to the width of your head. Therefore, you might need to lengthen your headband further.
Also, never ever forget that the headband must be extra padded to take the brunt of the glasses without pressuring your head too much.
Earpads
The earpads are the first layer that comes into contact with your skin. That’s why, under any circumstance, they have to be durable and soft at the same time. People who wear glasses should try and go for fabrics and valium for their ear pads along with memory foam, which will shape around the contour of your ear, temples, and glasses.
Clamping Force
The clamping force is the strength of your headphones; how tight they hold onto your head. Typically, you should go for a moderate clamping force in order to protect yourself from headaches, but when you’re wearing glasses, you might want to go with something a little bit weaker to give space for your specs.
Wireless/Wired
As we’ve mentioned before, it’s pretty common and easy for your hair to get tangled up in your headphones’ wires, taking your glasses with them. Although wired headphones provide excellent sound quality, it’d be a lot easier to use wireless headphones to eliminate the possibility of tortuous tangles.
Controls
The general criteria for the controls are that you want as many of them on your headphones as possible. Especially if they’re wireless, you don’t want to be getting up and going to your device and back again every time you need something.
The point here is that the arms of your glasses are placed on top of your ears, so you wouldn’t want the controls to be anywhere near that area. It’s preferable for the controls to be down so that you don’t pressure the glasses when you’re trying to press on the buttons.
Transmission Range
This is a universal feature for all wireless headphones. Even if you feel like you don’t need it right now, try to go for the highest transmission range possible. You’ll find headphones going all the way up to 100 ft. When you need it one day, you’ll be proud of having invested your money wisely.
Final Thoughts
We’ve reached the end of our article discussing the best headphones for glasses. You don’t buy a pair every day, so you’ll want to spend your money wisely, and get as much value out of your investment as possible.
This is why we’d recommend the HyperX Cloud II. These headphones are our top pick for a variety of reasons. They’re built to last, provide you with a sharp, clear sound, come with memory foam ear cushions plus replaceable ear pads, and provide superior quality passive noise cancellation.
Our next recommendation will be our runner-up, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, one of the most famous headphones in the market today. They provide you with three different levels of world-class active noise cancellation that’s capable of completely detaching you from the outside world.
They also boast 20 hours of playtime, which can be turned into unlimited by attaching a wire and operating the headphones. Additionally, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II are connected automatically to Alexa, which is quite helpful.
Our final recommendation will be our budget pick, the Audio-Technica ATH-M30x. These headphones are chock-full of options and specs, and they don’t cost you anything near what their peers would. They offer a snug fit that eliminates discomfort, a collapsible build so that they’re portable, and a protective pouch included in the package.