We’ve all heard of phantom limb.

We’ve all heard of phantom limb.
Amputees report sensations from a limb that’s no longer there.
But what about Phantom Earbud?

Ever worn your AirPods so much you swear you can still feel them after you take them out?

The sensation got me thinking: what are the best headphones?

In the last six months, I’ve tried seven different headphones across eight different situations:
- working from home
- working offsite
- car rides
- the gym
- walks
- trail runs
- road runs
- walking phone calls

My findings: any headphones can suck given the wrong conditions.
Conversely, none are truly “the best.”

It depends.
What are you optimizing for?

- Sony and Bose have great over-ear headphones for long sessions and for signaling “do not disturb” in real life, but they’re bulky on the go and the ear pads wear out too quickly.

- AirPods Pro are perfect for the gym or busy streets until the phantom sensation kicks in, and heavy sweating disrupts the microphone within a few months.

- Shokz OpenRun Pro are ideal for trail runs when you need to stay aware of your surroundings.

Each one trades off something: comfort, sound, durability, weight, sweat resistance, throbbing earhole, etc.

This is the nature of anything that’s great.

To be “the best” in one context, be ready to unapologetically optimized for it, and suck elsewhere.