Our #1 Pick
Best Headphones for Basketball
Beats Studio 3
Whether getting in the zone in the locker room or warming up on the court, basketball players turn to music to help them prepare for what’s next.
This was one of our more difficult lists to make. The main reason is people don’t “play” basketball in headphones. It would be absurd to see LeBron James running down the court with a pair of over ear headphones on.
However, almost every NBA player we know has been spotted warming up and working out in headphones.
We went through a list of all the NBA icons to see what their preferred picks were, then we added a few of our own picks, while at the same time trying to balance great features like sound quality and style with more functional features like secure fit and sweat resistance.
Top 10 Basketball Headphones
Rank | Picture | Name | Where to Buy |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Beats Studio 3 | See it on Amazon | |
2 | JBL Everest Elite 300 | See it on Amazon | |
3 | JBL UA Sport Headphone | See it on Amazon | |
4 | Powerbeats 3 | See it on Amazon | |
5 | JBL Everest Elite 700 | See it on Amazon | |
6 | Jaybird X3 | See it on Amazon | |
7 | Bose Soundsport Pulse | See it on Amazon | |
8 | Jaybird RUN | See it on Amazon | |
9 | Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500 | See it on Amazon | |
10 | Monster iSport Freedom | See it on Amazon | |
10 Best Basketball Headphone Reviews
#1 Beats Studio 3
It’s no secret Lebron James is a fan of Beats by Dre. In fact, several NBA superstars such as Dwayne Wade, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, and Dwight Howard have been seen on and off the court wearing Beats.
King James owns a stake in the company and is the only NBA spokesperson for the company. He wears several pairs of Beats including the Studio 3.
The Beats Studio 3 headphones feature noise-canceling technology, Bluetooth capabilities, and have a 12-hour rechargeable battery.
The downside is the Bluetooth technology only works if your device is close. If your phone dies or you move out of the 30 ft. range, you’ll probably experience a disruption in your beats.
#2 JBL Everest Elite 300
JBL is the official headphone sponsor of the NBA.
Stephen Curry often wears the Everest Elite 300. And, the Golden State Warriors received blinged out, custom headphones after winning the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, due to the size of the headphones, the Elite 300 is best suited for traveling and chilling in the locker room and not for wear on the court.
The over the ear headphones are unique because they offer total noise cancellation to allow listeners to appreciate their playlist truly. The design allows the wearer to adjust the amount of outside noise that can get in, which will enable them to balance how much noise gets in and offers the option to completely isolated from what’s happening around them or as aware as they’d like to be.
#3 JBL UA Sport Headphone
When players want a great on the court headphone, the JBL Under Armour Sport 16 headphone is perfect. Combining the technology of JBL and Under Armour produces a headphone that’s made for serious athletes in mind.
The same NBA stars that reach for JBLs off the court wear JBL wireless headphones on the court. The earbuds are comfortable to wear and extremely subtle. You’ll experience great sound when wearing these earbuds, but they do require more charging than other options on the market.
#4 Powerbeats 3
Another favorite headphone of Lebron James is Powerbeats 3another product created by Beats by Dre. The wireless headphones let players move freely and are often seen on the court because there are no wires to restrict movement.
The Powerbeats are often worn by James and a favorite of Kevin Durant and James Harden too. Many players appreciate the headphones sweat resistance and ability to supercharge it in just 5 minutes if the battery runs low.
#5 JBL Everest Elite 700
Players that love the Everest 300s from JBL often flock to the Everest Elite 700 too.
The headphone is similar to the 300 version with the addition of a microphone. With this feature, players, like Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers point guard, can answer calls without having to track down their phone, but the upgrade also comes with an increase in price.
Players have to decide if the increased price over the 300 is worth it to them for just a microphone, but the noise canceling and sculpted over the ear design delivers balanced sound every single time.
#6 Jaybird X3
Players who need music to prepare for a showdown on the court, but don’t want to wear an over-the-ear design will appreciate the subtle design of the Jaybird X3.
The sweatproof earbuds have a universal fit and long battery life. The downside is it can take some time for listeners to adjust the earbuds to their level of comfortable noise cancellation.
Jaybird headphones aren’t as popular with NBA players as Beats and JBLs, but serious basketball players know these headphones are perfect for the sport.
#7 Bose Soundsport Pulse
The Bose Soundsport Pulse is a popular headphone choice for basketball players but is most widely seen in the NFL.
Bose created these headphones with stability and comfort in mind, which means it lends itself well to both basketball and football. The sleek design allows the earbuds to stay in the ear, even during vigorous workouts thanks to weather and sweat resistance.
But, the battery life is only about six hours, which is significantly less than other models.
#8 Jaybird RUN
The Jaybird Elite Sports earbuds are marketed towards runners but lend themselves well to basketball players because they are truly wireless.
The small buds fit comfortably in the ear and come with interchangeable tips to create a customized fit. The headphones are sweatproof and water-resistant too.
The biggest downfall with the Elites from Jaybird is sound quality. It’s great for working out, but for the moments you want to chill and relax, the Elite Sports might disappoint because of issues with bluetooth connectivity and balance.
#9 Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500
Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500 offers everything a player wants from on-court headphones. Stability, comfort, protection from sweat and moisture, noise isolation, and long battery life.
The only problem basketball players and other athletes have mentioned are that the equipment almost always has to be removed to operate the buttons, so pausing and playing music takes a bit more effort than some other brands offer.
#10Monster iSport Freedom
Monster created the iSport Freedom wireless headphones to be easy to wear and use.
The electronics are robust, offer fantastic sound quality, and have buttons located on the side for easy use. The only problem with this choice is the over the head design. It’s great for players who like this design, but may be uncomfortable.
When your pre-game routine requires you to get in a zone via music, you’ll appreciate a pair of basketball headphones that help you get there. Check out the features and decide which one works for you.
[…] The Beats Executive headphones are ultra-lightweight and can fold flat for any storage case. These Beats headphones are known for their superb sound quality and bass response. The headphones also have an active […]