Earphones - Wireless vs. wired?

For context, I am starting a new job in REPE in Midtown, but have been working for a smaller shop for the last few years where fashion was not as important. I am in the process of buying a new pair of earphones. Do you think it is a fashion faux pas to wear wired headphones in this day and age?

45 Comments
 

I have AirPods (ya I’m rich), but frankly it does feel a bit douchey to wear them since they’re basically a meme right now. The sound quality is good, but not as good given its price. I definitely enjoy being wireless and can’t see myself going back to wired, so I’d just look through these reviews if I were you.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_r_p_72_1?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=i%3Aaps%…

 

I have PowerBeats 3 mostly for working out, but yeah man if you have an iPhone 7 or up go for wireless. At least the way you can charge your phone + listen to music at the same time. AirPods are cool, I've had them two years or so, basically since they came out, but I use PB3 way more.

thots & prayers
 

I will second that PowerBeats are king. 1) they are wireless to avoid cords. 2) Cheaper than Airpods. 3) Better for active utility as they don't fall out (working out, skiing, basketball, running, etc.) 4) better quality than Airpods IMO. 5) Harder to lose as you can leave them around your neck with the connecting cord. 6) Durable - had mine for ~3 years so far, no issue with battery or sound quality yet.

 

Once you go wireless, you don't go back. Allows you to jack one off without having to deal with wires getting in the way.

I'd recommend the Jabra elite 65t. Great sound, no connection issues, decent battery and they don't stick out too much so you can avoid looking like a complete tool (to some extent).

"A guy gets on the MTA here in L.A. and dies. Think anybody'll notice?" - Vincent
 

Well sturdy in a different sense. They are physically well built (I haven't owned DT770, but I have 990), but the cables would break the same. The longest lasting headphones I've owned are Audio-Technica ATH-T500, they have a similar cable to 990s, and are very well built.

Wireless headphones can of course snap or you can damage them by dropping them etc, but that's not my concern. It's the cable itself.

I could have headphones made out of diamond but they could still break in the cable.

 

Most people in my office have these (QC 35, owning a pair myself) and they are really good. The leather is not as durable as it could be but assuming you aren't going mountain biking with them they should hold decently.

 

Shure SE215.

Unbeatable sound quality for the price. You can also swap between wired and wireless by unplugging the drivers and connecting them to a wired/wireless input cord (IE, buy wired version, have to buy the wireless cord as an adapter). This comes in handy when you're traveling and you need a headphone jack to watch TV on a plane, or they tell you no Bluetooth on a flight.

http://www.shure.com/americas/products/earphones/se-earphones/se215-sou…

+

http://www.shure.com/americas/products/accessories/earphones/earphone-h…

"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
 

Airpods, Beats, Bose, pretty much all good daily earbuds, I've had them all. BUT, some dude in my office let me try his Sennheiser IE800s earbuds......nothing nothing nothing touches these. I couldn't believe the sound coming out of these tiny little things (wired) but then he told me the price haha ($999). At first I wasn't sure why someone would buy these but if you listen to music or earbuds all day and want the best, these will do it.

https://en-us.sennheiser.com/in-ear-headphones-earphones-ie-800-s-ceram…

 

I like my airpods because the wired iPhone headphones got me through college so I'm really used to that quality/feel in my ear. Wireless is king, exactly what everyone else has said.

Does anyone else hate those fucking wireless headphones with that stupid little wrap around neck thing where the earpiece runs from? So many people have these and they just remind me of the kids I hated in college.

 

Are you talking about just the cord that goes behind the head (like in the Bose Soundsport wireless) or the big collar thing that is part of the Bose QC 30? If the latter . . yeah I don't get why anyone would want that. Seems to defeat the purpose of wireless, replacing a little wire with a bulky peice of plastic that doesn't even fit in your pocket.

 

Yes - the plastic collar thing irks me like nothing else. So many people had them back in college and I can't believe I still see them relatively often in the workplace.

Are you a Bose fan?

 

Not a faux pas to wear wired. That said, I agree with many here that wireless will improve your quality of life.

I have this for all phone calls (noise cancelling and microphone are exceptional):

https://www.plantronics.com/us/en/product/voyager-5200

And this for music (gym + subway). Sound and fit are great, but mic is bad for calls:

https://www.jabra.com/sports-headphones/jabra-sport-pace

“Doesn't really mean shit plebby boi. LMK when you're pulling thiccboi cheques.“ — @m_1
 

Necessitatibus expedita repellat ex optio sequi. Illum commodi odit dolor. Aliquid recusandae culpa unde amet laborum aliquid eveniet dignissimos. Laborum id suscipit est consectetur est eius ut. Qui sed tenetur sequi et ut accusamus dolorem. Amet sapiente est voluptatum nesciunt et laboriosam.

Inventore illo aut sed sit animi quasi eaque officiis. Et consequatur distinctio mollitia aspernatur vel. Et porro est eaque corrupti quod at et quos.

Dolor velit adipisci placeat nam ullam. Molestiae ut nulla recusandae magni consequatur adipisci. Voluptas nisi ad repellendus eligendi amet provident.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”