Grusin isn't alone. After five straight years of declining sales, wired headphone purchases exploded in the second half of 2025, according to the analytics firm Circana, and revenue from wired headphones was up 20% in the first six weeks of 2026. 

"It feels like a lot of people are almost turning on technology because it's becoming so advanced," Grusin says. "I think there's a general group mindset where we're like, 'I don't like how this feels' and we're all kind of returning to the last place we were comfortable."

Sound quality can be a big advantage to the wired life, says Chris Thomas, editor at large at the headphone review site SoundGuys. "This is the drum I've been beating for many years now," he says.

Wireless headphones have improved dramatically, according to Thomas, but the best often come from niche brands made for audiophiles. When it comes to mainstream products you'd find in an electronics store, he says you'll still get better sound for the money if you chose the best wired option. Plus, even the finest Bluetooth headphones may not deliver their top audio performance because of bad connections or compatibility issues with your device. "With a wire, you just plug in and it works," he says.

But sound isn't enough to explain the trend. Somehow, it seems Bluetooth has turned deeply unsexy. Don't take my word for it. Ask actor Zoë Kravitz.