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If you care about audio quality above all else, you'll want a good pair of audiophile-level headphones. While these headphones generally aren't the best option for on-the-go use due to their lack of active features, they're great for fully immersing yourself in your music while at home. They reproduce sound accurately, and most can create a spacious, open soundstage that mimics listening to music on actual tower speakers. They also generally feel well-built and comfortable enough to fully enjoy the music without being reminded that you're wearing headphones at all. Due to limitations with the Bluetooth connection, this articleprimarily focuses on wired audiophile headphones.
We've tested over 765pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best headphones for audiophiles you can buy. See our recommendations for thebest headphones for music, thebest bass headphones, thebest wired headphones, and thebest studio headphones.
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Best Audiophile Headphones
Sennheiser HD 800 S 3
Neutral Sound
8.5
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Open-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic No
See all our test results
The best audiophile headphones we've tested are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. These top-of-the-line headphones aren't for everyone; their high price point puts them out of reach for most users, and you'll need a powerful amplifier to drive them, which can be an additional expense. However, if you're looking for an immersive experience regardless of cost, these open-back over-ears have an outstanding soundstage that's large, natural, and spacious. As a result, audio feels like it's coming from out in front of you rather than inside your head.
Their dynamic transducers aren't as prone to stereo imaging issues as planar magnetic headphones. The trade-off is that they lack more low-bass. Although they lack a bit of punch and rumble to their sound, these comfortable over-ears have a touch of extra high-bass to add warmth to mixes. Vocals and lead instruments are reproduced accurately thanks to their flat and balanced mids. If you're looking for high-end audiophile headphones with more bass, check out the HiFiMan Arya. They're planar magnetic headphones that deliver more thump and punch to mixes but are brighter than the Sennheiser. Sibilants sound a bit piercing, though, which isn't ideal for everyone.
See our review
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Best Upper Mid-Range Audiophile Headphones
HiFiMan Edition XS 5
Neutral Sound
8.7
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Open-Back
Wireless No
See AlsoQuestyle NHB15 review: wired earbuds for the high-res audiophileI tried these $99 wired earbuds and they're perfect for audiophiles7 Most Durable Earbuds of 2024 — Audiophile ONBest-Sounding Wireless Earbuds in 2024: Get Top Sound QualityTransducer Planar Magnetic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic No
See all our test results
The HiFiMan Edition XS are the best mid-range audiophile headphones we've tested. These over-ears are easier on the wallet than the Sennheiser HD 800 S and still have planar magnetic transducers to help boost their bass and create an immersive sound. While they aren't as comfortable or well-built, they have a neutral sound profile with a flat mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments sound present and clear. They also lack a bit of low-bass but have a bump of high-bass that adds warmth to mixes to balance their sound. Their passive soundstage is outstanding; it feels wide, spacious, and as if your audio is coming from outside your head.
These over-ears have a comfortable fit and, unlike other HiFiMan headphones, have a more conventional headband design. However, they still have a large fit. As a result, they aren't as comfortable as our top pick, especially if you have a small head. They're also well-built, but their plasticky hinges make them feel cheap.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range Audiophile Headphones
HiFiMan Sundara 2020 6
Neutral Sound
8.4
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Open-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Planar Magnetic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic No
See all our test results
If you're looking for something under the $500 range, consider the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. Like the HiFiMan Edition XS, they're planar magnetic headphones but have a different overall design, which some users may prefer. Their ski-band headband helps distribute the headphones' weight across your head, and they have a circular ear cup design. They have a higher clamping force, so they fit more snugly. Their passive soundstage doesn't feel as out of head either, though it's still very open and spacious.
These over-ears have balanced and neutral mids, ensuring natural, present, and clear vocals and instruments. Sibilants like cymbals are present without becoming overly bright or piercing. While they don't reproduce as much thump and punch as the Edition XS, their touch of extra high-bass helps add warmth to your mix.
See our review
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Best Lower Mid-Range Audiophile Headphones
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 2
Neutral Sound
8.3
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic No
See all our test results
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO are the best lower mid-range headphones for audiophiles we've tested. Like many audiophile headphones on the lower end of the price range, they have a closed-back design. Even though they're comparable to similarly-priced open-backs like the Philips Fidelio X2HR for neutral sound, they don't create a soundstage as wide or spacious as open-backs. However, there are a few upsides to the closed-back design: it allows them to block out some ambient sound, like background chatter, and leak less audio, which is helpful for studio work. Closed-back headphones also do a better job reproducing bass, so your audio has adequate rumble and boom compared to open-backs like the HiFiMan Sundara 2020.
Voices and lead instruments are present and accurate, too. The bright treble response can be fatiguing over time, but you may still like this sound, as it can help you hear imperfections while mixing audio. They also have a comfortable, well-built design, but the audio cable isn't detachable, meaning you must replace the headphones if it breaks. If you'd like a replaceable cable, you might prefer the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, which come with three interchangeable audio cables. They can't block out as much ambient sound, though.
See our review
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Best Budget Audiophile Headphones
Superlux HD 681 1
Neutral Sound
8.3
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Semi-Open
Wireless No
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic No
See all our test results
If you're looking for even more affordable headphones, the Superlux HD 681 are the best budget audiophile headphones we've tested. Unlike previous picks on this list, these over-ears have asemi-open-back enclosure. This designensures a wide and natural soundstage similar to open-backs. At the same time, they leak less audio, like closed-backs.They have a neutral sound and can reproduce satisfying low-bass thump and rumble. Vocals and instruments sound clear and natural, but sibilants like cymbals are a bit piercing.
They'recomfortable enough for long listening sessions, although the ear cup padding puts uneven pressure on your head. Unfortunately, you'll have to start making sacrifices in build quality at this price point. These over-ears are no exception as they have a very plasticky design that doesn't feel very durable, especially when compared to slightly more expensive options like our low mid-range pick.If you prefer headphones with a better build quality, you'll want to consider the Philips SHP9600. They're the next generation of the popular yet discontinued Philips SHP9500 and feel more sturdy and solid.However, their sound isn't quite as well-balanced.
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Best Audiophile In-Ear Monitors
MOONDROP Blessing 3 15
Neutral Sound
7.8
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Hybrid
Noise Cancelling No
Mic No
See all our test results
If you prefer an in-ear fit instead of over-ears, the best in-ear monitors (IEMs) we've tested are the MOONDROP Blessing 3. These headphones offer a comfortable and stable fit, so they won't slip out of your ears if you move your head around. Plus, their audio cables loop around your ear for added stability, which is a nice touch. Made of a combination of stainless steel and plastic, these in-ears feel well-built overall. Their cables are detachable, so you can always swap them out if they become damaged.
These headphones have a well-balanced sound suitable for lots of different audio content, with a clear and detailed representation of voices and lead instruments in the mix. That said, in-ears create a smaller and less immersive passive soundstage compared to the over-ears on our list. As a result, sound seems to come more from inside your head rather than from all around you. It may be a fair trade-off if you prefer in-ear monitors, especially as their design allows them to block out more ambient sound than closed-back over-ear alternatives like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO.
See our review
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Best Casual Audiophile Headphones
Focal Bathys Wireless 12
Neutral Sound
7.8
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
The best casual-use audiophile headphones we've tested are the Focal Bathys Wireless. These Bluetooth headphones have a closed-back design. Unlike the much cheaper Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, they have a very good ANC feature, so you can use them on the bus or when you're out for a walk; noise like background chit-chat or rumbling engines won't drown out your music. They're also wireless, so you don't need to worry about managing a long cable when you're out and about. They support the aptX Adaptive codec for high-res audio, which helps improve audio quality via Bluetooth, and have a built-in DAC via wired USB for converting digital signals to analog in high resolution.
These headphones have a well-balanced sound, with an EQ and presets in the companion software to help you get the sound you want. Unlike most audiophile headphones, they have a microphone, even if its performance isn't the best. If gaming or mic performance is important, you might prefer theRØDE NTH-100M. While wired headphones can receive audio from most consoles, these have a detachable boom mic with excellent recording quality and a well-balanced sound profile. However, both the RØDE and the Focal have a closed-back design, and their passive soundstage performances aren't very good. The soundstage seems small, and audio seems to come from inside your head.
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Recent Updates
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Jan 09, 2024: We've replaced the Philips SHP9500 with the Superlux HD 681 as the Philips have been discontinued.
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Nov 10, 2023: Since they're no longer available, we removed the HiFiMan Ananda-BT Wireless from the Notable Mentions and verified our text to ensure it's up-to-date and accurate.
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Sep 15, 2023: No changes in product picks after confirming their accuracy and availability. Some minor text updates for clarity.
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Jul 20, 2023: Replaced the MOONDROP Aria with the MOONDROP Blessing 3 as 'Best IEMs'.
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May 23, 2023: Replaced the HiFiMan ANANDA-BT Wireless with the Focal Bathys Wireless because the Focal's closed-back design makes them better for casual use. Moved the HiFiMan to Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations aboveare what we think are currently the best sounding headphones to buy for most people in each price range. We factor inthe price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to findor almostout of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose foryourself, here is the list of all our reviews forheadphones, sorted by their neutral sound performance. Be careful not togetcaught up in the details.There are no perfectheadphones. Personal taste, preference, and where you use the headphones will matter more in your selection.
