Best audiophile headphones

[What Hi-Fi?]

Audiophile headphones for discerning music lovers

Best audiophile headphones : Read more

 

[Stefan]

Wow.. such a long list with many headphones that are not really 2020 new releases like the SE425 and SE846 from Shure.. but no Audeze mentioned, which I bet the iSINE20 or any LCD offer better sound quality than many of those mentioned by you.

 

[EMMOORE]

Although I know many of the headphones in this article are good, I do find it odd that Audez LCD headphones are not represented.

When I purchased my LCD 2, I was initially allowed to try various headphones including Focal and Grado at a similar price. I am a musician and I found the LCDs to be more natural reflecting how I would hear instruments live and I also felt they had a more spacious sound-stage so that each instrument could be picked out easily. The bass also sounded more realistic. So it surprised me when I did not see them listed. Is there a reason?

If anyone is interested, I also own a Chord Mojo and that is so good with the LCDs.

 

[Friesiansam]

Wow.. such a long list with many headphones that are not really 2020 new releases like the SE425 and SE846 from Shure.. but no Audeze mentioned, which I bet the iSINE20 or any LCD offer better sound quality than many of those mentioned by you.

This is a "round-up of the best audiophile headphones you can buy in 2020 " not a list of new headphones released in 2020. Also, we can all think of headphones we think should be included, eg Beyerdynamic T5Ps but, you can't expect everything to be included.

BTW, the Shure SRH1540s are great for the money, especially if you take the trouble to find a good price.

 

[Winter]

This is a "round-up of the best audiophile headphones you can buy in 2020 " not a list of new headphones released in 2020. Also, we can all think of headphones we think should be included, eg Beyerdynamic T5Ps but, you can't expect everything to be included.

BTW, the Shure SRH1540s are great for the money, especially if you take the trouble to find a good price.

 

[Winter]

Paint it any way you want guys ! You simply can not ignore audeze . I have lcd x / lcd 3 . Both will blow this lot out of the water . Bit like an headphone amp lineup without the word chord ? Come on !

 

[soswishy]

BTW, the Shure SRH1540s are great for the money, especially if you take the trouble to find a good price.

They get my vote too. Supremely comfortable and fabulous sound.

 

[Deleted member 188533]

This is really a horrible list. I think it's a list of 'the headphones we tested' more than anything. The HD820 over the 800/800S? Really? Grado ear murder as number 1? The reviewer must have some high frequency hearing loss. 😆 Amiron over the 1990 Pro, T1 or T5P? No Audeze? No HiFiMan?

 

[rupert3k]

Like others i'm surprised Audeze didn't make the list. I've never heard and certainly can't afford a pair yet based on reputation they are the headphones I aspire to. I own an older pair of polished 325's which I pulled the badge off and fitted donuts to mimic PS1000 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[toymotor]

I bought grado sr80 and the sound was pleasing. However the gimbals snapped very soon. I can't say I'm rough on my kit but they were always coming apart. They are very flimsy with some really cheap brittle plastic. I wish someone would make a middle of the range Headphone that sounded good and was robust enough for everyday use.

 

[kdbur]

Someone's got a Grado, fetish...

 

[wool]

Although I know many of the headphones in this article are good, I do find it odd that Audez LCD headphones are not represented.

..

If anyone is interested, I also own a Chord Mojo and that is so good with the LCDs.

I fully admit I'm currently sipping tea and listening to a playlist from John Darko on LCD-X+Mojo. (Yeah, the Mojo is being a desktop DAC).

Seriously though. Audeze? Hifiman? Stax?

 

[pier]

I really hope that this ranking is the result of a random draw

 

[Tinman1952]

And as far as I know they have NEVER mentioned the Quad Era-1 headphones…..🤔 absolutely superb.

 

[R01001010]

Audiophile headphones for discerning music lovers

Best audiophile headphones : Read more

I'm wondering which one of these has an enhance highs? I'm have lost a little bit of my high frequency hearing as I'm getting older.

 

[Tinman1952]

I'm wondering which one of these has an enhance highs? I'm have lost a little bit of my high frequency hearing as I'm getting older.

Your best bet is to use some form of EQ. Trying to find the ‘Goldilocks’ headphone is near impossible….

 

[R01001010]

Your best bet is to use some form of EQ. Trying to find the ‘Goldilocks’ headphone is near impossible….

Thank you for the reply.

 

[Bill Kilpatrick]

Whose genius decision was it to rank the Grado SR-325x at #1 and the Focal Utopia at #15? I'm not knocking the $295 SR-325x but the Focal Utopia is an iconic headphone that costs $4,400. You'd be lucky to get it used for $3,000. It's Focal's flagship. It uses beryllium drivers. It's got bigger drivers. It comes with a case. It has a detachable cable. Its pads are thicker and more comfortable. It is widely regarded as either the most detailed dynamic or on a short list with the HD800s.

I have the $1,500 Focal Clear and the SR-325x is no match for it. How did the 325 somehow climb to the top - beating out the Stax SR-009 and SR-007? How did it zoom past the Audeze LCD-4, let alone the LCD-5? How did it beat the GS-3000 and the PS1000? How did it beat the PS-500?

 

[Lifu]

This list feels like it was made from internet searches.

 

[N7NobodyCats]

"We've assembled the best audiophile headphones below. And they're not necessarily prohibitively expensive – great value sound quality does exist, so don't discount more affordable options."

these feel prohibitively expensive... especially that $5,000 one at the end... when i read this, i was thinking "oh, ill find something decent that isnt hundreds of dollars, but then i go through the list and theyre all 300 or muuuuch higher... is there a list for something thats 100 or below? i want good headphones but im not trying to drop a pos cars worth into them. if i wanted that id just get a sound system with that money instead of headphones.

 

[Friesiansam]

As usual, among the premium to high end, over ear headphones, no closed back entries.

 

[Friesiansam]

As usual, among the premium to high end, over ear headphones, no closed back entries.

And, same again with the latest update...

 

[Phaeton9]

Hi,
I just have to write here about Meze Empyrean 2 because this magazine which did not take care for proper burn in which is at least 6 months. Then for example Sony MDR-Z1R ranked so high here sound so muddy, veiled with no dynamics and definition from the bottom where the base of music is. I am using Chord HUGO2 with 2go connected to SPL Phonitor X with clean power thanks to Audioquest Niagara anyway. All music from Hans Zimmer to the largest orchestras and choirs are simply marvelous especially with angled ear pads. Have a nice day with some fine art if possible.

 

[Friesiansam]

I just have to write here about Meze Empyrean 2 because this magazine which did not take care for proper burn in which is at least 6 months.

Those headphones have an extremely thin diaphragm set between two magnetic fields. There is nothing there that is likely to need significant running-in and, certainly not the ridiculously long time you are suggesting.