The Best Headphones For Audiophiles

A great pair is one that is comfortable, has great sound quality and be simple to use. Ideally, they should have features such as noise cancellation or transparency modes, and control buttons that can be tapped.

The WH-1000XM5 headphones from Sony are the gold standard in this category. They're comfortable, have excellent ANC and feature an excellent app for tweaking audio profiles.

High-end

A top-quality pair of headphones is a must-have piece of kit for those who love music. They can bring old songs back to life and bring new life to your carefully planned music playlists. They can also be used to play gaming, podcasts, audiobooks and for taking calls.

Buying high-end headphones is an investment however, you can enjoy excellent sound quality and features for an affordable price. When selecting a pair, look at the build quality and reputation. Reputable brands like Sony and Bowers & Wilkins offer durable models that are suitable for everyday use. They are also known for offering a comprehensive warranty and customer support system.

The Focal Stellia is a closed back rival to the company's Utopia range and offers stunning technical performance at a reasonable price. It offers a natural, neutral sound and displays the full depth of your music without overemphasis.

Although it's not as mobile as the Focal Stellia, the Monoprice Arya is one of the cheapest planar headphones available. It has a spacious soundstage which is perfect for listening to music on the go. You can also alter the sound by using a variety of presets.

If you're in the market for a pair of top headphones take a look at these options from Sony. These headphones are ideal for long trips because they offer great sound quality and noise cancellation. They are also comfortable and come with a stylish design. They are available in a vast range of colours, so you can find the perfect pair to match your style. You can also select from a variety of accessories that can enhance your music experience. The Sony MDRZX110A has an array of features that are ideal for audiophiles.

Mid-range

There are many options for mid-range audiophiles, and hadphone choosing the right set can transform your music listening experience. The best headphones for this price point tend to be open-back and provide a large, spacious soundstage, with crystalline highs and natural smooth mids. The acoustics are generally excellent and they often pick up the finest detail and subtleties in recordings. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 headphones are among the best in this class. They provide significant improvements over their predecessor hadphone model. It is still heavy at 307 g, but it is more comfortable and hadphone has improved the noise cancellation and voice calling performance. It also looks more premium, with its elegant design and exquisite materials.

Another option is the Grado Prestige Series SR225x which is a great option for those who are looking for an extremely high-quality pair of open back headphones that won't cost you an arm and a leg. It's a hand-built headphone, and it has great audio quality at this price. It's not as high-quality as the Prestige headphones that cost more, but for an open-back pair of headphones it's an excellent value.

The Focal Stellia headphones are another excellent pair of mid-range headphones. It's a closed-back competitor to the company's flagship Utopia headphones and is beautiful to take a look at. It also has an outstanding technical performance, and can produce a wide soundstage that is extremely transparent. It's a great headphone for listening to music and podcasts, and it comes with an excellent quality of construction that includes genuine wood earcups. It's also among the best headphones for those who wish to enjoy their music on-the-go. It comes in a wide variety of colors and features an amazing design that will entice the audiophile within you.

Low-end

If you are on a budget and looking for headphones, it is best to prioritize the features that you need and those you can do without. There are plenty of options at the lower price range that offer top audio quality and comfort.

Sony's MDR7506s provide a fantastic example of how you can make your money go further in this category. These high-quality wired cans employ neodymium drivers and neodymium-magnets to give you the balanced sound that you expect from a premium pair. The headphones feature DSEE which can boost low-resolution digital music files to close-to-HD sound. Additionally, you can control the music with voice via Google Assistant and Siri, and an IPX4 rating to ensure waterproof protection.

The HiFiMan E11BTs are a good choice in this price range. These compact wireless buds are a cut above their more expensive counterparts thanks to an all-aluminium design that gives you confidence. They also feature a flat neckband that can be worn comfortably over your head, making them a good choice for your everyday jog or quick trip to the bar.

These are among the best headphones you can purchase for less than PS200. They're an upcoming What Hi-Fi? The headphones are a What Hi-Fi? Award winner and provide great value for price. The sound is spacious and wide that you won't find in headphones at this price.

They also utilize high-quality Bluetooth codecs that are compatible with aptX HD, LDAC and other Bluetooth standards. Unfortunately, they don't support the more powerful AAC codec that most iOS devices use. That means that iPhone users could encounter some lag when using these headphones in conjunction with their phones. Android owners won't have any issues with these headphones, however.

Comfort

For long listening sessions comfort is a major factor to consider. Most over-ear headphones have padded ear cups, and headbands which rest comfortably on your ears. You can also experiment with different ear tips, whether supplied or as an accessory.

Wireless headphones are a great choice for many because they allow you to move easily without worrying about cords that get tangled. Certain models have a noise-cancelling feature that blocks out any background noise so you can focus on your work or studying. Noise-canceling headphones are an excellent choice for commuters because they block out train and plane tracks while traveling to and from work.

High-end headphones shop online are usually equipped with a variety of features, like Bluetooth as well as high-resolution audio and noise cancellation. Some fold up to a compact size and come with a protective case.

If you're looking for a pair of premium headphones, the Bose series is a good option. Audiophiles love them for their high-quality sound as well as their noise cancellation capabilities and comfortable design. The headband can be adjusted to fit most heads and the soft, buttery Ear pads are comfortable.

Sony WH1000XM5 is another pair of headphones that is worth a try. They're highly-rated and feature high-quality sound, impressive noise cancellation, and comfortable ergonomics. They're wireless and packed with features that are user-friendly They have touch sensors as well as smart assistants (Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant) and auto audio settings via accelerometers and proximity sensors. They're also light to pair that has so much technology.

Noise-canceling

Whether you're commuting in a noisy city or flying on a plane, or working at home with co-workers in the next room who are slamming at their keyboards, noise-canceling headphones can help you focus and block out distracting sounds. They typically employ active noise cancellation, which makes use of built-in microphones to listen to your surroundings and emit an inverse sound wave that cancels out the background sound.

The best noise cancelling headphones will depend on your budget and requirements. You might want to pick headphones that are light, comfy and easy to operate and connect with your music player or mobile device. Other considerations might include a built-in battery that provides hours of listening time and a carrying case for travel.

Over-the-ear ANC headphones are the most effective noise-cancelling performance, whereas earbuds tend to be more portable but are less effective at blocking background noise. The Bose QC 35 II is lightweight and comfortable to wear for long periods. They feature adjustable ANC and a battery life of up to 30 hours. They are slim and sleek, with a folding design that makes it easy to carry them around in a bag or a backpack.

Anker Soundcore Q45 headphones are a great alternative for those who want ANC at a lower cost. They offer a transparent mode that can be adjusted to EQ and ANC that is strong. They do not block out as much ambient sound and bass-heavy music may sound less dynamic however they're great overall, especially for the price.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 headphone is more expensive than the other options in this category, however it offers excellent audio quality as well as an impressive noise-cancelling features set. They're comfortable to wear for long periods of time and fold down into small storage bags. They have a premium look and support the lossless LDAC Bluetooth for high-resolution audio. The headphone stores app lets you alter EQ settings and select from a range of audio presets.