The 7 Best Audiophile Headphones of 2025

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.

The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO 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 have a dynamic driver design. While they are just as comfortable as our top pick, their build quality suffers due to their flimsier plastic yokes. The HD 490 PRO have a balanced sound profile with a flat mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments sound present and clear. They also have a bit more low-bass compared to the HD 800 S, which brings more thump to mixes. Their passive soundstage is impressive; it feels wide and spacious, as if your audio is coming from outside your head in the room.

These over-ears have a comfortable fit, a lightweight design, and a light clamping force. Through their swappable earpads, which slightly change the sound signature, the HD 490 PRO also offer some initial sonic and comfort customization. To top it off, they're also easier to drive than the HD 800 S, meaning you'll save some money as you won't need an amp to use these headphones with most devices.

If you're looking for something with a more mid-range price, consider the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. Unlike the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO, they're planar magnetic headphones and have a different design, which some users may prefer. Their ski-band headband helps distribute the headphones' weight across your head. They also have a higher clamping force, so they fit more snugly than the previous pick. Meanwhile, their planar magnetic drivers' larger design vibrates their entire diaphragm, which can produce a soundstage that better represents an out-of-head stereo experience. It's worth noting, though, that while our unit didn't have any issues, planar magnetic drivers like those found in the HiFiMan are more susceptible to mismatching issues, which can lead to worse stereo imaging.

These over-ears have balanced 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 preceding Sennheiser, they still have a touch of extra high-bass to help add warmth to your mix. Fortunately for those without an amp, these headphones also won't require any extra juice to sound good with most devices.

The Sennheiser HD 560S are the best lower mid-range headphones for audiophiles we've tested. These open-backs have a decent passive soundstage that makes music feel as though it's coming from speakers in front of you rather than inside your head. It's not quite as immersive as the more expensive HiFiMan Sundara 2020, but it still feels more open than most closed-backs. On the plus side, the Sennheiser are just as comfortable to wear for long listening sessions.

The Sennheiser's sound profile is very well-balanced, so these cans suit a variety of audio content and musical genres. Fans of classical and pop alike will appreciate their relatively flat mid-range and treble response. That said, they do lack a little low- and mid-bass, which is typical of open-backs. Closed-back headphones tend to do a better job reproducing bass, so if you're a techno fan looking for more rumble and boom, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO are a good option. The Beyerdynamic's closed-back design also means they leak less audio, so they're a bit more versatile. They're a good choice for studio recording, for instance. Of course, their passive soundstage isn't as immersive as the Sennheiser's, and their overall response is slightly uneven, with some big peaks in the treble range rendering cymbal sounds piercing.

If you're looking for even more affordable headphones, the Philips SHP9500 are the best budget audiophile headphones we've tested. Their open-back design ensures a wide and natural soundstage that makes audio feel as though it's coming from two speakers in a room. They're comfortable to wear for long listening sessions and have a decent build quality, though they're not as stable on the head as more expensive options like the Sennheiser HD 560S. 

They have a generally balanced sound that suits most genres of music. In particular, their mid-range is outstanding, so vocals are rendered naturally and without any honk. The main downside of these cans is their slightly lackluster bass response. They're not the best cans for audiophiles who love their hip-hop kick drums, which have plenty of thumpy low-bass, so if that's you, the Superlux HD 681 are worth considering. The Superlux have a balanced sound that suits most genres, but they're an especially good pick for fans of modern bass-heavy genres like EDM. Unfortunately, they have a poor, plasticky build quality and are not as comfortable as the Philips, though they are less expensive.

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. These in-ear headphones are made of a combination of stainless steel and plastic and 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, thanks to four armatures and two dynamic drivers. That said, in-ears create a smaller and less immersive passive soundstage compared to over-ears. 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 IEMs, especially as their design allows them to block out more ambient sound than closed-back over-ear alternatives like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO.

Still, if you can't swing the cost of the Blessing 3, the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED stand as a less costly investment. Like the Blessing 3, these have an over-ear cable wrap fit with a less complex driver design, but this doesn't hurt the sound. Their tuning is fairly balanced, with a warmer and somewhat duller top-end than the Blessing 3. Still, their fit and finish aren't as high quality for the cost difference, and the materials are less premium.

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. They also have a built-in DAC accessed via wired USB to convert digital signals to high-resolution analog.

These headphones have a well-balanced sound, with an EQ and presets in the companion software to help you get the desired sound. 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 the RØDE 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 soundstages aren't very good. Both their soundstages seem small, and audio seems to come from inside your head.