Audiophile Headphone Comparison Chart
Every pair of headphones we have reviewed, sorted by price from low to high. Prices are as reviewed. Click any model to read the full review.
| Headphones | Price at review | Style | Wireless | Noise cancelling | Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monoprice SonicSolace II | $49 | Over-ear | Bluetooth | Yes | Dynamic |
| 1MORE SonoFlow | $99 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (LDAC) | Yes | Dynamic |
| PuroQuiet Plus (kids) | $119 | Over-ear, 85 dB limit | Bluetooth | Yes | Dynamic |
| Denon AH-C830NCW | $159 | True wireless earbuds | Bluetooth | Yes | Dynamic |
| ROG Kithara | $200 | Open-back, gaming | No | No | Planar magnetic |
| Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 | $219 | Closed-back over-ear | Bluetooth (LDAC) | No | Dynamic |
| HiFiMan Deva Pro | $249 | Open-back | Bluetooth adapter or wired | No | Planar magnetic |
| Denon PerL Pro | $299 | True wireless earbuds | Bluetooth | Yes | Dynamic |
| Audeze Maxwell | $299 | Closed-back, gaming | 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth | No | Planar magnetic |
| HiFiMan Sundara | $299 | Open-back | No | No | Planar magnetic |
| Beats Studio 3 | $349 | Over-ear | Bluetooth | Yes | Dynamic |
| Technics EAH-A800 | $349 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (LDAC) | Yes | Dynamic |
| Sennheiser Momentum 4 | $349 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX Adaptive) | Yes | Dynamic |
| HiFiMan HE-R9 | $369 | Closed-back over-ear | No | No | Dynamic |
| Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 | $379 | Over-ear | Bluetooth | Yes | Dynamic |
| Sennheiser Momentum 5 | $399 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX Lossless) | Yes | Dynamic |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 | $399 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX Adaptive) | Yes | Dynamic |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e | $399 | Over-ear | Bluetooth | Yes | Dynamic |
| PSB M4U8 MKII | $399 | Over-ear | Bluetooth | Yes | Dynamic |
| Edifier Stax Spirit S3 | $399 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX Adaptive) | No | Planar magnetic |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | $399 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (LDAC) | Yes | Dynamic |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | $449 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (LDAC) | Yes | Dynamic |
| STAX SR-L300 | $455 | Open-back (needs energizer) | No | No | Electrostatic |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 | $479 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX Lossless) | Yes | Dynamic |
| Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 | $499 | True wireless earbuds | Bluetooth (aptX Lossless) | Yes | Dynamic |
| HiFiMan Edition XS | $499 | Open-back | No | No | Planar magnetic |
| Sennheiser HD600 | $499.95 | Open-back | No | No | Dynamic |
| Apos Caspian | $499.99 | Open-back | No | No | Dynamic |
| Apple AirPods Max | $549 | Over-ear | Bluetooth | Yes | Dynamic |
| Cleer Next | $699 | Open-back | No | No | Dynamic |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 | $699 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX Adaptive) | Yes | Dynamic (carbon) |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 | $799 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX Lossless) | Yes | Dynamic (carbon) |
| Focal Bathys | $799 | Closed-back over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX Adaptive), USB DAC | Yes | Dynamic |
| Meze Audio Strada | $800 | Closed-back over-ear | No | No | Dynamic |
| Mark Levinson No. 5909 | $999 | Over-ear | Bluetooth | Yes | Dynamic (beryllium-coated) |
| Ultimate Ears UE Pro Remastered | $1,049 | Custom in-ear monitor | No | Passive isolation | Balanced armature |
| DALI IO-8 | $1,250 | Closed-back over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX Adaptive) | Yes | Dynamic |
| T+A Solitaire T | $1,600 | Closed-back over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX HD) | Yes | Dynamic |
| DALI IO-12 | $1,750 | Over-ear | Bluetooth (aptX Adaptive) | Yes | Dynamic |
| Meze Audio Liric | $2,000 | Closed-back over-ear | No | No | Planar magnetic |
| STAX SR-009S | $4,545 | Open-back (needs energizer) | No | No | Electrostatic |
| Focal Utopia | $4,995 | Open-back | No | No | Dynamic (beryllium) |
Headphone Amps We Have Reviewed
| Headphone amp | Price at review | Type |
|---|---|---|
| iFi Zen Can 3 | $229 | Desktop headphone amp |
| Questyle Sigma | $549 | Portable DAC/headphone amp |
| iFi iDSD Diablo 2 | $1,299 | Portable DAC/headphone amp |
| Orchard Audio Valencia | $1,999 | Headphone amp |
| Benchmark HPA4 | $3,499 | Headphone amp and line preamp |
More DAC/headphone amps are reviewed in our DAC reviews, including the TEAC UD-507, FiiO K15, FiiO K9 Pro, Topping A90 Discrete (in our stereo preamp reviews), iFi xDSD Gryphon and iFi GO bar.
How We Review Audiophile Headphones
We review headphones subjectively, and we do our best to volume-match between pairs of headphones. We also try to use each pair in places that really test its performance, such as noisy environments for noise-cancelling headphones or quiet spaces where you might listen to open-back headphones.
Audiophile Headphone FAQ
Are wireless headphones good enough for audiophiles?
Today, many are. Bluetooth codecs like aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive and LDAC, plus better drivers and DSP, mean wireless headphones such as the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 and DALI IO-12 sound like the wired audiophile headphones of the recent past. The very best wired headphones still offer the ultimate in resolution.
Should I buy open-back or closed-back headphones?
Open-back headphones usually sound more spacious and natural, but they leak sound and let outside noise in, so they are best for quiet rooms at home. Closed-back headphones isolate you from the world, which makes them better for travel, the office and noisy places.
Do I need a headphone amp?
Most wireless headphones have their own built-in DAC and amp, so no. Many wired audiophile headphones, especially high-impedance or low-sensitivity models like the 300-ohm Sennheiser HD600, sound much better with a dedicated headphone amp than from a phone or laptop.
What are planar magnetic and electrostatic headphones?
Planar magnetic headphones use a thin, flat diaphragm driven by magnets for low distortion and fast, detailed sound. Electrostatic headphones like the STAX SR-009S use an even lighter charged membrane and need a dedicated energizer (amplifier) to work.
Are noise-cancelling headphones good for audiophiles?
Yes, especially for travel. Noise cancelling lets you hear more of the music at a lower, safer volume on planes, trains and in the office. The best models now sound excellent, though some audiophiles prefer to turn noise cancelling off at home for the purest sound.
