Best audiophile headphones 2025: 9 best-sounding luxury pairs for music fans

Yamaha YH-5000SE on a white desktop
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

As the majority of premium-priced headphones nowadays come with high-tech bells and whistles like Bluetooth connectivity, active noise cancellation (ANC) and, to a lesser extent, spatial audio, their priority isn't first and foremost on sound quality. Indeed, if you want the absolute best-performing headphones you can buy for your budget, look no further than our expert pick of the best audiophile headphones, which do promote outstanding sonics above anything else.

As sound performance is king here, the pairs in this list are predominantly wired headphones and earbuds, prioritising maximum sound for your pound (or dollar) over 'surplus' modern-day conveniences such as wirelessness and sound blocking. These sophisticated headphones deserve to be connected to an equally mature source – a portable music player, a phone or laptop via an external DAC, or straight into a hi-fi system's dedicated headphone amplifier or other component. A phone or another everyday device simply won't do justice to even the most affordable pairs on this discerning list.

Our in-house team of expert reviewers have rigorously tested audiophile headphones in their hundreds over the decades and handpicked the class-leading performers across a wide range of budgets. They are not necessarily prohibitively expensive; great-value sound worthy of the 'audiophile' label does indeed exist.

The quick list

Recent updates

January 2025: The CES 2025 show didn't deliver anything of note in the audiophile headphones market, but just before Christmas Meze and Final launched wired over-ears, which we hope to hear soon. For now, our list remains unchanged going into 2025.

Written by
Becky Roberts
Written by
Becky Roberts

I am What Hi-Fi?'s managing editor and have been reviewing and writing about headphones for over a decade. I'm a massive head-fi (headphones and the like) fan, and while I like wireless headphones for everyday use, nothing beats listening to music through a pair of wired, sound-first audiophile headphones. I'd argue it is often preferable to a hi-fi system! I have heard every pair below (and live with two of them) so can assure you that they represent the best value for money in their fields. Unsure which is right for you? Check out my how to choose advice below.

Best value audiophile headphones

What Hi-Fi? Award 2024 winner. The best-value audiophile headphones for home listening

Specifications

Style: Open-backed
Cable length: 2m
Noise-cancelling: No
Connector: 3.5mm (with 6.35mm adapter)
Weight: 340g

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent detail and dynamics
+
Hugely entertaining performance
+
Rugged build

Reasons to avoid

-
Open-back design leaks sound
-
New earpads won’t suit all

Say hello to the best audiophile headphones for outright value. Grado's SR325 headphone model has set the benchmark at this price point for years, and its latest SR325x are the best iteration the Brooklyn-based company has produced yet.

While they may only be a modest improvement over the previous SR325e, when you consider that those old-timers previously topped this list of best audiophile headphones for years, any improvement is an achievement in itself.

The bigger achievement is that the SR325x picked up a What Hi-Fi? Award in 2021, 2022 and 2023 for being the most impressive sounding pair at their price. Indeed, nothing has beaten them since they arrived three years ago.

So, for those familiar with previous SR325 iterations, what's new here? On the surface, not much; there are flatter foam earpads, an updated cable and lighter-coloured stitching on the firmly padded headband. But the real work has gone on under the hood. The 44mm drive unit has a revised motor system, new diaphragm and upgraded coil, all to improve efficiency and reduce distortion. And the new 8-conductor cable uses 'super' annealed copper to deliver a purer sound.

The result is a smoother listen, more authoritative bass and an overall cleaner, clearer sound. "These headphones have always been detailed and articulate performers, and that hasn’t changed," our in-house reviewers note in our SR325x review, "but the ‘x’ generation sounds that bit more precise and insightful." They deliver rhythms with enthusiasm and plenty of punch, and sound effortlessly musical.

They do have an open-back design, though, meaning they leak sound in and out like a sieve and don't quite have the outright weight and low-end punch of closed headphone designs. If you don't mind that because you're after a pair primarily for private listening in a quiet room in your home, and don't require oodles of bass, you'll be rewarded.

Our experts advise pairing the Grados with "an outboard DAC of the quality of Chord’s Mojo for the laptop and phone, and at least Astell & Kern’s A&norma SR25 music player" if you want to hear the scale of the SR325x’s talents.

Got a smaller budget? The next-model-down Grado SR80x are equally impressive for their lower price level, while the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X (open-backs) and DT 700 Pro X (closed-backs, below) are worthy alternatives for those who don't dig Grado's retro vibe.

Read our full Grado SR325x review

Best studio audiophile headphones

Closed-back 'studio' headphones that truly sing

Specifications

Style: Closed-back
Cable length: 1.8m, 3m
Noise-cancelling: No
Connector: 3.5mm
Weight: 350g

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent detail
+
Musical and articulate
+
Robust build

Reasons to avoid

-
Some rivals sound more exciting

These closed-back headphones, like their DT 900 Pro X open-back cousins, are aimed at content creators, with Beyerdynamic labelling them as 'studio' headphones. But 'studio' or not, they have plenty to offer content consumers too. With a spacious, precise and nimble sound and comfortable, lightweight design, they are the best traditional closed-back over-ears our expert reviews team has come across at this accessible price.

At their heart is Beyerdynamic’s new Stellar.45 drive unit. It’s designed and manufactured in-house and uses a layered Peek polymer diaphragm, with a damping material sandwiched in between, and a Neodymium motor system. The aim? To deliver a detailed sound with an easy load which will allow the headphones to be driven by laptops and smartphones without any problems.

And it works! The DT 700 Pro X sound effortlessly composed – the order and precision with which instruments are presented give music a solid foundation on which the headphones can build. "The honesty in the execution is second to none at this price and the headphones still communicate dynamic shifts of percussion, strings and wind instruments extremely effectively," reads our DT 700 Pro X review. It's not the most exciting presentation we’ve ever heard, the headphones choosing to major in careful control and subtlety instead, but they're still musical and far, far from sounding sterile and unemotional.

Add to that the lack of sound leakage inherent to their closed-back design, plus a reassuringly robust build ("the overall impression you get is that this is a pair of headphones that’s going to give you plenty of mileage over the years," note our in-house reviewers), and you're onto a winner for creators and consumers alike.

Read our full Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X review

Best audiophile headphones for comfort

These audiophile over-ears sound every bit as good as they feel

Specifications

Style: Open-back
Cable length: 3m
Noise-cancelling: No
Connector: 3.5mm, 6.3mm
Weight: 340g

Reasons to buy

+
Nice bass detail
+
Clear and organised
+
Handles treble well
+
Insightful midrange

Reasons to avoid

-
Open-back design leaks sound

Beyerdynamic’s Amiron are the headphone equivalent of a nice, warm pair of slippers. With a headband and earpads covered in Alcantara microfibres and microvelour, these open-backed over-ears can be worn for hours on end before your ears eventually need a rest.

It’s not just those feather-soft materials that allow that either. The pads that surround the 45mm drivers give your listening gear plenty of space, and they weigh just 340g without the 3m cable attached, so they won’t weigh your head down too much either.

Fortunately, they also sound so good you’ll never want to take them off, with a large, spacious sound that takes the whole frequency range in its stride: the mids are insightful, they handle treble well, and there’s nice bass detail. Everything sounds well-organised and rhythmic and, as our in-house experts noted in our Amiron review, "The level of transparency and range that the Amiron provide means that, if you put high-quality sound into it, you’ll get high-quality sound out of it. On the whole, the ability of the Amiron will keep you happy no matter what they’re playing."

As always with open-backed headphones, they leak like a bottomless bucket so are not the most social headphones you can buy – though you’ll be too busy luxuriating in their unrivalled comfort and sumptuous sound to care (even if we can't say the same for anyone else in the same room).

An alternative option is Shure’s SRH1540, which are similarly snug and were our reference audiophile headphones for years, but they are much longer in the tooth now.

Read the full Beyerdynamic Amiron review

Best premium audiophile headphones

More audiophile sound quality than most people will ever need

Specifications

Style: Open-backed
Cable length: 3m
Noise-cancelling: No
Connector: 3.5mm
Weight: 360g

Reasons to buy

+
Clean, balanced presentation
+
Even-handed, informative nature
+
Comfortable and well made

Reasons to avoid

-
Needs top-class partnering kit to truly shine
-
Open-back design leaks sound

It’s been over a decade since we first laid ears on the original T1 model, and they have since become something of a touchstone for us as far as premium audiophile headphones go. In those years the model has reached its third generation, and it mainly separates itself from its predecessor by being easier to drive for laptops and mobile devices (The old model had a 600 ohm impedance, while this new one takes that down to 32 ohms). That said, be under no illusions – high-quality source material is still vital to make the most of their undeniable talents.

They're open-backed, so the usual provisos about leaking sound apply (try their Beyerdynamic T5 siblings if you'd prefer talented closed-backs instead). Indeed, they're intended for home listening, which is aided by the provision of a 3m cable. Incidentally, the cable is easily detachable, so if it ever does break or get damaged, swapping to a replacement will take a matter of seconds. Oh and it doesn't make much mechanical noise as you move around – always a plus.

A nicely shaped, partially Alcantara-covered headband and generous velour-trimmed earpads that don't overheat ears in a hurry make them suitable for longer listening sessions, too.

Sound-wise, the T1 3rd Gen don’t let the lineage down. They're a little cleaner and clearer than their predecessors, sounding a bit less bright and more rounded in the treble. It makes them more forgiving of aggressive electronics and recordings, but they're still admirably even-handed and balanced. As our T1 (3rd Generation) review notes, "We’re pleased to report that Beyerdynamic hasn’t over-egged the bass frequencies either, with the T1 (3rd Gen) sounding as tonally convincing as ever."

What impresses us most is how utterly faithful they are to the recording – vocals come through with particularly wonderful nuance and clarity – and their renditions of even denser music are exceptionally organised and coherent.

For around the same price, you might also want to consider the Grado RS1x, but their more retro aesthetic might put some people off.

Read our full Beyerdynamic T1 (3rd Generation) review

Best luxury audiophile headphones

Focal Clear Mg

(Image credit: Focal)
True head-turners, these open-back headphones both look and sound the business

Specifications

Style: Open-back
Cable length: 1.2m (3.5mm), 3m (XLR)
Noise-cancelling: No
Connector: 3.5mm (with 6.35mm adapter), 4-pin XLR
Weight: 450g

Reasons to buy

+
Expressive and entertaining presentation
+
Excellent comfort
+
Terrific build and finish

Reasons to avoid

-
Standard cable is just 1.2m long
-
Open-back design leaks sound

Focal made its name with loudspeakers, but the French company is now equally admired for its headphones – and the Clear Mg are some of its finest.

Before you even open the box it’s clear that these are high-end audiophile headphones. The packaging is suitably luxurious and there’s no denying the high-quality materials and standard of build, with the appearance certainly a far cry from many of its comparatively drab-looking competitors. A carry case and two detachable cables are included (1.2m 3.5mm and 3m 4-pin XLR), but for the price you might expect a slightly longer 3.5mm cable in the box as well.

Stick the Focal Clear Mg on your head and they’re every bit as comfortable as you’d hope. Their 450g weight is distributed well, with the thick, leather-cushioned headband and microfibre earpads ensuring that there’s not too much inward pressure.

Like many on this list, the Clear Mg are open-backed and therefore better suited to home listening than taking out and about, but that lack of an enclosure means they excel when it comes to transparency and dynamic expression. Their presentation is expressive and entertaining, with plenty of clarity, texture and punch. You can also expect precise stereo placement, plus surefootedness and control when it comes to rhythms.

Tonally, the Clear Mg are, to quote our Clear Mg review, "full-bodied in a manner that eludes most rivals, and this presentation results in instruments and voices coming through in a more natural and engaging manner". They're convincing in all the right ways, without sounding as though they're trying too hard.

A word of advice from our in-house reviews team: "Don’t let the inclusion of a 3.5mm jack and relatively short lead tempt you into using your phone as the primary source... the Clear Mg will produce decent volume levels in most set-ups [but] you really need quality electronics to justify their expense."

If the blingy design isn’t for you, the Grado GS3000x are also worth considering if you can find some extra cash, but in performance-per-pound terms the Focals are our undisputed high-end champs.

Read the full Focal Clear Mg review

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Becky Roberts

In a relatively short time, loudspeaker stalwart Focal has built itself a reputation for producing wired headphones that don't just sound fantastic but, unlike many pairs, look it too. The Clear Mg are proof of that, and you'll benefit most from their sonic luxury by pairing them with a price-suitable DAC (at least something of the Chord Mojo 2's talents), or a source of equivalent skill. Just avoid aggressive-sounding electronics, as this will only emphasise the Focals' forward nature.

Best money-no-object audiophile headphones

What Hi-Fi? Temptation Award winner. Expensive, yes, but their performance is truly exceptional

Specifications

Style: Open-back
Cable length: 2m
Noise-cancelling: No
Connector: 3.5mm (with 6.3mm adaptor), 4.4mm balanced
Weight: 320g

Reasons to buy

+
Exceptional detail and dynamics
+
Spacious presentation
+
Fine build and comfort

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey 
-
You can’t skimp on partnering electronics
-
Open-back design leaks sound

What with Yamaha's broad range of musical products, its headphones tend to get overlooked. The YH-5000SE are an attempt to change that; an ode a modern-day successor to the Japanese company's 1970s HP-1, which was the first pair to use its orthodynamic driver (an older term for what we now call a planar magnetic driver). These one-of-a-kind open-backed headphones are certainly built for audiophiles. And they're excellent.

They're made of lightweight materials – the earcup housing is made of magnesium, while the rest of the headphone’s structure uses a mix of steel, ABS, leather and aluminium – which combine with the soft leather (or suede – both are supplied) earpads to make for some of the most comfortable headphones we've ever worn. The design is a little more functional than some of the 'wow' headphones you get at this price level, but that's fine by us. "These headphones feel beautifully engineered and are built with obvious care," penned our impressed reviewers in our YH-5000SE review.

Besides, what matters is performance, and fortunately that's exceptional. The YH-5000SE come close to equivalently priced Stax electrostatics when it comes to outright resolution and clarity, but in our opinion they deliver the sound with greater verve, which makes them a more enjoyable listen. "It is hard to think of an alternative that’s as insightful and balanced," noted our team – is there a greater compliment?

The one downside (apart from the price, of course) is that you'll need to buddy them with sufficiently high-end partnering kit, otherwise you won't hear them at their best. And that would be a crime. Yamaha would naturally point you to its HA-L7A headphone amplifier, which was tuned using the YH-5000SE, though they worked well during our testing with everything we tried, from our reference hi-fi system to a laptop connected to the Chord Hugo TT2 DAC/headphone amplifier.

If you want to audition some others before taking the plunge, take a trip to your nearest Focal dealer and ask to try the French brand's Utopia and Stellia models.

Read our full Yamaha YH-5000SE review

Best audiophile earbuds

Our number one pick of the best audiophile headphones for in-ear fans

Specifications

Style: In-ear
Cable length: 1.27m
Noise-cancelling: No
Connector: 3.5mm
Weight: 24.5g

Reasons to buy

+
Sophisticated, mature sound
+
Superb levels of detail and rhythmic skill
+
In-line remote

Reasons to avoid

-
Require suitable content and amplification
-
Unforgiving of poor recordings

The Aonic 5 are the top in-ear model in Shure’s Aonic range. On paper, their design credentials look suitably impressive. They use three high-definition balanced armature drivers in a dual woofer and single tweeter configuration – and that's actually something you can spy for yourself thanks to the clear section of each earpiece acting as a window.

Each earpiece uses an MMCX connector to attach to the supplied headphone cable (which helpfully has an in-line remote), though they can also work as a wireless pair with Shure's true wireless secure fit adapter, which costs an extra £175 / $179 / AU$309.

While they will work with a phone (providing it has a 3.5mm headphone jack), to hear them at their best you really should feed them quality audio files from a quality source. Using a laptop and streaming in lossless CD quality? We’d seriously suggest using the Shures with a dedicated external DAC/headphone amp (like the AudioQuest DragonFly Red).

In addition to several pairs of different-sized ear tips are three pairs of nozzles that alter the balance of the sound produced by the earbuds. During our Aonic 5 review testing, our in-house team tried all three and landed on the 'Balanced' option for "the best balance of weight, agility, detail and refinement" – though as always with these kind of things it's worth experimenting for yourself.

Trust us, a good time awaits. "There’s a wonderful sense of clarity and they shower the listener with detail," reads our review. "They’re particularly talented with midrange information – vocals sound superb, rich in detail and natural expression."

If your budget doesn't quite stretch, however, be sure to check out the Shure Aonic 3, which are more affordable and, yes, inferior-sounding – but still class leaders at their price point, hence their current What Hi-Fi? Award.

Read the full Shure Aonic 5 review

Best high-end audiophile earbuds

Sennheiser’s flagship earbuds set sky-high standards at this exclusive price point

Specifications

Style: In-ear
Cable length: 1.2m
Noise-cancelling: No
Connector: 3.5mm, 2.5mm, 4.4mm
Weight: 4g each

Reasons to buy

+
Detailed, articulate sound
+
Refined, entertaining presentation
+
Clever engineering

Reasons to avoid

-
Cable transmits noise
-
No in-line remote

Sennheiser’s IE 900 will appeal to purists who want to get the best audio possible from a high-quality source, period. They put sound quality front and centre, so if that is paramount to you, then these wonderful IEMs are the way to go.

This is a suitably premium package befitting the best audiophile headphones, with six ear tip options and three cables with a choice of normal 3.5mm and balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm connectors.

Sennheiser's engineers have chosen to go with a single driver rather than the more fashionable multiple-unit approach that many rivals take and it's made with rigidity and low resonance in mind. The results are fantastic.

They’re impressively revealing, clear and open-sounding, able to dig deep into the production of a recording – and highlight any shortcomings in it (or your partnering kit). "These Sennheisers capture the music’s energy superbly," notes our IE 900 review. "They sound confident and insightful, revealing layers of low-level information and organising it into a structured and cohesive whole." They strike a wonderful balance between over-analysing and having fun, too, and that goes a long way toward how entertaining they sound.

Partner them with a high-quality outboard DAC, such as the Chord Mojo, and use good-quality files and you'll hear just why the IE 900 justify their hefty price tag. Our reviewers' only complaint was that the signal cable is prone to transmitting any noise caused by movement – an issue if you want to wear these headphones on the move.

If you've got even more to spend, you might also want to consider Shure's KSE1200.

Read our full Sennheiser IE 900 review

Best wireless audiophile headphones