15 Best Headphones for Audiophiles 2025

Don’t let the premium price tag fool you—during our review the HP100 SE earned praise for an exceptional, wide horizontal soundstage and a redesigned headband with noticeably more padding that improves long-session comfort. We found the detachable braided cables practical for durability and swapping, which is a real-world convenience for wired setups. Our experience shows the cans are heavy and the loose clamping can make them feel unstable over time. With a 7.5/10 score, they offer spacious imaging but the build quality feels a touch behind what the price implies.

The Utopia 2022 earned its high 9.5/10 rating in our testing thanks to an unmatched sound signature and a mind-blowing 5Hz–50kHz frequency response that reveals micro-details and air in recordings. We found the genuine leather and forged carbon materials both luxurious and durable, and the open-back staging delivers a natural, cathedral-like presentation prized by audiophiles. That said, during our review the steep $4,999 price and the requirement for a quality headphone amplifier mean this is a serious investment for dedicated listeners only.

During our review the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 impressed with outstanding clarity and a luxurious build—Nappa leather and aluminum feel premium from the first touch. We found its noise cancellation effective at reducing ambient hum without overly compromising tonal balance, and Bluetooth convenience makes it a solid daily driver. Our experience shows the wear sensor can be inconsistent and cause annoying pauses, and the relatively high price paired with a 7/10 score means competitors may offer stronger value for similar ANC performance.

Our experience shows the Meze Audio Empyrean is a masterclass in comfort and build—premium materials and an exceptionally ergonomic fit make long listening sessions effortless. During our review its warm, engaging signature is immediately inviting and very musical, and construction quality earns top marks among high-end closed and open designs. We noticed the treble can be a touch soft and the bass lacks some punch compared with rivals, and at $2,999 the Empyrean scores 8.5/10 for listeners who prioritize luxurious comfort over absolute neutrality.

HIFIMAN’s Arya Stealth impressed us in our testing with its stealth magnet design and teardrop, lightweight form that yields excellent imaging and dynamic range for spacious, precise playback. We found the headphones comfortable for extended listening sessions, though the build has a slightly plastic feel and the ear cups can struggle to seal on smaller heads. The forward treble on some tracks may require EQ adjustment if you’re sensitive to brightness. Scoring 8.5/10, the Arya Stealth is a compelling wired option for listeners who want performance and comfort without a premium price tag.

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 continues to shine in our testing thanks to enhanced adaptive noise cancellation with 12 microphones and improved audio via DSEE Extreme, earning it a strong 8/10. We appreciated the reintroduced foldable design for travel and found the ANC effective for flights and busy offices, but our experience shows there’s no ingress protection and it lacks USB-C audio playback, which may matter to some users. Battery life and Bluetooth convenience make these a reliable daily-driver choice, though occasional minimal discounts mean you might not find deep seasonal savings.

The Porta Pro Black is a classic budget pick that we found ideal for commuters and casual listeners who prize portability and value. In our testing its featherlight design makes it easy to stash in a bag and the sound is surprisingly good for the price, making it a dependable grab-and-go option. During use our experience shows the foam ear pads are the main weakness and will likely need replacement over time, which explains the middling build quality score despite comfortable fit and an affordable $49.99 MSRP.

In our testing the SR325x carved out a niche with spectacular midrange detail and fierce dynamics that make rock and metal tracks jump to life. We found the attack and immediacy thrilling for energetic genres, which explains its strong 8/10 score for certain listeners, but our experience also shows the aggressive upper midrange and limited sub-bass can cause listener fatigue on longer sessions. Comfort scored lower in prolonged use, so these are best for shorter, high-energy listening or focused studio work rather than marathon listening.

The Grado GT220 punches above its price with remarkably clear, detailed sound and a secure fit that provided surprisingly good passive isolation during our review. We found Bluetooth connectivity to be stable and versatile, thanks to aptX, AAC and SBC support, but don’t expect any active noise cancellation or an app for tuning — features some rivals offer. Touch controls are convenient but can be overly sensitive in daily use, which we noticed during commute testing. Scoring 7.5/10, the GT220 is a straightforward, musical option if pure sound and fit matter more than bells and whistles.

During our review the Bose 700 stood out for its superb noise cancellation, easily taming airplane rumble and office chatter to create a very focused listening space. We found overall sound quality solid and Bluetooth connectivity convenient for commuting, but they aren’t as featherlight or as comfortable as the QC35 II over extended flights. Our experience also flagged frequent accidental button presses during daily use, which can be frustrating if you expect fuss-free controls—still a strong choice if ANC is your top priority.

The Focal Bathys earned its high rating in our review by delivering exceptional clarity and an expansive soundstage paired with a premium metal-and-leather build that feels luxurious. We found the plush leather earcups and balanced weight distribution make them comfortable for long sessions, but they are heavier than some rivals and the ANC proved only moderate compared with top noise-canceling models. Physical controls felt a touch flimsy relative to the otherwise excellent construction. At a 9/10 score, the Bathys is a top pick for discerning audiophiles who value sound and materials above absolute lightweight portability.

If you prioritize a neutral, expansive soundstage, the Sennheiser HD 660S2 is hard to beat — in our testing it delivered exceptional clarity and imaging that made mixes and acoustic recordings shine. We found the open-back design gives natural, airy presentation but also leaks audio, so these wired cans aren’t ideal for noisy commutes or shared spaces. Comfort is mixed: the sound is top-tier (9/10) but the high clamping force and a comfort score of 7 mean long sessions can get tiring. With an 8/10 overall score, they’re a great choice for critical listening at home.

During our review the Sony MDR-MV1 stood out for exceptional clarity and a remarkably spacious soundstage that makes acoustic recordings breathe in a way few headphones do. We found the lightweight construction keeps comfort high through long sessions, earning it an 8/10 for home listening and critical listening tasks. Our testing also showed the open-back design leaks sound and isn’t suited for noisy environments, and the lack of a carrying case means you’ll want to protect them when transporting.

In our testing the ATH-M50xIB proved why the M50 lineage remains a studio staple: clarity across a broad frequency range, deep accurate bass that improves after break-in, and a circumaural design that provides excellent isolation. We found the professional-grade earpads and headband materials comfortable even when wearing glasses, and build quality held up well for everyday use. During our review a minority of users reported occasional crackling from cable connections—our experience suggests ensuring a secure plug solves most issues—making them reliable wired cans at a very accessible price.

In our testing the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro delivered stunning resolution and exceptional detail retrieval that makes critical listening and mixing straightforward, earning an 8/10 score among prosumer options. We found the rugged metal build is built like a tank and very comfortable over long sessions, and the two included ear pad sets let you tailor the tonal balance. During our review the energetic highs could become fatiguing on some recordings and a good headphone amplifier revealed their best performance, while pad swaps proved fiddly.