Headphones aren’t all created equal, especially headphones for audiophiles. Like sports cars, there are different tiers, categories, and features at different price points. However, if you want the best-sounding for the money (and some but not all are significant money), look no further than these.
They’re made for critical listeners with discerning tastes that are as varied as normal listeners but demand attention to detail and nuance that puts brands on notice. Of course, the audiophile market is also rife with snake oil, over-inflated promises, hype, and cope from listeners eager to justify their purchase. That’s where we come in, filtering out the nonsense and separating the wheat from the chaff so you you’re getting something good.
Headphones are subjective; even our best overall, the , isn’t necessarily the best for everyone. So, we’ve selected the best headphones for audiophiles across various categories so you can shop with peace of mind. Throughout my decade-plus career covering consumer tech, I’ve been lucky enough to combine my passion for music with my love of writing.
I’ve tested hundreds of pairs of headphones, in-ear monitors, and gaming headsets at many different outlets, including , , , , and right here at . I love audio and everything that goes with it, like different listening devices, from the to . For this guide, I started by considering all of and I’ve tested this year and worked backward across my career.
I considered which seemed to h.
