Top 5 Best Audiophile Headphones of 2025

If you care about audio quality above all else, you’ll want a good pair of audiophile-level headphones. While these headphones generally aren’t the best option for on-the-go use due to their lack of active features, they’re great for fully immersing yourself in your music while at home. They reproduce sound accurately, and most can create a spacious, open soundstage that mimics listening to music on actual tower speakers. They also generally feel well-built and comfortable enough to fully enjoy the music without being reminded that you’re wearing headphones at all. Due to limitations with Bluetooth connection, this article primarily focuses on wired audiophile headphones.

We tested many pairs of headphones and have compiled a list of the best headphones for audiophiles available today. Check out our picks for the best headphones for music, bass headphones, wired headphones, and studio headphones.

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Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best Audiophile Headphones of 2025

1.Sennheiser HD 800 S

Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Sennheiser HD 800 S are the best audiophile headphones we have tested. These high-end headphones aren’t for everyone; their high price puts them out of reach for the majority of users, and driving them requires a powerful amplifier, which can be costly. However, if you’re looking for an immersive experience at any price, these open-back over-ears have an excellent soundstage that’s large, natural, and spacious. As a result, audio appears to come from outside of your head rather than inside it.

Their dynamic transducers are less susceptible to stereo imaging issues than planar magnetic headphones. The trade-off is that they lack lower-bass. Although their sound lacks punch and rumble, these comfortable over-ears have a touch of extra high bass that adds warmth to mixes. Vocals and lead instruments are accurately reproduced thanks to the flat and balanced midrange. If you want high-quality audiophile headphones with more bass, look into the HiFiMan Arya. They are planar magnetic headphones that add more thump and punch to mixes while remaining brighter than the Sennheiser. Sibilants sound a bit piercing, though, which isn’t ideal for everyone.

The Sennheiser HD 800 S are top-of-the-line audiophile headphones. Their open-back design ensures a natural and spacious soundstage for your audio, while their 56mm Ring Radiator dynamic drivers deliver a satisfyingly neutral and reference-grade sound. Even though they’re quite large, their fit is comfortable enough for long listening sessions. That said, you’ll want to consider using a good amp and DAC to get the most out of them, which can be an added cost on top of the high price tag of these cans.

The Sennheiser HD 800 S are excellent for neutral sound. They have a sound profile that reproduces natural vocals and instruments with a bit of boom, but not a lot of rumble in the lows. Although they’re a bit light on the bass, this is to be expected from open-back headphones. On the upside, this design helps them create a spacious and out-of-head passive soundstage that will help immerse you in your audio. They’re quite balanced in peaks and dips, so sounds don’t have many narrow frequencies of exaggeration or de-emphasis.

The Sennheiser HD 800 S aren’t suitable for commuting. They may have a comfortable fit, but their open-back ear cups don’t block any ambient noise and leak a lot of audio, which can bother passengers around you. They’re not portable either and lack a carrying case to help protect them from damage when you’re on the go.

2.Sennheiser HD 490 PRO

Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO are the top mid-range audiophile headphones we’ve tested. These over-ear headphones cost less than the Sennheiser HD 800 S and feature a dynamic driver design. While they are as comfortable as our top pick, the flimsier plastic yokes detract from their build quality. The HD 490 PRO has a balanced sound profile with a flat mid-range, making vocals and lead instruments audible and clear. They also have slightly more low-bass than the HD 800 S, which adds thump to mixes. Their passive soundstage is impressive; it appears wide and spacious, as if the 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.

The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO headphones have an open back and are worn over the ears. While Sonova acquired Sennheiser’s consumer audio division in 2022, Sennheiser retained control of their pro audio division, which released products designed for professional applications. These headphones represent this shift; they are designed as an analytical listening tool that can help you with a variety of audio-related tasks. As a result, they include two sets of earpads: one for ‘Producing’ and one for ‘Mixing,’ with the goal of making these over-ears as versatile as possible. Another useful feature is the dual-jack, detachable cable design, which allows for more freedom of movement while wearing them.

The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO are excellent for neutral sound. With their ‘Producing’ pads, they boast an impressive bass extension for open-back headphones, with only a small amount of low-bass roll-off, so basslines and kicks have plenty of punch and slam. Their mids and highs are also quite balanced, though they lack detail in the upper-mid. Their somewhat inconsistent treble response can render sibilants both dull and piercing, depending on their tonality. However, they excel at delivering audio consistently, even if you have thick hair or wear glasses. Their decent passive soundstage performance adds depth and openness to their sound, though it’s not quite on par with higher-end audiophile headphones. Overall, factoring in the added versatility of their swappable pad design, they’re a great studio Swiss army knife.

3.HiFiMan Sundara 2020

Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

If you want something in the middle of the price range, consider the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. Unlike the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO, they are planar magnetic headphones with a unique design that some users may prefer. The ski-band headband helps distribute the weight of the headphones across your head. They also have a stronger clamping force, so they fit tighter than the previous option. Meanwhile, the larger design of their planar magnetic drivers vibrates the entire diaphragm, resulting in a soundstage that more accurately represents an out-of-head stereo experience. It’s worth noting, however, that while our unit did not have any problems, planar magnetic drivers like those found in the HiFiMan are more prone to mismatching issues, which can result in poor stereo imaging.

These over-ears have a balanced midrange, resulting in natural, present, and clear vocals and instruments. Sibilants, such as cymbals, are present but not overly bright or piercing. While they don’t produce as much thump and punch as the previous Sennheiser, they do have a hint of extra high-bass to help add warmth to your mix. Fortunately for those without an amplifier, these headphones will not require any additional power to sound good with most devices.

The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are open-back planar magnetic headphones. They are the next generation of HiFiMan Sundara 2018, and the manufacturer claims to have redesigned the ear cup padding. Because of their bulky design and lack of a carrying case, they are ideal for listening at home. They also have a 32-ohm impedance and a 94dB sensitivity, making them suitable for use with mobile devices such as phones and laptops. However, like most open-back audiophile headphones, these headphones work best when paired with a dedicated amplifier.

The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 is ideal for neutral sound. Their sound is ideal for audiophile use, thanks to smooth, flat mids that produce natural vocals and instruments. While their treble range has more peaks, they are relatively minor, adding brightness and clarity. Their sound lacks thump and rumble in the low end due to their open-back design, which can be a drawback if you enjoy genres like EDM and hip-hop. Their soundstage is perceived as large and spacious, allowing them to create an immersive audio experience. They also provide consistent sound, so you won’t have to constantly adjust them.

4.Sennheiser HD 560S

Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Sennheiser HD 560S are the best lower-midrange headphones for audiophiles that we’ve tested. These open-backs have a good passive soundstage, so music sounds like it’s coming from speakers in front of you rather than inside your head. It’s not as immersive as the more expensive HiFiMan Sundara 2020, but it still feels more spacious than most closed-back speakers. On the plus side, the Sennheisers are equally comfortable to wear for extended listening sessions.

The Sennheiser sound profile is well-balanced, making these headphones suitable for a wide range of audio content and musical genres. Fans of both classical and pop music will appreciate their relatively flat midrange and treble response. However, they lack a little low and mid-bass, as is typical of open-backs. Closed-back headphones are better at reproducing bass, so if you’re a techno fan looking for more rumble and boom, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO are a great choice. The Beyerdynamic’s closed-back design also means they leak less audio, making them more versatile. They are an excellent choice for studio recording, for example.

The Sennheiser HD 560S are wired, open-back headphones designed for neutral listening. They provide a well-balanced sound profile that should suit most musical genres while also delivering audio consistently. They’re also extremely comfortable, thanks to their lightweight construction and ample plush padding. They, like most open-back headphones, are unsuitable for portable use due to poor noise isolation, high levels of audio leakage, and a bulky design. Otherwise, if you want a pair of comfortable headphones with an immersive soundstage, these are an excellent option.

The Sennheiser HD 560S is ideal for neutral sound. Most mixes should have adequate body and warmth, despite a slight lack of low-bass. The mix includes vocals and lead instruments, which are detailed and clear, and the audio is delivered with impressive consistency. They also have a decently immersive soundstage.

5.Philips SHP9500

Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

If you want even less expensive headphones, the Philips SHP9500 are the best budget audiophile headphones we’ve tried. Their open-back design creates a wide and natural soundstage, giving the impression that audio is coming from two speakers in the same room. They are comfortable to wear for extended listening sessions and have a good build quality, but they are not as stable on the head as more expensive options such as the Sennheiser HD 560S.

They produce a well-balanced sound that is appropriate for most musical genres. Their mid-range is particularly strong, allowing vocals to be rendered naturally and without honking. The main drawback of these headphones is their slightly lackluster bass response. They aren’t the best cans for audiophiles who enjoy hip-hop kick drums with lots of thumpy low-bass, so the Superlux HD 681 are worth considering. The Superlux have a balanced sound that works well in most genres, but they’re particularly good for fans of modern bass-heavy genres like EDM. Unfortunately, they have a poor, plasticky build quality and are less comfortable than the Philips, despite being less expensive.

The Philips SHP9500 are entry-level audiophile headphones. If you’re on a tight budget but want to try out open-back headphones, these are worth considering. They can create a spacious soundstage by design, allowing you to immerse yourself in your audio, and their flat sound ensures accurate vocal and instrument reproduction. They also have a low impedance of 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 101 dB, so you can avoid using them in conjunction with an amp if you don’t already own one.

The Philips SHP9500 are excellent for neutral sound. They’re tuned to provide a good amount of boom to kick drums but can’t produce very deep bass. However, the balanced mid-range ensures that speech and lead instruments sound clear and natural. The majority of the treble region is voiced to produce articulate and clear harmonics, which can border on sharp depending on your sensitivity. The open-back design provides a spacious and immersive audio experience. To get the most out of them, you don’t even need to use an amplifier. However, because they are open-backs, you are restricted in where you can use them due to the lack of isolation.

The Philips SHP 9500 were not designed with commute and travel in mind. They’re bulky and don’t block out background noise because of their open-back design, so you’ll hear all the low rumbles of bus engines and people talking around you. They also leak audio, so even if you’re listening to it quietly, others can hear it. Nonetheless, these cans have a very comfortable fit.

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