Best Audiophile Headphones of 2022: The Ultimate Guide for Headphone Comparisons

Audeze LCD-X Headphones: Neutral with Some Sizzle

The open-back planar magnetic Audeze LCD-X is the most neutral headphone in the LCD lineup, making it a go-to studio monitor. The clarity, fast and accurate dynamics, and neutrality of the LCD-X account for its popularity with audiophiles, recording engineers and musicians alike. It's got a big, intense, and forward sound with a highly resolving top end with sizzle and tons of detail. Soundstage on the LCD-X is on the tighter side, making for an intimate listening experience. The LCD X is sensitive enough to be driven directly by portable players and smartphones, but as with all planar dynamic headphones, it will sound better the more power you throw at it. At 635g, the LCD-X is on the heavier side as headphones go, but its stellar sound and technical performance may make you forget that. We like to pair the LCD-X with a Black Dragon Premium Cable for a full-bodied sound and a smooth top end.

Focal Clear Mg Headphones: A Detail Lover's Dream

Focal released the Clear Mg  in 2021, an update to its original Clear open-back headphone. It certainly looks different -- a warm chestnut and mixed metal design has replaced the earlier silver aesthetic -- but inside is where you'll find the real change. The driver of the Clear Mg sports an all-magnesium dome -- hence the "mg" in the name. This is in contrast to the original Clear, which had an aluminum-magnesium dome. Focal says this new driver offers greater dynamics, improved bass articulation, and a higher level of detail. It's a great choice for the listener who enjoys a balanced sound that leans warm and full without any loss of detail. In fact, the Clear Mg really excels with detail. The Clear Mg offers a flatter and more neutral sound signature that tells it like it is, so to speak. It's an attractive, well-made, and comfortable headphone. We like to pair the Clear Mg with a Silver Dragon Premium Cable for a clean, clear sound and maximum detail retrieval.

Fostex TH-909 Headphones: Eye-Catching and Comfortable

The TH909 is Fostex’s flagship open-back headphone. Linear from top to bottom, it's got a similar sound signature to the TH900, but with a bigger presentation and a wider soundstage. It's a very fast and detailed headphone. The TH909 offers a wider dynamic range with low distortion using a 1.5 Tesla 50mm driver with repulsion magnet. The diaphragm is constructed from Biodyna, a material composed of bio-cellulose and inorganic fiber. This diaphragm design accomplishes rich low-end frequencies, a natural mid-range, and excellent presence in the high frequencies. The double-layer etching on the metal grills is beautiful, and the ear cups are finished with a deep red lacquer. Contrasted against the black metal, it's a striking design, one that is sure to garner looks. That being said, it's an open-back headphone, making it most appropriate for home or studio use where sound bleed isn't going to be an issue. Finally, the TH909 is a very comfortable headphone - right up there among the most comfortable that we sell. We like to pair the TH909 with a Silver Dragon Premium Cable for an expanded soundstage and top-end sizzle.

Sennheiser HD 800S Headphones

The Sennheiser HD 800S is an improved version of the well-renowned and highly respected HD 800 reference headphones for audiophiles. Sennheiser's reference class HD 800 headphones deliver a sound that is as natural as possible and true in every detail. The HD 800S is a pair of dynamic stereo headphones that feature enhanced sound reproduction achieved through absorber technology. The absorber technology prevents any peaks and allows all frequency components in the muisc to become audible. These headphones can be bass light and sound especially great with Jazz and Classical. We like to pair the HD 800S with a Black Dragon Premium Cable to smooth some of the top end.

HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnets Headphones: More Bass Than the Original

The Arya Stealth has been retrofitted with HiFiMan's Stealth Magnet technology - hence the new name, Arya Stealth Magnets. The magnets feature a special shape that enables waves to pass through them without generating interference. As a result, HiFiMan says, sonics are detailed and transparent, and every detail of a recording is exposed without extra noise. While not as resolving or as "big" sounding as its big brother, the HE1000V2, the Arya Stealth Magnets delivers a-plenty when it comes to detail married with that smooth planar magnetic sound. It's got robust bass, clear mids, and highs that shine. If you're looking for a planar headphone that's lighter on the head (and wallet) than many planars in its class and still sounds really good, then check out the Arya Stealth Magnets.

HiFiMan HE1000se Headphones: A Live Performance on Your Head

If you crave the experience of listening to live music in a club or hall without leaving home, you'll want to check out the HIFIMAN HE1000se. This open-back planar magnetic headphone boasts a marvelously wide and natural soundstage. Its predecessor, the HE1000V2, is one of the most heralded high-performance headphones on the market. That being said, the HE1000SE takes things further, with a thinner driver and neodymium magnets that increase efficiency and lower distortion for true purity of sound. With neodymium, the driver in the HE1000se is faster and more dynamic, presenting every sonic detail for a more compelling performance. Meanwhile, a higher sensitivity rating makes this headphone pairable with any source -- even your smartphone. The overall result is a headphone that sounds airy and detailed with an even more immediate dynamic sound. We like to pair the HS1000e with a Black Dragon Premium Cable for even more of that musical, "I'm there" feeling.  

Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Headphones: Ambient Sound Control

If you’re looking for the top noise-canceling headphone, then look no further. The Sony WH-1000XM5 is an amazingly good value considering the quality of sound and number of features provided at this price point. The build quality is pretty standard for this class of headphones. It won’t take a beating but if you take care of it, it will take care of you. Sony has been around the block for some time now, and they understand not only what the consumer wants, but how to beat out their competition. The XM5 is likely the best you can buy right now for noise canceling. It’s not the cheapest but it’s also not the most expensive. Wireless audio is not perfect, but the Sony XM5 makes you think it’s achievable, if not almost there.

The WH-1000XM5 incorporates the best ideas from the competition as well, so you can be assured you're getting everything you possibly can for this price point. An amazing 30 hour battery with ANC, combined with LDAC compatibility, and a Dragon Cable, and you have a headphone that can literally do it all; the Swiss-army knife of headphones if you will. The XM5 makes enough quality-of-life updates from the previous generation to make it a worthwhile upgrade. It’s a headphone that learns to integrate into your day-to-day, and it's smart enough not to get in the way.

HIFIMAN Ananda BT Headphones: Hands-Free Audiophile Awesomeness

The HIFIMAN Ananda-BT headphones have made us believe in the power of wireless technology and where it’s going. If you’re in the market for a wireless headset that doesn’t sacrifice sound quality, then look no further. The biggest thing the Ananda-BT brings to the wireless headphone table is the sound quality. It’s the best sounding wireless headphone we’ve tested. That being said, the wired Ananda will set you back a reasonable $699 for this price range, but the BT variant goes for $999. The Ananda-BT is one of the more expensive wireless headphones at Moon Audio, but the fidelity and soundstage are unmatched by the competition.

HIFIMAN states that the Ananda-BT gets 10 hours of battery play time, with about 2.7 hours to fully charge. I was getting about 8-10 hours depending on volume. After all, planar magnetic drivers require a lot of power, so although the battery life could be considered abysmal compared to other wireless headphones on the market, I’m getting almost 10 full hours of free-ranging sonic enlightenment. I’m not complaining. I’d happily trade a shorter battery life for a better quality listening experience any day. The HIFIMAN Ananda-BT is the wireless headphone for the audiophile. Sure, it’s not going to be as good as plugging directly into a quality tube headphone amp, but it’s one of the best if not THE best wireless headphone on the market.

Grado GW100 V2 Wireless Headphones: Bang for the Buck

The GW100 V2 are the world's first open-back Bluetooth headphones. This alone makes them wholly unique among wireless headphones. Their speaker housings and internals have been designed from the ground up, now working in tandem to notably diminish escaping sound by up to 60% (as compared to Grado wired headphones. Leakage reduction varies in certain situations. This is based on a reasonable distance, angle, and genre of music played). The left earcup has buttons for controlling volume and other functions. The button can also be used to skip tracks or take incoming phone calls. A microphone is built into the earcup for phone calls or voice assistants. There's also an option for wired listening via an auxiliary 3.5mm jack that can be used to connect the GW100 to an analog source using the supplied cable if the battery runs down or if you don’t want to use Bluetooth. That being said, the battery charges in two hours and provides up to 40 hours of playback, which is based on a 50-percent volume setting. Battery varies due to volume and musical genre. The sound quality is excellent: lively and transparent, with a frequency response that goes from 20Hz up to 20kHz. For fans of the Grado brand, this is our pick for the best budget-friendly wireless headphone.

If you're looking for an IEM with a major "wow" factor, look no further than the Legend EVO. Like the Legend X, the Legend EVO has a fun, bassy, energetic sound - but there's one very notable difference: The Legend EVO includes a bone conduction driver, which takes the sound to the next level. The bone conduction driver works alongside the Weapon IX dynamic subwoofers and balanced armature drivers to deliver a sound that will knock your socks off. It has a visceral quality that you experience both inside and outside of your body. The Legend EVO demonstrates prowess with genres like rock, rap, R&B and EDM, but it also works well with genres like classical or jazz - anything with a big, bold presentation. We like to pair the Legend EVO with a Silver Dragon IEM Cable to maximize detail in the upper frequencies.

The low-end presence, mid-level energy, and the high-frequency roll-off of the Advar make for a smooth, dynamic, and fun IEM. A precisely tuned 10.2 mm single dynamic driver creates a warm, lifelike presentation that stays true to Meze Audio's signature sound. You shouldn’t be surprised that the Advar still retains the excellent Meze soundstage that is present in all of their headphones and IEMs. No one does it better - and you should be impressed with the overall imaging and spatial width/depth that they achieve from a single driver.

For those who enjoy the Meze Empyrean headphone, the Rai Penta is a great IEM alternative. The sound and tuning are remarkably similar in terms of detailed and organic sound, with a soundstage that mimics that of larger open-back headphones. The Rai Penta is nicely balanced, and the natural timbre of instrumentation really stands out. Drums and mids are clear and unveiled, vocals shine, and bass is present with lots of depth. Meze Audio has done a superb job tuning the five drivers in the Rai Penta. The overall fidelity is impressive, and combined with the ergonomic and anatomically shaped shell, you have the best of both worlds: great sound and comfortable fit. The Rai Penta feels premium in every way. The low impedance and high sensitivity of the Rai Penta ensure that it will work effortlessly with almost any device.

Senneheiser IE 600 IEMs

Empire Ears Odin IEM

The Odin is one of those products whose name really says it all. As the "all father," the Odin represents a coming together of everything Empire Ears has accomplished thus far with its exclusive technologies. Odin boasts a tribrid design with a total of 11 drivers per side (electrostatic, balanced armature, dynamic), and an extraordinary frequency range of 5Hz-100kHz. With Odin, there is a sense of: "Here is music for you to enjoy, and now I'll leave you alone to enjoy it in your own way." It's a remarkably pure and honest presentation, allowing the listener to hear music as it is, appreciating it for its inherent beauty. Bass is clean and punchy; treble is sweet and pretty. The midrange, in particular female vocals, are lovely, with lots of depth and nuance. Sound separation on Odin is exquisite, with excellent clarity and detail. It's not an analytical sound signature, which can come off as sterile. There's nothing sterile sounding about Odin. We like to pair the Odin with a Black Dragon IEM Cable for added fullness along with air and definition.

Sony IER-M9 IEM

The Sony IER-M9 IEM authenticaly reproduces raw emotion and musical nuance. With a balanced armature system, these IEMs are regarded as stage monitors that faithfully reproduce even the most subtle sounds and emotions. With a pre-formed ear hanger for easy positioning, you can expect the IER-M9 to stably fit in your ears, as well as with the added help of the 13 variations of earbud tips included. The light, durable magnesium outer housing is designed to withstand knocks or accidents. Hailed for their performance as stage monitor IEMs, you can expect a clear sound that picks up even the most minute details.

Sennehiser IE900 IEM

Sennheiser's flagship IE900 IEM is a wonderful marriage of clarity, comfort, and convenience. "Every detail matters" was a guiding principle in the creation of the IE900, which means you get to hear every little thing in your favorite music. The IE900 is a single dynamic driver design. Multi-driver systems can introduce phase incoherence and unwanted distortion. The single dynamic driver design promises greater fidelity for listeners and eliminates phases issues and the resulting distortion in overlapping frequency bands. Sennheiser's acoustic back volume ensures separation between the lows and the mids, so the powerful bass doesn't spill over into the middle frequencies.

Shure KSE1500 Electrostatic IEM

The Shure KSE1500  is the first ever single-driver electrostatic sound isolating earphone. Electrostatic headphones are known for their low distortion and high accuracy, and these are no exception. You get sound that is clean, clear, transparent, and tonally balanced. If you want an earphone that will allow you to hear everything, exactly as it is, the KSE1500 is for you. The driver design features a virtually weightless, massless diaphragm, surrounded by an electrostatic field generated by back plates that manage charge oscillation. The audio technology of the KSE1500 earphones enables listeners to fine-tune and appreciate frequencies that may be distorted, or lost completely. Extremely high correlation to the source audio provides unmatched audio clarity and detail. Custom-designed Kevlar™ reinforced cable specifically isolates each conductor. Sound Isolating™, comfortable sleeves block up to 37 dB of ambient noise, and the lightweight, ergonomic shape minimizes ear fatigue. Now, any e-stat headphone requires a dedicated amp. The KSE15000 comes with its own dedicated headphone amp/DAC that is about the size of an iPod. Neither the earphones nor the amp can be used with anything but each other.

Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Earphones: A Personalized Experience

The Sony WF-1000XM4 truly wireless earbuds take noise cancellation and audio quality to the next level. These earbuds are 10% smaller than their predecessor, the WF-1000XM3. They feature a new Integrated Processor V1, a new noise-sensing microphones, a new driver unit, and innovative Noise Isolation eartips with a more stable fit. The newly designed driver unit gives you improved performance in low frequencies. It also enhances noise canceling by generating a high-precision cancellation signal to the low frequency range. Improved noise canceling performance and Bluetooth™ ‘System on Chip’ technology delivers the industry’s highest level of noise canceling yet uses less power. Two noise sensing microphones per ear – one feed-forward and one feed-back – on the surface of the headphones catch more of the ambient sounds of your surroundings. You also get crystal-clear call quality, thanks to a beamforming microphone and a bone-conduction sensor provide clear voice detection even in noisy environments

The WF-1000XM4 earbuds boast features like automatic wind noise reduction, Adaptive Sound Control, Precise Voice Pickup Technology, Ambient Sound mode, and Speak-to-Chat, which automatically pauses your music and lets in ambient sound so you can have a conversation. You also get intuitive touch control settings, and you can use the Sony | Connect Headphones app to assign your own functions to each earbud. Available in black and white, the WF-1000XM4 is waterproof and sweatproof. You can enjoy a full working day of charge – eight hours – from your headphones and store another 16 hours in the case. That means a full 24 hours of listening time every time you leave the house. In a hurry? A five-minute quick charge gives you up to 60 minutes of play time, and the Sony | Headphones Connect app will even notify you when your charging case drops below 30%.