The 10 Best Headphones for Reference Listening 2024
The Premier Audiophile Headphones of the Year
From closed-backs to planar magnetic, wireless, and more, the collection of headphones we carry here at Moon Audio is vast. No matter your listening style, favorite genre, or budget, we've got the perfect pair of headphones for you and to help you in your buying journey, we've rounded up the list of top-selling headphones for 2024. Experience the pinnacle of headphone performance with the best-selling reference headphones of 2024!
Headphones $3000+
HiFiMan SUSVARA Unveiled Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones
Best-In-Class Detail Retrieval & Instrument Separation
Fast and Accurate Sound with Deep, Well-Controlled Bass
Successor to the acclaimed HiFiMan SUSVARA model, the SUSVARA Unveiled Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones push the boundaries of audiophile-grade sound. Enjoy an incredibly detailed and open sound that reproduces your favorite music in the highest fidelity. With advanced diaphragm technology and premium connectivity options, the SUSVARA Unveiled Flagship Headphones are a must-have for discerning audiophiles seeking the best listening experience. These revolutionary headphones are designed to redefine your expectations so don't miss the opportunity to elevate your audio journey to new heights with this groundbreaking product from HiFiMan.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
Meze Audio Empyrean 2 Headphones
Amazing Control and Tuning—More Definition than Original Empyrean
Premium Comfort and Materials
The Meze Empyrean 2 Headphones are the second generation of Meze Audio's popular Empyrean Headphones. The Empyrean 2 is more defined and has better detail separation than the original. The Empyrean II shows us what sonic improvements and technological advancements can do to an already stellar-sounding headphone. It's equipped with Meze Audio's Rinaro Isodynamics Hybrid Array Driver, that reduces the overall weight of the driver design and creates a very accurately reproduced audio. It's got a great reference sound that'll pair well with most genres but sounds especially great with classical since it maintains that awesome, wide soundstage. Meze Audio has hit another home run with the Empyrean 2, and it sounds absolutely amazing.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
Focal Utopia 2022 Headphones
Wonderfully Wide & Detailed Sound
Signature Focal Look
At $4,999, the Focal Utopia 2022 is the second-generation open-back dynamic driver that retains the excellent detail retrieval of the original Utopia, but with a sound that's warmer. The Utopia 2022 still uses the same 40mm M-shaped dome drivers, but they're tuned differently with a warmer presentation. Better depth of field and is more intimate sounding than the original Utopia. They are very engaging with a bass that's tight and controlled. The Utopia 2022 is going to deliver the listener a more musical flagship experience.
The Utopia 2022 has slight design adjustments from the original Utopia: No more silver accents and a more matte finish. The grill design of the Utopia lends itself to a more open sound, as well as the shape of the speaker grilles, which improves the linearity of the treble. It's also a very comfortable headphone, with cushy ear pads and a carbon fiber headband that keeps the weight of the headphone evenly distributed on the head. The Utopia 2022's versatile sound signature will complement a variety of genres from blues and folk to jazz and classic rock.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Silver Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
Focal Stellia Headphones
Rich, Extremely Detailed Sound
Sophisticated Bronze Design
As one of Focal's closed-back headphones, the Focal Stellia delivers a sound that is analytical, smooth, and detailed. Priced at $2,999 it pushes the acoustic boundaries of the best closed-back headphones and stands out within Focal's lineup. The Stellia uses a beryllium driver which lends to a more analytical sound — But the Stellia is anything but clinical sounding. You'll get an extremely detailed sound, making the Stellia great for listeners who live for critical listening. The Stellia incorporates a dampening system on the rear venting port of the driver that releases energy and helps produce a larger extension, resulting in a more controlled bass response.
With the closed-back design of the Focal Stellia, you're going to experience more depth and height to the soundstage, making it a great choice for Classical, Jazz, and any other genre that demands a smooth, detailed, natural-sounding headphone.
We love to pair the Focal Stellia with our Black Dragon headphone cable for a more musical sound. The Stellia's beryllium driver can benefit from a smooth-sounding cable, something that maintains detail and dynamic speed while providing musicality.
Meze Audio Elite Headphones
Amazing Fidelity and Soundstage
Great Build Quality
The Meze Audio Elite open-back planar magnetic Headphones have a more balanced than warm sound with tons of clarity, detail, and low-end representation. The bass is clean, deep, and tight, but the Elite is not a bassy headphone. The midrange is on the forward side with great vocal texture and nuance. The Elite has a gloriously big and wide soundstage with a good amount of height and depth. The Elite isn't going to add any coloration to the sound and will suit a variety of genres, particularly rock, classical, blues, and jazz.
The Elite sports a sophisticated black and silver design with Meze's signature ovoid-shaped ear cups. At about 15 ounces the Elite is comfortable with a strong but flexible headband that fits most head sizes. The Elite's build quality and sound put it at the top with other audiophile flagship headphones at this price tag.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Silver Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
Audeze LCD-5 Headphones
Clean, Tight Bass Response
Unique Ear Cup Design
The Audeze LCD-5 may be a lower weight than its predecessor siblings, but it's made serious gains in resolution and clarity. If you enjoy the clean, tight bass and distortion-free sound of a planar magnetic headphone, AND you want great soundstage and imaging plus lots of detail and nuance, the LCD-5 is a gem. Instrument separation is top-notch, making this headphone great for listening to more complex music where you really want to hear all of the individual sounds that comprise the whole, such as classical and jazz. The top end on the LCD-5 has some sizzle; upper mids are on the forward side; and bass is tight, punchy, and well extended. This headphone is a looker, too, with a sleek black carbon fiber headband, black perforated head strap, and tortoiseshell finish on the rings.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Silver Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
Dan Clark Audio Expanse Open-Back Headphones
Wide, Airy Sound
Comfortable, Foldable Design
The open-back planar magnetic Dan Clark Expanse Headphones have a wide and airy quality, so your music will sound spacious with plenty of breathing room. The Resolution is phenomenal— you’re going to hear so much detail in your music. The sound is snappy, articulate, and transparent, making it a great choice for music with lots of instrumentation where you really want to hear that definition. Electronic music will have you feeling like you are seated in front of a large stage. Treble on the Expanse is rich and prominent, mids are clear, and the low-end favors punch over rumble. This headphone has a striking black design with pops of bright blue, including the stitching on the underside of the leather headband strap. The grille features a hypnotic computer-generated design. It’s very comfortable, and foldable, too! Now, planar magnetic headphones sound their best with added power, so you’ll want to use a DAC/headphone amp to drive the Expanse.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
In-Ear Monitors
Empire Ears ODIN Universal IEMs
Neutral, Balanced Sound
11 Proprietary Drivers, Tribrid Design
For those seeking a listening experience that's out of this world, the Empire Ears ODIN IEM brings the best of everything Empire has done to the table: the three best IEM driver technologies available, with the most advanced crossover system in the industry, the finest quality materials, and masterful tuning. The ODIN is grand and enthusiastic but controlled, with a totally natural signature and clarity that rivals the ESR MKII without being overly analytical. In the words of Empire co-founder Jack Vang, the ODIN is the very personification of Empire's DNA at its most extreme -- in design, performance, and breadth of capabilities.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Silver Dragon IEM Cable
Empire Ears RAVEN Universal IEMs
Airy, Emotive. Big Bold Sound
Lightweight & Comfortable
One of Empire Ear's latest universal IEMs, the RAVEN IEM is full of energy. With a big, bold sound that's full of musicality, you just can't help but tap your feet and move to the music when listening to the Raven. It brings excitement to the forefront with a hard-hitting articulate bass and a top end that's not shy by any means. At the forefront of the RAVEN is the W10 Bone Conductor. This groundbreaking driver delivers unparalleled imaging, intricate nuance retrieval, and rich timbre by transmitting sound through bone conduction. The result is an immersive sonic experience that engages the listener on a truly profound level. Five balanced armature drivers work in tandem to render and captivating and pure midrange that truly brings music to life.
The RAVEN's black chassis is sleek and inconspicuous in the ears. Not to mention how lightweight and comfortable they are. Empire Ears has continued to make huge innovative strides in their technology and the RAVEN shows us that they're not slowing down any time soon.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Silver Dragon IEM Cable
64 Audio Fourté In-Ear Monitors
Versatile, Articulate Sound
Exceptional Fit and Comfort
Experience the pinnacle of in-ear monitor performance with 64 Audio's Fourté Universal-fit IEMs. The Fourté stands at the forefront of IEM innovation as the first 64 Audio In-Ear Monitor to feature internally integrated patented Apex and Tia technology. These along with its ergonomic shell, machined out of solid aluminum, have dictated 64 Audio's entire universal in-ear monitor design language since its development in 2016. The Fourté’s unique drivers, acoustic chambers, integrated apex technology, and passive radiator all unite delivering an unrivaled sonic experience. The Fourté is the ultimate universal IEM for audiophiles and music lovers looking for an expansive, natural sound with ultra-deep lows, luscious mids, and naturally smooth highs.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Bronze Dragon IEM Cable
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