The Best Audiophile Headphones in 2022

Whatever your musical tastes are, the best audiophile headphones deliver top-tier sound quality and bring you closer to your favorite artists.

You may believe that the best-sounding headphones are prohibitively expensive, but if you choose wisely, this is not the case. While the most expensive headphones justify their prices through meticulously honed luxury finishes, mid-market models like the ones on this list frequently benefit greatly from the flagship model’s developments.

All of the models in this category focus on the best sound quality we have heard. Some focus on the music and have few extra features, whereas others have robust feature sets and desirable technology such as active noise cancellation (ANC) and fast charging.

Whatever your musical tastes are, the best audiophile headphones deliver top-tier sound quality and bring you closer to your favorite artists. You may believe that the best-sounding headphones are prohibitively expensive, but if you choose wisely, this is not the case. While the most expensive headphones justify their prices through meticulously honed luxury finishes, mid-market models like the ones on this list frequently benefit greatly from the flagship model’s developments.

All of the models in this category focus on the best sound quality we have heard. Some focus on the music and have few extra features, whereas others have robust feature sets and desirable technology such as active noise cancellation (ANC) and fast charging.

SPECIFICATIONS

Headphone Type: Closed-back, wireless/wired over-ear

Size and weight: Not specified; 8.8 ounces

Battery life (rated): 30 hours (ANC on); 40 hours (ANC off)

Bluetooth range: 43 feet

ANC: Yes

Codec support: SBC, AAC, LDAC

Wired cable supplied: Yes

Sony’s newest flagship over-ear headphones outperform all competitors in terms of sound quality, active noise cancellation, and special features. The dynamic soundstage improves with each update, delivering plenty of energy and detail to give songs a full-bodied presence without sounding unbalanced right away — though listeners can also use the Sony Headphones Connect app to personalize audio with several well-engineered presets or by manually adjusting the EQ to their preference.

The Sonys are everything an audiophile’s in-ear headphones should be. The XM5s’ support for LDAC ensures the best Bluetooth performance, and they can also be hard-wired for the best sound quality with hi-res material. The new design is a little boring, but the fact that the headphones and packaging are almost entirely made of recycled materials is a plus. Finally, their long battery life and comfortable design make these headphones one you will not want to take off.

2. Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2

SPECIFICATIONS

Headphone Type: Closed-back, wireless/wired over-ear

Size and weight: Not specified; 10.8 ounces

Battery life (rated): Up to 30 hours

Bluetooth range: >30 feet

ANC: Yes

Codec support: SBC, AAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive

Wired cable supplied: Yes

The Sony and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 over-ear headphones are priced the same. They have a good feel to them, are beautifully constructed, and are either good-looking in an understated way or a little too understated for their own good — it all depends on your taste. They have active noise cancellation and a control app, but ‘extended functionality’ is not one of their strong suits.

They are intended to deliver the best wireless sound money can buy, and they do. The entire frequency range works well together, with nothing being overstated or struggling for representation. Tonality is crisp, consistent, and completely convincing. You have plenty of options if you want every wireless headphone feature under the sun. If, on the other hand, you want headphones that make the most of digital audio information, you give them, the Px7 S2 really needs to be in your thinking.

3. Technics EAH-A800

SPECIFICATIONS

Headphone Type: Closed-back, wireless/wired over-ear

Size and weight: 7-11/16 x 6-11/16 x 3-3/8 inches; 10.5 ounces

Battery life (rated): 50 hours (ANC on)

Bluetooth range: 33 feet

ANC: Yes

Codec support: SBC, AAC, LDAC

Wired cable supplied: Yes

The Technics EAH-A800 is an on-ear headphone designed for comfort and performance. Listening to these headphones, we believe you will be hard-pressed to find a comparable pair that is more expressive of the finer details in your favorite recordings. The EAH-A800 is beautifully judged from the bottom of the frequency range to the top, so no matter what kind of music you are listening to, the Technics seem to understand its requirements down to a microscopic level. The LDAC codec is supported for the best Bluetooth connectivity quality, and a cable for hard-wired connections to a headphone jack is also included.

When it comes to active noise cancellation, things are less clear-cut, and they do not deal with as much external sound as the best of their competitors. The battery life is 30 hours on the low end (when listening to the high-resolution LDAC codec with noise-canceling turned on) and 60 hours on the high end (listening via AAC with noise-canceling switched off).

4. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless

SPECIFICATIONS

Headphone Type: Closed-back, wireless/wired over-ear

Size and weight: 7.8 x 6.7 x 1.78 inches; 10.6 ounces

Battery life (rated): 17 hours

Bluetooth range: up to 500 feet

ANC: Yes

Codec support: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low-Latency

Wired cable supplied: Yes

Sennheiser’s commitment to hi-fi sound quality is exemplified by the Momentum 3. This timeless design combines excellent sound quality and active noise cancellation in a stylish headphone that delivers music with finesse. The strong and infectious bass blends well with the frequency range’s mids and highs and does an excellent job of delivering driving rhythms that are thoroughly engaging and addictive.

Sennheiser’s advanced ANC modes have a tendency to change the sonic signature of the Momentum’s output, but turn them off and you are rewarded with indulgent hi-fi audio that allows listeners to pick up on the smallest nuances in recordings. The Momentum’s battery life is not the longest we have seen, but if you can overlook its flaws, you will be rewarded with incredible performance.

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