Sound Investment: The Best Audiophile Headphones from $500 to Reference-Level Splendor
TL;DR: This guide helps audiophiles find the best headphones based on their music preferences, listening style, and budget. It provides a breakdown of essential considerations when shopping for audiophile headphones, alongside recommendations in various price ranges.
- Determine your music genre for better headphone pairing.
- Identify your listener type: "Warm and Musical" or "Analytical."
- Consider your budget, with options from under $500 to reference level.
There is a never-ending debate that has been stretching out across internet forums for decades. What are the best headphones for audiophiles?
While many music fans, producers, and musicians have made their cases, there is no universal consensus. Headphones run the gamut from the acceptable to the extraordinary. Plus, they are available at every price point under the sun. What matters most is what the listener needs to have a satisfying listening experience
When the options are endless, finding the best headphones can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. Do you want a wireless headphone? What about a closed or open-back headphone? Luckily, there are some steps you can take to narrow down your search and find the best audiophile headphones for you.
In this guide, we’ll break your search down into three simple steps to help you determine what to look for in your next pair. Let’s dive in.
Three Steps to Discovering the Best Audiophile Headphones
Drew Baird, P.E., the Owner and Founder of Moon Audio, gets a lot of questions. Many customers are looking for the best headphones. When speaking to audiophiles over the phone, he asks the following three questions. Their answers help him discover the best headphones for their music tastes, needs, and budget.
Below, we’re sharing the questions he asks so you can identify your priorities and make the right purchase.
Step One: What type of music do you like to listen to?
The genres you listen to go a long way in helping us figure out what products will sound good to you. This goes beyond headphones and includes amps, DACs, etc. Your music says a lot about you. Believe it or not, some headphones sound better with certain genres than others.
For example, instrumental or vocal music needs a wide soundstage. The more neutral or balanced the sound, the higher the fidelity. Great audio isolation helps, too.
Some genres, like EDM or hip hop, really need extra bass to deliver the ideal sound experience. Popular genres tend to sound best in headphones and amps with a detailed midrange, so you don’t miss a single detail.
For true audiophiles, the best headphones are all about audio quality regardless of genre specifics. You want balanced sound, expert tuning, a deep bass, and unmatched detail in the high and mid-ranges.
Step Two: Do you like to get lost in your music or listen to every detail?
Your listener identity can also help you identify the best stereo headphones for your needs and preferences. Ask yourself why you’re listening to music and what you’re listening for. We’ve broken this down into two broad listener categories that we tend to encounter frequently.
If you like to get lost in the music, we call this the "Warm and Musical" listener.
If you like to pick up on every single detail in a song, we call this the "Analytical" listener.
Every headphone has a sound signature and pairs well with specific genres of music based on how they sound. A warmer headphone might bring out more emotion and intimacy in a jazz performance. It can also highlight the feeling of a rumble on an intense EDM track.
Analytical headphones are great for classical if you like listening for individual instruments in a large ensemble. They help you hear the details in a live performance, like fret buzz on the guitar or nuances in a singer's voice.
Step Three: What is your budget?
How much are you willing to spend on a pair of headphones? Everyone has to start somewhere. Luckily for those just starting out on their audiophile journey, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars to get great sound.
As you learn what you like and what you need, start with the best headphones for under $500. Once you understand what matters to you, you can increase your budget and go after the top-of-the-line cans you crave.
Finding Your Perfect Pair
The bottom line is that everyone hears differently. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the best audiophile headphones out there. The better question to be asked is, "What is the best headphone for you?"
Hopefully, this step-by-step headphones guide can help you figure out the answer to that question. Below, we’ll share our picks for the best audiophile headphones by price. We’ll include the best audiophile wireless headphones, wired headphones, open and closed headphones, and more. Happy headphone hunting!
Dragon Cables
Generally, stock audio cables are manufactured with subpar materials, metals with impurities, poor geometries, and an overabundance of layers to make them look and feel like a fire hose. Inconsistency and lack of quality control in stock cables can lead to poor sound quality and a veiled sound vs what the musician intended for you to hear and feel from the music. Dragon cables are handcrafted to the highest standards made to order according to your specific needs.
Why Dragon Cables?
At Moon Audio, we create a custom cable for you using the highest quality UP-OCC silver or copper conductors that can be manufactured. UP-OCC metals are void of impurities and are optimized for signal transfer and sound quality. We have one of the largest collections of audio and headphone connection options available online and we create limitless audio cable options depending on your specific gear and needs. Dragon Premium Cables feature the same quality construction as standard cables, but with upgraded solder and premium Furutech connectors.
Silver Dragon Sound Signature: The Silver Dragon is the original cable. Silver strands clarify instrument separation, increase the soundstage, and find previously lost high and mid-frequency sounds. Transients appear more cohesive and the bass is tighter for a more controlled sound. The detail and clarity of the Silver Dragon make it a perfect match for classical music and other genres with many nuanced instruments.
Black Dragon Sound Signature: The Black Dragon is warm and smooth with a musical presentation. Copper strands enhance the body, shape, and immediacy of the music. The detail and expansiveness of the Black Dragon make it a flexible fit where a broad range of musical genres are played. It can also improve bass frequencies on bass-light headphones. The smooth, musical quality makes it a perfect fit for headphones that tend to sound a bit edgy or bright. Despite its warmth, the Black Dragon does not have a laid-back, lush sound. It is much closer to neutral, making it a very natural-sounding cable.
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