Wireless headphones may have the upper hand in terms of dealing with cable clutter and have become a preferred choice for enhancing the style quotient. However, the one department where they struggle to match up against the wired headphones is the pro-grade sound quality. In an age where everyone wants pair of truly wireless earphones, there is no substitute for the audio experience that premium wired headphones deliver. So if you have a rich taste in music and wish to listen to every subtle detail as intended by the recording artist, you will need an audiophile-grade headphone. Now, with Hi-Fi lossless audio support coming to Apple Music and Spotify soon, here’s a list of the best audiophile headphones you can buy in 2021.

To meet various needs and keep the budget in check, we have listed the best audiophile headphones at different price points. If budget is not a constraint, you can get high-end headphones with all the bells and whistles for a high-fidelity experience. However, if you are on the lookout for comparatively affordable audiophile headphones, there are quite a few safe bets to choose from in the market. With that out of the way, let’s take a look at our options.

  • SENNHEISER HD 800 S
  • HIFIMAN Arya
  • Audio-Technica ATH-W1000Z
  • Shure SRH1540
  • Audeze LCD-1
  • Meze 99 Classics
  • V-MODA Crossfade LP2
  • Audio-Technica ATH-M50X

1. SENNHEISER HD 800 S

If a premium build and top-of-the-line sound quality are what you want, the SENNHEISER HD 800 S HD 800S could be the answer to your needs. SENNHEISER is well-known for producing high-end headphones for pros, and the HD 800 S has everything to be called a great pick. Sporting an open-back and over-ear design, these wired headphones are comfortable to wear for hours on end.

Another feature that makes SENNHEISER HD 800 S stand out is the neat absorber technology that cuts down unnecessary frequency response peaks. Thus, you can hear every subtle detail in music while streaming Hi-Fi lossless audio. Though the almost $1700 price tag seems a bit on the higher side, you cannot go wrong with these audiophile headphones.

Cons: 

If SENNHEISER HD 800 S claims to be one of the best audiophile headphones in the market, HIFIMAN Arya isn’t behind either. In fact, Arya can go head-to-head against SENNHEISER’s HD 800 S on most fronts. The highlight of this premium headphone is the planar driver that provides rich sound quality. It uses a nanometer thickness diaphragm to deliver clean and distortion-free sound.

Cons: 

  • The highs may not feel sharp on some tracks
  • Needs to cut down some weight

If you have a penchant for vintage design, chances are high that Audio-Technica ATH-W1000Z could be the perfect choice for you. What makes these headphones stand out is the grained wood housing made of real teak. Aside from enhancing the design elements of the headphones, the wood housing also plays a vital role in improving sound quality by reflecting thick and natural bass sound.

Pros: 

Featuring an ergonomic design that ensures hours of convenient wearing, Shure SRH1540 is a highly-rated audiophile headphone for Hi-Fi listening. Thanks to the closed-back and circumaural design, SRH1540 rests comfortably over the ears. Apart from boosting the convenience level, the circumaural design also helps in reducing background noise.

You can fine-tune the dual-frame and the padded headband depending on your comfort level. As the headband is lightweight, you will have hours of listening comfort. The use of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy and carbon fiber ensures improved durability while ensuring there is no unnecessary bulk.

5. Audeze LCD-1 – Open-back Planar Audiophile Headphones

If you are looking for premium audiophile headphones under the $500 price point, Audeze LCD-1 can be worth giving serious consideration. The LCD-1 is lightweight and features a modern-looking design. The magnetic open-back design makes the headphones comfortable to wear. The memory foam earpads further improve the convenience level, allowing you to wear the headphones for hours during long listening sessions.

  • 90mm planar drivers
  • Distortion-free sound
  • Vibrant bass
  • Magnetic open-back design

If you admire headphones with a classy design, Meze 99 Classics may steal your attention at the very first glance. The headphones feature real wood earcups that not only add an evergreen touch to the profile but also offer natural sound isolation. Times when you want to check all the attributes of music, including texture and depth during recording, podcast monitoring, or video editing, the natural sound isolation will come in handy.

Meze 99 Classics comes with a rugged carrying pouch for the required protection against scratches. Besides, the company also offers a detachable 1.2m thread Kevlar OFC cable, 3.5 thread Kevlar OFC cord, airplane jacket adapter, and a useful 6.3mm gold-plated jack adapter. All these essential accessories, coupled with the classy design and quality sound, make Meze 99 Classics one of the best audiophile headphones at around $300.

V-MODA Crossfade LP2 packs a solid punch despite being priced relatively cheaper. So, should you wish to go for pretty good audiophile headphones while keeping your budget under $150, I would recommend you to check out Crossfade LP2. Probably the best part about these affordable audiophile headphones is the 50mm dual-diaphragm drivers that provide impressive sound quality.

  • Earcups are small
  • Do not deliver nuanced highs and mids

Going by the high ratings (4.7 stars out of almost 26.5k ratings), Audio-Technica ATH-M50X is probably the most popular audiophile headphones for Hi-Fi listening. So, if you are looking for comparatively cheap audiophile headphones that have received high praise from most buyers, ATH-M50X would be the right way to go.

So, that wraps up this roundup of the best headphones for Hi-Fi lossless audio listening. As these headphones are available at different price points, choosing the one that can fit your budget shouldn’t be a big deal. While the premium ones excel in delivering top-notch sound quality, the mid-rangers or the affordable ones ensure you get a pretty reliable sound and comfortable build without breaking the bank. As to which one is right for you, it all comes down to your preference and budget.