Technology
The Best Brands of Headphones
Audiophile or casual listener, you’re bound to have come across the plethora of headphones brands available on the market.
Choosing the right pair of headphones can be challenging if you’re not familiar with what brands to look for.
Let’s take a look at the best brands of headphones out there:
10. Beats by Dre
There’s no denying that Dr. Dre is a hip-hop legend, but do his headphones live up to the hype? The sound quality of Beats by Dre isn’t bad at all, and once you get over the fact they’re more a fashion statement than an audio product, it will be easy to enjoy your music with these on. And with price tags ranging from $99 for an entry level pair, through to $399 for their top range Wireless Studio version (which comes with active noise cancellation), there’s a pair of Beats for just about everyone.
9. Bowers & Wilkins
These British audiophile headphones are extremely well-made, and will provide you with a great listening experience if you’re looking for something more than a fashion statement from your cans. Their flagship P5 model comes in at $399, but that gets you some serious audio quality which can compete with the best headphones on the market. The P5s have been used by artists such as Jay Z to mix his tracks and they sound absolutely amazing when it comes to music production work due to their flat response curve (sound reproduction). To top it all off, these guys look good too – not bad for under $400.
8. Sennheiser
Sennheiser doesn’t really need much of an introduction – this German brand has been around for many years and is a household name in audio equipment, whether it’s PC headsets or headphones. Their Momentum range is designed to match the best audiophile headphones on the market: they’re open-backed, lightweight and look great as well as producing excellent sound quality that will rival anything out there. They retail at $399, but you can pick them up cheaper online if you shop around – we’ve seen them going for as little as $299 from various retailers like Amazon.com.
7. Denon Headphones
Denon make some very solid entry level cans which are perfect for home listening or casual listening when out on your commute (which doesn’t have to mean boring old black plastic headphones). The AH-C710s feature a comfy leather headband with velvet ear pads and a frequency response rate of between 5Hz and 30Khz – these things basically do most music genres justice without being too fatiguing or harsh on the ears (unless you listen at ridiculously loud volumes). If this model isn’t big enough for your head though, Denon also offer their top tier D2000 high definition professional studio monitor headphone at $449 – not cheap by any means but definitely worth considering if you want something more serious than just another pair of Beats By Dre.
6. Grado Labs
Grados are a well-known name for headphones – they’re based in Brooklyn, New York and have been manufacturing earphones since 1953. If you want something that’s more than just fashion over function, then you need to check out their SR60i headphones at $99 – these things look great (a classic retro design), and the sound is excellent too – perfect for those who like a bit of bass. You’ll find these cans most commonly on Amazon marketplace selling second hand from around $50-$100, or new direct from Grado with free shipping if you don’t mind waiting 10 days or so for them to arrive.
5. Sennheiser Momentum 2nd Edition
The original Momentum pair of headphones were released back in 2013 as a premium headphone offering by Sennheiser which was designed to compete with the likes of Beats By Dre: they’ve got leather headbands rather than plastic ones; better padding on the ear pads; and feature an all-aluminum frame which gives them some real heft when holding them in your hands… but what about sound? The momentums offer excellent audio quality across their frequency range while still retaining decent clarity throughout while staying extremely comfortable even during long listening sessions (which can be extended further thanks to their swivel folding system). They retail at $349 but we’ve seen some deals knocking off up to 25% off that price tag making them easier on the wallet (click here to shop around). In our opinion though they’re worth every penny.
4. AKG Acoustics K550 Headphones
Dubbed “the closest thing next-gen” by many members of the audiophile community, AKG‘s latest model offers superb performance no matter how high volume levels go due its unique 4D rolled surround technology built into its memory foam cushions coupled with its 8 conductor 3m cord (with single sided entry) this means superior noise cancellation making it ideal for studio work where isolation is key . Weighing almost nothing compared to other similar pairs this makes it one of our favourite pairs available : definitely check these out if you can get your hands on a set .
3. Polk Audio
Polk Audio is one of the best headphone brands on the market, so you’re definitely going to want to check them out. They’ve been around since 1972 and are known for producing some quality headphones that rival other leading brands like Sennheiser and Sony. Polk offers a wide range of different types of headphones including earbuds, in-ear headphones, over-the-ear models and even wireless headsets. These are great for everything from gaming to watching movies or listening to music. Their products offer clarity with very little distortion at all which makes it easy for you as an audiophile to enjoy your favorite tunes. You can choose from either open back or closed back designs depending on whether or not you’d like ambient noise or complete isolation when wearing your headset. Prices vary based on model but generally hover between $100-$250 per pair depending on what features you decide upon.
2. Audio-Technica
Audio Technica is one of the best headphone brands on the market. They’re known for producing some high quality headphones that rival other leading brands like Sennheiser and Sony. Audio Technica offers a wide range of different types of headphones including earbuds, in-ear headphones, over-the-ear models and even wireless headsets. These are great for everything from gaming to watching movies or listening to music. Their products offer clarity with very little distortion at all which makes it easy for you as an audiophile to enjoy your favorite tunes. You can choose from either open back or closed back designs depending on whether or not you’d like ambient noise or complete isolation when wearing your headset. Prices vary based on model but generally hover between $100-$250 per pair depending on what features you decide upon. This brand also sells several accessories such as cables and adapters if you need them.
1. Sony
Sony is one of the best headphone brands on the market. They’re known for producing some high quality headphones that rival other leading brands like Sennheiser and Audio Technica. Sony offers a wide range of different types of headphones including earbuds, in-ear headphones, over-the-ear models and even wireless headsets. These are great for everything from gaming to watching movies or listening to music. Their products offer clarity with very little distortion at all which makes it easy for you as an audiophile to enjoy your favorite tunes. You can choose from either open back or closed back designs depending on whether or not you’d like ambient noise or complete isolation when wearing your headset. Prices vary based on model but generally hover between $100-$250 per pair depending on what features you decide upon. This brand also sells several accessories such as cables and adapters if you need them.
Hopefully by now you’ve found a good pair of headphones that fits all your needs. If you like this article then please share it with your friends and family. We’ll be back with more country-specific articles such as a guide on the best headphones brands in India.