Actually, yes you have plenty of options. If you want the best sounding closed back wireless headphones without ANC, the $380 (on sale) Drop THX Panda is a great choice. They use planar drivers and have THX's AAA amp technology. It has LDAC for semi-lossless streaming. If you have an iPhone LDAC does not matter, it does not support it. If you don't mind open back, the HiFiMan Deva for $300 is an excellent choice. I had the drop wired version, the HE-5XX and they sounded awesome except for a slight treble distortion at high volumes. This also has LDAC. If you wanted to go cheaper, the AKG K361BT is a good option for about $100-ish. It does not have LDAC. If you needed ANC, one of the best sounding options is the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless for $350 (on sale). Answer from SavageSam1234 on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r › headphones
headphones: cans for nerds, stuff that matters
November 19, 2009 - Interestingly, I stumbled upon Dogwhip discussing Bluetooth headphones with another audiophile. He showcased a Beats Studio Pro, commending its imaging and sound quality over Sony's XM5, despite its shitty ANC performance. Curious, I asked him whether brands like Bose, Sony, and Apple genuinely hold a competitive edge in flagship ANC Bluetooth headphones or simply leverage their branding to justify higher prices.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › are there any good wireless audiophile-ish headsets?
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Are there any good wireless audiophile-ish headsets?
December 30, 2020 -

It doesn't have to be extremely high-end, but something on the level of let's say a Sennheiser HD 598. Are there any wireless options on the market that are this quality (or higher)?

And in general, what are the opinons on the Sennheiser RS 175-U? How does it stack up among their wired lineup?

Top answer
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Actually, yes you have plenty of options. If you want the best sounding closed back wireless headphones without ANC, the $380 (on sale) Drop THX Panda is a great choice. They use planar drivers and have THX's AAA amp technology. It has LDAC for semi-lossless streaming. If you have an iPhone LDAC does not matter, it does not support it. If you don't mind open back, the HiFiMan Deva for $300 is an excellent choice. I had the drop wired version, the HE-5XX and they sounded awesome except for a slight treble distortion at high volumes. This also has LDAC. If you wanted to go cheaper, the AKG K361BT is a good option for about $100-ish. It does not have LDAC. If you needed ANC, one of the best sounding options is the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless for $350 (on sale).
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Best and recommended noise-cancelling wireless headphones 40-400 USD: Bose QC 35 ← top sound quality Bose 700 ← top sound quality Sennheiser PXC 550-II ← top sound quality Shure AONIC 50 ← top sound quality Razer Opus Sony WH-1000XM4 Anker SoundCore Life Q20 ← nicely priced Sony WH-H910N JBL LIVE 650BTNC Puro Sound Labs PuroPro Monoprice BT-300ANC ← nicely priced Microsoft Surface Headphone 2 Sony WH-1000XM3 beats by dre Beats Studio3 Wireless Marshall Monitor II A.N.C. Beats by Dr. Dre Solo Pro Beyerdynamic Lagoon ANC Traveler Jabra Elite 85h Non-cancelling wireless Grado GW100 Bose SoundLink around-ear headphones II Jabra Move Style Edition V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT beats by dre Solo3 Wireless JBL LIVE 500BT Sennheiser HD 4.40BT Skullcandy Hesh 3 Wireless
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › do “audiophile-approved” wireless headphones exist?
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Do “audiophile-approved” wireless headphones exist?
December 19, 2023 -

Just out of curiosity. I’m not about to make a purchase decision or anything, but if ANC were not a consideration, what Bluetooth headphones would have the best audio quality? “Best” can be evaluated as “best value for money” or “best of the best if money is not a problem” or whatever y’all think sounds great. Thanks!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › best audiophile headphones for gaming
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Best audiophile headphones for gaming
February 8, 2025 -

Wondering whats recommended for a good pair of headphones for listening to music and play FPS. I'm stuck between AR5000, HD490 pro and have mixed feelings about the DT1990 MK2. Thinking of pairing with a schiit gunnr for easy Mic control. Currently using razer black shark V2 pro wireless which are fine but id like to try open back with increased sound stage.i live in the UK and Budget with a dac is around £700. Priory is hearing crispy footsteps while playing fps and i enjoy a wide range of music with a lively bassy sound. Don't have ability to sample any which is a bummer

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For what it's worth .. I went from Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro to AKG K712 Pro and thought I found my endgame headphones. I mostly play games and jam music(all types) About a month ago I saw some videos on YT about these Sennheiser HD490 Pro headphones for gaming. So I pulled the trigger. I snagged the HD490 Pro Plus set. (Carrying case and extra ear cups for mixing) Plugged them into my JDS Labs Atom stack (amp/dac) and played a few songs. The music was wonderful. So I jumped in a few games to check that out. Amazing sound on the battlefield of Warzone/Battlefield/Apex I could hear footsteps like I never have. The soundstage is perfect for me. Blew my K712 pros out of the water. These are the lightest and most comfortable headphones I have ever worn. Honestly they make you feel like nothing is in your head. The clamp force is light and feels great for hours. I ordered from Amazon just in case I did not like them. Plus the wife couldn't believe how much a set of new headphones was costing. (I showed her the HD800 price and she was ok with the HD490 Pro) 🤣 Whatever you choose to get, I hope you can try these HD490 Pros at some point in life! ☮️🎧
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The Hifiman Arya Stealth is around £450 new on Amazon. It's extremely good for gaming. I promise you nothing else comes close at that price. It's also great for music, and it responds beautifully to EQ if you want to tailor it with more bass, tame any highs, etc. Edit - it's jumped up by £100 since yesterday. But it'll go back down, it always does on Amazon. Edition XS is also a very solid option, but if you get one, get a comfort strap from Custom Cans (they have a website). It makes the headband fit a lot better.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › best quality bluetooth headphones for audiophile?
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Best quality Bluetooth headphones for audiophile?
February 7, 2025 -

I know I know Bluetooth isn’t the best of the best but I can’t stand having a cord to deal with. Just want something easy to wear to jam and dance. That being said - I would like headphones that are fairly light weight and won’t fly off my head when I’m dancing. I listen to a lot of edm and alternative. Heavy bass. I love being able to hear the mid tones as well. Probably will wear them at home and potentially out and about. Sound cancelling would be nice. I’m open about the cost because I’m willing to save up for some good headphones that’ll last me a long time.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › any recommendations for wireless audiophile headphones under 500?
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Any recommendations for wireless audiophile headphones under 500?
July 3, 2022 -

My Sennheiser Momentum M2 had died recently after serving me for 7 years. They were my first audiophile pair and I was in love with everything about them. Sound, build quality with metal and leather and how it makes them look. Don't have much to compare in terms of comfort but I only had some problems after wearing them for 8+ hours.

I'm looking for closed-back ones with not much preferences besides that. I appreciate ANC but the one M2s had was fine for me. I listen from my phone and my laptop both wireless and wired when it's more convenient. I enjoy a wide variety of music and genres like metal, jazz, rap and electronic music. I think I'm looking for a more neutral profile although I'm not sure.

After looking for some time I'm inclined to go for Sennheiser Momentum M3. M4 just doesn't seem to be a sizeable upgrade. I also looked at Sony WH1000-XM5. It seems that they're similar to M3 with better ANC but (subjectively) worse look.

Any other models I should look at?

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › is there a such thing as a "wireless audiophile"?
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Is there a such thing as a "wireless audiophile"?
August 10, 2024 -

I've seen aptX Lossless boast it's audiophile sound and I've seen folks claim the Sennheiser Momentum 4s having audiophile sound and I want to know if it's just a term loosely thrown around or if it's actually possible to be a wireless audiophile. I'd love to be able to have the audiophile sound from my home setup to be able to be carried with me around work/school, so if this is possible can somebody tell me the best equipment to go about it? I'm currently thinking of going with the Fiio BT11 dongle because my phone doesn't support aptXLossless and I'm thinking of buying Sonos Ace because they're mainly the only over-ears I'm seeing with aptXLossless and Spatial Audio support.

Find elsewhere
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › whats the best noise cancelling/isolating audiophile headphones to buy?
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: whats the best noise cancelling/isolating audiophile headphones to buy?
September 11, 2024 -

Hey guys. I want a (wired or wireless doesn't matter) closed back headphone that has an objective sound that most "audiophiles" find very good. I'm not too far into this niche and don't know much about it so I thought I'd ask people who know more. Idealistically I'd want "noise cancelling" but I heard that can cause worse audio to an extent because of the technology that goes into it. I'd like a list if you guys can provide it of the best noise cancelling or noise isolating headphones. Sometimes my environment can get loud which is why I'd prefer noise blocking headphones (not sure if it should be noise isolating or noise cancelling you guys recommend it) I'll be using the headphones for music, games, and watching movies. If you guys think I should buy different types of headphones for each category let me know! Thanks!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › help finding audiophile wireless headphones with long hours comfort, large budget
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Help Finding Audiophile Wireless Headphones with Long Hours Comfort, Large Budget
March 30, 2024 -

Hello, first time on this subreddit.
I work from home, and use Sony MDR-7606's as my daily driver and im getting sick of the cable. One of those spiral cords, gets caught on everything especially itself. So i want to be able to continue listening to whatever music/podcasts i was listening to while doing chores around the house in my downtime. I'm going to be wearing these for about 12-14 hours a day, so comfort is a must. Noise cancelling is not necessary, my house is empty and quiet when im going to be using these. I would like them to be open back actually, since id like to be able to hear if someone is knocking at the door or if my dog makes trouble. Ive looked at the Grado GW 100X, and like the look, but feel the foam earpads and on ear style would become uncomfortable before 12 hours. I've used the Sennheiser RS 175s before because i liked the idea of wireless sound without having to worry about bluetooth range, comfort and wireless range was amazing, but their audio is alright. Fave headphones ever might be the fidelio X2s, very comfy and nice soundstage, or these MDR-7506's also very comfy and they are durable as fuck. Will be gaming with these as well, so low latency and soundstage are great plusses.

Location: Texas, USA
Budget: 1000$>

Priorities:

  1. Wireless
    2/3. Audio Quality/Comfort

  2. Soundstage

  3. Durability

  4. Ability to stay on head while bending over

Dont care about:

  1. Noise cancelling, can be included, but will never use it.

  2. Price, these are a self-love gift.

  3. RANGE, dont want audio to be cutting out walking around my small one floor house.

  4. looks, im not wearing these outside

  5. Having to buy a nice bluetooth transmitter if that will help range/quality

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › best wireless earbuds for audiophiles
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Best wireless earbuds for audiophiles
August 19, 2024 -

I'm looking for the best earbuds. I own the sony XM5s and want better but can't get a clear answer. I don't care about ANC, I heavily care about how good the treble sound, and my price range is $500. I am not going to buy 8 pairs of buds to see which sound the best to me. I've been recommend the AZ80s and Gemini 2s by people who aren't audiophiles. A few places I looked said to get Final's 8000 2s, but said the treble is lacking, which I have an issue with.

I've asked multiple places, mainly 30 different Google prompts, 10-20 review sites that all claim that X brand is the best, then say that about 5 other brands, and then list some name brand flagship on whatever top 10 list they have which they themselves said were inferior audio wise, and I've looked on YouTube to find that all of those guys only test name brands and claim those to be the best while ignoring a vast majority of great earbuds. I also went on an other sub reddit to find people who only recommended the crowd favorite (the Gemini 2s). At this point, I'm very hesitant and want to steer away from what most people would buy.

I want the best sounding earbuds, and at this point, I don't care about any other feature. I know there isn't one answer and I know everything in this industry is subjective, but I want a solid recommendation before I spend half a grand on something. I'm leaning towards Final's 8000 2s, but am willing to hear any recommendations, even if it is for the gemini 2s!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/earbuds › what separates the audiophile earbuds from the mainstream earbuds?
r/Earbuds on Reddit: What separates the audiophile earbuds from the mainstream earbuds?
June 2, 2024 -

I mean like the hifiman's, Gemini 2s, and bower & wilkins vs the sony's xm5, bose qc's, airpods etc

I ask because majority of the time people recommend the xm5's, mtw4's, az80's as best best earbuds in the market right now. But then the occasional audiophile people recommend some niche brand and super expensive earbuds which not a lot know and own of.

So why aren't the "audiophile" earbuds not recommend enough? Is it because they focus on sound quality primarily and lack the rest of the qualities? Because of impractically high price? Or just because they're too niche to even know of?

P.S im not an audiophile and definitely new to this earbuds stuff, so im sorry in advance if I said anything wrong

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I think they're recommended less for the same reason fewer people recommend Ferraris than Hondas: because fewer people have them. Also, they're not as common to find in stores: you need to learn about them through word-of-mouth or research. I think in general these earbuds do sound "better" than flagship mainstream buds, but at this level "better" translates to maybe a 3-5% improvement. (Of course I'm being very subjective and unscientific here, and the numbers 3-5% don't correspond to any concrete measurement in my context, I'm just illustrating a point). For most people, your music listening experience isn't going to be drastically different listening on these vs. Sony/Technics/Jabra/Sennheiser/etc. Honestly, it won't even be drastically different than listening on cheap JLab earbuds. You'll still hear all the parts and you'll still enjoy your music. But stepping up from a cheap set to a more premium set tends to give you small improvements like (for example) more clarity, more punchy bass, a more balanced and/or pleasing frequency response, better separation between instruments, a faster transient response translating into slightly more detail (you'll hear breaths and fingers scratching along guitar strings and other subtle details that may add richness and life to the sound). It's a bit like putting on a set of glasses that make your vision slightly better: you could see fine before, but now everything's a bit sharper and richer, and you didn't realize how much subtle detail and clarity you were missing before. I think for most people, the improvement you get from upgrading to a premium mainstream set of earbuds like the Sennheiser/Technics/Jabra/Maybe-Sony is more than enough, and $250-300 USD seems to be about the highest the average customer is willing to fork over for the highest tier of "mainstream" buds. I think the next tier of $350-500 earbuds give you the same type of improvements, just a tiny bit more. They're for people who want (and can afford) to seek that extra 3-5% improvement. If you want the absolute best sound and can afford it, you may as well get them, although you may find that the extra 3-5% is very subjective and personal. From reviews I've read, most of these "extra-premium" earbuds have some deficiencies in features or controls or something else. Sometimes it's a genuine deficiency and sometimes it's a "for this price it should be better" kind of thing. I haven't heard many complaints about the Devialet Gemini 2s except for the price, and I get the impression that these would be a unanimous favorite if they were $300. I actually find my Denon Perl Pros to be pretty solid in terms of their controls and feature set, and their sound is incredibly good, although I'm not a huge fan of their huge size and shape. I do consider them to be noticeably better sounding than my Sennheiser/Jabra/Technics, but once again I'm talking about very small, incremental improvements: if my Denons were lost I'd miss them but I wouldn't feel like I could never enjoy music the same way again.
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To me it's diminishing returns the higher up the price tier you go. It's a lot like PC graphics cards. There's a point where it's just simply "good enough". The audiophile buds are like those $3k graphics cards. If you're into it, you'll notice the difference. If you're not, you'll be asking what the big deal is. And most people aren't willing to shell out the extra money required when the mainstream earbuds are "good enough". Before TWS earbuds took off, the earpods that came with the iPhone were the most popular headphones in the world....
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › any wireless audiophile headphones?
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Any wireless audiophile headphones?
October 29, 2022 -

Hi! I'm looking for a pair of wireless headphones for $900 or less and sound quality is my number one priority in my purchasing choice. I would like to purchase wired headphones but I figured that a wire would be too inconvenient as my main means of listening to music is on my phone while commuting via the train. I'm looking for a good pair of wireless headphones that hold up to scrutiny by an audiophile audience if such a pair exists. I'm well aware that Bluetooth headphones compress music as well as generally tend to have a "tinny" sound to them so my main priority is looking for a pair of headphones that minimize that. Thank you! :)

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RTINGS
rtings.com › home › headphones › best
The 6 Best Audiophile Headphones of 2026 - RTINGS.com
November 20, 2025 - Noise Cancelling Headphones Wireless Earbuds Gaming Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Earbuds Wireless Running Apple Wireless Gaming PC Gaming Xbox One Wired PS5/PS5 Pro Music In-Ears On-Ear Over-Ears For Working Out Budget And Cheap Wireless Earbuds For Android
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › decent open back wireless headphones?
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Decent open back wireless headphones?
November 25, 2024 -

I’m trying to find a set of headphones for my girlfriend. She wants to use them for her laptop and desktop, with a bit of causal gaming (ie the sims) She’s not an audiophile, she doesn’t play fps games, she mostly watches movies or youtube. Price range is preferably $100-300

She’s very picky and wants the headphones to be:

Open back or at least she needs to be able to hear things outside of the headphones. I have a set of sennheiser pc37x and she likes how those sound as far as hearing things that are not coming from the headphones.

Wireless

Cute (no angled shapes but also not just a circle in terms of the ear cups.)

A mic is optional

She can probably deal with them not being cute if they’re wireless and don’t block outside sound.

I am at a loss here, any ideas?

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Headphone Zone
headphonezone.in › headphone zone › beginner audiophile headphones
Audiophile Headphones For Beginners
When I see a product that keeps coming up in forums, Reddit threads, and community meet-ups, I know it’s earned its place. "Audiophile Community Favourite" is our way of spotlighting the gear that real listeners — not just reviewers — swear by.