Sheet 01 of 05
Transducers
The part that turns current into sound, and the reason the rest of the system exists. Every headphone here is built in 3D from its maker’s published materials, with the sources on its page.
- Over-ear flagships
- 30
- Makers
- 17
- List prices
- $1,499.99 to $7,510
- Retail prices checked
- 2026-10-21
Over-ear flagships
30 of 30 headphones
Ribbon
$7,510
Immanis
Aluminium, Stainless steel, Wood
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Ribbon drive
- Weight
- 626 g
Electrostatic
$6,200
SR-X9000
Aluminium, Stainless steel, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Energizer
- Weight
- 432 g
Planar magnetic
$6,000
ARTA
Carbon fibre, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 495 g
Planar magnetic
HIFIMAN$6,000
Susvara
Wood, Leather, Engineered films
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Demanding
- Weight
- 450 g
Electrostatic
Audeze$5,995
CRBN2
Carbon fibre, Magnesium, Stainless steel
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Energizer
- Weight
- 480 g
Planar magnetic
Abyss$5,995
AB-1266 Phi TC
Aluminium, Stainless steel, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Moderate drive
- Weight
- 640 g
Planar magnetic
$4,999.95
YH-5000SE
Magnesium, Stainless steel, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 320 g
Dynamic
$4,999
Utopia (2022)
Beryllium, Carbon fibre, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 490 g
Planar magnetic
Abyss$4,995
Diana TC Signature
Aluminium, Leather, Glass
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Moderate drive
- Weight
- 369 g
Electrostatic
$4,545
SR-009S
Aluminium, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Energizer
- Weight
- 441 g
Planar magnetic
Audeze$4,500
LCD-5s
Carbon fibre, Magnesium, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Moderate drive
- Weight
- 475 g
Planar magnetic
Dan Clark Audio$4,499.99
Stealth
Carbon fibre, Aluminium, Titanium
- Enclosure
- Closed-back
- Drive
- Moderate drive
- Weight
- 415 g
Planar magnetic
Dan Clark Audio$4,499.99
Expanse
Carbon fibre, Aluminium, Titanium
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Moderate drive
- Weight
- 418 g
Planar magnetic
$4,499
D8000 Pro Edition
Magnesium, Aluminium, Stainless steel
- Enclosure
- Semi-open
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 523 g
Planar magnetic
$4,000
Elite
Carbon fibre, Aluminium, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 433 g
Planar magnetic
$3,499.99
Caldera
Aluminium, Wood, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 490 to 550 g
Dynamic
$2,999
Stellia
Beryllium, Aluminium, Stainless steel
- Enclosure
- Closed-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 435 g
Planar magnetic
$2,999
Empyrean II
Carbon fibre, Aluminium, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Moderate drive
- Weight
- 449 g
Dynamic
$2,495
Signature HP100 SE
Aluminium, Stainless steel, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 520 g
Dynamic
$2,199.95
HD 820
Glass
- Enclosure
- Closed-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 360 g
Dynamic
$2,199
ATH-ADX5000
Magnesium, Aluminium
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 270 g
Dynamic
$1,999.95
HD 800 S
Stainless steel
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 330 g
Planar magnetic
HIFIMAN$1,699
HE1000se
Wood, Engineered films
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 440 g
Planar magnetic
Audeze$1,699
MM-520
Stainless steel, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 555 g
Dynamic
$1,599
Clear MG
Magnesium, Aluminium, Leather
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 450 g
Electrostatic
Price on request
HE 1 (Orpheus)
Aluminium, Leather, Engineered films
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Energizer
- Weight
- 550 g
Planar magnetic
Unavailable
Rosson Audio Design$2,600
RAD-0
Aluminium, Wood
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 550 to 615 g
Dynamic
Not listed
$2,499
Vérité Closed
Beryllium, Magnesium, Wood
- Enclosure
- Closed-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 450 to 475 g
Dynamic
Discontinued
$2,299.99
MDR-Z1R
Magnesium, Aluminium, Titanium
- Enclosure
- Closed-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 385 g
Dynamic
Discontinued
$1,499.99
TH900mk2
Wood, Lacquer
- Enclosure
- Closed-back
- Drive
- Easy drive
- Weight
- 390 g
In-ear monitors
- Fourté4 drivers: 1 tia high, 1 high-mid, 1 tia mid, 1 dynamic low; integrated 4-way passive crossover; 5 Hz-22 kHz; 10 ohm; 114 dB/mW; universal fit, ear impression not requiredT6061 aluminum shell, green copper patina faceplatesEach aged-copper faceplate develops its own patina, so no two Fourté look the same.$3,599
- A18s Custom18 drivers: 1 tia high, 1 BA high-mid, 8 BA mid, 8 BA low; integrated 4-way passive crossover; 10 Hz-20 kHz; 106 dB/mW; 8 ohm; custom fit, ear impressions required (cast by an audiologist to 64 Audio's guide)3D-printed custom shell (3D-Fit process); isolation modules mX, m12, m15, m20Eighteen balanced armature drivers sit in a shell printed from the customer's ear impressions.$2,999
- JH AudioLayla12 balanced armature drivers per side (Soundrive quad low, quad mid, quad high); integrated 4th-order crossover; 10 Hz-23 kHz; 20 ohm; 117 dB at 1 mW; -26 dB isolation; custom fit, ear impressions requiredPrinted solid or transparent shell, or milled shell; 4N silver-plated OFC litz cableLead time of 4-6 weeks starts once payment and ear impressions have both arrived.from $2,299
- JH AudioRoxanne12 balanced armature drivers per side (Soundrive quad low, quad mid, quad high); integrated 3-way crossover; 10 Hz-23 kHz; 15 ohm; 119 dB at 1 mW; -26 dB isolation; custom fit, ear impressions requiredPrinted solid or transparent shell, or milled shell; 4N silver-plated OFC litz cableA variable bass attenuator adjusts low-end level from 0 to +15 dB.from $2,499
- UE PREMIER21 drivers with a five-way crossover; True Tone drivers plus Knowles super tweeter, response to 40 kHz, down to 5 Hz; custom fit, ear impressions required (audiologist mold, or 3D scan / STL file for new customers)Custom shell; finish options on the page include clear, translucent, carbon fiber, mother of pearl and woodUE calls it its most powerful in-ear monitor yet, with 21 drivers and a five-way crossover.$2,999
- Vision EarsEXT MK II3-way crossover: 1 x 9.2 mm dynamic (redesigned), 1 x 6 mm dynamic, 4 x EST electrostatic; 10 ohm at 1 kHz; 108.5 dB SPL at 1 kHz (100 mV); 4.4 mm balanced cable; ear impression requirement not stated on pageSolid black acrylic shell in a semi-anatomical shape, aluminium acoustic fabric, machined aluminium caseFour electrostatic drivers handle the highs, with a redesigned 9.2 mm dynamic driver for bass.€3,100
Wireless and noise cancelling
- Bathys MGBluetooth closed-back ANC headphone; 40 mm magnesium 'M' dome drivers; 10 Hz-22 kHz (+/-3 dB); Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint with AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, SBC; 30 h ANC, 35 h wired, 42 h USB-DAC; 24-bit/192 kHz USB-DAC mode; 350 gAluminium and magnesium yoke, genuine leather headband, foam ear padsFocal says the magnesium drivers are made in its French workshops, and ANC runs in Silent, Soft or Transparent modes.Price on request
- Px8 S2Over-ear ANC; 2 x 40 mm Carbon Cone full-range dynamic drivers; 24-bit DSP; aptX Lossless Bluetooth; 8 microphones; 30 h playback; 0.31 kgNappa leather and solid die-cast aluminiumThe original Px8 is still listed on the same page at $479, reduced from $749.$799
- Beoplay H100Over-ear ANC headphone tuned for Dolby Atmos; 40 mm electro-dynamic titanium drivers; 10-20,000 Hz (10-40,000 Hz hi-res mode); 32 h with ANC, 30 h with spatial audio and head tracking; IP53Aluminium, titanium, lambskin leather, cowhide leather, toughened glass, fabricBattery, headband, ear cushions and even the drivers are designed to be serviced or replaced.from $2,200
- Beoplay H95Over-ear adaptive ANC headphone; 40 mm electro-dynamic titanium drivers; up to 38 h on Bluetooth with ANC, up to 50 h on Bluetooth withoutAluminium, titanium, lambskin leather, cowhide leather, polymer, fabricSold in four colours: Black, Gold Tone, Chestnut and Navy.$1,250
- IO-12Closed-back wireless ANC headphone; 50 mm full-range driver with SMC magnet system; 10-48,000 Hz; Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive; up to 35 h battery; 370 gReal leather headband and ear pads, paper fibre cone driverDALI calls it the first headphone with an SMC (Soft Magnetic Composite) magnet system, the material used in its Epicon speakers.Price on request