Discover 2023’s auditory odyssey from antique revamps to debut sensations.
This presented many thrilling headphones for audiophiles; some are upgraded classics, whilst others are new contenders making their debut.
Should you’re new to the headphone passion or simply on the lookout for one thing to reward to an audiophile, it’s simple to get misplaced within the sea of recent choices.
We compiled the record beneath that will help you 0 in at the maximum mentioned headphones amongst audiophiles this , with choices starting from price range to top rate costs. Let’s see what the thrill is all about!
| Identify | Kind | Connection | Motive force Kind(s) | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truthear x Crinacle 0: Crimson | In-ear, closed-back | Stressed | 2x Dynamic | BUY |
| Kiwi Ears Quintet | In-ear, closed-back | Stressed | 1x Dynamic, 2x Balanced Armature, 1x Planar, 1x Piezoelectric Bone Conductor | BUY |
| MoonDrop Starfield 2 | In-ear, closed-back | Stressed | Dynamic | BUY |
| MoonDrop Blessing 3 | In-ear, closed-back | Stressed | 2x Dynamic, 4x Balanced Armature | BUY |
| ThieAudio Monarch MKIII | In-ear, closed-back | Stressed | 2x Dynamic, 6x Balanced Armature, 2x Electrostatic | BUY |
| Sennheiser HD 660S2 | Over-ear, open-back | Stressed | Dynamic | BUY |
| HiFiMAN Ananda Nano | Over-ear, open-back | Stressed | Planar | BUY |
| HiFiMAN Arya Natural | Over-ear, open-back | Stressed | Planar | BUY |
| Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones | Over-ear, closed-back | Wi-fi | Dynamic | BUY |
| Sony WF-1000XM5 | In-ear, closed-back | Wi-fi | Dynamic | BUY |
| JBL Excursion Professional 2 | In-ear, closed-back | Wi-fi | Dynamic | BUY |
| Noble Audio FoKus Mystique | In-ear, closed-back | Wi-fi | 1x Dynamic, 2x Balanced Armature | BUY |
| Dyson Zone | Over-ear, closed-back | Wi-fi | Dynamic | BUY |
1. Truthear x Crinacle 0: Crimson
- Connection: Stressed
- Kind: In-ear, closed-back
- Motive force Kind(s): 2x Dynamic
- Impedance: 17.5 Ω
- Frequency Reaction: 20 Hz – 40.5 kHz
Launched in Might of this , the Truthear x Crinacle 0: Crimson have turn into the most recent sub $100 darling of the price range audiophile crowd. Serving as a sequel to the 0: Blue launched just a prior, the Crimson function the similar dual-dynamic motive force crossover design – a novel function for his or her fee tier.
The Truthear x Crinacle 0: Crimson boast high-effort technicals with newly optimized voice coils and crossover circuits. Whilst various audiophiles are nonetheless relishing their 0: Blue, the normal consensus appears to be that the Crimson have a extra balanced and “musical” tuning than their blue predecessor.
2. Kiwi Ears Quintet
- Connection: Stressed
- Kind: In-ear, closed-back
- Motive force Kind(s): 1x Dynamic, 2x Balanced Armature, 1x Planar, 1x Piezoelectric Bone Conductor
- Impedance: 32 Ω
- Frequency Reaction: 20 Hz – 30 kHz
Whilst Kiwi Ears’ Quartet IEMs left audiophiles pleasantly stunned with their quality-to-price ratio, the Kiwi Ears Quintet left them borderline at a loss for words once they dropped in June of 2023. The corporate spent a on its building – an effort that turns out to have paid off.
Their smorgasbord number of motive force varieties is ordinary to look at even the absolute best finish of the marketplace, making the Quintet authentic standouts for his or her fee tier and past. Of explicit word is their inclusion of a piezoelectric bone conduction motive force, which bypasses a listener’s eardrum and transmits motive force vibrations throughout the ossicles of the interior ear.
The Quintet function a punchy and a laugh low finish, however parts in their daring treble would possibly give audiophiles one thing to disagree about.
3. MoonDrop Starfield 2
- Connection: Stressed
- Kind: In-ear, closed-back
- Motive force Kind(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: 15 Ω
- Frequency Reaction: 12 Hz – 24 kHz
4 years after MoonDrop’s common liberate of the unique Starfield, the corporate got here again round with the Starfield 2 in July of 2023. Revamps of outdated gadgets can now and again be underwhelming, however MoonDrop turns out to have overperformed with the Starfield 2.
The MoonDrop Starfield 2 additionally sees a new function within the type of interchangeable bass filters.
Of particular word to the audiophile crowd is the inclusion of a lithium-magnesium motive force diaphragm. This subject material is even much less dense than beryllium, which is continuously regarded as probably the most top rate motive force subject material. We additionally see a new gold-plated brass nozzle design, which MoonDrop says ends up in better density and timbrical accuracy.
4. MoonDrop Blessing 3
- Connection: Stressed
- Kind: In-ear, closed-back
- Motive force Kind(s): 2x Dynamic, 4x Balanced Armature
- Impedance: 14.8 Ω
- Frequency Reaction: 10 Hz – 30 kHz
MoonDrop’s Blessing IEMs by no means fail to generate hype some of the in-ear crowd with each and every new iteration. It’s no wonder that audiophiles pounced at the MoonDrop Blessing 3 once they have been launched in April of 2023.
The Moondrop Blessing 3 see some drastic and welcome technical upgrades when in comparison to their predecessors. An extra dynamic motive force has been carried out, contributing to their new integration of H.O.D.D.D.U.S. (Horizontally Adversarial Twin Dynamic Motive force Unit Device). The program provides the Blessing 3 considerably extra dynamic fluctuate than the sophomore Blessing.
The MoonDrop Blessing 3 additionally sees an attenuated higher treble compared to the Blessing 2.
Audiophiles who fell in love with the former Blessings’ sound signatures gained’t be disenchanted with the Blessing 3. They maintain their signature neutrality, with average enhancements in soundstage, separation, and normal element retrieval.
5. ThieAudio Monarch MKIII
- Connection: Stressed
- Kind: In-ear, closed-back
- Motive force Kind(s): 2x Dynamic, 6x Balanced Armature, 2x Electrostatic
- Impedance: 20 ohms
- Frequency Reaction: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
ThieAudio’s Monarch MKIII got here out in July of 2023, simply over a for the reason that corporate’s common Monarch MKII IEMs hit the marketplace. The recency in their liberate makes them a little of an elusive piece in the meanwhile, leaving audiophiles itching for a concentrate.
ThieAudio Monarch MKIII turned into the primary flagship-tier IEMs from the corporate to put into effect IMPACT2 with their new inclusion of an extra dynamic motive force subwoofer. ThieAudio says that IMPACT2 produces extra robust and textured bass, with out sacrificing tonal readability, through the use of an isobaric chamber design.
The Monarch MKIII look like they’re rolling out with a larger and higher low finish, however depart room for controversy with a newfound zing of their higher treble.
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6. Sennheiser HD 660S2
- Connection: Stressed
- Kind: Over-ear, open-back
- Motive force Kind(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: 300 Ω
- Frequency Reaction: 8 Hz – 41.5 kHz
The audiophile group went into overdrive when Sennheiser launched the HD 660S2 in February this . In all probability best the HD 600 or HD 650 can evaluate to the recognition and excessive regard of the unique Sennheiser HD 660S.
For the massive sequel, Sennheiser optimized the airflow across the HD 660S2’s transducers, and beefed up their impedance from 150 Ω to 300 Ω. Maximum significantly, the HD 660S2 noticed a considerable alternate of their tuning with a newfound sub-bass extension.
Whilst some can have griped concerning the preliminary fee of the HD 660S2, something no person appears to be complaining about is their robust but blank bass.
7. HiFiMAN Ananda Nano
- Connection: Stressed
- Kind: Over-ear, open-back
- Motive force Kind(s): Planar
- Impedance: 14 Ω
- Frequency Reaction: 5 Hz – 55kHz
HiFiMAN’s Ananda headphones have noticed various new iterations since their preliminary liberate, the newest being the HiFiMAN Ananda Nano that got here out again in Might 2023. Whilst earlier editions of the Ananda adopted moderately an identical sonic formulation, the Nano got here tearing out of the gate with a critical makeover in sound and technical design alike.
Maximum impressively, the Ananda Nano function a new motive force diaphragm that could be a mere nanometer in thickness. This design feature borrows from the ultra-high-end HiFiMAN Susvara and, consistent with HiFiMAN, ends up in larger motive force sensitivity and swift word decay instances.
A little not like its predecessors, the Ananda Nano pack a moderately intense sonic efficiency with their punchy low-end, chilly mid-range, and crispy treble.
8. HiFiMAN Arya Natural
- Connection: Stressed
- Kind: Over-ear, open-back
- Motive force Kind(s): Planar
- Impedance: 16 Ω
- Frequency Reaction: 8 Hz – 65 kHz
Past due would possibly was once a hectic time for HiFiMAN in 2023, as they launched the new Arya Natural proper along the Ananda Nano.
The Arya Natural have one of the vital upgrades noticed within the Ananda Nano, equivalent to their new nanometer diaphragm. Then again, the new inclusion of wood fabrics of their cup design is exclusive to the Natural.
As HiFiMAN has gotten some complaint for construct high quality over time, the new wood options at the Arya Natural look like an immediate reaction to such complaint.
As for his or her efficiency, the Arya Natural handle a steadiness that are supposed to sound acquainted to people who have listened to earlier variations of the Arya – despite the fact that with a couple of key variations. Those variations come with a hotter bass reaction, a extra intimate soundstage, and an total “tighter” sounding efficiency.
9. Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones
- Connection: Wi-fi
- Kind: Over-ear, closed-back
- Motive force Kind(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: N/A
- Frequency Reaction: recently unknown
Slated to be launched in “early October,” Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones are giving the wi-fi audiophiles one thing to get excited for. Coming in at a relatively excessive fee for Bose, the QuietComfort Extremely Headphones appear to be they could be the corporate’s maximum top rate liberate but.
In conventional Bose type, the new ANC options would be the quietest that the corporate has ever rolled out. Audiophiles, alternatively, could be slightly extra excited for the new “Immersive Audio” options, which Bose says will paintings “regardless of the content material or supply.”
With claims like that, you don’t must be an audiophile to look what the hype is ready.
10. Sony WF-1000XM5
- Connection: Wi-fi
- Kind: In-ear, closed-back
- Motive force Kind(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: N/A
- Frequency Reaction: recently unknown
Of the most important wi-fi earbud producers, few had been ready to carry their flooring in opposition to Apple or Beats like Sony has. Sony launched WF-1000XM5 TWS earbuds in September of 2023, and so they have been promptly wolfed up by means of the audiophile and informal crowd alike.
One of the vital number one upgrades within the WF-1000XM5 comes from a relatively extra tough and constant ANC efficiency. Different upgrades come with a more potent Bluetooth connection (5.3, up from 5.2) and new app options. One such function is “To find Your EQ,” giving listeners extra versatile sound customization choices by means of layering more than a few EQ settings saved within the app.
Listeners have reported a an identical sound to the XM4, despite the fact that some declare average soundstage enhancements and slightly extra sub-bass presence within the XM5.
11. JBL Excursion Professional 2
- Connection: Wi-fi
- Kind: In-ear, closed-back
- Motive force Kind(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: N/A
- Frequency Reaction: 20 Hz to twenty kHz
JBL bridged the distance between audiophiles and informal listeners over again once they launched the Excursion Professional 2 in April 2023.
The Excursion Professional 2 carved a suave area of interest by means of equipping the earbuds’ charging case with a marginally display. From right here, listeners can keep watch over their track, alternate EQ settings, take a look at battery existence, and extra. Now not unhealthy for a display, only some centimeters in dimension.
Whilst the Excursion Professional 2’s default steadiness can also be described as heat and bass-centric, a undeniable breed of audiophiles will have the ability to to find hours of leisure in tweaking the exceptionally customizable in-app parametric EQ. On the finish of the day, the JBL Excursion Professional 2’s steadiness can also be no matter you need it to be.
12. Noble Audio FoKus Mystique
- Connection: Wi-fi
- Kind: In-ear, closed-back
- Motive force Kind(s): 1x Dynamic, 2x Balanced Armature
- Impedance: N/A
- Frequency Reaction: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Noble Audio constructed off of the luck of the FoKus Professional by means of liberating the FoKus Mystique again in January. Even though there are many wi-fi buds available on the market that draw an audiophile crowd, few particularly cater to them slightly just like the wi-fi buds from Noble Audio.
The FoKus Mystique introduced lots of the audiophile traits of the Professional with it. Of explicit word is the triple-driver crossover gadget, which is rather uncommon within the wi-fi house. There’s additionally the buds’ shell design, which resembles and suits like usual IEMs way over conventional wi-fi buds.
Even though a lot has stayed the similar, Noble made some adjustments with the FoKus Mystique, equivalent to enhancements to the microphone that experience led to higher name readability.
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13. Dyson Zone
- Connection: Wi-fi
- Kind: Over-ear, closed-back
- Motive force Kind(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: n/a
- Frequency Reaction: 6 Hz – 21 kHz
When Dyson launched their Dyson Zone headphones to the worldwide marketplace in April 2023, each audiophile raised their voice in a collective “Why?”
The Dyson Zone are the first all-in-one wi-fi headphone and air air purifier. When jamming to their favourite tunes, a listener has the technique to connect and turn on a face-visor air air purifier and get blasted with a faceful of purified air.
Most of the people gained’t learn additional than that, however for many who do, the Dyson Zone additionally function an excellent 8 beamforming microphones for his or her ANC purposes. They even have a significant other app permitting customers to trace air high quality ranges and follow an in-app equalizer.
Hate them or love them, each audiophile within the passion heard concerning the Dyson Zone this .
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