Music, like any other art form, has a lot of subtleties to it that aren’t readily discernible. While one does need to train their ears to listen critically, one also requires high-quality equipment to reveal those details. Here are some audiophile-grade headphones on Amazon that can reveal new things in your favourite tracks that you might never have heard before. These are chosen on the basis of their specifications and widely acknowledged sound signatures.
The Sennheiser HD 800 was one of the most legendary headphones to ever exist. The HD 800s fixes a few flaws that the HD 800 had, resulting in a true, top of the line headphone that is sure to wow audiophiles and enthusiasts. It features a balanced sound signature that doesn’t emphasize any one part of the frequency curve. But the best part of the sound signature has to be the soundstage. The HD 800s features one of the largest soundstages in a circumaural headphone and lets you close your eyes and imagine the band in the room with you, with each instrument sounding distinct and clear. For those who appreciate clarity and detail retrieval in their gear, the Sennheiser HD 800s are the way to go.
While Focal might be better known for their speaker systems, their headphone offerings are no slouch either. The Focal Elear is a classy and minimalistic headphone that looks good and sounds better. It feels premium with the incorporation of a lot of metal in its build while the earcups are cushiony and meant to be comfortable on the ear. The Elear has a fun sounding warm signature – the low end sounds extremely punchy and tight and is sure to make anyone tap their feet while the mids and highs have a nice body to them and are a pleasure to hear. Great dynamics and good visceral slam round off the Elear into a headphone that most would enjoy. For those looking for fun while still listening critically, the Focal Elear is definitely worth a look.
The DT 1770 Pro from Beyerdynamic uses its own in-house “Tesla” drivers for its audio delivery to ensure high-resolution and well-balanced sound. The system uses a three-layer compound membrane to suppress break-up vibrations, which produces clearer sound. The closed-back design aims for better sound suppression from your environment. It also aims for a precise combination of spaciousness and high-resolution audio with accurate bass. The headphones carry two pairs of earpads to adjust the sound for your needs. The velour ear pads provide an open sound well suited to mixing and mastering, while the leatherette ear pads deliver a closed environment better for monitoring purposes.
The patented Window Shade design on the HiFiMan Arya helps it deliver its instantly recognisable open-back design without compromising on driver protection. The planar magnetic drivers on it are capable of producing deeper bass as compared to their dynamic driver counterparts – with the bass extending deep into the lower frequency ranges so that you can hear every rumble perfectly. The HiFiMAN Arya incorporates a number of specialised technologies such as the nanometer thickness diaphragm and a submicron thickness conductor to help the driver deliver the kind of impressive audio you expect from such a headphone. To ensure comfort during long listening sessions, the headphone features asymmetrical earcups that follow the natural shape of the human ear.