Sound quality is the main criterion put forward for headphones. Audio stores offer many decent models for music lovers. In the production of such equipment, the leaders are the Germans, the British and the Americans - the majority of the rating's headphones are from these countries. But there is also an unexpectedly good solution from the Romanian manufacturer. Intrigued? Then check out the headphone sound quality rating to the end. In it, following the opinion of experts and user reviews, I have collected the best sound quality headphones of various form factors, although the vast majority of them are overhead, closed-type. This form factor is the easiest to achieve great sound. I hope this TOP list will help you make your choice.
TOP-7 wired headphones with high-quality sound
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Full-size on-ear headphones open the rating. The design and sound quality are completely inherited from the predecessor M50, the difference is in the detachable cable. Can be used by DJs, musicians, in everyday life. This is provided by a relatively low impedance of 38 ohms. You need a powerful sound card to appreciate the sound quality of these headphones, but they sound good with a modern smartphone. The frequency range is 15–28000 Hz. Sensitivity - 99 dB. The model is very convenient in operation: a folding design, a detachable cable, a good leatherette finish. Price - 11,500 rubles.
Pros:
- ergonomics;
- complete set (cover, 2 additional cables);
- sound;
- large volume reserve;
- good sound insulation.
Minuses:
- price;
- may sound bad when connected to a device without a powerful sound card;
- uncomfortable position of the plug socket: the cord often clings to the collar;
- very powerful high frequencies, revealing all defects of low-quality recordings.
If you appreciate the sound of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 and are in doubt about whether to buy the ATH-M50's, stop right away. The price for them is almost equal to its predecessor, while the detachable cable is a very convenient idea. For fans of wireless models, the Japanese released the ATH-M50xBT last year. Rate them, but be prepared to overpay about 1,500 rubles compared to the wired version.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
Appreciated by professionals in recording studios and radio. These are modifications of headphones with an impedance of 80 and 250 ohms. For a simple layman, there is a model with a resistance of 32 Ohm, which still requires preliminary heating, then you can use it with smartphones. The only negative is the rustic design. The sound is balanced, with a slight predominance of treble and bass over the “middle”. They sit comfortably on the head, do not press, creating a good level of sound insulation. Price - 16,200 rubles.
Pros:
- price-quality ratio";
- excellent sound insulation;
- sound quality;
- large volume reserve;
- replaceable ear pads, headband pad.
Minuses:
- the design is rustic;
- non-removable cable;
- awkward design.
For professionals, these are the best headphones in this price segment. For ordinary people, another inexpensive sample can be considered - Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: savings of about 5 thousand rubles, advantages in design and convenience (foldable design, detachable cable).
AKG K 712 Pro
Full-size open headphones for professionals with 3D detailed, balanced sound, excellent build quality, high level of comfort, for which they are appreciated by many experts. But ordinary music lovers without professional equipment - an amplifier or at least a powerful sound card - won't like these headphones. An impedance of 62 ohms corrects the sound. Price - 20,500 rubles.
Pros:
- design;
- build quality;
- convenience;
- detachable cable;
- complete set (additional cable, cover);
- sound quality.
Minuses:
- velor ear pads require periodic cleaning from dust;
- the twisted cable is too rigid;
- some users lack bass;
- demanding on the outgoing sound quality;
- poor sound insulation associated with a design feature;
- awkward.
Suitable for working with sound lovers of open-type headphones. They require warm-up and selection of a suitable audio path. If all goes well, they could outperform the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro in sound quality. I believe that it is better to take the latter - they are more "omnivorous", and for everyday use at home you can buy an Audio-Technica ATH-M50x (savings - almost 10 thousand rubles). But not everyone agrees with me: the 100% recommendation of AKG K 712 Pro on Yandex speaks about this. Market.
Sennheiser HD 650
Headphones for audiophiles and sound speakers. Impedance (300 ohm) requires professional audio equipment. Tests of these headphones show an almost perfectly flat frequency response with small accents at the top. This makes the model universal, suitable for listening to any style of music. The main thing is to remember the quality of the outgoing signal and the recording itself. Otherwise, you risk "killing" all the listening pleasure. This plays into the hands of those who work with sound - all recording defects are at a glance. Price - 20650 rubles.
Pros:
- good sound;
- materials and build quality.
Minuses:
- no cover included;
- price;
- exactingness to the source;
- flimsy cable;
- poor sound insulation;
- some users lack bass.
Headphones aren't for everyone. Considering the high price, I can recommend them to those who work professionally with sound. For music lovers, I suggest taking Meze 99 Classics - ideal in everything: design, convenience, sound quality.
Meze 99 Classics
Premium headphones from the Romanian brand Meze. They attract attention with their unusual design, assembly materials - the bowls are made of wood. Available colors are silver bindings and walnut, gold bindings and walnut, white leatherette, silver headband and maple. For lovers of the classics, there is a pure black version, it has the NEO prefix to the name. But in it, the "zest" of the appearance is lost. The next thing that pleases these headphones is the complete set: 2 cables (1 with a microphone and a remote control for mobile devices, another long three-meter for stationary use), a shockproof case, a case for adapters and cables, an adapter for an airplane and an adapter Jack (6 , 35 mm). The model is universal, not too demanding on the sound source. It sounds a little better with professional equipment, but it can also be used with a smartphone, including as a headset. The sound is balanced, with excellent midrange and soft bass. Price - 21,900 rubles.
Pros:
- Beautiful design;
- equipment;
- assembly materials;
- comfortable fit;
- universality: impedance - 32 Ohm;
- sound quality;
- soundproofing;
- can be used as a headset.
Minuses:
- price;
- awkward design;
- no volume control on the remote control;
- cable microphone effect;
- the wooden surface of the bowls is easily scratched;
- the microphone built into the cable is weak.
Suitable for home. Quite good compatibility with mobile devices, there is even a cable with a microphone in the kit, but it is often irrational to use them outdoors: the model does not have moisture protection, the surface of the bowls is easily damaged. Otherwise they are fine. The price is justified, but if it is too high for you, pay attention to the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x - the sound quality is very good.
Shure SE535
Top model in the Shure SE line. Earplugs with reinforcing radiators (3 in each). Produce a natural, balanced sound with a subtle emphasis on the midrange.A perfect fit and excellent sound insulation are guaranteed by a large set of complete ear pads and an ear hook. The impedance of the model is 36 ohms, which theoretically allows it to be used with smartphones, but the sound quality with professional equipment is noticeably better. Price - 33,500 rubles.
Pros:
- complete set (case, 6.3 mm adapter, aircraft adapter, instrument for cleaning sound guides, set of replaceable ear pads);
- detachable cable;
- sit securely in the ears;
- sound quality;
- large volume reserve;
- soundproofing.
Minuses:
- price;
- exactingness to the sound source;
- some users lack bass;
- cable quality;
- no microphone;
- there is no clip for attaching to clothes.
Not a bad model for in-ear headphones lovers. Unleash their full potential when working with powerful audio devices. Not a bad monitor headphone option for artists on stage. For use with a smartphone - an unreasonable price, since there is not even a microphone. I recommend Westone W40 - only 1 thousand more expensive, but the advantages are clear.
Westone W40
They have lower impedance compared to Shure SE535, are less demanding on the sound source, and perform better with mobile devices. The manufacturer focuses on this by placing a microphone with a volume control on the cable. The quality of the cable is much higher here. The headphones themselves have 8 reinforcing emitters (4 in each) for a balanced sound without a clear dominance of certain frequencies. They sit comfortably in the ears, the set includes a set of replaceable ear cushions. In addition to them, the manufacturer put 2 cables in the box, a tool for cleaning the headphones, several pairs of decorative covers on the case (with a movement of your hand, the headphones can be turned from black to red or blue), a screwdriver for changing them, a case for storage and transportation. Price - 34,500 rubles.
Pros:
- design;
- rich equipment;
- convenience;
- sound quality;
- soundproofing;
- microphone with volume control on the cable;
- detachable cable.
Minuses:
- large body;
- price;
- exactingness to the sound source;
- some users lack bass with a simultaneous excess of treble.
Considering the package, high build quality and good sound, experts consider the Westone W40 the best vacuum monitor headphones in this price segment. They show themselves well in everyday use. The price is, of course, high. Buying a model is justified for musicians and music lovers - fans of this form factor. It is more expedient to buy full-size headphones, and not necessarily from the range of expensive models, there are decent ones in the segment up to 20 thousand rubles - for example, Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro.
TOP 8 Bluetooth headphones with high quality sound
JBL Live 650BTNC
The top model in the manufacturer's lineup, which appeared at the beginning of this year and easily won the love of experts and music lovers. Features:
- three colors - white, black, blue;
- hybrid connection - via Bluetooth and cable;
- stable connection, work with multiple devices at the same time;
- built-in microphone;
- active noise cancellation system;
- voice assistant;
- autonomy - up to 30 hours, however, with active noise cancellation, they will last 10 hours less;
- proprietary cu technologies - no need to take off your headphones to hear others.
The sound of the model is accentuated on low frequencies and bass, especially with active noise cancellation. Price - 7900 rubles. Availability makes this model one of the most popular in the Russian Federation.
Pros:
- price;
- comfortable to wear;
- complete set (cable cover);
- folding design;
- sound quality;
- noise suppression;
- autonomy;
- Ambient Aware and TalkThru functions;
- stable connection;
- there is Multipoint.
Minuses:
- cover material;
- microphone quality;
- cannot be used as a headset by cable;
- when noise cancellation is off, the sound is flat;
- lack of aptX support;
- from 20 percent to 0 discharges in less than an hour;
- the touch button of the voice assistant is inconveniently located.
Good headphones, can be used with mobile devices or at home. They have a number of disadvantages that can be forgiven given the price, especially if noise cancellation is important.If not, consider the Pioneer SE-MS7BT - they look more solid, sound a little better, and you will have to pay only 600 rubles.
Pioneer SE-MS7BT
Outperforms the JBL Live 650BTNC in terms of design. The outer surface of the bowls looks very impressive: it is made of metal, anodized, and decorated with laser engraving. The headband and the inner part of the ear cushions are finished in brown, gray or black leatherette. In terms of sound quality, everything is subjective. Extended frequency response, aptX support, but no active noise cancellation. If you focus on Yandex. Market, the Pioneer SE-MS7BT still sound better: the sound score is 4.6 points against 4.3 in the JBL Live 650BTNC. What confuses me about this model is the old version of Bluetooth along with the NFC chip. The headphone connection is stable, but I still think this decision of the manufacturer is illogical. This is partly due to the rather weak autonomy of the model - 12 hours. Price - 8500 rubles.
Pros:
- price;
- design;
- good materials, build quality;
- high quality sound;
- aptX support;
- stable connection;
- Multipoint;
- NFC.
Minuses:
- awkward design;
- autonomy;
- backlash of buttons;
- Bluetooth v 3.0;
- some users lack bass;
- no noise cancellation;
- microphone quality;
- small volume reserve;
- not the highest autonomy (12 hours);
- lack of a charge indicator.
Good headphones for lovers of balanced sound. Suitable for everyone, except for the supporters of powerful bass. I recommend them to take the JBL Live 650BTNC or more expensive models.
Marshall Mid Bluetooth
Headphones from an English manufacturer. Like Pioneer SE-MS7BT, no active noise canceling. But they sound good: the sound is balanced, soft, with an emphasis on bass and treble, aptX is supported. Features:
- the shape of the bowls is square, with slightly rounded corners;
- 3.5 mm jack works for input and output - you can share music with friends;
- branded joystick control KNOB - you need to get used to the nuances.
The battery life (up to 30 hours) is excellent for this price segment. Price - 9400 rubles.
Pros:
- price-quality ratio";
- Beautiful design;
- good materials and build quality of headphones, complete cables;
- convenient joystick control;
- sound quality;
- AptX support;
- stable connection;
- good microphone;
- autonomy;
- support the connection of second headphones via an audio cable.
Minuses:
- the set does not include a case or case for transporting headphones;
- no Multipoint;
- no AAC support;
- not very convenient for long-term use.
The best headphones in the range of up to 10 thousand rubles. But they lack active noise cancellation. If this function is important, the manufacturer has a Marshall Mid ANC model that practically repeats the one in question, but with noise cancellation. True, it costs several thousand more. Good noise canceling headphones are Bowers & Wilkins PX but cost twice as much. Of the budget samples of the rating, I can only recommend the JBL Live 650BTNC.
Bowers & wilkins px
Another headphone in the ranking is from England. They have a good design, excellent sound quality with a slight emphasis on the lower frequencies, support for aptX HD, SBC, AAC codecs, active noise reduction. Features:
- resistance - 20 Ohm, can be used with low-power devices without significant loss in sound / volume quality;
- noise reduction works in three modes - "Flight", "City" and "Office". The last option is especially interesting: you can hear the interlocutor thanks to a special microphone grill;
- touch control;
- headphone position sensor: music playback is paused when the earcups are removed from the ears, and resumes when they are put back on.
Users note the lack of discomfort during long-term use. Autonomy of work - up to 30 hours with noise cancellation, up to 22 hours - without it. They can work by cable. Price - 19,500 rubles.
Pros:
- design;
- touch control;
- sound quality;
- stable connection;
- good microphone;
- 3 modes of noise reduction;
- the ability to work by cable;
- autonomy;
- USB C charging connector;
- headphone position sensors;
- aptX support;
- Multipoint;
- proprietary application with the ability to fine tune.
Minuses:
- large volume headroom;
- heavy: weight - 335 g;
- short complete cables;
- rough ear pads;
- awkward design;
- it is impossible to use fully discharged headphones with a wire;
- Bluetooth 4.1;
- no NFC.
The headphones are massive, heavy compared to all competitors above. But there are no complaints about the sound quality and noise cancellation. If you need cheaper ANC headphones, I can recommend the JBL Live 650BTNC, but be prepared to lose sound quality.
Beats Studio 3 Wireless
Full-size wireless headphones from an Apple subsidiary. They are powered by the Apple W1 processor and have active noise cancellation. The target audience is youth. This is evident in the design: 10 vibrant colors, emphasis on low frequencies in the sound - ideal for listening to dance, electronic or club music. There is AAC support, but not aptX, owners of Apple devices are in an advantageous position. Autonomy - up to 40 hours without ANC, up to 22 hours - with it. Supports fast charging - 10 minutes for 3 hours of work. Price - 19,900 rubles.
Pros:
- apple sound processor;
- folding design;
- design;
- carrying case - included;
- touch control;
- noise suppression;
- sound quality;
- autonomy;
- stable connection;
- the ability to bind to iCloud;
- Multipoint.
Minuses:
- price;
- small ear pads;
- small volume reserve;
- turn off outside in winter;
- no AptX support;
- charging - micro-USB, can be a disadvantage for Apple owners;
- microphone quality.
Headphones aimed at young Apple fans. When working with a computer or device on Android OS, they show themselves worse. The price is clearly overpriced. Bowers & Wilkins PX are a couple hundred cheaper, but their noise cancellation is adaptive, the sound is more balanced. I can recommend to owners of Apple technology. I advise the rest to consider other options.
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
It is positioned as a top model in the manufacturer's line for true connoisseurs of music. Features:
- the cable is connected to the headphones via a micro-Jack (2.5 mm);
- materials. Fiberglass reinforced nylon body, headband in Alcantara, a material used for the upholstery of premium cars;
- NFC support;
- there is Google Assistant.
The sound with pronounced bass will appeal to many. The adaptive noise cancellation system will fully help you immerse yourself in the music. The lack of AptX support is disappointing. Price - 23 thousand rubles.
Pros:
- materials and build quality;
- design;
- ergonomics;
- convenient case;
- sound quality;
- stable connection;
- NFC;
- adaptive noise reduction;
- good microphone;
- the ability to work by cable;
- autonomy;
- Multipoint;
- Google Assistant;
- micro-USB charging.
Minuses:
- price;
- cheap short bundled USB cable;
- short audio cable Mini Jack 2.5;
- small volume reserve;
- weak microphone.
Headphones may seem expensive, but the price is justified by the quality. 87% of Yandex. The market recommends them for purchase, and I join them. Of the cheaper headphones, Bowers & Wilkins PX can make up worthy competition: savings - up to 3,500 rubles. If you're willing to pay more for headphones, consider the Sony WH-1000XM3.
Sony WH-1000XM3
They differ from all previous participants in the rating with an extended frequency range (4–40,000 Hz), excellent noise reduction. The manufacturer managed to achieve this result thanks to the use of the HD Noise-Canceling Processor QN1 complete with a sound amplifier. The headphones received a 47 ohm impedance, while performing well with mobile devices. The sound is typical for all the company's headphones: soft bass with damage to high frequencies. AptX, LDAC, AAC are supported. For the comfort of users, an NFC chip and the Sony Headphones Connect App are provided, through which you can control the functions of the headphones, adjust the sound. Autonomy - up to 36 hours without noise reduction, 30 - with it. Price - 24,900 rubles.
Pros:
- design;
- leather headboard and ear cushions;
- ease of wearing;
- high quality sound;
- noise suppression;
- aptX and LDAC support;
- Sony Headphones Connect App;
- NFC;
- autonomy;
- touch control.
Minuses:
- price;
- some users lack HF;
- weak microphone;
- can't connect to SONY ps4;
- touch buttons do not work well in frost and temperature changes;
- the application consumes the battery of the smartphone;
- no Multipoint;
- poor equipment (short charging cable, cheap case).
Some experts consider the sound of these headphones to be the best wireless. Comparing with Bose QuietComfort 35 II, they note the expanded possibilities of individual adaptation of sound, support for all modern codecs, they consider the overpayment of 2 thousand rubles to be justified. Paying tribute to the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, you can save money, they will also last a long time, delighting with high quality sound.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i
Rounding out the rating is Bang & Olufsen - a product from Denmark. The company has updated the Olufsen Beoplay H9 model. The result is headphones for music lovers with perfect sound and their own features:
- materials - metal and leather - look very expensive;
- Transparency mode - you don't need to take off your headphones to listen to an important announcement at the airport or place an order in a cafe;
- sensors in cups. Take off the headphones - playback is paused, put on - the music sounds again;
- replaceable battery;
- resistance - 24 ohms.
The sound is beyond praise - "warm", "soft", voluminous, detailed. This is how users describe it. Comparing with the sound of Bose QuietComfort 35 II or Sony WH-1000XM3 is probably not the best idea, there is no dispute about tastes. Before buying such an expensive item, you should do a "test drive". But noise cancellation works on par with the competition. Autonomy - up to 38 hours without noise reduction, 30 - with it. Price - 28 thousand rubles.
Pros:
- design;
- good materials, build quality;
- sound quality;
- good noise reduction;
- good microphone;
- stable connection;
- convenient smartphone application;
- position sensor for auto-pause;
- Transparency function;
- replaceable battery.
Minuses:
- sound quality deteriorates when noise cancellation is on;
- complex touch control, there are false positives;
- some users lack bass, while they note an excess of treble;
- uncomfortable. The headband has to be adjusted every time, the pressure on the head and ears makes itself felt after a few hours of operation;
- quality of the complete case: a simple cloth bag is not the best idea for premium headphones;
- scarce possibilities of a mobile application.
The model deserves attention, but judging by user reviews, it does not compete with the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and Sony WH-1000XM3, and it costs more.
