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(2016) Headphones and Related

AKG N60 NC Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 26 July 2016
  • Reviewers Choice

Price: $249

Website: www.akg.com

Brent said: That the noise-canceling AKG N60 NCs came pretty close to the sound quality of my reference midpriced headphones, NAD’s Viso HP50s ($299), is remarkable. Overall, I do prefer the HP50s’ sound, but if I had to choose between them -- indeed, if I had to choose only one set of headphones to live with -- I’d take the N60 NCs for their much greater utility.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Great choice for frequent flyers.

Arcam MusicBoost DAC-Headphone Amp and Case for Apple iPhone 6/6s

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 30 August 2016

Price: $189

Website: www.arcam.co.uk

Al said: For $189, Arcam’s MusicBoost will not only protect your phone and keep its battery charged, it will make your music sound good. If you own an iPhone 6 or 6s and care about sound quality, Arcam’s MusicBoost is an essential accessory.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: iPhone-equipped audiophiles rejoice!

Audeze Sine Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 29 September 2016

Price: $449

Website: www.audeze.com

Brent said: I would enjoy having headphones that sound like this . . . if they were comfortable, which for me the Sines are not. But if you’re looking for a nice, clean, uncolored sound, I recommend you try the Audeze Sines at a dealer or your nearest hi-fi or headphone show.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Although they sound really good, they are not that comfortable.

Audio-Technica ATH-S700BT SonicFuel Bluetooth Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 27 February 2016

Price: $129.95

Website: www.audio-technica.com

Rad said: Due to their light weight and good fit, the Audio-Technica ATH-S700BT SonicFuels will be ideal for those who are looking for quality sound to accompany their physical activities, don’t want any wires in the way, and can’t wear in-ear ’phones.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Good alternative to the Koss BT540i ’phones.

Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT Bluetooth Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 30 August 2016

Price: $199

Website: www.audio-technica.com

Rad said: If you want on-ear headphones that deliver a driving midrange and highs to juice up your workout or yardwork, the Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BTs might be just the headphones for you.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Good sound but they lack deep bass.

Audio-Technica ATH-WS99BT Solid Bass Bluetooth Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 29 April 2016

Price: $249.95

Website: www.audio-technica.com

Rad said: Move along, folks, move along -- nothing to hear here.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Skip it.

Beyerdynamic T 5 p Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 30 November 2016
  • Reviewers Choice

Price: $1099

Website: www.beyerdynamic.de

Brent said: I found the Beyerdynamic T 5 p closed-back model to be excellent headphones capable of bringing out the detail and space in any recording without sounding harsh or fatiguing.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Not quite neutral, but with a thoroughly engaging sound.

Final Sonorous III Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 30 November 2016

Price: $399

Website: www.final-audio-design.com/en/

Brent said: The Final Sonorous IIIs have a neutral sound overall, with some of the most perfect, natural, grooving bass reproduction I’ve ever heard from headphones.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Solid choice if they fit your head.

Focal Sphear Earphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 01 July 2016
  • Reviewers Choice

Price: $149

Website: www.focal.com

Brent said: The Focal Sphears are exceptionally comfortable, well-designed, good-sounding earphones that I found especially enjoyable to use when listening to rock, pop, and jazz -- and any other music in which groove is important.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Super-comfortable design that likes to rock.

HiFiMan Edition X Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 27 February 2016
  • Reviewers Choice

Price: $1799

Website: www.hifiman.com

Brent said: If you demand the best, the HE1000s are the wiser choice. If spending $3000 on headphones is a stretch for you, the Edition Xes are the better pick, especially considering that you don’t need to buy or carry a separate amplifier or a high-priced portable music player to use with them. Just plug ’em into your smartphone or tablet and you’ll get fantastic sound with zero hassles.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: More affordable version of the HE1000s.

HiFiMan HE1000 V2 Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 28 December 2016
  • Reviewers Choice

Price: $2999

Website: www.hifiman.com

Brent said: HiFiMan’s HE1000 V2s aren’t all that different from their original HE1000s, and that’s a good thing -- the HE1000s are widely regarded as being some of the very best headphones you can buy. Are the V2s better? In my opinion, their sound is a little different from their forebears’ -- not better.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Worthy new flagship replaces last year’s HE1000.

JBL Everest Elite 700 Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 27 February 2016

Price: $299.95

Website: www.jbl.com

Brent said: They sound better, in my opinion, than every NC headphone I’ve named other than the PSB M4U 2s, and they offer several advantages over the PSBs: They’re slightly more portable, I found them more comfortable over the long term, and they have Bluetooth, a feature I very much enjoy using. These very good noise-canceling headphones are easy to recommend.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Check these out before you buy the Bose or PSB noise-canceling models.

Klipsch Reference X20i Earphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 01 February 2016

Price: $549

Website: www.klipsch.com

Brent said: The Klipsch Reference X20i in-ears possess the sonic qualities that I -- and, I think, most listeners -- want in a set of earphones: uncolored sound and natural tonal balance.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Earphones that won’t color your music.

Moon by Simaudio Neo 230HAD DAC-Headphone Amplifier

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 29 April 2016

Price: $1500

Website: www.simaudio.com

S. Andrea said: The 230HAD has prominent but controlled bass, relaxed and refined treble, and a full-bodied midrange that provides a coherent transition between the two -- a sonic profile I found worked well with all types of music and a variety of headphones.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Most affordable Simaudio headphone amp has many strengths.

Optoma NuForce HEM8 Earphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 30 August 2016

Price: $499

Website: www.optomausa.com

Brent said: Bottom line: If you’re looking for high-end earphones that don’t exaggerate anything, never “bite” your ears with harsh treble, and provide full yet precise bass reproduction, the NuForce HEM8s are a great choice.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: These earphones won’t grate on your ears.

Pryma 0|1 Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 31 March 2016

Price: $499

Website: www.pryma.com

Hans said: This visual and tactile feast, and the 0|1s’ exciting, dynamic sound, make Pryma’s first headphone model something of a bargain, and a no-brainer for those who want audiophile headphones that look every bit as good as they sound.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: The standard in headphone industrial design.

RBH Sound HP-2 Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 31 March 2016
  • Reviewers Choice

Price: $249

Website: www.rbhsound.com

Brent said: I’ve heard almost every major-brand closed-back headphone, and most of the minor-brand models. I can’t think of any for under $500 that are clearly better than RBH Sound’s HP-2s.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Not high profile, but certainly high quality.

Sennheiser HD 630VB Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 29 September 2016

Price: $499.95

Website: www.sennheiser.com

S. Andrea said: The HD 630VBs are a serious attempt at high-end, closed-back headphones by one of the leaders in the industry.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: The Variable Bass feature is a real plus.

Sennheiser HD 800 S Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 29 April 2016
  • Reviewers Choice

Price: $1699

Website: www.sennheiser.com

Brent said: Sennheiser’s HD 800 S headphones are clearly some of the best you can buy. Unless you’re a diehard basshead, or hate open-back headphones, or refuse to use a headphone amp, I can’t imagine you wouldn’t like them.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Maybe the best Sennheisers ever.

Sennheiser Momentum Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2016) Headphones and Related
Created: 01 July 2016

Price: $499.95

Website: www.sennheiser.com

Rad said: They sound terrific, with one of the most impressive soundstages I’ve heard, and an excellent noise-canceling system that let me hear my music unmarred by outside sounds. Given all that, the Sennheiser Momentums are very good value for the dollar, even at $499.95.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Old-school company meets new-school technology.

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