Shortlist
A first pair of audiophile headphones
A first serious pair that plays from the phone or laptop you already own, at $500 or less.
Ordered by how well each pair's design fits the job, then by owners' scores once enough owners have rated — never by who pays. Prices are the makers' list prices. Adjust it in the finder →
01 Audeze · List $399MM-100- An easy first step: plays straight from your phone
- Open-back: the most speaker-like sound, for a quiet room
- Planar magnetic drivers
02 Beyerdynamic · List $320DT 900 PRO X- An easy first step: plays straight from your phone
- Open-back: the most speaker-like sound, for a quiet room
- Plays straight from a phone
03 Koss · List $50Porta Pro- The lowest list price of these picks
- An easy first step: plays straight from your phone
- Open-back: the most speaker-like sound, for a quiet room
06 Grado Labs · List $350SR325- Open-back: the most speaker-like sound, for a quiet room
- Wants a small dongle DAC/amp from a phone
07 HIFIMAN · List $269Edition XS- Open-back: the most speaker-like sound, for a quiet room
- Planar magnetic drivers
- Wants a small dongle DAC/amp from a phone
08 Sennheiser · List $429HD 490 PRO- The lightest here, at 260 g
- Open-back: the most speaker-like sound, for a quiet room
- Wants a small dongle DAC/amp from a phone
09 Sennheiser · List $280HD 560S- Open-back: the most speaker-like sound, for a quiet room
- Wants a small dongle DAC/amp from a phone
10 Austrian Audio · List $349Hi-X55- An easy first step: plays straight from your phone
- Folds for travel
- Plays straight from a phone