The 7 Best Headphones For Music of 2025

The Sennheiser HD 800 S are the best headphones for music we've tested. They create an incredibly spacious and wholly immersive listening experience, making your music sound like it's coming from all around you. If you're looking for the best and intend to spare no expense, these premium headphones are among the best open-back headphones you can buy. Their well-balanced sound profile will also please audiophiles. Their flat mid and treble response makes vocals and lead instruments sound clear, present, detailed, and airy.

However, their high price point can put them well out of reach for most people, especially considering the added cost of a dedicated amp. They're very well-built, with a sturdy-feeling design made of high-grade plastic reinforced by a metal frame and a braided detachable audio cable. Their spacious, breathable, and well-padded ear cups will also ensure you don't experience any discomfort, even during long listening sessions.

Since they have a dynamic transducer design, they're less prone to imaging issues than planar magnetic headphones in general, but they also deliver less punch in the low end than their planar-driven cousins. If you're a die-hard EDM fan who simply must feel the rumble and thump of a kick drum, consider the planar-driven HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version. However, the HiFiMan headphones are bulkier and less stable than the HD 800 S.

An excellent music listening experience doesn't necessitate a top-dollar investment—many sub-$500 headphones offer a high-quality audiophile experience with minimal sacrifices. Our pick at this price point are the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO. Like the Sennheiser HD 800 S, they use dynamic drivers with well-balanced sound. Thanks to this design, they're less susceptible to deviations between units than planar magnetic headphones. They produce a similarly well-balanced sound as our previous pick, though not as spacious as the HD 800 S. The HD 490 PRO also bring more thump and punch to your mixes with their low- and mid-bass, while vocals and instruments remain clearly and accurately represented thanks to their relatively flat mid and treble response.

While they are significantly less taxing on your wallet than the HD 800 S, the HD 490 PRO have some tradeoffs. They're less sturdy, with flimsier plastic yokes, which aren't as robust as the rest of their construction. Still, these headphones are comfortable and the lightest pick on this list, making them a great choice for extended listening sessions. Their open-back housings help make your audio feel more expansive and spacious. To top it all off, these headphones come with a second pair of swappable ear cups, which change their sound signature if you want to mix things up.

Looking for great sound at a mid-range price point? Check out the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. These are the next generation of the HiFiMan Sundara 2018 but with redesigned ear cup padding. Otherwise, the two models are nearly identical. Both feature the same balanced sound profile that's suitable for different kinds of content. While kick drums and basslines lack a little thump and punch due to their open-back design, their mid-range is exceptionally well-balanced, so vocals and instruments sound present, clear, and detailed.

These headphones feel comfortable and well-built. Their soundstage can make your mixes feel more open and spacious than the pricier Sennheiser HD 490 PRO, but they underdeliver in bass compared to the previous pick. Their fit feels unstable and can slip around if you move your head when listening to music, and they heat up more than other HiFiMan headphones, which can become uncomfortable during long listening sessions. Fortunately, their low impedance means you won't need a powerful amp to connect them, and you can get the same sound quality from your phone or laptop. If you want headphones that are a bit lighter to wear with a more stable fit, the Sennheiser HD 560S are worth a look too. These dynamic drivers are voiced brighter than the HiFiMan, which you may or may not prefer, but the HiFiMan cans still feel more premium.

For a great listening experience without breaking the bank, try the Philips Fidelio X2HR. These open-back headphones are bulkier than the HiFiMan Sundara 2020 and have a sound signature that's not as smooth, with more peaks and dips. However, they offer a deeper bass extension, making genres like hip-hop and EDM sound more thumpy and powerful than on some pricier open-back headphones. The rest of the frequency range is well-balanced, with great fidelity in the mid and treble ranges, making vocals and instruments sound crisp, clear, detailed, and present.

These headphones are mostly made of plastic but still feel well-built and durable. They clamp tighter on the head than most Philips headphones but won't cause discomfort during long listening sessions. Their low impedance also means you can get great-sounding audio without an amp: you can use them with your laptop and phone without significant changes in audio quality. That said, these are sometimes out of stock or fluctuate in price, so the Philips Fidelio X3 are also worth a look if you can't find the X2HR. Although both feel comfortable, the X3 have a peak where the mid-treble transitions to the high-treble that can sound relatively sharp if you're sensitive to high frequencies. Still, they're very comfortable and even include an extra cable.

Looking for the best music headphones on a budget? Look no further than the Philips SHP9500. These entry-level audiophile headphones have an open-back design for a more spacious listening experience. They're decently well-built, but as expected at this price point, they don't feel as premium or durable as the Philips Fidelio X2HR. The fabric that covers the ear pads can easily tear, and their swiveling ear cups aren't the sturdiest.

They have a generally flat and well-balanced sound, making them well-suited for genres like classical and folk that rely on accurately reproducing vocals and lead instruments. Whatever you're listening to, their detailed mids and treble provide plenty of clarity. Their main downside is a lack of low-bass, which is typical for open-backs. If a thumpy low-end is important to you, the Superlux HD 681 are semi-open-backs that pack a punch. They've enough punch and rumble to keep EDM fans groovin' and a balanced mid-range that represents vocals and instruments accurately. Unfortunately, their treble response is piercing, and they have a disappointing build quality.

If you care about your music but don't want to sacrifice features like noise cancelling and portability, consider the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're Bluetooth headphones, which makes them easier to use when you're out and about, and they have an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature that can block out noise like ambient chit-chat or rumbling engines. Their closed-back design doesn't leak your music, but they can't create a passive soundstage that feels as wide or open as similarly priced open-back headphones, like the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. Fortunately, they have a virtual surround sound feature to create a more immersive experience, though you need to use it with a compatible streaming service, like Amazon Music Unlimited.

They deliver much more low-bass than the open-back HiFiMan, which makes them well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop. However, it can overwhelm vocals and instruments, making them sound muddy and unclear. That said, you can use their companion app's graphic EQ and presets to create a sound profile that suits your preferences. They're also very comfortable and can last 37 hours on a single charge, so they'll last through several full workdays without needing additional power. They also have an integrated microphone, which performs passably well, so you can take calls between tracks while on the go.

If you prefer an in-ear fit, consider the MOONDROP Blessing 3. These wired in-ear monitors (IEMs) are a lightweight and portable alternative to bulkier over-ear audiophile headphones like the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. You won't get a passive soundstage that feels as immersive or open, but, in exchange, you get a subtler look and better breathability. Each bud features a hybrid driver design with dual 10 mm dynamic drivers to improve sound quality, especially in the bass range. The result is a well-balanced sound profile, ensuring that mixes are reproduced with astounding fidelity. They're lighter than other MOONDROP models, like the MOONDROP Aria, and sit comfortably in your ear without causing fatigue.

They also have good stability due to an over-ear cable design and multiple sizes of included ear tips to help you get the best in-ear fit. If you're on a tighter budget and looking for wired IEMs that are similarly comfortable, stable, and have a balanced sound profile, check out the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED. Like the MOONDROP, they feature a detachable cable design and rely on their in-ear fit to provide some passive noise isolation in the absence of an ANC system. The TRUTHEAR come with a set of foam ear tips, which helps achieve more attenuation across the frequency range. However, they're not as well-built as the MOONDROP, and their treble response isn't as detailed.

If you're still looking for more in-ear headphones, check out our best-sounding wireless earbuds article!