Best Headphones - Review of the Top 10 Best Headphones

Reviews of the best headphones across the three most popular categories of headphone.

Choosing the top ten best headphones from the massive selection available is a not a simple task. With so many different types of headphones and such a variety of applications where you might want to use headphones it is absolutely impossible to nominate a single headphone as the 'best'. Instead this review is a summary of some of the best quality headphones available from a broad selection of different categories, applications and budgets.

Check out the reviews of some of our favourite headphones and earphones below - reviews are in price order from LOWEST to HIGHEST:

Best In Ear Headphones

One of our favourite categories is the in ear sound isolating headphone, also called In Ear Monitors (IEM's) or Ear Canal Headphones (ECH's). This type of earphone is designed to seal in your ear canal, which means you can listen uninterrupted by the noise around you. The design makes this type of headphone perfect for commuting and travelling.

IEM's can take a little while to get used to and do need some perseverance with fitting, but in our opinion can offer the best experience when listening to headphones in active everyday situations.

For a larger selection of earphones read our Top 10 Best In-Ear Headphones Review.

SoundMAGIC E10 Earphones

The SoundMAGIC E10 (RRP £34.99) is from the second generation of headphones released by SoundMAGIC in 2011.  The first generation PL11 and PL30 really pushed the boundaries of what you could expect from an entry level earphone, so SoundMAGIC had quite a task bettering their existing designs.  We think they've excelled themselves with the E10.

The E10's sound signature has similarities to the massively popular PL11 (i.e. a powerful, fun sound with plenty of bass), but with a greater level of control and improved musical detail.  The E10 is an improvement over the PL11 in every way.  Sound quality is exceptional.

The earphone is constructed from a lightweight fully metal frame, which ensures the earphones will survive every day use.  Cabling is high quality and the jack plug is very well made.  To get the best in-ear fit and sound we recommend T-400 Comply Foam tips.

The E10 sounds good, looks good, is very well made and you will struggle to find another earphone to compete with it under £70.

HiFi Headphones Verdict

A very nicely designed earphone with sound quality that is sure to impress.  The earphone is built to a very high standard and rivals the big brands.  Cannot be beaten at this price point.

Phonak Audéo PFE 012 Earphones

With 60 years experience developing hearing devices, Phonak have the know-how when it comes to getting a comfortable and secure in-ear fit, which makes the Phonak Audeo Perfect Fit Earphones (PFE) aptly named.

The new Perfect Bass PFE models (the PFE 012 and PFE 022 fitted with iPhone mic) are supplied with an acoustic filter to give clear, well defined bass response.  The sound signature of the entire PFE range is accurate, but these new models add low end punch for music that demands more powerful bass response.

We think Phonak have got the sound balance just right with the new PFE Perfect Bass models.  The detail and instrument separation is incredible for an earphone at this price point.  Combine the PFE with Comply Foam T-130 ear tips the comfort is as good as it gets without moving up to custom fit earphones. Even people with the smallest ears will find the PFE fits comfortably.

These innovative Swiss designed, precision made earphones are very comfortable for all ear sizes and have clear, detailed sound that will satisfy audiophiles, with enough power to satisfy bass lovers.

HiFi Headphones Verdict

Contemporary music fans who want a seriously detailed earphone with an over-ear fit and change from £100, look no further. The top end sparkle and rich mids are complemented by excellent control over the bottom end. Expensive Balanced Armature technology raises them well above competitors in this price range.

Grado GR10 Earphones

The Grado GR10 earphones are an evolutionary leap from their previous top model, the excellent Grado GR8’s. They rank amongst the very best of all in-ear headphones but at this price they really have to. Grado are one of the oldest family owned companies in the Audio Industry, has for almost half a century been leaders in design and engineering for the high-end audio and recording industries.

The design of these earphones is very similar the GR8’s, elegant and simple. Although they are on the large size, the earpieces sit well in the ear, and the included tips give a comfortable good seal, the rubberised cabling has a pleasant but is not replaceable.

The GR10’s have a number of differences to the GR8’s,  improvements in the materials used offer improved frequency response in both the high and low end of the 20Hz to 20Khz frequency range, delivering more detail than the GR8s, which were already impressively detailed earphones. The GR10s have an impedance of 32-ohms and are easy to drive, especially with typically low-output devices such as mobile phones and portable media players.

It's not just accuracy that the Grado GR10s offer up, they also have a huge soundstage for an IEM. What really appeals about the GR10 is that they capture the feel of Grado's high-end full size headphones. Grado GR10 deliver a joyful sense of energy and feel alive in a way other earphones can only dare to dream of.

HiFi Headphones Verdict

The GR10 s sound even better than the GR8s, with subtle detail from the lows and high end, this is most obviously heard in percussion and stringed instruments feeling clear and natural. The Grado sound is miniaturized here, perfect for the travelling audiophile who cannot survive a trip without exceptional sonics.

Phonak Audeo PFE 232 Earphones

After the success of the mid-priced Perfect Fit Earphones (see the PFE 012 and 112) Phonak are back with a flagship earphone designed to compete with the best of the best.  Despite Phonak's 60 years experience developing hearing assistance devices they are relative newcomer to the audio market, but already have gained an impressive reputation. 

The PFE 232 has obviously been designed with an aim for perfection.  The sound with the PFE 232 can only be described as natural, with excellent instrument separation, deep powerful bass and sparkling trebles.  The sound signature is similar across the whole PFE range, but the PFE 232 really excels at every level.  While other high end earphones like the Shure SE535 and Westone 4R may have more appeal to the professional musician for their flat frequency response, the PFE 232 sounds more like you are listening to a live performance.

The Phonak PFE 232 is one of the most expensive in-ear headphones on the market, but you get a lot for your money.  The earphones and cabling are beautifully made and comes as a complete package, with two very high quality cables supplied (one with an iPhone controller and one plain cable), ear guides to keep the cabling in place over the ear while active, three sizes of silicone and three sizes of Comply Foam ear tips to ensure a perfect fit and a very usable carry pouch that has one pocket for the earphones and another for the accessories.

HiFi Headphones Verdict

The natural sound characteristics, comfortable fit, quality of workmanship and full set of accessories makes the PFE 232 our choice for the best in-ear headphones on the market.

Best HiFi Headphones

If you are listening at home or in an office then a pair of full size headphones is worth considering. The major choice when buying full size headphones is whether to go for a pair with open back ear cups (for a more open sound, but the sound leaks in/out) or closed back ear cups (for better noise isolation, good bass, but a more boxed in sound).

Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Closed Back Headphones

Established in 1962, Audio-Technica is a Japanese brand devoted to the design of high-performance microphones, headphones, wireless systems and mixers.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50 have an accurate audio response, with a deep, well defined bass. While the closed back design does re-enforce bass response to some degree, there has obviously been a good deal of work put into the design to ensure that clarity is not lost.

Ear cups are big and soft, making the M50 comfortable for long listening sessions. Although designed especially for professional monitoring and mixing, they really work as an all round headphone (home, work, commuting, DJ, Musician, broadcast). Luxuriously padded ear cushions create a good seal, although sound isolation is not as high as headphones like the German Maestro GMP 8.35 D and Beyerdynamic DT770.

The ATH-M50 feature a collapsible design for space-saving portability and storage. Circumaural (around the ear) ear cups swivel 180° for easy one-ear monitoring.  The coiled cable means you can listen while moving about and the cable stays out of harms way.

HiFi Headphones Verdict:

The ATH-M50 is an impressive headphone that is versatile enough to be used as a professional audio tool, for home Hi-Fi listening or even portably with an MP3 player.  All at a surprisingly affordable price.

German Maestro GMP 435 S

Handbuilt in Germany and supplied with a 3 year warranty, the GMP 435 from German Maestro is a very impressive open back headphone that is equally suitable for home or professional listening.  The GMP 435 S is the low impedance (and easier to power) cousin of the equally good GMP 400 (open back) and GMP 450 (closed back) models, which require a dedicated headphone amp or professional mixer to get the best out of the headphones.

The GMP 435 S sound is very nicely balanced, with enough warmth to ensure they are enjoyable to listen to for hours without fatigue and an incisive precision that allows you to really hear all the hidden detail in a good quality recording.  We feel the balance is just right.  These headphones are like a mixture between all the things that are good about the Sennheiser HD650, the Grado SR325is and the Beyerdynamic DT880.  Best described as somewhere between the Grado and the Beyerdynamic sound.

The earcups are mounted on what German Maestro call a cardomatic suspension system, which results in a feather soft grip around the ears that readjusts as you move.  The result is a fit that is extremely comfortable fit that stays surprisingly secure on the head.  A truly innovative design.

HiFi Headphones Verdict:

Very well balanced sound, a high level of build quality and extremely comfortable fit make the GMP 435 S a leader in it's class.

HiFiMan HE-5LE

The HiFiMan headphone range really are something special, using a type of speaker design called planar (or sometimes orthodynamic).  The result is a sound that is ultra low distortion and incredible levels of instrument separation.

Unlike regular dynamic headphone speakers that are driven from the edge of their speaker cone by a voice coil, planar speakers are driven over their entire surface by thin bar magnets mounted on either side, which means an even force is applied to the diaphragm.  This means the speaker vibrates more uniformly and gives a more accurate sound.

Planar headphones like the HE-5LE have a particular sound signature that is not a million miles away from electrostatic headphones (e.g. the Stax range), but the HE-5LE offers a delightful balance of deep, powerful bass combined with clean airy trebles.  The sound is like a hybrid between the sound signature of dynamic and electrostatic headphones.

The HiFIMan HE-5LE is a particular highlight in the HiFiMan range.  Improvements over the original HE-5 include lighter earcup materials, more balanced sound signature (a warmer, smoother delivery) and improved cabling.

A dedicated headphone amp (or professional audio equipment) with plenty of power is required to drive these headphones.  Don't be fooled by the low impedance rating of the headphones.

HiFi Headphones Verdict:

A truly high end headphone in every sense, with audio performance and build quality that compares with headphones costing significantly more.  It's hard to be anything other than impressed.

Best On Ear Portable Headphones

The on ear headphone category contains a mixed selection of headphones that suit a many applications, including upgrades for standard iPod headphones, high quality Hi-Fi headphones for listening at home and even sports headphones.

Generally speaking on ear headphones are not great at isolating you from external noise as they do not seal on the ear, so the majority of headphones in this category are open back.

Grado iGrado Headphones

Without doubt the best pair of street style headphones currently on the market are the incredible sounding Grado iGrado neckband headphones (with a reasonably RRP of £49.95). The drivers used in the iGrado are the same as those used in the Grado SR60, so you can expect a lively delivery of your music across the entire frequency range. The iGrado's sound every bit as good as their home listening cousins. The styling of the iGrado's is not too everyone's taste, but who cares what you look like when the music sounds this good!

The only downside for commuters is that the iGrado's have open backs, so sound leaks out and in. This is fine for walking on the street (as long as the traffic isn't too loud), but is no good for travelling on underground trains or while sitting next to someone on a bus.

HiFi Headphones Verdict:

If you can live with the open back design the Grado iGrado is the best portable headphone you can own.  Very highly recommended.

SoundMAGIC P30

A new addition to the SoundMAGIC range in 2011, the SoundMAGIC P30 is an ultra lightweight on-ear design with superb audio performance.

It's quite a challenge to make such a small closed back headphone sound good, but SoundMAGIC have cracked it with the P30.  The sound is rich and full, with a good level of clarity. 

The P30 is the perfect headphone if you don't get on with in-ear headphones and want something nearly as portable. The ear cups fold into the headband, making it easy to stash away when not in use.

HiFi Headphones Verdict:

Very portable thanks to a lightweight design and with sound quality that is surprising considering the size of the headphone.

Audio-Technica ATH-ES55

The Audio-Technica ATH-ES55 is versatile closed back headphone that can be used either out and about or sitting in your home or office.  The sound quality is as good as it gets under £100.

With a very balanced delivery, the ES55 has a lush, warm bass response that does not detract from the clarity of higher frequencies.  The mix is just right for enjoying your music on the move.

Nicely finished with brushed metal earcups and a well made plastic headband, the ES55 looks and feels well made.

HiFi Headphones Verdict:

Well made, excellent sound quality and attractive design made the ES55 a headphone that needs to be on your shortlist.