

But it's quickly made a name for itself by challenging some of the best models around. These are far from rich or even warm in tone, but an extra generous sprinkling of refinement this time round has made their forward, clinical presentation all the more palpable. Audiophiles on a budget, look no further.įocal is best known for its speakers, and seeing as it only launched its own range of headphones in 2012, it's a relative newcomer to the space.
#RECORDER FOR NOTES AT BEST BUY DRIVER#
The new, fourth-generation 44mm driver is more efficient and lowers distortion, and boy does it show: they sound clearer, cleaner and more detailed than their predecessor, and are easier to drive from portable devices.Įverything we like about their predecessors – their nimble-footedness, expressive, rolling dynamics, and insight across well-defined frequencies – has been inherited, and the punch and panache that have made the Prestige models such born entertainers are very much also part of the SR80x’s sonic signature. Their open-backed design leaks sound like a sieve, but provides a gloriously open soundstage with class-leading transparency. In fact, they picked up Awards in both 20. They also succeed the 2014-released, multi-What Hi-Fi? Award-winning SR80e. These are a modern take on the original SR80 headphones from 1991, the pair which wrote the Grado family business into the audiophile history books.

Partner them with a high-quality outboard DAC, such as the Chord Mojo and use good quality files and you'll hear just why the IE 900 justify their hefty price tag. They sound confident and insightful too, revealing layers of low-level information and organising every track they're faced with into a structured and cohesive whole. They’re impressively clear and open sounding, able to dig deep into the production of a recording. Sennheiser's engineers have chosen to go with a single driver rather than the more fashionable multiple unit approach that many rivals take and it's made with rigidity and low resonance in mind. The only thing they don't have is an in-line remote. It's a suitably premium package befitting the best audiophile headphones, with six ear tip options and three cables with a choice of normal 3.5mm and balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm connectors. Sennheiser’s IE 900 will appeal to purists who want to get the best audio possible from a high-quality source. The best audiophile headphones just got that bit better. They take precision and insight to another level, while delivering rhythms with enthusiasm and plenty of punch. The result is a smoother listen and more authoritative bass, and an overall cleaner, clearer sound. And the new 8-conductor cable uses 'super' annealed copper to deliver a purer sound. The 44mm drive unit has a revised motor system, new diaphragm and upgraded coil, all to improve efficiency and reduce distortion.

But the real work has gone on under the hood. There are flatter foam earpads, an updated cable and lighter coloured stitching on the firmly padded headband.

What's also an achievement is that these picked up a What Hi-Fi? Award in both 20. These are a small improvement over the SR325e, but considering those previously topped this list of best audiophile headphones, any improvement is an achievement in itself.
