Best HiFi Headphones for Intermediate 2026
Perfect hifi headphones for intermediate - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.7/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Avantone Planar the II Red
by
Avantone
High-End Sources
Audiophile Listening
Home Audio Systems
Key Feature:
• Comfortable for extended listening
✓ PROS
- • Exceptional audio quality and detail
- • Accurate, uncolored sound reproduction
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive for quality models
- • May require headphone amplifier
Avantone Planar the II RedHeadphonesMagnetostaticOpen constructionCircumaural21 Micron PET diaphragmTransducer size: 70...
⭐
4.7/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 578472
$472
#2
⭐
4.7/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
HIFIMAN ARYA Organic
by
HIFIMAN
High-End Sources
Critical Music Enjoyment
Audiophile Listening
Key Feature:
• Exceptional audio quality and detail
✓ PROS
- • Exceptional audio quality and detail
- • Wide frequency response
✗ CONS
- • May require headphone amplifier
- • Very expensive for quality models
HIFIMAN ARYA OrganicHi-Fi HeadphonesCircumauralOpenMagnetostaticFrequency range: 8 - 65000 kHzImpdeance: 16 ohmSound...
⭐
4.7/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 572665
$978
#3
⭐
4.5/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Avantone Planar the II Creme
by
Avantone
Audiophile Listening
High-End Sources
Critical Music Enjoyment
Key Feature:
• Exceptional audio quality and detail
✓ PROS
- • Accurate, uncolored sound reproduction
- • Premium materials and construction
✗ CONS
- • Not portable or practical for mobile use
- • May require headphone amplifier
Avantone Planar the II CreamHeadphonesMagnetostaticOpen constructionCircumaural21 Micron PET diaphragmTransducer size:...
⭐
4.5/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 578473
$479
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Meze Audio 105 Aer
by
Meze Audio
Critical Music Enjoyment
High-End Sources
Home Audio Systems
Key Feature:
• Wide frequency response
✓ PROS
- • Accurate, uncolored sound reproduction
- • Exceptional audio quality and detail
✗ CONS
- • May lack excitement for casual listening
- • Very expensive for quality models
Meze Audio 105 AerHi-Fi HeadphonesWired headphonesCircumauralOpen backDynamicFrequency range: 5 Hz - 30000 HzImpedance:...
⭐
4.8/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 616344
$439
#5
⭐
4.9/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Meze Audio 109 Pro
by
Meze Audio
Home Audio Systems
High-End Sources
Audiophile Listening
Key Feature:
• Exceptional audio quality and detail
✓ PROS
- • Comfortable for extended listening
- • Accurate, uncolored sound reproduction
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive for quality models
- • May lack excitement for casual listening
Meze Audio 109 ProHi-Fi HeadphonesWired headphonesCircumauralOpen backDynamicFrequency range: 5 Hz - 30000 HzImpedance:...
⭐
4.9/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 616362
$879
#6
⭐
4.7/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Fostex TH616
by
Fostex
Home Audio Systems
Audiophile Listening
High-End Sources
Key Feature:
• Comfortable for extended listening
✓ PROS
- • Comfortable for extended listening
- • Accurate, uncolored sound reproduction
✗ CONS
- • Revealing of poor source quality
- • May lack excitement for casual listening
Fostex TH616Headphones50 mm Neodymium driver with BIODYNA coneDesign: over-earStyle: openDynamicFrequency range: 5 -...
⭐
4.7/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 587779
$989
#7
⭐
4.7/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Sennheiser HD 620S
by
Sennheiser
Critical Music Enjoyment
Home Audio Systems
High-End Sources
Key Feature:
• Wide frequency response
✓ PROS
- • Comfortable for extended listening
- • Wide frequency response
✗ CONS
- • Not portable or practical for mobile use
- • May lack excitement for casual listening
Sennheiser HD 620SOver-Ear HeadphonesWired headphonesCircumauralClosed-back designDynamicFrequency range: 6 - 30000...
⭐
4.7/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 587750
$307
#8
⭐
4.9/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
HIFIMAN Audivina
by
HIFIMAN
Home Audio Systems
Audiophile Listening
High-End Sources
Key Feature:
• Comfortable for extended listening
✓ PROS
- • Accurate, uncolored sound reproduction
- • Exceptional audio quality and detail
✗ CONS
- • May lack excitement for casual listening
- • May require headphone amplifier
HIFIMAN AudivinaHi-Fi HeadphonesOver-earClosed-back designMagnetostaticFrequency range: 5 Hz - 55000 HzImpedance: 20...
⭐
4.9/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 593529
$824
#9
⭐
4.9/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Avantone Planar the II Black
by
Avantone
Critical Music Enjoyment
Audiophile Listening
Home Audio Systems
Key Feature:
• Accurate, uncolored sound reproduction
✓ PROS
- • Premium materials and construction
- • Comfortable for extended listening
✗ CONS
- • May require headphone amplifier
- • Revealing of poor source quality
Avantone Planar the II BlackHeadphonesMagnetostaticOpen constructionCircumaural21 Micron PET diaphragmTransducer size:...
⭐
4.9/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 578466
$479
#10
⭐
4.6/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Meze Audio Empyrean II
by
Meze Audio
Audiophile Listening
Critical Music Enjoyment
High-End Sources
Key Feature:
• Premium materials and construction
✓ PROS
- • Accurate, uncolored sound reproduction
- • Comfortable for extended listening
✗ CONS
- • Not portable or practical for mobile use
- • Very expensive for quality models
Meze Audio Empyrean IIHi-Fi HeadphonesWired headphonesCircumauralOpen backMagnetostaticFrequency range: 8 Hz - 110000...
⭐
4.6/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 616735
$3,299
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
HIFIMAN ARYA Unveiled
by
HIFIMAN
Critical Music Enjoyment
High-End Sources
Audiophile Listening
Key Feature:
• Wide frequency response
✓ PROS
- • Comfortable for extended listening
- • Exceptional audio quality and detail
✗ CONS
- • May lack excitement for casual listening
- • Very expensive for quality models
HIFIMAN ARYA UnveiledHi-Fi HeadphonesCircumauralOpen-back headphonesMagnetostaticFrequency range: 8 Hz - 65.000...
⭐
4.6/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 606669
$1,759
#12
⭐
4.7/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Meze Audio Poet
by
Meze Audio
Audiophile Listening
Critical Music Enjoyment
Home Audio Systems
Key Feature:
• Premium materials and construction
✓ PROS
- • Exceptional audio quality and detail
- • Comfortable for extended listening
✗ CONS
- • Not portable or practical for mobile use
- • May lack excitement for casual listening
Meze Audio PoetHeadphonesWired headphonesCircumauralOpen-back designMagnetostaticFrequency range: 4 Hz - 96000...
⭐
4.7/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 616746
$2,199
#13
⭐
4.5/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Sennheiser HD 550
by
Sennheiser
Audiophile Listening
High-End Sources
Critical Music Enjoyment
Key Feature:
• Comfortable for extended listening
✓ PROS
- • Exceptional audio quality and detail
- • Wide frequency response
✗ CONS
- • Not portable or practical for mobile use
- • May lack excitement for casual listening
Sennheiser HD 550HeadphonesCircumauralOpen-back designDynamicFrequency range: 6 - 39500 HzImpedance: 150 OhmSPL: 106.7...
⭐
4.5/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 612263
$307
#14
⭐
4.6/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Sennheiser HD-490 PRO
by
Sennheiser
High-End Sources
Critical Music Enjoyment
Audiophile Listening
Key Feature:
• Wide frequency response
✓ PROS
- • Accurate, uncolored sound reproduction
- • Premium materials and construction
✗ CONS
- • Revealing of poor source quality
- • Very expensive for quality models
Sennheiser HD-490 PROStudio HeadphonesWired headphonesCircumauralOpenDynamicFrequency range: 5 - 36100 HzImpedance: 130...
⭐
4.6/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 581283
$384
#15
⭐
4.7/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
HEDD HEDDphone Two GT
by
HEDD
High-End Sources
Critical Music Enjoyment
Home Audio Systems
Key Feature:
• Accurate, uncolored sound reproduction
✓ PROS
- • Comfortable for extended listening
- • Premium materials and construction
✗ CONS
- • Revealing of poor source quality
- • Not portable or practical for mobile use
HEDD , Passive Hi-Fi HeadphonesOpen-backed designCircumauralBased on HEDD HEDDphone Two DesignAir Motion Transformer...
⭐
4.7/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 601326
$2,364
How to Choose the Best HiFi Headphones
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced hifi headphones typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
