The best audiophile headphones we've tested are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. These open-back over-ears have an outstanding soundstage that's large, natural, and spacious.
The 6 Best Audiophile Headphones of 2026 (Sennheiser 🇩🇪, Philips 🇳🇱, Meze 🇷🇴, and Focal 🇫🇷)
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/by-usage/critical-listening-audiophile
29 Comments
B0rax@feddit.org · 21 pts · 176d
Don’t forget Beyerdynamic. They even manufacture in Germany.
VolumetricShitCompressor@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 9 pts · 176d
They got bought recently as well IIRC
DirtPuddleMisfortune@feddit.org · 1 pts · 176d
Holy smokes, you are right! I didn't know that. Time to buy my headphones NOW, not later!
lime@feddit.nu · 12 pts · 176d
isn't philips just a nameplate nowadays?
huppakee@piefed.social · 7 pts · 176d
I'm not a 100% sure, but i believe audio is part of their personal health division (like shavers and electronic toothbrushes). Home appliances is now Versuni, TV is TP Vision and lighting is now Signify. I could be wrong and then it would be part of one of those companies.
yetAnotherUser@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 176d
Audio seems to also be part of TP Vision.
https://www.tpvision.com/about-us
huppakee@piefed.social · 2 pts · 176d
It would make sense if headphone were part of the same division as home cinema surround sets and the likes when they sold it.
AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space · 8 pts · 176d
As of a few years ago, Sennheiser’s consumer line is owned by Sonova, a hearing aid manufacturer (who I think may be American)
kubusikan@feddit.org · 4 pts · 176d
It is a Swiss group wich also has facilities in Canada and the USA.
DaanBanaan@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 176d
Philips isnt European anymore.
klangcola@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 174d
Philips Medical is still Dutch.
Phillips Lights is spun of as Signify, and appears to still be dutch Philips everything-else is sold off
Szewek@sopuli.xyz · 7 pts · 176d
I've been using Sennheiser for a while, a bit lower-grade models though (Accentum Plus). Works great, the only pet peeve is that they changed buttons for a touch-screen on the right headphone, I don't like tapping it that much. But the sound is great and the equipment robust (my previous ones had lasted for 5 years with no battery or sound quality issues before someone stole them on a train...).
hkwln@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 176d
i was wondering why marshall is not present, do they only have good amps and speakers?
lime@feddit.nu · 10 pts · 176d
marshall's headphones are rebranded urbanears products. urbanears are also european but they're budget.
absquatulate@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 176d
I know Sennheisers are german but those are also made in Romania these days. Nice to see Meze here as well
Anecdotally, while I love my sennies because nothing sounds like them, I'm still nursing a pair of older 559s and hoping they last forever because absolutely every single one of the newer ones I bought had or developed issues.
Octagon9561@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 176d
My 800s are made in Ireland
stoy@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 176d
I wish Meze would bring back the copper finnish of the original Empyrians
They are absolutely stunning
saimen@feddit.org · 3 pts · 176d
I am super happy with my Sennheiser momentum 3
whaleross@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 176d
Same here. Comfy and good clean sound.
oyzmo@piefed.social · 2 pts · 176d
Isn't Cambridge european?
borQue@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 176d
Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro are my professional studio reference hp's for over 30 years.
Drasglaf@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 176d
I've had my Sennheiser HD650 for 8 years and I bought them used. The best part is you can buy pretty much any part (except the frame itself I think) and are easy to replace. Great sound and very comfortable.
Obi@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 176d
I've never tried Focal headphones but can confirm the speakers are the real deal 👌
lunchbox2287@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 176d
Wearing Focal Clear - original not MG - and they're fantastic.
Nomecks@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 176d
Did Grado Labs stop making headphones?
Atlas_@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 176d
Is rtings a good, reliable review site nowadays? I used to trust them, but it's a lot harder to trust any reviews/recommendations nowadays
Grass@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 176d
didn't sennheiser sell some years ago?
Bosht@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 171d
Best gaming headset I had hands down was from EPOS, Seinheisers gaming branch. Alas ended up having a design flaw that broke it. Still works fine, just doenst stay on my head. Anyway, I digress, I'm here for team Seinheisers, badass audio quality.
xep@discuss.online · 1 pts · 176d
No love for Stax?
shy@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 176d