Most Comfortable Audiophile Headphones 2024

Most Comfortable Audiophile Headphones

Introduction

One of my main worries with high-end headphones is that, while they may sound excellent, they typically sacrifice comfort and long-term usage. The average audiophile may only listen to their favorite headphones for a few hours each day, but many of us wear headphones all day, whether we’re working from home, studying for an exam, or participating in longer competitive gaming sessions.

For those of us who use headphones for more than six or seven hours a day, weight and comfort become critical considerations when making purchasing selections, which is why I’m so particular about what I’m comfortable with. Yes, we want them to sound amazing, but it’s okay if you wind up swapping to something more comfy on a frequent basis.

The following is my current selection of really comfy ‘audiophile’ headphones. This rating is not based on sound quality, frequency response, or overall sound preference, but rather on what I find most comfortable to wear throughout the workday or during extended gaming sessions.

Keep in mind that we all have various skull shapes (and neck strengths), so what works for you may not work for me, and vice versa. Each of them has certain idiosyncrasies and things to think about when purchasing them, so although they may be fantastic for comfort, there might also be some other dealbreakers.

Considerations:

1. To be included on this list, the headphones must be somewhat ‘high-end’ in terms of detail and technical performance. In other words, the following are my top recommendations for comfort among ‘high-end headphones’.

2. This list solely takes over-ear headphones into account. Earbuds and in-ear monitors are not included, nor are on-ear headphones. I can’t seem to find any on-ear headphones pleasant for whatever reason, and there will undoubtedly be listeners who prefer IEMs over other headphones because of general comfort concerns with headphones. Thus, that would require a separate list.

3. This list has a 500-gram weight restriction. Despite the fact that well-distributed weight allows bigger headphones to be rather comfortable, there is, in my opinion, still a weight limit for prolonged usage. For most individuals, 500g is probably fine for typical listening sessions, but for the sake of this discussion, we are only going to look at headphones for extended periods of time.

4. Finally, as I haven’t had a chance to review them yet, there could be additional headphones that are worthwhile to take into consideration but aren’t on my list. Therefore, the headphones must be items I’ve tested or that I personally possess in order to be included on this list.

The List

1. Dan Clark Audio Ether 2: $2199

• Style: open-back
• Driver: Planar magnetic
• Weight: 290g

The DCA Ether 2 is my #1 pick because of its overall design and lightweight nature. Reviews frequently use phrases like “disappears on my head,” but in my experience with the Ether 2, this is actually the reality.

What does it sound like? The pads being used would probably have a big impact on this; however, the one I tested had a recession in the upper mids and sounded very dark. Having said that, I thought the technical performance missed some dynamic punch but had respectable detail and staging.

Even though I’m not a huge fan of the sound signature generally, I do believe that anyone who wants a more relaxed sound and wants to wear headphones all day may use it.

Grats: Sadly, I had a bad case of the frequent “planar crinkle” problem with them and was unable to utilize them. My jawline’s shape or the ratio of my face to ear might be to blame for this; if something breaks the seal, it results in fluctuating pressure for the headphone connection. Since I’m not aware of anyone else having an issue with this, it’s likely just a problem for me.

2. Meze Empyrean: $2999

• Style: open- Open-Back
• Driver: Isodynamic Hybrid Array (Planar)
• Weight: 430g

The Empyrean, in my opinion, is a serious contender for the finest comfort-to-performance ratio. Its construction and design are equally remarkable. While my original assessment of this headset suggested that wearing the Empyrean all day was more comfortable than wearing nothing at all, Meze’s achievement in terms of weight distribution and pad design is absolutely outstanding.

What does it sound like? Apart from the bass response, I think the overall tone balance is typically pleasant. It frequently spills over into the mids, giving everything a rather “thick” and “soupy” sound.

With the exception of the treble, which is genuinely quite nice, I don’t think the $3000 flagship planar magnetic headphones offer as much detail retrieval. I believe that all of them fall within the acceptable range for comfort compromises, and if I had to pick just one headset for full-day use, I would definitely consider the Empyrean.

Nitpicks:

None when it comes to comfort, but the cups and pads are quite large.

3. Audioquest Nighthawk and Nightowl (Discontinued, but you may be able to find them at some stores)

• Style: open or closed-back
• Driver: Dynamic (moving coil)
• Weight: 350g

These are the two most talked-about headphones available. They are referred to as the “cilantro of headphones” by my supervisor, and I believe that description fits. The comfort is unbelievable, which is the one feature that doesn’t appear to be divisive.

What sound do they make? Despite the comfort measures taken, I find that the sound is somewhat subdued and dark. The frequency response shows that there isn’t much pinna gain in addition to a sizable bass and lower mid-shelf.

Utilizing the GRAS 43AG standardized measuring setup, the following measurements were made:. Harman 2013 bass with 2018 mids and treble is used by the target.

Nitpicks: When you move your jaw (speaking), there may be an occasional creak sound on the sides where the rubber joins the cups. Furthermore, I find the sounds of both of them to be far too gloomy.

4. Sennheiser HD800s: $1699

• Style: open-back
• Driver: Dynamic (moving coil)
• Weight: 328g

A classic favorite among many audiophiles is the HD 800s. I adore the HD 800’s lightweight design. Yes, the cups are large and perhaps a little awkward, but wearing them feels really refreshing, and I have no trouble staying comfortable for hours on end. Although I usually prefer headbands with suspension, this isn’t an issue with the HD 800s because of their lightweight design.

What does it sound like? Simply put, it is really excellent. Technically speaking, the HD 800s is really astounding, with excellent detail recovery and setting the benchmark for soundstage and spaciousness. If you’re looking for headphones with a very large soundstage and precise and affordable picture positioning, this is the one to choose

But there are also a number of disadvantages. Even though the HD 800s’ bass response has improved from the original model, it is still not very clear or engaging, and depending on the source, it can occasionally make some records sound harsh and tiresome.

Nitpicks: The cup’s inside can be a little shallow, so if you have big ears, you can find them just touching the interior. These headphones have incredibly hard connectors that are difficult to unplug.

4. Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2: $899

• Style: open or closed-back
• Driver: Planar magnetic
• Weight: 327g

With the release of the Aeon 2, Dan Clark Audio has improved upon the Aeon design. Although I thought the first Aeon was rather comfortable, I eventually noticed that it had a slight clamp force. Fortunately, the Aeon 2 has improved on this. With its teardrop-shaped cups and extremely deep cushions, these headphones fit snugly around the ear. The Aeon 2 is currently among the most portable high-end headphones available since it can fold down to a considerably smaller size and fit into a tiny carrying case.

What does it sound like? Although I was only able to evaluate the closed-back Aeon 2, I think that given the improved mobility, this is the model that makes the most sense. In general, the Aeon 2 Closed has a modest bass and lower mid-elevation, followed by a drop in the upper midrange and a hint of sparkle at 8.5 kHz.

Some of the tuning inserts they provide can be used to control this glitter, but I’ve discovered that if you want the best detail recovery, you should avoid using them. The dynamics and soundstage of the Aeon 2 are still its two weak aspects, despite its remarkable detail for such a compact form factor.

.. There is nothing else like it, though, for what it is: a closed-back, cozy, portable planar with excellent detail retrieval. View the comparative video from Chrono here:

Nitpicks: The clamp force may still be a little strong at first for those of us with big heads, but it gets better with time and is still superior to the original Aeon. Because of how deep the pads are, positioning can occasionally be a little strange. A little softer headband would also be nice.

6. Focal Clear and Stellia: $1490, $2990

• Style: open (Clear), closed (Stellia)
• Driver: Dynamic (moving coil)
• Weight: 450g (Clear), 435g (Stellia)

This list includes the Focal Clear and Stellia but excludes the Elegia and Utopia. This is because, at least for me, the Clear and Stellia are the most comfortable models in the current lineup. The Utopia is significantly heavier than the others, and I think the Elegia has a little bit more clamp force. The Clear and Stellia are both surprisingly comfy—I say surprisingly since I wasn’t expecting to be alright with their weight when I originally investigated them (at least in the case of the Clear before the Stellia came out). My worries didn’t go away entirely until I had an opportunity to test them.

It’s one of the most comfortable non-suspension-type headbands available with the Clear and Stellia, but it’s not a suspension-style system, which is something I’m constantly concerned about. Because the cups on both of them are spring-loaded, they should fit the side of the head well. Additionally, the slots on the side where the arm fastens to the headband allow for some rotation.

What sound do they make? In many aspects, Sennheiser’s Clear is a simple improvement over their HD 6X0 series of headphones. It has a very pleasant frequency response, great detail retrieval, and well-balanced dynamics for a powerful and captivating sound. The only real drawback is that its soundstage isn’t very large, and on some recordings, the treble can sound a little harsh.

This indicates that it has excellent technical performance in terms of both dynamic impact and detail. The Stellia differs mostly in that it has a noticeable upper bass presence, but overall, the remainder of its frequency response is similarly rather pleasant.

Nitpicks: The spring-loaded cup angle mechanism may cause the cups to drag up a little on the bottom of your ears if you have a big head. Although they are fantastic at first, after repeated usage, the underside of the headband may become somewhat discolored.

7. Abyss Diana Phi (DMS Mod): $4000

• Style: open-back
• Driver: Planar magnetic
• Weight: 350g

Despite being lightweight, the original Diana Phi with the brown or gray padding was really difficult for me to wear for longer than 30 minutes at a time since the pads pressed so hard against my temples.

What does it sound like? The Diana Phi, in my perspective, is competitive with other nanoscale planars like the Audeze LCD-4, HiFiMAN HE1000se, and Final Audio D8000 Pro, competing in the highest category for technical performance. In addition, it has some of the quickest dynamics I’ve ever heard in a headset.

Since there is frequently some interaction with certain areas of the ear (concha interaction) in this location, the frequency response should actually be dropping here; instead, on the Diana Phi, it is somewhat higher. This gives everything in the mixture a peculiar “shimmering” quality. However, after EQing that out, this is a fantastic headset.

Check out my Abyss Diana Phi review with the DMS pad mod:

Nitpicks: If your ears are quite large, there’s a possibility that the cup’s interior square form won’t be large enough, causing your ear to contact the sides. In order to obtain the DMS-modified pads, you might also need to place a special order with Abyss. I find that the updated default black V2 pads are just somewhat better than the original, and the old pads make this headset quite unpleasant.

8. HiFiMAN Arya: $1599

• Style: open-back
• Driver: Planar magnetic
• Weight: 400g

Because of the huge cups, I was apprehensive to include this headset on the list, but I generally end up reaching for it when I know I have a long day of work ahead of me. The wonderful thing about the enormous cups is that they provide a very large surface area on the side of your head and eliminate any substantial clamp force or pressure points—at least for the pads.

What does it sound like? With a frequency response that leans slightly counterclockwise, making it somewhat more upper-mid- and treble-focused, the HiFiMAN Arya offers one of the most pleasant tunings on this list. It’s true that it lacks the Diana Phi’s technical brilliance in terms of clarity and dynamics, but considering its lower price point, it’s still incredibly competitive and among the best headphones in terms of soundstage, imaging, and layering.

I’ve stated it before, but the Arya is similar to a planar HD800 in terms of presentation, and it offers some of the greatest depth layering available for any budget. The main distinction is that I perceive the Arya to sound quicker and have a superior bass response. It sounds fantastic and is comfortable enough to carry me through a full day of work, even if it’s not quite as comfy as some of the other items on this list.

Check out my HiFiMAN Arya review here:

Nitpicks: Because these cups are so big, they reach your jaw, which might get a little uncomfortable after a while. Additionally, the top portion of the headband rubs a little too much against my skull; this is not an issue for the majority of the day, but it is noticeable at the end.

9. Sennheiser HD 600, HD 650 (HD 6XX), HD 660s: $220 to $499

• Style: open-back
• Driver: Dynamic (moving coil)
• Weight: 255g

The clamp force on Sennheiser’s HD6X0 series could be a little too strong for people with big heads, which is the only reason it’s this far down the list. Although the clamp force of the HD 660s isn’t as great, they often need to be stretched a little to suit me well. Fortunately, these headphones are among the most comfortable available after you do that. In fact, I believe that most individuals with average-sized skulls will find them to be even more pleasant than many of the other headphones I’ve described.

What does it sound like? The smooth treble of the HD 650 (HD 6XX) headphones is the main reason it’s my favorite out of the three. At least in the high mids and treble, where ear-related gain effects become apparent in the frequency response, all three of them exhibit really pleasant frequency responses and measure fairly near the Harman objective.

Though they all have extremely small and intimate soundstages, all three roll off in the bass a little. One advantage is that the HD 6XX, for instance, is unquestionably a benchmark headphone for detail recovery given its price.

Check out Chrono’s HD 660s review:

Nitpicks: On the HD650, the clamp force is quite annoying (it was better on the HD660s). Stretching the headband a little bit will help with this, but I still find that it never really goes away for me. The majority of individuals don’t see this as problematic.

Conclusion:

Which of them is my top choice for continuous listening? Even though they are all quite comfy, if you were to ask me to pick two from this list for long-term comfort, I would definitely recommend the Meze Empyrean and the Focal Stellia.

Even if the Empyrean’s bass performance and other acoustic features are better on less costly headphones, generally, I think it still has greater comfort, at least for my head, so I would still prefer it.

Because of its premium leather and plush cushions, the Stellia is not only one of the most detailed closed-back headphones available, but it’s also one of the most comfortable, at least in my experience.

Finally, I would strongly advise anyone wishing to enhance the comfort of their headphones to investigate the ZMF Pilot and Co-pilot cushions for the upper headband. This is a broad leather cushion that fits over the headband of the majority of headphones available and can quickly transform an unpleasant headset into one that is really comfortable.