Below $5k Headphones

Product Strengths

• Built with premium, high-quality, sturdy materials with a solid feel
• Very comfortable and relatively lightweight, suitable for long listening sessions
• Easy to drive with low impedance and reasonable sensitivity
• Delivers a reference-grade sense of clarity, balance, and vast soundstage
• Excellent instrument separation and imaging
• Easy to drive with low impedance and reasonable sensitivity

Product Considerations

• Some reviewers found the range of headband adjustment limited, making it potentially unsuitable for those with smaller heads
• The banana plug cable connectors are proprietary, limiting third-party cable options
• The stock cable is acceptable, but not particularly premium feeling
• The bass is a little lightweight and might require EQ adjustment for some listeners
• A dip at 2kHz was noted by some reviewers

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Sennheiser HD800S: The Composer has better bass extension, but the HD800S has better resolution and detail
• Vs HIFIMAN Arya/HE1000 series: The Composer sounds more natural than some HIFIMAN planars, and it may have greater bass depth
• Vs Meze Audio Empyrean II: The Composer goes deeper in the soundstage, with better layering and more sub-bass presence, but the Empyrean II is softer and more relaxed
• Vs ZMF Outure Classic: The Composer has better bass response but is smoother and more tame in the treble

Takeaway: The Austrian Audio Composer is a well-built, comfortable, and easy-to-drive headphone with a balanced, clear, and detailed sound signature. It offers a reference quality that can be great for critical listening and casual enjoyment.

Product Strengths

• Exceptional natural sound, with naturalness of tone and timbre, and an overall accurate rendering of music
• Detail retrieval is among the best, allowing listeners to discover new things in familiar recordings
• The design is comfortable, especially for long listening sessions; the weight is well-distributed, and the earpads are soft
• Impressive technical performance, with speed and dynamics described as fantastic; noted as both a technically impressive and a fun, lively headphone
• The soundstage is wide, spacious, and precise, with excellent imaging and instrument separation; the depth of the soundstage is also highlighted

Product Considerations

• Requires a very powerful amplifier to perform at its best; many reviewers recommend using speaker amplifiers or high-powered headphone amplifiers
• The stock cable could be better
• Revealing nature can highlight flaws in poorly recorded music
• One review notes the headphone weighs 450g
• Some note the slightly brighter sound signature and a small peak around 7kHz, potentially causing slight sibilance on certain recordings

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs. Audeze LCD-4: Considered better overall due to a more balanced tonality, larger stage, and lighter weight, although the LCD-4 might have slightly better slam/punch
• Vs. Final Audio D8000 Pro: Offers better technical performance, detail retrieval, a larger soundstage, and is more comfortable
• Vs. HiFiMan HE1000se: Has a more realistic tonal balance and lacks the HE1000se's treble peak, although the HE1000se is easier to drive
• Vs. ZMF Verite: Is better for detail retrieval and instrument separation, but the Verite might be more natural sounding and have better slam
• Vs. Focal Utopia: Has more detail retrieval and better space and stage characteristics, although the Utopia might slam harder and is a more 'normal' headphone
• Vs. Audeze LCD5: Delivers better performance when it comes to detail retrieval and overall image clarity

Takeaway: The HiFiMan Susvara is a top-tier headphone known for its exceptionally natural sound, detail retrieval, and comfortable design, making it enjoyable for hours of listening. For those seeking a flagship headphone that delivers the best sonic experience possible, the Susvara could be a worthwhile investment.

Product Strengths

• Nice cable made in partnership with Viking Wave
• Attractive design with some components being 3D printed
• Comfortable to wear with well-distributed weight and ZMF earpads
• Stands out with its 'warm yet balanced' sound signature, described as having flat bass extension and an emphasized lower mid-range
• Delivers instrument separation, and sounds reasonably spacious

Product Considerations

• Build quality can feel a little rough around the edges, which may be noticeable
• Requires a dedicated headphone amplifier
• The dual-sided version is more expensive, while the single-sided version is affected by pressure changes inside the pad
• Sound can come across a little bit crunchy and trebly

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Against Audeze MM500, the MM500 has better build quality
• Against Meze Empyrean 2, the Empyrean 2 is more comfortable
• Against Dan Clark Audio E3, the E3s overall sound more competent

Takeaway: The Modhaus Tungsten is a unique headphone built with care. It's enjoyable to listen to, has good bass extension, and the sound can be customized by swapping earpads.

Product Strengths

• Stunning aesthetics and high-quality craftsmanship with various wood options and grill designs available
• Creates a wonderful sense of space with a great spherical soundstage and natural depth
• Has an amazing ability to be both smooth and detailed at the same time
• Provides a deep reaching and encompassing bass sound with a punchy and impactful profile
• Natural and lifelike tonal quality with vibrant midrange and textured vocals

Product Considerations

• Not ideal for those seeking maximum detail retrieval or a reference-level sound
• May not be the best choice for music that relies heavily on aggressive, distorted electric guitars due to potential mid-range harshness
• Bass extension may not reach as deep as some planar headphones
• The stock cable has shape memory, and some may prefer aftermarket options
• It's a heavier headphone, so comfort may be a concern for some users

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs ZMF Verite: The Atrium sits alongside it, and is a significant step above the Auteur, in the sense that it is competing absolutely with the Verite, whereas the Auteur doesn't quite reach the heights of the Verite
• Vs Sennheiser HD650: The Atrium overall tuning is very reminiscent of the Sennheiser HD 650, where it is still fairly neutral, but it tends towards a little bit of warmth
• Vs HIFIMAN HE1000 V2: The HE1000 V2 has a bigger soundstage, but the imaging and the separation handle spatial reproduction much better than the Atrium does

Takeaway: The ZMF Atrium offers a beautiful design and a unique sound signature that combines smoothness and detail, making it a very enjoyable listening experience across many genres. Its ability to create a lifelike and engaging soundstage makes it a worthwhile option for those looking for something special.

Product Strengths

• Offers a combination of dynamic driver, planar magnetic, and electrostatic qualities, providing impressive bass, speed, treble reach, and broad frequency resolution
• Exceptional clarity and resolution across the frequency spectrum
• Has a natural and immersive sound, very refined, with exceptional staging, positioning, layering, relative spacing, and image stability
• Very comfortable, lightweight (415g), and foldable for portability
• The Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS) delivers smooth, accurate, and detailed high frequencies, while minimizing unwanted distortions

Product Considerations

• Requires a good seal to be effective, and the seal can be easily broken by movement or glasses
• The Stealths require a bit of power to sound their best, marginal efficiency at 86-89dB
• Less sensitive than other headphones, requiring higher volume settings and more powerful amplification
• Revealing of poor recordings and distortion in the system
• Can lack slam or macro contrast

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The Stealth is more comfortable, better built, more isolating, has amazing quality control, and is more resolving and fun, while sounding more accurate due to the AMTS, compared to the Dan Clark Audio Ether 2
• The Stealth has better balance, with the Focal Stellia having too much bass, smoother treble, and better instrument separation, though the Stellia has better punchiness
• The Stealth is lighter, has better instrument separation, and better tuning without needing EQ, compared to the Audeze LCD-XC
• The Stealth gives a more tonal 'normal' presentation, wins for instrument separation, and has excellent design, compared to the ZMF Verite

Takeaway: The Dan Clark Audio Stealth headphones combine excellent sound quality with a comfortable, portable design, making them a good choice for audiophiles who want a high-end listening experience at home or on the go. It is a good all-arounder that does everything well with its design.

Product Strengths

• Visually stunning and premium look with a blend of intricate metal design and lush soft leather
• Low mass driver designed to be very rigid to prevent distortion
• Sounds neutral overall
• Fantastic clarity and nuance to balance out the raw power
• Very comfortable to wear with an excellent balance of both lateral and vertical pressure

Product Considerations

• Not the most neutral-sounding headphone
• Soundstage is not very wide
• Not quite as nice as the Susvara at pointing out bad recordings or signal chain issues
• At 490g, relatively heavy
• Unbalanced cable is too short

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Focal Utopia OG: Warmer, a little bit smoother, and a little bit more forgiving
• Vs HIFIMAN Susvara: Just behind the Susvara in terms of sounding real

Takeaway: The Focal Utopia 2022 is a flagship headphone that is well-built, comfortable, and sounds very pleasing. The Utopia 2022 provides an amazing listening experience with great transparency, making it easy to pair with different sources and amps.

Product Strengths

• Top-notch build quality, with premium materials and a comfortable design
• Excellent sound quality with a balanced presentation—no outstanding weaknesses across the frequency spectrum
• Two sets of earpads are included (Duo and Alcantara) for sound customization
• The design has a strong aesthetic, and the magnetic pad swapping system is easy to use
• Wider soundstage and more three-dimensional imaging

Product Considerations

• Sensitivity has dropped compared to the original Empyrean and Elites, requiring slightly more power to drive
• There might be a little bit of extra emphasis around the three to four kilohertz mark, which can make them a little bit fatiguing—a little bit bitey in the treble
• Not the largest soundstage that can be experienced at this price point
• The open design leaks sound and doesn't offer much in the way of isolation
• Those particularly sensitive might hear some spikiness in the lower treble region

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Original Meze Empyrean: Empyrean II has a more neutral tuning, is more defined, and has better detail separation
• Vs Meze Elite: Empyrean II offers stronger bass extension and more of the engaging emotional delivery
• Vs Meze Elite: The Elite seems more expansive than Empyrean 2, though not by a lot
• Vs HIFIMAN HE1000SE: The HE1000SE sound is more spacious, the bass is snappier, and the amount of detail is slightly above the Elite and Empyrean

Takeaway: The Empyrean II is an enjoyable headphone, improving on the original with a more accurate and versatile sound that maintains the core Empyrean identity. The comfort, build quality, and well-balanced sound make it a great choice for a high-end listening experience.

Product Strengths

• Improved ergonomics and comfort compared to the original HEDDphone, largely due to a significant weight reduction and the innovative HEDDband system for adjustable fit
• Highly detailed and resolving sound, particularly in the midrange, with excellent timbral resolution and microdynamic control
• Unique and expansive soundstage that doesn't restrict the sonic image to inside the head, resembling a good pair of speakers in a well-tuned room
• High-quality build with premium materials and a 5-year warranty inspires confidence
• Excellent accessory package including a carrying case, spare earpads, and multiple cable options

Product Considerations

• Can be picky with recording quality, performing best with well-recorded tracks and less impressive with lower-quality productions
• Some reviewers find the clamping force of the headband to be too strong, even on the lowest setting
• Bass response may lack sub-bass extension or 'oomph' for some listeners, especially those craving a strong low-end rumble
• The treble might be perceived as bright or sibilant by some listeners, particularly due to an elevation in the upper treble region

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs HEDDphone One: The Two is lighter, more comfortable, and has a more neutral and technical sound, while the original has more bass impact and a unique timbre
• Vs Audeze MM-500: Both are aimed at professionals with a neutral tuning, but the HEDDphone Two has greater technical performance, microdynamic control, and detail retrieval
• Vs Sennheiser HD800S: The HD800S has a greater sense of soundstage, openness, and instrument separation, while the HEDDphone Two has better low-level detail for individual instruments and microdynamics
• Vs HIFIMAN Arya: The Arya has more midbass punch and upper treble energy, while the HEDDphone Two offers greater technical performance
• Vs Meze Elite: The Elite offers a more rich and entertaining signature, where the HEDDphone Two is more neutral and reference-like

Takeaway: The HEDDphone Two is an innovative headphone with impressive sound and design, offering improvements over the original and it is worth buying if one is looking for excellent sound quality and detail. While its aesthetics may not be its strongest attribute, it delivers on technical sound and offers an enjoyable listening experience.

Product Strengths

• Excellent build quality and visually stunning design with unique wood cups, making each unit unique
• Good bass response with well-balanced tonality, texture, definition, speed, and dynamics
• Treble presentation is excellent, smooth, bright, and airy without being overly forward or fatiguing
• The Caldera Closed uses Atrium Damping System (ADS) for a more natural sound decay
• Very resolving with class-leading dynamics

Product Considerations

• Mid-range tonality may be uneven and forward for some listeners, potentially causing fatigue or a 'hollow' timbre
• Soundstage is relatively narrow compared to some other closed-back headphones
• Can be moderately difficult to drive, not suitable for all portable amplifiers
• Weight might be an issue for some users, though well-distributed
• Requires high-quality audio tracks to sound its best

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Versus Caldera Open, the closed version has a superior treble presentation, the open is preferable in the mid-range
• Versus the Dan Clark Audio E3, the Caldera Closed is easier to drive and has better dynamics, the E3 has a wider soundstage and is more comfortable
• The Caldera Closed is more spacious sounding than the Atrium Closed
• The Caldera Closed is better than the Verite Closed for all-day listening

Takeaway: The ZMF Caldera Closed is a beautifully crafted, high-performance closed-back headphone with excellent bass and treble, making for a fun and engaging listening experience. The versatility to use it with most amps makes it a great choice.