What are the best over-ear headphones of all time?

From iconic studio workhorses to audiophile flagship monsters, the history of over-ear headphones spans vinyl-era classics, wireless noise-cancellers, and planar magnetic marvels. Which pair earns the throne?

1. 1
   Sennheiser HD 600

   Launched in 1997, this open-back dynamic reference headphone defined the audiophile midrange and remains a benchmark for natural, tonally accurate sound.
2. 2
   Sennheiser HD 650

   Released in 2003 as the HD 600's warmer sibling, it became one of the most beloved audiophile headphones ever made.
3. 3
   Sennheiser HD 800 S

   The pinnacle of Sennheiser's open-back engineering, renowned for its enormous soundstage and surgical imaging.
4. 4
   Sony MDR-7506

   Introduced in 1991, this closed-back studio workhorse became the most-used professional monitoring headphone in broadcast and recording studios worldwide.
5. 5
   Sony MDR-V6

   Debuted in 1985, the V6 was the MDR-7506's predecessor and set the standard for affordable, accurate closed-back monitoring for decades.
6. 6
   Sony WH-1000XM5

   Sony's 2022 flagship wireless ANC headphone, widely considered the best noise-cancelling over-ear for consumers.
7. 7
   Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro

   A decades-old open-back German classic delivering wide soundstage and energetic highs, beloved by gamers, mixing engineers, and audiophiles.
8. 8
   Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro

   A semi-open flagship known for its neutral, precise reproduction and exceptional speed, favored by classical music listeners and mastering engineers.
9. 9
   Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro

   The closed-back sibling to the DT series, an industry-standard studio isolation headphone used worldwide for tracking and broadcast since the 1980s.
10. 10
    Beyerdynamic T1 (2nd Gen)

    Beyerdynamic's flagship Tesla-driver over-ear headphone, a reference audiophile semi-open design regarded as one of the finest dynamic driver headphones ever made.
11. 11
    AKG K701

    An Austrian audiophile icon released in 2006, known for its exceptionally wide soundstage and analytical reference tuning favored in classical and jazz circles.
12. 12
    AKG K712 Pro

    AKG's reference open-back headphone refining the K701 lineage with improved low-end punch, widely used in professional mixing and mastering.
13. 13
    Audeze LCD-2

    Launched in 2009, this planar magnetic headphone introduced thousands of audiophiles to the format with its lush natural low end and extraordinary detail retrieval.
14. 14
    Audeze LCD-3

    Audeze's premium planar magnetic flagship featuring Fazor waveguide technology, praised for its lifelike bass and class-leading dynamics.
15. 15
    HiFiMAN Sundara

    Introduced in 2018, this affordable planar magnetic headphone became a go-to recommendation for audiophiles seeking high-end planar performance.
16. 16
    HiFiMAN HE400SE

    A budget-friendly planar magnetic open-back that brought the signature HiFiMAN speed and detail to entry-level price points.
17. 17
    Focal Clear

    Made in France with Focal's proprietary aluminum/magnesium 'M'-shaped dome driver, widely regarded as one of the finest open-back dynamic headphones ever produced.
18. 18
    Focal Utopia

    Focal's flagship open-back headphone featuring the world's first full-range beryllium driver, a benchmark endgame audiophile headphone since 2016.
19. 19
    Grado RS1x

    Hand-assembled in Brooklyn with a distinctive wooden ear cup, the RS1 is a cult audiophile icon prized for its lively, intimate midrange.
20. 20
    Grado SR80x

    Grado's entry-level open-back classic delivering the brand's signature forward, musical sound at an accessible price.
21. 21
    Bose QuietComfort 35 II

    Released in 2017, the QC35 II defined what consumer noise-cancelling headphones could be — lightweight, comfortable all-day wear with class-leading ANC.
22. 22
    Bose QuietComfort 45

    The successor to the landmark QC35 II, refining its noise cancellation and comfort formula with improved battery life.
23. 23
    Apple AirPods Max

    Apple's 2020 premium all-metal over-ear headphone combining H1 chip, computational audio, and spatial audio for the Apple ecosystem.
24. 24
    Philips Fidelio X2HR

    A cult-favorite open-back over-ear known for its rich, impactful bass and wide soundstage at a mid-range price.
25. 25
    Fostex TH900 Mk2

    A flagship closed-back Japanese audiophile headphone featuring lacquered wooden ear cups and bio-dynamic drivers, renowned for its huge soundstage.