Full disclaimer: This is an opinion post. There are no facts to see here. No one has paid us to write this piece, nor do we receive compensation from the various headphone manufacturers mentioned herein. We will not use referral links, and will not accept guest posts or other forms of favors from third-parties.
We encourage you to take any perspectives on headphones lightly, as we all have unique ears, unique head shapes, differing budgets and value metrics, and personal expectations of what constitutes ‘good sound’.
We may refresh our recommendations from time-to-time and have decided to share our thoughts because we’ve recently shuffled our collections and frequently receive questions like this:
Without further ado, here’s what I’m enjoying this season:
- Office Headphone: Focal Clear
I impulse bought the Clears after hearing them at Canjam in 2017. Their clarity is impressive, the bass is clean, and they respond beautifully to equalization. I sent the Focals to Sterling for B-Roll footage in 2019, expecting them back in a few weeks, but five years passed before they were returned, making them feel new to me all over again. Now, paired with Element III MK2 and 3 dB of bass boost, I’m enjoying them once more. - Honorable Mention: HiFIMan HE6SE v2
Incredible detail. One of the few sets I thoroughly enjoy without equalization. However, they are heavy and leak sound more than any headphone in my collection. Even at modest volumes, the set can be heard from a room away. - Home Office: Sennheiser HD-650
Not my favorite headphone. With three young kids at home, I need a set that can risk being abused, while still sounding decent. HD600/650s are one of the most comfortable sets in my collection–lightweight, appropriate clamping force, and no strain on the top of my head. However, listening to the Sennheisers after hearing any of my other preferred headphones or IEMs reminds me how laid back the HD650s sound. Bass is lacking, which was a great motivation for developing DSP capabilities for Element III MK2. I continue to recommend HD 600s/650s to those starting out. They give a taste for how comfortable and enjoyable a premium headphone can be, yet are priced within reach to most. - Exercise IEMs: Kiwi Ears Quartet
I found myself instantly disappointed by a new set of Sony’s WF-1000XM5, so Austin shared his Kiwi Quarters after returning from this years’ Canjam NYC. The Quartets have unique warmth combined with deep bass energy. By no means a reference sound, but strangely enjoyable, especially for vocals, D&B, and 90s grunge. They’re not the cheapest IEM out there, but well worth a listen. - Focus Listening: 64 Ears U4S
After adopting the Quartets, I realized I’d neglected the IEM space for too long, and modern IEMs are the way to go when I need to be distraction free (ambient music). I toured more IEMs than I’d like to admit, and then Austin returned from AXPONA with a set of 64 Ears U4S. Not to mince words, the U4S is at the top of my collection. Tuning and speed is on par with the finest full-sized headphones, but packed into a remarkably comfortable universal IEM. After appreciating the detail of U4S, everything else sounds lo-fi. I can listen to the U4S for hours on end. Only problem: my wife has developed a strong distaste for IEMs because I’ve spent so much time with the U4S’s lately.