Best Over-Ear Headphones for Music Lovers (Topic Update)

The Audio-Technica ATH-AVC500 headphones have an optimal resistance of 40 Ohms, so they can be connected not only to professional audio equipment, but also to mobile gadgets. For this, the manufacturer offers a 3.5 mm connector with a 6.35 mm adapter, which received a gold-plated surface. It is worth noting that the cable is non-removable, which creates some inconvenience. The model attracts with its brutal design with two metal arcs and looks like studio equipment. Full-size cups automatically adjust to the shape of the head and are complemented by very soft ear pads covered with eco-leather. To adjust the height, a reversible spring is used in the headband design, which can create excessive pressure on the ears as it stretches. The headphones may not suit large people, but they will fit perfectly on an average-sized head.

In terms of sound, Audio-Technica ATH-AVC500 cannot be called absolutely universal. Despite the extended frequency range of 10 - 25000 Hz, the manufacturer focused on the medium and high levels. Sub-Bass is weakly expressed here, so fans of Deep House, New Metal, techno and similar bass genres may not have enough saturation. The speakers emphasize vocals and all the subtleties of the accompaniment well. The headphones fully reveal their potential when listening to classical music, create a unique effect of spatial sound and long echo, are perfect for connoisseurs of gothic rock concerts, where choral singing and an orchestra are used. Good examples can be Metal Wings, Nightwish, Imperial Age. The harmony of sounds can be felt in pop music, as well as retro directions, where solo parts are saturated with backing vocals. The model has good gaming potential, allows you to accurately determine the position of enemies in shooters. Frequency characteristics also provide pleasant sound when watching movies on a PC or TV and comfortable rehearsals on musical instruments when using a combo amplifier. All the presented possibilities can be tried out at a very affordable price.

Usually, when it comes to the "signature" sound of Sennheiser, the most common epithets are "honest", "neutral" and "analytical". Many models of this brand strive for high sound accuracy, which allows audio engineers and audiophiles to hear music in its purest and most undistorted form. For example, the Sennheiser HD 560S model is often recommended as a more affordable alternative to the Sennheiser HD 650 headphones, beloved by many music lovers and musicians.

Just like their older siblings, the HD 560S have an open design, which helps to create a natural and expanded sound field. But unlike the HD 650 with its 300 ohm impedance, the HD 560S has a resistance of only 120 ohms, making them much easier to drive. As for the sound character, the bass in the headphones is clear and controlled, not overlapping the midrange, which is presented especially clearly and in detail, and the high frequencies sound bright and clear, without signs of sibilance or excessive harshness. In general, the sound character is truly honest and neutral, but at the same time not to say that it is boring or tiring. And the sound localization here is a solid five. It is not without reason that this series is equally highly valued by both professional musicians and music lovers.

The quality of the materials, the level of assembly and the level of comfort from the fit on the head are approximately the same as the Sennheiser HD 599. That is, very, very solid. Thanks to the soft velour ear pads and the generous cushion on the headband, they really fit comfortably around the head, providing a secure fit without excessive pressure. And despite the open design, they provide quite effective passive noise isolation, letting in much less external sounds than competitors such as the Philips Fidelio X3, AKG K702 and HiFiMan HE-400SE.

The AKG K612 PRO headphones are full-size, open-back, fixed-cable monitoring headphones designed primarily for professional studio use, including recording, mixing, mastering, and high-resolution music listening. While less popular than their more premium siblings in the AKG K712 Pro series, the K612 Pros are worth more attention because they offer almost everything you could want from a pair of mixing headphones, while remaining in a more affordable price range.

The AKG K612 PRO is ideal for Hi-Fi enthusiasts looking for high-quality headphones with a neutral and uncolored sound. Using the proprietary Varimotion dual-layer membranes, they provide precise analytical sound with a smooth amplitude-frequency response over a wide frequency range (from 12 to 39,500 Hz). The sound of the headphones is honest and relaxed, with a special emphasis on mid and high frequencies, while the sub-bass is not so pronounced, which may not satisfy fans of musical genres such as techno, drum and bass and hip-hop, in which the bass is responsible for the pressure and energy.

The design is practical and well suited for active use, and the construction with a graceful arched headband, self-adjusting headband and fabric ear pads largely repeats other monitor models of the brand. True, the headband here is a little stiffer, and the ear pads are not as soft as those of the older model K712 Pro, but the overall comfort level is still extremely high. Overall, the low weight (238 grams), comfortable headband, natural sound and low distortion factor make the K612 Pro one of the most interesting options among all studio-type headphones priced under 200 Euros.

The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones are a worthy continuation of the legendary Fidelio series, started by the X2 model. These premium headphones not only maintain the high standards of their predecessor, but also introduce a number of key improvements that make the new model even more attractive to audiophiles and professionals. Philips focused on improving comfort: the ear pads are covered with velour, the comfortable self-adjusting headband is covered with Kvadrat fabric, and the outer fabric trim of the earcups creates the impression of audiophile headphones costing several thousand dollars. It is no coincidence that the X3 won the Best Design Award at the RedDodAwards ceremony.

The Philips Fidelio X3's sound characteristics stand out for their neutral and detailed sound. The bass in the headphones is deep, but not overloaded, the midrange sounds especially clear and clean, and the highs do not suffer from excessive harshness. They are ideal for those users who value a relatively smooth, not too colored sound with high sound detail across the entire frequency spectrum and the ability to reproduce a wide sound stage. When listening to live recorded jazz or orchestrations, it sometimes seems that you can determine the location of the instrument in space almost to the meter. In general, the character of the sound and detail is at the level of the Sennheiser HD 599 model, that is, a solid five plus.

Unfortunately, there are some downsides. Compared to the previous Philips Fidelio X2 model, the X3 has lost its sub-bass, which adds weight to dance music. In the X2, the low frequencies sounded less assertive than relaxed, but the bass was clearly defined. In the X3, frequencies below 40–50 Hz are weakly expressed, which is why a two-hour techno jam from, say, Berghain sounds like the DJ has been eating vegetable salads on low-fat yogurt all week. For aggressive genres, we would recommend looking for the previous generation Fidelio X2 model on sales, which reproduced bass more accurately and with emphasis. The X3 also requires a high-quality sound source and amplification to fully reveal its potential, which may be inconvenient for those users who plan to listen to headphones on the go. Otherwise, these are spectacular, damn comfortable headphones with honest sound, well-thought-out ergonomics and a convenient detachable cable.

Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X can be called a sequel to the famous studio headphones Beyerdynamic DT 770. When designing the update, German engineers sought to preserve the cheerful authentic sound of the original model, while improving the quality of sound processing and maintaining the convenience of the original design. Looking ahead, it should be noted that the work turned out to be a solid five and the new Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X are obliged to repeat the success of their predecessor.

The headphones are equipped with proprietary Stellar 45 drivers with neodymium magnets, three-layer diffusers and lightweight voice coils that respond sensitively to any changes in dynamics. The impedance of the headphones is 48 Ohms, and the frequency range covers from 5 to 40,000 Hz. Despite the studio focus and balanced frequency response, the headphones sound bright and slightly hi-fi. Compared to the DT 770 PRO, the sound has become more neutral, the sound stage is better developed, and the entire lower spectrum and especially the sub-bass sounds more noticeable and more developed (note: especially when paired with an amplifier like the FiiO Q11). In general, the sound detail across the entire spectrum is quite solid, but sibilants and hissing sounds are too pronounced in our opinion and can be tiring during long listening. For some people, such a ringing high end may be a bug, for others it is more of a feature and one of the reasons to love the sound of Beyerdynamic.

Like the DT 770 PRO, the new model is also a closed-type headphone and has the same high quality of workmanship and comfortable design. Like the previous products of the DT series, the materials and assembly of the headphones are almost flawless: the earcups fit perfectly, the velour ear pads gently hug the ears, providing effective noise insulation, and the soft filler with a memory effect adds convenience in use. And the headphones come with an additional replaceable cable and an adapter from 6.3 to 3.5 mm for smartphones, tablets and mobile players. The only downside is that the design is quite tight and some owners complain that after an hour and a half of wearing the frame can cause slight discomfort just above the temples.