We Pick The BEST Headphones of 2024!

[@nbtv85]

All good that GoldenSound picked a $17,000 Amp and a $1,200 DAC as his favorite products of 2024 but also would've been good to know what was his headphone/IEM picks (given the title of the video).

[@harackmw]

Having groups under 100$, under 500$, etc, might be better as well.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

(Golden here) as a cheaper option I'd have picked the JDS element IV but it wasn't officially out until after this video was filmed so I couldn't mention it. For headphones honestly there have not been many this year I really was taken by. It was a bit of a slow year for really good releases imo

[@wabbasMEpern]

I have a very decent DAC myself, but I could never be completely DAC-pilled. I just don't understand. Heard very good stuff at shows but nothing makes me want to open my wallet.

[@yonkocommander5531]

@@wabbasMEpernmy experience is very similar, Ive listened to dozens of dacs at shows too and Ive never heard anything justify the price increase over an ifi zen, that money is always better spent on amps or headphones

[@abrahamkinard803]

Yeah the difference in performance for dacs is such a scam. I know it’s a big word but the price increase for Dacs are definitely the least influential in your chain.

[@laLakshya]

Aune ar5000 is more deserving than hd490 pro . As a their first headphone, they released a banger with very good pricing.

[@RarePotions]

While I 100% agree with you on this, and even though a lot of the reviews on the Aune came out this year, the headphone itself came out last year in October.

[@laLakshya]

@RarePotions Sorry my bad. But this year's coverage makes up for this year's product.

[@Mr._MN10]

Interesting pick for headphone of the year. IIRC most reviews were not super positive. Good to see the general emphasize on build quality and comfort. This is what Zeos is unmatched at. Really conveying how it is to use a product. How it feels in your hands etc. If a headphone sounds good but is heavy or doesn't sit well on your head, it's not worth it imho.

[@joebest6582]

@Mr._MN10 to bad his own headphone doesn't hold up for the price.

[@HeliBenj]

Zeos is a joke, 0 ethics, shills 95% of products for money. He is a good entertainer, not a reviewer

[@keith9267]

​@HeliBenj Any evidence?

[@darmokt]

I really wanted to love the HD 490 Pro, but it has a fatal flaw in the comfort department for me: the raised “L” and “R” embossed in the driver covers rubs against my ears and is incredibly scratchy and painful. I understand why it’s there, but an alternate set of driver covers without those would have been nice to have in the box for those of us with larger ears.

[@ixoye56]

Yes, that's what holding me off buying it, I hate when my ears touching the drivers.

[@ZenTunE-]

The letters can't be removed with a knife etc? As unideal as having to do that is, could make them perfect if you like the sound.

[@darmokt]

@@ZenTunE- not as far as I could tell. they’re not separately attached, they seem to be embossed into the structure

[@kuronisama2007]

So true. I returned my pair for that reason.

[@nnamuenmada]

Sennheiser HD 490 Pro: everything else nailed it except the sound quality. What??? What do headphones do....

[@maxcardif9879]

Comfort, weight, build quality are thing you can't change easily on a headphone. But the 490 has excellent QC, so is the perfect platform to make it the best headphone available for you. Good QC is something that can't be said for most headphones this year and if something is badly made and uncomfortable for long periods, then why bother?

[@ResolveReviews]

I want to emphasize that the sound quality on 490 pro is actually quite good if you consider what was missing from the HD 6 series. It's more that some of us are a bit more treble averse, which is why we'd prefer the sound quality from the HD 6 series that's a bit more relaxed in the treble.

[@daviddier9865]

QC and comfort can't be fixed after sale. 99% of realises this year have problems in one of those aspects. The 490 excels at both.

[@jagen304]

Sennheiser HD 490 Pro i own this thing and it nailed everything including sound. i dunno wtf that guy is talking about

[@TreSwayy]

490s didn't impress me really. They sound good, but no wow factor.

[@marchuvfulz]

Guys, the discussion of the HD 490 was kinda nuts.

[@JJ_ON_YOUTUBE]

Are you guys going to do the 'tier list' again this year?

[@rem792]

Yes, we need a more organised tier list.

[@jorschachblatant1934]

I am more into Chinese ones now... And they are actually good.

[@ZandoNoid]

They just keep improving in all price ranges

[@wabbasMEpern]

It's really funny that Chinese headphones and IEMs are still king. And will be for a while.

[@lxmcc]

Great to see Cyan 2 recognized here

[@Cameri760]

Agreed on the Mega5EST! Can't stop listening to it since I got it earlier this year

[@Viewer13128]

can u explain its sound and what got you addicted to it?

[@Cameri760]

@@Viewer13128 I'm very much a normie so I can't describe my subjectivity through audio lingo, so instead I'll use an analogy: It feels like coming home from a hot day, your throat is absolutely parched and dry, so you drink a cold glass of ice water. It's refreshing, pleasant, and relieving. In that moment it's the best drink you've ever had and yet at the same time you just had some water.

[@Viewer13128]

@@Cameri760 well thanks :D I should probably also ask which eartips, cable and source you used with the Mega5EST.

[@Cameri760]

@@Viewer13128 DUNU S&S Ear Tips, Triptowin Zonie Cable, Fiio BTR15 (wireless mode with LDAC)

[@nullgator8073]

In jokes are fine but they can often be confusing for people not in on them

[@m2thay]

based magbay enjoyer 2:00

[@chocolatechicken5297]

this guy knows how to get physical

[@dixieflatline1189]

It's good to see a nice range of products and price points (even if GoldenSound broke out of the bell curve 😂). It shows that great sound is more accessible than ever For me it's the Aune SR7000 closed backs. They fix a lot of Senn's old problems, while being the by far the most comfortable set I have worn in years - I have not compared to the 490 Pro, that would make a good review

[@xairaxboss]

FT1 takes the cake for me, amazing sound, takes power and EQ like a champ, comes with sh*t ton of accessories and for 150$? What more do you want?

[@timpecker2527]

QC

[@xairaxboss]

@@timpecker2527 what QC? Is there anything i should know?

[@m2cks]

@@xairaxboss No clue what they're talking about. Fiio ain't Hifiman! 😂

[@el_arte]

I expected to hear AR5000, FT1 Pro,

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

For the panel: How do you feel about the Aune SR7000 vs DCA Noire X? ($600 vs $1000) And have any of you tried the Focal Lensys?

[@delaboadum972]

Bought the 490 pro few weeks ago, still being shipped, now Im excited to get my hands on it...

[@shankr]

So good to see HD490 pro getting the top spot for the year! I picked one up recently after quite a lot of review watching/reading. Big shout out to the Headphone Show as it helped me zero in on the 3-4 products I wanted to pick from (HD490 Pro, HiFiMAN Arya/Edition XS, Meze 109 Pro). The proprietor of Audio Sanctuary in London helped me decide on HD490 Pro by letting me spend more than an hour listening to these choices :).

[@Kenny-Somafunk]

Phew.........😅, Thank god I bought one back in April, otherwise id now be getting accused of jumping on the bandwagon. The HD490 really is an excellent headphone with the comfort to disappear on the head for hours.

[@completestrangeronline7284]

I love listening to you guys. You fill the gap that was there after Tyll retired and the audiophiliac stopped reviewing headphones. But it’s interesting that you picked a headphone to be your product of the year that not everyone agrees sounds very good.

[@dashcamcreate1587]

It's interesting that one of the choices is very affordable compared to the others. The Fiio at $149 is very nice.

[@asan1050]

DMS!, Thank you very much!

[@Rhinotsoplots1000]

I was just watching the 2023 one and hoping you'd guys would drop a 2024 lol Thanks a bunch

[@BrentLeVasseur]

The best amp at CanJam Dallas was the Viva Audio Egoista. It blows everything else out of the water and is like if Enzo Ferrari made a headphone amp. The second best amp was the LTA Z10e, which can play any headphone well including Planars like Susvara and Abyss 1266, IEMs, and even electrostats like Stax and Shangri La Sr.

[@aRc11-11]

... don't forget the HD400 PRO. A mini 490. KICKS ASS!!!

[@viperaiion]

hd490 pro or hd650? For all day use at PC - music, games, movies, tv series.

[@moskva-kassiopeya]

Of course 490

[@shankr]

hd490. Got one a few weeks back, and as a long use multipurpose headphones, it is super comfy and good.

[@viperaiion]

@@shankr you think it will fit a bigass head? xd

[@shankr]

@@viperaiion haha, it seems to have a good spring steel and enough adjustments and head cushion. Hard to say if it is a fits-all situation, but it is available widely enough to try and return if it doesn't work I guess. Fits me very well, and the velour pads are ridiculously soft. I haven't even broken out the mixing pads (though one of these days I should try to use it and do some mixing work).

[@steakhoux]

Seems you like the HD 620S since you wear them. I also bought them for gaming use because I wanted a bit more bass capability but enjoy the sound of my HD650. With a bit of EQ they sound very similar.

[@Pividol]

I want the hd490 pro now (also just bought the audeze maxwell waiting for it to arrive) I was about to jump on a $300 deal for a used HD 490 pro plus but couldn't quite pull the trigger.

[@amaimonakihiko]

I picked up the new Sivga P2 Pro that came out this year.. Im currious what you guys think about it, and what would you reccomend as an alternative at the 350-400$ price point

[@completestrangeronline7284]

HD 620s also sounds a little dry or scratchy in the treble, a very comfortable headphone, but it’s gotta sound good for me to wanna use it

[@johnosam4681]

Im not ready for thhhhheeee

[@maomao180]

ADAM Audio H200, just came out and being slept on

[@Ca11mero]

mini-Trent is really sold on those Porta Pros, every time I look at a stream it gets mentioned by him 😁

[@arress2052]

I love my FT1 but beware of QC issues. I had a screw fall out and I have seen others deal with that as well.

[@twaters3282]

Yup...in the video one of them says they do kinda fall apart

[@hazeion]

lol 17k headphone amp is wild. Shit that thing BETTER win if its 17k

[@plumsofsteel]

This is all very interesting information that is of no use given the lack of structure. Someone's recommendation for BEST Headphones were a dac and an amp, someone threw in some IEMs just to keep it unstructured and you've got a member of the panel considering one of the few actual headphones to have bad audio. Maybe prep some lists, make a few videos with categories and pricing brackets instead of whatever this was. Swap out the personal tales of experiences with a short introduction of each person's audio preferences and pet peaves to give context to the remarks that follow. I am not a regular viewer of this channel, this video could have been a great opportunity to expand your audience. You guys seem like a varied bunch that can give great recommendations, this was not that.

[@justino9042]

Why is not acceptable have headphones from different years of release on this?

[@FearlessP4P1]

Best planars under $250 and above that?

[@TarukaiSamurai]

Under $250, the Fiio ft1-pro and Hifiman Sundara 2020, just above $250 the Hifiman Edition XS with its new price is extremely hard to beat.

[@newtype79]

This is the way.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

Lovely PFP

[@lukashavel7690]

I was hoping for Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 to appear at least once as a runner up.

[@coardtech]

I’ve owned and did review tons of headphones. E3 beats everything. The Composer comes close. Caldera etc i didn’t like. Also Azurys is fantastic deal at open box $400 range.

[@zanychelly]

Going to say a blasphemy, in the ears of you guys, i got the Pulse Explore + Comply ear tips. I really enjoyed the sound signature for music.

[@x32i77]

Why no mention of audeze CrBN 2 or Hifiman mini Shangri La

[@4nanke129]

Nice choices. My favourite is FT1 closed back budget King. Under 1K you can't get better closed back. Next would be ZMF bokah. For open back I wish to try AudioTechnica ADX3000, also Meze 105 Are, but I am not surprised about 490pro choice which is first Sennheiser I actually like based on design. Well choices guys, thanks for the video!

[@x32i77]

Definitely raal Immanis

[@Kalanxe]

Someone needs attention...

[@guybrushtwood]

What headphones is Resolve wearing? I’m offended that I can’t identify them… Stax?

[@AugustoRallo]

What happened to chrono?

[@Ryan_3gRi]

Man..I would not agree with that Azurys is anywhere better than the 490pros……

[@offbrandDavid]

hi griff 🤭🤭🤭

[@pzhao7615]

[@33up24]

FT1 Pro. It gives beats every hifiman headphone under 500 bux, at 199.

[@needarandomname4330]

Hate the 560s. Absolutely souless. "great subass" was a lie unless they dropped the QC with the price.

[@zoltantoth1566]

you should switch off the music before starting recording

[@stephanej.871]

Funny, none of you is using their headphones ou iems of the year ...

[@hartyewh1]

Dusk, KZ Libra (balanced) and HEDDphone Two are the highlights for me this year, but many things left to be heard as well. Imo the HD490 is so overpriced for the sound quality that I can't get behind it. HD620s seems more reasonable and has some notable strengths.

[@nnamuenmada]

according to the experts, everything else work great except the sound quality😂

[@Hahmier]

There completely different types of headphones and you completely missed the point of why they liked the 490. The 620 is built and has the comfort of the 500 series.

[@Hahmier]

​@@nnamuenmada learn how to EQ

[@barbarapearce7323]

Time stamps MIA

[@nullgator8073]

Somehow this channel is getting worse at actually helping inform consumers and giving meaningful purchasing guidance

[@joebest6582]

@nullgator8073 Somehow, you are less informative than those you complained about.

[@drunkenhearted7256]

Talk about guys who’ve lost the plot! 😂 but they still entertain I suppose…

[@joebest6582]

@@drunkenhearted7256 alt account comment

[@joebest6582]

@@drunkenhearted7256 🅰️lt acount comment

[@rajeebdas1724]

​@@joebest6582But the gap is not worth spending 15 mins watching their video filled with generic takes that any roadsider could come up with.

[@fiddlix]

I’ve had the HD-490 Pros since they first came out. They have quickly become my daily drivers, taking the place of a well used 3yrs old set of HD-600s.

[@HarnoorSingh-pt2vf]

Review bose quite comfort ultra earbuds

[@goodforwatch]

Why is trudae seem like he’s doing this from a jail cell🤔

[@oakie007]

Keanu Reeves took time out from John Wick 5 to review his favourite headphones

[@maciejgeming8555]

That's probably the first time I'm that much in opposition to what's been said on this chanel. OK - 490 pro's are the 560s on steroids and their build quality is great but with one set of pads they are too bright, on another too dark. Also the sound feels compressed, sometimes too nosal. It also costs more than double the price of the 560s which is hard to consider as good value. And the cherry on top, the words: "every other aspect of it besides the sound is S tier..." Will probobly become a classic in the "most insane words of the headphone reviewer ever said" category.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

@maciejgeming8555 it's drastically more comfortable than basically anything else on the market so the price rights itself.

[@listener-reviews]

Fair enough! If you'd like an explanation of my reasoning though, here it is: It's not like HD 490 Pro is F-tier in terms of sound or anything and we're rating it purely on non-sound; its sound quality is probably closer to C-tier, which is where most headphones are. Most headphones I heard that came out this year are, at best, equally mediocre or worse sounding. Yes, HD 490 Pro is not as impressive sonically as it is in literally every other metric-build, comfort, looks (IMO), value as a platform for a variety of uses. But those are the metrics almost everything else in this market except Meze and Sennheiser is sitting around C tier or below for... while also sounding equally mediocre or worse. So yeah, I stand by HD 490 Pro being S tier in most aspects, roughly C tier in sound, and thus a more well-rounded offering than most of the other headphones that came out this year. That said, I still think the FT1 and Azurys were better sounding, which is why I chose them. Sidenote: Personally, the non-sound metrics matter more to me than stock sound quality because headphones as a product class don't really ascend past high B-tier or low A-tier sonically without EQ anyway. Thanks for watching!

[@BO-kh1iz]

12:15 What an assessment of a headphone. You think product of the year for a headphone is "not wrong" or "strange" because build quality and comfort is very good but the sound sucks. Got it. Sound for a headphone is so overrated. What the hell, if you don´t agree with a rating, just say it. Stop this drivel, you don't have to please everyone.

[@listener-reviews]

I did a whole review of it if you'd like to see! It's on Headphones.com with the subtitle "Incrementalist." I said much the same there; the sound is mediocre (not bad, not great) but the build/comfort platform is a huge W for Senn's current product lineup and sorely needed in this market. To be clear, basically everything else I heard this year (aside from the two headphones I picked for my reviewer's choice) sounded equally mediocre or worse while not having any of the benefits of good build and comfort than 490 Pro has. Thus I think 490 Pro does actually deserve product of the year, because it reached the same baseline mediocrity most of this years headphone's achieved while being a way more viable build and comfort platform and not being as expensive as most of them. Sidenote: Personally, the non-sound metrics matter more to me than stock sound quality because headphones as a product class don't really ascend past high B-tier or low A-tier sonically without EQ anyway. Thanks for watching!

[@ResolveReviews]

@@listener-reviews Same is true for the HD 800 S without EQ.

[@sanchomill]

A 15-17K $ amp. ROFL !

[@joebest6582]

@@sanchomill subbed to CMA. Manufactured outrage.

[@stephendenagy3396]

Hmmm. Probably the least useful and most self-congratulatory episode ever. Let get my wheelbarrow of money out as the group is losing touch with reality. Or maybe, I will be happy with my discounted HiFiman cans and my FatFreq iEMs.

[@patrickdanneker5480]

not sure about 490 pro staying power. I feel it's already not in the discussion anymore besides here.

[@Zaphod_]

"We Pick The BEST Headphones" _Looks inside_ Earphones.

[@mitchy5994]

This man said "Partner" and "she", and a man's arm comes into frame... Lmfao.

[@Three-Chord-Trick]

I'm sorry, I'm looking around for a good pair of headphones, and looking around for good advice, but when I heard "Listener"'s vocal fry, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end 😮, and I had to klick off.

[@Sturgon]

I dont think you are sorry...