For most people, spending hundreds—let alone thousands—of pounds on a pair of headphones might sound indulgent, even absurd.
But for serious listeners, music lovers, and audiophiles, the difference between a decent pair and a truly great one is transformative. Luxury headphones are not just about volume or clarity; they’re about detail, realism, and immersion. They reveal the subtle textures of a cello, the breath behind a singer’s voice, the acoustics of the room where the track was recorded.
At this level, headphones are finely tuned instruments in their own right—engineered with precision materials, advanced driver technologies, and obsessive craftsmanship. They offer a level of fidelity that can rival some speaker systems, but with the intimacy and immediacy that only headphones can deliver. And for those with demanding ears or a love for the finest audio experience, the investment may not only feel justified—it might feel essential.
In this article, we’ve picked three standout headphones currently on the market, each representing the best in their class between £600 and £2,250. Whether you're a studio professional, a dedicated audiophile, or simply someone chasing the purest sound possible, these are the models worth hearing—and perhaps, ultimately, owning.
Luxury headphones: what do I need to know?
1. Open or closed back?
‘Open-back’ headphones allow the music to breathe, providing a spacious sound, ideal for expansive soundscapes. ‘Closed-back’ models offer a focused sound with enhanced bass and less sound leakage.
2. Source material
The more advanced the headphones, the more detail they can reveal. This is where hi-resolution music (CD-quality or higher) makes a significant difference. Tidal.com and Qobuz.com have a wide range of hi-res tracks.
3. Do I need a headphone amp?
A standalone headphone amp or DAC can get the best from your headphones, especially for those with high impedance (25 ohms and beyond). Chord, Audiolab and iFi offer a good range.
4. Which cables?
Premium wired headphones come with cables and connectors to pair with amps/DACs. Choose a 1.2m cable for portability and a 2m plus cable for relaxed home listening.
Luxury headphones: Our Best Buy
Austrian Audio's The Composer £2,249
Following in the footsteps of Mozart, Schubert and Mahler, these aptly named headphones are engineered and made in Vienna, Austria. They won ‘Best High-End Headphones’ at the 2024 EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association) Awards, and since receiving my review sample I’ve barely taken them off.
Tested here using Qobuz hi-resolution recordings and Austrian Audio’s The Full Score (£1,299) headphone amplifier, I find these open-backed headphones to be a gloriously enjoyable listen. They leak sound, so are definitely for at-home solo listening (the best kind), but this restriction gives you the chance to indulge in your favourite concertos – and with the depth of detail, rhythm and drive like you’ve never experienced before.
For a relatively new brand, they’ve created a premium audiophile product that happily competes with, and challenges, the established brands in the industry. And they’re even verging on being ‘good value’ compared to many of those headphones that also manage to sound this fine.
Unlike the majority of big stay-at-home headphones, The Composer weighs just 385g (without cables) and never once felt hefty. The build is predominantly metal, which helps strip out excess, and the earpads apply hardly any pressure to the side of the head. My only criticism is the lack of adjustability. They fit me well on the smallest setting (and I have a big head) but they absolutely swamp my wife, so try before you buy.
Luxury headphones: indulge yourself
Meze Audio Liric 2nd Generation £1,850
These beautiful headphones from Romania's Meze Audio feature advanced hand-assembled planar magnetic drivers that offer a faster, more uniform response than traditional dynamic drivers. The Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask offers a rich bass response and impressive sense of space, with instrumentation of the orchestra brilliantly realised in almost 3D.
They’re warm and balanced, but there is also plenty of attack when needed. Sonically I can’t fault them, though they fit better when you’re relaxing rather than working – the hinges pivot if you look down at a laptop, for instance.
Luxury headphones: best wireless option
Dali IO-8 £599
Like many high-end speaker brands, Dali has branched into the lucrative headphone market, and despite being restricted by Bluetooth, the audio quality of the IO-8 is almost on a par with a wired pair. They have generous 50mm full-range dynamic drivers with 10Hz-43kHz frequency response and a big 30hr battery life – and that’s with active noise cancellation turned on.
If you’re at home or have a DAC or headphone amp, you can plug in to get the very best from these headphones, but in truth, wirelessly (Bluetooth 5.2, aptX HD) they effortlessly open up the orchestra in front of you, pulling out detail in an entertaining way.
