They may be back as a fashion statement... but quality wired headphones sound the best
If you’ve spent any time with teenagers or young adults lately, you’ll no doubt have spotted the wires trailing from their ears. Despite the vast choice of hi-tech wireless headphones available, being analogue is now a fashion statement. Sadly for us seasoned hi-fi writers, this is not a return to audiophile listening… yet. Cheap wired earbuds can sound pretty awful, but those choosing to wear them are still on the best path to audio enlightenment, because quality wired headphones almost always sound better than anything else.
I’m not focussing on wired earbuds here, although I will cover the latest in-ear monitors (IEMs) in a future issue. Instead, I want to reiterate just how inspiring classic wired over-ear headphones can be. A wired connection sends a full signal straight to the drivers, so you get every morsel of a recording, whereas Bluetooth, while brilliantly convenient when out and about, compresses audio data, impacting on the final sound quality. With a decent recording and the right equipment, wired headphones reveal more of the texture, timing and space of a piece of music, and while the cable might occasionally get tangled, you never need to replace or charge the batteries.
Wired headphones... expensive beauties
Wired over-ear headphones are still relatively niche, with the lure of wireless noise cancelling dominating the market, but several brands are well worth looking for. Romanian brand Meze Audio (mezeaudio.com) offers beautifully made, delightfully sounding headphones, while Audio Technica’s flagship ATH-ADX7000 (£3,000; audio-technica.com) are hand crafted in Japan and offer scale and detail that will leave you speechless. And then there’s the Focal Stellia (£2,500; focal.com), which I still dream about. A truly luxurious experience.
Wired headphones... quality for a bargain
But you do not need to sell a kidney to enjoy the benefits of a wired connection. The Grado SR325x (£330; grado.co.uk) provides a huge boost in audio performance at home, as does the £250 Sennheiser HD 550 (see below), and while I’ve not had the chance to test them yet, I’ve heard great things about the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X (£189; beyerdynamic.com).
Most headphones use dynamic drivers, but planar magnetic designs like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic ($800/£590; audeze.com) offer something different. Instead of a cone driven from a central coil, planar designs use a thin diaphragm suspended between magnets, moving evenly across its surface. That even movement reduces distortion and improves control, giving tight bass, cleaner detail and a more stable stereo image.
Open- versus closed-back designs
Choosing between open-back and closed-back designs also shapes how you listen. Open-back headphones allow air to pass through the earcups, creating a wider soundstage and a more natural sense of space. They are ideal for home listening. Closed-back designs isolate you from external noise and keep sound contained, making them more practical, but sound is naturally more constrained. There is also some crossover emerging, with wireless models such as the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 (£629; bowerswilkins.com) coming with a cable that bypasses Bluetooth and improves performance when plugged in.
Pairing wired headphones with... high-quality streaming, CDs and vinyl
But whichever pair you choose, a good quality recording is essential. Naturally, the monthly BBC Music Magazine cover CDs offer high-quality reproduction (16-bit/44.1 kHz) which sounds superb, but streaming services such as Qobuz and Tidal can push this further with 24-bit/192kHz recordings. Listening to vinyl records on wired headphones is also highly recommended, as the warmth of analogue recordings can’t be replicated by a digital format.
Using a dedicated DAC or amplifier
Plugging directly into your existing hi-fi amplifier, a laptop or even a smartphone (assuming it still has a headphone jack) is great, but if you’re investing in headphones, a dedicated DAC or amplifier is recommended as the specialist components make the best of both your music and headphones. Brands such as Chord Electronics, Cambridge and iFi cover everything from compact USB-C dongles to full desktop units. Even entry-level options, like the Fiio BTR13 (£64; fiio.com) will bring added dimension to your digital music.
Wired headphones demand a little more effort than wireless, but if you have time to sit and listen, you’ll be thoroughly rewarded by the results. Give them a good source, enough power and a quiet room, and they remain one of the most direct and convincing ways to listen to music at home.
Wired headphones... we recommend:
Grado Signature S750 £1,695
Each pair of Grado headphones is hand assembled in Brooklyn, New York, and supplied in a simple box. They’re not interested in chasing trends or luxury lifestyle cues, although at £1,695 they are a premium choice, with a focus on sound quality few brands can match.
Listening to Elgar’s Enigma Variations performed by the BBC Philharmonic via my Marantz HD-CD1 player, the power and immediacy is captivating. The vast soundstage gives strings, brass and woodwinds room to breathe and interact naturally. They are powerful and articulate, delivering a front-row perspective whatever you’re listening to.
The 50mm dynamic driver uses a paper and carbon fibre composite diaphragm and claims a frequency response of 6Hz–46kHz, while a flatter earpad design positions the driver closer to the ear. The foam is not as comfortable as I would like, but the quality of performance makes it a niggle that’s easy to ignore.
Meze Audio 99 Classic 2nd Generation £349
Meze Audio have consistently produced beautifully crafted headphones that sound great and don’t cost silly money. The second generation 99 Classic continues this tradition, and when paired with the Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M headphone amp and streaming hi-res from Qobuz, the result is warm and balanced.
The closed back 40mm dynamic drivers are hidden inside real walnut earcups, the steel headband is light on the head and the memory foam and synthetic leather earpads are extremely comfortable. They do not offer the scale or openness of an open-back headphone, nor do they strip back your music to its bare bones; instead, they draw you in and keep you entertained for hours.
Sennheiser HD550 £249
Here’s an easy-going pair of headphones that makes a strong case for upgrading your at-home listening. The open-back design means the earcups are vented, creating a more spacious, natural sound than closed models, though sound will leak both out and in. The balance is neutral and easy to follow, with bass that is enjoyable but always controlled, and a midrange that keeps voices, strings and woodwinds clear. Treble is smooth too, adding brightness without any uncomfortable highs.
At 237g, they’re light, with soft velour pads and a gentle fit that stays comfortable over long sessions. They’re also really easy to drive from a laptop or phone, although still improve with a better audio source.
