Our Favorite Audiophile Headphones for High-End Listening

Audeze LCD-X/LCD-XC

Cherished by music lovers, music producers, and mastering engineers, the LCD-X (pictured above) is Audeze’s most popular headphone. In fact, you can find the LCD-X and other high-end headphones from Audeze in some of the world’s most prestigious production houses!

These over-ear, open-back and closed back headphones feature Planar Magnetic drivers that reproduce the most intimate musical details with microscopic clarity. Experience pinpoint imaging, an impressive sense of space, and excellent transient response—allowing you to hear every recording as the creators intended.

And if you still need convincing that headphones are a fair competitor with stereo loudspeakers, consider this review by The Absolute Sound: “It is my opinion that the LCD-X can compete with all of the very best high-end loudspeakers.”

You can find both the open back and closed back models on display at our showroom.

Audeze LCD-2

The Audeze LCD-2 was the company’s first Planar Magnetic headphone and though it’s seen some changes since its initial release, it retains the warmth tonal balance that has made it an audiophile favorite for years. Known for its richness of sound, the LCD-2 features powerful bass and deep midrange tones. Its beautiful, vintage design harkens back to Hi-Fi heyday of the 1970’s.

The headphones continue to garner praise since their initial release, with Audiophilia claiming “If the intention… was to produce a pair of headphones with exceptional speed, transparency and dynamics, Audeze has succeeded admirably.”

You can find the open back original design on display at our showroom.

Focal Utopia

Meet the quintessential high-fidelity headphone for audiophiles. Focal Utopia isn’t built for most listeners; it’s built for the audiophile who wants the absolute best-sounding headphone on the planet and would pay whatever it costs to get it.

The Focal Utopia headphone is the world’s first open-back audiophile headphone with full-range drivers and pure Beryllium M-shaped domes. With a frequency response from 5Hz to 50kHz, Focal Utopia is essentially two full-sized loudspeakers over your ears. Its realism, neutrality, dynamics, and purity truly exceed expectations.

The Focal Utopia delivers an ultra-wide soundstage, impeccable detail, and quick and punchy bass response. Sophisticated design and materials, such as the carbon fiber yoke and genuine lambskin leather ear cushions, elevate the comfort and aesthetic of the Utopia headphone, which virtually disappears from your head to allow your high-res music to shine.

Headphone Review said it best: “Audiophiles, take note—if you’re looking for arguably the best-sounding pair of headphones you can find, the Focal Utopia headphones may well be it.”

The Focal Utopia open back reference model is available by special order in our showroom.

Focal Clear MG

Relying on cutting-edge research and exclusive Focal technology, the Clear MG is the company’s flagship open-back headphone. Exceptional sound performance is paired with a sophisticated design featuring Chestnut and Mixed metals while a leather headband and microfiber earpads offer added comfort.

Similar to the speaker’s high-end loudspeakers, the headphones feature a magnesium cone driver for unbelievably pure sound and exceptional power performance when paired with an amplifier. Avforums named the headphones their top model of 2021, calling it “one of the most utterly lovely objects… in any category or price point.”

The open back model with an XLR balanced cable is available on display at our showroom.

Dan Clark AEON

No pair of headphones quite marries form and function like Dan Clark’s AEON model. Using the company’s proprietary V-planar driver and Trueflow technology, sonically the model offers impressive clarity, bass performance and a wide soundstage. It does this while retaining a lightweight design through a combination of titanium alloy, aluminum and carbon fiber.

While closed models are ideal for blocking exterior noise, their open headphones have a deeper soundstage. The experts at Tone Magazine said the headphones “had no shortcomings and in addition to their tonal and dynamic prowess, they have great top to bottom tonal balance.”

The open back unique design will be arriving at our showroom soon, or you can request it by special order.

Need assistance choosing the best high-end headphones for your listening needs? As the premier high-end audio consultant in Salt Lake City, UT, we can help! We have the latest headphone lines from Audeze, Dan Clark Audio, Focal, and more. Reach out here or send us a chat below to learn about our offerings and recommendations.

Stay tuned for our last blog in this headphone series, where we’ll discuss the necessary headphone electronics you’ll need to enjoy your high-end headphones to the fullest.