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Best Over Ear Headphones 2020: Open, Closed, Wireless, Audiophile

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Our picks for the best over ear headphones – open back and closed back

We know how important it is to find the best headphones for you; whether they are for your smartphone, music player, laptop or hi-fi system.

Here you can see the best of the best full size headphones to buy in 2019, 2020 and beyond.

BEST CLOSED BACK HEADPHONES

1. Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO – £125

Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro

Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro

The Beyerdynamic DT770 creates a spacial soundstage more akin to an open-back headphone, and delivers full bass with accurate highs and mids. What’s more, these are profoundly comfortable. 

BUY HERE: Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro Studio Headphones

 

2. Sennheiser HD820 – £1999

Sennheiser HD820

The HD820 is Sennheiser’s first closed back audiophile headphone release and it promises to be quite special. Based on the same design as the HD800S, the HD820 uses Gorilla Glass as its transducer cover and the curved shape of it allows the sound waves to reflect to an absorber – resulting in minimal resistance and creating an open sound that you would normally expect from an open backed headphone.

READ MORE: Sennheiser HD 820 Audiophile Headphone Review

 

3. Focal Stellia – £2799

Focal Stellia

Focal headphones are not only known for their excellent sound quality – they also look stunning. And the Stellia is no different. The finest materials have been used to create this closed back headphone, including a Beryllium dome electrodynamic driver. With a unique finish, inspired by the colours of cognac and mocha – the Focal Stellia looks as good as it sounds.

READ MORE: Focal Stellia Closed Back Headphone Review

 

BEST OPEN BACK HEADPHONES

 

4. MrSpeakers Ether 2 – £1900

MrSpeakers Ether 2

The Ether 2 have a great sense of neutrality, at the same time they offer an enjoyable listening experience and they never sound analytical. There is a hint of added body that creates a smooth listening experience that can be enjoyed for hours on end. 

READ MORE: MrSpeakers Ether 2 Open Back Headphone Review

 

5. Meze Empyrean – £2699

Meze Empyrean

The unique construction of the Empyrean was designed with the shape of the human ear in mind. As a result, they enjoy a greater degree of imaging than you’re likely to find anywhere else. Each Empyrean is hand crafted to exacting detail, and that level of precision is not only visible, but audible. 

READ MORE: Meze Empyrean Open Back Headphones Review

6. Final D8000 – £2999

Final D8000

The planar magnetic magnificence of the Final D8000 creates a listening experience without parallel. The unique construction, including a damping system (the same used in condenser microphones) allowing for a sound that surpasses the abilities of most planar magnetic and dynamic equipment. This requires a dedication to exacting detail you can only see in Final. 

BUY HERE: Final D8000 Audiophile Headphones

 

BEST WIRELESS HEADPHONES

7. Bowers & Wilkins PX – £329

Bowers & Wilkins PX

The B&W PX is the ultimate portable headphone. With the latest aptX HD Bluetooth technology, wireless sound quality is of the highest level. Providing a very well balanced sound with tight bass – bass heads may want to look elsewhere – crystal clear clarity and superb soundstage. The PX also has adaptive noise cancelling and uses six microphones to help block out external sounds – allowing you to focus on the music. Along with the advanced technology – the PX has superb build quality and comfort – making them our go to recommendation for wireless headphones.

BUY HERE: Bowers & Wilkins PX Bluetooth Headphones

 

8. Audeze Mobius 3D – £349

Audeze Mobius 3D

Audeze have created a superb all rounder in the Mobius. Whether music, films or gaming is your thing – the Audeze Mobius does it all extremely well. Inside the housings are planar magnetic drivers, providing sound quality that even the audiophiles out there will appreciate. Then the 3D emulation technology delivers a superb surround sound experience, perfect for watching films or playing Fortnite and thanks to the integrated head tracking – you’ll hear sound effects as if they’re really there.

BUY HERE: Audeze Mobius Gaming Headphones

Have We Missed Anything Out?

Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know…

MrSpeakers Ether 2 Review

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MrSpeakers Ether 2

 

Side view of the MrSpeakers Ether 2.

 

Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories:

The Ether 2 sport the same styling as the Voce, with a spiderweb-like grill and all black colour scheme. The design is simple but at the same time unique; nothing really stands out, yet they are very much a MrSpeakers headphone by design.

 

When you first look at the Ether 2, you could be mistaken for thinking they look flimsy and weak. Upon closer inspection, they are built to be solid, and comfortable at the same time. The headband is their signature NiTinol metal that is flexible yet incredibly strong. The cups are machined aluminium and the baffles are carbon fibre. This means the weight is kept to a minimum without compromising on strength.  The cable has been updated since the old DUM one, and it is now softer, more flexible and just feels more premium.

 

Accessory wise you get a hard carry case and the cable. To be honest, there are no other accessories that are needed. The case is of excellent quality and will keep your Ether 2 safe when not in use.

 

 

Comfort:

 

MrSpeakers have focused on making this one of the most comfortable planar headphones out there, and they have done a great job. They feel so light when you hold them in your hand! The earpads are memory foam and the clamping force is just right. The suspension strap evenly distributes the weight over the top of your head making these extremely comfortable headphones for long listening sessions.

 

Angled view of the MrSpeakers Ether 2.

 

 

Sound:

 

Bass:

The bass on the Ether 2 has a certain fullness down low, that makes them very enjoyable. The bass is articulate and easily flows with any genre you throw at them, with excellent, linear extension down low. Overall the bass adds a slight smoothness to the sound, but it is not overpowering. The bass never steps out of line, staying tight and controlled at all times, yet still having that addictive slight fullness to them.

 

Midrange:

The midrange cuts through with excellent clarity and are well separated from the lows. There is no bleed from the bass warming up the midrange, yet the transition is coherent. Female vocals have great presence, yet without any peaks that bring out sibilance. The Ether 2 have a neutral tone that does well with all kinds of music, but they bring out the emotion in the music really well.

 

Treble:

The treble is detailed and extended, but it extends with great linearity without fatigue inducing peaks. Everything is rendered with clarity and relative neutrality yet a subtle warmth stops them from being analytical. The treble does not sit in the background, and it does not lack presence or detail, it is just the sound as a whole is so enjoyable.

 

 

The soundstage is wide and deep, it is a highlight of this headphone. The sound is not congested and always expertly separated yet still with an overall coherent sound.

 

Detailed close-up of the MrSpeakers Ether 2.

 

 

Conclusion:

The Ether 2 have a great sense of neutrality, but at the same time they offer an enjoyable listening experience and they never sound analytical. There is a hint of added body that creates a smooth listening experience that can be enjoyed for hours on end. It’s a very technically proficient headphone, but at the same time it’s a joy to listen to, and connects you to the music in a way few other headphones can.