HiFiheadphones

Expert Earphones and Headphones Reviews

Best Earphones 2023: IEM, Bluetooth, Wireless, Budget, Audiophile

Posted on April 21, 2023 by hifiheadphones

BEST EARPHONES 2023

We know how important it is to find the right earbuds; whether they are for your smartphone, music player, DAP, laptop, tablet or hi-fi system. Whether you call them in ears, IEM, in-ear headphones, earphones, earbuds, or anything else, this is the post for you. We’ve gathered our picks for the best earbuds that you can buy today. Welcome to our Best Earphones 2023 breakdown!

BEST EARPHONES UNDER £50

1. final E500 Wired Earphones – £19.99

Designed with gaming and VR users in mind, the E500 delivers impressive spacial awareness and pin point accuracy. These qualities don’t only favour gamers – they give music an edge with clear imaging and a soundstage that brings you right into the mix. All of this for under £20 makes them a no brainer for those looking for a budget wired earphone.

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2. SoundMAGIC E11/E11C Wired Earphones – £41.99/£52.99

With various SoundMAGIC models already available, what can the E11/E11C bring to the table? Well, Everything! We have found the E11 to be a grown-up earphone with a keen knack for giving a clear and accurate presentation across the board. A truly impressive earphone for the price and in 2023 it is still the wired budget king.

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BEST EARPHONES UNDER £100

3. final VR2000 Virtual Reality In Ear Isolating Gaming Earphones – £59.99

The VR2000 builds on the immense success of their gaming earphone predecessor the VR3000, which is known for their overwhelming spatial expression. The VR2000 focuses on the rapid response and aims to make object sounds within game audio more noticeable. Many typical gaming earbuds and headphones emphasize an exaggerated sound quality, aiming to accentuate sound effects for a more dramatic experience for the user. But in competitive gaming such as arcade fighting (Tekken), FPS (Apex Legends), Third person shooters such as Fortnite or rhythm games sich as Osu! it’s no exaggeration to say that the player’s quick judgment in reacting to sound effects can largely influence the outcome of each round. The VR2000 is a set of professional-grade earbuds developed specifically for players who are serious about winning.

READ MORE: final VR2000 Gaming Earphones

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4. final x Dragon Ball Z – Frieza – £70.00

Final Audio have collaborated with Dragonball Z to produce 3 iconic and unique models based on main characters. The Frieza model is specifically designed for ASMR content. But it is also perfect for watching movies, animations and videos In general. Absolutely one to consider, if you use your earphones more for Audiobooks/ Movies over music (although they are great at that too!). They are also really small and light, so perfect for those with smaller ears or those who find it difficult to find a pair of buds that are comfortable and a great sleeping buddy (for when listening to music in bed is your thing)!

READ MORE: final x Dragon Ball Z – Frieza

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BEST EARPHONES UNDER £200

5. final ZE3000 True Wireless Earphones – £119.00

True wireless earphones for the audiophiles and purists out there. The final ZE3000 don’t have many of the bells and whistles. They have no ANC, no ambient mode nor wireless charging. However they were designed from the bottom up for ultimate sound quality and in that they totally succeeded. They also look abolutely fantastic and fit perfectly. What more could you ask for at £119!

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6. Campfire Orbit TWS Earphones– £199.00

Considering you can spend the same on Sony, Bose, Sennheiser and Apple – the Orbit provides audio that surpasses what the other popular brands would only dream of. Yes, you don’t get noise cancelling or fancy app tech with 1,000,000 features. What you do get is a product made by one of the best in the audio biz, and sound that you would normally need to pay over £1000 for…

READ MORE: Campfire Orbit Review

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BEST EARPHONES UNDER £500

7. Westone Audio Pro X20 Professional Earphones – £400.00

Stage musicians rejoice! Musicans of the past were limited to selecting either an isolated in-ear monitor mix or an immersive wedge based experience for monitoring. With the Am Pro X20 you can now enjoy both the energy and input from the audience, as well as from other performers and the stage. With Westone Audio’s exclusive StageSense Ambient Technology you are in total control of your musical environment. You can enjoy full-range frequency response from your in-ear monitor signal, hear and feel your surroundings and engage with fellow performers and your audience like never before. The AM Pro X series is a recommended universal solution for on-stage monitoring and band practice.

READ MORE: Westone Audio Pro X20

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8. Final ZE8000 – ANC TWS Earphones £299.00 (Currently on Special Offer for £199.00!)

Final’s flagship TWS earphone is finally here and a cause for celebration by many audio fans out there. The design is like nothing else out there today. The looks and comfort of these earphones are unique and extremely effective. Add to that a fantastic sound quality that challenges some of the finest wired earphones out there as well as all the bells and whistles you expect from a TWS earphone these days and you have quite the package.

READ MORE: Final ZE8000 Review

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9. Final A5000 – £259.00

Final’s new addition to the “A” series, The A5000 is a wired IEM that punches far above it’s price in terms of sound quality. Style aside, the bass is powerful and tight, the mids and the highs fabulous. Final have proven time and time again that you do not need to spend an arm and a leg for a quality earphone. For anyone looking to upgrade their gear on a budget, look no further. Final Magic for £259.00? Yes please.

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BEST EARPHONES OVER £1000

10. 64 Audio U4s -£1,099.00

The U4s is 64 Audio’s new, blue & cheapest UIEM coming in at £1099.00. The hybrid construction delivers a richer and deeper sub-bass then their next cheapest universal model the U6t (which is made up from a full BA driver set up) thanks to the dynamic driver under its hood. The U4s comes with 64 Audio’s all new M12 Apex module, meaning you essentially get four different sound signatures out of the box. You are after an open sound with as wide an image as possible? Then slot in the MX or the M12. Want more bass? Say hello to the M20 or M15. The versatility of these is great and the energetic sound from the U4s will keep your attention for years to come.

READ MORE: 64 Audio U4s

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11. final A8000 Audiophile Custom-Driver Earphones – £1999

With the A8000, final prove that multiple drivers aren’t necessary for producing mind blowing audio. One driver is all that’s needed! Final don’t settle with any old drivers either. For the A8000, Final has developed their custom made ultra thin Beryllium foil driver. Along with Final’s four chamber housing design, the A8000 gives high resolution a whole new meaning. These need to be heard to be believed.

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12. 64 Audio Volür – £2369.05

What started out as the Nio 2 evolved into a whole new word (and a UIEM) that never existed before. The Volür. The newest Universal IEM from 64 Audio. The pulsating heart of which is made up of two new custom 9mm dynamic drivers set in a True Isobaric configuration that delivers unprecedented low-frequency capability. The low end of the Volür will simply blow you away. It is easily one of the best technical performing earphones that has a “fun” sounding signature. Those purple abalone faceplates also look fabulous.

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13. Campfire Audio Solaris Stellar Horizon – Quad Hybrid Drivers IEM Earphones £2669.00

The Solaris ‘Stellar Horizon’ has a sound that arguably has not existed before. They are the realest sounding IEMs out there today. If you didn’t know better, when they are in your ears, you would assume that the audio was coming from a huge acoustically treated chamber filled with musicians all playing just for you. Bass sounds real. No boom or overdoing it. Mids sound real. The tone, texture and timbre match exactly the experience of listening to drums, guitars and vocals being performed live and in person. A must have.

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14. 64 Audio Fourté Blanc – Limited Edition Earphones- £3899.00

With only 500 units avaliable worldwide, and only 2 left for sale in the UK, this unique IEM is already a collectors Item. With the second and final reimagination of the Fourte, it is better than ever. The boundaries have been pushed even further in showing what’s possible with only 4 drivers. If you are a fan of 64 Audio, this is a must have and reviewers are are claiming this is one of the best UIEM’s ever made. See Ulf Kaiser’s review from Kopfhoerer.de below!

READ MORE: 64 Audio Fourté Blanc Review

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Have We Missed Anything Out?

Honourble mentions to the Trifecta, Fourté , LCD i3, OV800, and many more out there! What is your favourite? Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know…

SoundMAGIC E11C- Still the best Budget wired earphones out there!

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Ben M.

SoundMagic E11C earphones are still peaking in buying guides for earphones despite being first released years ago! What Hi*fi still rates them highly, that’s for sure. Coming 1st in their best cheap headphones 2021 guide and 3rd in their guide for best headphones under £100. It just goes to show that quality products do not always need to cost an arm and a leg! How can you improve on “perfection?”

Our Own Review of the SoundMAGIC E11C? “We have found the E11C to be a grown-up earphone with a keen knack for giving a clear and accurate presentation across the board. A truly impressive earphone for the price and in our opinion the new budget king.” – This was 3 1/2 years ago and still rings true today!

What more is there to say? What Hi*Fi concludes: “Considering the price, the SoundMAGIC E11C are nothing short of a miracle. If you’re on a budget, we have no hesitation in recommending them most heartily. What are you waiting for?” Check out What Hi-Fi’s newest budget buying guides here and here and go see for yourself!

If you would like more information on the product then check out SoundMAGIC’s online shop here: SoundMAGIC Headphones

Finally, there is plenty more information on many of SoundMAGIC’s products throughout our blog!

Top 10 Audio Best Buys for 2018

Posted on December 6, 2018 by John

Top 10 Best Buys for 2018

It’s that time of year again. So here’s our pick of the best audio gadgets available – with something for everyone.

Audeze Mobius

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.

Bower & 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.

SoundMAGIC P22BT

At under £40 – the SoundMAGIC P22BT Bluetooth headphone provides high quality at a low price. The design is sturdy and comfortable, with a lightweight foldable headband which is great for portable use. These headphones are easy to use with controls conveniently placed on the left earcup. The most impressive feature is the sound quality – audio is crisp and punchy with plenty of energy, making them a lot of fun to listen to.

SoundMAGIC E11C

SoundMAGIC seems to have nailed the under £50 earphone. If you’re looking for a wired earphone and want to keep the price down, then we believe that the E11C is the one. SoundMAGIC have gone for a mature design, and used a silver plated copper cable to deliver superb sound quality which will compete with earphones over £100. The E11C has plenty of energy and punch with a dynamic and well detailed sound. There is also a 3 button inline control and mic, which is fully compatible with Apple and Android smartphones.

Flare Audio Flares Jet 2

Now, if you’re looking for an earphone with a more aggressive sound then the Flares Jet 2 could be the one. These earphones go loud, and they provide thumping bass and sharp clarity. The housings are made of aluminium and are built to last. There is also an in line single button remote to take calls and the cable itself is strong and tough. The design of the Jet 2 definitely stands out and the shape makes them very comfortable.

Final E4000

For those that appreciate their music a bit more and are happy to up their budget, Final’s E4000 is a superb place to start. Final have been in the audio game for a long time, and their E series shows us what they can do. The E4000 is the sweet spot for me – musical and well balanced sound quality that draws you in, great comfort and design and a nicely made replaceable cable – all for just over £100.

Shanling M0

For something so small, the Shanling M0 manages to pack in a load of features. Starting with the design, the M0 looks and feels great. The display is made by LG and is very crisp – and thanks to Shanling’s own MTouch software, the player is extremely easy to use. The sound from the M0 is clear with good bass-weight, punch and fine detail. Thanks to the on board EQ settings, you can add some warmth or sharpness to suit your taste. The M0 can pair with Bluetooth headphones, and the 2-way Bluetooth feature will allow you to connect to your phone to use the player as an external DAC/amp – very clever.

Optoma NuForce BE Sport4

The NuForce BE Sport4 is widely regarded as the go to Bluetooth earphone – and we would agree. At just under £90, they combine good value with superb sound quality – the Graphene coated drivers deliver a crisp and punchy sound with plenty of clarity. The BE Sport4 is IPX5 water resistant and can provide up to 10 hours or battery life. And to top it off, you get 2 hours of charge in just 15 minutes thanks to their Fast Charge feature.

JDS Labs Element DAC

Whether you like to listen to your headphones at home using your computer, laptop or hifi system – the JDS Labs Element will breathe life into your setup. For a long time now, JDS Labs have been making high quality headphone amplifiers and DACs with a simple design and superb value. The Element shows that not only do they have the technical knowhow – they have a great eye for design too. With analogue RCA inputs and digital USB – the Element is extremely versatile and as expected, provides a clean, expressive and powerful sound.

iFi Audio XDSD

Ever wondered if you could have a high quality headphone amplifier connect to your phone or laptop wirelessly? Well wonder no more. The iFi Audio xDSD is the perfect way for you to get the most from your headphones and chosen device – without adding more wires. Use your phone to listen to Spotify, your favourite podcast or play PUBG and let the xDSD wirelessly drive your headphones, giving them all the power they would need to deliver a balanced and dynamic sound.

October Giveaway Competition!

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Maddie

(02/11/2018) The Big Reveal!

Good afternoon, you beautiful autumn people. We’re thrilled and excited to reveal the winner of our Halloween competition giveaway, who will receive a SoundMAGIC E11C for their efforts.

So, without further ado-

A big, huge congratulations to…

Steve!

We will be getting in touch to send out your shiny new E11C by the end of the day. Congratulations and many thanks for the laugh!

(15/10/2018) Welcome to autumn!

We wanted to do something to get in the spirit for Halloween, so we thought we’d add a little something special to somebody’s treat bag this season.

Here’s the deal: we want to see how you get into the season. Send us a picture of your Halloween flare (not to be confused with Halloween Flares, unless you’ve done something really cool to your Jet 1s, in which case- absolutely send us that!). This could be a picture of decorations, of some autumn foliage or spooky fog, of you in your costume– anything that captures the spirit!

We’ll decide the winner based entirely on our own subjective, arbitrary criteria and feature the winning photo on our blog (with a runner-up or two possibly included if we can’t keep them to ourselves).

Down to the important stuff- we’ll hook the winner up with a pair of our newest releases- The SoundMAGIC E11C!

You have until midnight on November 1st to get your submissions in- meaning you’ve got all Halloween day to take great pictures- and email your submissions to contest@hifiheadphones.co.uk.

The Rules:

Submit as many pictures as you’d like! This isn’t a random raffle, but having a backup can never hurt!
You must be subscribed to our mailing list to win- feel free to get in touch if you aren’t sure if you’re subscribed, and we can check for you!
Hifiheadphones may possibly use any and all images submitted- this includes on our blog, social media, mailouts, and on hifiheadphones.co.uk. Please let us know at the time of submission if you have any problems or issues with this.
Our personal judgment is final- and completely arbitrary. Our internal team will vote on the winners.
We will announce the winner via blog post and accompanying email on the 2nd of November, and will contact the winner directly.
Your submission must be your own intellectual property– sending in screenshots of Stranger Things or Nightmare on Elm Street is going to get your entry thrown out.
Please keep all submissions safe for work. After all, that’s where we’re going to be looking at them.

SoundMAGIC E11 Now Available To Preorder

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Maddie

The SoundMAGIC E11 Is Coming

You know them. You love them. And now, SoundMAGIC is back with another legendary entry into their canon- The E11 in-ear islolating earphones.

The SoundMAGIC E11

The successor to the award winning SoundMAGIC E10, The E11 is an evolution in every sense of the word. Its look and build are more distinguished and more practical- the machined aluminum housing is both substantial and lightweight, and delivers a refined finish. The twisted silver-plated copper cable offers minimal loss of quality while its coating is optimised for avoiding the universally dreaded cable-tangle. As with the E10, it features a durable angled jack to minimise wear-and-tear. And if you’re interested in a control with automatic switching between Apple and Android products, the E11C is perfect.

The SoundMAGIC E11C

Of course, none of these physical attributes are as important as sound, and the E11 and E11C are more than ready to stand up to the competition on this front- expect smooth high-end detail and strong, textured bass, with a broad and evocative soundstage.

Both the E11 and E11C are now available for preorder from the main Hifiheadphones site ( for the E11 and E11C ) and from the SoundMAGIC site ( for the E11 and E11C ).

Or, if you’re the sort of person that hates surprises, we’d love for you to come down and give them a try in our demo room. Give us a call on 01903 768910 or shoot us a message at support@hifiheadphones.co.uk and we can arrange a time for you to get real familiar with these. We think you’ll be hearing about them for a long, long time.

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