Explore 2023’s auditory odyssey from vintage revamps to debut sensations.
This year introduced many exciting headphones for audiophiles; some are upgraded classics, while others are new contenders making their debut.
If you’re new to the headphone hobby or just looking for something to gift to an audiophile, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of new options.
We compiled the list below to help you zero in on the most talked about headphones among audiophiles this year, with options ranging from budget to premium prices. Let’s see what the buzz is all about!
| Name | Type | Connection | Driver Type(s) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red | In-ear, closed-back | Wired | 2x Dynamic | BUY |
| Kiwi Ears Quintet | In-ear, closed-back | Wired | 1x Dynamic, 2x Balanced Armature, 1x Planar, 1x Piezoelectric Bone Conductor | BUY |
| MoonDrop Starfield 2 | In-ear, closed-back | Wired | Dynamic | BUY |
| MoonDrop Blessing 3 | In-ear, closed-back | Wired | 2x Dynamic, 4x Balanced Armature | BUY |
| ThieAudio Monarch MKIII | In-ear, closed-back | Wired | 2x Dynamic, 6x Balanced Armature, 2x Electrostatic | BUY |
| Sennheiser HD 660S2 | Over-ear, open-back | Wired | Dynamic | BUY |
| HiFiMAN Ananda Nano | Over-ear, open-back | Wired | Planar | BUY |
| HiFiMAN Arya Organic | Over-ear, open-back | Wired | Planar | BUY |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | Over-ear, closed-back | Wireless | Dynamic | BUY |
| Sony WF-1000XM5 | In-ear, closed-back | Wireless | Dynamic | BUY |
| JBL Tour Pro 2 | In-ear, closed-back | Wireless | Dynamic | BUY |
| Noble Audio FoKus Mystique | In-ear, closed-back | Wireless | 1x Dynamic, 2x Balanced Armature | BUY |
| Dyson Zone | Over-ear, closed-back | Wireless | Dynamic | BUY |
1. Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red
- Connection: Wired
- Type: In-ear, closed-back
- Driver Type(s): 2x Dynamic
- Impedance: 17.5 Ω
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 40.5 kHz
Released in May of this year, the Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red have become the newest sub $100 darling of the budget audiophile crowd. Serving as a sequel to the Zero: Blue released only a year prior, the Red feature the same dual-dynamic driver crossover design – a unique feature for their price tier.
The Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red boast high-effort technicals with newly optimized voice coils and crossover circuits. While plenty of audiophiles are still relishing their Zero: Blue, the general consensus seems to be that the Red have a more balanced and “musical” tuning than their blue predecessor.
2. Kiwi Ears Quintet
- Connection: Wired
- Type: In-ear, closed-back
- Driver Type(s): 1x Dynamic, 2x Balanced Armature, 1x Planar, 1x Piezoelectric Bone Conductor
- Impedance: 32 Ω
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 30 kHz
While Kiwi Ears’ Quartet IEMs left audiophiles pleasantly surprised with their quality-to-price ratio, the Kiwi Ears Quintet left them borderline perplexed when they dropped in June of 2023. The company spent a year on its development – an effort that seems to have paid off.
Their smorgasbord variety of driver types is unusual to see at even the highest end of the market, making the Quintet genuine standouts for their price tier and beyond. Of particular note is their inclusion of a piezoelectric bone conduction driver, which bypasses a listener’s eardrum and transmits driver vibrations through the ossicles of the inner ear.
The Quintet feature a punchy and fun low end, but portions of their bold treble might give audiophiles something to disagree about.
3. MoonDrop Starfield 2
- Connection: Wired
- Type: In-ear, closed-back
- Driver Type(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: 15 Ω
- Frequency Response: 12 Hz – 24 kHz
Four years after MoonDrop’s popular release of the original Starfield, the company came back around with the Starfield 2 in July of 2023. Revamps of old units can sometimes be underwhelming, but MoonDrop seems to have overperformed with the Starfield 2.
The MoonDrop Starfield 2 also sees a new feature in the form of interchangeable bass filters.
Of special note to the audiophile crowd is the inclusion of a lithium-magnesium driver diaphragm. This material is even less dense than beryllium, which is often considered the most premium driver material. We also see a new gold-plated brass nozzle design, which MoonDrop says results in greater density and timbrical accuracy.
4. MoonDrop Blessing 3
- Connection: Wired
- Type: In-ear, closed-back
- Driver Type(s): 2x Dynamic, 4x Balanced Armature
- Impedance: 14.8 Ω
- Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 30 kHz
MoonDrop’s Blessing IEMs never fail to generate hype among the in-ear crowd with each new iteration. It’s no surprise that audiophiles pounced on the MoonDrop Blessing 3 when they were released in April of 2023.
The Moondrop Blessing 3 see some drastic and welcome technical upgrades when compared to their predecessors. An additional dynamic driver has been implemented, contributing to their new integration of H.O.D.D.D.U.S. (Horizontally Opposed Dual Dynamic Driver Unit System). This system gives the Blessing 3 significantly more dynamic range than the sophomore Blessing.
The MoonDrop Blessing 3 also sees an attenuated upper treble in comparison to the Blessing 2.
Audiophiles who fell in love with the previous Blessings’ sound signatures won’t be disappointed with the Blessing 3. They retain their signature neutrality, with moderate improvements in soundstage, separation, and general detail retrieval.
5. ThieAudio Monarch MKIII
- Connection: Wired
- Type: In-ear, closed-back
- Driver Type(s): 2x Dynamic, 6x Balanced Armature, 2x Electrostatic
- Impedance: 20 ohms
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
ThieAudio’s Monarch MKIII came out in July of 2023, just over a year since the company’s popular Monarch MKII IEMs hit the market. The recency of their release makes them a bit of an elusive piece for the time being, leaving audiophiles itching for a listen.
ThieAudio Monarch MKIII became the first flagship-tier IEMs from the company to implement IMPACT2 with their new inclusion of an additional dynamic driver subwoofer. ThieAudio says that IMPACT2 produces more powerful and textured bass, without sacrificing tonal clarity, by utilizing an isobaric chamber design.
The Monarch MKIII seem like they’re rolling out with a bigger and better low end, but leave room for controversy with a newfound zing in their upper treble.
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6. Sennheiser HD 660S2
- Connection: Wired
- Type: Over-ear, open-back
- Driver Type(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: 300 Ω
- Frequency Response: 8 Hz – 41.5 kHz
The audiophile community went into overdrive when Sennheiser released the HD 660S2 in February this year. Perhaps only the HD 600 or HD 650 can compare to the popularity and high regard of the original Sennheiser HD 660S.
For the big sequel, Sennheiser optimized the airflow around the HD 660S2’s transducers, and beefed up their impedance from 150 Ω to 300 Ω. Most notably, the HD 660S2 saw a substantial change in their tuning with a newfound sub-bass extension.
While some may have griped about the initial price of the HD 660S2, one thing no one seems to be complaining about is their powerful yet clean bass.
7. HiFiMAN Ananda Nano
- Connection: Wired
- Type: Over-ear, open-back
- Driver Type(s): Planar
- Impedance: 14 Ω
- Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 55kHz
HiFiMAN’s Ananda headphones have seen plenty of new iterations since their initial release, the most recent being the HiFiMAN Ananda Nano that came out back in May 2023. While previous editions of the Ananda followed fairly similar sonic formulas, the Nano came tearing out of the gate with a serious makeover in sound and technical design alike.
Most impressively, the Ananda Nano feature a new driver diaphragm that is a mere nanometer in thickness. This design characteristic borrows from the ultra-high-end HiFiMAN Susvara and, according to HiFiMAN, leads to increased driver sensitivity and swift note decay times.
A bit unlike its predecessors, the Ananda Nano pack a fairly intense sonic performance with their punchy low-end, cold mid-range, and crispy treble.
8. HiFiMAN Arya Organic
- Connection: Wired
- Type: Over-ear, open-back
- Driver Type(s): Planar
- Impedance: 16 Ω
- Frequency Response: 8 Hz – 65 kHz
Late may was a busy time for HiFiMAN in 2023, as they released the new Arya Organic right alongside the Ananda Nano.
The Arya Organic have some of the upgrades seen in the Ananda Nano, such as their new nanometer diaphragm. However, the new inclusion of wooden materials in their cup design is unique to the Organic.
As HiFiMAN has gotten some criticism for build quality over the years, the new wooden features on the Arya Organic seem like a direct response to such criticism.
As for their performance, the Arya Organic maintain a balance that should sound familiar to those who have listened to previous versions of the Arya – though with a few key differences. These differences include a warmer bass response, a more intimate soundstage, and an overall “tighter” sounding performance.
9. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
- Connection: Wireless
- Type: Over-ear, closed-back
- Driver Type(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: N/A
- Frequency Response: currently unknown
Slated to be released in “early October,” Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are giving the wireless audiophiles something to get excited for. Coming in at a moderately high price for Bose, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones look like they might be the company’s most premium release yet.
In typical Bose fashion, the new ANC features will be the quietest that the company has ever rolled out. Audiophiles, however, might be a little more excited for the new “Immersive Audio” features, which Bose says will work “no matter the content or source.”
With claims like that, you don’t have to be an audiophile to see what the hype is about.
10. Sony WF-1000XM5
- Connection: Wireless
- Type: In-ear, closed-back
- Driver Type(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: N/A
- Frequency Response: currently unknown
Of the major wireless earbud manufacturers, few have been able to hold their ground against Apple or Beats like Sony has. Sony released WF-1000XM5 TWS earbuds in September of 2023, and they were promptly gobbled up by the audiophile and casual crowd alike.
One of the primary upgrades in the WF-1000XM5 comes from a moderately more robust and consistent ANC performance. Other upgrades include a stronger Bluetooth connection (5.3, up from 5.2) and new app features. One such feature is “Find Your EQ,” giving listeners more flexible sound customization options by layering various EQ settings stored in the app.
Listeners have reported a similar sound to the XM4, though some claim moderate soundstage improvements and a little more sub-bass presence in the XM5.
11. JBL Tour Pro 2
- Connection: Wireless
- Type: In-ear, closed-back
- Driver Type(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: N/A
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
JBL bridged the gap between audiophiles and casual listeners yet again when they released the Tour Pro 2 in April 2023.
The Tour Pro 2 carved a clever niche by equipping the earbuds’ charging case with a touch screen. From here, listeners can control their music, change EQ settings, check battery life, and more. Not bad for a screen, just a few centimeters in size.
While the Tour Pro 2’s default balance can be described as warm and bass-centric, a certain breed of audiophiles will be able to find hours of entertainment in tweaking the exceptionally customizable in-app parametric EQ. At the end of the day, the JBL Tour Pro 2’s balance can be whatever you want it to be.
12. Noble Audio FoKus Mystique
- Connection: Wireless
- Type: In-ear, closed-back
- Driver Type(s): 1x Dynamic, 2x Balanced Armature
- Impedance: N/A
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Noble Audio built off of the success of the FoKus Pro by releasing the FoKus Mystique back in January. Though there are plenty of wireless buds on the market that draw an audiophile crowd, few specifically cater to them quite like the wireless buds from Noble Audio.
The FoKus Mystique brought many of the audiophile characteristics of the Pro with it. Of particular note is the triple-driver crossover system, which is somewhat rare in the wireless space. There’s also the buds’ shell design, which resembles and fits like standard IEMs far more than typical wireless buds.
Though much has stayed the same, Noble made some changes with the FoKus Mystique, such as improvements to the microphone that have led to better call clarity.
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13. Dyson Zone
- Connection: Wireless
- Type: Over-ear, closed-back
- Driver Type(s): Dynamic
- Impedance: n/a
- Frequency Response: 6 Hz – 21 kHz
When Dyson released their Dyson Zone headphones to the global market in April 2023, every audiophile raised their voice in a collective “Why?”
The Dyson Zone are the first all-in-one wireless headphone and air purifier. When jamming to their favorite tunes, a listener has the option to attach and activate a face-visor air purifier and get blasted with a faceful of purified air.
Most people won’t read further than that, but for those who do, the Dyson Zone also feature an impressive eight beamforming microphones for their ANC functions. They also have a companion app allowing users to track air quality levels and apply an in-app equalizer.
Hate them or love them, every audiophile in the hobby heard about the Dyson Zone this year.