handwork

Sivga Luan

High-quality sound, pleasant wearing comfort and all-round excellent quality: the Sivga Luan leaves almost nothing to be desired.

Fostex TH616

The Fostex TH616 are open over-ear headphones with an elegant design and detailed sound, here released as a hi-fi anniversary model.

Sennheiser IE 900

The IE 900 is the audiophile crowning glory of Sennheiser's in-ear portfolio. Design expertise and precision manufacturing prove that a single dynamic full-range driver provides the potential for audiophile sound, just as it does in large over-ear headphones. The IE 900 are sound-neutral in the best way, excellently tuned and offer silvery transparency in the top end. Sound connoisseur should listen carefully …

Ultrasone Signature Master

The Ultrasone Signature Master from the Bavarian manufacturer Ultrasone are high-quality mixing and mastering headphones with very good handling. For just under 1,000 euros, you get a pair of headphones that can be used in a variety of ways, with high-resolution and a unique sound profile.

Sennheiser HD 820

With the HD 820, Sennheiser has followed the outstanding HD 800 S with a top-of-the-range closed model for a particularly demanding clientele.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

With the exception of the Orpheus HE-1, the HD 800 S is the top model among Sennheiser's open headphones. The successor to the HD 800 from 2009 is available both in the regular version tested here in black and in a technically identical Anniversary Edition in stylish matt gold which is limited to 750 units - and available for the same price.

Ultrasone Saphire

The 4-way Ultrasone Saphire are in-ears that provide six drivers at once, and use balanced armature and electrostatic technology.

Focal Utopia

Headphones at a price of about 4,000 Euros are not on your ears every day. With its premium model Utopia, the French high-end manufacturer Focal is putting all its design expertise in speakers into the equation for a product of a higher spec than anything else in their headphones range.

Fostex TH909

Denon AH-D9200