The Best Audiophile Gear You Can Buy
You’re tired of using $10 Walmart headphones, and you think that it’s time you finally start taking your audio seriously. Congratulations! You’ve just embarked on a long and annoying journey. Building your perfect setup can be a bit of a hassle, as there are so many different types of devices you need. Where do you start? Well, you start here! Here’s a list of some of the best audiophile gear you can buy.
We’ll go over some of the best gear that your typical audio setup will require. So, we’ll talk about headphones, IEMs, amps, pre-amps, DACs, and streamers. If you don’t find the perfect device this time around, then don’t worry. We’ll update this article every so often, so feel free to check back every now and then for new items. You never know if you’ll find your new favorite item on your next visit.
Best audiophile over-the-ear headphones
Sennheiser HD 800 S
It’s tough to have a list of the best audiophile gear out there without talking about Sennheiser. This company makes some of the best headphones that you can buy, and that’s thanks, in no small part, to its top-of-the-line hardware. The journey to building your dream setup starts with the perfect pair of headphones, and here’s a great pair of headphones to consider.
Coming in at $1,699.95, the Sennheiser HD 800 S aren’t particularly cheap, but they still undercut much of the competition in the audiophile headphone space. These are meant for people who want the most detailed and balanced audio coming from their headphones. The HD 800 S come with a pair of powerful 40mm voice coils that produce some crisp and clean audio. They’re custom-made and fine-tuned to deliver a highly detailed sound. Along with these voice coils, there are also 56mm Ring Radiator dynamic transducers. This combination gives you the trademark Sennheiser sound.
These are the kind of headphones to use if you want an open sound. The Sennheiser HD 800 S are open-back headphones. This means that the space behind the diaphragm is open. While it means that it’s easier for outside noise to interfere with your audio, you’ll have a more open and natural sound. It won’t sound like the audio is being shot into your ear. Rather, it will sound like the audio just naturally exists around you.
A great pair of headphones is nothing without amazing ergonomics. The HD 800 S are extremely comfortable to wear. They have a pair of soft ear pads that comfortably for around your head. This eliminates any sort of pressure on your head, which means that you’ll be able to wear these for hours on end.
The premium synthetic cable with gold-plated 4.4mm and 6.6mm jack plugs will withstand the test of time. They will deliver a clean signal from your setup to your headphones. All of these amazing features mean that you’re choosing some of the best headphones on the market. They fit perfectly in your setup.
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Best IEMs
Linsoul THIEAUDIO Hype 4
For people who don’t often like to listen to over-the-ear headphones, there are IEMs (in-ear monitors). These are earbuds, but they’re much more premium. They often employ different types of drivers in order to produce a more nuanced sound. While they’re small, IEMs still produce an amazing and powerful sound. If you’re a person who prefers to rock IEMs, here’s a great pair for you to try out.
These are pricey compared to standard earbuds, but they’re still affordable compared to much of the competition. Coming in at just $399, the Linsoul THIEAUDIO Hype 4 provide much more value than their price would suggest.
It should come as no surprise that these IEMs give you incredible audio. Linsoul is relatively new to the market, but it’s made waves with its amazing devices. The THIEAUDIO Hype 4 are no different. They come with a set of specially-tuned drivers designed specifically for these IEMs. They include the Soinion E50 series dual ultra-tweeter balanced armature driver. This delivers crisp highs while the 26A series driver handles the mids. So, the high tones, mid tones, and low tones all have their own special drivers. This means that each part of the sound will have special attention paid to it.
You can’t have a quality sound if you don’t have a cable that can push a high-quality signal. The Linsoul THIEAUDIO Hype 4 come with a high-grade silver-plated OCC cable. This is no ordinary cable. It can push a clean sound from your audio source right to the IEMs. So, expect to hear a crisp and clear sound when listening to these monitors.
You’re not only getting good-sounding IEMs, but you’re also getting good-looking IEMs. The Linsoul THIEAUDIO Hype 4 come in three eye-catching colors. The ones pictured above are the Blue color. If that’s not your jam, and you want something a little darker, there’s a sleek Black color that has the same glittery pattern. This gives them the appearance of the night sky. Lastly, there’s the White color that has bits of purple throughout.
All in all, for the price of just $400, you’re getting some beautiful IEMs. They’re beautiful in both sound and appearance.
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Best speaker
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A9
Headphones and IEMs are great, but what if you want to listen to music and impress your friends at parties at the same time? This is where a quality speaker comes in. Sure, you can shell out for a decent JBL speaker or some other Bluetooth speaker, but what if you’re looking for something more advanced? If so, then you’ll want to look i into getting a premium audiophile-grade speaker.
Here’s a speaker for you if you value audio quality, aesthetics, and overall appeal. We’re all familiar with the superior audio quality that Ban & Olufson offers with its devices. Well, the Beosound A9 is a testament to the company’s established lineage of quality. Coming in at $3,999, this isn’t the kind of speaker you’d buy just for casual usage. It’s the kind you buy if you want a piece of decor that plays music.
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A9 is just that. It uses large high-quality drivers developed to give you a full and immersive sound. You’ll love using this speaker for parties, get-togethers, or just causal listening.
With its unique design, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A9 blends seamlessly into your home decor. It’s not the kind of speaker for everybody, it has a certain appeal to it.
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Best DAC
iFi ZEN DAC V2
If you’re getting your audio setup up and going, you’re going to need a quality DAC. These are the tools responsible for converting the digital signal (your audio file) into a raw electrical current that can pass through the rest of your setup. Either that or the signal can go right to your headphones. DACs range in price from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand. However, if you’re looking for a DAC that will provide a service without breaking the bank, then look no further than the iFi ZEN DAC V2.
Sometimes, you need bells and whistles, but sometimes, you need the basics. This is an excellent DAC to get if you’re looking for a quality device that’s also compact. It might not be as well-stacked as many of the $2,000+ DACs, but at $199, you’re looking at an amazing deal.
While it’s affordable, it more than pulls its weight when it comes to delivering a great audio signal. One of the most important qualities of a DAC is the ability to deliver a clean audio signal to your headphones or the rest of your setup. You’re able to push an audio signal up to 384kHz/24-bit, DSD256, DXD 384kHz, and decode MQA.
For input, the iFi ZEN DAC V2 takes USB 3.0, though it’s also compatible with USB 2.0. As for output, it outputs an RCA signal along with 6.5mm and 4.4mm balanced.
What’s neat about this DAC is that it comes with its own pre-amp built in. This means that you can adjust the audio output right on the device itself. You can use the nob on the front to adjust the volume. This makes it possible to use this as your own personal headphone DAC.
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Best amp
Cambridge Audio AXA25-25
Oftentimes, the signal coming from your DAC needs to be boosted. This is if your DAC doesn’t have a pre-amp built-in. While having a pre-amp built-in to your DAC is convenient, having a dedicated amp can lead to a better audio output. It’s a separate device that has its own dedicated hardware.
A great option for an amp is the Cambridge Audio AXA25-25. Cambride has a long lineage of producing high-quality audio equipment, and this amp is a testament to that. Coming in at just $299, this is an amazing amp for its price. It handles everything you need for such a low price.
As you can tell, Cambridge fitted this amp with top-of-the-line hardware to make sure that you’re getting an extremely clear audio signal. It’s specifically designed to boost the signal’s strength without introducing too much noise. There’s always some level of noise introduced throughout the signal chain, but the Cambridge Audio AXA25-25 keeps it down to a minimum.
Not only that, but you have some degree of control over the sound that comes out. There are several nobs on the front of the device that allow you to adjust different aspects of the sound. In the middle, there’s a volume nob. To the left of it, there’s a nob to adjust the bass and the treble of the audio. This is for people who want direct control over the sound without needing to adjust it on their software interface.
There are four analog inputs that you can use to connect your favorite devices. So, if you have a DAC, CD player, turntable, ETC., you’ll be able to connect it. Not only that, but you can also connect a Bluetooth receiver to the Cambridge Audio AXA25-25. Just know that this device does not include a receiver.
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