Head masters

Cliff Joseph casts his expert eye (and ears) over headphones offering the best mix of audiophile sound quality and versatile connectivity features

HIGH-END HEADPHONES £500-£1,000

A FEW YEARS AGO, it looked as though the unstoppable march of low-cost wireless earbuds would sweep all before it, with an entire generation opting for convenience over sound quality. But, towards the end of the 2010s, more traditional over-ear audiophile headphones began to make a welcome comeback.

The cool kids decided that over-ear cans – like the newly resurgent vinyl – had a touch of retro chic about them, and they even embraced good old-fashioned wired connections too. Then, of course, the pandemic of 2020 changed everything, with many people turning to more expensive, high-quality headphones to help them while away the seemingly endless months of lockdown. The trend towards working from home also created a need for headphones that combined strong sound quality with technological versatility.

Many headphones in the £500+ price category provide wired and wireless listening for use with a wide variety of computers, tablets and smartphones, along with microphones for voice and video-calls, and sophisticated noise-cancellation features. And, as proof that the audiophile end of the market is continuing to grow, the mighty Apple decided that it wanted a piece of the high-end action too. Having effectively created the wireless earbud category with its AirPods range, Apple took an unexpected detour into the hi-fi market with its AirPods Max, which turned heads with its over-ear design and £550 price tag. Traditional hi-fi manufacturers seized the opportunity, developing a new generation of high-end headphones that combine audiophile sound quality with an impressive range of features that will meet all your needs for both work and play.

Apple AirPods Max £550