HiFi

Focal Bathys — Wireless With Audiophile Credentials

I’ll be honest — I’ve always been sceptical of wireless headphones claiming audiophile status. The mere mention of Bluetooth to a headphone purist usually triggers a lecture about lossy codecs and latency. But Focal, the same company behind the Utopia and Clear, decided to have a go at Bluetooth ANC headphones. And they’ve made something rather special.

Build & Design

Premium Focal through and through. The Bathys looks and feels like a proper Focal product — the aluminium yokes, the microfibre and leather earpads, the satisfying build quality. At 350g with all the wireless electronics inside, it’s well-balanced and comfortable. The USB-C DAC input means you can bypass Bluetooth entirely for a wired connection that genuinely rivals dedicated wired headphones.

Hifiman Sundara — The Gateway Drug to Planar

Every audiophile hobby has its gateway moment — the product that opens a door you can never close again. For many headphone enthusiasts, the Hifiman Sundara is exactly that. It’s the headphone that makes you realise what planar magnetic drivers can do, and it does so at a price that doesn’t require selling a kidney.

Build & Design

Improved significantly over earlier revisions. The current Sundara has a metal headband, comfortable pads, and a build that feels more robust than Hifiman’s reputation might suggest. At 372g it’s manageable, and the oval earpads accommodate most ear sizes comfortably. It’s not going to win beauty contests, but it feels like it’ll last.

Moondrop Venus — Planar Surprise from the IEM Kings

Moondrop made their name in IEMs, producing some of the best budget and mid-range in-ears the hobby has ever seen. So when they announced a full-size planar magnetic headphone, the community raised a collective eyebrow. Could an IEM company really compete in the over-ear space? The Venus answers with a resounding yes.

Build & Design

The Venus has a striking, almost retro-futuristic look with its circular earcups and exposed planar driver grilles. Build quality is solid — mostly metal and plastic, with a comfortable suspension headband. At 505g it sits in the middle ground for planars. The earpads are a soft protein leather that seals well without excessive heat buildup.

Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noire — Closed Back Done Right

Finding a closed-back headphone that satisfies an open-back listener is like finding a sports car that’s also comfortable on the motorway — the compromises usually show. Dan Clark Audio’s Aeon 2 Noire is one of the rare exceptions. This planar magnetic closed-back manages to sound open, detailed, and musical whilst actually isolating you from the outside world.

Build & Design

Dan Clark’s folding design is genuinely clever. The Aeon 2 Noire collapses flat for travel, and the included carry case makes it one of the most portable serious headphones on the market. Build quality is excellent — the Nitinol memory metal headband returns to shape after flexing, and the overall construction feels durable without being heavy at 327g.

Sennheiser HD 660S2 — The HD600 Gets a Younger Sibling

As a devoted HD600 owner since 1997, any new Sennheiser in the 6-series range gets my immediate attention. The HD 660S2 is Sennheiser’s latest revision, and the question every HD600/650 owner asks is simple: is this the upgrade I’ve been waiting for, or another sidegrade?

Build & Design

If you’ve ever held an HD600, the 660S2 will feel instantly familiar. The same general form factor, the same reassuring clamp, the same utilitarian German design philosophy. The updates are evolutionary: the headband padding is improved, the finish is slightly more refined, and the cable terminates in a 4.4mm balanced connector (with a 6.3mm adapter included).

ZMF Atrium — Handcrafted Sound From Oregon

Zach Mehrbach’s ZMF Headphones occupy a unique space in the headphone world — handcrafted, wooden-cupped, boutique headphones made in Portland, Oregon with the kind of artisan care that’s vanishingly rare in modern electronics. The Atrium is their flagship open-back dynamic, and it’s unlike anything else I’ve heard.

Build & Design

Stunning. There’s no other word. The Atrium’s wooden earcups are individually crafted, and each pair has a slightly different grain pattern. Mine came in stabilised Cherry, and they’re genuinely beautiful objects. The magnesium chassis, the thick leather headband, the rhodium-plated connectors — every detail communicates care and craftsmanship.

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X — German Engineering Meets Modern Tuning

Beyerdynamic have been at this game since 1924, and their DT series is as iconic in studios as any headphone ever made. The DT 900 Pro X represents the modern evolution — keeping that Beyer reliability and comfort whilst finally addressing the treble peaks that have divided listeners for decades.

Build & Design

Classic Beyerdynamic. The spring steel headband, the velour earpads, the industrial-yet-functional aesthetic — it’s all here and it’s all reassuringly solid. At 345g it’s lighter than most planar competitors, and the comfort is genuinely excellent. These are headphones you can wear for an entire mixing session without noticing they’re there.

Audeze LCD-X 2021 — The Studio Planar That Rocks

The LCD-X has been on my radar since it became the go-to headphone for producers and mixing engineers who want planar detail without the analytical coldness. The 2021 revision addressed the tuning complaints of the original, and what Audeze delivered is, frankly, one of the most capable all-rounders in the planar world.

Build & Design

Let’s address weight first: 612g. Yes, it’s heavy. If you’re coming from a Sennheiser or a Koss PortaPro, the first time you put these on your head you’ll wonder if someone left a brick inside. That said, the suspension headband does a reasonable job of distributing the weight, and after twenty minutes you mostly forget about it. Mostly.

Focal Clear MG — French Dynamics at Their Finest

There’s something about French audio engineering that carries a particular swagger. Focal have been making world-class speakers for decades, and their headphone division has inherited that confidence in spades. The Clear MG is Focal’s mid-range open-back, sitting between the Celestee and the Utopia, and it might just be the sweet spot of their entire lineup.

Build & Design

Premium. That’s the word that comes to mind immediately. The Clear MG uses magnesium domes on its M-shaped driver — hence the “MG” suffix — and the build quality is a significant step up from most of the competition. The aluminium yokes, the perforated lambskin earpads, the woven cable — everything communicates quality. At 450g it’s not the lightest, but the weight distribution is excellent and the clamping force is just right.

Hifiman Arya Stealth — Planar Magnificence on a Budget?

I’ve been circling the Arya for years. Every time I’d read another glowing forum post or catch a YouTube review, I’d think “surely it can’t be that good at this price.” Well, I finally took the plunge, and the short version is: yes, it really can.

Build & Design

Let’s get the elephant in the room addressed first — Hifiman’s build quality reputation. The Arya Stealth is noticeably better than older Hifiman designs, but it still won’t win any awards against the likes of Meze or ZMF for premium feel. The headband is functional rather than luxurious, and the earcups are large — comically large, if I’m honest. But they’re light for their size at around 404g, and the egg-shaped pads are genuinely comfortable for long sessions.