Top 7 Mid-Tier Audiophile Headphones of 2024
The Best Audiophile-Grade Headphones for Every Budget
From closed-backs to planar magnetic, wireless, and more, the collection of headphones we carry here at Moon Audio is vast. No matter your listening style, favorite genre, or budget, we've got the perfect pair of headphones for you and to help you in your buying journey, we've rounded up the list of top-selling headphones for 2024. These are the best-selling audiophile-grade headphones from $1000 to $3000. Get reference-level sound and flagship-status headphones at an affordable price!
Headphones $1000-$3000
Dan Clark Audio E3 Closed-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones
Soundstage that rivals Open-Back Headphones
Comfortable, Foldable, Portable Design
Dan Clark Audio's E3 Planar Magnetic Headphones make folk, acoustic, and string music shine! Despite its closed-back design, the E3's soundstage rivals an open-back headphone. It has a good amount of airiness and openness to the presentation that could fool anyone who doesn't know they're closed-backs. Quite frankly, if you want the sound of an open-back headphone but the noise isolation of a closed-back, then the E3 is the way to go. It has wonderful low-end detail that's precise and articulate and a smooth midrange presentation. The nuances and emotions of folk, blues, and country vocals take center stage. You won't miss a single tongue click or beath inhalation — great for those who enjoy the tiny details.
Being a Dan Clark Audio headphone with a planar magnetic driver, they are harder to drive so we recommend pairing them with a capable DAP Music Player to efficiently power them. Like all planar magnetic drivers, the more power you throw at them the better they will perform. For a lively, fun, resolute sound, we present to you the Dan Clark Audio E3 Headphones!
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Blue Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
Focal Clear MG Headphones
Balanced Sound
Elegant Chestnut and Mixed Metal Design
Priced at $1,499 the Focal Clear MG is a great open-back headphone. As Focal's mid-tier headphone, the Clear MG features a new M-shaped magnesium dome which improves the dynamics and balance of the sound. The Clear MG has an elegant look with a chestnut and mixed-metal design that's drop-dead gorgeous. The ergonomic headband molds to the user's head with a clamping force that's pleasingly snug without being overly tight.
The Clear MG delivers a sound that's lifelike, lively, and easy to love. The soundstage is wide and has a sense of openness to it. Overall, the Clear MG has sweeter highs and better bass definition than its predecessor the original Clear, with a little more depth to the sound. The Focal Clear MG is a good choice for the listener who enjoys a natural, clear, and slightly warm sound with lots of detail. This headphone works with many genres, and we especially like it with americana, acoustic music, classical, and jazz.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Silver Dragon Premium Headphone Cable for added detail
Grado Signature HP100 SE Headphones
Incredibly Wide Soundstage. Neutral, Natural Sound
A Grado First—Detachable Headphone Cable
Ushering in a new era of high-end headphones, Grado Labs HP100 SE Headphones are a contemporary version of a true classic, with a new design from the ground up and breathtaking reference sound quality. The HP100 SE Headphones stand apart from Grado Labs' previous models with a new detachable cable, new engineered speakers, redesigned headphone assembly, and much more. As the new flagship open-back model, the HP 100 SE delivers Grado's signature sound–spacious, smooth, and musical. Great with classical, strings, and more, the HP 100 SE represents the future of Grado Over-Ear Headphones, taking a nod from its past.
In celebration of Joseph Grado's 100th birthday, Grado Labs introduces the HP100 SE Headphones as a special edition pair, honoring the legacy of Joseph Grado and the remarkable HP1 Headphones released by him in 1990. "Although Uncle Joe left us 10 years ago, he will always be a presence at Grado Labs," says Joseph's nephew and Grado's CEO, John Grado. As always, the HP 100 SE is hand-assembled in Grado's Brooklyn-based headquarters.
HiFiMan Arya Organic Headphones
Incredibly Lightweight & Comfortable
Detail of the Arya Stealth with the Warmth of the HE1000se
The HiFiMan Arya Organic Headphones are the latest iteration in the best-selling Arya line. Featuring HiFiMan's patented "Stealth Magnets" technology, the Arya Organic Headphones minimize wave diffraction and improve phase response, resulting in a cleaner, more transparent sound. The Arya Organic is a balanced and warm-leaning open-back headphone with amazing musicality — it's the Arya Stealth with a warm, fuzzy blanket on. You'll get a spacious, natural soundstage that allows the intricate details of acoustic instruments and soulful vocals to shine through. The Arya Organic is incredibly comfortable with large, asymmetrical ear cups and plush ear pads. Whether you're listening to the raw, acoustic melodies of folk or the polished sounds of studio-crafted country, the Arya Organic Headphones will deliver you an unparalleled listening experience.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Silver Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
Audeze LCD-X Headphones
Highly Efficient, Easy to Drive
Natural Soundstage, Neutral Sound
The Audeze LCD-X Headphones are the most neutral of all the LCD collection, and is popular among audiophiles, studio engineers, and musicians. It’s clear and accurate, and we’d classify it as forward with some great top-end resolution. It’s going to be great for rock, metal, and anything with a lot of energy. The open-back design of the LCD-X has a wonderful soundstage, giving ample space for the performance. Imaging is also great, which is partly why it's so popular with mixing engineers. We recommend pairing the LCD-X with our Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable to add warmth and musicality to the sound. The drivers are incredibly efficient—you can plug them into your phone and they’ll work just fine, but you’ll get much better performance hooking them up to an amp.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
Fostex TH900mk2 Headphones
Linear and Neutral Sound with Deep Bass
Striking Red Ear Cups
One of the top-of-the-line HiFi reference headphones by Fostex priced at $1,799.99, the TH900 mk2 is the second generation of the 900 — One of the most renowned dynamic driver high-end headphones on the market. The TH900 mk2 has a slight V-shaped sound, meaning the bass and treble are highlighted, while the midrange is slightly recessed. It's a fun sound with robust bass, but it's also quite detailed. Fostex chose to use Japanese cherry birch wood to make the earcups, which is known for its rigidity and density, to enhance tonal accuracy against the frequency range.
As a more neutral-sounding headphone, it's very linear from top to bottom and that makes it a great headphone for a lot of genres out there — Be it Blues, Folk, Country, and EDM, the TH900 mk2 can complement them all.
We like pairing the TH900 mk2 with our Black Dragon headphone cable to add more body and warmth to the music. Being a reference headphone, it's far from analytical sounding and it does a lot of things well for different genres.
Meze Audio Liric II Planar Magnetic Headphones
Warm, Balanced Sound
Amazing Comfort & Styling
The Meze Audio Liric II Headphones are refined and balanced-sounding, perfect for everyday casual listening. With a spacious soundstage and amazing imaging, you'll experience an airiness to your music that makes acoustic melodies shine. As the replacement for the OG Liric Headphones, the Liric II retains the wonderful detail and energy of the first generation with some added bass and a well-rounded midrange. You get a full-bodied low-end and sharp, detailed attacks that emphasize the plucking, picking, and strumming of string instruments. Instruments and vocals are evenly balanced for a crisp, yet musical sound that sings to your ears. As a planar magnetic headphone, we recommend pairing the Liric II with a headphone amp, DAC, or DAP to drive them efficiently.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
In-Ear Monitors
64 Audio Solo In-Ear Monitors
Detailed Sound, Superb Styling
Single-Driver IEM
64 Audio's first single-driver universal IEM, the 64 Audio Solo IEM delivers a detailed sound with great musicality. Staying true to the tech-savvy legacy of the Fourté, Trio, and Duo IEMs, 64 Audio looked to the past for innovative solutions to the modern challenge of tuning a single driver. In addition to a traditional electronic filter that subtly shifts the tonal balance, 64 Audio deployed a dual Helmholtz Resonator for precise tonal adjustments. The 14.2mm planar driver’s acoustic chamber integrates two Helmholtz resonators, meticulously tuned to acoustically sculpt its frequency response. This combined with the patented LID technology, delivers a sound that's quintessentially 64 Audio–accurate, musical, and balanced.
Sennheiser IE900 Earphones
Clean, Balanced Sound with Superb Detail
Three Cable Options, Lightweight
You know you've found a keeper of a headphone or IEM when you want to keep on listening to every single piece of music you know and love. This was our experience with the IE 900 from Sennheiser: a pleasure to listen to and super comfortable to boot. A nice, full sound that sounds natural and clear -- great with blues, folk, acoustic strings, and music with lots of detail. Vocals are super clear and emotive. Treble on the IE 900 is definitely something to write home about. Lots of sparkle. Piano on several tracks sounded absolutely gorgeous. If you're deciding between the IE 600 and the IE 900, choose the IE 600 if you want a more fun sound for on-the-go listening/gaming, the IE 900 if you are all about detail and clarity and are not willing to compromise. You won't be disappointed. Of course, cost plays into it, but ultimately with Sennheiser, you get what you pay for. Be sure to add in the Bronze Dragon IEM Cable for Sennheiser for additional warmth and musicality - you'll really feel the motive properties of the IEM.
Empire Ears Triton In-Ear Monitors
Warm side of Neutral
Tribrid Driver Configuration with Dual high-mass Balanced Armatures
Behold one of Empire Ears latest universal IEMs, the Triton. The Triton IEM represents Empire Ears legacy of precision and innovation, embodying the company's relentless pursuit of extraordinary sound and celebration of a decade in business. This marvel seamlessly blends classic Empire Ears craftsmanship with an all-new tribrid, dual conduction architecture. The Triton features Empire Ears' signature W9+ subwoofer, precision-engineered EMP75 balanced armature, and next-generation dual high-mass bone conductors. These three technologies combined provide a rich, immersive, and distinctly bold Empire Ears sound that has defined the industry over the past decade and continues to set new standards.
For an elevated listening experience, we recommend pairing the Triton with our Silver Dragon IEM Cable. The Silver Dragon IEM Cable is our top-of-the-line flagship audio cable, using UP-OCC silver conductors to deliver a clear, articulate listening experience. It's designed to maximize the amount of detail, clarity, air, and instrument separation you get from your IEMs.
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