HEADPHONES

Audeze LCDI4 In-ear Headphones

(January 2018) Audeze revolutionized the in-ear headphone category with its striking open-back, planar magnetic models, including the state-of-the-art LCDI4 that our headphone maven Steve Guttenberg called “hands down, the best-sounding in-ear headphone I’ve heard.” $2,495, audeze.com

Focal Utopia Headphones

(July/august) Audio editor Mark Fleischmann found Focal’s top-of-the-line model a revelation, citing its ability to create solid, tight images of instruments and vocalists that

he’s never heard from any headphone. $3,999, focal.com

Mrspeakers Aeon Headphones

(October) Though not the most expensive headphones from Mrspeakers, the closed-back Aeon planar magnetics delivered highly natural sound with spacious imaging. $799, mrspeakers.com

Audeze isine 10 In-ear Headphones

(May) These headphones can’t match the transparency of Audeze’s high-end LCDI4 in-ears, but the far-more-affordable isine 10 gets you in the ballpark. $399, audeze.com

Astell&kern Michelle Limited In-ear Headphones

(February/march 2018) By a considerable margin, the Michelle brings the price of a set of triple armature, Jerry Harvey-designed in-ear headphones to a new low price point. $399, astellnkern.com

1More Quad Driver In-ear Headphones (See “Value”)