We’ve reviewed hundreds of pairs of audiophile headphones – for most people, these are the only two pairs you need to consider

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X headphones in black being held against a grey carpet.

While a significant portion of the headphones market focuses on convenience and features, the best audiophile headphones are all about one thing: sound quality.

Comfort and build quality do come into the equation, naturally, but it’s predominantly about the no-compromise performance you get, with not a noise-cancelling mode or Bluetooth connection in sight.