There are seemingly countless headphone brands in the world today. Still, only a few brands produce top-quality professional (and consumer-grade) headphones, and only a handful of these brands have become household names across the world.
The top 13 best headphone brands in the world are:
- Sennheiser
- Bose
- Sony
- AKG
- Bang & Olufsen
- Beyerdynamic
- Audio-Technica
- Focal
- Shure
- Grado
- Bowers & Wilkins
- STAX
- Audeze
Let's get into each of these brands in greater detail and explain why they belong in the top 13 best headphone brands. I'll share their country of origin, a bit of history, an example of a best-selling or flagship headphone model, and a link to their official websites.
For a list of all headphone brands/manufacturers, check out My New Microphone's Full List Of Headphone, Earphone & Headset Brands/Manufacturers.
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Sennheiser
Founded in 1945 by Fritz Sennheiser, Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG has become a tycoon in the professional audio industry. Its high-end headphones are utilized in professional settings around the world, while its consumer-grade headphones are enjoyed by plenty of listeners that expect great audio.
Sennheiser strives to design and manufacture the best possible audio devices, including headphones. This makes itself in the company's long history of popular and high-quality products.
Sennheiser is a massive international company with nearly 3,000 employees but remains a family-run business. The company ensures it satisfies its customer’s wants with superb marketing research and engineering developments.
The most popular headphones by Sennheiser are perhaps its HD Pro 280 (link to check the price on Amazon).
The Sennheiser 280 is featured in the following My New Microphone articles:
• Top 5 Best Moving-Coil/Dynamic Headphones Under $100
• Top 5 Best Closed-Back Headphones Under $100
• Top 5 Best Circumaural (Over-Ear) Headphones Under $100
Sennheiser was originally founded in 1945 as “Laboratorium Wennebostel” by Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser in Germany. The company was renamed as Sennheiser electronic in 1958. Today, the company is headquartered in Wedemark, Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Official website: sennheiser.com
Sennheiser is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Bose
Established in 1964, Bose Corporation has become a household name for those who care about great quality audio. Bose is best known for its home audio systems and popular noise-cancelling headphones.
Innovation is in the DNA of the Bose Corporation.
In fact, Bose was the first company to bring active noise-cancelling headphones to the commercial market with the introduction of their Bose Aviation Headset in 1989.
Bose remains at the forefront of audio and headphone technology, advancing the field forward while providing high-quality products that are affordable.
Bose's most popular headphones today are likely the QuietComfort 35 Series II (link to check the price on Amazon).
The Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II is featured in the following My New Microphone articles:
• Top 5 Best Wireless Headphones Under $200
• Top 5 Best Closed-Back Headphones Under $200
• Top 5 Best Moving-Coil/Dynamic Headphones Under $200
• Top 5 Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones Under $200
Bose was originally founded in 1964 by Amar Bose in Massachusetts, USA. Today, the company is headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA.
Official website: bose.com
Bose is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Sony
Since its founding in 1946, the Japanese-based Sony Corporation has become a global conglomerate. Sony is involved in sectors such as gaming, entertainment, financial services, and consumer and professional electronics, including, of course, headphones.
Sony is a giant company and is part of the Fortune Global 500 (top 500 companies in the world based on revenue).
In the audio industry, Sony is likely best known for its revolutionary 1979 device: the Sony Walkman. As for headphones, Sony produces a wide variety of headphones and earphones in all form factors for both professional and consumer markets.
Sony's best-selling headphones are its MDR-7506 (link to check the price on Amazon).
The Sony MDR-7506 is also featured in the following My New Microphone articles:
• Top 5 Best Headphones For Podcasting Under $100
• Top 5 Best Closed-Back Headphones Under $100
• Top 5 Best Circumaural (Over-Ear) Headphones Under $100
Sony was founded in 1946 by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita in Nihonbashi, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan. The company is headquartered in Sony City, Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Official website: sony.com
Sony is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
AKG
AKG is a world-renowned brand of microphones, headphones and audio systems for professional and consumer markets, making a name for itself since its inception in 1947.
Since the 1994 acquisition, AKG has been a subsidiary of Harman International (which is owned by Samsung). That being said, the AKG brand is still alive and strong today.
AKG may be best known for its incredible vintage and modern microphones and is also a well-respected designer/manufacturer of headphones.
AKG has two microphones featured in My New Microphone's Top 12 Best Vintage Microphones (And Their Best Clones).
AKG's most popular pair of headphones is the K 240 model (link to check price on Amazon).
The AKG K 240 is featured in the following My New Microphone articles:
• Top 5 Best Moving-Coil/Dynamic Headphones Under $100
• Top 5 Best Headphones For Podcasting Under $100
• Top 5 Best Open-Back Headphones Under $100
• Top 5 Best Circumaural (Over-Ear) Headphones Under $100
Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft GmbH was founded in 1947 by Dr. Rudolf Görike and Ernest Plass in Vienna, Austria. The brand is now owned by Samsung Electronics and managed by Harmon International Industries. The AKG brand is headquartered in Northridge, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Official website: akg.com
AKG is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Bang & Olufsen
The Danish luxury consumer electronics company Bang & Olufsen has been making a name for itself since 1925. B&O is recognized for its high-end audio products, televisions and telephones.
Though B&O has a relatively small range of headphones, its models are of excellent design quality and superb choices in the high-end consumer and professional markets.
The company’s innovative and progressive audio products are sold worldwide, and the brand's heritage continues today with a team pushing the boundaries of audio technology.
The most popular pair of Bang & Olufsen headphones would have to be the Beoplay H4 (link to check the price on Amazon).
Bang & Olufsen was founded in 1925 by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen in Denmark. Harmon International acquired the brand in 2015, which is now a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. The B&O headquarters is in Struer, Denmark.
Official website: bang-olufsen.com
Bang & Olufsen is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Beyerdynamic
Beyerdynamic has been an industry-leading manufacturer of headphones, microphones, wireless audio systems and conference systems since its founding all the way back in 1924. In fact, Beyerdynamic is the oldest active audio equipment company in existence!
Beyerdynamic is perhaps best known for its wide range of incredible-sounding headphones that each sells for an affordable price.
Whether you're a broadcaster, conference technician, studio or television engineer, musician, or someone who enjoys high-end audio quality at prices that won't break the bank, Beyerdynamic may be your go-to brand.
Beyerdynamic's most popular headphone model is its DT 770 Pro (link to check the price on Amazon). This model is particularly interesting because it comes in 3 different versions with 3 different impedance ratings (32, 80 and 250 ohms). The performance of each model varies, with the 32-ohm model being more versatile, the 250-ohm model requiring a headphone amp but sounding more professional, and the 80-ohm model splitting the difference.
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is also featured in the following My New Microphone articles:
• Top 5 Best Headphones For Podcasting Under $200
• Top 5 Best Closed-Back Headphones Under $200
• Top 5 Best Circumaural (Over-Ear) Headphones Under $200
• Top 5 Best Moving-Coil/Dynamic Headphones Under $200
Beyerdynamic was founded in 1924 by Eugen Beyer in Berlin, Germany. The company employs just over 300 people and is headquartered in Heilbronn, Germany.
Official website: beyerdynamic.com
Audio-Technica
Since its inception in 1962, Audio-Technica has proven itself as a major player in the audio equipment manufacturing industry.
The Japanese company specializes in professional headphones, microphones and many other audio devices and equipment.
AT headphones can be found in professional music studios, film sets, broadcasting events, project studios, and on the heads of music lovers worldwide.
Audio-Technica's drive to innovate and improve audio technology has lead to an impressive line of audio products, including headphones.
Of all the Audio-Technica headphones to choose from, their ATH-M50x (link to check the price on Amazon) is their most popular model.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is featured in the following My New Microphone articles:
• Top 5 Best Headphones For Podcasting Under $200
• Top 5 Best Circumaural (Over-Ear) Headphones Under $200
• Top 5 Best Moving-Coil/Dynamic Headphones Under $200
Audio-Technica was established in 1962 in Tokyo, Japan, by Hideo Matsushita. The company is headquartered in Machida, Tokyo, Japan.
Official website: audio-technica.com
Audio-Technica is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Focal
Focal has been in the high-fidelity audio game since 1979 and has established a solid reputation as a leading manufacturer of high-end audio equipment.
This highly innovative company is best known for its premium loudspeakers. The Grande Utopia, for example, is often considered to be one of the greatest high-fidelity loudspeakers in the world.
Focal headphones are incredible just like their loudspeakers, only much smaller. Focal does produce affordable headphones for consumers, but the real magic happens in their high-end models.
Focal's flagship Utopia headphones (link to check the price on Amazon) are defined as the quintessential high-fidelity headphone for audiophiles and music lovers.
The Focal Utopia, due to its high price point and popularity, is featured in my article Are Expensive Headphones (Or Cheap Headphones) Worth It?
Focal-JMLab was founded in 1979 by Jacques Mahul in Saint-Etienne, France. Though the brand is still independent, it is owned by Vervent Audio Group following a merger with UK-based high-end audio electronics brand Naim Audio Limited. Focal-JMLab is, to this day, still headquartered in Saint-Etienne, France.
Official website: focal.com
Focal is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Shure
Founded in 1925, Shure has become a household name in audio-electronics manufacturing.
Though perhaps best-known for its wide range of microphones (particularly the moving-coil dynamic models), Shure also produces wireless audio systems, mixers, digital signal processors, monitoring systems, and of course, headphones and high-end earphones.
That being said, Shure only began manufacturing headphones in May of 2009, applying their philosophy of combining durability with audio quality in their headphone products. Since then, Shure headphones and earphones have been made for all listeners, from basic earbuds to audiophile-worthy over-ears and everything between.
Although Shure produces a wide range of excellent headphones, its most popular headphones are actually in-ear monitors designed for stage use and personal listening. These earphones are the SE215s (link to check the price on Amazon).
Shure is an American microphone manufacturer founded in 1925 by Sidney N. Shure in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The company is now headquartered in Niles, Illinois, USA.
Official website: shure.com
Shure is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Grado
Grado Labs specializes in dynamic open-back, supra-aural (on-ear), high-fidelity headphones.
This very specific style of headphones is what the small team at Grado Labs do best, and they've got more than half a century of experience in the business to prove it.
Every pair of Grado headphones are handcrafted in-house and made with the expertise required for building high-quality headphones. They have several series to fit the needs of their customers.
Grado's flagship headphones are the PS2000e (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video), and their most popular headphones are their SR80s (link to check the price on Amazon).
Grado Labs was founded in 1953 by master watchmaker Joseph Grado in Brooklyn, New York, USA. The family-run business has been passed down through generations and is still headquartered in Brooklyn today.
Official website: gradolabs.com
Grado Labs is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Bowers & Wilkins
Since 1966, Bowers & Wilkins has been making a name for itself as a quality manufacturer of loudspeakers and loudspeaker systems for home, studio, automobile and even mobile applications.
Though perhaps not as well known as the wide range of loudspeakers, Bowers & Wilkins also have a wide selection of high-quality headphones and earphones.
World-class sound engineering and innovation are ingrained into this company and their headphones, among other products, are proof of that.
The PX7 headphones (link to check the price on Amazon) are the most popular headphones from Bowers & Wilkins.
The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 is featured in the following My New Microphone articles:
• Top 5 Best Wireless Headphones Under $500
• Top 5 Best Closed-Back Headphones Under $500
• Top 5 Best Circumaural (Over-Ear) Headphones Under $500
• Top 5 Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones Under $500
Bowers & Wilkins was founded in 1966 by John Bowers in Worthing, West Sussex, England. In 2016, California-based EVA Automation acquired B&W. Today, the brand's headquarters are in Menlo Park, California, USA.
Official website: bowerswilkins.com
Bowers & Wilkins is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
STAX
STAX makes this list as the best brand specializing in electrostatic headphones.
Originally founded in 1938, it would take until 1960 before STAX produced its first electrostatic headphones. Since then, the company has made a name for itself as the go-to for this specific type of headphone.
Not only has STAX found its niche, but it excels at producing the best electrostatic headphones on the market.
The most notable headphones from STAX are the SR-007A MK2 (link to check the price on Amazon).
The STAX SR-007A MK2 is featured in My New Microphone's Top 5 Best Electrostatic Headphones.
STAX was founded in 1938 in Japan. In 1995, it became insolvent but came back in 1996. In December 2011, STAX was acquired by the Chinese loudspeaker manufacturer Edifier, though the brand has continued to survive. STAX Limited is headquartered in Shimonanbata, Fujimi-shi, Saitama-Ken, Japan.
Official website: stax-international.com
Audeze
Audeze makes this list as the best brand specializing in planar magnetic headphones.
Like STAX, Audeze has found a niche and has developed a name for itself through its high-quality, innovative planar magnetic headphone designs.
They offer a wide variety of this headphone type: over-ear and in-ear, ranging from $400 to $4,000. With the careful design and awesome technology, the headphones from Audeze are sure to give a great and perhaps novel listening experience.
The most popular Audeze headphones are the LCD-X (link to check the price on Amazon).
The Audeze LCD-X is featured in My New Microphone's Top 5 Best Planar Magnetic Headphones.
Audeze was founded in 2008 by Sankar Thiagasamudram in Orange County, California, USA. The company is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, USA.
Official website: audeze.com
Choosing the right headphones or earphones for your applications and budget can be a challenging task. For this reason, I've created My New Microphone's Comprehensive Headphones/Earphones Buyer's Guide. Check it out for help in determining your next headphones/earphones purchase.
This article has been approved in accordance with the My New Microphone Editorial Policy.