The Headphone List Award Winners by Award Type
The Headphone List started by performing comparative reviews to determine the sonic characteristics and performance relative to the competition. Our experienced reviewers have provided awards in various categories based on hearing a vast volume of audio gear. The below items are sure to please the majority of our audience, but please read the review to ensure the award winner meets your use, listening, and budget criteria. While the below items are “can’t miss,” there is plenty of amazing audio gear that didn’t make this list here.
When cost is no object and ultimate performance is the goal, the TOTL Award (Top-of-the-Line) is given to the select few that raise the bar among TOTL products.
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Sound Signature: V-Shaped
Sonic Traits: Analytical, Balanced, Bass Enhanced, Bass Impact, Coherent, Colored, Detail Articulation, Dynamic, Engaging, Enveloping, Fast, Fluid, Forward, Full, Liquid, Open, Organic, Powerful, Punchy, Resolving, Spacious, Textured, Transparent, Warm, Weighty
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go
Sound Signature: W-Shaped
Sonic Traits: Balanced, Bass Impact, Bass Power, Clear, Coherent, Colored, Crisp, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Engaging, Enveloping, Fast, Forward, Full, Lush, Mid-Centric, Open, Powerful, Punchy, Resolving, Rich, Spacious, Textured, Warm
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Studio Engineer
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go
THL SCORE: 9.8
Sound
9.9
9.9
Build
8.0
8.0
Comf
10.0
10.0
Iso
9.2
9.2
Cable
6.0
6.0
Acces
5.0
5.0
Sound Signature: Natural
Sonic Traits: 3D, Airy, Bass Power, Clear, Coherent, Detailed, Dynamic, Engaging, Enveloping, Liquid, Natural, Organic, Powerful, Smooth, Spacious, Transparent, Uncolored
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Studio Engineer
Ideal For: Home, On-the-Go, Air Travel, On Stage, Recording Studio, Loud Environments
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Products with a wow factor that turns heads as well as ears, the THL Diamond Award products are a culmination of beauty, quality, and performance. Typically representative of the highest performance in higher price points, or TOTL equipment that is top-notch but just a hair below the TOTL Award.
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Sound Signature: Natural
Sonic Traits: Balanced, Bass Enhanced, Bass Impact, Coherent, Colored, Detail Articulation, Dynamic, Engaging, Enveloping, Fast, Fluid, Full, Liquid, Mid-Centric, Mid-Forward, Natural, Organic, Powerful, Resolving, Textured, Transparent, Warm, Wide
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Singer/Vocalist, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Recording Studio
Sound Signature: Balanced
Sonic Traits: Balanced, Bass Enhanced, Bass Impact, Clear, Coherent, Dynamic, Engaging, Fluid, Liquid, Natural, Organic, Punchy, Rich, Smooth, Textured
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Singer/Vocalist, Active Use, Commuter
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Working Out, Air Travel, On Stage, Recording Studio
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Sound Signature: Warm & Smooth
Sonic Traits: 3D, Bass Enhanced, Bass Power, Clear, Coherent, Detailed, Engaging, Enveloping, Full, Lush, Natural, Organic, Powerful, Rich, Smooth, Spacious, Thick
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician
Ideal For: Home, Office, On Stage, Recording Studio
THL SCORE: 9.4
Sound
9.5
9.5
Build
7.5
7.5
Comf
7.0
7.0
Iso
7.0
7.0
Cable
5.0
5.0
Ergo
5.0
5.0
Acces
7.0
7.0
Sound Signature: Basshead
Sonic Traits: 3D, Bass Enhanced, Bass Impact, Bass Power, Clear, Detail Articulation, Enveloping, Laid-Back, Smooth, Spacious, Textured, Transparent
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Mainstream Consumer
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Air Travel
Top performers among their peers that will appeal to a wide audience. This selective award is a step above the THL Recommended award.
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Sound Signature: Natural
Sonic Traits: 3D, Airy, Balanced, Bass Enhanced, Clear, Coherent, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Engaging, Enveloping, Fluid, Natural, Neutral, Open, Resolving, Rich, Spacious, Textured, Tight, Wide
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer
Ideal For: Home, Office, Recording Studio
Sound Signature: W-Shaped
Sonic Traits: 3D, Airy, Balanced, Clear, Coherent, Crisp, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Engaging, Fast, Natural, Open, Resolving, Rich, Spacious, Textured, Tight, Transparent, Wide
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Guitarist, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer, Commuter, Traveler
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Working Out, On Stage, Recording Studio, Outdoors
Sound Signature: Balanced
Sonic Traits: 3D, Airy, Balanced, Clear, Coherent, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Fluid, Natural, Neutral, Open, Organic, Resolving, Rich, Spacious, Textured, Wide
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Singer/Vocalist, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer
Ideal For: Home, Office, Recording Studio
Sound Signature: Warm & Smooth
Sonic Traits: 3D, Bass Enhanced, Bass Impact, Bass Heavy, Coherent, Dynamic, Engaging, Laid-Back, Lush, Natural, Organic, Punchy, Smooth, Spacious, Textured, Warm, Weighty
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Mainstream Consumer, Fitness User, Commuter, Traveler
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Working Out, Air Travel, Loud Environments
Sound Signature: Balanced
Sonic Traits: 3D, Airy, Balanced, Clear, Coherent, Crisp, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Engaging, Fast, Natural, Neutral, Open, Resolving, Spacious, Textured, Transparent
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Singer/Vocalist, Guitarist, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer, Commuter, Traveler
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Air Travel, On Stage, Recording Studio, Outdoors
Sound Signature: Reference
Sonic Traits: Airy, Balanced, Clear, Clinical, Coherent, Colored, Crisp, Detail Articulation, Engaging, Enveloping, Fast, Forward, Mid-Forward, Natural, Resolving, Sterile, Textured, Up-Front, Wide
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go
Sound Signature: Reference
Sonic Traits: 3D, Airy, Balanced, Coherent, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Engaging, Enveloping, Fast, Liquid, Mid-Forward, Natural, Neutral, Open, Organic, Resolving, Spacious, Textured, Transparent, Wide
Target Audience: Audiophile, Musician, Studio Engineer
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, On Stage, Recording Studio, Sleep
Budget products that do something special, given their price point and appeal to a large audience, with an upper price point of around $200 USD.
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Sound Signature: Balanced
Sonic Traits: Airy, Balanced, Crisp, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Fast, Natural, Resolving, Tight, Transparent, Uncolored
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer, Commuter, Traveler
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Working Out, On Stage, Recording Studio
Sound Signature: Warm & Smooth
Sonic Traits: 3D, Bass Enhanced, Bass Impact, Bass Heavy, Coherent, Dynamic, Engaging, Laid-Back, Lush, Natural, Organic, Punchy, Smooth, Spacious, Textured, Warm, Weighty
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Mainstream Consumer, Fitness User, Commuter, Traveler
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Working Out, Air Travel, Loud Environments
Sound Signature: Balanced
Sonic Traits: 3D, Airy, Balanced, Clear, Coherent, Crisp, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Engaging, Fast, Natural, Neutral, Open, Resolving, Spacious, Textured, Transparent
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Singer/Vocalist, Guitarist, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer, Commuter, Traveler
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Air Travel, On Stage, Recording Studio, Outdoors
Sound Signature: W-Shaped
Sonic Traits: Balanced, Coherent, Detailed, Engaging, Mid-Forward, Organic, Spacious, Textured, Uncolored
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Singer/Vocalist, Guitarist, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer, Traveler, Sleep Use
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, On Stage, Sleep
Products that stand above most peers, performing in the upper echelon for its price range while appealing to a wide audience.
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Sound Signature: Balanced
Sonic Traits: 3D, Airy, Balanced, Clear, Coherent, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Fluid, Natural, Neutral, Open, Organic, Resolving, Rich, Spacious, Textured, Wide
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Singer/Vocalist, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer
Ideal For: Home, Office, Recording Studio
Sound Signature: Balanced
Sonic Traits: Airy, Balanced, Crisp, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Fast, Natural, Resolving, Tight, Transparent, Uncolored
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer, Commuter, Traveler
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Working Out, On Stage, Recording Studio
Sound Signature: W-Shaped
Sonic Traits: Balanced, Coherent, Detailed, Engaging, Mid-Forward, Organic, Spacious, Textured, Uncolored
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Singer/Vocalist, Guitarist, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer, Traveler, Sleep Use
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, On Stage, Sleep
Sound Signature: Basshead
Sonic Traits: Balanced, Bass Enhanced, Bass Impact, Bass Heavy, Bass Power, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Engaging, Enveloping, Forward, Neutral, Organic, Powerful, Punchy, Resolving, Rich, Spacious, Textured, Weighty
Target Audience: Audiophile, Mainstream Consumer, Commuter
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go
Excellent performance worthy of an award for all of the positives, but either appeals to a niche audience or has performance factors that hold it back from an overall “Recommended” award. Honor Roll products are still “recommended” by THL reviewers!
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Sound Signature: Balanced
Sonic Traits: 3D, Balanced, Clear, Coherent, Detail Articulation, Dynamic, Fast, Natural, Neutral, Open, Resolving, Rich, Textured, Tight
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Singer/Vocalist, Guitarist, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer, Traveler
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, On Stage, Recording Studio
Sound Signature: Natural
Sonic Traits: Analytical, Balanced, Clear, Clinical, Colored, Detail Articulation, Engaging, Mid-Forward, Natural, Resolving, Textured, Transparent, Up-Front
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Studio Engineer
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, On Stage
Sound Signature: Analytical
Sonic Traits: Airy, Bright, Clinical, Crisp, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Edgy, Engaging, Fast, Forward, Nasal, Natural, Powerful, Resolving, Spacious, Thin, Tight, Transparent, Wide
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Studio Engineer
Ideal For: Home, On-the-Go, On Stage
Sound Signature: Warm & Smooth
Sonic Traits: Bass Enhanced, Bass Impact, Bass Heavy, Dark, Dynamic, Engaging, Enveloping, Fluid, Full, Liquid, Lush, Natural, Organic, Powerful, Rich, Smooth, Spacious, Textured, Thick, Up-Front, Warm, Wide
Target Audience: Audiophile
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Outdoors
Where creativity meets innovation, the THL Design Award represents design excellence that moves the industry forward from an innovation standpoint in technology, design, and/or aesthetics.
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Sound Signature: W-Shaped
Sonic Traits: 3D, Airy, Balanced, Clear, Coherent, Crisp, Detail Articulation, Detailed, Dynamic, Engaging, Fast, Natural, Open, Resolving, Rich, Spacious, Textured, Tight, Transparent, Wide
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Guitarist, Studio Engineer, Mainstream Consumer, Commuter, Traveler
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Working Out, On Stage, Recording Studio, Outdoors
Sound Signature: Balanced
Sonic Traits: Balanced, Bass Enhanced, Bass Impact, Clear, Coherent, Dynamic, Engaging, Fluid, Liquid, Natural, Organic, Punchy, Rich, Smooth, Textured
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician, Singer/Vocalist, Active Use, Commuter
Ideal For: Home, Office, On-the-Go, Working Out, Air Travel, On Stage, Recording Studio
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Sound Signature: Warm & Smooth
Sonic Traits: 3D, Bass Enhanced, Bass Power, Clear, Coherent, Detailed, Engaging, Enveloping, Full, Lush, Natural, Organic, Powerful, Rich, Smooth, Spacious, Thick
Target Audience: Audiophile, Audio Enthusiast, Musician
Ideal For: Home, Office, On Stage, Recording Studio