How are the brands selected?

No brand has paid HeadphoneCharts.com money to list their brand. We hand-selected brands by looking at and testing headphones beneath the mainstream surface, and included the manufacturers who really wowed us! For those of you who are well-versed in music production, mixing, mastering, etc. the brands on this list will come as no surprise to you.

Now, let’s dive right into HeadphoneCharts’ Top 40 Headphone Brands to Consider in 2017 to learn more about our favorite headphone brands currently on the market!

#6 Shure



Shure, along with Beyerdynamic, are often considered to be two of the first electronics companies in the world, as Shure was founded in 1925. Shure monitors have long been favorites of recording professionals and audio engineers for their neutral, balanced sound signature. www.shure.com Shure best headphones Shure SE425-CL Earphones

Shure SRH1540 Headphones

Shure SRH840 Headphones

#18 Koss



Koss is often recognized as the company that invented the first high fidelity stereophones, paving the way for every other company on this list to produce headphones of their own. Sure, there are headphone manufacturers out there today that produce fancier headphones than Koss, but Koss will always be the originator, and their products are still well-made and affordable. www.koss.com Koss best headphones Koss Pro4S Headphones

Koss SP540 Dynamic Headphones

Koss ESP-950 Electrostatic Stereophones

#29 Sony



Sony is perhaps the most well known electronics manufacturer on Earth, so you would expect them to produce headphones, but what you might not expect is just how good they are! Sony headphones are regularly used in recording studios and in the homes of audiophiles the world over. www.sony.com Sony best headphones Sony MDR7506 Headphones

Sony MDR1000X/B Headphones

Sony MDRXB650BT/B Extra Bass Headphones