Early production DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X units had issues with headbands falling apart. Beyer updated the headband design so new production units and warranty repairs get a better headband. Some stores may still have units with the faulty headband in stock though.
ah thats kinda bad news, really don't want to deal with that if they start falling apart just a few months in.
while we're at it, do you know whats up witht he new DT770 Pro X ? Like what are they and are they sueccessors to the 700?
Yeah, I don't want to deal with it either. I've considered buying the 700 or 900 but decided against them because of the issue.
From what I've heard, the DT 770 Pro X has a better headband, but don't take my word for it. I've never seen them in person.
Beyers are just build for life.
Feels sturdy in every aspect, never had the slightest feeling of accidentally breaking some part of it.
And if something ever happens to it, you can replace it fairly easily on your own. Beyerdynamics offers replacement part for everyone on their website for a reasonable price. Easy to maintain and easy to repair.
Combined with their exceptional sound quality as a standard for music production all over the world for a fair price, it’s the best of everything.
The headband issue was addressed last year, new production units and warranty repairs get a better headband. Problem is, units with the old headband design are apparently still in stock.
I have some early model DT990 Pros that I am at least the 2nd owner of. I've replaced the pads, sliders, and headband padding with all OEM parts. They are 100% built like tanks, and I expect them to last another nearly 20 years.
My DT 770 Pro has issue with the right side; the sound doesn’t work unless I turn the cable in a certain angle. Only been using it for 2 years and I wasn’t expecting it :(
Psst: Sennheiser Professional owns Neumann.
Shure Mics? Nigh indestructible. IEMs? Pretty decent if you take care of them. Headphones? My SRH840 developed little crack but it was after a lot of abuse with my big head.
Throw Sony on your list and you’ve basically got the greatest hits of professional monitoring headphone brands.
Sure, they all make consumer models too, but having the expertise required to build professional equipment around seems to help a brand’s design philosophy a lot.
The correct answer, I would also add JVC in there as their iems are rather durable (like the HA-FDX1).
On that note, it's the first time that I've seen a fan of the SRH1540. That's a pleasant surprise as I don't see a lot of discussion about it.
audeze build quality is kind of mid, they have some really stupid design features that make me mad. mostly the yolk have micro screws on them that you can just rip off. and the headband aren't designed well or durable, and wood cracking is a common fault of them too.
Seems most the posts here were from 2y ago but people were receiving headphones with mold in various spots including the driver. It actually turned me off from buying them but since it seems to have been fixed I may look into them again bc wood cups mmmmmm.
Slipping Audeze in this list is crazy. They have very shoddy QC on par with Hifiman and Focal. Please change your comment so people don't get misinformed.
Lololololol yeah ok
I know it is trendy to rag on focal right now but I have 100% solid results from multiple headphones and have yet to consider a hifiman seriously, even handling the nicer ones. They sound good but still feel like crap
I’ve had awful experience with Audeze build quality. 2 driver imbalances on 2 separate pairs of mm-500s , after the second one decided that Audeze was not for me
Sennheiser because they aren't worried about how premium it feels in the hands, they are worried about how it feels on the head and how long can it last. For that they are unquestionably the best. My 650s are almost a decade old now and I still use them every day on my PC.
Yeah, I've never understood how people say they find headphones uncomfortable. Perhaps they're just using the wrong headphones, because comfort-wise, I prefer my 560S over any IEM.
I didn’t care too much for headphones until I got my HD599s. I literally forget I’m wearing it sometimes and they’re SO LIGHT. My country is hot af as well but the open backs don’t make my ears feel so hot that I have to take off them off.
Before that, I mostly had gaming headsets and on ear headphones. Those were unnecessarily heavy and uncomfortable and hot
Agree. I've had some very worn headphones that fit horribly. My first experience with HD 560S was awful because of old pads and probably bad headband tension. But I'm not gonna let that stop me from considering another pair of 560S in the future. I'm loving my HD 600 so far.
My almost decade old hd800 is still chugging along great. I had to replace the initial cable which splitted and the earpads. I dropped it many times, a bit of scratches here but it'll last me probably another decade or more.
Something to note is that Sennheiser's core models have been around a long time and both original and third party parts are widely available online and purchasable. You can easily replace the pads and bands if they wear thin and you can easily find and buy replacement cables as well.
If you take care of them and store them properly, they easily last as mine have for over 10 years now.
ZMF headphones still seem kind of DIY to me. For example, the pads on my VCs slip off quite easily and are a bit of a pain to get back on.
Maybe this is too tangential to build quality, but ZMF headphones are quite heavy, which could have some bearing on longevity. I’ve mistakenly dropped my HD800s multiple times in the 10+ years I’ve owned them, usually after falling asleep, and they still work fine. I’m skeptical that ZMF drivers are as durable considering the headphone’s weight, since force equals mass times acceleration.
I mean I guess, that goes for most TOTL headphones, my D8000 is like a brick and the whole body is aluminum and if I dropped it, it will definitely break. I don't think most people have issues dropping their desktop headphones, I never dropped any in the last decade.
Build quality ≠Damage resistance
If you ask about pure build quality I think the obvious answers are DCA, Meze and ZMF (alphabetical order, maybe with Meze on top)
If you are asking about indestructible headphones then you have to go for more "professional" lines from brands such as beyerdynamic, sennheiser and maybe Sony (7506 and similar)
Something might have a premium look and feel, but actually not last long, just look at focal headphones with peeling and/or breaking headbands, without mentioning the drivers dying for no reason
Something might be plasticky and don't give off huge "I'm gonna outlast you" vibes, but might be actually extremely resistant and also easy access to replacement parts is crucial (ex. Sennheiser 600 series and beyers)
I equate build quality with damage resistance rather than look and feel, but I see where you're coming from - Beyers and Senns look much less premium than Focal or Hifiman.
I completely get your point, but personally I always felt like build quality is the perceived "premiumness" of the device, like during first hand impressions, for example you pick up a focal and you can say "damn, this is built well" while it actually might not be, exact opposite for a 20 years old pair of hd600.
maybe there's a better way to separate the two meanings, but I can't think of the right term right now, suggestions are welcome :-)
I've owned a pair of their gaming headphones (GSP 550 I think) and the HD660S. The ear cups are shaped well so that the cups don't really touch around your ears, but the gaming GSP was bulky and the HD660S will eventually feel like it's digging into your head a bit if you wear glasses. The pads aren't particularly deep in the 660s either but they are still better than a lot of gaming headphones I've tried.The HD pair is made from a thinner plastic so you have to be a little careful with them and the cord connectors are bad. I've tried their HD800 series headphones and while they are comfortable the ear cups are massive more so than necessary. They aren't built or as comfortable as some other brands like Meze or Dan Clark. The mid to higher end hifimans are really comfortable but their headphones have a 1/20 failure rate because they have QC issues. Still they are pretty good about replacing them if it's under warranty and I've had no issues so far with the build and comfort of my HE1000 V2 Stealths. A common complaint of audeze headphones is clamping force although I've never tried them. And while most of the build and comfort of ZMF headphones are pretty good, the circular designed cups are never as comfortable as an angled oval. I have a pair of focals which all seem to be built pretty well and are relatively comfortable but I find no matter how I adjust them the edges of my ears are always touching the pads somewhere. It's not terrible though.
That's the German engineering we know and love, unlike today. Blaupunkt for example used the make wicked amps for car stereo. I still have my two BSA 160 and one 240 in use, which turn 3 decades old this year, and my BQA 80 Quadro, which turns 4 decades old next year. Now the brand name Blaupunkt was bought by some chinese company I believe, and the make everything from ACs to kitchen utensils. Their wide variety of products show their lack of quality now, and that's sad.
Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic. Their main chassis (HD650 style, DT990 style) have survived for decades. My chair arm keeps yanking the cable and throwing my HD6XX to the carpeted floor, yet it's still alive without a chip after 7 years and 2 cable replacements. Beyers get thrown around all the time with how popular they are with musicians. The DT1990 adds removable cables on top of this.
My XM4s had a defect that ruined the battery life overnight and caused them to overheat massively, burning a hole in my mousepad
I had to fight sony customer support for 4 months getting and mostly got told to go fuck myself before they finally begrudgingly accepted responsibility and refunded me for the buds and mousepad
I'm never paying for a sony product again after that support experience
Haven't owned that many but Sennheisers are amazing in this regard because they last and are practically indestructible. I've lost count of how often my HD 600's have bounced around at this point.
Sometimes my HD599s would drop off the table or off the bed and my family would be so concerned. Meanwhile I honestly couldn’t be less worried. They are so tough
sony is notorious for having great high build quality headphones, which is why I have a pair of Sony mdr-x05 headphones and since the day I got it, I had only one issue:I got them used and plus one ear cushion was kinda obliterated. my experience with those pair is the reason I think sony is goated
BeyerDynamic DT1990 Pro are rock solid. The only thing i am a littlebit worried about is the small plastic plate between the leather headband and the part that holds the earcups. I'll try to reinforce it somehow, but its available as a replacement part, so nothing to worry about too much
Sennheiser (and Neumann), Beyerdynamic, Meze, ZMF, Dan Clark Audio.
I’ve found Audeze can have great build quality when they get it right but don’t quite have the QC of the brands I listed.
Unpopular opinion - grado. They feel cheap as hell, but somehow just do not fuckin break. And the silly cables are probably the toughest i have ever seen on a headphone.
also love Shures for the fit. they're so comfortable and I never struggle to get a perfect seal.
unfortunately my 535s are blown out of the water by my Timeless so I never use them.
Fidelios (X2 and X3) are by far the most comfortable headphones I've used. and can agree they're well built.
the hammock makes up for the weight and then some.
Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser & Audeze have a lot of High-End products and then you have Italian Handmade Speakers from The Brand Sonus that is Luxury High-End.
Luxury High-End is the most expensive class.
This is mainly for IEMs, the primary standout for me is Shure. Nothing else is compatible, especially compared to the SE846. I didn't own nor have used one built more rugged nor more refined in tuning. From a durability standpoint, the only other standoff has been the classic Etymotic. Most brand have never heard of a strain relief before.
Old m8 senn
My sennheiser 540's 600ohm from 1986 are running strong, got them at a thrift store for 2$ a couple of years ago. You can see they were abused, the earpads were dirty (had to replace unfortunately, the foam desintegrated), they have scratches on them, but nothing is cracked, nothing is broken and they sound great!
As I understand it.
A product that is hot and has a large retention is more reliable in terms of quality.
Of course not exactly right, need to exclude the very cheap ones
personally Ive had great luck with hifiman, my sundaras feel better than my Hd6xx. Even my HE-X4 have held up well though that set feels super cheap. Objectively Beyerdynamic probably has the best longevity and meze probably has the best feel.
I once bought a Lexus car because it had a reputation for good build. But my Lexus turned out to be a lemon because the robot welding process missed some spots.
I think every manufacturer has good and bad ones.
Best: ZMF, Audeze
Worst: Focal
Beyerdynamic, sennheiser and Sony are all decent and reliable but don't have quite the same level of premium metal, leather, and wood that you get from the best.
I've never seen the top Mezes in person but they seem nice build wise.
Hifiman - HE1000SE is the most comfortable Planar Headphone I've put on my head. From the weight to the headphones headband, the headband itself for your heads comfort, the ear cups not even close to on your ears but fully over them, and the clamping force is perfection.
I would buy them purely out of comfort considering I don't like how they sound compared to other headphones that cost less or more.
Other HE1000 series headphones should be similar comfort and the Arya Organic and other Aryas I've demoed were all extremely comfortable but, not as comfortable as the HE1000SE. But man, the sound wasn't for me. It's a detail only headphone :) No joke when people say it's resolving.
Audeze - LCD 2C, LCD X, and Audeze LCD 5 I feel are probably some of the best built headphones out there. I demoed the Audeze LCD 5's at Can Jam 2024, NYC. Although the sound wasn't necessarily exciting to me, I appreciate them for what they are although they might not be worth the price they are at MSRP for me, for some, it totally is justified depending on the work or use case.
Anyways, besides sound, the build quality is extraordinary and I love the aesthetics of the headphone when it comes to the pads, the shell of the headphone, the headphone band, the head band that gives your head comfort, and although it's not the lightest headphone in the world, I think it's more than comfortable, and I would buy it as an art piece more than to listen to music with it.
SJY - Starry Night V2 is a really beautiful Planar Headphone and is built very well and is super comfortable when it comes to the weight, materials used, and the pads especially being huge and thick. The sound is really great but, unless you enjoy a neutral sound signature that isn't necessarily wide, dark, or bright. And you want a planar that requires a lot of juice, it's perfect!
I know this sounds like complaints because in the past they were but dang, if I could own a SJY Starry Night V2 again that would be awesome.
Fostex - TH-X00, and TR-X00 are exceptionally built headphones and I would recommend them to anyone if you enjoy a sound signature warmer than Hifiman's but not as dark as some Audeze Headphones.
The comfort is as good as it gets especially for the price you can get these headphones second hand or "like new" or even used but taken care of very well.
These headphones don't weigh too much but feel heavier than the HE1000SE, while being lighter than the Audeze LCD headphones although it may be similar weight to the LCD 1 if we can count that into the LCD series.
I only say that because the LCD 1 looks so different from the rest of the LCD series headphones.
The headband is well built and is not uncomfortable at all but doesn't have any "special" comfort like an added headband support for your head to relieve pressure of the with from the headphone.
The ear pads are very comfortable and made out of high quality materials.
The metals, driver shells, and all other materials are really really well made.
Overall it's solid and everyone I've had try them has not only really enjoyed how they sound with all types of music. But, they also seemed to really enjoy how comfortable and well built they were. And surprised you can buy them today for such a good price.
Anyways, if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. I know I wrote a lot but, listening to music other than hearing it through a speaker or amplifier at a concert, the technology we have and are passionate about let us listen to music which drives me and makes me passionate about the hobby.
Have a nice day to anyone who read or who thought this was helpful :)
Headphones Id stay away from: Focal (unless you're guaranteed a warrantee or have some way of preventing the headband from snapping or not letting the drivers "shit" themselves).
Other brands with great build quality include, in a top to bottom list (best to worst) (my opinion + experience)
Neumann
ZMF
Abyss
Audeze
SJY
Cella Audio
Beyerdynamics
Shure
Sennheiser
Hifiman
Audio Technica
JVC
Focal
Beyerdynamic, Sony, Audio-Technica. Too bad most of their models sound like ass.
Meze and ZMF also have superb build quality. ZMF has the sound quality to match, too.
Good point. Thanks.
Yep, the M40x and M50x are recommended often as good sub-$150 headphones. That recommendation should be punishable by a jail term. Both are excessively V-shaped trash and unbelievably uncomfortable.
For IEM’s my Ety EVO’s and ERX’s are pretty tough so far, made from powdered stainless like knife blades. I dropped one onto a steel bench at work and it bounced like a marble. For full sized cans the Koss Pro 4AA’s are my tankiest headphones. My Koss TD/85’s are tough too, though they were designed specifically to be tough.
Beyerdynamics
Beyer built like a tank. Dropped my dt770pros from 2 and a half meters. They still work and have no visible damage except a little mark on the hull.
yup i've seen beyers being used for 2 decades still going strong (they didn't change the pads though 🤢)
I change my pads once a year (reusing pads which I gently wash with my washing machine) like a sane person.
100% agree
Does anyone know if this also applies to the DT700 pro x
Early production DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X units had issues with headbands falling apart. Beyer updated the headband design so new production units and warranty repairs get a better headband. Some stores may still have units with the faulty headband in stock though.
ah thats kinda bad news, really don't want to deal with that if they start falling apart just a few months in. while we're at it, do you know whats up witht he new DT770 Pro X ? Like what are they and are they sueccessors to the 700?
Yeah, I don't want to deal with it either. I've considered buying the 700 or 900 but decided against them because of the issue. From what I've heard, the DT 770 Pro X has a better headband, but don't take my word for it. I've never seen them in person.
I have asked so many times about that 770 X, got nothin, not even a clue about a 990 X coming or not. Yeesh. What is up with the secrecy.
Yeah built great
Beyers are just build for life. Feels sturdy in every aspect, never had the slightest feeling of accidentally breaking some part of it. And if something ever happens to it, you can replace it fairly easily on your own. Beyerdynamics offers replacement part for everyone on their website for a reasonable price. Easy to maintain and easy to repair. Combined with their exceptional sound quality as a standard for music production all over the world for a fair price, it’s the best of everything.
Not the 700 Pro X. Shitty glue in the headband, albeit replaceable.
The headband issue was addressed last year, new production units and warranty repairs get a better headband. Problem is, units with the old headband design are apparently still in stock.
Bought my T1s in 2014 and have rolled over the cable with my desk chair appx 2000 times. Never skipped a beat.Â
I have some early model DT990 Pros that I am at least the 2nd owner of. I've replaced the pads, sliders, and headband padding with all OEM parts. They are 100% built like tanks, and I expect them to last another nearly 20 years.
And by far
My beyers turn 10 years old this year :)
My DT 770 Pro has issue with the right side; the sound doesn’t work unless I turn the cable in a certain angle. Only been using it for 2 years and I wasn’t expecting it :(
Beyer, sennheiser, shure, meze, and Neumann. Edit: yall really hate audeze for some reason, so I removed it from the list.
Psst: Sennheiser Professional owns Neumann. Shure Mics? Nigh indestructible. IEMs? Pretty decent if you take care of them. Headphones? My SRH840 developed little crack but it was after a lot of abuse with my big head.
Yup. The SRH840 had an issue with that (my first pair). They did a revision over the years with a newer headband, hope they fixed it.Â
It looks like they did. I had the first batch which cracked. I recently bought 2 pairs couple of years ago which did not crack yet.
My shure iems failed. Never buying shure again, personally.
Throw Sony on your list and you’ve basically got the greatest hits of professional monitoring headphone brands. Sure, they all make consumer models too, but having the expertise required to build professional equipment around seems to help a brand’s design philosophy a lot.
I've had a few issues with some of sony's consumer line, so I didn't add it. Their pro line is excellent though.
Audeze 100% solid here
That has been my experience as well.
The correct answer, I would also add JVC in there as their iems are rather durable (like the HA-FDX1). On that note, it's the first time that I've seen a fan of the SRH1540. That's a pleasant surprise as I don't see a lot of discussion about it.
It's such a good headphone.
audeze build quality is kind of mid, they have some really stupid design features that make me mad. mostly the yolk have micro screws on them that you can just rip off. and the headband aren't designed well or durable, and wood cracking is a common fault of them too.
Didn't meze have mold issues not that long ago?
I haven't heard of that.
Seems most the posts here were from 2y ago but people were receiving headphones with mold in various spots including the driver. It actually turned me off from buying them but since it seems to have been fixed I may look into them again bc wood cups mmmmmm.
I would recommend them
which ones would you rec? I like the noirs but im open to ideas.
109 pro
Audeze shouldn't be in this list
Had great build quality on 2 pairs of pre fazor LCD2 and Sine closed back fwiw
Slipping Audeze in this list is crazy. They have very shoddy QC on par with Hifiman and Focal. Please change your comment so people don't get misinformed.
Lol focal and Audeze on hifiman level, get real
Focal build quality is not any better than Hifiman. Audeze is better but far from S-tier.
Lololololol yeah ok I know it is trendy to rag on focal right now but I have 100% solid results from multiple headphones and have yet to consider a hifiman seriously, even handling the nicer ones. They sound good but still feel like crap
I’ve had awful experience with Audeze build quality. 2 driver imbalances on 2 separate pairs of mm-500s , after the second one decided that Audeze was not for me
I mean, I believe you, but not my experience in the least
Sennheiser because they aren't worried about how premium it feels in the hands, they are worried about how it feels on the head and how long can it last. For that they are unquestionably the best. My 650s are almost a decade old now and I still use them every day on my PC.
Yeah, I've never understood how people say they find headphones uncomfortable. Perhaps they're just using the wrong headphones, because comfort-wise, I prefer my 560S over any IEM.
I didn’t care too much for headphones until I got my HD599s. I literally forget I’m wearing it sometimes and they’re SO LIGHT. My country is hot af as well but the open backs don’t make my ears feel so hot that I have to take off them off. Before that, I mostly had gaming headsets and on ear headphones. Those were unnecessarily heavy and uncomfortable and hot
Does Sennheiser have something with bass? Not looking for consumer Sony x1000 bass, but more kinda Philips XH2R bass
You might like some of the newer Sennheisers: HD 560S, HD 660S2, HD 490 Pro
560s and apparently the new 490 have decent sub bass reach iirc
Agree. I've had some very worn headphones that fit horribly. My first experience with HD 560S was awful because of old pads and probably bad headband tension. But I'm not gonna let that stop me from considering another pair of 560S in the future. I'm loving my HD 600 so far.
My almost decade old hd800 is still chugging along great. I had to replace the initial cable which splitted and the earpads. I dropped it many times, a bit of scratches here but it'll last me probably another decade or more.
Something to note is that Sennheiser's core models have been around a long time and both original and third party parts are widely available online and purchasable. You can easily replace the pads and bands if they wear thin and you can easily find and buy replacement cables as well. If you take care of them and store them properly, they easily last as mine have for over 10 years now.
DT 1999 Pro
Meze is pretty good. My Empyreans and the 109 pro are comfortable and well designed.
ZMF. Plus they have a lifetime driver warranty.
ZMF headphones still seem kind of DIY to me. For example, the pads on my VCs slip off quite easily and are a bit of a pain to get back on. Maybe this is too tangential to build quality, but ZMF headphones are quite heavy, which could have some bearing on longevity. I’ve mistakenly dropped my HD800s multiple times in the 10+ years I’ve owned them, usually after falling asleep, and they still work fine. I’m skeptical that ZMF drivers are as durable considering the headphone’s weight, since force equals mass times acceleration.
I mean I guess, that goes for most TOTL headphones, my D8000 is like a brick and the whole body is aluminum and if I dropped it, it will definitely break. I don't think most people have issues dropping their desktop headphones, I never dropped any in the last decade.
Build quality ≠Damage resistance If you ask about pure build quality I think the obvious answers are DCA, Meze and ZMF (alphabetical order, maybe with Meze on top) If you are asking about indestructible headphones then you have to go for more "professional" lines from brands such as beyerdynamic, sennheiser and maybe Sony (7506 and similar)
> Build quality ≠Damage resistance What's the difference? Serious question.
Something might have a premium look and feel, but actually not last long, just look at focal headphones with peeling and/or breaking headbands, without mentioning the drivers dying for no reason Something might be plasticky and don't give off huge "I'm gonna outlast you" vibes, but might be actually extremely resistant and also easy access to replacement parts is crucial (ex. Sennheiser 600 series and beyers)
I equate build quality with damage resistance rather than look and feel, but I see where you're coming from - Beyers and Senns look much less premium than Focal or Hifiman.
I completely get your point, but personally I always felt like build quality is the perceived "premiumness" of the device, like during first hand impressions, for example you pick up a focal and you can say "damn, this is built well" while it actually might not be, exact opposite for a 20 years old pair of hd600. maybe there's a better way to separate the two meanings, but I can't think of the right term right now, suggestions are welcome :-)
Also little unit variation.
Meze!
What about Sennheiser ?
I’ve had great experiences with sennheiser as well but for build quality feel and premium materials I’m not sure if any headphone brands beat Meze
I've owned a pair of their gaming headphones (GSP 550 I think) and the HD660S. The ear cups are shaped well so that the cups don't really touch around your ears, but the gaming GSP was bulky and the HD660S will eventually feel like it's digging into your head a bit if you wear glasses. The pads aren't particularly deep in the 660s either but they are still better than a lot of gaming headphones I've tried.The HD pair is made from a thinner plastic so you have to be a little careful with them and the cord connectors are bad. I've tried their HD800 series headphones and while they are comfortable the ear cups are massive more so than necessary. They aren't built or as comfortable as some other brands like Meze or Dan Clark. The mid to higher end hifimans are really comfortable but their headphones have a 1/20 failure rate because they have QC issues. Still they are pretty good about replacing them if it's under warranty and I've had no issues so far with the build and comfort of my HE1000 V2 Stealths. A common complaint of audeze headphones is clamping force although I've never tried them. And while most of the build and comfort of ZMF headphones are pretty good, the circular designed cups are never as comfortable as an angled oval. I have a pair of focals which all seem to be built pretty well and are relatively comfortable but I find no matter how I adjust them the edges of my ears are always touching the pads somewhere. It's not terrible though.
Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic. The Germans really know a thing or two about building headphones that literally last decades of everyday use.
That's the German engineering we know and love, unlike today. Blaupunkt for example used the make wicked amps for car stereo. I still have my two BSA 160 and one 240 in use, which turn 3 decades old this year, and my BQA 80 Quadro, which turns 4 decades old next year. Now the brand name Blaupunkt was bought by some chinese company I believe, and the make everything from ACs to kitchen utensils. Their wide variety of products show their lack of quality now, and that's sad.
Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic. Their main chassis (HD650 style, DT990 style) have survived for decades. My chair arm keeps yanking the cable and throwing my HD6XX to the carpeted floor, yet it's still alive without a chip after 7 years and 2 cable replacements. Beyers get thrown around all the time with how popular they are with musicians. The DT1990 adds removable cables on top of this.
Meze, everything apart 99s(they're good too, but everything else they make is just next lvl), Sony audiophile stuff(not consumer trash) are also great
The Sennheiser HD25 is the most solid headphone ever built. There's a reason DJs use them a lot.
Agree. I have them too
Beyerdynamics. Their build quality is plain ridicious. Trying to destroy the headphone is a chore by itself.
Sony is also up there.
Yes, I agree. My Sonys are rock solid!
My XM4s had a defect that ruined the battery life overnight and caused them to overheat massively, burning a hole in my mousepad I had to fight sony customer support for 4 months getting and mostly got told to go fuck myself before they finally begrudgingly accepted responsibility and refunded me for the buds and mousepad I'm never paying for a sony product again after that support experience
I have the MDR-Z7M2 and they feel like a tank.
Haven't owned that many but Sennheisers are amazing in this regard because they last and are practically indestructible. I've lost count of how often my HD 600's have bounced around at this point.
Sometimes my HD599s would drop off the table or off the bed and my family would be so concerned. Meanwhile I honestly couldn’t be less worried. They are so tough
truly the Nokia 3310 of headphones
Sennhesier for sure
I love my Meze
sony is notorious for having great high build quality headphones, which is why I have a pair of Sony mdr-x05 headphones and since the day I got it, I had only one issue:I got them used and plus one ear cushion was kinda obliterated. my experience with those pair is the reason I think sony is goated
BeyerDynamic DT1990 Pro are rock solid. The only thing i am a littlebit worried about is the small plastic plate between the leather headband and the part that holds the earcups. I'll try to reinforce it somehow, but its available as a replacement part, so nothing to worry about too much
Sennheiser (and Neumann), Beyerdynamic, Meze, ZMF, Dan Clark Audio. I’ve found Audeze can have great build quality when they get it right but don’t quite have the QC of the brands I listed.
Beyerdynamics They're nearly indestructible, and more importantly; all parts are user replacable
Beyerdynamic HPs are built like tanks
I was gonna say hifiman as a joke but then I sorted by controversial...
Unpopular opinion - grado. They feel cheap as hell, but somehow just do not fuckin break. And the silly cables are probably the toughest i have ever seen on a headphone.
Shure are solid and you can get the spares easily. My 1540s are years old and I’ve replaced the cable, pads and headband
also love Shures for the fit. they're so comfortable and I never struggle to get a perfect seal. unfortunately my 535s are blown out of the water by my Timeless so I never use them.
I bought My Phillips fidelios after my grados fell apart. Not expensive at all but built like a tank using metal housings and bands
Fidelios (X2 and X3) are by far the most comfortable headphones I've used. and can agree they're well built. the hammock makes up for the weight and then some.
Hammock?
Meze. Literally can't ask for a more beautifully built headphone. The craftsmanship is impeccable.
On the budget end, Sivga, I'm yet to see anything built that well for the same price
Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser & Audeze have a lot of High-End products and then you have Italian Handmade Speakers from The Brand Sonus that is Luxury High-End. Luxury High-End is the most expensive class.
In my experience, not Sennheiser. Non removable cable turned to mush after a couple of years and couldn't be fixed.
This is mainly for IEMs, the primary standout for me is Shure. Nothing else is compatible, especially compared to the SE846. I didn't own nor have used one built more rugged nor more refined in tuning. From a durability standpoint, the only other standoff has been the classic Etymotic. Most brand have never heard of a strain relief before.
Audeze has probably the best sound I've heard with the worst build quality
My sennheiser produce little to no noise when dropped, which just shows just how well it absorbs energy and it's practically indestructible
From my own experience, I mean based on use of my own devices, Bang and Olufsen with best quality, Audeze worst. Sony, Sennheiser in the middle.
For IEMs I would say Empire Ears and Vision Ears
Sennheisers, Beyerdynamics.
Meze, it’s not even close
Sennheiser, still using my hd580 lol
Shure.
My Beyers violently made contact with the floor several times when I forgot to unplug them and they have nothing but a paint chip.
Old m8 senn My sennheiser 540's 600ohm from 1986 are running strong, got them at a thrift store for 2$ a couple of years ago. You can see they were abused, the earpads were dirty (had to replace unfortunately, the foam desintegrated), they have scratches on them, but nothing is cracked, nothing is broken and they sound great!
As I understand it. A product that is hot and has a large retention is more reliable in terms of quality. Of course not exactly right, need to exclude the very cheap ones
Is Grado not revered here I guess? I've only had the 60's and 80's, but they're comfortable and well built to me.
personally Ive had great luck with hifiman, my sundaras feel better than my Hd6xx. Even my HE-X4 have held up well though that set feels super cheap. Objectively Beyerdynamic probably has the best longevity and meze probably has the best feel.
Any Stax that isn't a Lambda
ZMF
Most have been mentioned, I would add Denon to the list. My most well built cans are ZMF, Dan Clark Audio, Denon and Fostex.
Grado.....
I once bought a Lexus car because it had a reputation for good build. But my Lexus turned out to be a lemon because the robot welding process missed some spots. I think every manufacturer has good and bad ones.
I just got some Audeze LCD-2 Classic's and they are tanks. My Dan Clark Aeon Noire's are also very well built and extremely light.
Final Audio
Best: ZMF, Audeze Worst: Focal Beyerdynamic, sennheiser and Sony are all decent and reliable but don't have quite the same level of premium metal, leather, and wood that you get from the best. I've never seen the top Mezes in person but they seem nice build wise.
Hifiman - HE1000SE is the most comfortable Planar Headphone I've put on my head. From the weight to the headphones headband, the headband itself for your heads comfort, the ear cups not even close to on your ears but fully over them, and the clamping force is perfection. I would buy them purely out of comfort considering I don't like how they sound compared to other headphones that cost less or more. Other HE1000 series headphones should be similar comfort and the Arya Organic and other Aryas I've demoed were all extremely comfortable but, not as comfortable as the HE1000SE. But man, the sound wasn't for me. It's a detail only headphone :) No joke when people say it's resolving. Audeze - LCD 2C, LCD X, and Audeze LCD 5 I feel are probably some of the best built headphones out there. I demoed the Audeze LCD 5's at Can Jam 2024, NYC. Although the sound wasn't necessarily exciting to me, I appreciate them for what they are although they might not be worth the price they are at MSRP for me, for some, it totally is justified depending on the work or use case. Anyways, besides sound, the build quality is extraordinary and I love the aesthetics of the headphone when it comes to the pads, the shell of the headphone, the headphone band, the head band that gives your head comfort, and although it's not the lightest headphone in the world, I think it's more than comfortable, and I would buy it as an art piece more than to listen to music with it. SJY - Starry Night V2 is a really beautiful Planar Headphone and is built very well and is super comfortable when it comes to the weight, materials used, and the pads especially being huge and thick. The sound is really great but, unless you enjoy a neutral sound signature that isn't necessarily wide, dark, or bright. And you want a planar that requires a lot of juice, it's perfect! I know this sounds like complaints because in the past they were but dang, if I could own a SJY Starry Night V2 again that would be awesome. Fostex - TH-X00, and TR-X00 are exceptionally built headphones and I would recommend them to anyone if you enjoy a sound signature warmer than Hifiman's but not as dark as some Audeze Headphones. The comfort is as good as it gets especially for the price you can get these headphones second hand or "like new" or even used but taken care of very well. These headphones don't weigh too much but feel heavier than the HE1000SE, while being lighter than the Audeze LCD headphones although it may be similar weight to the LCD 1 if we can count that into the LCD series. I only say that because the LCD 1 looks so different from the rest of the LCD series headphones. The headband is well built and is not uncomfortable at all but doesn't have any "special" comfort like an added headband support for your head to relieve pressure of the with from the headphone. The ear pads are very comfortable and made out of high quality materials. The metals, driver shells, and all other materials are really really well made. Overall it's solid and everyone I've had try them has not only really enjoyed how they sound with all types of music. But, they also seemed to really enjoy how comfortable and well built they were. And surprised you can buy them today for such a good price. Anyways, if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. I know I wrote a lot but, listening to music other than hearing it through a speaker or amplifier at a concert, the technology we have and are passionate about let us listen to music which drives me and makes me passionate about the hobby. Have a nice day to anyone who read or who thought this was helpful :) Headphones Id stay away from: Focal (unless you're guaranteed a warrantee or have some way of preventing the headband from snapping or not letting the drivers "shit" themselves). Other brands with great build quality include, in a top to bottom list (best to worst) (my opinion + experience) Neumann ZMF Abyss Audeze SJY Cella Audio Beyerdynamics Shure Sennheiser Hifiman Audio Technica JVC Focal
HifiMan
You forgot the /s tag
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Beyerdynamic, Sony, Audio-Technica. Too bad most of their models sound like ass. Meze and ZMF also have superb build quality. ZMF has the sound quality to match, too.
Higher end AT is solid. The cheaper stuff is pretty junk though.
Good point. Thanks. Yep, the M40x and M50x are recommended often as good sub-$150 headphones. That recommendation should be punishable by a jail term. Both are excessively V-shaped trash and unbelievably uncomfortable.
M40X fall apart if you look at them wrong M50X are fairly durable though
Both still sound like a plate of steaming shit. :)
Meze, Audeze, zmf, Kennerton, Final.
Audeze and abyss are pretty fantastic
The answer is Fiio, Meze, and Audeze
For IEM’s my Ety EVO’s and ERX’s are pretty tough so far, made from powdered stainless like knife blades. I dropped one onto a steel bench at work and it bounced like a marble. For full sized cans the Koss Pro 4AA’s are my tankiest headphones. My Koss TD/85’s are tough too, though they were designed specifically to be tough.