High-quality headphones
Experience music as it was meant to be heard
Headphones offer an intimate, focused listening experience – free from the influence of room acoustics, right at the source. Depending on design and technology, sound character, comfort and area of use differ. We help you find the model that suits your ears, your music and your system.
Close to the music
Music without room influence – every detail right at your ear, at any time of day.
Finely resolved mids and dynamics without exaggeration – musical rather than intrusive.
Low weight, balanced clamping force and soft pads for hours of listening.
Impedance and sensitivity matched to smartphone, amplifier or headphone amplifier.
Headphone types at a glance
The design determines how a headphone sounds, how it wears and where it plays to its strengths. Four groups shape our range:
The rear of the diaphragm is open. This creates a particularly airy, spacious sound with a natural soundstage – ideal for quiet listening at home.
Closed ear cups isolate more strongly in both directions. Perfect on the move, in the studio or when others in the room shouldn’t listen in.
Compact, portable and astonishingly precise. Well-fitting ear tips seal the ear canal and ensure clean bass. Many models use dynamic drivers, balanced armature drivers or a combination of both.
Ultra-thin diaphragms driven across their whole surface for exceptional resolution and very low distortion – the premier class for high-end listening.
Headphones are also distinguished by fit: over-ear models fully enclose the ear and are especially comfortable for long sessions, while on-ear models rest on the ear and are more compact.
Dynamic, planar or electrostatic?
The heart of every headphone is its transducer – the component that turns electrical signals into sound. You will meet three principles in high-quality headphones:
| Feature | Dynamic | Planar magnetic | Electrostatic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principle | Voice coil moves a diaphragm in a magnetic field | Conductor traces on a film between rows of magnets | Charged film between two stators |
| Diaphragm | Dome or cone | Very thin, driven over a large area | Extremely thin and light |
| Strengths | Lively, versatile, efficient | Precise bass, very low distortion | Finest resolution, fast transients |
| Driving | From smartphone to amplifier | Often benefits from a powerful headphone amp | Dedicated driver unit (energizer) required |
| Use | Everyday to high end | Home, high end | High end, home |
A note on electrostatic headphones: they need their own driver unit to supply the high bias voltage for the diaphragm. A normal headphone output is not sufficient. Planar magnetic models, by contrast, run on any headphone amplifier but usually benefit from a powerful output stage.
What matters in audiophile headphones?
A good headphone convinces not with effects but with naturalness – and with the fact that you still enjoy wearing it after hours.
- —Natural tuning & finely resolved mids: Voices and instruments live in the midrange. A well-balanced headphone renders them with true timbres instead of artificially boosting bass and treble.
- —Dynamics without exaggeration: Transients should leap out without becoming tiring. Musical headphones stay relaxed even in long sessions and are never intrusive.
- —High wearing comfort: Weight, clamping force, pad material and headband design decide whether a headphone still feels comfortable after two hours. Velour breathes, while leather and protein leather seal better.
- —Matching impedance & sensitivity: Low-impedance, efficient models play loud enough even from a smartphone. High-impedance headphones, often 250 to 600 ohms, only come into their own with a good headphone amplifier – whose output impedance should be as low as possible.
- —The source matters: A high-quality headphone mercilessly reveals what happens upstream. A good DAC and a matching headphone amplifier get audibly more out of it.
Who are our headphones suitable for?
Detail listener, record lover or professional: a high-quality headphone brings you closer to the recording than almost any other device.
For everyone who wants to hear every nuance of a recording and have full control over their listening experience.
For the late-night record session when the rest of the house is asleep – quiet, close and still with full sound.
For recording, mixing and monitoring when an honest, precise sound image is required.
For travel, commuting and the office: quality and comfort that convince far from your home system too.
Your benefits at Klangheimat
We stock headphones that have convinced us ourselves – and help you put together the right overall package of design, sound and technology.
Carefully selected models from renowned headphone brands – from portable in-ears to high-end reference models.
On fit, intended use and technical matching with your amplifier, DAC or smartphone.
Cables, ear pads, headphone amplifiers and stands – so your headphones can reach their full potential.
Frequently asked questions about high-quality headphones
Open-back or closed-back – which headphone suits me?
Open-back headphones sound airier and more spacious but let sound out and in. They are ideal for quiet listening at home. Closed-back headphones isolate better and suit travel, the office or recording. If you want to listen at home without disturbing others, a closed-back model is also a good choice.
Do I need a headphone amplifier?
That depends on the headphone. Efficient, low-impedance models play loud enough from a smartphone or laptop. High-impedance or less efficient headphones, such as many planar models, sound clearly more dynamic, controlled and detailed with a good headphone amplifier.
What does impedance mean for headphones?
Impedance is the electrical resistance of the headphone, stated in ohms. Low-impedance models need little voltage and suit mobile devices. High-impedance models need more voltage and come into their own with desktop headphone amplifiers. How loud a headphone gets also depends on its sensitivity.
What is a planar magnetic headphone?
In planar magnetic headphones, the conductor sits directly on a very thin film diaphragm that is driven over a large area between rows of magnets. This enables precise bass, very low distortion and high resolution. Many planar models benefit from a powerful headphone amplifier.
Do electrostatic headphones need special equipment?
Yes. Electrostatic headphones need their own driver unit, often called an energizer. It supplies the high bias voltage for the diaphragm and amplifies the music signal. They cannot be used with a normal headphone output. We will gladly advise you on the right combination.
Can I use headphones to listen to records?
Of course. Connect the headphones to the headphone output of your amplifier or to a headphone amplifier. The turntable itself has no headphone output: the signal always needs a phono stage and an amplifier. Some phono preamplifiers and integrated amplifiers offer a high-quality headphone output directly.
Is a balanced headphone cable worthwhile?
If your headphone amplifier has a balanced output, such as a 4.4 mm socket or a four-pin XLR connector, a balanced cable can bring more power and cleaner channel separation. This requires your headphones to have a detachable cable and amplifier and cable to match.
When should I replace the ear pads?
When pads are flattened, cracked or no longer seal properly. Worn pads reduce comfort and change the sound, especially in the bass. Original replacement pads restore the original sound, while other materials can deliberately change its character.
Discover headphones at Klangheimat now – and experience music up close.
Not sure which headphone suits your music and your system? Get in touch – we will gladly advise you.
