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BEST High-End Headphones of 2021
We’ve tested the very best audiophile headphones, from high-end to budget, and we’ve got all the buying advice you need.
The Master Switch
By: Rob Boffard | Last Updated: March 18, 2021
KLH Ultimate One ($300)
Category: Dynamic / Open-Back
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 97dB
What We Like: Beautiful design, attractive price.
What We Don’t: Slightly too bass-heavy.
You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get a great pair of high-end headphones. Instead, you could spend a mere $300 on a pair of KLH Ultimate Ones. KLH are traditionally a speaker company, and we were as surprised as anybody to see them release a pair of headphones. Fortunately, they know what they are doing. Every aspect from their beautiful design, with a lovely wooden finish that recalls the ZMF Vérité Closed, to their solid sound quality, the KLH Ultimate Ones are top notch. They feel luxurious and premium, as if they should cost far more than they do.
One aspect to mention about the Ultimate Ones is that they offer a warm, dark sound, meaning that the bass dominates above all else. We believe it sounds great – we like a bit of bass – but the audio might not be for everyone. This particular sound signature may turn off those looking for a more balanced or neutral presentation. If that’s you, we recommend the Sennheiser HD600s, which are only slightly more expensive.