8 New Headphones to Add to Your Wish List

The FiiO FT7 are flagship open-back planar magnetic headphones that the brand describes as “the pinnacle of the lessons learned and technology breakthroughs” in previous open-back cans. They feature 106mm planar magnetic drivers and standout zebrawood grilles. And at $800, they promise to be one of the more affordable planar magnetic cans on the market.

The Sennheiser HD 505 is the most premium open-back headphones in the brand’s entry-level HD 500 series. They pack custom 120-ohm transducers capable of delivering sound with a wide frequency response (12 to 38,500 Hz) and a total harmonic distortion measurement of less than 0.2 percent. They are lightweight, weighing 237 grams, designed for long listening sessions. And at $280, they won’t make you break the bank.

The Focal Bathys MG are even higher-end wireless noise-canceling headphones than the company’s 2022-released Bathys. They share the same basic design and many of the same features, but the French loudspeaker manufacturer upgraded them with even more luxurious materials (such as aluminum, magnesium and leather) and decked them out with upgraded M-shaped magnesium dome drivers — the same ones featured in its $1,699 Clear MG headphones. At $1,299, they’re twice as expensive as the Bathys and definitely one of the most expensive wireless ANC headphones you can buy.

The Meze Audio Poet are the Romanian hi-fi brand’s most affordable and compact pair of open-back planar magnetic headphones. They feature MZ6 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers — which the brand partnered with Rinaro Isodynamics, a Ukrainian audio company with over 30 years of planar magnetic experience, to create — that deliver an extremely high-resolution sound with ultra-low distortion (<0.05%). They also have a fully serviceable design, so if components get damaged or worn out over time, they can be replaced.

The Sennheiser HD 550 are affordable open-back headphones designed for budget-conscious audiophiles. They are similar to the German hi-fi maker’s HD 505 — they have a lightweight and modular design with large cushioned earcups — but they have custom 38mm transducers that deliver a fuller and wider sound with deeper bass. Because of this fact, Sennheiser is also marketing them to gamers who want elite sound quality (but don’t necessarily need a microphone). They cost $20 more than the brand’s HD 505.

The Grado Signature S950 are audiophile-grade open-back wired headphones from the famed Brooklyn-based hi-fi maker. They share much in common with the brand’s Signature HP100 SE, including the same 52mm drivers. Still, the Signature S950 features Brazilian walnut wooden housings instead of aluminum, which gives them a more stylish look and helps them deliver a more balanced sound.

Audio-Technica has updated its R-Series of open-back headphones designed for musicians, sound engineers and other audio professionals. The Japanese audio brand has introduced the flagship ATH-R70xa, which are “enhanced” versions of its 2015-released ATH-R70x, as well as two more affordable models, the midrange ATH-R50x and entry-level ATH-R30x.

Initially released in 2022, the Focal Bathys are the luxury French hi-fi manufacturer’s first (and only) pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones — they’re also one of the most expensive models you can buy. They have the same 40mm M-shaped dome drivers as in the company’s non-wireless closed-back headphones, the $999 Celestee, and deliver high-resolution sound. They also have a standout design with premium materials, such as magnesium, aluminum and genuine leather. As of 2025, Focal now offers them in a “Deep Black” finish.