HEDD Audio HEDDphone D1
Runner UpHiFiMAN Edition XV
Winnerlistener's Product of the Year Award goes to the Prisma Lumen—which they praised as the first genuinely neutral IEM they've heard, a top-to-bottom reference that stands apart in a crowded, immature IEM market.
GoldenSound's Picks: Honorable MentionCrinEar Protocol Max
Runner UpHEDD Audio HEDDphone D1
Winner Cameron's Product of the Year award goes to the Hifiman Edition XV, its price-to-performance ratio and improved tuning direction are simply too hard to argue with. Fc-Construct's Picks: Honorable MentionAudio-Technica ADX7000
Runner UpTruthear Pure and CrinEar Daybreak
Winner Caleb's Product of the Year pick is the Sennheiser HDB 630, not for absolute sound quality, but for what it represents in terms of user control. Resolve's Picks: Honorable MentionBose QC Ultra Gen 2
Runner UpHEDD Audio HEDDphone D1
Winner Resolve chooses the Sennheiser HDB 630 as his Product of the Year due to its integration of parametric EQ and what that means for the future of the audiophile ANC headphone market. Disappointments of the Year Despite a strong year overall and us all hing fairly different tastes, we unanimously agree on the biggest letdown: Apple AirPods Pro 3. While improvements in ANC and transparency mode are legitimately fantastic, the new, more V-shaped tuning, the comfort changes, and unmet expectations relative to the previous (incredibly competent) generation made AirPods Pro 3 the clearest disappointment. Consensus Awards DAC/Amp of the Year CrinEar Protocol Max — delivering exceptional power and flexibility at an extremely reasonable price makes this the most important DAC/Amp of 2025. CrinEar Protocol Max Back-order More information Back-orders will ship as soon as we receive them. Regular price $89.99 Sale price $89.99 Regular price $89.99 Unit price / per Learn more IEM of the Year CrinEar Daybreak — chosen for its balanced tuning, comfort, accessibility, and ability to demonstrate what modern IEMs can do at its price, in a year basically defined entirely by worse, more expensive versions of this tuning, Daybreak is a pretty easy choice. CrinEar Daybreak In-Ear Headphones Back-order More information Back-orders will ship as soon as we receive them. Regular price $169.99 Sale price $169.99 Regular price $169.99 Unit price / per Learn more Wireless Headphone of the YearSennheiser HDB 630 — its parametric EQ, and the broader implications it has for the future of wireless headphones, is something we're deeply excited about.
Sennheiser HDB 630 Wireless Headphones Back-order More information Back-orders will ship as soon as we receive them. Regular price $499.95 Sale price $499.95 Regular price $499.95 Unit price / per Learn more Headphone of the Year HiFiMAN Edition XV — Edition XV edges out other very, very strong competitors thanks to its comfort, extended bass, approachable tuning, and standout value. Hifiman Edition XV Headphones Preorder now More information Pre-order now and your order will ship as soon as it is in stock. Regular price $399 Sale price $399 Regular price $399.00 Unit price / per Learn more Looking Ahead to 2026 We he cautious optimism for the year ahead. We want more DSP-driven wireless designs—particularly open-back and gaming-oriented products—as well as a desire for the trend of more “normal-sounding” headphones and IEMs to continue. We think our 2025 picks reflect a year defined less by flashy experimentation and more by refinement, usability, and a growing alignment between sound quality, value, and real-world listening needs.