Comparison

Sennheiser’s 600-series headphones have defined the audiophile midrange for nearly three decades. The HD 600, introduced in 1997, remains one of the most consistently recommended headphones in the entire hobby—a benchmark that newer products get measured against regardless of price. The HD 660S2, launched in 2022 as Sennheiser’s most ambitious evolution of the 600-series formula, represents the company’s clearest statement about where the platform can go when they’re willing to make genuinely significant changes. ...

Sennheiser’s 600-series headphones have defined the audiophile midrange for nearly three decades. The HD 600, introduced in 1997, remains one of the most consistently recommended headphones in the entire hobby—a benchmark that newer products get measured against regardless of price. The HD 660S2, launched in 2022 as Sennheiser’s most ambitious evolution of the 600-series formula, represents the company’s clearest statement about where the platform can go when they’re willing to make genuinely significant changes. ...

Sennheiser’s 600-series headphones have defined the audiophile midrange for nearly three decades. The HD 600, introduced in 1997, remains one of the most consistently recommended headphones in the entire hobby—a benchmark that newer products get measured against regardless of price. The HD 660S2, launched in 2022 as Sennheiser’s most ambitious evolution of the 600-series formula, represents the company’s clearest statement about where the platform can go when they’re willing to make genuinely significant changes. ...

For nearly a decade, the high-fidelity streaming market has been a two-horse race. On one side sits Qobuz — the French purist that delivers genuine lossless FLAC and uncompressed CD-quality streams. On the other sits Tidal — the larger, more mainstream service that pioneered the Hi-Fi streaming category and now operates under Block (Square) ownership. Both services now offer hi-res audio. Both run on virtually every device. Both cost around the same monthly fee. So which one deserves your subscription in 2026? ...

Meze Audio built their reputation on a single product: the 99 Classics. Launched in 2015, it became one of the most consistently recommended closed-back headphones at its price point—praised for comfort, sound quality, and a wood aesthetic that stood out sharply in a market dominated by plastic and faux-leather. The 99 Neo followed in 2017 as a more affordable alternative sharing the same driver and acoustic platform, but with different materials and a lower price. ...

Meze Audio built their reputation on a single product: the 99 Classics. Launched in 2015, it became one of the most consistently recommended closed-back headphones at its price point—praised for comfort, sound quality, and a wood aesthetic that stood out sharply in a market dominated by plastic and faux-leather. If you’re curious about Meze’s flagship, read our Meze Empyrean III review for a taste of their planar magnetic high-end. The 99 Neo followed in 2017 as a more affordable alternative sharing the same driver and acoustic platform, but with different materials and a lower price. ...

Meze Audio built their reputation on a single product: the 99 Classics. Launched in 2015, it became one of the most consistently recommended closed-back headphones at its price point—praised for comfort, sound quality, and a wood aesthetic that stood out sharply in a market dominated by plastic and faux-leather. The 99 Neo followed in 2017 as a more affordable alternative sharing the same driver and acoustic platform, but with different materials and a lower price. ...

Two of the world’s most recognized “studio” headphone recommendations have been competing for the same buyer for years. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro are closed-back, professional-leaning headphones that routinely appear on “best under $200” lists — and routinely get purchased by different types of buyers for different reasons. In 2026, both remain relevant. Neither has been definitively supplanted. But they are significantly different headphones, designed with different priorities, and understanding those differences will save you from buying the wrong one. ...

The high-end planar magnetic market has two distinct poles. On one end sits the Audeze LCD-X, the industry standard for studio monitoring and bass-heavy performance. On the other sits the newly released ZMF Tessidera, an artisanal, warm-tuned planar that prioritizes musicality over clinical neutrality. If you are choosing between these two, you aren’t just picking a driver; you are choosing a philosophy. 1. Sound Signature ZMF Tessidera: The “Musical” Planar The Tessidera is the anti-planar. While it retains the technical speed, transient snap, and low-frequency control of a planar magnetic driver, ZMF has tuned it with their signature house sound: warm, inviting, and emotionally resonant. ...

The high-end planar magnetic market has two distinct poles. On one end sits the Audeze LCD-X, the industry standard for studio monitoring and bass-heavy performance. On the other sits the newly released ZMF Tessidera, an artisanal, warm-tuned planar that prioritizes musicality over clinical neutrality. If you are choosing between these two, you aren’t just picking a driver; you are choosing a philosophy. 1. Sound Signature ZMF Tessidera: The “Musical” Planar The Tessidera is the anti-planar. While it retains the technical speed, transient snap, and low-frequency control of a planar magnetic driver, ZMF has tuned it with their signature house sound: warm, inviting, and emotionally resonant. ...