The Best Headphones of 2026: Open, Closed, and Wireless Designs
Some of the most exciting headphone releases this year.
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In this roundup, we’re looking at some best headphones released this year, with exciting open, closed, and wireless designs.
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This year, we looked at a range of different headphones for tracking, music production, mixing, and listening. While you may simply prefer the sound of one manufacturer’s headphones to another, we’ve checked out the long-term durability for everyday use and the overall versatility.
The Best Headphones of 2026: sE Electronics KLS 150
This year, sE Electronics released its first pair of headphones, the KLS 150. This affordable closed-back design has been created to offer isolated monitoring in studios and live sound environments. Headphone bleed is minimized with the dual-shell earcups, while the memory foam padding molds itself to your head shape for a firm seal and a comfortable fit.
If you take off the outer shell cover of each earcup, you can access the unique bass controls that allow you to change the low-end response of the KLS 150. This happens by way of a passive mechanical design that allows an acoustic shelving filter to boost or cut the low-end by 5 dB for different user preferences and applications.
The KLS 150 uses a 40 mm neodymium dynamic driver with a frequency response of 12 – 28,000 Hz, which is balanced throughout the range and features precise low-end reproduction. In addition, the KLS 150 headphones have an impedance rating of 39 ohms, so they will perform nicely on a wide range of professional and consumer devices.
The Best Headphones of 2026: Sennheiser HD 480 PRO
Another notable release this year was the HD 480 PRO professional studio headphones. Created by Sennheiser as the closed-back alternative to the HD 490 PRO open-back headphones, the HD 480 PRO provides controlled isolation, premium comfort, and a neutral sound profile, making it ideal for both tracking and mixing applications.
Equipped with 38 mm dynamic drivers, the HD 480 PRO delivers a transparent midrange, smooth highs, and a powerful low-end with an exceptionally detailed transient response. For a closed-back design, the HD 480 PRO has a soundstage that feels particularly open, making it easy to distinguish between elements in dense mixes.
The design also features a Vibration Attenuation System, which negates structural noise, while the detachable coiled cable can be attached to either side of the headset. With an impedance rating of 130 ohms, the HD 480 PRO will prefer a better headphone amp, whether that’s on your audio interface or a dedicated unit.
The Best Headphones of 2026: LEWITT LW6
The LEWITT LW6 is a set of wireless headphones that allows low-latency, uncompressed audio (24-bit 48 kHz) monitoring with its dedicated transmitter that connects to your computer via USB-C or the headphones output of your audio interface. While the LW6 uses a closed-back design for isolated monitoring, its acoustics are geared toward recreating the more neutral profile associated with open-back headphones.
Equipped with 40 mm electrodynamic transducers, the LW6 has articulate low-end response, transparent mids, and a characteristically bright high-frequency range. This makes the LW6 headphones useful for a wide range of applications, including tracking, beat production, mixing, and mastering, as they can also use Bluetooth and wired connectivity.
In addition, the LW6 is equipped with DSP, which is managed via the accompanying mobile or desktop apps. This gives you access to a 5-band EQ, with storage of up to three profiles. The Space Replicator Essential software for simulating acoustic spaces and studio monitors is also included, and there is a protective Loudness Guard and various utility functions.
The Best Headphones of 2026: Steven Slate Audio VSX Immersion One
Steven Slate Audio launched the VSX Immersion One (or IM1) headphones this year, a premium open-back design that works in tandem with the VSX Platinum room-modeling system. The natural evolution in the extremely popular VSX headphone line, the Immersion One uses planar magnetic drivers to deliver unparalleled detail and depth.
The larger magnets obviously increase the overall weight of these headphones (470 g), but they are still extremely comfortable, with soft artificial leather earpads. With the combination of the open-back architecture and the planar magnetic driver system, the Immersion One offers ultra-fast transient response with extremely precise low-end reproduction.
In addition, this shift in design approach makes the speaker and acoustic environment modeling software even more realistic, because the sound doesn’t seem as localized as the closed-back version of the VSX. Included with the Immersion One is the complete VSX Platinum suite with over 24 environments and free library updates when new rooms are added.
The Best Headphones of 2026: Audeze MM-520
In the higher end of the studio headphone market, Audeze released its new updated version of the flagship planar magnetic open-back headphones in the popular Manny Marroquin series. With its large 90 mm planar magnetic transducers, spring-steel headband, and SLAM components, the MM-520 weighs 555 g.
Compared to the previous generation, the primary upgrade comes in the form of the SLAM (Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator) system, which enhances the low-end reproduction, particularly in the sub-bass range. The SLAM ring design also allows the premium memory foam earpads to be magnetically attached for easy replacement.
Sonically, the MM-520 has a smoother and slightly more balanced overall profile with more relaxed upper mids for natural presentation of crucial mix elements in the vocal and instrument range. Meanwhile, the soundstage remains characteristically similar to the listening experience of studio monitors, allowing layered mixing.
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