Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Premium Headphones to Buy This Season

Aside from a smartphone, the majority of us have a pair of hi-end sound cans penciled into this year's Christmas list. Don't believe the hype? Well, according to market analysts, premium headphones alone accounted for over 90 percent of headphones sales during Q1 2013. Numbers don't lie folks. And with several tech manufacturers saving their best audio offerings for the holidays, best believe the desire thirst for a new pair of dope and great-sounding noisemakers will only intensify.

Having placed our ears on some of the industry's hottest options, we compiled a list of frill favorites worth spending heavy on for the new year. So clean out your ears and open your eyes as we put you onto The Best Premium Headphones to Buy This Season.

Price: $400

B&W continues to stroke our eardrums with breathtaking audio quality courtesy of the P7. Gorgeous in design and sound, the luxury sound cans boast crisp clarity, powerful bass, and sharp highs to make for a well-tuned sound stage unprecedented in other over-ears. Consider it the Mercedes-Benz of headphones.

Price: $270

The Denmark audio staple called on the expertise of Jay-Z’s longtime mix engineer to tune up its popular noisemakers. End result: one of the dopest-sounding headphones we’ve ever set on our domes. AIAIAI brings forth richer clarity, while keeping intact the deep stereo imaging and detailed treble of the original model. Softer earcup padding means you can go through Jigga’s entire album catalog the entire day without feeling discomfort.

Price: $300

Bose introduces the best commuter in-ears of any price class led by its award-winning noise-cancelling circuitry and hi-fidelity output. Effective on both sides of the audio spectrum, the QC 20i’s sound is incredibly amazing in active or passive modes. But it’s in the receiver's unique Aware Mode feature where it offers up the most unique listening experience—dampening noise cancellation and enabling a secondary mic to hear your surroundings without compromising music quality.

Price: $380

Beats surprised audio hounds by launching a wireless version to its revamped flagship bass blasters, carrying over the remarkably improved sonics of its predecessor with advanced Bluetooth functionality. Stream tracks from up to 30-feet on 12 hours of battery life with the company’s adaptive noise-canceling technology spearheading everything.

Price: $240

The suitably labeled NC matches the soundstage of the Bose QC 15 and brings the entire audio package together in a more opulent design. Harman Kardon’s noise canceller features stellar ANC (Active Noise-Cancellation) technology, which uses a two-mic system to eliminate background clatter with finesse. A built-in rechargeable battery powers up to 40 hours of playback, plus the retro, fold-flat layout gives the headphones sophisticated swag.

Price: $200

Part of Polk Audio’s Heritage series, these hi-end earbuds feature a unique “loop” form factor and balanced armature drivers that achieve deep bass and low frequency responses. Some might find the built inline controls located near the right ear bud awkward, but the anomalous setup actually works awesome for playback functionality. Electro-acoustic tuning welcomes detailed highs and expanded midrange resulting in pure audio ecstasy.

Price: $200

Sol Republic’s put out some dope noisemakers this year, from headphones to wireless speakers, but none struck a chord louder than the wireless Tracks Air. Impressive sound quality, dual-device connectivity, 15-hour battery life, and an est. 150-foot wireless range—if only every Bluetooth headphone could warrant such luxuries—in the same price range that is.

Price: $350

A bass lovers wet dream, the Synchros S700 elevates enough full-toned sound to leave your body in aftershock mode. Its die-cast aluminum earcups and closed-back design conceal the deep bass response, with JBL’s “advanced, binaural digital sound processing” technology offering up a more spacious sound scape that equates to studio quality substance. Headbangers rejoice!

Price: $130

A good noise-isolation in-ear is more difficult to stumble upon than an over-ear noise canceller. RHA’s audio solution doesn’t only kick out amazing sound and distortion-free results, but does it at nearly half the price of a premium earbud. The MA 750i handles bass and treble better than most headphones in its class and sports a sturdy, affluent build sure to draw you some attention at the gym. A trendy protective case and a bevy of eartips come included.

Price: $230

A mid-range headphone parading high-end performance, Sennheiser’s on-ear compacts modern sonics into an stylish, minimalist throwback design. Astounding instrumental spacing, flavorful low-end output, and sharp detailing best describe the Momentum’s attributes. Performance surely exceeds value here.

Price: $299

A passive-enabled receiver with an elite sonic signature, the M4U 1 astounds on all levels from its comfortably adaptive design to dynamic performance. The headphones manage to carry over the insanely detailed and room-filled output present in its award-winning loud speakers complimentary of PSB's dominant 40mm drivers. A lightweight feel and robust ergonomics—highlighted by the gyro-suspended ear cup mounting system—compliment its portability factor.

Price: $170

The first in-ear engineered with ‘RoomFeel’ technology serenades your eardrums with a soothing, open sound stage that adds a greater sense of space and depth to any music catalog. NAD’s accurately tuned acoustic chamber takes credit for producing effective bass response and clear vocals, producing a rich listening experience that compliments the HP20’s opulent “all-alloy construction.”

Price: $280

Monster's triangular cans get upgraded with a tighter soundscape generating crisper clarity and deeper bass. The company's patented Pure Monster Sound technology and noise-isolation features are on deck, neither requiring batteries or recharging. In addition, the Pro's adopt dual-port inputs for connecting up to five headphones simultaneously to share the same hi-fi listening sessions.

Price: $268

Sony’s more affordable noise killers support good active noise cancellation and a trio of listening modes tuned for specific environments: including airplanes, public transportation, and offices. A sleek design gives the 10RNC a modish advantage over half of the noise-cancellation alternatives on the audio block, where as its moderate low-mids and treble response warrant the affordable value.

Price: $200

Backed by large-aperture 40mm drivers, the ANC70’s are designed for maximum comfort that block ambient sounds, bumping extended treble and tight midrange in the process. The manufacturer's QuietPoint active noise-cancelling technology eliminates up to 90 percent of environmental noise, serving as the ideal companion for frequent travelers.