But in a quiet room, they sound as good as headphones that cost five times more. They're open-backed headphones, and they're among the leakiest we've tried, so they're very much no good with other people around, or for travelling. And when you factor just how good they sound, suddenly they become a major bargain. Though these are more expensive than a lot of people would consider spending on headphones, their price is a drop in ocean when it comes to real audiophile quality.
It's not perfect, and glasses-wearers or those with unusual lugs may wish to opt for a different design, but if it works for you you'll be pleased.įor the price, we love these – they're a great match for a portable player, or for a mini portable DAC. In the Rai Solo you get a comfortable set of buds, with plenty of fittings to help them nestle neatly in any ear canal, and the over-the-ear cable design means they're not easily yanked out if you're using them on the move. They're well tuned for dynamic range and a very balanced soundstage, managing some beefy bass, airy treble, and a mid-range which isn't squashed by either extreme. They're priced well, they're not too fancy, and their single-driver design sounds great. That's where a set of solid in-ear wired headphones will serve you well, a category which Meze's Rai Solo sits in very happily. Open-backed headphones are glorious in the right situation, but not so much when there's lots of noise around you or sensitive ears not wishing to listen to your leakage. There are also some excellent pairs in the middle of the market, as we'll discover. While the best wireless headphones have all but taken over in the mainstream headphone market, you'll find wired ones at the very top and the very bottom of the headphone market – there are models for audiophiles, and there are models for people who want to spend as little as possible. And wired in-ears are a good choice for travel or walking as the lack of batteries means they tend to be very light.
The best wired headphones tend to be open-backed over-ear models, which deliver truly spectacular sound stages, but they aren't your only options: closed-back headphones leak much less audio into the area around you, so they may be a better bet for listening in the same room or train carriage as others. It's the same with hi-res streaming services coming through the best streaming DACs out there: if you aren't listening on wired headphones, you're not hearing the whole thing. If you put a good quality vinyl pressing on one of the best record players and a high-end hi-fi system, wired headphones will make you feel like you're right there in the studio or at the performance, experiencing details you've never heard before. The best wireless headphones deliver truly exceptional audio.