HIFIMAN

Quick answer: HIFIMAN's best-value buys: the Sundara ($290.99) remains the classic entry planar, the Ananda ($500.99) steps up in soundstage and comfort, and the ROG Kithara ($350.99) covers gaming. All are open-back planars, so pair them with a decent amp like the EF500 and skip them for noisy commutes.

HIFIMAN did more than any other company to make planar magnetic headphones affordable. The house character is speed, treble extension and a very even midrange — a different presentation from the warmer dynamic drivers most people arrive from. New to the technology? Planar vs dynamic, explained covers the trade-offs.

Two practical notes. HIFIMAN planar headphones generally want more power than their sensitivity numbers imply, so budget for an amp with real headroom if you're going open-back — our HE400SE amp guide shows how much is actually enough. And the open designs leak sound freely in both directions — glorious in a quiet room, a bad idea in a shared office.

As an authorized HIFIMAN store we carry 36 items, from the closed-back HE-R9 to the HE600 and the EF500 DAC/amp stand, all US-warrantied. If you've been curious about planar sound, this is the shortest path in.

Authorized retailer. Free US shipping on every order, 45-day returns, 1-year warranty.