In recent years, headphone manufacturers have been almost forced to introduce TWS models to the market—approximately 350 million units were sold in 2024.
Without a lineup of true wireless earbuds (TWS) or more affordable IEMs, companies often cannot generate sufficient revenue for further development and research.
Chinese manufacturers (so-called ChiFi) flood the market with headphones that—despite enthusiastic reviews—do not truly distinguish themselves sonically.
The number of drivers (1, 3, 12, etc.) often serves merely as a marketing gimmick and says little about the actual sound quality.
At this point, we’ve reached the limits of human hearing and the technological constraints of current materials: the lightweight, ultra-thin drivers and voice coils, as well as the sophistication of the production process, have essentially peaked.
To create a genuinely innovative model, enormous investment in research and testing is required—so companies must sell popular, “fast-moving” products in order to occasionally bring truly flagship headphones to market, whose sound quality matches their premium positioning rather than merely their name.
It’s worth noting that many listeners who have auditioned dozens of models still return to proven, iconic headphones. In the past, manufacturers genuinely cared about quality—today, however, the market is inundated with ChiFi mediocrity. There are headphones that, decades after their initial release, still hold their value and defend themselves purely on the basis of sound. These are most often Japanese, German, or French designs, rather than Chinese.
I’m deliberately not naming specific brands—every audiophile knows which models I’m referring to and dreams of owning them.
Among the rare exceptions, Final Audio products stand out: they speak for themselves sonically, and their pricing fully justifies the quality they deliver.
Without a lineup of true wireless earbuds (TWS) or more affordable IEMs, companies often cannot generate sufficient revenue for further development and research.
Chinese manufacturers (so-called ChiFi) flood the market with headphones that—despite enthusiastic reviews—do not truly distinguish themselves sonically.
The number of drivers (1, 3, 12, etc.) often serves merely as a marketing gimmick and says little about the actual sound quality.
At this point, we’ve reached the limits of human hearing and the technological constraints of current materials: the lightweight, ultra-thin drivers and voice coils, as well as the sophistication of the production process, have essentially peaked.
To create a genuinely innovative model, enormous investment in research and testing is required—so companies must sell popular, “fast-moving” products in order to occasionally bring truly flagship headphones to market, whose sound quality matches their premium positioning rather than merely their name.
It’s worth noting that many listeners who have auditioned dozens of models still return to proven, iconic headphones. In the past, manufacturers genuinely cared about quality—today, however, the market is inundated with ChiFi mediocrity. There are headphones that, decades after their initial release, still hold their value and defend themselves purely on the basis of sound. These are most often Japanese, German, or French designs, rather than Chinese.
I’m deliberately not naming specific brands—every audiophile knows which models I’m referring to and dreams of owning them.
Among the rare exceptions, Final Audio products stand out: they speak for themselves sonically, and their pricing fully justifies the quality they deliver.
