[grokit]

I'm trying to come up with a list of the best headphones ever, by manufacturer. I'm not trying to rank them in a competition against each other, just trying to come up with the consensus all-time flagships within each headphone manufacturer's current and past offerings. This is why I have ranked them alphabetically, by company name.
 
I have not included companies that market only lower-tier headphones like Koss and Skull Candy even though the former has some good value propositions, and I seemed to have drawn the line between Bose and Monster as the former doesn't really have any favorites here but the latter has made some inroads in that department.
 
Edit: I have decided to include the Koss ESP-950 as I believe it represents a true attempt at a flagship sound even if it wasn't entirely successful.
 
Any input would be appreciated as I am sure that I have left out certain models and might have even missed a manufacturer or two.
 
The list so far, including both custom and universal IEMs when appropriate:
 
 
AKG K1000/K701/2
 
Alessandro MS-Pro
 
Audeze LCD-2
 
ATH CK100/L3000/W5000/W11R
 
Beyer Tesla T1/T5P
 
Denon AH-D7000
 
Etymotic ER4/P
 
Grado GR10/HP1000/PS1
 
HiFiMAN RE262/Jade/HE-6
 
Klipsch X10
 
Koss ESP-950
 
JH 13/16
 
JVC FX700/DX1000
 
Monster MD Tributes/Beats Pro
 
Ortofon e-Q5/7
 
Phiaton PS500
 
Precide Ergo A.M.T.

 
Rudistor MD1
 
Sennheiser IE8/HE90/HD800
 
Shure SE535
 
Sony R10/Qualia/Z1000
 
Stax Omega/SR-007/C32
 
UE 11/18, Tf10
 
Ultrasone Edition 8/9/10
 
Westone 4/ES5
 
Yamaha YH-1000
 
 
My guess is that the W5000 will be the most hotly contested, but I am sure you guys will surprise me if this thread manages to catch on. I will update this OP as consensus dictates.

 

[idletime1213]

HE90 Orpheus would have something to say to the HD 800.
 
And Grado HP1/2/3 as well. The HF2 is not even the best in current production Grado.
 
Most people would also probably suggest the L3000 as the Audio Technica all-time flagship.

 

[grokit]

 
Quote:

HE90 Orpheus would have something to say to the HD 800.
 
And Grado HP1/2/3 as well. The HF2 is not even the best in current production Grado.
 
Most people would also probably suggest the L3000 as the Audio Technica all-time flagship.

 
I was adding the HE90 while you were posting, but thanks for that. 

I would guess that the PS1000 needs to be added, I really don't know that much about the top Grados. Do you think that we should differentiate between the John Grados and Joe Grados? Which is regarded as the best between the HP1/2/3? I could definitely use some assistance in this department!
 
Changing the Audio-Technica now...
 
edit: Can't find a reference to the Grado HP1/2/3, so I am going with the HP1000 for now...
 
edit2: Evidently the HP1/2/3 are all variances of the HP1000, someone please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[idletime1213]

One thing though, the L3000 wasn't as well received because many considered it underwhelming for the ridiculous price it had. It probably pales in comparison to the modern flagships like the T1, which costs about 1/2 the price.
 

 

[grokit]

That's cool, because I am just interested in the best by respective brand, I'm not comparing from brand to brand. That said, certain flagships are certainly more polarizing than others. I will put the Raffinatos back in as they inspired a similar reaction.

 

[grokit]

Just bumping this with a new title to see if there's any interest in this as a reference, and trying to drum up some more suggestions.

 

[Eric_C]

Shouldn't Westone have the Westone 4 listed as its universal flagship?
And UE should have TripleFi 10.

 

[rroseperry]

I think the Grado GR10 is probably flagship now, though the GR8s are pretty wonderful.

 

[grokit]

 
Quote:

Shouldn't Westone have the Westone 4 listed as its universal flagship?
And UE should have TripleFi 10.

Quote:

I think the Grado GR10 is probably flagship now, though the GR8s are pretty wonderful.

Thanks for the suggestions, updated!

 

[Kiwikat]

The Sennheiser HD25-1 II is certainly a flagship supra-aural headphone.

 

[burnliff]

The Sony SA5000 and Z1000 are the flagships currently in production, they don't quite stack up in terms of exclusivity to the R10 and Qualia, but they're flagships nonetheless..

 

[grokit]

Sony Z1000 added, thanks.
 
I'm just trying to get the full-size and the IEMs sorted out, don't want to divide the full-size category further at this point. But I agree that the HD25-1 II is an excellent supra-aural headphone and Senn's best in that category.

 

[EYEdROP]

The beyer DT48 is their flagship professional monitoring headphones. 

 

[dalethorn]

The beyer DT48 is their flagship professional monitoring headphones. 

Two thoughts:

One, the way the new Beyer DT-48E sounds with sealed cushions, I would put it up against any dynamic headphone of any price. If you haven't heard it (with the sealed cushions), then you wouldn't know.

Two, the Sennheiser HD-800 is a perfect example I think of why this thread should have separate sections for dynamics and electrostatics. There are more than one reason:

One would be the need for a special box to drive the headphones, i.e. they don't work with iPods as do the Sennheiser HD-800 (which works very well with iPods), and they are restricted to a specific location due to the need for AC mains power.

Two would be the general price ranges, which are have top of the line dynamics around $1500 U.S. and top-line electrostatics around $10000 U.S.

 

[trevorlane]

i wonder where the PS-1s stand next to the PS-1000