The five best luxury headphones for audiophiles in 2019

Luzli Roller MK01B

A pair of on or over ear headphones are a must when venturing outdoors for most audiophiles. But there’s a problem that many face while out and about - where do you put them when you stop listening to music?

Swiss headphone maker Luzli believes it has found a solution with its Roller MK01B [pictured top]. As the name suggests, the MK01 boasts a unique design that lets you to roll them up so that they can be neatly stashed away in your pocket. The MK01’s design is meant to “evoke a high-end watch”, featuring 13 “links” that allow the device to roll up into a compact package, The Verge reports.

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But the sleek design doesn’t come at the expensive of sound quality. According to Trusted Reviews, Luzli spent three years tuning the MK01B’s 30mm dynamic drivers. Even the foam ear pads have been tailored for “best possible sound”.

Luzli Roller MK01B, £3,360, Luzli.com

Sennheiser HE 1

Sennheiser is one of the leading companies in the audio industry and is often used by recording artists to fine-tune the sound of their songs.

The HE 1 is designed for audiophiles looking for the best sound quality headphones can offer, rather than merely a device that will keep you occupied on your daily commute. What makes the HE 1 stand out from the rest is that it needs its own amplifier to work, which comes with a Carrara marble base and eight valves that glow once they’ve warmed up.

Sennheiser HE 1, £54,000, Sennheiser.

Audeze LCD-4

There aren’t many headphones on the market that can combine vintage design with Formula 1-grade technology. The luxurious over-ear Audeze LCD-4 headphones feature wooden ear cups that are held together with a lightweight carbon fibre headband and a pair of metal connectors.

Underneath the wood and leather-lined ear cups sits Audeze’s “Double Fluxor” magnet arrays, which bolster sound quality and help save weight. This means the company hasn’t cut corners on sound quality in the name of saving weight.

Audeze LCD-4, £3,599, Amazon.

Sony MDR-Z1R

Sony is one of the go-to companies for high-quality headphones, and the over-ear MDR-Z1R is the best-sounding option yet in the Japanese tech giant’s range.

The leather-covered headband is made out of beta titanium for lightness and strength, while the ergonomic earpads cushion the wearer’s ears in luxurious softness. The headphones’ classic styling is also significantly more understated than many products at the higher end of the market.

The MDR-Z1R headphones are powered by a 70mm driver and deliver a playback of up to 120kHz. And to top it all off, Sony throws in a luxurious leather storage box.

Sony MDR-Z1R, £2,000, Sony.

Focal Utopia by Tournaire

Those looking for the most luxurious pair of headphones in existence need look no further than the Focal Utopia styled by French jewellery firm Maison Tournaire.

Based on the regular Focal Utopia headphones, the Tournaire edition comes with 18kt gold elements on the ear cups and headband mounts, as well as 6.5ct diamonds. These are joined by glossy carbon fibre pieces that hold the gold and diamond highlights together. Plus, you can buy a bespoke stand for the headphones for an additional €10,000 (£8,700).

Focal Utopia by Tournaire, €100,000 (£87,500), Tournaire Paris.