If you’re looking for the best retro headphones then you came to the right place. Today, we are going to cover some of the most amazing retro-styled headphones you can find right now.
Since finding all things retro is our thing you’re certainly in good hands here. If you are looking for the Best Retro Bluetooth Headphones check out our post here.
Now before we dive into the best retro headphones first we want to point out that there are so many manufacturers out there that are starting to catch on to this whole retro look and feel. That has made our job finding them for you a little easier and it’s fantastic for people like us who are really into retro things.
What are the best retro headphones?
After fully vetting each of the headphones on this list, in our opinion, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 is your best bet followed by the Audeze LCD-3. When it comes to the sound quality, build quality and of course the visual appeal you can’t find anything else with more bang for your buck than the Sennheisers. However, the Audeze is by far the better choice but is on the pricer end and might be outside of your price range. Having said that you could have a slightly different opinion than us. So definitely take a look at our Top 10 best retro headphones below in no particular order.
Top 10 Best Retro Headphones
- Master & Dynamic MH40
- Audeze LCD-3 Over Ear Open Back Headphone
- Sennheiser Momentum 3
- Fostex RP
- Sennheiser HD 650 Open Back Professional Headphone
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones
- Sony MDR7506 Professional
- Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Wireless Over-Ear Headphone
- Philips Audio Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones
- Symphonized Wraith 2.0 Premium Genuine Wood
The Best Retro Headphones of 2020
1. Master & Dynamic MH40
- Noise Isolating fit
- Exceptional sound and crisp audio
- Superior comfort and fit
- Comes with a nice headphone case and leather cable box
If you’re looking for a pair of retro headphones that are not only breathtaking when you hit the play button but also when you take them out of the box then you’re in for a treat. This pair of Master & Dynamic MH40 retro headphones are amazing.
Not only do they look great but the sound quality is really great. This isn’t normally the case when you find a really gorgeous pair of headphones like these. We’d say that this pair of headphone are very ell balanced and offer up a warm, rich and powerful sound. The manufacture took special care to ensure that the sound for a wide range of music genres is enhanced when you put these babies over your ears.
When it comes to style, these are easily some of the most head-turning, neck-breaking pair of retro-styled headphones we have ever seen.
When it comes to the build quality Master & Dynamic did not cut any corners. They are made with high-quality materials.
If you’re seeking superb sound with amazing style, this is the pair for you.
2. Audeze LCD-3 Over Ear Open Back Headphone
- Lifelike sound quality
- Handcrafted in California
- Patented Fazor Elements for a smoother midrange
This pair of headphones really blew our socks off. Hands down this pair of headphones is probably one of the most stunning to look at visually and it by far has the best sound you could ever look for in a pair of headphones. Not to mention the retro style of the headphones is just breathtaking.
One of the things you’ll notice immediately after putting on these retro-styled headphones is the astonishing lifelike sound quality that will come pouring out of the handcrafted headphones. These Audeze headphones sound absolutely incredible. Once you take a listen using these headphones you will never want to listen to music through any other pair again. Yes, the sound quality is that amazing.
The materials used are extremely high quality. Everything is either wood, metal, or leather and there is almost no plastic used whatsoever. For this reason, you will find that they are much heavier than your average pair.
If you are looking for the best headphones money can buy, the Audeze LCD-3 headphones are the answer to your prayers.
3. Sennheiser Momentum 3
- Bluetooth 5
- Touch control
- Voice Max Technology
- Built-in microphones to cancel out external noise
- 17-hour battery life
Superb sound quality and style. That’s what Sennheiser is known for. It’s a name that comes up time and time again as one of the best brands in the world for sound quality. So it should be no surprise that you’ll find this pair on this list.
One of the great things about this pair of retro-styled headphones is the superb build quality. Not only that, but they have also amazing sound quality.
The headset sports real leather ear cups and high-quality memory foam cushions. We don’t have to tell you how comfortable this pair of retro headphones are.
Sennheiser also did a fantastic job with the style of these headphones as well. The headband itself is made from stainless steel which gives it a really eye-catching look.
This captivating pair of retro headphones are really hard to top.
4. Fostex RP
- Beautiful wooden housing made of African Mahogany
- Standard and optional OFC cables
- Genuine leather head pad and around the ear pads
- Comes with a 4-foot cable and carrying bag
When it comes to having an awesome style and great sound the Fostex retro-styled headphones are a great option.
These headphones are made with a gorgeous African Mahogany wood that gives them depth and style. Made with a genuine leather head pad and around the ear pads, they are wonderfully comfortable as well.
When it comes to sound these provide so much clarity and resolution. They have smooth highs, awesome mids, and perfect lows.
If you are looking for a pair of headphones that will not disappoint in any way the Fostex RP Diaphragm Stereo headphones are a sweet option.
5. Sennheiser HD 650 Open Back Professional Headphone
- Made with specially designed acoustic silk to ensure precision dampening over the entire frequency range
- High power neodymium magnets deliver maximum efficiency
- Lightweight aluminum voice coils
- Hand-selected matched driver elements
One word. Wow. This pair of Sennheiser headphones really take the cake when it comes down to sound quality and style. These open-back retro headphones have been carefully designed to provide the ultimate experience in sound quality.
They are specially designed using acoustic silk which provides dampening over the entire frequency range which also helps to reduce THD to an amazing 0.05 percent. They are also made with hand-selected matched driver elements which consist of highly optimized magnet systems that provide minimum harmonic and intermodulation distortion. The result is a powerful, crisp clear sound in all ranges.
These are easily the perfect addition to any high-end home entertainment system. These retro headphones are without a doubt the answer to any audiophile’s dream.
If you’re looking for headphones that are as close to perfection as possible, you will want to grab your own pair of Sennheiser HD 650 open-back headphones ASAP.
6. Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X
- 53mm drivers to reproduce clear treble and midrange
- Bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils for superb power handling
- Lightweight aluminum honeycomb casing
- Self-adjusting 3d wing support
Audio-Technica is another brand on this list that has an astounding track record when it comes to producing high-quality audio gear. The ATH-AD700X headphones are no exception.
One of the first things you will notice about these retro headphones from Audio-Tecnica is just how lightweight they are. This is due to the lightweight aluminum honeycomb casing they have opted for which has excellent acoustic properties.
One of the great things about these open-air headphones is that they are perfect if you have a nice quiet and comfortable room somewhere in your home that you can just sit and enjoy music. These will definitely blow your mind if you have never experienced open headphones before
With the self-adjusting 3D wing support you’ll find that these are very comfortable. So much so, that at first, they feel like you aren’t wearing them at all.
7. Sony MDR7506 Professional
- Closed ear design which cuts down on external noises
- Neodymium magnets and 40mm drivers for powerful clear sound
- A 9.8-foot cord with gold plated plugs
- Folds for easy travel
What is there not to be said about these Sony MDR7506 headphones? These headphones are extremely high quality, lightweight and super comfortable for wearing during long periods of time.
These headphones definitely have more of an old school or retro vibe to them. These headphones are great for sound monitoring in recording studios, radio, film production, and just your everyday casual listening.
One of the things we really like about these headphones is that they can fold down and become more compact which makes traveling with them easy. If you’re going to be out all day or just need to pack them away in your bag they will fit without a fuss.
If you’re looking for mind-blowing superior audio quality these will check all of the boxes.
8. Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Wireless Over-Ear Headphone
Let’s face it. If you’ve ever been involved in music in any way then you will know the Marshall brand and what it stands for. They have been around for years and years and have been extremely well known for their awesome guitar amplifiers. However, they also make a fantastic line of headphones and speakers made specifically for musicians and casual listeners who want that oh so sweet premium sound quality to bless their ears.
This pair of retro headphones are Bluetooth headphones so you can listen just about anywhere and not have to worry about a chord. In addition, they have been fitted with aptX technology that plays music at a hight bitrate which translates to a much higher quality sound. With rich sound in all tones, solid build quality, and great battery life you can’t go wrong with this pair.
9. Philips Audio Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo
- Open back, over-ear design
- Breathable ear cushion
- Steel headband
This pair of retro-styled headphones offer high precision sound. With over 50 years of heritage in headphone acoustics, Philips is a brand that always delivers when it comes to sound and quality. One of the things we like about this pair is that they have a really nice retro look.
When it comes to sound and ergonomics, they definitely don’t disappoint. With it’s open back, over the ear design they offer a great authentic sound that you just don’t find in every pair of headphones. They have built the drivers inside of the headphones at an angle so that they align perfectly with your ears. The steel headband really adds to the durability and the ear cushions are extremely comfortable for long-wearing sessions.
If you’re in the market for a solid pair of headphones that won’t break the piggy bank but has great sound this is a great option.
10. Symphonized Wraith 2.0
Premium, high-quality sound. That’s all we can ever ask for when it comes to retro headphones right? Well, this pair has some of the best sounding over-ear headphones that you’ll be able to lay your hands on for less than $100. They have robust, crisp sound in all ranges and are definitely some of the most stylish ones we have seen.
They have more of a retro and futuristic appeal to them so they will definitely make a statement. Made from handcrafted, all-natural genuine wood makes them a truly unique pair of headphones.
If you’re looking for a great mix between sound quality and value the Symphonized Wraith 2.0 headphones offer great bang for your buck.
