HiFiMan HE1000se

The special edition of the HE1000: Stealth magnets shaped so air moves past them without turbulence, and sensitivity high enough that ordinary sources drive it properly. That second part matters — this is the summit-tier HiFiMan that does not demand an amplifier upgrade in the same order.

The resolution that made the platform famous is all here, presented with an incisive, well-lit top end. Detail-first listeners tend to fall hard for it; the treble-sensitive should hear it before committing.

Fully open-back, so it stays home. At 96 dB it runs from a laptop or a dongle, though a good desktop amp still tidies the low end.