Michael Hession/NYT WirecutterUpgrade pickIf you want the best-sounding sealed, over-ear headphones under $1,000, get this pair.For the dedicated audiophile who is in pursuit of the best sound possible but can’t quite justify spending several thousand dollars on headphones, the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Closed pair is our recommendation. These are hands down the best-sounding closed-back headphones under $1,000. Spending more might buy you somewhat better detail or space, but dollar for dollar you’d receive diminishing returns. The Aeon 2 Closed is just that good.These headphones are as balanced and natural as we’ve ever heard in a sealed design. In our tests the highs were detailed and lively but not piercing, and we didn’t notice any sibilance. To our ears, this set did seem to produce a little dip and then spike around 3 kHz, and then another spike between 8 kHz and 10 kHz, but the effect was mild.Listening to the Aeon 2 Closed pair was an immersive experience for us. Even for our experts who’ve tested hundreds of headphones, these headphones were good enough to make us forget that we were supposed to be analyzing what we were hearing and just get lost in the music. And really, isn’t enjoyment what all this high-end audio fuss is supposed to be about?You can tweak the sound manually. Dan Clark Audio includes several dampening pads that somewhat adjust the sound profile, so you may want to experiment to find your favorite. Generally, regardless of our pad choice, in our tests the syllables on soprano vocals popped slightly more than what is natural, but some people may enjoy that as detail. Midrange frequencies were never hidden and never overwhelmed by the present but well-controlled low end. Even hip-hop bass lines didn’t blur everything else in the mix.You can listen at higher volumes without distortion, and every kind of music sounds great. In addition, you can swap out the included earpads with a perforated set that lets in more outside sound but also changes the audio profile.If you are looking to optimize your experience, this pair does benefit from a decent headphone amp, becoming richer in dynamics with better control and balance in the lower frequencies. However, if you don’t have an amp handy, the Aeon 2 Closed doesn’t fall apart in use with only a laptop or phone, as it still sounds better than most anything else you could compare it with at this price.The sound isn’t as spacious as on open-back pairs. These headphones don’t sound as three-dimensional as open-back headphones of equivalent price. A sense of spatial depth is difficult to achieve in closed-back designs. Usually, to create the illusion of depth, headphones are tuned with a somewhat bloated bass and diminished mids, trading accuracy for a more three-dimensional feel.Really, the only way to get that “open” feeling is to, well, use open-back headphones. Check out our pick from FiiO, if you’re interested. Keep in mind too that Dan Clark Audio also makes an open-back version of the Aeon 2.They’re surprisingly comfortable and portable. At around 11.5 ounces, this set is about 2 ounces lighter than the Monolith by Monoprice M565C. The leatherette earpads and fabric-wrapped cable are replaceable, the headband is metal with a replaceable leather strap, and the earcups have actual carbon fiber.That said, the design isn’t subtle. Big and bright red, these headphones definitely have a presence.Despite being on the larger side when worn, these headphones fold up to be surprisingly compact. The included hard-sided case will protect them from bumps during transport; the case is smaller than that of the M565C but larger than those of most Bluetooth headphones. If anything goes wrong, Dan Clark Audio covers the materials and workmanship on the Aeon 2 Closed for two years.How the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Closed has held upOur test pair is over three years old and still in great shape. We haven’t needed to replace the earpads yet, but you can get a set directly from Dan Clark Audio or go with a third-party option, such as these pads from Dekoni.The one thing that is degrading is the case: The rubberized coating on the outside has broken down over time, and it sheds a good deal. This problem hasn’t hurt the headphones in any way, but it can make a mess in a bag or briefcase. A new case is available on the Dan Clark Audio site for about the same price as earpads. The rubberized coating started flaking off the case after two years of use. It’s annoying, but it hasn’t affected the headphones inside. Lauren Dragan/NYT Wirecutter
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