We finish out the year with our Top Gear Awards for 2025. This is our highest accolade, representing the best audio gear that the team at Headfonics reviewed for this calendar year.
This is our 15th year for our Annual Awards, so if you want to look back in time and see what we thought were the best from the last five years, you can click below.
- 2024 Top Gear Awards
- 2023 Top Gear Awards
- 2022 Top Gear Awards
- 2021 Top Gear Awards
- 2020 Top Gear Awards
2025 Awards Process
Our 2025 Top Gear Awards are based on our scoring system for the calendar year, so the products with the highest overall score are the winners.
Where there is a tie for the top score, all products with that score are deemed winners; therefore, some categories may have more than one winner.
As in previous years, we know our writers have their personal favorites, so once again we have given them free rein to let us know what products float their boat for 2025, regardless of the score, in our “Editor’s and Writer’s Choice” 2025 awards.
This is a 2-page feature with portable gear and headphones all on page 1. Desktop gear plus the Editor and Writers’ picks are on Page 2.
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Open Headphones
The Audeze CRBN2 is a 'double-down' on the excellent promise of the original with one of the best low-end performances from an electrostatic headphone I have heard to date.
Combined with a smoother, beefier tonal character, improved headroom, and a comfier fit on the head, it's a worthy replacement for an already-worthy set of headphones.
The Audeze CRBN2 builds on the excellent promise of the original CRBN with one of the best low-end performances from an electrostatic headphone we have heard to date.
Combined with a smoother, beefier tonal character, improved headroom, and a comfier fit on the head, it’s a worthy replacement for an already-worthy set of headphones.
However, if you are wedded to the classic airy treble sparkle of more traditional electrostatic headphones, the CRBN2 is not for you.
Original owners who fancy a crack at the CRBN2 can do so by shipping in their precious to Audeze and receiving an upgrade in looks and sound for $995. If you liked what you heard from any of the shows the CRBN2 was showcased in, then that’s a bargain in our books.
We wonder if the CRBN2 is now the best representation of the older or ‘classic’ Audeze sound that some hardcore LCD series fans have greatly missed. It would be ironic indeed for it to be reborn in an electrostatic headphone in 2025 rather than a planar.
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Closed Headphones
The ZMF Headphones Ori 3.0 is another gorgeous-looking headphone with an emphasis on ‘fun’ in its sound signature. This is a deep and powerful tuning, with great vocal presence, but also a presentation that is highly tweakable with the included tuning plug system.
ZMF might be onto something here with the tuning plugs, especially for those who struggle with pad swapping and want to quickly tweak the bass or add some vocal emphasis or both.
They are dead easy to insert or take out and produce an instantly recognizable change in the Ori 3.0’s performance.
Where do these headphones sit in the ZMF lineup in 2025? We would argue they are closer to the BOKEH and Atrium Closed than the Caldera Closed in terms of intent.
The flagship planar Caldera Closed feels more insightful and refined in its presentation, whereas the Ori 3.0 is more about letting your hair down. They bring more of a quality fun factor to the listening experience.
The Dan Clark Audio NOIRE X sets an incredible performance benchmark for headphones $1k and under in 2025. It streamlines the original NOIRE’s design with AMTS, improves the overall fit, and delivers a cleaner, more exciting, and vocal enthusiast-friendly performance.
There is very little to fault here, save for those looking for a hugely expansive soundstage presentation or sensitive to heightened treble tuning.
Everything from the NOIRE X sounds airy and brilliant, yet under much better control than previous AEON series headphones.
For every new generation of headphones, DCA always leads with a freshly designed closed-back headphone, and oh boy, this is a closed-back headphone and then some.
If you want a taste of DCA’s high-end models, such as the E3, without breaking the bank, then the NOIRE X is the perfect point at which to start.
Dan Clark Audio Website |ZMF Headphones Website
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Wireless Headphones
The HDB 630 represents Sennheiser’s latest attempt to mimic their outstanding wired headphones in terms of sound quality, with looks that back that up.
The HDB 630 presents itself as a thoroughly engaging listen, with a midrange that sings in appreciation of the music. The precision with which Sennheiser presents the music does indeed mimic their wired headphones, and this should be applauded.
Add in a long battery life, and the improved swipe features for use, and it is obvious the direction Sennheiser wants to provide.
If they can find a way to meld both excellent ANC qualities while providing the musical nature of the Sennheiser HDB 630, it could very well be near the top of the highly competitive wireless headphone market in 2025.
Sennheiser USA Website | Sennheiser Amazon USA
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Universal IEM
The Volk Audio ÉTOILE feels like the return of an old friend, a long-lost pal, matching Marcus’s personal preferences to a tee, but at the same time introducing something new.
This is a world-class sounding universal IEM, but it achieves that by resisting going for the jugular; not too much bass, easy on the treble sparkle, vocals are natural-sounding with top-tier clarity.
It’s hard to find any recording that the ÉTOILE would struggle with unless you are a diehard basshead who needs a heavy fix of mid-bass or detest any form of vocal presence in your music.
Throw in a rock-solid level of passive isolation, excellent comfort, a very cool punboxing experience for the Founder’s Edition, and you have one seriously impressive high-end IEM offering here for 2025.
Volk Audio Website | Musicteck USA Website
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Custom IEM
The hybrid Vision Ears ZEN custom monitor takes everything we love about the universal format VE10 to the next level.
It’s the same basic sound signature, but it sounds like it’s on steroids with a more immersive, slightly deeper sound, complete with a bolder vocal presentation.
It’s possibly one of the most complete ‘vocal-lover’ performers out there, and what a joy it is now to have this in a perfectly fitting and attractive-looking custom shell.
The ZEN will not appeal to those who crave a massive soundstage with airy treble sparkle. There are better options out there for that kind of sound. This is a more emotive sound signature, one that places you right in the middle of the performance.
We were not expecting Vision Ears to create a custom version of the VE10 in 2025, but we are glad they did. The VE ZEN fully deserves its Custom Line flagship status.
Vision Ears Website | Musicteck USA
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best True Wireless System
We have always thought of Final as a brand that is focused on traditional designs, especially with their consistent use of single dynamic drivers in many of their products.
So, we were pleasantly surprised when they took the lead in introducing biometric correction technologies to the mass market, which could be a real breakthrough for portable audio.
The calibrated sound of the TONALITE is among the most defined, distortion-free, and naturally articulated we have heard in a TWS in 2025. The isolation, fit, and overall design have all improved since the last generation.
We see no reason not to recommend the TONALITE, especially for anyone with very large or small ears that differ from the typical ear canal size. They would greatly benefit from the calibration features.
Final Audio Website | Final Amazon USA
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Digital Audio Player
The iBasso DX340 takes everything great about the D16 Taipan and bottles it in a classy-looking portable player, complete with several highly capable yet distinct-sounding AMP cards.
Yes, it is a heavy-duty device, much heavier and thicker than the older DX320, but to the discerning eye, it looks far more premium, with a stainless steel finish worthy of a flagship device.
If this is the caliber of build and performance coming out right now, then watch out for any potential MAX version at a later stage, because that could well be one heck of a beast.
Thankfully, iBasso did not go crazy on the pricing for the DAP and AMP cards, which is just as well, as most of the competition is pitching around the same price for their latest creations in 2025.
iBasso Audio Website | Zeppelin & Co Website
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Portable DAC/Amp
The iBasso D17 Atheris is probably the most complete portable DAC and amplifier the company has made to date.
Its ‘triple flavor’ DAC modes and tube amplifier sound have an unmistakable smooth analog overtone, with plenty of gorgeous vocal bloom or rich and deep bass performances when required.
iBasso has been crafty by taking some of the best aspects of the D16 Taipan and the PB5 Osprey, then improving, refining, and adding one or two additional excellent ideas into one compact and tidy unit.
The price might have gone up, but the desire to stack and add to the D17 Atheris might have decreased, especially with IEM and tube lovers.
There are some quirks; nothing is perfect. For demanding headphone users, there still might be a need to stack the D17 with a more powerful amplifier, especially if you are switching to the weaker 1-bit DAC mode. The tamer glow of the OLED panel might also polarize some D16 fans.
Overall, the D17 Atheris is a complete listening experience for IEM and for many headphone users, and a solid choice for those who want that old-school resistor sound in a modern package.
iBasso Audio Website | Zeppelin & Co Website
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Portable Amplifier
The Cayin C9ii is the most complete portable tube amplifier on the market today. It’s a big fella, but it delivers big power with a broad range of tuning options to satisfy IEM and headphone users alike.
The underlying strength across all the modes and timbres is the amplifier’s dynamic range performance, which is a clear step up from the original model. If you need a reason to upgrade, then this is probably the first point to consider.
Beyond that, everything is about choice, from matching the right gear to the right tonal coloration or the best output power setting to drive the correct headphones. The C9ii has a ton of flexibility, much more so than its nearest portable tube amplifier competitors.
It is one of the most expensive portable tube amplifiers out there right now, but given the diversity of features and its stellar performance, this might well be justified for many potential owners.
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Dongle DAC
The iBasso Nunchaku is a classy-looking, albeit large dongle DAC with improved controls over the flagship DC-Elite. Its dual-timbre sound system marks it out as the most unique of all of the company’s dongle lineup.
In tube mode, the Nunchaku is at its most impressive. It’s a deliciously smooth and sparkling performance with excellent macro staging qualities, creating a very immersive and enjoyable presentation.
Consider the alternative solid-state Class AB mode as an able deputy, a choice, albeit a nicely detailed and more linear option.
Buy the Nunchaku for the tube mode alone and keep it in that mode for 99% of everything you attach it to and for most of the music you listen to. The additional power and dynamics create a wonderful analog contrast to the high-energy precision of the flagship DC-Elite.
iBasso Audio Website | Zeppelin & Co Website
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Portable CD Player
The Shanling EC Zero T is probably the most complete portable CD player we have tested to date. It has the power, the analog, smooth sound desired by retro-enthusiasts, and plenty of I/O to satisfy headphone and hi-fi fans alike.
Granted, it has a beefy form-factor, but to be honest, we have yet to see a really compact modern portable CD player of late, save for the FiiO DM13, which is essentially a budget player with lower-end internals.
And yes, we have yet to test the DUNU Concept R, which, on paper, could give the EC Zero T a real run for its money. We also suspect that in 2026, there will be even more options similar to the DUNU.
However, considering what is stuffed inside, such as the tubes, the R2R DAC, and its far superior top-loading CD mechanism, and combined with its external retro design vibe, the EC Zero T brilliantly ticks a lot of boxes in terms of capturing the spirit of the ’80s in a modern CD player.
Shanling Website | Shanling Amazon USA
Top Gear 2025 Awards – Best Cable
Audiophiles who own ultra-flagship IEMs are often found looking for heavy-duty cables to unlock their IEMs’ full potential, and the CENTURION II slots right into that league.
The CENTURION II delivers flagship-level performance that upholds its premium price and rivals some of the very best cables available today.
It features a balanced yet engaging sound signature, providing an overall improvement. You get an impactful low end, a more expressive and detailed midrange, and an airier, highly resolving treble that adds sparkle and air without any harshness.
The enhancements it brings to the imaging and soundstage, especially in depth, are quite noticeable as well. And all this much is enough to push your IEM’s performance even further.
Creating a successor to the CENTURION I must have been a daunting task, but the people at Effect Audio took their time and delivered.
Effect Audio Website |Musicteck USA
Click on page 2 below to read our Desktop and Editor/Writer’s Choice Awards for 2025.
