Audeze SINE DX

The Audeze SINE DX is a unique open-back, on-ear planar magnetic headphone that delivers best-in-class sound quality for critical listening. It's lightweight and easy to drive, but the on-ear fit, useless mic, and zero noise isolation make it a terrible choice for calls or travel. At $995, it's a niche pick purely for audiophiles who prioritize sound above all else.

Let's get right to the star of the show: sound quality. The SINE DX is in the 99th percentile for sound in our database. That's best-in-class territory. The 80mm planar drivers deliver a frequency response from 10Hz all the way up to 50kHz, which is well beyond human hearing but speaks to the driver control and lack of distortion. In practice, the bass is tight and textured, never bloated. The midrange is where the magic happens, it's resolving and natural, pulling out tiny details in vocals and acoustic instruments without ever sounding harsh or clinical. It's that classic Audeze 'laid back yet resolving' character.

Where these headphones absolutely fall apart is in the calls department, scoring a dismal 12.8 out of 100. The mic is one of the worst we've seen, ranking in the 15th percentile. Don't even think about taking a phone call with these. The active noise cancellation score is also low at the 30th percentile, which makes sense because open-back headphones don't have ANC. They leak sound in and out by design. This is a single-purpose device, and that purpose is critical listening. For that, it's a standout performer.

Stacked against the Sony WH-1000XM6 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen, the SINE DX looks like it's from another planet. The Sony and Bose are wireless, noise-canceling, feature-packed powerhouses built for commuting and travel. The SINE DX is a wired, open-back headphone that leaks sound like a sieve and has a useless mic. But for pure, unadulterated sound quality at your desk, the Audeze destroys them. It's not even close.

The more interesting comparison is with the Sennheiser Momentum 4. The Momentum 4 is a warmer, more consumer-friendly tuning with excellent wireless performance. It's a much better all-rounder. But the SINE DX's planar magnetic speed and soundstage width are on another level for analytical listening. You're choosing between a Swiss Army knife and a scalpel. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 puts up a better fight in the build and materials department, feeling more luxurious, but again, the driver technology in the Audeze is just fundamentally different and more resolving.

At $995, the SINE DX is a tough sell if you're looking for a do-it-all headphone. You're paying purely for that 99th-percentile sound in a unique form factor. For the same money, you could grab a pair of over-ear wireless flagships like the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 or the Sony WH-1000XM6 and get ANC, transparency modes, and great mics. But those can't touch the raw resolution of these planar drivers. The value here is entirely dependent on your priorities. If you want a wired, open-back planar that doesn't clamp your whole head, this is a niche masterpiece. If you want features and versatility, your money goes much further elsewhere.

The Audeze SINE DX is a bit of an oddball in the headphone world, and that's exactly why it's interesting. It's an open-back, on-ear headphone using massive 80mm planar magnetic drivers. You don't see that combination every day. Most planar headphones are big, over-ear designs that weigh a ton, but the SINE DX comes in at a relatively light 300g. If you've been searching for audiophile sound in a more portable, on-ear form factor, this is one of the only games in town. Just know that at $995, it's asking for a serious commitment.

Audeze is known for their high-end planar sound, and the SINE DX is basically a love letter to detail retrieval. The open-back design means you get a spacious, airy soundstage that makes music feel like it's happening around you rather than inside your head. But that open-back nature also means zero noise isolation, so these are strictly for quiet rooms. The low 18-ohm impedance and 102dB sensitivity mean you can drive them from almost anything, a phone, a laptop, a dongle DAC, though they'll obviously scale nicely with better gear.

Comfort is going to be a personal thing here. On-ear headphones always are. Some people can wear them for hours, others get sore spots after 30 minutes. The lightweight build helps, but our data shows comfort scores are below average for the category. The build quality is solid, landing in the upper-middle of the pack, but the connectivity score takes a hit because it's a simple wired 3.5mm connection. No Bluetooth, no USB-C, no frills. This is a purist's tool.

Skip the SINE DX if you need a headphone for phone calls, commuting, or office use. The open-back design leaks sound heavily and provides zero isolation, and the mic is one of the worst we've tested. If you wear headphones for more than a couple of hours at a time, the on-ear fit may become uncomfortable. You'd be much better served by a wireless over-ear like the Sony WH-1000XM6 or the Sennheiser Momentum 4, which offer ANC, great mics, and all-day comfort for a similar or lower price.

The Audeze SINE DX is a specialist's headphone. If you're an audiophile who loves the planar magnetic sound but hates the bulk of traditional over-ear planars, this is pretty much your only option, and it's a fantastic one. The sound is genuinely top-tier, detailed, spacious, and never fatiguing. It's a joy for critical listening, mixing, and just getting lost in an album.

But you have to know what you're signing up for. This is not a headphone for phone calls, for the office, or for a noisy commute. It's a sit-down-and-listen experience. The on-ear fit won't be for everyone, and the lack of any modern features at this price point stings. If you can live with those trade-offs, the sound quality alone justifies the cost. For everyone else, there are far more practical options out there.