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SJY Zeph Open-Back Headphones Review: Music Through Magnets
WIRED’s review finds the $1,200 SJY Zeph open-back planar magnetic headphones to be an unusually detailed, lively and well-made option for serious listeners. Their standout feature is a reversible magnetic earpad design that subtly changes the sound profile, while their minimalist handmade construction is expected to aid durability; however, their specialist requirements and weight limit their mainstream appeal.
The reviewer awarded the Zeph 9/10, praising its precision, texture and unexpectedly satisfying bass across reference tracks by the Who and Radiohead. The headphones need at least one watt of power per channel and use a 4.4mm balanced connection, meaning most buyers will need a capable dedicated headphone amplifier; their price was listed at $1,200, reduced to $999.
In short
- Detailed, highly rated planar headphones for committed audiophiles
- Reversible earpads subtly alter warmth and soundstage
- Requires a powerful amplifier and 4.4mm balanced output
Explained simply
Open-back headphones have ear cups that let some sound pass through, creating a more spacious listening experience but allowing music to escape and outside noise in. Planar magnetic headphones use a thin moving membrane controlled by magnets to produce sound; they are often designed for detailed listening at home.
SJY makes the Zeph, a premium pair with reversible magnetic earpads that let listeners make a small change to the sound. Its handmade metal construction and high price place it in the specialist end of the headphone market.
The Zeph also needs more power than a typical phone or laptop can provide, so many listeners would need a separate headphone amplifier. That extra equipment, along with the headphones’ weight and cost, affects who they are suited to.