ListenUp Staff Favorites: Personal Audio Our Team Loves
Our team spends a lot of time listening to headphones, testing personal audio equipment, helping customers compare products, and building systems for everything from travel and gaming to dedicated audiophile listening.
These staff favorites are not simply products with impressive specifications. They are the headphones, DACs, amplifiers, and accessories our team members personally use, enjoy, and recommend.
As more staff members share their favorites, we will continue adding their picks and experiences to this guide.
Headphones and Earbuds
Meze Empyrean II
Marcus Loo’s Pick
Sales Consultant
For Marcus, the Meze Empyrean II stands out as both an exceptional listening experience and an extraordinary example of headphone design.
“The Romanian engineers really crafted something quite special with these headphones. Everything from the unboxing experience in their premium carrying case and the unique isodynamic drivers to the craftsmanship of the CNC-machined cups, intricate open-back grille, and absolutely breathtaking sonics makes them special. These headphones truly are a marvel in sound and a work of engineering art at their price point.”
The Empyrean II is a flagship open-back planar magnetic headphone made for listeners who value refined sound, long-term comfort, and meticulous craftsmanship. Its sculpted frame and distinctive grille make it immediately recognizable, but its immersive and natural presentation is what makes it such a memorable headphone.
Focal Bathys
Nathan Miller’s Pick
Brand Manager
Nathan chooses the Focal Bathys when he wants premium wireless convenience without giving up the engaging sound expected from a high-end headphone.
“I’m a big fan of the Focal Bathys. A truly HiFi experience in a portable package.”
Bathys combines active noise cancellation, Bluetooth connectivity, extended battery life, and a built-in USB DAC mode in a portable closed-back design. It is an especially compelling option for listeners who want one premium headphone for wireless travel, office listening, and higher-resolution wired playback.
Audeze Maxwell
Ed Spar’s Pick
Supervisor, eCommerce
For computer gaming, Ed turns to the Audeze Maxwell.
“These are amazing for my computer gaming. The battery lasts forever, the sound is great, and turning them on and off automatically switches my audio from my speakers to my headphones and back without issue.”
The Maxwell combines Audeze’s planar magnetic headphone technology with low-latency wireless connectivity, long battery life, and gaming-focused communication features. Its detailed and powerful sound also makes it suitable for music and entertainment when the gaming session ends.
Sony WF-1000XM6
The Sony WF-1000XM6 is one of the most frequently selected products among our staff. Its combination of noise cancellation, lightweight comfort, long battery life, and convenient smart features makes it useful at work, at home, and while traveling.
Ed Spar’s Pick
Supervisor, eCommerce
“Perfect for use at work, since talking automatically pauses what I’m listening to and restarts after the conversation is over. The sound quality is good, they are comfortable, and the battery lasts quite a while since the case recharges them.”
Evan Stinson’s Pick
VP of Omnichannel Operations
“These are my go-to traveling headphones. They are perfect for the airplane, with excellent noise cancellation and a lightweight design that stays comfortable even for hours. They also sound better than other noise-canceling headphones I’ve tried. What’s not to like?”
Mackenzie Adams’ Pick
Projector Manager
“I love these headphones for their great noise cancellation and light weight, which makes them comfortable to wear for long periods anywhere. They are great for travel and have a long battery life.”
Seth Coonrod’s Pick
Senior Account Manager
“The audio quality is fantastic, and I love that I can connect to my laptop and phone simultaneously, so I’m never fumbling with pairing when a call comes in. The noise cancellation is the best I’ve used, whether I want total silence or just enough awareness to hear someone talking to me in the office. When I’m working on audio files, I plug in wired so there’s zero Bluetooth lag. On flights, they turn a loud cabin into a peaceful one.”
Whether someone needs concentration in a busy office, relief from airplane noise, or a versatile everyday listening option, the Sony WF-1000XM6 has become a clear staff favorite.
Denon PerL Pro
Mackenzie Adams’ Pick
Projector Manager
Mackenzie recommends the Denon PerL Pro for its secure, comfortable fit and customizable controls.
“These are some of the best earbuds I’ve ever used. I always have issues with earbuds not staying in my ears or feeling extremely uncomfortable, but these are comfortable and stay in my ears no matter what I’m doing. The noise cancellation is fantastic, and I love the customizable quick-touch controls for turning off noise cancellation, pausing, skipping tracks, and more.”
PerL Pro earbuds use Denon’s personalized sound technology to create a listening profile based on the user’s hearing. Adaptive noise cancellation, transparency listening, touch controls, and a comfortable true-wireless design make them a versatile choice for commuting, working, exercising, and everyday listening.
DACs
iFi GO link 2
Jared Dunlap’s Pick
Sales Consultant
“For DAC/amps, I’ve been really enjoying the GO link 2 dongle. It’s a great value since it’s a massive upgrade over an Apple dongle, with incredible clarity, power, and ease of use.”
The GO link 2 is a compact, plug-and-play USB DAC and headphone amplifier designed for portable everyday listening. Despite its small size, it delivers cleaner detail, greater dynamics, and more headphone-driving power than a standard phone or computer adapter, making it an easy entry point into high-resolution personal audio.
iFi NEO iDSD 3
Jared Dunlap’s Pick
Sales Consultant
For desktop listening, Jared also recommends the iFi NEO iDSD 3 for its combination of sound quality, versatile features, and distinctive desktop-friendly design.
“I also really enjoy the iFi NEO iDSD 3. For desktop use, it sounds amazing, looks great, and has so many useful features to help you dial in your preferred sound signature.”
The NEO iDSD 3 combines a high-resolution DAC, powerful headphone amplifier, Bluetooth connectivity, and flexible analog outputs in one streamlined component. Its selectable sound-processing features give listeners additional control over the presentation, while its vertical or horizontal placement makes it easy to integrate into a desktop headphone system.
Headphone Amplifiers
iFi iCAN Phantom
Vik Srirekam’s Pick
Sales Consultant
For Vik, the iFi iCAN Phantom is a centerpiece around which an enthusiast can build an extraordinarily versatile headphone system.
“My choice is the iFi iCAN Phantom: a statement headphone playback system whose fidelity and fine-tuning serve the enthusiast with an eclectic headphone collection as well as the enthusiast with one prized pair. The Phantom has naturally become the cornerstone of our Headphone Station at ListenUp Boulder.”
The iCAN Phantom is built to accommodate a remarkably broad selection of headphones, from sensitive in-ear monitors to demanding planar magnetic, dynamic, and electrostatic designs. Its extensive analog controls, selectable solid-state and tube operating modes, and wide range of connections let listeners tailor a system without relying solely on digital processing.
Personal Audio Accessories
Meze Audio Manta Headphone Stand
Dylan Crane’s Pick
Brand Manager / Personal Audio Brick-and-Mortar Manager
Dylan recommends the Meze Audio Manta Headphone Stand for anyone looking for a functional way to display and protect a premium pair of headphones.
“I really like the Meze Manta Headphone Stand. It combines a sleek, nature-inspired design with premium materials, making it a standout addition to any desk. Its elegant cable management and durable construction make it a functional and stylish choice for high-end headphones.”
The Manta Headphone Stand reflects the distinctive design language found throughout Meze Audio’s headphones. Its sculptural shape provides a secure resting place for a wide range of headphone sizes, while the integrated cable-management solution helps keep a desktop or listening space clean and organized.
Shop the Meze Audio Manta Headphone Stand
Find Your Personal Audio Favorite
Our staff members’ choices cover a wide range of listening styles, from wireless earbuds and gaming headsets to reference headphones and statement-level headphone amplifiers.
The right personal audio system depends on where you listen, what you listen to, and which features matter most to you. Explore our complete collection of headphones and personal audio products, or visit a ListenUp showroom to hear select models and speak with one of our personal audio experts.
