Skip to main content

Audiofly goes big with first ever over-ear headphones

Last year at CES we checked out an impressive new prototype from up-and-coming Australian headphone maker, Audiofly. This year, Audiofly’s concept has come to fruition in the form of two new models, the AF250 and the AF240, both of which mark the first over-ear cans Audiofly has ever produced.

OK, we lied just slightly when we said the concept had come to fruition. Audiofly’s new babies aren’t quite finished yet, awaiting a few final sonic tweaks before they become available to the general public. However, they’re almost done, and the sound appears to be ready for market as far as our ears are concerned.

We’re especially impressed by the performance of the flagship AF250, which offer custom voiced 40mm drivers that are rich and ruddy down below, matched by a poised and present punch to the midrange, and an accurate upper register.

Perhaps just as intriguing as the sound of these cans is the actual design. While the AF250 rise above the 240 thanks to die-cast aluminum frames, both headphones are built around a 3-part flexible headband and socket joint system, allowing the earcups to auto adjust to your head simply by putting them on. The earpads are made from memory foam to conform to your head as well. The result is a comfortable, well-fitting pair of headphones that are extremely easy to put on and take off, aimed specifically at studio musicians.

At $350 for the AF250, and $250 for the AF240, you don’t have to be a professional musician to pick up these cans, however. They’re not extremely affordable, but they ride close to other headphones in their class, and based on our initial impressions, they’ll likely have the sound performance to make for some healthy competition.

The Audiofly AF250 and AF240 are expected to hit the market in the next couple of months, and we’ll have our full review ready for their debut, so check back with us soon.

Editors' Recommendations

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
A $20 Chromecast with Google TV is perfect for this one reason
Chromecast with Google TV.

Normally, I would never recommend that someone buy a streaming device that tops out at 1080p resolution. Even if you somehow don't have a 4K TV already — I'm not judging, there are plenty of good reasons — you might well have one in the future. And at that point, it's better to not have to buy new hardware until absolutely necessary. Just go ahead and spend the extra $30 now for a 4K version.

But it's hard to say no to a $20 Chromecast with Google TV HD.

Read more
Tidal vs. Spotify: Which music streaming service has the features you need?
Tidal app for iOS on an iPhone 14 showing now playing screen with Max quality track.

Spotify is the world's leading music streaming service, with over 236 million active paid subscribers and a vast library of artists, albums, podcasts, and audiobooks. It is available on almost every desktop and mobile device. However, if you are a fan of hi-res audio, Tidal may be a better option as it emphasizes hi-res content and offers a vast collection of music and video content.

To determine which platform is better, we compared Spotify and Tidal based on price, sound quality, and supported devices.
Price
Spotify has two tiers of service for individual users. The free, ad-supported tier gives access to the entire library of Spotify content, but has restrictions on how you can interact with it and also has ads. The full-featured Premium plan costs $11 per month, which is standard for the industry now. Spotify also offers plans for two individuals for $15 per month, called Spotify Premium Duo, and a six-person family plan (with parental controls) for $17 per month. There's also a student plan at just $6 per month.

Read more
What is Qobuz? Music, features, and pricing explained
An iPhone 15 Pro showing Qobuz app.

Are you a music lover who craves the highest-quality sound possible, but can't quite afford the hefty price tag that comes with a top-of-the-line audio setup like turntables, integrated amplifiers, and hi-fi speakers? Fear not, my friend, for there is a solution -- Qobuz, the ultra-high-quality music streaming platform that will have you listening and singing to the tunes of your favorite artists in no time.

While some audiophiles may argue that physical media is the only way to achieve true sound quality, the convenience and affordability of Qobuz is hard be beat. So sit back, relax, and let us guide you through everything you need to know about this music streaming service. Just be sure to keep it on the down-low from your vinyl-collecting pals -- we wouldn't want to start a music war.
What is Qobuz?
Qobuz is a music-streaming platform with access to over 100 million songs, all of which are available in the hi-res FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) format. As far as quality goes, it’s tough to beat the kind of clarity, dynamic range, and definition you’ll hear on a Qobuz track, with the catalog being available from CD-quality (16-bit at 44.1kHz) up to 24-bit at 192kHz. 

Read more