I will admit it, I am a sucker for boutique audio headphones, and whenever I get the opportunity to try a pair, I jump at the chance. While the market already offers dozens of wooden-cupped planar headphones competing for attention in a crowded mid-tier segment, I was impressed by the Sendy Audio EGRET when it was offered for review.
Now, after a few weeks of listening sessions with the Sendy Audio EGRET, I can say these headphones offer something noteworthy. They deliver a refined balance of technical performance and musical engagement that justifies their position in a competitive landscape and earns them a permanent place on my desk at work.
Before we get too deep into the review, I have to say these headphones are striking. Unboxing the simple brown box reveals the protective leather case, and inside that, the headphones themselves. It is an experience getting everything ready to listen, and every element feels premium.
Pick up the EGRET, and the first thing you notice is how solid and well made they feel. These are Sendy Audio’s latest take on an open-back planar design, built around large 98-by-84-millimetre planar magnetic drivers set into beautifully finished black walnut cups. Priced at $799, these headphones are designed for listeners seeking reference-level detail without sacrificing comfort during extended sessions.
These are not the kind of headphones you casually toss into a bag for quick listening. With a 24-ohm impedance and 95-decibel-per-milliwatt sensitivity, they are more flexible than you might expect and work well with a wide range of sources. While the wood accents and overall design will look familiar to anyone who has spent time around high-end headphones, the Sendy Audio EGRET feels purpose-built for quality audio first, not just style. And they back that up once you start listening, but more on that shortly.
Looking over the headphones, you will find a leather suspension strap supporting the hefty driver housings, along with well-padded earcups that feel comfortable right away, even during longer listening sessions. The walnut cups mentioned earlier feature embossed EGRET detailing on the grilles, adding a bit of texture and personality to the overall design. Each cup uses dual 3.5-millimetre connectors, and the included cable plugs in securely.
The cable itself is thick and braided, finished with a 4.4-millimetre balanced connection and adapters for standard single-ended setups. It feels like a genuine upgrade over the typical stock cable, which is nice to see. Sendy Audio clearly paid attention to the full experience here, avoiding the corner-cutting that often shows up in accessories, especially when the cable plays such a big role in everyday use.
“…the Sendy Audio EGRET feels purpose-built for quality audio first, not just style.”
Throwing the headphones on and hitting play, I was immediately impressed by the overall sound. The highs have plenty of air and detail, making it easy to pick up room ambience and trailing notes without ever crossing into sharpness or sibilance. Strings sound natural, cymbals have a clean shimmer without becoming metallic, and vocals retain the subtle nuances that help great recordings stand out. This tuning works well across a wide range of genres, from dense metal mixes to stripped-down acoustic tracks, and it never feels out of its depth.
The midrange puts vocals front and centre without creating that artificial closeness that can distract from the rest of the mix. Even on more complex tracks, instruments stay well separated, with guitars locked into clear positions and synth layers maintaining their own character. Timbre is another strong point. Acoustic guitars sound convincingly wooden, brass has the right metallic bite, and vocals keep the small imperfections that make performances feel natural rather than overly polished. The headphones also maintain strong separation on heavier rock and metal tracks, helping draw listeners into the music without becoming overwhelming.
Listeners familiar with planar headphones will feel at home with the bass response, which sits in a comfortable middle ground. It delivers solid extension and control without chasing chest-thumping impact. Low-end notes arrive quickly and cleanly, remaining articulate even during fast, dense passages. Those seeking earth-shaking sub-bass may find the tuning slightly restrained, but the low end remains well-balanced and supportive rather than dominant. On bass-heavy tracks, it can still dig deeper than expected, showing there is additional weight available when the mix calls for it.
After extended listening, it becomes difficult to return to typical earbuds. The sound has a sense of scale and immersion that highlights how flat many earbud presentations can feel by comparison.
The level of immersion delivered by the Sendy Audio EGRET is surprising, thanks to a wide soundstage that stands out among consumer headphones. The presentation is broader than expected, particularly when compared with most closed-back designs, yet it remains natural rather than stretched or artificial. Instruments extend convincingly beyond the head, creating a strong sense of space without sacrificing a stable centre image. There is also effective front-to-back depth, which helps separate lead elements from background detail and gives the sound genuine dimension. Combined with strong channel separation, the mix remains clear and well-defined, even when the tracks become busy.
“The level of immersion delivered by the Sendy Audio EGRET is surprising, thanks to a wide soundstage that stands out among consumer headphones.”
The Sendy Audio EGRET is efficient enough to deliver strong audio from portable devices, should you have one equipped with a 3.5-mm jack, while also scaling well when paired with a proper desktop amplifier. This versatility makes it easy to use outside a dedicated listening setup, although improved amplification adds punch, nuance, and body to the sound.
The clarity, depth and richness on offer make a lasting impression, to the point that returning to typical desktop speakers can feel underwhelming by comparison. The presentation is refined and engaging, delivering a level of performance that rewards careful listening.
Expectations were met and then exceeded. Sendy Audio has produced a planar magnetic headphone that sounds exceptional, remains comfortable over long sessions and features an attractive, well-executed design. Technical performance is strong, and build quality feels thoughtfully considered. The EGRET avoids many of the compromises common in more budget-focused models without drifting into the diminishing returns of ultra-high-end designs. For listeners who value natural tuning, solid detail and long-term comfort, the Sendy Audio EGRET stands out as an easy recommendation among today’s mid-tier planar headphones.
