What makes a pair of headphones good

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Holiday Deals. Shop now. Filed Under: articles buying guides. Choosing headphones? You got this. Headphone types: over-ear, on-ear, in-ear Closed or open-back?

Wired or wireless? Noise cancelation Options, add-ons, and accessories. Step 1. Identify how you will use your headphones. Step 2: Choose the right headphone type.

The biggest decision of all. Over-Ear Headphones The biggest of the three types, over-ear headphones surround or cup your ear and stay on via light pressure on your temple and upper jaw.

On-Ear Headphones On-ear headphones are generally smaller and lighter than over-ear headphones, and they stay on your head via pressure directly on your ears, like ear muffs. In-Ear Headphones Often called earbuds or earphones, in-ear headphones are the smallest of the three types and fit in the ear canal. The Not-So-Good In-ear headphones tangle easily unless they come with a tangle-free cord or you go with a pair of truly wireless headphones.

Step 3: Closed or Open-Back Headphones? Shop Closed-Back Headphones. Shop Open-Back Headphones. Closed-Back Headphones Here, the outer casing has no holes or vents and the entire structure is built to cup your ear. Open-Back Headphones Open-back headphones.

Step 4: Wired or wireless? Step 5: Noise cancelation. To hear, or not to hear? That is the question. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones Quick recap. Enough backstory. Step 6. Options, add-ons, and accessories. A few ways to make a good thing even better. What about music type? Why such big differences in prices? What about the warranty? Still not sure? No problem. Thank you for reading — and enjoy your awesome new headphones! About World Wide Stereo World Wide Stereo is a home entertainment technology store with a year history, a storied past and a stellar reputation within the industry.

Write a Comment You must be logged in to write a comment. Visit A Showroom. Audio purists should comb through frequency response charts to make sure a headset fits their needs. In fact, most of us prefer a bit of bass and treble emphasis, at least when it comes to casual listening. Related: How we test How to read charts. To make the most of the sound quality, proper isolation is key. You should make sure the headphones fit well. With earbuds, you want the ear tips seal to the entrance of your ear canals without causing an uncomfortable suction sensation.

That wraps up our wireless headphones seminar. Now stop reading, and get back to listening! Check Price. Name: Subject: Message:. SoundGuys is reader supported. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More. What makes a good set of wireless headphones? Let's break down the most important features to consider before you buy wireless headphones. Rating Full Article Comments. Loading poll. Bass boost is is pretty true to the name—some might say too true.

Frequently Asked Questions. If so, allow us to recommend the insightful Beyerdynamic Xelento Remote. Here, why not consider the AKG K92? For a higher-end option, the Grado SRx and slightly older Grado SRe are also well worth a look, as well as the Beyerdynamic T1 if your system is up to it. Or, if you want to block out the world, there are throngs of great-sounding, noise-cancelling headphones including many wireless options that will counteract the hum of an aeroplane, such as the Sony WHXM4 and Apple AirPods Max.

We'd also like to put in a good word for the great-sounding if slightly older Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. Most of these involve Bluetooth, and are rising in popularity thanks to smartphone brands who've ditched the trusty 3.

If you'll be listening to music on your smartphone while you run, that could well dictate the headphones route wired or wireless you take. If you're going for true wireless, can you get a good seal to ensure a solid sound performance and do the units feel secure in your ears?

If they feel a little bulky at first, chances are they'll become uncomfortable over the course of a few hours — and possibly even fall out when you turn your head sharply. Sound is king, of course, but aesthetics must also be considered. You should want to plug your headphones in and listen as soon as you cast your eye upon them. The straight-body design makes for particularly easy ear insertion. Some might argue the HF5 could use a touch more bass, but I'm not one of them—I like it just fine, for what it is, and especially given its very reasonable price.

To my ears, the best custom IEMs are some of the best sounding headphones of any type currently available. But if you're simply not sure or if you're on the fence , the JH13 Pro is the safest cost-no-object in-ear recommendation, as it provides mildly emphasized bass and I find most people prefer mildly emphasized bass , with neutral mids and treble, and outstanding treble extension.

Lifehacker's Note : If you like hte idea of custom IEMs, but don't want to break the bank, you can always mold some of your other earbuds for under a dollar. This entry-level, open-back Grado headphone has probably created more headphone audiophiles than any other single headphone model. I've yet to find a headphone at or below its price that can so consistently bring smiles and wows from those new to the good stuff.

The SR60i's bass is full but balanced, mids are dynamic, treble is sparkly and detailed. Resolving and lively, the SR60i has bona fide audiophile street cred—and yet it's also fun! Plus, the retro styling of the SR60i turns heads. Its tonal balance is on the more neutral, accurate side. The PX II folds into a very small, tidy package for easy portability. Both of these headphones target both the pro audio and audiophile markets.

Both are closed, and both isolate as well as any other ear pad headphones I've used. Most importantly, these headphones are capable of delivering outstanding, reference-quality sound.

A closed-back pro-audio-oriented headphone, the SRH has found popularity for studio use. Many audiophiles also appreciate its more neutral tonal balance, the SRH having none of the bass bloat that many of its closed competitors have.

Though a full-size headphone, the SRH does fold into a pretty compact, portable bundle. I'm including the closed-back ATH-M50 because it is a very strong favorite in this price range with our community at Head-Fi.

I see few headphones recommended as often by Head-Fi's members. Lightweight, and well padded, the HD is among my most comfortable headphones at any price , and I have a lot of headphones here.

And, thankfully, the HD sounds as good as it is comfortable, projecting a wide, open sonic image. Though its bass presentation is more on the neutral side, there's a sense of fullness down low. Smooth, yet with outstanding detail overall, is how I'd characterize this headphone. Wallet-Busting Picks : All of my favorite cost-no-object full size headphones are open-back, and all benefit tremendously from dedicated headphone amplifiers. To wring the best performance out of it, the HD absolutely needs to be matched well with a good headphone amplifier.

It is a ruthlessly revealing headphone. Match it up poorly, and it can be overly bright. Drive it well, and the HD will reward you with what will probably be the best sound quality you've ever heard.

Yes, the HD is picky, but, in my opinion, it's worth the effort. Also, hands down, the HD is the most comfortable headphone I've ever worn. Immensely popular in the Head-Fi community the last couple of years has been the reemergence of planar magnetic driver technology. These top-tier planar magnetic driver assemblies are very heavy, though, and both the HE and LCD-2 can feel heavy on the head, and aren't nearly as comfortable as the HD Less picky about amplification than the HD , it can be easier to build a world-class headphone rig around these top-tier planar magnetic headphones than around Sennheiser's flagship HD If the amount of active noise attenuation is your primary consideration, the QC15 would be my top recommendation—it's uncanny good in this regard.

Musically, the QC15 sounds pretty good, but, if you're used to better-quality headphones, it's not likely to wow you with its output. Where the PXC does have an advantage, though, is in its sound quality, being more detailed and musical than any of Bose's headphones. Another big advantage for the Sennheiser is its ability to be used as a passive headphone.