Headphone Padawans

[KPC]

Asking for a friend

A noob wishes to explore the world of headphones.

• What three things do you think a Headphone Padawan consider?
• If your budget is under $500, Are you buying new or used?
• What is the price point where the ROI is negligible?

Based on a generated AI checklist, here are additional variables I can answer:

1. What sound signature do I prefer? (still learning terminology, but getting detail from the mid's on orchestra music)
2. Open or closed? (I'm guessing open back)
3. Do I need an amp? (Would prefer no amp)
4. Planar or dynamic driver? (Still learning about this...)
5. Is it comfortable for long sessions? (Want something with long sessions in mind, not very fatiguing. Willing to give up detail for this)
6. Does it match the genres I listen to? (80's, 90's, Rock, Live)
7. Where will I use it (home, commute, office)? (Home)
8. Does it scale with better gear? (does not need to necessarily scale)

Looking forward to learning from the experienced! Thanks in advance,

 

[KPC]

FYI, I am leaning on the Hifiman Edition XS. I can be persuaded to go for a different baseline if compelling.

 

[DVDdoug]

Don't trust AI for audio! Don't trust most of what you read on the Internet! This is one of the few scientific-rational resources.

The Harman Curve
Understanding Headphone Measurements (video)

If your budget is under $500, Are you buying new or used?
What is the price point where the ROI is negligible?

$500 is a reasonable budget. There are plenty to choose from. With headphones, there is almost no correlation between price and sound quality. You can sort the reviews here by price or "recommended".

What sound signature do I prefer?

If possible, listen to some headphones, try to find the frequency response measurement to learn what kind of frequency response curve you like. Or start with something that closely matches the Harmon target.

Do I need an amp?
Planar or dynamic driver?

Planar headphones tend to be less sensitive (they often require more voltage or power to go as loud as dynamic headphones) so you MAY need a separate amplifier to go loud enough for you. ...Technically, anything with a headphone jack has a built-in headphone amp.

There are good and bad headphones made both ways.

Is it comfortable for long sessions? (Want something with long sessions in mind

Comfort is a personal thing so it's best if you can try them.

not very fatiguing. Willing to give up detail for this)

Listening fatigue is also a personal-psychological thing.
"Detail" isn't really defined. Sometimes more distortion is described as more detail!

Does it match the genres I listen to? (80's, 90's, Rock, Live)

Your genre isn't that important. The job of the headphone is to accurately* reproduce whatever sound is fed into-it.

Does it scale with better gear? (does not need to necessarily scale)

Most electronics are better than human hearing unless overdriven into clipping/distortion.
A better headphone (or speaker) will always sound better.

FYI, I am leaning on the Hifiman Edition XS.

Unfortunately, that model is not reviewed here.



*Or what is perceived as accurate... The Harman curve says that with headphones we don't perceive flat frequency response as flat.

 

[KPC]

Don't trust AI for audio! Don't trust most of what you read on the Internet! This is one of the few scientific-rational resources.

The Harman Curve
Understanding Headphone Measurements (video)


$500 is a reasonable budget. There are plenty to choose from. With headphones, there is almost no correlation between price and sound quality. You can sort the reviews here by price or "recommended".


If possible, listen to some headphones, try to find the frequency response measurement to learn what kind of frequency response curve you like. Or start with something that closely matches the Harmon target.


Planar headphones tend to be less sensitive (they often require more voltage or power to go as loud as dynamic headphones) so you MAY need a separate amplifier to go loud enough for you. ...Technically, anything with a headphone jack has a built-in headphone amp.

There are good and bad headphones made both ways.


Comfort is a personal thing so it's best if you can try them.


Listening fatigue is also a personal-psychological thing.
"Detail" isn't really defined. Sometimes more distortion is described as more detail!


Your genre isn't that important. The job of the headphone is to accurately* reproduce whatever sound is fed into-it.


Most electronics are better than human hearing unless overdriven into clipping/distortion.
A better headphone (or speaker) will always sound better.


Unfortunately, that model is not reviewed here.



*Or what is perceived as accurate... The Harman curve says that with headphones we don't perceive flat frequency response as flat.

Not to pun on your avatar but that is a mouthful!

In regards to AI, I have asked enough to know it cannot be trusted for an honest answer (At least when it comes to audio!)

 

[Chanur]

I'm not much of a headphone guy, I have some Sennheiser HD598s that I've had for ever and another pair of some made in America brand that I used for traveling. Both make me happy. How ever if I were to get another pair of headphones I'd go for some planar's and probably around 500 bucks. I saw recommendations from like 250-500, so several to choose from.

 

[Subob]

In a nutshell, my top three pieces of advise are....

Type - You really really do need to know whether your use case demands open or closed back. Driver type is less important, but the level of sound isolation and sound leakage is crucial. Forget being out and about or in close proximity to others with open backs, it ain't happening!
Conversely, if you have a lovely quiet space where most of your listening takes place, go open backs all day long.

Comfort - You seriously can forget every other thing if what you buy isn't comfortable for you to wear. No matter how good it sounds, how good it looks etc etc, if it ain't comfortable on your head it'll mostly live unused in a drawer rather than on your head and being enjoyed.

Try before you buy - You can research until the cows come home!, and I have, lol, but nothing will ever beat actually trying for yourself. What works for others may not work for you, and vice versa. If you have a shop you can go to try any models you have your eyes on, good. Even better, if you can make it to a Canjam event, do it! It's a brilliant experience where you can try models galore from all price ranges, many of which you're highly unlikely to find in a local shop. I've never ever been pressured to buy there either, and it's full of geeks that will happily chat to you and give advice if you want it, but equally you could spend all day, or weekend, there quietly doing your own thing.

Good luck!

Happy to answer any questions here if I can, or give info covering more aspects to consider on headphone buying.