Wired For Sound Part 4: Headphones

So far we’ve covered playback sources, discussed options for amps and speakers, and looked at ways to judge improvements to your setup by listening. This week we’re focusing on the more compact alternative to a room full of hi-fi gear: Headphones.

Headphones Saved My Life

So here’s the deal: You’d love to have super high fidelity sound for ear training, but you’ve got noisy neighbours, no space and you’re flat broke. If this sounds like you then headphones are the answer. Nothing reveals the detail of well recorded music like a good pair of headphones and without a doubt it is the best way to get ‘champagne’ sound on a ‘lemonade’ budget!

Headphones come in all shapes and sizes. If you want to find the right headphones for you, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

• How portable do you need them to be?
• Will you be using them in a noisy environment?
• Are you worried about annoying the person next to you on the bus?
• What will you be driving them with?

The first decision when choosing a pair of headphones is: in-ear or external.

Kick It With Cans

External headphones are composed of two speakers on a headband which sit outside the ears. Full size headphones cup and enclose the ear (called “circumaural” by audio geeks and “cans” by everyone else). Full size headphones are usually designed for home/studio use but it’s become quite fashionable to wear them out and about (at least for Craig David fans) and you can find fold-up models if that’s what you need them for.

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