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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Missed the previous posts in the series? Catch up with Part One and Part Two.

So you’re planning on buying some new toys, or shifting your set up around, but how will you know if you have actually made things better?

First things first, you need some test material. Several hi-fi manufacturers make CDs of test tracks, but I suggest finding a small selection of material you know really well and covers the range of music that you enjoy. My personal selection includes: The Cinematic Orchestra, Björk, Led Zeppelin and Steve Reich.

Burn these tracks on a CD and take it with you when you go shopping (any decent hi-fi or pro audio shop should have a listening room to try out equipment).

Wherever possible shut your eyes and ask a friend or shop assistant to switch (or rearrange) equipment so you can be sure you are listening with your ears and not your eyes or bank balance.

Guidelines

You don’t need to be an expert to listen for the changes you have made, just trust your ears and listen out for the following:
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