Tested.com's Guide To Choosing Headphones

[Andy Dixon]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tested.com/news/how-to-test-and-tweak-your-headphones-or-earbuds/579/' target='_blank'>http://www.tested.com/news/how-to-t...or-earbuds/579/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Looking to buy yourself a new set of headphones and ditch those Apple earbuds for good? You're not alone. The earbuds included with your phone or player aren't quite the best in terms of quality, and a new and improved pair can make your music or games come alive. You can't just walk into your big box store and grab a new set of cans, however; just like with speakers, headphones have their own set of criteria that you should keep in mind if you're looking for the best in sound."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1280082723.usr11334.jpg" style="border: #d2d2bb 1px solid;" /></p><p>I think we all know that the default earbuds you get with media devices and phones are not the best out there, which is why most of us purchase our own. Tested.com have written a guide on what you should be looking for when you are deciding what to purchase with links to other articles on how to test, as well as using test audio files to see if the headset performs as you expect it to.&nbsp;</p>

[Reid Kistler]

There is a so much personal preference that goes into buying a set of "headphones" - type (in, on, around the ear), comfort of different models within any given type, price / value assessment, sound quality / quantity, physical quality (materials / construction) - that it is one piece of equipment for which I almost never make a specific recommendation. (Take a favorite piece of music, & listen for a while.... ;) )

Factor in that many headphones that feel initially comfortable and capable of good sound reproduction end up being irritating on one (or both) of those counts if worn for an extended period of time, and the problem of making a good purchase decision becomes even more complicated. :(

Still, my favorite set, and the only ones used for "serious" music listening, is a pair of old AKG K240s (purchased in late 1980) - which makes them some 30 years old now! (OTOH, managed to keep them - mostly - away from the kids, and could probably pass them off as being no more than a few years old....)