A Guide to Testing Headphones: What to Listen For

When it comes to choosing the perfect pair of headphones and amplifiers, the options can be overwhelming. With so many brands, models, and features available, how do you know which one is right for you? The answer lies in testing them out. In this guide, I walk you through the process of testing headphones and help you discover what to listen for when putting them to the test.

Table of Contents

Selecting the Right Tracks

Before diving into the evaluation process, it’s essential to choose a selection of tracks that cover a wide range of musical genres and audio characteristics. Here are some tracks that are ideal for testing headphones:

Pink Floyd – “Money”

Why: This track is an excellent choice due to its iconic cash register sound effect at the beginning, which tests a headphone’s ability to reproduce intricate details and spatial effects. It also features a wide dynamic range and a mix of instruments, making it suitable for evaluating overall sound quality.

Daft Punk – “Get Lucky”

Why: “Get Lucky” is a great track for testing bass response and overall clarity. It blends electronic and funk elements, featuring a prominent bassline and crisp vocals. It can help you assess how well headphones handle both low and high frequencies.

Fleetwood Mac – “Go Your Own Way”

Why: This classic rock track is ideal for assessing mid-range and vocal reproduction. With intricate guitar work and harmonies, it allows you to evaluate how well headphones handle complex arrangements and the clarity of vocals.

Radiohead – “Paranoid Android”

Why: Radiohead’s music often includes a wide range of instruments and textures. “Paranoid Android” is no exception, making it suitable for evaluating a headphone’s ability to reproduce complex soundscapes, detail, and soundstage.

Miles Davis – “So What”

Why: Jazz tracks like “So What” are excellent for testing instrument separation and the ability to reproduce acoustic instruments. This track’s minimalist arrangement allows you to focus on the nuances of each instrument.

Bassnectar – “Timestretch”

Why: For electronic music enthusiasts, this bass-heavy track is perfect for evaluating low-frequency response and sub-bass capabilities. It can help you gauge how well headphones handle deep bass without distortion.

Eagles – “Hotel California”

Why: “Hotel California” is a classic rock track with intricate guitar work and vocal harmonies. It tests a headphone’s ability to reproduce complex rock arrangements and the balance between various elements in a song.

Tchaikovsky – “1812 Overture”

Why: This classical piece includes a wide dynamic range and powerful orchestration. It’s an excellent choice for assessing how headphones handle high volumes, orchestral music, and dynamic shifts.

Nina Simone – “Feeling Good”

Why: Nina Simone’s soulful and intimate performance in “Feeling Good” is perfect for evaluating how well headphones reproduce the subtleties of vocal performances and the emotional depth of a song.

Tool – “Schism”

Why: Tool’s music is known for its complex time signatures and heavy instrumentation. “Schism” allows you to assess a headphone’s ability to handle intricate and heavy rock compositions, including both the vocals and intricate guitar and bass work.

Pink Martini – “Sympathique”

Why: This track combines various musical styles, making it an excellent choice to evaluate headphones’ versatility across different genres and their ability to reproduce a diverse range of instruments and vocal styles.

Hans Zimmer – “Time” (from the “Inception” soundtrack)

Why: Movie soundtracks, especially those composed by Hans Zimmer, often have a wide dynamic range and orchestral elements. “Time” is a prime example and can showcase a headphone’s cinematic capabilities and ability to convey emotional depth in music.

By testing headphones with this diverse selection of tracks, you can get a comprehensive assessment of their performance across various genres and sonic characteristics, helping you make an informed decision based on your specific preferences and needs.

What to Listen For

Now that you have your selection of tracks ready, it’s time to put those headphones to the test. Here’s what to pay attention to:

Clarity and Detail

Explanation: Clarity and detail refer to the headphones’ ability to reproduce sound with precision and accuracy. When evaluating clarity, listen for the crispness and sharpness of individual instruments, vocals, and sound effects. Assess whether you can hear subtle details such as the plucking of guitar strings, the resonance of a cymbal, or the breathiness in a singer’s voice. High-quality headphones should excel in reproducing these fine nuances, offering a rich and immersive listening experience.

Bass Response

Explanation: Bass response evaluates how well headphones handle low-frequency sounds, including bass guitars, kick drums, and sub-bass notes. Listen for the tightness and depth of the bass. Ideally, the headphones should produce punchy and well-defined bass without muddiness or distortion. Balanced bass ensures that the low end complements the overall audio without overpowering other frequencies.

Mid-Range and Vocals

Explanation: The mid-range frequencies encompass the heart of most music, including vocals, guitars, and many other instruments. Pay close attention to how headphones reproduce vocals in particular. Are the vocals clear, distinct, and emotionally engaging? Can you hear the nuances in a singer’s voice or the timbre of instruments like acoustic guitars? High-quality headphones provide a balanced mid-range that allows vocals and instruments to shine without being drowned out by other frequencies.

Soundstage

Explanation: Soundstage refers to the spatial representation of audio within your headphones. It determines how well headphones create a sense of width, depth, and height in the music. When assessing soundstage, listen for the placement and separation of instruments and vocals. A headphone with a good soundstage will make you feel like you’re sitting in the middle of a live performance, allowing you to pinpoint the location of each element in the virtual sound field.

Instrument Separation

Explanation: Instrument separation evaluates how well headphones distinguish between different instruments in complex musical arrangements. Listen to tracks with multiple instruments playing simultaneously, such as orchestral pieces or rock songs with layered instrumentation. High-quality headphones excel in keeping each instrument distinct, preventing them from blending together into an indistinct mass of sound.

Dynamic Range

Explanation: Dynamic range measures the difference between the softest and loudest parts of a song. Test headphones with music that has a wide dynamic range, such as classical music or tracks with dramatic shifts in volume. Assess whether the headphones maintain clarity and detail during loud passages without distortion and reproduce the subtleties of quieter moments. A good headphone should handle dynamic shifts gracefully.

Noise Isolation

Explanation: Noise isolation measures how effectively headphones block out external sounds, allowing you to immerse yourself in your music. Test the headphones in noisy environments to see how well they isolate you from background noise. Effective noise isolation ensures a more focused and enjoyable listening experience, especially in noisy settings or during travel.

Personal Preference

Explanation: Ultimately, personal preference plays a significant role in headphone selection. While objective measures are important, trust your own ears and what sounds best to you. Consider whether the headphones deliver the sound signature you enjoy for your favorite genres and musical styles. Your unique listening preferences should guide your final decision when choosing the perfect pair of headphones.

By paying attention to these aspects while testing headphones, you can make a well-informed decision and find a pair that suits your listening needs and preferences. Keep in mind that the perfect headphones for one person may not be the same for another, so trust your own judgment and enjoy the music!

Conclusion

Choosing the perfect pair of headphones is a highly personal decision. By carefully testing and evaluating headphones with a variety of tracks and paying attention to specific aspects of their performance, you can make an informed choice that enhances your listening experience. So, take your time, listen critically, and find the headphones that bring your music to life.

Remember that your ears are unique, so what sounds great to one person might not be the same for another. Trust your own judgment and enjoy the journey of discovering and testing headphones that resonate with your musical tastes and preferences. Happy listening!

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Chadwick Becks

I have two degrees in guitar performance and was privileged to study under Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, David Skantar, Ken Karsh, Tim Bedner, and currently Christopher Berg. Outside my editorial work on this blog, I teach full-time across many genres including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and metal.

A Comprehensive Guide to Testing Headphones: What to Listen For