If you do not fancy speakers that much and you love hi-fi audio, you probably want to get a headphone. When it comes to choosing headphones, there are a thousand and one things to consider. Here are some factors that should take priority when creating beginner audiophile headphone setup.
In the market nowadays, the general trend of things is that the higher the price, the more the quality. However, when it boils down to the price of a headphone, negotiations can get complicated. From years of experience, we have found that very high prices don’t necessarily equate to a premium experience. What you should do after setting your budget is to research reputable brands, ask for recommendations from a fellow audiophile or read reviews and testimonials.
Over-ear or on the ear.
Aside from your preferred convenience, the configuration will affect the quality of the sound. The added room or air that over-air headphones have will change how your music sounds. A typical example is a sound from over-ear headphones that may seem to have more depth or richness.
The back.
Another thing you need to consider is the back of your headphone. When you shop for one, you will come across two options; open and closed-back headphones. In simple terms, closed-back headphones transmit sound only to your ears, while open-back emit the noise in both directions. This means that if you use open-back headphones, people can hear what you are listening to. Eventually, this may sound like a negative for open headphones, but it is worth noting that they produce more accurate and unique sounds.
Wired or wireless?
Unlike before, advancements in Bluetooth technology have high-quality made wireless headphones indistinguishable from wired headphones. Now, it all comes down to your preferences. You need not worry about the wire getting in your way with Bluetooth headphones. On the other hand, if you love the feel or your headphones physically plugged into your device, wired earphones are the way to go.
Driver type.
Now we are getting into technical terms. If you are a beginner, you may not consider this as a qualifying criterion. The type of driver in your headphone will affect the sonic performance. Driver types include dynamic, balanced armature, and electrostatic.
If you haven’t developed a finely tuned ear, you may not notice the improvements an external DAC makes to your audiophile speaker setup.