Earlier in the year, we took a look (or "listen" is probably the better term) at small portable speakers. But sometimes you want something more personal, and only earphones or headphones will do. So, this month, to round out the year, we'll check out a wide range of them. From the reasonably high-end (though affordable) to the even-more moderate.
There's always a challenge when dealing with any sound-related device, a hurdle which is exacerbated with headphones and earphones - it's all so personal. Some people live for deep, rich booming bass, some only want to hear soaring treble. And what is crisp to one ear might be muddied to another.
I got a bit of comfort with this conundrum earlier in the year when I came across an article on the CNET website, written by their expert in sound, a fellow named Steve Guttenberg, who goes by the name of "The Audiophilliac." And I figured that if he was okay with his theory, then that's good enough for me.
The article, which you can read in full here dealt with the idea of that sound devices don't have to be at the impeccable level demanded by audiophiles, but that something lesser might be just what you need. Indeed, the title of the piece was "'Good Enough' speakers and headphones might be good enough after all."
The basis of his theory was his discovery when playing a high-resolution digital version of a favorite, old, classic rock album. And it just didn't sound as good to him as in the past lower-resolution days. And so he then played his old LP to compare. And he realized that what was bothering him now didn't bother him years before for a simple reason - "That's because speakers back in the day didn't reveal the full measure of music's grit and crud", whereas today's high-quality speakers or headphones let you hear all the harsh sounds.
That's when he came up with his simple solution - play the digital recording over ordinary speakers or earphones "and the recording's sound quality won't be an issue. The sound will be good enough." Perhaps less is more, he says, and then suggests that headphones or speakers which can make average recordings "palatable" might actually make the most sense.
He wasn't saying to forsake high-end speakers or earphones, because today there's so much material that demands it. And so he concludes, "I love music, but I mostly listen to great sounding recordings, where the best headphones and speakers let the music shine. But my tastes aren't all that mainstream, so I'm self-selecting music that sounds good on my system. I'm starting to see the light: most people are using headphones and speakers that make the music they like sound good to them. I don't have a problem with that, whatever works is good enough."
So, in the end, if that's what an audiophile has discovered, perhaps that's the answer to the conundrum. Writing about earphones here is utterly subjective. Not only might your mileage vary, it will. So, look for what tends to be of most interest to you, and no one else, and if you find something here that strikes your fancy, then that's what - for you - will be good enough.
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-MSR7 HI-RES HEADPHONES
Audio-Tehnica is a company that makes very good quality sound headphones for the home market though at a price generally quite a bit lower than other high-end devices on the market. (To be clear, they also make audiophile and professional-level products.) The ATH-MSR7 is one of those high-quality home products that falls into the affordable range.
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For most people these headphones might be more than they're looking for, but if you have relatively demanding needs, they might be worth looking into since comparable headphones could cost you several hundred dollars more. Whether you're the sort for whom that extra cost is worth it or not, well...that's what we're here to find out. As a starting point, though the ATH-MSR7 retail for $250, though the online price at the time of writing is only a few dollars less.
Audio-Technica marks these hea
There's always a challenge when dealing with any sound-related device, a hurdle which is exacerbated with headphones and earphones - it's all so personal. Some people live for deep, rich booming bass, some only want to hear soaring treble. And what is crisp to one ear might be muddied to another.
I got a bit of comfort with this conundrum earlier in the year when I came across an article on the CNET website, written by their expert in sound, a fellow named Steve Guttenberg, who goes by the name of "The Audiophilliac." And I figured that if he was okay with his theory, then that's good enough for me.
The article, which you can read in full here dealt with the idea of that sound devices don't have to be at the impeccable level demanded by audiophiles, but that something lesser might be just what you need. Indeed, the title of the piece was "'Good Enough' speakers and headphones might be good enough after all."
The basis of his theory was his discovery when playing a high-resolution digital version of a favorite, old, classic rock album. And it just didn't sound as good to him as in the past lower-resolution days. And so he then played his old LP to compare. And he realized that what was bothering him now didn't bother him years before for a simple reason - "That's because speakers back in the day didn't reveal the full measure of music's grit and crud", whereas today's high-quality speakers or headphones let you hear all the harsh sounds.
That's when he came up with his simple solution - play the digital recording over ordinary speakers or earphones "and the recording's sound quality won't be an issue. The sound will be good enough." Perhaps less is more, he says, and then suggests that headphones or speakers which can make average recordings "palatable" might actually make the most sense.
He wasn't saying to forsake high-end speakers or earphones, because today there's so much material that demands it. And so he concludes, "I love music, but I mostly listen to great sounding recordings, where the best headphones and speakers let the music shine. But my tastes aren't all that mainstream, so I'm self-selecting music that sounds good on my system. I'm starting to see the light: most people are using headphones and speakers that make the music they like sound good to them. I don't have a problem with that, whatever works is good enough."
So, in the end, if that's what an audiophile has discovered, perhaps that's the answer to the conundrum. Writing about earphones here is utterly subjective. Not only might your mileage vary, it will. So, look for what tends to be of most interest to you, and no one else, and if you find something here that strikes your fancy, then that's what - for you - will be good enough.
- Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 Hi-Res Headphones
- Phiaton BT 220 NC wireless ear buds
- Phiaton BT 330 NC Headphones
- HMDX Craze Wireless Ear Buds
- BONUS: Logitech K380 Keyboard
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-MSR7 HI-RES HEADPHONES
Audio-Tehnica is a company that makes very good quality sound headphones for the home market though at a price generally quite a bit lower than other high-end devices on the market. (To be clear, they also make audiophile and professional-level products.) The ATH-MSR7 is one of those high-quality home products that falls into the affordable range.
For most people these headphones might be more than they're looking for, but if you have relatively demanding needs, they might be worth looking into since comparable headphones could cost you several hundred dollars more. Whether you're the sort for whom that extra cost is worth it or not, well...that's what we're here to find out. As a starting point, though the ATH-MSR7 retail for $250, though the online price at the time of writing is only a few dollars less.
Audio-Technica marks these hea