Looking for a new pair of headphones can be very confusing, there are so many to choose from – how do you know you are getting the best for your money?
There are lots of things you can look at when deciding, but the main place to start is whether you will benefit from Open or Closed Back. It’s easy for some people to say that one is better then the other, but this isn’t the case – it really depends on how you will use them. If you are looking for a pair of headphones to commute to work with then an open back design won’t be ideal, unless you want the whole carriage to listen to your guilty pleasures. So here is a quick run down on the differences between Open and Closed back headphones.
Closed Back
The main benefit you get from a closed back headphone is sound isolation, this reduces the amount of sound that leaks out for others to hear and it also helps block outside noises so they won’t interfere with your listening. This is something that is very important when using headphones in public e.g. commute to work, travelling or even at home with other people in the room. Generally closed back headphones have a narrower soundstage (compared to open back) but you get a punchier sound with heavier bass. One downside of closed back headphones is that your ears can get warm very easily, especially compared to open backed headphones – Using velour earpads instead of leather can reduce this but this will reduce the amount of sound that is isolated.
Open Back
These headphones certainly don’t isolate sound, being open back the sounds comes out from them like mini speakers – some more than others. They will also allow you to hear what’s going on around you, so this won’t be ideal for noisy environments. The benefit from this is that you get a very natural sound, your ears will keep cool due to the air flow and they give a wide soundstage – this is particularly good for live recordings as you really feel like you’re right there. Being open backed you will notice a loss of bass compared to a closed back alternative, the bass has a more natural feel to it because the driver housing is vented so the sound can breathe.
How To Choose
The best question to ask yourself first is ‘how will I use these headphones?’ and from there you will know whether to go for open or closed back. So if you’re using them at home and there won’t be anyone else around then open back will be a good place to look, but if there is a chance that you will also want to use them on the odd commute to work then overall closed back will be the most suitable.
In the next episode of our review series, we take a closer look at the home listening open back headphone from German MAESTRO, the GMP400. Whilst not being the best looking headphone, the set certainly impressed when it came to its sonic capabilities. Enjoy the video!
Verdict – The Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 is a warm, pleasant sounding home listening set that carries plenty of detail but never steps in the fatiguing territory. Its lightweight design allows the listener to wear them for longer periods.
Pro’s – Fantastic stereo imaging with a great sense of space. Very comfortable headphones, a great partner to that favourite comfy chair. Excellent value for money.
Cons – Very gentle loose fit and combined with their size and the open back means these are definitely for home listening.
In-Depth Review
Introduction – Audio-Technica established in 1962 is a worldwide group devoted to the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of problem-solving audio equipment. They started out making phonograph cartridges and now create microphones, mixers and electronic products for home and professional use. Winner of numerous awards, Audio-Technica manufactures quality products that are used in professional and personal audio around the world.
Description -The ATH-AD700 is only available in the exciting purple and silver colour way. For the purpose of this review a transparent amp was used, but with such a low impedance of only 32 ohms, the AD 700 can be powered quite easily by your portable devices such as an iPod, iPhone or other portable media player. You really get the impression that Audio-Technica produced these as an entry-level headphone for those not sure if they want to commit a huge amount of their well earned money into their hi-fi gear yet. There’s no need for a headphone amp or expensive audio equipment, anyone can enjoy these excellent hi-fi headphones.
Included peripherals – In the box you may find a 6.35mm jack adapter and not much else.
Application – One of the main advantages of open back headphones is their accuracy, and as the AD700 are so very open, there are less sound wave reflections clouding the mix, and that will be part of the reason for their excellent accuracy and sound separation. However that also means that those around you will hear everything, so if the reason for purchasing headphones is to not disturb others in the same room then these probably would not be a good choice, you would be better choosing some closed back headphones.
Describe the sound – Generating the sound in the AD700 is a pair of 53mm neodymium drivers. As far as drivers go, that is pretty big, and big is beautiful in this case. Sound separation and stereo imaging is excellent, far exceeding headphones twice the price on that front. There’s such clarity right across the frequency spectrum, although the top end seems to struggle at a louder volume, for most people’s comfortable listening level they really deliver well. In particular the mid range is as good as anything within a reasonable price range. Some may feel that the bass region is lacking a touch but for the casual listener these have plenty to offer, it is only in the very low frequencies where there is quite a drop. In real listening terms I’d put it like this – you still get all the slap of the kick drum, just not so much of the boom. However what you can hear down there is very accurate and unlike the higher frequencies remains very clear even at high volumes.
Comparisons – Have a look at Sennheiser’s HD600 and 650 models in case you’re after a bit more warmth. In case you prefer a tad more articulation at the top, the SoundMAGIC HP200 is a great alternative. For an all around balanced sound, the German Maestro GMP400 is a great option.
Now we’re all different of course, and so it follows that different sound signatures appeal also. I have noticed that high-end headphones tend to present more mid-range and high frequencies than I would like at the moment. I say ‘at the moment’ as my tastes have changed before and may well change again; both in a musical sense and a sound signature sense.
As it goes, these headphones suit me very well. I had the opportunity to try the HiFiMAN HE-400 against its bigger brothers, the HE-500 and the HE-6. For me, the higher priced headphones were a little too forward in the mid range and got in the way of that bottomless bass. This is a common a feature of planar magnetic headphones, and which makes me lament at the fact I can’t grab that bass and cuddle it like a warm puppy.
I understand that people might identify ‘bass presence’ with headphones which owe their success to marketing rather than a decent sound, but these headphones do not overly accentuate the bass. Nor is detail sacrificed. ‘Five years’, the opening track of David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album starts with a kick drum fading in. I can clearly hear that drumskin quivering and for the first time, despite hearing the album many times.
That’s what’s so good about upgrading from sub-£200 headphones, my entire music collection gets upgraded as well!
And that’s just CDs. In the digital realm, my weak link is now a lack of a decent DAC. I have a reasonable Behringer USB sound card which is good but by no means high-end, plus a M-Audio PCI ‘audiophile’ card; but that’s 10 years old now.
Therefore I decided to try some vinyl with them and the sound is incredible. I found it fun to play a lot of 30 year old pop by way of some early ‘Now That’s’ LPs and various imitators such as ‘Out Now’. The fun is in the difference between the quality of that TV speaker, that little radio, or those cheapo headphones which were held together with sticky tape back in the 80s, and the tastier equipment I have now. Today, those familiar old songs can be heard for the first time as a collection of separate instruments and voices all in unison, rather than a single blunderbuss shot of sound within which you might pick up a distinct instrument if you’re looking for it hard enough, using sat-nav. And DNA profiling.
Indeed, the separation of instruments is a strong feature of planar-magnetic (or orthodynamic) headphones generally. I like to wander between instruments, and am really enjoying the feeling of space between them as well as their resolution which makes them all stand out.
The thing to be careful with is that there appears to be a ‘sweet spot’ as with loudspeakers. The earcups are large, and the placement of the ears within them can affect the sound. I like to place the earcups so that the backs of my ears are touching the padding, then ease the earcups backward until I feel I’m there.
Verdict – The iGrado is one of the best sounding headphone it is possible to buy for around £50. They are a simple solution to the need for a sports headphone for road running or cycling when you need to be aware of your surroundings.
Pro’s – For the price, the sound quality is just stunning.
Cons – Neck band headphones are not everyone’s cup of tea. Although the open back is great for cyclists or exercise in a busy public place, they are not really suitable for the gym or quiet public environments.
In-Depth Review
Introduction – Family owned Grado have been manufacturing beautiful headphones for over 50 years in their Brooklyn USA factory. Grado is famous for their remarkable headphone and phono cartridge designs and hold over 48 patents. Company founder, Joseph Grado is credited as the inventor of the stereo moving coil phono cartridge. Joseph Grado has passed on the mantle of President to his nephew John Grado. John has risen from sweeping the floors of the factory as a twelve year old, to President and Owner of Grado Laboratories.
Description – The iGrado is actually the only Grado made outside the US factory, this was decided so there was a Grado affordable for any budget. The iGrado actually shares the same driver design as the highly acclaimed SR60i which is twice the price!
Included peripherals – Inside the box you will find a Grado iGrado and not a lot else.
Application – Grado iGrado is a lightweight neckband model that will stay still during the hardest workout. The open back allows joggers or cyclists to be aware of their environment whilst exercising and listening to music. They work fantastically well for Classical, Folk and Acoustic music but do a great job with contemporary Rock and Pop and classics from the 60’s to the present day. They work with Hip Hop but having a flat controlled bottom end response, bass fanatic Dance fans should look for a bass dominant headphone instead.
Describe the sound – The Grado sound is detailed, brash and very sweet with a natural feel, basically really exciting. Bass is strong but tightly controlled and never overbearing. The upper mids and the highs really do send the soul soaring, vocals are believable and even difficult strings and brass have a texture which feels right. By venting the drivers a natural ease is gained, getting a closer listening experience to speakers.
Comparisons – The alternatives to this impressive Audiophile workout or even dog walk friendly Headphone are the Sennheiser PX100-II, for a balanced but musical approach a Sennheiser MOMENTUM would work really well if your budget will allow but is closed back. You could also check out the the full sized Grado models such as the SR60i and SR80i.
This is a question that comes up a lot at HiFi Headphones, so here is our easy guide on setting up TV wireless headphones.
Before you go and buy your wireless headphones it is important to find out what audio outputs
your TV has. This is the best starting point as it will determine which wireless headphones are
compatible and if you need any extra devices, such as a DAC.
Based on the type of outputs, there are two types of TV’s:
TVs with analogue output:
Headphone Output/Jack
This is the most commonly known type of audio output, but not necessarily the best. Using the headphone output on your TV will cut the sound from the built in speakers so only you (or anyone else connected to the wireless system) will be able to listen to the TV.
The majority of TV wireless headphones come with a mini jack cable so there won’t be any problems connecting them via the headphone socket.
RCA Phono
This output is generally located at the back of the TV and has two circular sockets, one red and one white. This provides a pure line out signal and therefore won’t interfere with the built in speakers. This is probably the best option as the majority of wireless headphones out there use analogue inputs, and most of them will include appropriate adapters to connect to the RCA phono output.
Even though there will always be a way of connecting TV wireless headphones to the RCA phono socket, some models come with their own adapter to make this easier. Here are a few that I would recommend:
A lot of modern TVs now only have digital audio outputs, this is either as optical or coaxial. If your wireless headphone transmitter only accepts analogue audio then it’s not the end of the world, you can buy a device called a DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter). This device will sit in the chain between your TV and wireless headphone transmitter. You will need a digital cable to go from the TV to the DAC, this will be either optical or coaxial depending on the output. Then from the DAC you will need an RCA phono cable to feed into the transmitter.
With digital outputs becoming more and more popular, there are now headphones that can take a digital signal and convert it to analogue with their own built in DAC. This way you get a much higher quality of sound. Here are a couple that I would recommend:
With such a wide range of TV wireless headphones and accessories on the market at the moment, it doesn’t matter what TV you have; there will be a wireless headphone out there for your set up.
SoundMAGIC continues to impress with their full size models. The HP200s have great balance between accuracy and musicality making them a safe choice for home listening. They measure up really well against the best headphones in this price range.
Pro’s
Great build quality and adjustability, comfortable pads, easily driven and the price is right.
Con’s
Aesthetically unadventurous.
In-Depth Review
Introduction
The HP200 is SoundMAGICs first full size open backed headphone. It follows on from their very first full size, the excellent HP100 closed back, with very similar looks and build quality. Because open backed headphones allow sound to bounce around and even move away from the ear they give a more realistic sense of space. This means they do not isolate well but the sonic benefits can be spectacular.
Description
The HP200 is nearly entirely metal with some tough PE materials for the smaller mouldings. The large earpads and headband are extremely soft and comfortable, the unit itself beautifully ergonomic and relatively lightweight. The range of movement and adjustment is very well thought out with a higher than average amount of articulation, so they should work for anybody.
Included peripherals
The single-sided cable is replaceable with a simple locking connector on the left earcup. The cable is 120cm in length and terminates in a 3.5 mm threaded plug with a screw-on 6.35 mm adapter. Supplied with a very nice carry case that holds the 120cm cable, a 3m extension cable and an inflight adaptor, it all fits back into the case with ease.
Application
This airy sounding open back is really designed for Hifi listening at home but due to the foldable frame, carry case and low weight it could easily help save the sanity of a music loving business traveler confined to a basic hotel room for the evening.
Describe the sound
SoundMAGICs HP200 features angled 53mm Neodymium Drivers with a composite surface, are low impedance and quite easy to drive (although they will benefit from a dedicated headphone amplifier). The Sound is quick and bright but reaches down nice and low for thumpy bass when needed. The bass is a really interesting part of the sound – bass heavy instruments articulate extremely well, lower strings have real texture which helps the transparent presentation and dark background. The sound is very measured, no one thing is ruling the roost here, SoundMAGIC have not been tempted to make these overly warm but have also stopped them from sounding too analytical, they don’t fizz, the top end sparkles without being aggressive. Accurate but musical is normally the goal with open backs and thanks to well balanced EQ the HP200 achieve this impressively. Instrument separation is superb and these dynamic and exciting headphones are better than their price would suggest. They would definitely suit people who prefer focus on detail to warmth and clean articulation to big bass.
Verdict – With the largest and most advanced drivers of any headphone on the market, together with cutting edge design, the HD800 set new standards in high-fidelity listening.
Pro’s – Great build quality, reasonably lightweight and very comfortable fit.
Con’s – Looks and size may not suit everyone.
In-Depth Review
Introduction – The HD800 sits at the pinnacle of Sennheiser’s headphone product line. Part of the Club Orpheus range of high end listening devices, they are available through a very select set of dealers. This is due to the extra aftercare services provided (a 10 year warranty!) and that Sennheiser would prefer for customers to have the opportunity to try their flagship before they buy. These serious headphones will require an equally serious dedicated amp to get find everything they are capable of.
Description – The looks of the HD800 are surely Metropolis inspired, handsome in a future retro way. When picked up the unit feels beautifully constructed – this makes the lack of design subtlety more endearing as you can easily believe their shape is integral to the success of final object. They feel very comfortable, whilst staying put when turning your head the clamping force exerted is minimal.
Application – The HD800 has one job, to get you excited about all your favorite recordings from the most comfortable chair in your living room. You might want to kick everyone else out though as they are open backed and will allow sound to leak in.
Describe the sound – This is where they should and do really impress, vocals feel very real and the handling of bottom end is impressive, punchy with no feeling of sluggishness. Cooler than the usual Sennheiser house sound, detail is very evident without becoming too introspective. Instrument separation is coherent with good width to the stereo image, the angled drivers must help with the perception that the audio is definitely in front of you. Although some may find the soundstage a little in your face with some recordings, many will think that Sennheiser have nailed the spacial presentation here. With a quick and rhythmic feel which works great for stringed instruments, percussion stopping quick passages from becoming confused whilst retaining for more gentle and drifting pieces. The HD800’s seem to do well with most genres, aggressive when needed and capable of subtle sweetness, a well rounded and extremely accomplished offering.
Ultrasone Germany announces the release of the Edition 10, their first open back special edition headphone and it is their most luxurious to date.
The Edition 10 feature Zebrano wood ear cup inlays, Ethiopian Sheepskin ear pads, Titanium Plated Drivers, Kevlar coated cabling and are limited to a run of 2010 individually numbered units.
The ear cups are a beautifully designed combination of form and function, this low resonance lightweight design is finished in galvanic Ruthenium plating and Zebrano coated with four layers of clear lacquer for protection. The inner cup and headband pad is adorned with reddish brown Ethiopian Sheepskin – the worlds softest leather.
The individually matched (tolerance +/-0.4) and specially tuned 40mm Titanium plated drivers have been designed specially for this open backed design. Cabling is silver-plated oxygen free (99.99%) pure copper with Kevlar casing and is designed to be balanced input ready so you do not have to change the entire cable for balanced configuration.
Edition series headphones have Ultrasone´s newest S-Logic™ Plus technology. Edition 10 headphones also contain MU-Metal shielding that reduces magnetic field emissions by up to 98% as compared to conventional headphones.
Finally each Edition 10 comes with a striking hand crafted Zebrano wood headphone stand and its own wooden storage box.
Ultrasone Edition 10 will be available from November 2010! RRP to be confirmed.
