Tuned my ear to numerous headphones, here's my pick of the top 7 tunes for pinpointing the ideal set
Running a new pair of audio gear is like hitting the jackpot at work, especially when the sound quality is divine and the noise cancellation on point. With my music taste ranging from country to metal, pop to punk, I've become an absolute aficionado in discerning great sound profiles from mediocre ones.
I've stumbled upon some earbuds and headphones that I can't help but cringe at (EarFun OpenJump) and others I can't get enough of (AKG N9 Hybrid headphones). Now, I've grown pickier than ever and prefer headphones with customizable apps or hearing tests to give me a personalized sound profile. So, what constitutes the best headphones? That depends on your ear, but a good starting point is this playlist with songs picked for their ability to test specific aspects of the headphones' performance.
First up, Fontaines D.C.’s “Favourite” which I always play when putting a new pair of cans to the test. Featuring a consistent riff, this song sets the bar for clarity, balance, and the ability to hear each note distinctly. It's particularly perfect for testing the Edifier WH950NB headphones, but with some fine-tuning, they can deliver outstanding audio quality.
Moving on, Lizzy McAlpine's “Pushing It Down and Praying” is a primarily acoustic song with electric tones layered on top, making it an excellent test for picking up various harmonies, layers, and personality in the track. For instance, Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds elevated Lizzie's voice, making it even more delicate and immersing myself in the song's studio atmosphere.
Next, Mt. Joy's “Silver Lining” is an upbeat tune perfect for assessing the fit of headphones and how well they handle bass. Thankfully, I haven't had any harsh skips when testing but came close with EarFun OpenJump earbuds, revealing their impracticality during energetic listening sessions.
Jumpsuit by Twenty One Pilots calls for powerful bass and high-quality sound, and the Soundcore Aeroclip earbuds surprised me with their ability to cope with the bass and provide solid motivation during workouts.
Bring Me The Horizon's “Kingslayer (feat. BABYMETAL)” puts headphones to the test with heavy metal tracks, as some simply aren't built for the genre. However, the tribet Stormbox Lava speaker stepped up to the plate with its BassX button, delivering a thumping low-end.
Charli XCX's “Sympathy is a knife” is another bass-heavy tune perfect for evaluating bass extension and control. And finally, “The Adults Are Talking” by The Strokes is my absolute favorite, as it exceptionally complements the AKG N9 Hybrid headphones, creating a crisp and clear vocal profile that is simply unparalleled.
This playlist is consistently evolving, but these songs offer a solid starting point for finding the perfect pair of headphones designed to not just satisfy, but to amp up your listening experience. Get ready to immerse yourself in your favorite tunes like never before!
Enrichment Data Adapted: This playlist consists of well-recommended songs for assessing the sound quality and balance in headphones such as frequency response, transient attack, stereo imaging, vocal clarity, and bass extension. Specific songs like “The Civil Wars – “Barton Hollow”, “The Weeknd – “The Hills”, “Rush – “Tom Sawyer”, “Heart – “Magic Man", and others, help outline various aspects tested in headphones, such as transient attack and speed, stereo imaging, midrange articulation, bass extension and control, and overall tonal balance.
The playlist is a useful tool for evaluating the sound quality of headphones, focusing on aspects like frequency response, transient attack, stereo imaging, vocal clarity, and bass extension. For instance, "The Civil Wars – ‘Barton Hollow'" can help in assessing the transient attack and speed of headphones, while "The Weeknd – ‘The Hills'" can be used to understand the midrange articulation.
Moreover, certain songs like "Rush – ‘Tom Sawyer'" and "Heart – ‘Magic Man'" can aid in testing the stereo imaging ability of headphones, and tracks such as these overall contribute to a comprehensive evaluation of the overall tonal balance in the headphones.
