Headphones Test – How to Find the Best Headphones

A good pair of headphones is an essential accessory for anyone who enjoys listening to music or audio books, but the wide variety of models on the market can make it tough to choose. While expensive sound-quality testing equipment can provide detailed and accurate results, some simple subjective assessments can give a quick insight into how well a headphone performs. This article will walk you through a simple test that can help you find the best headphones for your unique needs.

Bass

The ability of a headphone to reproduce low frequencies is an important factor for most listeners. This is especially true for bass heavy genres like rock and metal, where the low frequencies can be muddy or dull if not reproduced properly. We test bass response by playing a series of songs that emphasize different instruments and frequency ranges, such as the low rumble of upright bass in a Miles Davis track, or the deep but crisp baritone vocals of Bill Callahan. We also play synthesizer heavy dance music to get an idea of the range and clarity of a headphone’s lower frequencies.

Treble

The treble region of the audible spectrum spans from 2KHz to 20KHz. It includes the high frequencies that are critical for a clear and crisp audio experience. This range of frequencies includes the higher harmonics of guitars and vocals, cymbals and sibilant tones (S and T sounds). If a pair of headphones lacks a strong treble profile, music may sound muffled or dull.

SPL at 500 Hz:

The SPL at 500 Hz is a measure of the sound pressure level at the pinna of a subject when headphones are worn. This is an important measurement for a number of reasons, including comfort and safety. High SPL levels can damage hearing, and many manufacturers include this measurement as part of their evaluations.

IEC 60268-7: Sound System Equipment — Part 7: Headphones and Earphones

While there are many different tests and evaluation methodologies for headphones, the most comprehensive one is defined by the IEC standard IEC 60268-7. This document defines the different types of headphone acoustic transducers, describes various couplers and acoustic ear simulators, and specifies free-field and diffuse field testing conditions. For more specific test configurations, SoundCheck supports a variety of 3rd party hardware for headphone and earbud test, including turntables, headphone isolation mounts, acoustic ear simulators and headphone leakage fixtures.