Headphones.com - The Audio Files / Buying Guides

The Best In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) to Start 2024

2023-12-19T11:09:10Z

As 2023 comes to a close, join us as we take a look back at the in-ear monitors (IEMs) worth talking about to begin 2024. From $20 to $5,000, you're sure to find something to elevate your listening experience.

A headphone reviewer's reference gear

2023-08-21T18:36:13Z

Ever wonder what headphones reviewers actually use on a daily basis? In this video, Resolve goes through a list of his reference equipment.

Best Headphones for Mixing Audio (2023)

2023-07-21T06:00:01Z

If you’ve been around the audiophile or pro audio scene for a while, the title might be a bit of a head-scratcher. I know what you’re probably thinking… (Shocked Pikachu face): “What?? Mixing on headphones? Shouldn’t you only mix using speakers?” While the simple answer has always been “Yes, you should do most of your mixing in speakers,” I’ve thought for a long time that there are convincing arguments for doing a significant amount of the mix process in headphones. As time has marched on, and consumer listening time has tilted away from...

The Best In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) in Summer 2023

2023-06-30T10:37:56Z

Introduction As we wrapped up 2022, we (Fc-Construct and Precogvision) published our take on the best in-ear monitors (IEMs) going into 2023 in The Audio File’s inaugural IEM buyer’s guide. For this update, we’ve changed some of the categories and added new recommendations. Much of this will look similar but with a couple of shake-ups. [TableOfContents] Introduction Best IEMs under $100 Best IEMs under $250 Best IEMs under $500 Best IEMs under $1,000 Best IEMS Under $2,000 Best IEMs over...

Resolve’s 2023 Headphone Wall of Fame

2023-06-20T09:34:08Z

I had previously put together a headphone ranking list, from good to “I don’t like them,” based purely on what I personally index for, which you can find in our Forum here. But my work is never done. This new list is a selection from that list, featuring several headphones that are competitive and perform extremely well across various price points. Think of this as the highlights, a condensed version with just the truly great stuff. This list will get updated should new headphones come out, and this also means some...

Best In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) in Winter 2022

2022-11-25T17:43:41Z

We've updated this guide! You can find the latest version here. It's that time of year again where you, the reader, will ostensibly be searching for what is the best In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) that you can put on your wish list for a given budget - which leads us to our buying guide for the best IEMs in 2023. We’ve seen the IEM world become extremely competitive in the last few years with many companies vying for your attention and your hard earned dollars. As 2022 comes to an end, we’ve also observed a dramatic shift in the...

Best Closed-back Headphones for 2023

2022-11-25T16:06:01Z

Whether you’re an audiophile, music professional, or simply in the market for a new set of headphones, the choice is endless. From style and design to weight and tonal balance, there are many key factors to consider when choosing the perfect pair of headphones. The following is a list of closed-back headphones I feel are the most easy to recommend within their given price bracket. For a more general buying guide on what to look for when shopping for high end headphones, check out our Headphone Buying Guide. We also have a list of open-back recommendations that's...

Getting Started: How to Navigate the Headphone Hobby

2022-11-16T13:52:50Z

Introduction The world of high end headphones can be a difficult one to navigate, especially if you're brand new to the hobby. Where to start? Our headphone buying guides aim to provide a good jumping off point to get started with great-sounding gear. These guides have been updated for 2022, but it's important to know that audio doesn't always progress in the same way that other technology does. You'll see many products that stay at the top of their category over time. [Collapsible:Expand, Collapse] A Disclaimer: There are of course headphones that we haven't heard, and it's entirely...

Best Open-Back Headphones for 2023

2022-11-16T13:40:54Z

This is a list of the best home hi-fi headphones we've heard this year - while it's not exhaustive, we feel the headphones represented here cover a variety of price points and will offer solid choices for headphone enthusiasts. If you want more detail on what to look for in a headphone, or how to go about selecting components to pair with these headphones, check out A Buying Guide: How to Navigate the Headphone Hobby. Additionally, some of the headphones in this guide may go on sale from time to time, putting them into different price categories, however the...

64 Audio Buyer's Guide: A Newcomer's Journey Through the Line-Up

2022-09-25T10:25:00Z

Introduction When I first introduced to the world of IEMs years ago, one of the first things I did was to look at the outrageously expensive products I would never own. Time and time again, one company stood out as having some of most highly regarded products in the industry: 64 Audio. Interestingly, one of the things that sets 64 Audio apart is its roots in both the audiophile and musician spheres as the primary audience of most IEM companies is one or the other. Given that I had no access to 64 Audio IEMs in the past, I...

Best of Mid-Fi - Chrono's Favorite Headphones Under $500

2022-09-16T12:49:00Z

Chrono's Favorite Headphones under $500 Written by Chrono Introduction For some of you out there when you think of headphones in the $500 price bracket you might envision things like the AirPods Max, Sony WH1000-XM5, or Bose 700, and while those headphones are great for when listening on-the-go, or in loud environments where features such as active noise canceling and wireless technology are a must, they’re not the focus of this article. Instead I’ll be talking about the kind of headphones of which use case scenario is almost exclusively at-home listening since they’re meant to deliver the...

Dongle Wars: Questyle M15, iFi GoBar, Cayin RU6, and More!

2022-08-15T10:39:00Z

Dongle Wars: Questyle M15, iFi GoBar, Cayin RU6, and More! Written by Precogvision Introduction Insert background here about how Apple killed the beloved integrated 3.5mm jack and how dongles are the new hot commodity. While most listeners no doubt rued the removal of the integrated headphone jack, audiophiles mostly embraced it because its removal afforded another parameter for which to fine-tune their portable setups. Indeed, the audiophile market has seen a surge in the variety of dongles with - as most things niche in audio - prices quickly rising and hitting figures far outside what normal consumers might be used to...

The Best Gaming Headsets Under $100 for 2022!

2022-07-19T06:30:00Z

The Best Gaming Headsets Under $100 for 2022! Written by Chrono Introduction I remember that when I was first getting into gaming, if you wanted to have a good audio solution, you'd have to spend a few hundred dollars on Turtle Beach, Astro Gaming, or Tritton (remember them?) gaming headsets. Over the past few weeks, though, I've been trying out a number of different headsets and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that there are many gaming headsets available out there now delivering solid performance at almost any price bracket, and in this article I'll be sharing with you...

Looking for Alternatives to Sony’s WH1000XM5? Here are Chrono’s favorite ANC Headphones of 2022!

2022-06-20T11:42:00Z

Introduction Whether it's because I’ve been traveling, walking through my college campus, or just testing for review purposes, I’ve spent a rather healthy amount of time over the past few months listening to wireless headphones with active noise canceling. Seeing as the highly-anticipated WH1000XM5 from Sony will soon be releasing, I thought that now–before reviewing the XM5–was an appropriate time for me to reflect upon my experience with other popular ANC headphones and share what some of my favorites are with you! A quick disclaimer: this article will focus solely on over-ear headphones. Best Budget Option: Final...

Beginner Hi-Fi: Great Sound Without Breaking the Bank.

2022-06-08T08:41:00Z

Introduction While in the past Hi-Fi headphones may have been a rather obscure market segment veiled with the same pseudo-exclusivity that SoulCycle had in the fitness world, Hi-Fi headphone setups have become more accessible than they've ever been. Previously, a high end headphone such as the legendary Sennheiser HD600 would have set you back nearly $800 in 2022 USD, but in the current audio market you can now build a complete setup including a high end set of headphones, an amplifier, and a DAC for as low as $350--less than the price of a Sony WH1000XM5! In this article,...