The following is a list of terms used on the site, and their meanings
Improvement With Amplification (Deprecated)
This field has been removed from reviews. Previously: 10 meant the headphones improve by a huge amount with a headphone amplifier, or that they absolutely require an amp. 0 indicated that they don't improve at all with good amplification.
Bass Quality
A general measure of the quality of the bass. Are frequencies reproduced accurately, or do they result in a "boomy" sound?
Comfort
How comfortable the headphones are, especially for extended listening sessions.
Durability
How long you think these headphones will last, based on your impression of the construction materials and quality.
Detail
Can you hear the slightest nuance of the music? Can you hear the singers lips smack, their breathing, and the small detailed high sounds?
Highs Quality
The quality of the high frequency sounds.
Isolation
How well external noises are kept out of the headphones. For open headphones please enter a score of 0.
Mids Quality
The quality of the middle frequencies, typically around the range of the human voice.
Noise Cancellation Quality
The quality and effectiveness of active noise cancellation. Rate N/A (0) if the headphones don't have active noise cancellation.
Portability
How easily portable are the headphones? Large bulky headphones will score poorly, smaller headphones or headphones that fold up will score well, canal phones/earbuds should score very well.
Overall Score
This is a weighted overall score for the headphones. Each score field is weighted differently depending on the headphone type, so that the rating reflects what matters most for that category. Additionally, reviews from more experienced users carry more weight in the overall score.
Field weights by headphone type:
| Score Field | Default | Closed | Open | True Wireless | Open Wireless | Earbud/Canal | Headset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass Quality | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 |
| Mids Quality | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Highs Quality | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Detail | 1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.25 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Portability | 1 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 1.25 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Comfort | 1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.75 |
| Durability | 1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.25 | 1.25 |
| Value | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Isolation | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 1.25 | 0.5 | 1.25 | 1.25 |
| Noise Cancellation Quality | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.25 | 0.5 | 1.25 | 2 |
| Microphone Quality | 1 | 0.75 | 0.75 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 2 |
A weight of 0 means that field is excluded from the score entirely for that headphone type (e.g. Isolation is excluded for open headphones). Fields rated N/A (0) by the reviewer are always excluded regardless of weight.
Reviewer role weights:
| User Role | Weight |
|---|---|
| Reviewer | 1 |
| Senior | 1.5 |
| Lead Reviewer | 2 |
Headphone Types
Open Headphones
Open headphones are any types of headphones that let you listen to the music without blocking out external sound. For example, wearing open headphones you would hear if someone spoke to you while the music was playing, so long as you don't have your volume too loud.
Closed Headphones
Closed headphones block out external sound while you have them on. For example, wearing closed headphones you would not hear if someone spoke to you while the music was playing.
Earbuds
Earbuds sit in your ear, but do not go into your ear canal. Most portable music players are supplied with cheap and nasty earbuds. Some aren't so nasty, but most are relatively inexpensive. Earbuds offer very little isolation from external noises.
Canal Phones
Canal phones, as the name implies, go a small way into your ear canal. The sound quality is typically much better than earbuds, but they're also more expensive. It can take a few days to get used to them: most people do get used to them, but some people can't tolerate things in their ears. Canal phones range in price from maybe $30 up to $1000. Canal phones offer between good and excellent isolation from external noises, which makes them great for some situations (eg commuting on the subway/bus) and bad for others (eg walking on a busy city street).
Clipons
Clipons kind of, um, clip onto your ears somehow, usually by putting something behind your ear. We've never seen any so we can't be entirely sure - if you have send us a better description!
Street Style
Street style headphones are known for their looks, not their sound quality or comfort. The headband goes behind your head and rests on your ears, which has the advantage of not messing up your hair. This means that can be good for people who commute to work, but in our opinion you're better off with canal phones if you don't mind having things in your ears.
Circumaural
Circumaural means the headphone pads go around your ears, which is different from supra-aural headphones. Circumaural headphones are generally much more comfortable than supra-aural headphones. This term mainly applies to the open and closed headphones described above: clipons and street styles are usually supra-aural, but it's possible for them to be circumaural.
Supra-aural
Supra-aural means the headphone pads rest on your ears, which is different from circumaural headphones. Supra-aural headphones are generally less comfortable than circumaural headphones. This term mainly applies to the open and closed headphones described above: clipons and street styles are usually supra-aural, but it's possible for them to be circumaural.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise cancelling headphones are used to reduce the volume of low frequency sounds, such as aeroplane jet engines, or air conditioning in large buildings. Noise cancelling headphones tend to be expensive and not have the best overall sound quality. A good alternative is canal phones.