Investing in a decent pair of headphones is often the only way to really enjoy music or your favourite video game without having to completely break off relations with your partner, your kids or the neighbours.
Most of the headphones we test are made by hi-fi audio brands rather than computer manufactures. That means you'll find products from the likes of Philips, AKG, Sennheiser, Koss and Sony, alongside a couple of 'hybrid' exceptions like Altec Lansing and Creative Labs. We've deliberately left out reviews of headsets with built-in microphones, as you can find those elsewhere. Our aim here is to test these products as PC peripherals, rather than strictly as audio hardware. Most of the products we've reviewed cost under £100, so they won't be able to rival leaders like Beyer, Grado or Stax, or the very top of AKG's HEARO range for instance.
Headphones Reviews: Real-Life Use
We've tried to emphasise the quality of the audio output produced, as well as how comfortable the headphones are to wear. We've tested both semi-open and closed headphones. The former are usually more comfortable to wear, but the latter are better at blocking out external noise (and preventing anybody from hearing what you're listening too). Each type has its own advantages, depending on what you plan on using the headphones for.
None of these headphones are designed solely for use with computers though, as they can also be used with a TV, a hi-fi, a DVD player or even and MP3 player. If you are going to use an audio peripheral with your computer, the most important thing to check is where you're going to plug it in—straight into the sound card or audio chipset or into a headphones jack found on the speakers? The choice will depend on the hardware you already have. If you have a good quality sound card that provides decent amplification, then you should plug straight in. If you have one of the Audigy or X-FI cards by Creative Labs, the Aureon or DMX 6Fire24/96 from Terratec, or a High Definition Audio chipset certified by Dolby Master Studio, then you'll be fine. Whatever happens, don't forget to set the driver up properly and specify that you're using headphones to make sure you get the right pre-amplification and the right filters applied to the stereo output.
See Also
> Headphones Reviews
> In-Ear Headphones Reviews
> Reviews: Portable Media Players
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