HOW TO CHOOSE A HEADPHONE Today, there is a wealth of excellent headphones from a number of established brands. Prices for good "cans" range from only $99 to over $1000. Choosing a headphone is much like choosing a loudspeaker. The choice comes down to factors such as the kind of music you are listening to, the length of listening and the partnering equipment. As with loudspeakers, headphone brands tend to have a "house sound" which is predictable across the range. In this article we would like to highlight a few superb headphones at a range of prices. GRADO iGrado ($69.99) Let's cut to the chase here. Under $100, the iGrados are the best headphones you can buy and they are such a huge upgrade for your iPod that we wish Apple would license the design and include a pair with every one sold. Available in black and white, they are comfortable, well built and as mentioned, sound divine. They're a little more laid back than the higher end Grados and have a warmer bass so they tend to flatter the sound of the iPod or other portables that can be a little thin sounding. AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-M30 ($110.00) Audio Technica is a famous Japanese marque which has some seriously high end headphones in Japan. In North America we tend to only get the entry level stuff which is a shame, but we are lucky to have access to a little known budget model called the ATH-M30. Unlike the other headphones discussed in this article, the ATH-M30 is a closed-back design, meaning that little sound escapes or intrudes while listening. Normally, closed-back designs are at a distinct disadvantage to open-backed designed because of the resonances of the headphone chamber. Often you will get boomy bass and overly throaty midrange. The ATH-M30 is a miracle at the price in that it largely deals with those issues. While still more bass-heavy than either the Beyerdynamic or the Grado, many pop, rock or hip hop lovers prefer the extra warmth. The midrange is clear, punchy and entertaining and doesn't suffer from the graininess of most consumer rivals. They are also very efficient and built like a tank so are perfectly suited for stuffing into a backpack or on the bus. We used these for 2 years on our listening stations at Vertigo Records and they are indestructible! Don't even consider a pair of closed-back Sonys, Denons or Pioneer headphones. These will destroy them all! GRADO SR-80 ($169.99) Grado is one of the best known headphone companies. American made, the designs have changed little in the past 15 years. They got 'em right the first time. The Grado sound is well-loved in the recording industry because of its very accurate and revealing character. The SR-80 is the second lowest in their large range of phones but don't let that fool you. These headphones will sound better than many $3000 loudspeakers. The SR-80s have a phenomenally deep and punchy bass which soundly beats any other pair at the same price. For rock or hip hop these can't be beat. Listen the lead-off track to Led Zeppelin II and their strengths become obvious. John Bonham's kick drum has stunning power and weight and the energy brought to the rest of the track is infectious. On quieter music such as vocal or jazz there is an intimacy and closeness that other headphones tend to miss. In context of more expensive Grados and some of the other models discussed below, the SR-80s can be improved upon in degrees of detail and smoothness as well as soundstage but for those seeking an exciting listen with details placed forward in the mix, these are a superb choice, well worth the extra $40 over the entry SR-60s. GRADO SR-225 ($299.99) The SR-225 build on the foundation sound of the SR-80 but represent a quantifiable step upwards in some key areas. The most noticeable improvement is a sensationally bigger soundstage. While the SR-80s can sound a little "in your head" the SR-225 accurately recreates the space of the recording, however accurate that recording is. Unlike some headphones which artificially add space to all recordings, the SR-225 only show it when it is there. Next most noticeable is the extra extension and taughtness of the bass. While the SR-80s are exceptional is this regard, the 225s transcend that line between presenting something "as it should be" to simply "as it is." There is an effortlessness here that allows you to forget you are listening to a recording and simply "be" in the music. Undoubtedly this is helped by the tonally perfect midrange and very smooth, extended treble. For our money, the SR-225 is the standout bargain of the Grado range. It absolutely maximizes the sound per dollar factor. One must jump to the RS-2 to get a significantly better sound (at twice the price). Build quality (as with all the Grados) is exceptional. SENNHEISER HD595 ($349.99) The Sennheiser HD595 is our favourite of the whole line of Senn phones. Yes, it's better than the HD650 in our opinion. First of all, these are sensitive phones so you can drive them with anything from an iPod all the way up to a high quality headphone amplifier. The sound is gloriously open with a soundstage as large as just about any headphone we've heard (perhaps the AKG K1000 or the Sony Qualia is a bit bigger, but at three times the cost or more). Tonally, they are a little on the warm side but not enough to say there's a problem, and it makes them perfectly matched to lower quality sources like the iPod which tend to lack true deep bass. Comfort is top notch as is build quality. For classical listeners, it's a toss-up between these and the Beyer DT880 with the difference in presentation coming down to personal preference. GRADO GS-1000 ($1379.99) Many people wouldn't consider spending $1400 on a pair of headphones. However, listen to these and you will see that there are few loudspeakers at ANY PRICE which provide as accurate or enjoyable sound as these cans. The frequency extremes are the widest you will find in a headphone. The midrange is pure and communicative. The dynamics are shocking, the microdynamics illuminating. Naturally, at this price and level of quality you have to have really exceptional equipment driving them because you are going to hear every detail. The Grado RA-1 ($699) works nicely but these cans deserve as good electronics as you can throw at them.. For the time and money most audiophiles spend getting their systems correct, many could do themselves a favour live with these. They are a shortcut to finding out how your main system is supposed to sound! Truly a joy to own and use. A WORD ABOUT HEADPHONE AMPS Most headphone sockets on standard equipment sound terrible. You can find big dividends in upgrading to even the entry level Pro-Ject HeadBox MkII ($169) which is a good match for a similarly priced headphone. Up the ladder we can recommend the Rega Ear at $395 which brings a level of "analog" warmth over the Pro-Ject as well as much better soundstage and rhythm. In contrast, the Creek OBH-21 at $449 has an extremely detailed sound, ruler flat with exceptional bass extension. The Grado RA-1 ($699) strattles the line between the Rega and Creek, essentially giving you the best of both worlds. As with headphone choice, personal preference will come into play as to the style of sound you prefer so make sure to audition. Beyerdynamic Website Grado Website Creek OBH-21 Website Rega Ear Website Pro-Ject Website