Guide To Headphones, Headsets & Microphones

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this is a work in progress.

soon this will be a guide on how to pick out headphones and headsets, some terminology as well as some recommendations.

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everything below this line is a work in progress
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tom'sHardware
Guide To Headphones, Headsets & Microphones
Thanks to the following members for input: WyomingKnott, RazerZ, thee_prisoner, Lutfij

This guide is intended to act as both a quick reference as well as an informative learning tool to help viewers familiarize themselves with their audio options relating to headphones and microphones.

This is part of a three part reference series and are meant to be used together. Some items may point to or be cross referenced between guides. Please check out the other guides below.

tom'sHardware Guide to Soundcards, Amplifiers & Digital Analog Converters [click]
tom'sHardware Guide to Speakers, Subwoofers & HiFi [click]
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Due to the extreme length of this guide it has been broken up into seperate posts (apparently 65,000 characters is maximum for a post here) and individual sections are listed in spoilers to more easily navigate to the information desired.

 

[ssddx]

Definitions

Glossary of Terminology

Spoiler

Amplifier
see Headphone Amplifier

Analog
Generally, a mechanism that represents data using a continuously changing variable. In audio, usually a voltage that continuously tracks and represents sound pressure level.

Balanced Headphones
Balanced headphones are headphones that have been wired for balanced, or differential drive operation. Normally headphones have three connections: a left and right signal that is connected to the + side of the driver coil and then a common return for the - side of the driver coil. This common connection and its contact and other resistances to ground allow a small amount of cross-talk between channels to develop. Balanced headphones have four connections with a normal and inverted audio signal driving the = and - side of the driver coils for each channel. While this method requires special four-channel balanced headphone amplifiers, it completely removes the opportunity for cross-talk at the headphones and effectively doubles the slew rate of the amplifier/headphone system providing significantly cleaner sound.

Behind-the-neck
Behind-the-neck headphones have a headband the goes around behind the neck rather than over the head. These headphones are most commonly used as excersize headphones as thay are quite stable during activity and can be worn with a helmet, but they are also used when listeners don't want to muss up their hair, or when wearing a hat.

Bright
A term meaning generally that a sound has strong treble. Would be harsh or tizzy in the extreme.

Circumaural
Literally meaning "around the ear," circum aural headphones have ear pads that completely surround the ear, and ear cups that completely enclose the ear.

Closed
Closed headphones are also commonly called 'sealed' headphones, and are designed to block out environmental noise using a passive acoustic seal. Full size closed headphones provide about 10dB of isolation, mostly in the higher frequencies. Earpad closed headphones provide somewhat less isolation, strongly dependent on their design and the shape of your ear. In-ear headphones are a closed design in which the ear-pieces seal in the ear canal providing about 23dB of outside noise attenuation, and are the highest isolation of headphone type. Noise-cancelling headphones are typically closed designs that add electro-acoustic techniques to attenuate noise more than a passive seal would provide.

Coaxial
Many digital to analog converter (DAC) products have a "coaxial digital" input. This is a 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital audio input. The word "coaxial" specifically refers to 75 Ohm cables which typically use a coaxial construction, which refers to a center conductor and an outside conductor which completely surrounds the center conductor. Both conductors share the same center axis and are tharefor called "co-axial."

Coherent
Technically, when all spectral components of the audio are passing through the system at exactly the same time. When audio is coherent, imaging is precise and stable with instruments clearly defined and natural sounding. When incoherent, may become edgy and hard sounding, lacking image depth.

Crossfeed
An electronic circuit that serves to make the audio image on headphones more like that heard on speakers. It takes the signal from each channel, delays it for a few hundred microseconds, and crossfeeds it over to the opposite channel to mimic the acoustics of the left speaker sound reaching the right ear and vice versa. It both improves the audio image on headphones, and reduces listening fatigue.

DAC
A DAC is a Digital to Analog Converter. Music is stored as a series of numbers on CDs and in computer files. Each number represents a sample of the instantaneous voltage value of the audio signal at a point in time. Samples are taken many thousands of times per second (44,100/sec for cds), and have a resolution of 16 or 24 bits typically. A DAC takes this stream of digital numbers from a CD player or computer and converts it to an analog electrical signal that can be amplified and used to drive headphones or speakers.

Damping Factor
Typically the input impedance of a speaker/output impedance of the amplifier. An 8 Ohm speaker driven by a power amplifier with an output impedance of 0.8 Ohms would have a damping factor of 10. Typically, damping factors of 10 or more are considered good.

dBr
"Amplitude (dBr)" is listed on the Y axis of frequency response measurement data. "dbr" stands for Decibels- relative. The graph is showing the amplitude of each frequency's response relative to the amplitude of the other frequencies, not the actual number of decibels measured at each frequency.

Digital
Generally a system using binary data (ones and zeros) to represent information. In audio, a digital signal is a series of binary numbers that represent the sound pressure level sampled in a series over time.

Digital Inputs
Any input to a digital to analog converter (DAC); for example USB, or S/PDIF Toslink optical or coax digital inputs.

Distortion
Any new feature in a signal due to some imperfection in the device through which it passes. For example, putting in a 1000 Hertz tone, and getting a small amount of 2000 Hertz tone out along with the original 1kHz tone.

Driver
The element inside the headphone that converts an elecrical signal into sound pressure that is heard. Most headphones use a dynamic driver which is a coil of wire suspended in a magnet and attached to a diaphragm. Much like a very small speaker cone.

Ear Canal Headphone
Ear canal headphones are called in-ear headphones but are commonly known by numerous terms including: in-ear monitor, IEM, ear canal headphones, earphones, and canalphones. In-ear headphones are inserted into and seal the ear canal, and provide the highest amount of isolation from outside noise of any headphone type including noise-canceling headphones. There are two types of in-ear headphones: deep sealing and shallow sealing. With deep seating in-ear headphones the tip of the earphone goes in about half the length of the ear canal and seats in the boney section of the ear canal; this type provides about 23dB of isolation. Shallow seating types seal near the entrance to the ear canal and provide about 15dB of isolation.

Earbud
Earbud headphones have small earpieces that are positioned in the small cupped area (concha) around the entrance to the ear canal in your outer ear (pinna). They most commonly simply rest in the concha, but some heave headbands and/or ear clip features to improve wearing stability. Earbuds are similar in size, but should not be mistaken for in-ear headphones, which seal in the ear canal and typically sound much better.

Earpad
Properly known as supra-aural headphones, earpad headphones have ear-pieces are sometimes literally flat pads against the ear, but can also be shallow bowl shaped, or deeper ear cups that are too small to fully surround the ear.

Earphones
Some manufacturers have begun to call in-ear headphones 'earphones'.however a more propper term for this type of headphone is 'in-ear headphones," but they are commonly known by numerous terms including: in-ear monitor, IEM, ear canal headphones, earphones, and canalphones. In-ear headphones are inserted into and seal the ear canal, and provide the highest amount of isolation from outside noise of any headphone type including noise-canceling headphones. There are two types of in-ear headphones: deep sealing and shallow sealing. With deep seating in-ear headphones the tip of the earphone goes in about half the length of the ear canal and seats in the boney section of the ear canal; this type provides about 23dB of isolation. Shallow seating types seal near the entrance to the ear canal and provide about 15dB of isolation.

Efficiency
Headphone efficiency is the measure of the relation ship between input signal level and how loud the headphones play. This can be a rather confusing measure and can be expressed in numerous ways: dB/Watt; dB/mW; dB/Volt. Some in-ear headphones have very high efficiencies (~120dB/mW); difficult to drive full size headphone may be in the 90dB/mW; headphones to be driven by portable players should have about 95dB/mW or better efficience, and a 100 Ohm or lower impedance.

Filter Switch
This switch engages a filter that makes the sound slightly brighter (more highs). It is there to compensate for the crossfeed which causes in increase in low frequencies. The amount of increase in low frequencies is dependent on how much information is common to the left and right channel; the more common information the more the bass will boost through the crossfeed. Over time, our electronics circuits have gotten faster, and we've found less bass emphasis occurs when the crossfeed is switched on, and we have found the need to use this switch is substantially less.

Frequency Response
A systems gain at various frequencies. "Flat" frequency response is when the gain is constant at all frequencies. For example, a gain of two at both 20 Hertz and 20kHz, and at all frequencies in between.

Full size
Also called "circumaural," full-size cans have earcups

Gain Switch
A coarse volume control for headphones of differing impedance. Roughly, set to low for 10 to 50 ohm; medium for 50 to 200 ohm, and high for 200 ohm and up. Headphones vary widely in their impedance and efficiency. In order to have the amplifier volume control operate somewhere between the 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock to achieve a normal listening level with the wide variety of headphones commonly encountered, a gain switch is used to adjust the gain range over which the amplifier operates.

Harmonic Distortion
Distortion artifacts that are exact integer distances higher in frequency than the originating tone, usually a result of non-linearities in the transfer function of an analog electronic device. For example: 1kHz might yeild a little distortion at 2kHz, 3kHz, 4kHz, 5kHz, etc. Typically, it is thought the even harmonics (2, 4, 6, 8) sound better than odd harmonics (3, 5, 7, 9). This is somewhat true, but a gross oversimplification of the subject.

Headphone Amplifier
A headphone amplifier is a miniature audio power amplifier specifically designed to drive the miniature audio drivers in headphones. Headphone amplifiers work essentially identical to power amplifiers used to drive speakers except they are much lower power and need to be capable of driving a wider range of impedance (~20-600 Ohms) than speaker amplifiers (4-8 Ohms). Headphone amplifiers typically range between 0.1 to 1 Watt, and about 0.2 to 2 Ohms output impedance.

Headphone Efficiency
A measure of how much energy it takes to drive headphones to a given listening level. Can be stated in numerous ways but generally in the form of: dB/volt or dB/Watt.

Headphone Sensitivity
see Headphone Efficiency

Image Depth
The ability of an audio system to portrey sounds in front of, and behind each other. Essentially, front to back imaging. Audio systems typically trade off a punchy sound for a deeply layered sound; a very few do both well.

Image Width
The left to right width of the audio image. Typically within the boundry of the left and right speaker in a two channel audio system, but may be all around in a multi-channel (surround-sound) system.

Imaging
see Soundstage

Impedance
The sum of both resistive and reactive impeding forces of a load. Headphone impedance commonly changes with frequency, and would become somewhat inductive or capacitive at different frequencies.

In Ear Monitor
Ear canal headphones are called in-ear headphones typically but are commonly known by numerous terms including: in-ear monitor, IEM, ear canal headphones, earphones, and canalphones. In-ear headphones are inserted into and seal the ear canal, and provide the highest amount of isolation from outside noise of any headphone type including noise-canceling headphones. There are two types of in-ear headphones: deep sealing and shallow sealing. With deep seating in-ear headphones the tip of the earphone goes in about half the length of the ear canal and seats in the boney section of the ear canal; this type provides about 23dB of isolation. Shallow seating types seal near the entrance to the ear canal and provide about 15dB of isolation.

Input Impedance
The effective resistance of the input to a device. Essentially, how hard a load it is to drive. Most good electronics have an input impedance in the many thousands of ohms, and are easy to drive.

Isolation
The ability of a pair of headphones to block outside sounds so that the listener can hear the music on the headphones more clearly. Can be measured as a broad band reduction in amplitude in a single number in dB; or shown as a graph indicating the amount of attenuation over the audio spectrum.

Laid Back
An audio presentation that has a sense of ease and distance; i.e. in the tenth row instead of the first row of an audience. Generally meaning that it lacks agressive high frequencies; slightly soft sounding.

Linear Amplifier
A broad category of electronic amplifiers with very linear gain curves. Usually solid state, class A/B push/pull amplifiers. Generally as opposed to single output device, class-A amplifiers that have more non-linear gain curves.

Listening Fatigue
The result of your brain having to struggle to properly place (localize) sounds in an artificial listening environment like speakers and headphones. Generally much worse on headphones, and can be minimized with a crossfeed circuit.

Noise Cancelling
An electro-acoustic system which uses a microphone in the earpiece and an electronic circuit to produce a signal which is fed into the headphone which counter balances and cancels outside noise to provide acoustic isolation.

Open
Open headphones are also commonly called 'open back' headphones, and are designed to leak sound in and out. This allows the headphones to generate a larger 'soundstage' for better 'imaging' of sound. Since sound is leaked out they are not as suited for noisy environments or where you may be in close proximity to others who may be bothered by sound.

Op-Amp
An Operational Amplifier is technically an electronic amplification circuit with an inverting and non-inverting input and an output, ready to be configured to act in a variety of different ways using various methods. Commonly, Op-Amp is used to describe a type of integrated circuit chip that performs these functions.

Optical
Optical most often refers to a digital audio connection which uses light instead of an electricity to pass a signal. Optical cables (sometimes called Toslink cables) use a clear plastic fiber internally to pass the light on which the digital signal is carried. These connections have the advantage of not carrying an electrical signal and may help prevent ground loops and transfer of noise, and are immune from RF interference. Unfortunately, optical cables can vary widely in quality; we recommend using higher quality optical cables for runs longer than three feet.

OTL Tube Amps
OTL means "Output Transformer-less." Tube amplifiers typically use transformers to convert the high-voltage/low-current signals at the tube output into the low-voltage/high-current signal needed to drive the speaker. OTL amps use capacitive coupling, or D.C. coupling instead.

Output Impedance
The effective resistance seen by a load as it "looks back into" the output of an amplifier. The lower the output impedance of an amplifier, the more it shorts out (damps) the energetic reactions of the load. Good solid-state headphone amps have about one Ohm output impedance.

Power Amplifier
A power amplifier increases the amount of energy in an audio signal from a low level to a power level high enough to drive a pair of speakers. Power amplifiers typically have a fixed gain (amount of amplification) and volume is controlled by a pre-amp or headphone amp prior to being sent to the power amp. Power amplifiers are typically rated in Watts delivered into 4 or 8 ohms. Typical power ratings for desktop speaker amplification is about 25-100 Watts into 8 Ohms. 750 Watts is about 1 horse power.

Power Supply
In audio, the circuitry that converts the A.C. wall voltage into usable D.C. supply voltages inside the device. "Stiff" power supplies are desirable, and are those that change very little as the current demand from other circuits change.

Punch
An audio systems ability to deliver significant pressure changes while remaining coherent. An overly punchy system will often lack finesse to deliver depth of imaging.

Resonance
The characteristic of a physical systems ability to "ring." A bell is resonant. Electrical circuits can also "ring" as in an oscillator, but resonant circuits can also be used to create filters. Reducing unwanted resonance when driving headphones is generally accomplished though damping. Proper balance between the instability of resonance and reduced slew rate due to over damping is called "critically damped."

S/PDIF
S/PDIF stands for "Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format," and is an industry standard specifying the hardware connections (RCA, BNC, or Toslink) and "data link layer" protocols for digital audio transfer in consumer electronics. It is a sub-set of a larger standard for digital audio transfer, IEC 60958, which is also known as the "AES/EBU" standard.

Sealed
Sealed headphones are somewhat more commonly called 'closed' headphones, and are designed to block out environmental noise using a passive acoustic seal. Full size closed headphones provide about 10dB of isolation, mostly in the higher frequencies. Earpad closed headphones provide somewhat less isolation, strongly dependent on their design and the shape of your ear. In-ear headphones are a closed design in which the ear-pieces seal in the ear canal providing about 23dB of outside noise attenuation, and are the highest isolation of headphone type. Noise-cancelling headphones are typically closed designs that add electro-acoustic techniques to attenuate noise more than a passive seal would provide.

Semi-Open
Semi-Open headphones are also commonly called 'semi-open back' headphones and are situated somewhere between 'open' and 'closed' designs. Often they limit the amount of sound leakage via vents or holes to achieve a balance between both designs.

Solid State
A broad categorization of active electronic circuitry that use transistors of various types (NPN, PNP, FETs, J-FETs, and analog integrated circuits) to provide gain. Usually used to differentiate against vacuum tube based designs.

Soundstage
The ability of an audio system to reproduce the position and sense of space in which the instruments and sound sources are placed. Good imaging is when you can "see" with your ears the players standing there.

Square Wave Response
An audio test signal which alternates between two D.C. levels. Used to visualize the systems ability to pass a wide range of frequencies in proper time-alignment.

Supra-aural
Literally meaning "on the ear," supra-aural headphones rest against the outter ear and are generically termed earpad headphones. Ear-pieces are sometimes literally flat pads against the ear, but can also be shallow bowl shaped, or deeper ear cups that are too small to fully surround the ear.

Transient Response
The ability of a system to rapidly change voltage and/or acoustic pressure, and settle properly to target voltage/pressure. Also related to high slew rate, and the ability of the system to pass all frequencies at the same rate.

Transistor
A small electronic device which can provide electical signal gain in circuit construction. Manufactured using silicon or gallium arsinide semi-conductor materials in negatively and positively dopes crystal layers in a variety of structural configurations. Mainly segregated into bi-polar and field effect types.

Tube Amplifier
An audio amplifier using vacuum tubes in its gain stages.

USB
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus and is a standardized interfact designed primarily for personal computers as a peripheral control interface, but may be used in other devices like gaming consoles and hand held portable devices. The USB standard is controlled by the USB Implementers Forum, Inc which is a consortium of industry players including Apple, HP, NEC, Intel, and Microsoft.

Warmth
A term meaning generally that the sound of something has more bass and less treble. Would be muffled or murky in the extreme.

Wireless
Wireless headphones replace the wire with an alternative method for getting the audio signal to the headphones. Most commonly this is done with analog modulation of 900MHz radio frequency transmission, but digital modulation of 900MHz RF, Bluetooth, KLEER, and infra-red systems are also available.

Sound Descriptions & Audiophile Terminology

Spoiler

3-Blob Soundstage
A soundstage which has defined left, right and center apparent sources, rather than a seamless soundstage.

Accurate
The music is unaltered by the recording or playback equipment. Ideally, to sound identical to the original music.

Aggressive
Forward and bright sonic character.

Airy
Spacious. Open. Instruments sound like they are surrounded by a large reflective space full of air. Good reproduction of high frequency reflections. High frequency response extends to 15 or 20 kHz.

Ambience
Impression of an acoustic space, such as the performing hall in which a recording was made.

Analytical
Highly detailed.

Articulate
Intelligibility of voice(s) and instruments and the interactions between them.

Attack
The leading edge of a note and the ability of a system to reproduce the attack transients in music. Or the time taken for a musical note to reach its peak amplitude eg. notes will tend to sound more defined rather than blended with other notes.

Balance
Essentially tonal balance, the degree to which one aspect of the sonic spectrum is emphasized above the rest. Also channel balance, the relative level of the left and right stereo channels.

Bass
The audio frequencies between about 60Hz and 250Hz.

Bassy
Emphasized Bass.

Bite
Aggressive (possibly fatiguing) sound, typically in the treble or upper mids which is sharp and abrupt. It can also be used to describe very sharp and abrupt sound in general.

Blanketed
Weak highs, as if a blanket were put over the speakers.

Bloated
Excessive mid bass around 250 Hz. Poorly damped low frequencies, low frequency resonances. See tubby.

Blurred
Poor transient response. Vague stereo imaging not focused.

Body
Fullness of sound, with particular emphasis on upper bass; opposite of Thin.

Boomy
Excessive bass around 125 Hz. Poorly damped low frequencies or low frequency resonances.

Boxy
Having resonances as if the music were enclosed in a box. Sometimes an emphasis around 250 to 500 Hz.

Breathy
Audible breath sounds in woodwinds and reeds such as flute or sax. Good response in the upper mids or highs.

Bright
A sound that emphasizes the upper midrange/lower treble. Harmonics are strong relative to fundamentals.

Brilliance
The 6kHz to 16kHz range controls the brilliance and clarity of sounds. Too much emphasis in this range can produce sibilance on the vocals.

ChestyThe vocalist sounds like their chest is too big. A bump in the low frequency response around 125 to 250 Hz.

Clear
See Transparent.

Closed
A closed-in sound lacking in openness, delicacy, air, and fine detail usually caused by Roll-off above 10kHz; in contrast to Open.

Congested
Smeared, confused, muddy, and flat; lacking transparency.

Cold
Lacking significant bass and lower frequencies. more focused on higher frequencies. This can also be described as thin and sharp.

Crisp
Extended high frequency response, especially with cymbals.

Dark
A tonal balance that tilts downwards with increasing frequency. Opposite of bright. Weak high frequencies.

Decay
The fadeout of a note, it follows the attack.

Definition (or resolution)
The ability of a component to reveal the subtle information that is fundamental to high fidelity sound.

Delicate
High frequencies extending to 15 or 20 kHz without peaks.

Depth
A sense of distance (near to far) of different instruments.

Detail
The most delicate elements of the original sound and those which are the first to disappear with lesser equipment.

Detailed
Easy to hear tiny details in the music; articulate. Adequate high frequency response, sharp transient response.

Dry
Lack of reverberation or delay as produced by a damped environment. May comes across as fine grained and lean. Opposite of Wet.

Dull
See Dark.

Dynamic
The suggestion of energy and wide dynamic. Related to perceived speed as well as contrasts in volume both large and small.

Edgy
Too much high frequency response. Trebly. Harmonics are too strong relative to the fundamentals. Distorted, having unwanted harmonics that add an edge or raspiness.

Euphonic
An appealing form of distortion that generally enhances perceived fidelity, often ascribed to the harmonic elaborations of some valve amps.

Fast
Good reproduction of rapid transients which increase the sense of realism and "snap".

Fat
See Full and Warm. Or, spatially diffuse; a sound is panned to one channel, delayed, and then the delayed sound is panned to the other channel. Or, slightly distorted with analogue tape distortion or tube distortion.

Focus
A strong, precise sense of image projection.

Forward(ness)
Similar to an aggressive sound, a sense of image being projected in front of the speakers and of music being forced upon the listener. Compare "Laid-back".

Full
Strong fundamentals relative to harmonics. Good low frequency response, not necessarily extended, but with adequate level around 100 to 300 Hz. Male voices are full around 125 Hz; female voices and violins are full around 250 Hz; sax is full around 250 to 400 Hz. Opposite of thin.

Gentle
Opposite of edgy. The harmonics (of the highs and upper mids) are not exaggerated, or may even be weak.

Grainy
A slightly raw, exposed sound which lacks finesse. Not liquid or fluid.

Grip
A sense of control and sturdiness in the bass.

Grungy
Lots of harmonic or I.M. (Intermodulation) distortion.

Hard
Too much upper midrange, usually around 3 kHz. Or, good transient response, as if the sound is hitting you hard. Uncomfortable, forward, aggressive sound with a metallic tinge.

Harsh
Grating, abrasive. Too much upper midrange. Peaks in the frequency response between 2 and 6 kHz. Or, excessive phase shift in a digital recorder's low pass filter.

Headstage
The perception of the Soundstage while listening to headphones.

Hertz
The frequency of sound. Generally this can be described as below however there is no set standard for this.
Extreme Bottom : below 32 Hz
Low bass, Bottom octave : 20 to 40 Hz
Midbass : 40 to 80 Hz
Upper bass : 80 to 160 Hz
Lower midrange : 160 to 320 Hz
Midrange : 320 to 2560 Hz (2.5 kHz)
Upper midrange : 2560 to 5120 Hz (2.56-5.12 kHZ)
Highs, lower highs : 5120 to 10,240 Hz (5.12-10.24 kHz)
Extreme highs, top octave : 10,240 to 20,000 Hz (10.24-20 kHz)

Highs
The audio frequencies above about 6000 Hz.

High Midrange (High Mids, Upper Mids)
The audio frequencies between about 2kHz and 6kHz.

Hollow
Recessed mids.

beloved patriot
Like cupping your hands around your mouth. A bump in the response around 500 to 700 Hz.

Hot
An industry term for over-mastering the production of a recording with intense compression truncated dynamic range.

Imaging
The sense that a voice or instrument is in a particular place in the room.

Juicy
Sound that has joie de vivre, energy and life.

Laid-back
Recessed, distant-sounding, having exaggerated depth, usually because of a dished midrange. Compare "Forward".

Linear
An expression relating to the presentation of the stereo image from the original analog signal. The term can include an organized yet smooth depiction of the sound image and with faithful relation to voice coordination, dynamic balance, handling of transients, accenting, 4/4, half-time, shuffle, and other appropriate meter functions that correspond. Much realism.

Liquid
Textureless sound.

Low Level Detail
The quietest sounds in a recording.

Low Midrange (Low Mids)
The audio frequencies between about 250Hz and 2000Hz.

Lush
Very Rich/Full. Or a sense of warmth and fullness. Notes are more authoritative and have a sense of life about them. It is a sound free of any sibilance or brightness. It does not mean colored, however. It is an open and inviting sound enveloping the listener into its soundstage.

Mellow
Reduced high frequencies, not Edgy.

Midrange (Mids)
The audio frequencies between about 250 Hz and 6000 Hz.

Muddy
Not clear. Weak harmonics, smeared time response, I.M. distortion.

MuffledSounds like it is covered with a blanket. Weak highs or weak upper mids.

Musical (or musicality)
A sense of cohesion and subjective "rightness" in the sound.

Nasal
beloved patriot, a bump in the response around 600 Hz.

Neutral
No single frequency overpowers or loses behind the others. Every frequency sounds equaly loud and clear.

Naturalness
Realism.

Opaque
Unclear, lacking Transparency.

Open
Sound which has height and "air", relates to clean upper midrange and treble.

Pace
Often assoc. with rhythm, a strong sense of timing and beat.

Piercing
Strident, hard on the ears, screechy. Having sharp, narrow peaks in the response around 3 to 10 kHz.

Pink (as in Pink Noise)
A mix of all frequencies used mostly to "burn-in" headphones. Pink Noise is equal power across the musical octave spectrum. Pink noise is most often used for testing purposes, to analyse the frequency response of cans, mics, monitors etc., and indeed rooms and monitoring environments.

PRaT
Pace, Rhythm and Timing

Presence Range
The presence range between 4kHz and 6kHz is responsible for the clarity and definition of voices and instruments. Increasing this range can make the music seem closer to the listener. Reducing the 5kHz content makes the sound more distant and transparent.

Presence
A sense that the instrument in present in the listening room. Synonyms are edge, punch, detail, closeness and clarity. Adequate or emphasized response around 5 kHz for most instruments, or around 2 to 5 kHz for kick drum and bass.

Puffy
A bump in the response around 500 Hz.

Punchy
Good reproduction of dynamics. Good transient response, with strong impact. Sometimes a bump around 5 kHz or 200 Hz.

Range
The distance between the lowest and highest tones.

Resolution (or Resolving)
See Definition

Rich
See Full. Also, having euphonic distortion made of even order harmonics.

Roll-off (Rolloff)
The gradual attenuation that occurs at the lower or upper frequency range of a driver, network, or system. The roll-off frequency is usually defined as the frequency where response is reduced by 3 dB.

Round
High frequency rolloff or dip. Not edgy.

Rhythm
The controlled movement of sounds in time.

Saturation
This is distortion produced at the point where a magnetic tape is fully magnetized and will accept no more magnetization. instead of clipping like digital formats it produces a non-linear distortion/compression which is uneven to signal level, dynamic range and frequency.

Seismic
Very low bass that you feel rather than hear.

Shrill
Strident, Steely.

Shimmer
More prominent treble or good treble extension.

Sibilant (or Sibilance)
"Essy", exaggerated "s" or "sh" sounds in vocals. Sibilant sounds carry most of their energy through the 4Khz to 8Khz range, but can extend to 10kHz, depending on the individual. Sibilance is often heard on radio.

Sizzly
See Sibilant. Also, too much highs on cymbals.

Slow
poorer reproduction of rapid transients which decreases the sense of realism and "snap". Generally this means less of an ability to reproduce subtleties in sound. This is often a tradeoff when buying extreme bass headphones. Some say that slower sets seem to have a bigger soundstage but this may just be conjecture.

Smeared
Lacking detail; poor transient response, too much leakage between microphones; poorly focused images.

Smooth
Easy on the ears, not harsh. Flat frequency response, especially in the midrange. Lack of peaks and dips in the response.

Snap
A system with good speed and transient response can deliver the immediacy or "snap" of live instruments.

Soundstage
The area between two speakers that appears to the listener to be occupied by sonic images. Like a real stage, a soundstage should have width, depth, and height.

Spacious
Conveying a sense of space, ambiance, or room around the instruments; stereo reverb; early reflections.

Speed
A fast system with good pace gives the impression of being right on the money in its timing.

Steely
Emphasized upper mids around 3 to 6 kHz. Peaky, non flat high frequency response. See Harsh, Edgy.

Strident
See Harsh, Edgy.

Sturdy
Solid, powerful, robust sound.

Sub-Bass
The audio frequencies between about 20Hz and 80Hz.

Subterranean
Bass which sounds like it was played in an underground cave. It is ambient sub-bass with a slight echo.

Sweet
Not strident or piercing. Delicate. Flat high frequency response, low distortion. Lack of peaks in the response. Highs are extended to 15 or 20 kHz, but they are not bumped up. Often used when referring to cymbals, percussion, strings, and sibilant sounds.

Telephone Like
See Tinny.

Texture
A perceptible pattern or structure in reproduced sound.

Thick
A lack of articulation and clarity in the bass.

Thin
Fundamentals are weak relative to harmonics; bass light.

Tight
Good low frequency transient response and detail.

Timbre
The tonal character of an instrument

Timing
A sense of precision in tempo.

Tinny
Narrowband, weak lows, peaky mids. The music sounds like it is coming through a telephone or tin can.

Tone
The sound of definite pitch.

Transient
The leading edge of a percussive sound. Good transient response makes the sound as a whole more live and realistic.

Transparent
Easy to hear into the music, detailed, clear, not muddy. Wide flat frequency response, sharp time response, very low distortion and noise. A hear through quality that is akin to clarity and reveals all aspects of detail.

Treble
The highest part of music and voice. See Highs. (Most often used when referring to the treble control on amplifiers).

Tubby
Having low frequency resonances as if you're singing in a bathtub. See bloated.

Upper Midrange (Upper Mids, High Mids)
The audio frequencies between 2 kHz and 6 kHz.

Veiled
Like a silk veil is over the speakers. Slight noise or distortion or slightly weak high frequencies. Loss of detail due to limited transparency.

Warm
Good bass, adequate low frequencies, adequate fundamentals relative to harmonics. Not thin. Also excessive bass or midbass. Also, pleasantly spacious, with adequate reverberation at low frequencies. Also see Rich, Round. Warm highs means sweet highs.

Wet
A reverberant sound, something with decay. Opposite of Dry.

Weighty
Good low frequency response below about 50 Hz. A sense of substance and underpinning produced by deep, controlled bass. Suggesting an object of great weight or power, like a diesel locomotive.

White (as in White Noise)
A mix of all frequencies with equal power for every hertz. This results in white noise sounding top heavy compared to pink noise. This is used to "burn in" headphones and also serves to mask other sounds if played at the same time. White noise is also prescribed as a solution to 'tinnitus' which is constant ringing in the ears due to its ability to mask sound. Electrical interference can sometimes create White Noise.

Woolly
Loose, ill-defined bass.

What You Need To Know About Headphones

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What You Need To Know About Microphones

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There are a few things that consumers should be aware of before searching for a microphone. This section will touch on the most important characteristics so that the you can make a more informed choice.

Additional resources on microphones:

about.com condenser vs dynamic microphones [click]
soundonsound A guide to choosing & using studio microphones [click]

Pickup Pattern
One of the more important things to know about a microphone is the area around the microphone that it will "pick up" versus the area it will ignore. Some pick up sound from all angles, others favor sound from just one angle---the front for example.These directional characteristics are classified as Omnidirectional, Bidirectional, Unidirectional or Cardioid. Just as a frequency graph will provide a useful indication of the microphones frequency response, a "polar" chart will provide a useful visual indication of a microphone's directional characteristic. A polar chart is if you are looking down on the mic and seeing what "pattern" there is to the sound it will accept.

• Omnidirectional Microphone Pattern
  
  
  An Omnidirectional pattern or "Omni" mic will pick up sound equally well from all directions above and below, front and back. Omnidirectional microphones usually have a very flat response. This is ideal when you want to record everything in the room or you do not want the sound to change with location of the source. The most common application for an Omni is those "on location" TV interviews you see on the news. They are very useful where relatively inexperienced people are talking into and using the mic. Since the sound is picked up equally in all directions, you do not need to point the mic at one thing to "hear" it. There is no proximity effect with an Omni so you do not have bass boost changing the sound of the source.The Omni mic is not commonly used in live sound or recording for the same reason it works in TV news---it hears everything. You have no option of avoiding unwanted sounds and isolating the sound you actually want. If you are trying to record a single drum of a drum set, it cannot be done with an Omni. You need a mic that will isolate just the drum you want from the set of many drums.In live sound, an Omnidirectional microphone is often a bad choice because it will pick up various reflections of the sound you want from nearby walls, floors, ceilings, etc. An Omni can produce a very hollow sound on a mic stand on stage, where the sound from a singer hits the floor and bounces back up into the same mic they are singing into, canceling some of the sound you want. In live sound applications, you are less likely to use an Omni because you have a much greater risk of feedback when the mic picks up the sound from the speakers as well as the vocals! Omnis are most often seen as condensers in the recording of orchestras in excellent sounding rooms.
  
  Bi-Directional Pattern
  
  
  Bi-directional pattern, also called a figure eight pattern, is most common with ribbon microphones which are inherently "front and back" mics. Some studio condenser mics still offer figure eight patterns. In the early days of radio, it was used for capturing the performer and a live audience simultaneously, or two people sitting facing each other at table. Not useful for live sound, this pattern is most useful in advanced recording techniques called Mid/Side. There is no proximity effect with a bi-directional microphone.
  
  Cardioid or Unidirectional Pattern
  
  
  A Cardioid microphone is a microphone that picks up mostly from the front. Its pattern looks like a heart on a polar response chart, hence the name cardioid. The cardioid mic will focus its pick up pattern on things that arrive at the front of the mic, so you can point it at the sound you want and away from sound you don't want. This is the most popular pattern for live sound (it ignores the floor monitors and out front PA system) for it has greater "gain before feedback". This pattern allows you to eliminate the problems encountered with the Omni pattern because it can be pointed away from sounds you do not want. It is also the most important microphone for recording, for a user can focus the mic on just the instrument desired. It can also make a recording in a bad room better, because it "hears" less of the room and more of what is right in front of it.Cardioids all have some form of proximity effect, which is an unavoidable by-product of eliminating sound from the rear. With careful application, this proximity effect can be used to your advantage.
  
  Super Cardioid or HyperCardioid Pattern
  
  
  The Super and Hyper Cardioid pick up patterns have higher directionality and rejection of sound coming from the sides than Cardioids, but slightly more pick up of bass from the rear. They are very useful in isolating the desired sounds from the front and rejecting unwanted and ambient sounds from the rear and side. The caveat here is that the "acceptance angle" or pick up area is very small and the performer must stay directly "on axis" or directly in front of the mic to be picked up. Side to side movements can put a performer in and out of the pattern very quickly and cause significant problems for the sound system operator. The pattern is most useful in stable, non moving sources for live sound.
  
  Specialty Patterns
  
  
  The Shotgun mic is a very hyper cardioid that has a very narrow pattern but has greater "reach", so the source can be further away than a normal cardioid or hyper cardioid. This mic can work a source that's 3 feet way. This mic is best used on location video, TV talk shows hung from a big boom and location movie work. It is used primarily to isolate sound in higher noise (high ambient noise) environments. The Parabolic mic has a very narrow, pencil like far reaching pattern and is best applied on football field sidelines where the microphone will be very distant from the sound source (the football players). This mic works on sources over 30 feet way. This mic has very poor sound quality for you are using a dish to focus the sound. It is not used for any high fidelity applications.

Does It Have A Headphone Jack
This applies to USB microphones only. If you wish to hear your own voice through headphones or speakers without lag on a usb mic then you want a microphone with a 3.5mm headphone jack. While entirely possible to do do this with a usb headphone without such a jack there is typically lag delay between when speech is produced and when you hear it on the headphones. this can throw off recording if trying to sing in time with played audio or may result in a speech jamming effect which can result in you stuttering so software will need to be used to introduce a "delay" into the sound you are hearding to match up with the hardware delay of the sound traveling from the usb mic through your computer and out your headphones (or speakers).

Connection
The most common connection type for quality microphones in the consumer pro audio market is usb which allows its use on most devices. be aware that most commercial pro audio (outside the consumer sector) uses XLR connectors which requires special equipment if you mean to use them with personal computers. This is typically either a phantom power source or audio interface device. Cheaper microphones and headset add on microphones typically have 3.5mm input analog input meant for using with your soundcard/pc input via the microphone input jack.

Type of Microphone
There are various different styles of microphones which each have their own unique sound as well as being more suitable for certain tasks and less suitable for others. In this section i will touch mainly on condenser microphones since this is the type of microphone most commonly sought for computer use but will briefly touch on some of the other styles.

Mounting & Accessories
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How To Reduce Background Noise
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Types of Devices

Types of Headphones

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There are many different styles of headphones which are suitable for a variety of uses. Often a certain style may shine in a few given categories however may be subpar in others. Some general things to keep in mind when choosing headphones are:

-Portability (does it need to travel? if it does then either folding designs or a smaller lighter pair of headphones may be preferable)
-Durability (does it need to withstand abnormal levels of abuse such as when traveling or having multiple users?)
-Cost (is it within budget? keep in mind that you often get what you pay for and better sounding headphones are more expensive)
-Sound quality (certain headphones are better with certain sound signatures. you need to pick one which is suitable to your needs)
-Connection type (while most headphones are 3.5mm there are variations which use 6.3 or multiple 3.5mm jacks)
-Stereo or surround sound (is better sound more important or surround sound? keep in mind virtual surround sound as well)
-Amplification (does the headphone need amplification? do you have such equipment. this could be a soundcard or an external amp)

Additional resources on the types of headphones:
head-fi Headphone buying guide [click]
wikihow How to choose headphones [click]
thewirecutter Which headphones should i buy [click]
pcmag How to buy the right headphones [click]
cnet Headphone buying guide [click]

In-Ear Headphones

This style of headphone is characterized by being small, lightweight and sitting inside the ear. due to the size, weight and fit they are excellent for traveling or any rigorous activities or exercising.

additional resources on in-ear headphones:
theheadphonelist earphone fit guide [click]
head-fi basic guide to in ear canal headphones [click]

• Earbuds
  
  Earbuds sit in the outer ear and create a loose seal at best. Typically, they provide low isolation from outside noise and need to be turned up louder in noisy environments. In addition to low isolation, the lack of a seal typically results in lower quantity of bass, especially deep bass, compared to other types of headphones. The one-size-fits-all nature of ear buds will result in many users having trouble achieving the best comfort, sound quality, and/or secure fit with earbuds.
  
  Also, due to being constructed out of hard plastic some users may experience discomfort if the earbuds are used for extended periods of time. slip on foam pads may be used to help allieviate the discomfort and to offer a washable hygenic cover but this may adversely affect fit on some earbud designs.
  
  Since earbuds only sit on the outter ear they typically are slightly more hygenic and require less cleaning than other styles of in-ear headphones.
  
  Earbuds are typically the cheapest option available for in-ear headphones and also offer the least quality level of sound.
  
  Canalphones
  
  Canalphones are characterized by having eartips similar to IEMs but shorter in length and sitting inside the ends of your ear canals. they form a slight seal which while better than earbuds is not as good as IEMs. They form the middleground between the two styles of in-ear headphones and offer decent bass and some noise isolation.
  
  Since they use soft tips which do not sit deep in the ear canal (and with the availability of different tips for different sized ears) these are the most comfortable style of in-ear headphone.
  
  Due to sitting inside the ear canal they may accumulate some earwax and debris similar to IEMs so may require frequent cleaning.
  
  Canalphones typically hold the middleground in terms of both price and performance.
  
  In-Ear Monitors (IEMs)
  
  In-ear monitors are characterized by having ear tips that form a seal with the ear canal. IEM performance is heavily dependent upon ear tips which determine sound quality, comfort, isolation, and fit security. Due to having a tight seal IEMs typically offer more substantial bass than other designs as well as slight noise isolation.
  
  Due to the availability of different soft tip styles and materials IEMs can be adjusted to fit many ear canal shapes to improve comfort. However, some people may find them uncomfortable since they sit fairly deep in the ear canal.
  
  Since IEMs sit deep in the ear canal they may require regular cleaning as they may accumulate earwax and debris over time.
  
  IEMs are typically the most expensive option available however they also offer the best quality of sound.
  
  Around-The-Ear
  
  
  Some earbuds and canalphones have a design which encircles the outside of the ear which helps to keep them firmly in place during rigorous exercise or other physical activity. there are also models which feature a band which wraps around the rear of the head connecting both halves to make them one piece.
  
  Otherwise, these models are the same as the base styles.

On-Ear Headphones

These use larger drivers than earbuds, canalphones and IEM's and instead of sitting in your ear they sit on the outside of the ear instead. Generally they use a more narrow headband than full sized headphones which goes over or behind the head phone while some use a small clip which attaches to each earpiece and holds it to the ear. Some are of foldable design for travel.

Since they sit on the outside of the ear they are hygenic and do not require frequent cleaning. By sitting on the outside of the ear instead of enclosing it like full sized headphones they are also much cooler to wear and should not overheat your ears. This comes at a price however and certain designs may be prone to falling off due to sudden head movement unless they have an ear clip.

They come in both open (more airy sound with larger soundstage) and closed (more of a seal for better sound isolation and heavier bass response) designs however can not generate the seal that full sized over-ear closed headphones or in-ear IEMS can manage so may be outclassed in those areas.

• Open-Back
  
  These have an design which prevents them from sealing on the ear (typically holes behind the driver) so typically generate a more airy sound (wider soundstage) than closed designs. Since soundwaves can escape they can be more crisp and clear than closed-back designs however also typically lack great bass response.
  
  Closed Back
  
  Closed headphones are designed to form a seal on your ear. This allows for stronger bass response as well as sound isolation however they might not be as crisp and clear sounding and often have a much smaller soundstage than open designs. also, since air cannot freely circulate they tend to be hotter than open designs however on-ear models are typically much cooler than over-ear. While certainly better than other designs they still fail to achieve the seal of in ear IEMs as well as full sized closed-back headphones.
  
  Lightweight
  
  Lightweight headphones feature a thin frame and true to their name are typically so light you may forget you are wearing headphones. The issue with such a frame is that they are more succeptible to damage or breakage as well as falling off due to sudden movement due to a low clamping force. Sound quality is typically mediocre at best since often only cheaper headphones are of this design.
  
  Sport Models
  
  Sport models are characterized by having ear clips and may or may not have a headband. These models models resist falling off the ear however are typically of open design (not open back) since they do not generate a good seal on the ear. This is good since it means less sweating due to the headphones however it also means that you will not get as much bass response or sound isolation as you would with closed design headphones.

Over-Ear Headphones

This style of headphone fully encloses the ears inside the earcups and typically has a much larger and thicker frame as well as having significantly more padding in both the headband and earcups. Due to the weight and size they are not a good choice for listening while performance active tasks as they are cumbersome and may fall off however they are unparalleled when it comes to stationary listening.

• Open-Back
  
  Designs which allow airflow in and out of the headphones are called open-back. typically they have either a mesh panel or pattern of holes or slots behind the driver to allow airflow to escape which also allows soundwaves to escape. this results in a headset which is cooler to wear despite enclosing your ear and which has an open and airy sound. This is called having a wide soundstage. a good analogy is that an open pair of headphones is like listening to a concert outside in a park where the sound has an airy/ambient quality to it. Since they allow airflow and soundwaves to escape others nearby might also hear what you are listening to if the volume is too loud. likewise it is also possible to hear ambient sounds around you despite wearing headphones. This makes them a good choice in rooms where you are alone or when you need to be able to hear what is around you.
  
  Semi-Open-Back
  
  Designs which are not quite closed-back and not quite open-back fall into this category. They are a good choice for individuals looking for headphones which are slightly more bassy then open designs but still retain a decent soundstage and are slightly cooler to wear then fully closed headphone designs. It is also possible to sometimes modify either open or closed headphones into this style to change their sound signature.
  
  Closed Back
  
  Fully enclosed and sealed designs are called closed-back. They do not allow airflow or soundwaves to escape and do not have any holes or venting behind the drivers. This results in thicker, deeper bass as well as passive sound isolation. Closed-design headphones can be described as listening to a concert inside a small club where the sound is more direct and in-your-face where some minute details are lost however bass is also more intense. This is also described as having a small soundstage. It is much harder to hear ambient noise around you and others also are not easily able to hear what you are listening to. This makes them a good choice for use around crowds of people as well as when you want to block out the outside world.
  
  Standard headphones
  
  These are your run of the mill consumer grade headphones. They have more budget friendly pricing schemes however also do not have the sound quality of either dj or studio type headphones. Typically they do not require any special amplification and work in most devices.
  
  For individuals on a budget who want average, acceptable but not great sound quality this style of headphones delivers.
  
  DJ Headphones
  
  These feature better quality sound than standard headphones however since they are meant to be used in a club by the dj feature high sound isolation due to a closed design, very loud output to overcome ambient noise as well as high levels of bass at the expense of sound quality. They might also have features such as swivels built in to the earcups or other features which may be convenient. Designs are often not as comfortable as studio type headphones however this is not always true.
  
  Such designs are perfect for individuals who love thick deep levels of sub bass at the expense of muddier sound and enjoy being isolated from the outside world.
  
  Studio Headphones
  
  This class of headphones can be divided into two subclasses. Headphones meant for the studio which typically feature a flat eq and high accuracy for musical production but may not be as enjoyable for casual listening and Audiophile headphones do not feature a flat eq and are generally more enjoyable for casual listeners. This class of headphones is generally comfortable and is available in open, closed or semi-open designs.
  
  For audiophiles and users wanting comfortable headphones and quality sound this style of headphones is ideal.

Types of Headsets

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In-Ear

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On-Ear

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Over-Ear

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Types of Microphones

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Clip-On

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Boom

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Desk

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Desk (Professional)

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Types of Connections

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Headphones

• 1/8 inch (3.5mm) stereo jack
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  1/4 inch (6.3mm) stereo jack
  
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  XLR connector
  
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  Bluetooth
  
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Headset

• Universal Serial Bus (USB)
  
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  1/8 inch (3.5mm) 4-pole
  
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  1/8 inch (3.5mm) 3-pole (two plugs)
  
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  1/8 inch (3.5mm) 3-pole (4 plugs)
  
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  Bluetooth
  
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Microphone

• Universal Serial Bus (USB)
  
  
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  1/8 inch (3.5mm) 3-pole
  
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  XLR connector
  
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Buyer's Guide

What type of headphone is best for me?

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Description
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What type of headset is best for me?

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Description
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What type of Microphone is best for me?

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Description
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How to add a boom mic to any headphones

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original credit to goes to demux4555 at imgurl for this d.i.y. [click]

as an alternative to the do-it-yourself modification below you may also purchase the antlion modmic for a slightly cleaner appearance (no zip ties needed.

Detatcheable 3.5mm Headset Microphone

This is the detachable microphone from the inexpensive Creative Fatal1ty Gaming headset. It's a noise canceling condenser mic that has a 3.5mm mini-jack fitted directly onto the arm itself, and should work perfectly for my mod. I've seen many other cheap headsets with almost identical (removable) microphones that should work just as well, but I decided on this one from Creative to make sure the audio quality would be good.

Microphone Tip Detail

Take a mental note of what side of the mic that should face your mouth. Noise cancelling microphones often have holes or openings on both sides of the microphone unit. This mic has a "splash" filter fitted in the openings where the mic is located, so it's fairly easy to see.

Plug Modification Side View

This microphone arm's plug has a small rubber guide that has to be removed with a scalpel or sharp knife. Luckily this plug already has a flat side, so I won't have to remove more material to make it fit.

Plug Modification End View

This is what the plug's profile has to look like to fit properly; one side has to be flat.

3.5mm Cable Attachment

I'm using a 3 meter long 3.5mm (mini-jack) female-to-male extension cable. The female connector is fastened to the headset using very small cable ties.

Mic Attached

The mini-jack male plug on the microphone arm fits directly into the connector.

Note On Zip Ties

Notice how the cable ties' lock case are positioned. There is no contact with the plastic case beneath, and should not leave marks from wear and tear over time. On this photo you can also see why one side of the plug has to be flat to avoid pulling the connector up when the mini-jack plug is inserted.

Finished Mod

This is what the beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro looks like when the mic is attached. Works like a charm, and the audio quality from the mic is like any factory mounted microphone found on gaming headsets.

Finished Mod Close-Up

A closer look at the finished mod. This solution is rock solid, and I'm quite sure it will last a long time without having to refit the connector. If I want to remove the mod at a later point, I just cut the cable ties, and the headphones are back to their original state - with no traces of the mod.

Finished Mod With Mic Detatched

If I want to use the headphones for music listening - without a microphone in front of my face - I'll just unplug the mic.

What options are available for my budget?

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By no means is this meant to be a complete list of all products available for a certain budget and is only meant to represent a few popular choices. Also this list is strictly for the USA since prices can vary quite a bit from country to country. This is broken down into both individual purchases as well as combination purchases for ease of searching.

In-Ear Headphones

• $0-50: Option1, Option 2, Option3
  $50-100: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $100-150: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $150-200: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $200-250: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $250-300: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $300-350: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $350-400: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

On-Ear Headphones

• $0-50: Option1, Option 2, Option3
  $50-100: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $100-150: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $150-200: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $200-250: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $250-300: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $300-350: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $350-400: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

Over-Ear Headphones

• $0-50: Option1, Option 2, Option3
  $50-100: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $100-150: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $150-200: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $200-250: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $250-300: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $300-350: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $350-400: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

Studio & DJ Headphones

• $0-50: Option 1, Option2, Option3
  $50-100: Audiotechnica Ath-m30, Audiotechnica Ath-t400,
  $100-150: Audiotechnica Ath-m50, Audiotechnica Ad-700x,
  $150-200: Audiotechnica Ad-900x, Beyerdynamic Dt-770pro (32), Beyerdynamic Dt-990pro, Akg-q701, Sennheiser Hd-598
  $200-250: Beyerdynamic Dt-770pro (80), Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro, Akg k701
  $250-300: Beyerdynamic Dt-770pro (250), Beyerdynamic Dt-990premium(250),
  $300-350: Hifiman He-400, Sennheiser hd-600
  $350-400: Audiotechncia Ad-1000x, Beyerdynamic Dt-990premium(32,600), Sennheiser Hd-650
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

Headset

• $0-50: Option1, Option 2, Option3
  $50-100: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $100-150: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $150-200: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $200-250: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $250-300: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $300-350: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $350-400: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

Gaming Headset

• $0-50: Option1, Option 2, Option3
  $50-100: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $100-150: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $150-200: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $200-250: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $250-300: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $300-350: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $350-400: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

In-Ear Headphones

• $0-50: Option1, Option 2, Option3
  $50-100: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $100-150: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $150-200: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $200-250: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $250-300: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $300-350: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $350-400: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

Bluetooth (All)

• $0-50: Option1, Option 2, Option3
  $50-100: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $100-150: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $150-200: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $200-250: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $250-300: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $300-350: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $350-400: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

Clip-On Microphones

• $0-50: Option1, Option 2, Option3
  $50-100: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $100-150: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $150-200: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $200-250: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $250-300: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $300-350: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $350-400: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

Boom Microphones

• $0-50: Option1, Option 2, Option3
  $50-100: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $100-150: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $150-200: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $200-250: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $250-300: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $300-350: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $350-400: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

Desk Microphones

• $0-50:Blue Snowball Ice,
  $50-100:Audiotecnica Atr-2500, Blue Snowball, Blue Yeti
  $100-150: Audiotechnica At-2020usb, Blue Yeti Pro,
  $150-200: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $200-250: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $250-300: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $300-350: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $350-400: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $400-450: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $450-500: Option1, Option2, Option3
  $500+: Option1, Option2, Option3

 

[ssddx]

Product Details & Reviews

In-Ear Headphones

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On-Ear Headphones

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Over-Ear Headphones

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Studio & DJ Headphones

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In-Ear Headsets

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On-Ear Headsets

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Over-Ear Headsets

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Gaming Headsets

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Bluetooth Headphones & Headsets

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Clip-On Microphones

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Boom Microphones

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Antlion Modmic
More information can be found at the official website [click]

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Desk Microphones

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Desk Microphones (Professional)

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By no means is this meant as a complete list of all product choices available. Instead, this listing is intended to provide a solid starting point by guiding the reader towards well known, respected and reviewed products which may suit their needs. Additional products can then be researched and analyzed if desired.

audiotechnica at2020usb (and usbplus)

-usb
-great quality similar to atr2500 and blue yeti
-has a headphone jack for lag free listening to your voice on headphones as you talk
-only has cardioid pickup pattern.

audiotechnica atr2500

-usb
-great quality (comparable to the more expensive 2020)
-has a headphone jack for lag free listening to your voice on headphones as you talk
-only has cardioid pickup pattern

behringer c1u

-usb
-decent quality however in general there is lots of talk about the volume levels just being way too low.
-lacks a headphone jack so you cant listen to your voice in headphones without lag
-only has cardioid pickup pattern


blue snowball

-usb
-good quality. not as nice as the at2020, blue yeti and others but not bad
-lacks a headphone jack so you cant listen to your own voice in headphones without lag
-has 3 pickup patterns for multiple recording scenarios.

blue yeti

-usb
-great quality similar to atr2500 and at2020
-has a headphone jack for lag free listening to your voice on headphones as you talk
-has 3 pickup patterns for multiple recording scenarios

samson c01u

-usb
-good quality which is comparable to the blue yeti (though i have to say i prefer the sound of the yeti over this one)
-lacks a headphone jack so you cant listen to your own voice without lag
-only has cardioid pickup pattern

 

[ssddx]

Update Notes

Recent Activity

Spoiler

2014-07-12
-added detailed descriptions to on-ear headphone category
-added images to on-ear headphone category
-added images to over-ear headphone category
-minor tweaks to layout
-added additional resource links

2014-07-11
-added detailed descriptions to in-ear headphone category
-added around the ear image and description
-minor tweaks to layout

2014-05-28
-added section for diy boom mic with images
-added images for products
-added sections for what you need to know about microphones and headphones

2014-05-27
-added connections, types of headsets, types of headphones
-added photos
-reworked format for budget for ease of use, added sections for every $50
-added bluetooth section.

2014-05-26
-added section markers
-added info to buyers guide
-added to types of headphones
-fixed bbcode bugs
-additional post formatting to improve clarity

2014-05-25
-fleshed out the general layout
-added audio & general glossary of terms
-started adding information on professional microphones

To Do List

-add category for "what kind of headphones should i buy *important
-add info about noise cancelling, virtual surround and surround *important
-create category for travel/exercise?
-create 600px images for all products
-add pro/con/description for all products
-add microphone terms to glossary (omni, bi-directional, etc)

TESTING AREA BELOW

Spoiler

2014-05-26
-added section markers
-added info to buyers guide
-added to types of headphones
-fixed bbcode bugs
-additional post formatting to improve clarity

2014-05-26
-added section markers
-added info to buyers guide
-added to types of headphones
-fixed bbcode bugs
-additional post formatting to improve clarity

LUTFIJ SEE BELOW

[spoiler]By no means is this meant to be a complete list of all products available for a certain budget and is only meant to represent a few popular choices. Also this list is strictly for the USA since prices can vary quite a bit from country to country. This is broken down into both individual purchases as well as combination purchases for ease of searching.

[b][color=red]In-Ear Headphones[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list]

[b][color=red]On-Ear Headphones[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list]

[b][color=red]Over-Ear Headphones[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list]

[b][color=red]Studio & DJ Headphones[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list]

[b][color=red]Headset[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list]

[b][color=red]Gaming Headset[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list]

[b][color=red]In-Ear Headphones[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list]

[b][color=red]Bluetooth (All)[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list]

[b][color=red]Clip-On Microphones[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list]

[b][color=red]Boom Microphones[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list]

[b][color=red]Desk Microphones[/color][/b]
[list][b]$50:[/b] Option1, Option 2, Option3
[b]$100:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$150:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$200:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$250:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$300:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$350:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$400:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$450:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3
[b]$500+:[/b] Option1, Option2, Option3[/list][/spoiler]

and... this is what i'm going to have the reviews look like. you can ignore the images for now as i'll take care of all that.

Sennheiser HD598 $180,

Whathifi HD598 Review [click]
Reviewed.com HD598 Review [click]

A favorite among gamers, this is the improved version of the hd595. It's extremely wide soundstage and positional accuracy make it excellent for both music listeners who prefer a more neutral sound profile and for gamers looking to upgrade from gaming headsets. They pair very well with virtual surround.

Style: over-the-ear
Type: open
DAC/Amp: not required, but headphones respond well to it.
Best for: gaming, music lovers who prefer a neutral non bass/treble heavy sound
Pros: large soundstage, great positional accuracy, detailed, balanced sound, good clarity, comfortable (but heavy clamping)
Cons: low bass response, sound profile is not as fun as others, some may find them less immersive due to low bass in games

and as for the code..

[b][color=red]Sennheiser HD598[/color][/b] $180, 
[url=http://postimg.org/image/hdejefrjd/][img]http://s20.postimg.org/hdejefrjd/on_ear_open.jpg[/img][/url]
[i]Whathifi HD598 Review [url=http://www.whathifi.com/sennheiser/hd598/review][click][/url][/i]
[i]Reviewed.com HD598 Review [url=http://headphones.reviewed.com/content/sennheiser-hd-598-over-ear-headphone-review][click][/url][/i]

A favorite among gamers, this is the improved version of the hd595. It's extremely wide soundstage and positional accuracy make it excellent for both music listeners who prefer a more neutral sound profile and for gamers looking to upgrade from gaming headsets. They pair very well with virtual surround.

[b]Style:[/b] over-the-ear
[b]Type:[/b] open
[b]DAC/Amp:[/b] not required, but headphones respond well to it.
[b]Best for:[/b] gaming, music lovers who prefer a neutral non bass/treble heavy sound
[b]Pros:[/b] large soundstage, great positional accuracy, detailed, balanced sound, good clarity, comfortable (but heavy clamping)
[b]Cons:[/b] low bass response, sound profile is not as fun as others, some may find them less immersive due to low bass in games