Author: Cameron Summerson / Source: reviewgeek.com
Don’t take the claims of headphone makers at face value. Use this playlist to test them out (and learn how to create your own playlist along the way).
One could argue that the only playlist you need is the one full of your favorite songs—which is completely true.
If your music doesn’t sound good, then it’s a moot point. But it’s also a good idea to listen to some things outside of your normal rotation—things that may highlight features or inadequacies in those new headcans you just dropped a bunch of cash on.Why Diversity Is Important
Let’s say you listen to nothing but modern pop music. That’s cool—there’s a lot going on there! But if that’s all you use to test out some headphones, you could be missing out on a lot of details that you may not otherwise even realize are there. That’s why it’s good to branch out, even if only a bit, while you make sure these new headphones are the ones for you. You’ll be glad you did!
For example, you may be missing out on textures that don’t otherwise show up in your normal music. Or bass frequencies not commonly used in your normal style—or ones that are and you don’t even know they’re there because of your current headphones have lackluster fidelity. Tracking from speaker to speaker is important, and a sense of “being there” can easily be accomplished with a good set of headphones. By contrast, a lesser pair may not handle panning in a way that the artist or producer intended it, which can make a big difference in the overall effect or vibe of the track.
In short, even if you don’t listen to a wide variety of musical genres it can be highly beneficial to sit down with a diverse playlist and test your new headphones to ensure you’re getting the most for your money.Picking Your Songs
This is the fun part about building a playlist for testing headphone is, well, building the playlist. You get to explore new music (and old music!), broaden your horizons, and perhaps even learn to appreciate certain songs in a way that you haven’t before.
I spent many years as an Android device reviewer, and I ended up branching out into headphones and Bluetooth speakers. As a result, I built my own playlist for testing any audio device I reviewed, and I used the same playlist with everything so it made it easy to compare. That playlist changed and evolved over time, but I always kept the same ideas in mind: different styles of music, tons of textures, and varying types of performances. I’m a guitarist, so I very much approach headphones and speakers from a musician’s perspective. I personally listen to headphones the same way way I listen to new guitars, amps and pedals: from a variety of “angles.”
The goal is to get a feel for everything the headphones are capable of. You want to test the lower frequency and bass response. Where does it cut out? Is there a particular tone that you know is in a song but you can’t hear with these headphones? The same goes for the highs: are they defined without being shrill? Are they overbearing?
Balance and definition are the most important aspect of testing out headphones. You don’t have to be an audiophile by any means—but you absolutely have the right to be picky. Headphones can get expensive!
While I keep my playlist on Google Play Music, I made a copy of it on YouTube to share here. Here’s a quick breakdown of each song and why it made the cut:
- Buckethead – Swomee Swan: An instrumental and sonically-rich all guitar track with varying levels of intensity and multiple layers throughout.
- Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah: This is a live version of the song from Jeff’s Live at Sin-e album, which really showcases a lot of depth that headphones should be able to translate. From the articulate guitar playing and reverb to Jeff’s remarkable vocal range, this song covers a lot.
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience – All Along the Watchtower: If you want to talk texture upon texture, All Along the Watchtower is a great song to listen to. There’s so much going…
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