Why You Should Listen To Your Headphones, Not Just The Music

Whether you are in your bedroom or the library, as a student, there's no doubt that headphones will be your primary way to listen to music. But how much detail are you missing when you listen?

To me, the act of sitting in a quiet room, focusing solely on music is an act that brings a great amount of peace after a busy day. It can either be relaxing, or an exercise for our ears as we discover intricacies hidden deep within the music.

Our choice of headphones is one of the largest factors which impacts our listening experience, and everyone has their own preferences. Do you like a lot of bass? Do you prefer in-ears or over-ears? Do you prefer open or closed backs? Wireless headphones are incredibly popular nowadays and offer noise-cancellation, so outside sound is removed. This is a brilliant option for those who commute, but the absence of a cable does result in lower fidelity. For those who are happy with a single pair of headphones, it is a difficult decision to find one that can totally cater to our needs. Reassuringly, headphones are not a form of technology which frequently needs to be replaced, I use a pair which entered production in 1997!

Why should I listen to my headphones, you may ask? The simple answer is detail. Music producers meticulously work to paint a highly detailed musical picture, every instrument has a place on the canvas, but unlike a canvas, this painting is not confined to two dimensions. Music can appear anywhere around you in all three axes. The soundstage of your headphones can either make music appear inside your head, a foot away from you, or anywhere in between. It’s a neat party trick letting someone listen to headphones with a wide soundstage, where the music sounds further away than they would expect.

One of my go-to tracks when testing headphones is Kate Bush’s 'The Big Sky'. There’s a lot going on, but everything sounds well separated. Vocals take centre stage while the instrumentation swirling around them; the song is a marvel from a production viewpoint. You don’t have to love a song to appreciate its production, but I believe that the best song to test your headphones with is your favourite song. Our experience with music is determined most by how we feel, so our enjoyment will inevitably change on a day-to-day basis. If you enjoy a challenge, try listening to your favourite song and discover something you never noticed about it.