Headphone Tutorial

First, go to headfi.org for the best information on headphone systems. Second, you need a preamp, source device or something that has a headphone jack.

As to active noise canceling headphones, if you are seeking maximum performance you want to avoid these. The concept really doesn't work as one would think - they do a decent job of addressing airplane noise and such, but not variable real-world noises. Besides, even the active noise canceling phones don't really do any better of a job vs. in ear (preferably custom fit) or closed cans.

I have a few pair of phones (4), 2 in-ear and two on-ear. Of the two on-ear one is a closed design and the other an open back design.

If you are planning on taking you listening with you, you may want to consider some of the many excellent portable headphone amps. If you travel for business these are really nice to have.

Very helpful guys--thanks. How does the listening experience compare via good quality headphones versus via good quality loudspeakers? Do you still get all the spatial cues that are part of a good two channel setup? What about bass response--constrained? I've never listened to a good set of headphones before--will I be missing my loudspeakers and bumming out with uncomfortable phones on my head?

I was in your boat a while back and decided to invest in my first high-end headphone setup. I decided that it would never replace my speaker rig but here's what I learned.

A headphone rig uses a true full range single driver that usually provides more details, good dynamic contrast, and a purity of sound harder to find in a lot of speakers. It is these qualities that make the listening experience of headphones superior to speakers for some people. Headphones are nice for late night listening when I do not feel like firing up the main rig.

On the other hand a speaker rig can do a lot of the things headphones can (maybe not quite as well or cheaply) but is also able to project an image into your room, fill that room with sound and even small monitors provide at least some dynamic impact. Headphones cannot do any of this and it is these qualities that make the listening experience of speakers far superior to headphones for me.

You will have to decide if the tradeoffs are worth it to you, but no one says you can't have both systems!

Just stay away from bose, beats by dre and skullcandies and you will be fine. :P