We know how confusing music tech can be — it mostly consists of terms that only a handful of people could possibly understand. That’s why Street scoured the audiophile landscape in search of the best choices for your personal music experience. Check out our favorite headphones (as well as the incredibly ubiquitous Apple earbuds), so you too can become a sound-concious expert.
Apple In-Ear Headphones Price: $29, or free with your iPod Ideal for: No specific type of music, but they’re great at the gym. High Notes: Their small size and in-ear comfort are virtually unrivaled for the price. Low Notes: If you are trying to hear the intricacies of your favorite song, look elsewhere. These headphones don’t offer much in the way of sound quality. Seen on: Casual music fans who don’t know better. — Lauren Lipsay
Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise CanceLling Headphones Price: A steep $350, unless you score a used pair Ideal for: Parsing nuances from each and every track, preferably while flying on airplanes. Sadly though, QC3s can’t cancel West Phily’s sirens. High notes: Crisp enough to make you at least an entry–level audiophile. Remarkably compact. Low notes: They’re no Beats by Dre but, despite their unbelievable compactness, the bass is still pretty rich Seen on: Sons of Wall Street investment bankers as they fly in their private jet; Whartonites. — Joe Pinsker
Beyerdynamic DT 880 PREMIUM Heaphones Price: Usually $329.99, depending on where you buy Ideal for: Well–produced, multi-layered tracks — you’ll be able to hear every little detail. High Notes: In addition to making all music sound great, these headphones are extremely comfortable. Velvet-lined ear cups are a nice touch. Low Notes: Their bulk and noise-cancelling qualities make wearing them a bit of a commitment — they’re not made for multi-tasking. Seen on: DJs and true music freaks. — Lauren Lipsay
WeSC Bongo DJ Headphones Price: Approximately $90 Ideal for: Anything loud. Really, really loud. Bongos give a real phat bass so work your playlist around that. High Notes: Immaculate clarity, padded ear cushions for comfort, closed–ear cup for sound isolation and a clean and sharp design. And the extensive range of styles and colors isn’t too shabby, either. Low notes: The wire is long so it’s extremely prone to getting twisted. Seen on: People who stomp down Locust, pissed at the pseudo-hipsters who buy look-a-like headphones from Urban. — Raya Jalabi
Denon Ah-d2000 Price: $350 Ideal For: Music with strong mid–levels to help balance out the pummeling bass. High Notes: Comfortable; great sound quality and ambient bass — a top–of–the–line headphone experience Low Notes: Absurdly long cord and a clunky build can make life difficult. Seen on: “Music-philosophers” who can’t stand to have songs ravaged by iPod headphones. — Ben Lopez
