Headphones and earbuds advice

_confused_piplup_ · Apr 9, 2023

Hello! I really love music and I am thinking to buy some new headphones or earbuds (or both) to actually enjoy music.
I have been exploring the web trying to find advices and websites here and there to help me at least understand a little more about this kind of technology and especially understanding more about sound quality specs.
So, are there any useful websites/articles/videos you advise me to check to learn more and that might help me to buy the right thing?
Do you have any headphones/earbuds you'd recommend me?

Tsutarja · Apr 10, 2023

i'm not too sure on the front of websites or even places to look for reviews, but i will ask - are you looking for over-ears (headphones) or earbuds?

_confused_piplup_ · Apr 11, 2023

Tsutarja said:
i'm not too sure on the front of websites or even places to look for reviews, but i will ask - are you looking for over-ears (headphones) or earbuds?

Actually both. Maybe more headphones, than earbuds though.

Catgirl Rika · Oct 16, 2023

I am cheap as heck, so just buy the $20-$30 headphones usually via Amazon. I just had to buy a new pair recently and I am enjoying it.

https://a.co/d/fv3Nqz8

Roni · Nov 3, 2023

_confused_piplup_ said:
Hello! I really love music and I am thinking to buy some new headphones or earbuds (or both) to actually enjoy music.
I have been exploring the web trying to find advices and websites here and there to help me at least understand a little more about this kind of technology and especially understanding more about sound quality specs.
So, are there any useful websites/articles/videos you advise me to check to learn more and that might help me to buy the right thing?
Do you have any headphones/earbuds you'd recommend me?

this is a months-old thread but it got bumped recently so i'll just chime in lol. you probably already bought what you were looking for at this point buut whatever.

those options you mentioned have their strengths and weaknesses, and the appropriate times/situations to use them.

if you only wanna listen to music at home (and have a nice climate controlled room, but this is optional), it's hard to beat headphones. audiophile grade over-ears for surround sound and noise cancellation = glorious listening experience. if you prefer to listen on the go though, earbuds are always the instant recommendation for their portability and overall convenience. no wires, no hassle, just shove 'em in your ear and make your commute or workout sesh more bearable~

_confused_piplup_ · Nov 3, 2023

Roni said:
this is a months-old thread but it got bumped recently so i'll just chime in lol. you probably already bought what you were looking for at this point buut whatever.

those options you mentioned have their strengths and weaknesses, and the appropriate times/situations to use them.

if you only wanna listen to music at home (and have a nice climate controlled room, but this is optional), it's hard to beat headphones. audiophile grade over-ears for surround sound and noise cancellation = glorious listening experience. if you prefer to listen on the go though, earbuds are always the instant recommendation for their portability and overall convenience. no wires, no hassle, just shove 'em in your ear and make your commute or workout sesh more bearable~

Those are veey good suggestions! I bought a pair of IEMs. They are the Solnotes Zero. They're pretty good and I advise those to people who like having wires, but like a good music quality. I personally chose IEMs over earbuds because I think that you can find good IEMs with a great quality over earbuds, but that's really just a matter of personal tastes and comfort. I like my IEMs because they're very versatile, making it a great choice when I'm walking, on the train or even in a public place. The fact that you can use them almost everywhere is what made me choose them over headphones, even though they're a great choice for listening to music at home.

Roni · Nov 24, 2023

_confused_piplup_ said:
Those are veey good suggestions! I bought a pair of IEMs. They are the Solnotes Zero. They're pretty good and I advise those to people who like having wires, but like a good music quality. I personally chose IEMs over earbuds because I think that you can find good IEMs with a great quality over earbuds, but that's really just a matter of personal tastes and comfort. I like my IEMs because they're very versatile, making it a great choice when I'm walking, on the train or even in a public place. The fact that you can use them almost everywhere is what made me choose them over headphones, even though they're a great choice for listening to music at home.

great choice on the salnotes~ they've been lauded everywhere i hear about them (if snarky redditors approve of them then they're most definitely good lol). IEMs like these also tend to have solid wire quality; not too long but not too short either + designed not to tangle as much when stored. i rocked KZ's a couple years ago and would buy again if i wasn't already satisfied with my headphones.

for commutes though, i recommended earbuds over IEMs bcs i didn't know if your phone had a 3.5mm jack or not heh. personally i'm about to upgrade to an iPhone sometime next year, so unless i sacrifice the charging port, no IEMs on-the-go for me (doesn't really matter anyway bcs i don't listen to music much when i'm outside lol).

_confused_piplup_ · Nov 24, 2023

I had a KZ pair before my Solnotes Zero. They weren't bad, but they said Solnotes tend to be better. I am glad of my choice. I like them. I find them comfortable when I travel too. I guess I am very used to it. Fortunately, my smartphone has great battery management and there's always a place to charge your phones on the train. I don't have a jack, but it's bearable because as I said, there's the opportunity to charge the phone whenever. They can tend to be bulkier than normal phones but their design makes IEMs pretty comfortable.