Headphones Archives - The Podcast Host https://www.thepodcasthost.com/equipment/headphones/ Helping you launch, grow & run your show Wed, 03 Jan 2024 08:34:36 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 Rode NTH-100 Review: Why Did the Headphones Cross the Rode? https://www.thepodcasthost.com/equipment/rode-nth-100-review/ Mon, 25 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000 https://www.thepodcasthost.com/?p=36630 Did you know headphones are much like microphones? They both have their own signature sound – even if it’s very nuanced.  For example, the Sony MDR7506 is great for working with dialogue because the high-end frequency reproduction is boosted, making it easy to hear clicks in editing, while Beyerdynamic headphones are known for their accurate flat frequency response.  However, we aren’t here to discuss the plethora of headphones! Today I am reviewing a brand new offering from Rode.  Let me introduce to you the NTH-100!


This post contains affiliate links. We might earn a small commission should you choose to buy through them – never at any extra cost to yourself!

Rode NTH-100 Headphones
Rode NTH-100 Headphones

Comfort of the NTH-100

These are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn.

The padding for the earcups and headband are Alcantara®.  This is something that acts similar to memory foam. The padding contours to my head and ears. 

Eyeglass wearers rejoice! I couldn’t feel my glasses at all while wearing these throughout a two-hour session.  I also have an ear-piercing on the upper ear that always gets pressed into with every pair of headphones I’ve ever owned.  This is not the case with the NTH-100. 

The ear pads also have a cooling effect that is advertised to reduce fatigue. The headphones are a tad on the heavy side but that didn’t seem to wear me out any faster than my lighter DT990.

Close up of the wire from the headband to the ear cup of the Rode NTH-100
Close up of the wire from the headband to the ear cup of the Rode NTH-100

The Build of the NTH-100

Without knowing too much of the nitty-gritty of how these headphones were made, it is clear that durability AND comfort were major considerations.  But the overall feel is one of sturdiness.  The wires from the driver (earcup) to the headband are in a thicker rubber. This appears to protect the thin wire from damage.

You can check out the Rode NTH-100s product page for more information on their technical specifications.

The headband and swivel of the earcups are a comfortable stiff and not “loosey-goosey”. They are easy to move and adjust with a sturdy feel.  Speaking of headbands:

The stainless spring steel headband was tested under extreme pressure over 20,000 times (equating to to roughly 25 years of daily use)”.

Rode

Documentation provided from Rode also boasts that the headband and earpads are user-replaceable.  This is a huge feature because sometimes your materials do breakdown before the device stops working. I love seeing a replace solution, rather than “just buy a new one” mentality, or making part replacement difficult.  The pieces are easily removed yet secured in place.

Customizable

According to documentation from Rode, you will eventually be able to customize the colour of the earpads, headband, and connection cable.  This is more of an esthetic feature but neat, nonetheless, and gives you easy access to spare parts.

The connection cable can be inserted either on the left or right side.  This is great because, depending on which side your interface or mixer is on, you don’t have cables crisscrossing every which way.  Out of the box, you also get a few coloured cable identifiers, which are also super handy when you are surrounded by cables.  There’s nothing more frustrating than always grabbing the wrong cable!

Left or right cable connector input
Left or right cable connector input

NTH-100 Sound Quality

These headphones are technically closed-back headphones.  This means they offer some isolation from external sounds and shouldn’t leak into your environment or microphone (if you are recording).  I usually shy away from closed-back because you can run the risk of frequency built up in the ear cups.  However, to my surprise, the Rode NTH-100 has a natural and clear sound that you expect from open-back headphones (those allow air through the back to not have frequency buildup).

Since you cannot plug into my brain to hear what I hear, I’ll give you a description comparison between the NTH-100 and my DT990.  The NTH-100 has more detailed high end without it messing with the balance. This means I was better able to hear an issue in the high end that needed repairing versus with the DT990. 

The low-end reproduction of the NTH-100 wasn’t as detailed as the DT990 but I could still pinpoint issues in audio for fixing. I didn’t notice any distortion in the high or low end when testing for sudden bursts of loudness.

Headband locking mechanism for the Rode NTH-100
Headband locking mechanism for the Rode NTH-100

Impedance of the NTH-100

Impedance is actually really important when it comes to headphones.  Typically, a higher impedance will render a more clear and accurate sound representation.  However, this requires a powerful headphone amp which most entry-level interfaces just don’t have.

The Rode NTH-100 has low impedance yet maintains an impressive amount of clarity and detail.  This means almost any interface or mixer should be able to drive these headphones with no loss of details or volume.  Kudos to Rode’s engineers on that one!

Our Rating: 4.8/5

  • Comfort: 5.0/5.0
  • Build: 5.0/5.0
  • Sound Quality: 4.4/5.0
  • 4.8/5.0

Conclusion: Should I Buy a Pair of Rode NTH-100s?

The Rode NTH-100s have hit the market at a price of $199.99 CAD ($149 on Amazon US).  I can see these headphones becoming a contender to Beyerdynamic headphones, which hold great favour among audio professionals – myself included. 

The price point isn’t a steep one, (though there are loads of quality cheaper podcast headphones on the market) so this is great for a podcaster that also does their own editing.  The only “gripe” I have is they feel a tad heavy but that’s most likely due to the solid build.

The headphones check off every major consideration I have when looking for a new pair of headphones:

  • Comfort
  • Durability
  • Sound Accuracy

Rode’s NTH-100s are loaded with customizable potential with practicable applications.  The sound is clear and accurate even on less than stellar headphone amps.  Rode continues to lead the way in affordable, yet high quality, gear for all.

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Best Headphones for Listening to Podcasts https://www.thepodcasthost.com/equipment/best-headphones-listening-podcasts/ https://www.thepodcasthost.com/equipment/best-headphones-listening-podcasts/#comments Fri, 28 Aug 2020 06:10:00 +0000 https://www.thepodcasthost.com/uncategorised/best-headphones-listening-podcasts/ Do you need the best headphones to listen to podcasts? Definitely not. That doesn’t mean that any old pair will do, though. A good set of earbuds or over-ears can make a huge difference to your listening experience.

If you’re fed up with the 3.99 buds you get in TKMaxx that disintegrate after 2 hours in your pocket, then this article’s for you. I’ll explain why we recommend something a bit better than those paper-mache efforts, and what benefits they bring. Then we’ll go on to our own recommendations for the best headphones for podcast listening.

Sound good? Of course they do – that’s the point 🙂 Let’s take a look at the best headphones for listening to podcasts!

A quick heads up that we use affiliate links in this roundup, so earn a small commission if you choose to buy through them. This is always at no extra cost to yourself.

> Skip to the recommendations

When Good Headphones are Worth It

There are two main reasons why you might want to think about your choice of earbuds or headphones when in the market for a new pair.

  1. You often listen in noisy or distracting environments
  2. You listen to highly produced shows and want a fuller audio experience

There’s a good chance you’ll also use the same headphones for listening to music on your device too. So even if you wouldn’t class yourself as an “audiophile”, it’s natural that you’ll want the audio you’re consuming to sound as good as it can.

Types of Podcast

Firstly, we should clarify here that a “podcast” is ultimately a delivery method, and there’s really no rule to say that one show will sound anything like the next.

There are generally accepted standards such as average loudness which an increasing number of producers adhere to.

But there are many different types of podcast. Perhaps the three most common types we see are

  1. Interview show, co-hosted or solo monologue
  2. Documentary-style
  3. Audio Drama

Production Styles

By looking at an audio file’s waveform – its visual representation – we can see the differences between these styles.

Interviews, co-hosted shows and monologues are typically produced in mono, meaning the sound you hear is exactly the same in both ears.

Best headphones for the Entrepreneur on Fire podcast
An interview style podcast, showing a very uniform volume

This audio is generally less complex, which makes it easier for the producer to set a consistent volume level.

Many podcast interviews take place over tools such as Skype, meaning the audio quality often isn’t the same standard as it would be if both people were in a studio together.

Having a mono show that’s 99% spoken word content means the producer can set a much lower bitrate. This means the audio quality is lower, but the file is also smaller, making it easier for listeners to download.

Best headphones for the invisibilia podcast
More variance, as shown in a documentary style podcast.

Documentary or audio drama-style shows tend to be a bit more complex. They mix speech with music, ambience, and sound effects.

These shows will usually be produced in stereo, meaning there will be (usually subtle) differences between what you hear in each ear.

An overall consistent volume is harder to achieve, but a good producer will work hard to achieve this in the mastering stage.

Best headphones for the Bronzeville podcast
An audio drama, often showing the most volume variance.

They don’t want you to be reaching for the volume dial every few minutes, yet they might have two people whispering in one scene, and a huge explosion in the next.

They’ll want these sounds to keep their integrity and realism, but still provide a consistent listening experience that doesn’t pull the listener out of the story because they need to stop to adjust their settings.

Best Headphones for Listening to Podcasts

We’ve touched on some of the big variations between different styles of podcast.

The bottom line is that great headphones won’t make bad audio sound good. On the other hand, low quality headphones won’t make good audio sound bad, as such. Instead, you’ll just be missing out on much of the experience.

Ultimately, you’re in the hands of your favourite podcaster (or their producer).

So, assuming they’ve done a good job on the production side of things, what headphones should we use to best enjoy the fruits of their labour?

There’s an almost infinite number of makes and models available out there, so we’ve narrowed it down to a few choices that we’re keen on ourselves.

Best In-Ear Headphones or Earbuds

Best Budget Earbuds

Panasonic Ergo Fit

If you want the cheapest possible pair but don’t want the cheapest possible sound, then the Panasonic Ergo Fit earbuds fall nicely into that bracket.

Best Mid-Range In-Ear Headphones

1. 1More In-Ear Triple Driver Headphones

These were Colin’s day-to-day headphones for quite a while: the 1More Triple Driver in-ears

Here’s his report: First, the quality is brilliant – crystal clear and balanced. Second, they’ve enough oomph to out-blast the passing lorries and buses in the street, without being full-scale noise-cancelling headphones that see me blindly wandering across the road when a car’s coming. And third, the cabling is the least tangly I’ve ever come across, with a lovely fabric-style cable. That makes it so easy to throw them in your bag, or stuff them in your pocket, without ending up with a bird’s nest of cables when you remove them.

2. Sony WF-1000X

The Sony WF-1000X are truly wireless, noise cancelling and a nice little set of buds. The audio quality is great, but the noise cancelling isn’t astounding. You notice a marginal cut in background hum when it’s switched on, but it’s not comparable to the Airpods below, or the Bose Quietcomforts. But then, the Sony 1000x buds are less than half the cost of either! If you want to go truly wireless, but on a more reasonble budget, these are great value.

Best High-End Earbuds

1. Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear

Prepared to invest in a high-end set? The Sennheiser Momentum earbuds will give you a premium quality sound for your podcasts, audio dramas, and music.

2. Apple Airpods Pro

Another recommendation from Colin. Here’s his take: I’ll be honest, the Apple Airpods Pro are now my day to day ‘phones. If you have an iPhone and price is no object, these are about as good as you get, and not just for the audio quality.

The audio is top-notch, though, and the noise cancellation works like a dream. Pop them in and just listen as that regular background noise disappears. You’ll still hear the intermittent sounds, of course, but the low rumble and high hiss of the world at large just melts away. I have no trouble listening to a gentle voiced podcast while walking down a busy street.

Add to that, though, the extra utility Siri gives you and these are a magic combination. Love her, or hate her, she can be useful, and I’ve found myself turning into a regular user since getting hold of the Earpods. “Play on Pocketcasts” I’ll say to start a podcast immediately, or “Add that book Tyler Cowen just mentioned on North Star to my todoist.” For Apple fans, these are an amazing tool!

Best Over-Ear Headphones

Best Budget Over-Ear Headphones

Audio Technica ATH-M20X

If you don’t mind carrying a pair of actual headphones around with you, then the Audio Technica M20Xs are great value for money and provide an excellent listening experience. 

The cable is pretty long from a consumer point of view (they’re really designed for in-studio use), but from a sound quality to price to comfort ratio, it’s hard to see past them in this category.

Best High-End Over-Ear Headphones

GRADO SR325E

If you want to splash out on an expensive pair of quality headphones then take a peek at the retro-looking Grado SR325e headphones.

Best Noise Cancellation Headphones

Best Over-Ear Noise Cancellation Headphones

Bose QuietComfort 35

If external noise spoils your podcast listening more than anything, then noise cancelling headphones might be for you. These have little mics built in to them designed to pick up the sounds around you and neutralise them.

For top of the range, look at the Bose QuietComfort 35. These are quite simply magic. Pop a pair on in the airport and turn a noisy, chaotic stressful experience into something quiet, peaceful, tranquil. Of course, they’re not cheap, but I’ve had a pair of these for a couple of years now and I wouldn’t live without them. 

If you don’t quite have the budget for the wireless 35s, then forego the wireless… ness… and get the 25s. The Bose Quietcomfort 25 model has all the same noise cancellation and comfort features, for a fair chunk of cash less.

Best Noise Cancellation Earbuds

Apple Airpods Pro

Going back to the Apple Earpods Pro here, I’d say! The noise cancellation works a treat, which I find amazing, given their size. Look at my full comments on the Earpods above!

Putting Your Headphones to Good Use

So now that you’re set up to get the best sound from your podcasts, how about some quality new shows to add to your playlist? Check out our ‘Best Of’ roundups below where you’ll surely find something you like.

And, if you’ve ever fancied creating your very own show, check out How to Start a Podcast. That’s our free step-by-step guide that’ll walk you through the entire process, from planning to promotion. If you want a deeper dive, consider joining Podcraft Academy. There, you’ll find all of our courses and downloadable resources, plus our weekly live Q&A sessions, to answer all of your questions.

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Best Podcast Headphones for Recording, Editing & Production https://www.thepodcasthost.com/equipment/best-headphones-for-podcasting/ https://www.thepodcasthost.com/equipment/best-headphones-for-podcasting/#comments Thu, 26 Sep 2019 07:00:16 +0000 https://www.thepodcasthost.com/?p=9503 When we think of podcasting equipment, we immediately think of microphones, mixers, and recorders. Headphones, though, are one of the most important pieces of kit you can buy. What are the best podcast headphones out there, though, and why should you worry about them in the first place?

In our recent podcasting gear survey, we found out a lot about how podcasters are recording and producing their shows. You can see the full results right here. The thing that stood out to us most was the fact that nearly 1 in 4 people record without podcast studio headphones! Why’s this important? Well, let’s take a look, before jumping right into some of the best studio headphones for podcasting.


We also have a roundup on the best headphones for listening to podcasts – ideal if you’re a fan of immersive audio drama, ASMR, or Binaural Beats!

Why Use Studio Headphones for Podcasting?

There’s two main reasons to use headphones. Firstly, when recording, it’s good practice to monitor your audio. This simply means plugging headphones into your recording device and you’ll hear everything that’s being recorded.

Monitoring your recordings enables you to hear any issues in real time, and fix them. An example could be mobile phone interference. The sort of thing that could completely destroy that interview you drove 3 hours to do. Imagine you only discovered this problem once you were back home, loading the audio into your computer.

Surprisingly, 26% of the 330 folks who responded to our survey do not use headphones whilst recording. It’s fair to say, they’re playing a dangerous game…

pie chart showing 74% of people use headphones when podcasting

The second reason to use headphones for podcasting, is for the editing and production.

Obviously you need to listen back to your audio, if you want to do any sort of work to it. You can listen in lots of different ways though – from laptop speakers, to state of the art studio monitors.

According to our survey though, by far the most common way, was through using headphones.

Granted, this year’s survey didn’t break it down to find out exactly what kind of headphones. Included in this 74% will be cheap earbuds, and consumer headphones designed for music listening.

graph showing that 74% of people use podcast headphones to edit
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Choosing Headphones for Podcasting

So what are we looking for in a decent pair of podcast headphones? There are a few factors to consider.

  • Do they alter the sound of your audio in any way? You want to hear exactly how it sounds. Avoid consumer music headphones that add things like extra bass or treble.
  • Are they comfortable? Can you edit for 3-4 hours without the sides of your face becoming sore and itchy?
  • Are they portable? Can they be easily transported in a bag? Considerations here are bulk, flexibility, and cable length.
  • How much do they cost? Everyone has a budget, so what’s the best you can get with yours?

The Podcast Host Headphone Roundup

We’ve been badly in need of some new headphones for our studio, so wanted to try out various types before buying them.

Myself and Colin set up a little “test” where we’d both listen to selected audio clips through each different set of headphones.

We did it in a way that we didn’t actually know which headphones we were listening through. So this was a bit of a blind test. We wrote down our feedback on each, then found out exactly which one was which.

We tested 5 pairs of headphones. The Audio Technica ATH-M20X, M30X, and M40X range. We also tried out the AKG K92s, and the Sony MDR-7506s.

the AKGK92 studio headphones

So how did we get on? Did any particular model impress? Or disappoint? Here are our thoughts…

Audio Technica ATH-M20X

Price: $49/£38 – Audio Technica ATH-M20X

This was the cheapest out of the 3 Audio Technica models we tested. The M20Xs have less of a frequency range than the 30s and 40s, though we both couldn’t notice any audible difference between the 3 during our tests.

You also can’t fold these, like you can with the 30s and 40s. Weight-wise, these are slightly lighter than the other 2.

Audio Technica ATH-M30X

Price: $59/£51 – Audio Technica ATH-M30X

The mid-range Audio Technica pair we tested. They have more of a frequency range than the 20s, but less than the 40s.

These can be folded to make them easier for transporting.

Audio Technica ATH-M40X

Price: $79/£71 – Audio Technica ATH-M40X

The top range Audio Technica pair we tried out. They have the highest frequency range of the 3, but sound-wise, we couldn’t tell the difference between any of them.

You can fold these for transportation, and they come with their own carry bag too.

You can also turn the cans round if you need to quickly hear something through one ear. The cable is detachable, with the option of a straight or coiled cable.

Weight-wise, these are slightly heavier than the other 2.

AKG K92

Price: $59/£35 – AKG K92

We thought these sounded fine (though not as good as any of the Audio Technicas), but were possibly the least comfortable of the lot. If these are your price range, you’d be better opting for the MX20s.

Sony MDR-7506

Price: $108/£89 – Sony MDR-7506

These were a bit of a disappointment, to be honest. We both thought the sound was slightly tinny. For the price point, it’s hard to argue any case for choosing these as your headphones for podcasting.

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250

Price: $141/£99 – Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250

This pair have been living in the studio for a few years now. Their sound quality is excellent, but their USP is in their sheer comfort. You can edit for an entire day with these without getting the audio producer equivalent of bed sores.

Their comfort is mainly down to their furry padding. This does come with its downsides though as they can get a wee bit smelly over time. They’re not the sort of headphones you’d really want to share with anyone!

Being on the Premium end of the scale, they’re also a bit pricey, and would be overkill for the vast majority of podcasters.

ATMX20s podcast headphones

Best Podcast Headphones Summary

There’s usually a lot of “it depends” with this sort of stuff. However, I’d say that for 95% of podcasters out there, the Audio Technica ATH-M20Xs will be absolutely ideal podcast headphones.

You can pay a little more for some extra bells and whistles with the M30Xs and M40Xs (which are still great value), and you might notice a slight improvement in the sound, if you’re a dog.

If you’re somehow in the position of having to wear headphones for 4+ hours a day, then you might consider the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250s for their comfort value.

But again, for the vast majority of folks out there, the Audio Technica ATH-M20Xs are the best headphones for podcasting, based on their price to quality ratio!

Rode NTH Headphones

New in 2022 – Rode NTH-100 Headphones

Rode has created some brilliant podcasting gear over the years, but never a pair of headphones – until now. Our reviewer Sarah described them as “the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn.”, and she had a lot more positives to say about them too. At $149, though, are they really worth it? Check out our full Rode NTH-100 review to get the lowdown.

Need More Help?

Whether it’s equipment advice, or guidance on content, strategy, editing, growth, or monetisation, check out Podcraft Academy. In there, can work through all our courses, join us for regular live Q&A sessions, and be part of an active community of podcasters working on their craft.

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Sony MDR-7506 Headphones Review | No-Frills, Detail-Oriented Cans https://www.thepodcasthost.com/equipment/sony-mdr-7506-headphones-review/ Fri, 16 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.thepodcasthost.com/uncategorised/sony-mdr-7506-headphones-review/ The Sony MDR-7506s are a pair of studio monitor headphones that have become omnipresent in the world’s recording and production studios. They’re a no-frills, simple as you like, pair of headphones that are made for listening to audio without the typical frequency response rollercoaster you might hear on a pair of Beats, for example.

sony mdr-7506 headphone reviewHeadphones for Analytical Listening

Many consumer headphones accentuate the high and low frequencies, meaning that you hear more of the bass and treble, with the mid range frequencies often dipped. So if you’re listening to modern music with plenty of bass and sharp snares then you’ll find a very rich sound.

But for podcasting, especially when editing and mixing, it isn’t always ideal to have these low and high frequencies being boosted. What you want is to be able to hear hissing, clicking, and background noise.

The clarity offered by the MDR-7506s is excellent for this. Any distortion or hissing can be easily heard, and this allows you to better identify and solve any problems there may be with your recording setup. This could mean changing some cables around, or using some targeted noise reduction when editing.

If you do choose to listen to music you’ll find a totally different soundscape coming at you. My previous pair of headphones for editing and recording were Sony MDR-ZX600s. These are a fantastically cheap and durable (6 years and counting) pair of headphones that are great for casual listening. When I switched to the 7506s I found music sounding a lot less bass-y, with far more detail in the mids and highs.

I’m talking about the music listening experience because, for most of us, our favourite songs are the best test to identify differences in headphones and speakers. We all have a few tunes that we know like the back of our hand (or should it be ear?). I found a lot of my bass-heavy hip-hop go-tos sounded like different songs all together.

Sony MDR-7506 with micBuild Quality

The construction of the 7506s lends itself more to studio-based listening. The all plastic construction is durable enough for your desk, but something a bit tankier and premium feeling would be better suited to the rough and tumble of the outside world. The large non-detachable coiled cable would be too bulky for on the go use. But when plugged into an interface or PC, it makes for a sturdier and more durable setup than a thinner, straight cable.

I have a large head, or so I’ve been told. The 7506s are not the most comfortable for those of us with oversized noggins. But they are far from inconvenient. Many other people have thought the same, so the aftermarket scene for replacement earpads is pretty huge. When you take into account the budget pricing of the 7506s it’s hard to begrudge a few more pounds for puffier ear cushions.

Price

At the time of writing, you can grab a pair of Sony MDR-7506s on Amazon for around $75, or on Amazon UK for around £85.

Conclusion

The price of the 7506s is one of their biggest selling points. I picked mine up for £88. It would be hard to come by a more useful pair of headphones for less money. When you pair the pricetag with the clarity and utility of their sound, the Sony MDR-7506s are a sure fire first foray into professional headphones that will take your podcast recording and editing to a new level of polish.

Need More Help Choosing Podcasting Equipment?

If you need some more tailored advice for your own setup, or want help with any other aspect of podcasting, then why not take a look at Podcraft Academy

That’s our Premium Site, where you’ll find access to all of our video courses, tutorials, ebooks, and downloadable resources. On top of that we run regular live Q&A sessions where you can get all your questions answered on an ongoing basis.

It’s the ideal place to plan, launch, and grow your podcast in a focused and structured manner!

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Best Headphones for Listening to Audio Drama Podcasts https://www.thepodcasthost.com/equipment/best-headphones-for-audio-drama/ Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.thepodcasthost.com/uncategorised/best-headphones-for-audio-drama/ Most audio drama podcasters will express sincere gratitude when they find out you’ve been listening to their show.

Then they’ll sometimes wince a little when they find out how you’ve been listening to it.

Low-budget, low-quality earbuds are a common way of consuming any type of audio from your smartphone or device. This makes sense because most people don’t consider themselves audio purists or “snobs”.

Very few consumers ever listen to audio in optimal conditions either. Naturally, listening is mainly taking place on public transport, on busy streets, or in places where there’s lots of external noise competing for your ear’s attention.

People are used to all this though. To your average consumer of audio, what they’re listening to sounds just fine in their trusty £5 buds.

In a sense, they’re right. Low-end gear won’t make a well made production sound bad as such, it’s just that you’ll lose a huge chunk of the experience.

Imagine watching a film in the cinema with your sunglasses on. You’d still be able to follow the plot, see exactly what’s happening and enjoy the story. But you’d definitely be placing limitations on the experience.

And because audio isn’t a visual medium (at least, not literally) these limitations can be much less obvious if we don’t already know what we’re missing.

Telling an Audio Story

There are two things the audio drama producer will use to tell you a story. These are necessary not only for you to understand the story, but to help you enjoy it too.

  1. Audio – it sounds very obvious, but there’s absolutely no visuals in use. Only dialogue, sound effects and music.
  2. Your imagination – as the audio plays, your brain interprets it and builds living, moving pictures in your mind.

Of course, we know from the ancient art of campfire stories, through to the popularity of audiobooks today, that sound effects and music aren’t a necessary part of you forming visuals in your mind.

There’s no single right way to tell a story. But one of the huge strengths of audio drama is how much sensory information it’s giving your brain to work with.

Soundscapes

As an audio drama producer, there are a few laborious tasks involved in the mixing process.

But, once all the dialogue is cleaned up and laid out, the fun starts when you begin to build the world around these conversations and interactions.

A producer can spend hours micromanaging every nuance of half a minute of audio. That in itself is a big clue that there might be a lot more in your favourite audio drama than your cheap earbuds are letting you hear.

Of course, you’re still free to make your own decisions about how you consume audio drama. But if a producer is spending all that time making something for you, it’s only natural that you might start to get curious about how much better their show might sound if you – to go back to our earlier analogy – took the sunglasses off.

So, if you’re already won over to the idea of upgrading your headphones though, where do you start? What are the best headphones for listening to audio drama?

Over-Ear Vs Earbuds

Over-ear headphones are generally going to provide a better listening experience as they’re isolating your ears from the external noise around you. They also contain more room for manufacturers to work with when they develop and build new models.

With that said, they’re also far less portable than their earbud counterparts. A pair of earbuds are easily kept in one of your pockets, ready to use whenever the opportunity arises.

Manufacturers know that earbuds are easily the most common way of consuming audio on-the-go. That’s why there are a lot of high-end models out there nowadays that claim to still offer a first class listening experience.

Best Headphones for Listening to Audio Drama: Earbuds

If you prefer earbuds for their convenience and portability, then there’s an almost infinite world of choice out there. Here’s 3 that you might want to consider though.

Panasonic Ergo Fit – The Budget Option

Still unable to part with more than a tenner for your earbuds? If that’s the case then the Panasonic Ergo Fit are the best in their price range.

V-Moda Forza – The High-End Option

The V-Moda Forza range is aimed at audiophiles, has models specifically built for Android and Apple devices and even has sport-fit models to keep them in your ears when out running or excercising at the gym.

Bose QuietComfort 20 – The Noise Cancelling Set

If you’re more concerned with keeping external noise out of your audio then a noise cancelling set might be for you. The Bose QuietComfort 20 have little mics built in to them designed to pick up the sounds around you and neutralise them.

Best Headphones for Listening to Audio Drama: Over-Ear

If you’re not put off by having to carry them around with you, and want to opt for the over-ear option, then one of these three might be worth considering.

AKG K92 – The Budget Option

AKG make some of the finest microphones on the market, so they know good audio quality. Their AKG K92 provide a premium listening experience at a very reasonable price.

Grado SR325e – The High-End Option

Part of Grado’s Prestige series, the retro-looking Grado SR325e headphones are a great option if you do have the luxury of listening in more preferable conditions, as well as a little more cash to spare.

Bose QuietComfort 25 – The Noise Cancelling Set

Like their earbud alternatives, the Bose QuietComfort 25 noise cancelling headphones pick up and neutralise the sound around you. They also fold up into a small carry case too, so they’re more portable than many other models of over-ear phones.

How Do You Listen?

Have you any experience with the models listed above? Or do you recommend any other sets for an optimal listening experience? Let me know in the comments section below.

And if you’re looking for some quality audio drama to test out the quality of your headphones, check out our best fiction podcasts roundup, as well as our own show Hostile Worlds.

The Fiction Podcast Weekly

Fiction Podcast Weekly is an email newsletter, bringing you the latest from the world of audio fiction, audio drama, and sound storytelling.

Are you involved in the medium in any way? Whether that’s as a writer, producer, voice actor, curator, or even just a hardcore listener who loves the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff. Whoever you are, whatever you do, this is a great way of staying up-to-date with the latest happenings and opportunities in the fiction podcasting realm!

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