6 ways your new in-ears will perform better than your old ones

01 Bass reproduction

Splash out on some new in-ear headphones and you’ll experience new levels of bass depth – provided you can get the tips to lodge nice and tightly within your ear canals. Find a snug fit, and drums and basslines will take on extra heft and punch, ensuring a rich, warm listening experience.

02 High- frequency reproduction

The superior drivers inside your new in-ear headphones are equipped to reproduce high frequencies with far greater clarity and precision, but without any harshness at high volumes – and because they sit close to the eardrum, there’s less chance that the clarity will be sullied by leakage. The result? Sweet sound quality.

03 Vocal clarity

Vocals are an important part of the music-listening experience, and good-quality in-ear headphones should deliver voices with greater authority and detail than low-rent earbuds. Not only do they offer a richer, more full-bodied mid-range, but the aforementioned detail clarity should add textures that you might not have heard through your previous cheapo headphones.

04 Noise isolation

In-ear headphones are designed to be pushed deep into your ear canal, which not only has big sonic benefits but also effectively cuts out external noise, like the hum of an airplane engine. That’s perfect if you’re a regular commuter and want to enjoy your favourite tunes free from interference.

05 Imaging

A good-quality pair of in-ear headphones will make you feel like you’re at the live performance or in the studio with the band – wherever you happen to be listening. They do this by placing and moving instruments and vocals accurately within the stereo stage – although it’s unlikely that in-ear headphones will outperform on-ear cans in terms of width and soundstage size.

06 Transparency

A well-judged tonal balance is essential if you want to hear songs as their creators intended. Some headphones aim to boost the bass output, others ramp up the mids and highs to give music more bite, but in-ear headphones with a neutral balance provide a more accurate, truthful sound.