CHOOSING INDOOR HEADPHONES

Given the availability of noise-cancelling and wireless headphones, paying for a wired pair that never leaves the house may seem a backwards step, but if you’re serious about sound quality you will want a pair designed for listening rather than commuting.

Most indoor headphones are full-sized over-ear designs that cover the ears. These will either be ‘open’ or ‘closed’. Openbacked models leak sound but enjoy a wider soundstage, giving music room to breathe and making them ideal for classical concerts where the scale of the performance can be fully appreciated. Closed-backed models feel more intimate and don’t leak sound as much and can be more direct in their performance.

The better the source the more enjoyable the sound. Save some budget for decent recordings and ideally a DAC (digital to analogue converter) like the Chord Mojo.