HEADPHONES: A QUICK GUIDE

Open or closed back? ‘Open-backed’ headphones give music room to breathe, which makes them ideal for live concerts where the scale of the performance can be appreciated. ‘Closed-back’ models have a more intimate feel and don’t ‘leak’ as much.

Frequency Typically 20 – 20,000Hz represents the range of audio frequencies the headphones can reproduce, with the lowest figure being the bass, and the highest the treble. It’s not an indicator of quality, but if you like your bass to rumble a bit more, look for the lowest Hz.

Impedance Measured in ohms, impedance is a useful signifier of sound quality. Below 32 ohms you’ll have no issues playing from a phone, but high-quality models tend to have higher impedance (above 25 ohms) and require more power to get the best from them, so are better used with a headphone amp.