While at CES recently I got the honor of listening to dozens upon dozens of new headphones from companies not previously in the headphone game. Companies like HiVi, Blue, Klipsch, JBL, and a massive pile of Chinese knock-offs and such. What became apparent almost immediately was that none of the new headphones sounded any better than the classic brands we have all loved for decades such as Sennheiser, AKG, Shure, Westone, Beyer Dynamic, Audio-Technica, Sony, and the like. Even if I take into account headphones designed for niche markets, like DJs, and those wanting overpowering bass and treble, the classic and proven brands already make perfect models to get the job done at the right price.
I easily could have written this back when Beats by Dr. Dre were taking over the market, but today there are SOOOO many new models out there, often with crazy looks and below average performance, that I simply had to say something now.
I mean, why does Focal need a headphone line?
So, I made an effort to check out every brand I wasn't familiar with while I was free to wander the show floors. What I discovered was the less than stellar performance and value (price per performance) and often flat out discomfort to wear. Silly design gimmicks (carbon fiber diaphragm anyone?) and bizarre cosmetic ideas (headbands with wings to reach forward and backward).
I am now declaring that designers and engineers have reached a point where there is almost nothing that can be done to improve the sound quality of headphones. Advancements from research will produce lower costs and greater reliability, but not better sound - at the basic level. At this point, the difference between good headphones is all a matter of preference (tonality, open/closed/IEM/etc.) and form factor (IEM/earbud/overear/on-ear/etc).
So, what new advancements can we expect which do actually matter?
It is all in electronics, in my opinion. Wireless technology has a long way to go before it is good enough for everyone every time. Battery tech for those wireless systems needs to advance. Noise cancelling is near to being as good as it can get, so it won't be long before it has peaked and commoditized. Integrated microphones for phones could be improved to reduce noise, wind, and improve clarity. Weight for wireless headphones could be addressed. And, portability can always use an improvement, especially with the larger cans. Proper VR 3D capabilities becoming common would be very intriguing - but that requires a very accurate sensor array, more wireless tech, a powerful battery, and new DSP tech to pull off properly.
That's my view of the future of headphones.
Now, I get that this is a hobby and it is always fun to check out a new headphone, amp, and cable to see how it is different than the others one has experienced. That I get. Just like the annoying world of unlimited beer brands at the local pub where it would take a month to taste every beer they offer, and they keep rolling their kegs so new brands are arriving daily, experiencing variety has its merits. But if the goal is hearing amazing music reproduced exactly to your tastes, that part is pretty much old-hat. Once you find the perfect headphone for you, and that headphone most likely already exists and has for years, it is nearly impossible to do any better for stereo sound.
I easily could have written this back when Beats by Dr. Dre were taking over the market, but today there are SOOOO many new models out there, often with crazy looks and below average performance, that I simply had to say something now.
I mean, why does Focal need a headphone line?
So, I made an effort to check out every brand I wasn't familiar with while I was free to wander the show floors. What I discovered was the less than stellar performance and value (price per performance) and often flat out discomfort to wear. Silly design gimmicks (carbon fiber diaphragm anyone?) and bizarre cosmetic ideas (headbands with wings to reach forward and backward).
I am now declaring that designers and engineers have reached a point where there is almost nothing that can be done to improve the sound quality of headphones. Advancements from research will produce lower costs and greater reliability, but not better sound - at the basic level. At this point, the difference between good headphones is all a matter of preference (tonality, open/closed/IEM/etc.) and form factor (IEM/earbud/overear/on-ear/etc).
So, what new advancements can we expect which do actually matter?
It is all in electronics, in my opinion. Wireless technology has a long way to go before it is good enough for everyone every time. Battery tech for those wireless systems needs to advance. Noise cancelling is near to being as good as it can get, so it won't be long before it has peaked and commoditized. Integrated microphones for phones could be improved to reduce noise, wind, and improve clarity. Weight for wireless headphones could be addressed. And, portability can always use an improvement, especially with the larger cans. Proper VR 3D capabilities becoming common would be very intriguing - but that requires a very accurate sensor array, more wireless tech, a powerful battery, and new DSP tech to pull off properly.
That's my view of the future of headphones.
Now, I get that this is a hobby and it is always fun to check out a new headphone, amp, and cable to see how it is different than the others one has experienced. That I get. Just like the annoying world of unlimited beer brands at the local pub where it would take a month to taste every beer they offer, and they keep rolling their kegs so new brands are arriving daily, experiencing variety has its merits. But if the goal is hearing amazing music reproduced exactly to your tastes, that part is pretty much old-hat. Once you find the perfect headphone for you, and that headphone most likely already exists and has for years, it is nearly impossible to do any better for stereo sound.
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Always good to be cautious!