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Types of headphone gear

Headphones are listed by earcup and driver design. Over-ear and on-ear models come in closed-back versions that block outside noise and open-back versions that leak sound in both directions. Dynamic drivers are the most common, while planar-magnetic designs use a thin diaphragm with a printed conductor and often need more current. Electrostatic headphones work only with a matching energizer. Headphones amplifiers include desktop units for home systems and portable battery models, and many combine a DAC with the amplifier stage in one box with USB input and balanced 4.4 mm or 4-pin XLR outputs.

How to choose headphone gear

Choose the headphones first based on where you listen, since a closed-back design suits shared spaces and an open-back design suits a quiet room. Then compare sensitivity and impedance with the output your source provides, as a phone often delivers well under 100 mW. Comfort, weight and clamping force matter for long sessions. The two subcategory pages cover these criteria in detail.

Brands & related reading

Makers range from headphone specialists such as Sennheiser or HiFiMAN to small firms that build only amplifiers, and electronics brands that add a headphone amplifier to their line. Related articles explain headphone impedance, balanced connections and pairing a DAC with an amplifier.