Choose with confidence

Impedance, sensitivity, driver types, sample rates and room placement explained without the jargon.

Headphones

Over-ear and on-ear headphones: open-back for home listening, closed-back for isolation, planar and dynamic drivers, wireless noise-cancelling models.

Headphones hub →

ComparisonOpen-Back vs Closed-Back Headphones

Headphones

Open-back headphones sound wider and more natural; closed-back headphones block noise and keep sound in. Here is how to choose for home, office and travel.

DACs & amps

Dongle DACs, portable DAC/amps, desktop DACs and headphone amplifiers, balanced outputs and power matching.

DACs & amps hub →

Buying guideDo You Need a DAC? When an External DAC Actually Helps

DACs & amps

What a DAC does, why most phones no longer have a headphone jack, and when a dongle, portable or desktop DAC improves your sound.

Buying guideHeadphone Impedance and Sensitivity Explained

DACs & amps

What headphone impedance (ohms) and sensitivity (dB) mean, how they decide whether your phone can drive a pair, and when you need a headphone amplifier.

Setup & listening

Room placement and treatment, cables and connectors, lossless and hi-res formats, and safe listening levels.

Setup & listening hub →

Buying guideBookshelf Speaker Placement

Setup & listening

Where to put bookshelf speakers for better bass, imaging and clarity: distance from walls, the listening triangle, toe-in, height and stands.