My Headphone Collection
I’m no audiophile, but I do love collecting headphones.
Some might say, “why do you need more than one pair”? I counter with, “How many pairs of shoes do you have?”
Every headphone has a different sound which can allow you to experience your favorite music in new and different ways. I certainly have favorites, but will regularly go back to all my headphones to listen to things.
Here’s a list of what I have, including both headphones and earbuds:
Bose SoundSport
Bose NC 700
Bose Triport
That may seem like a lot, but I’ve actually cut back over the years by selling off or giving away headphones that I no longer use.
Most of my headphones are wireless these days because that is so much more convenient. I’m not likely to ever use an amp and I really don’t like having wires.
My current favorites are the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e. I’ve only had them for about three months or so, but I love their overall sound. I think they are super-clear with great bass and treble. The noise cancelling is not great, but it is fine for around the house.
Next would be my AirPods Pro 2. These are probably what I use most often because I always have them with me. Their convenience cannot be overstated. I also find them incredibly comfortable, but your mileage may vary there. They also sound really good. They don’t have a lot of bass, but it is well presented and can provide a decent thump. The noise cancelling is top-notch and the transparency mode is also great. I love using these when walking the dog, shopping and doing chores around the house.
I use the Bose NC700 a lot, but not usually with music. These are connected to my AppleTV and are primarily used with movies and TV shows, although I will occasionally play music through them. These are probably the most comfortable out of all my headphones and I do like the touch controls, which I think work really well. The sound is quite good, but I prefer the B&W for music at this point. Also, these headphones are several years old so the battery is starting to wear down and now get about 15 hours or so on a full charge.
The rest of the headphones I don’t use a lot, but I do switch to them when I feel like I want to shake things up. The TMA-2 are incredibly light and rather boomy, but work well for some types of music. The HEAVYS are heavy and not super detailed, but are fun. I keep them in my office for music listening.
The other headphones are all older and wired. The SoundSport earbuds are mostly used with Zoom calls these days, but I did enjoy them for music in the past. I like that they are “open” and allow you to hear your surroundings, which is also what makes them great for calls.
The Phillips have weak bass and they are too big for my head, but I keep them around for their unique open-back sound.
Lastly, the Bose Triport are the first pair of “nice” headphones that I bought (around 2005 or so). They are very lightweight and have a nice sound, although it’s light on bass. They don’t really get much use, but I keep them for nostalgia.
I’d still like to add another open-back headphone and also a planar magnetic headphone, but wireless versions of both of those are uncommon. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment.