You go to my head…

We want “personal space”. Much more than ever before! And that means “personalised” pleasures too. If vibrations of the “aural” kind turn you on, then you must get a pair of hi-fi headphones (also fondly called “cans” or “ear-phones”), soon.

HPs is a recent phenomenon in the Indian entertainment scene. Even a few years back it would be “inappropriate” to don a pair of cans in the presence of family / friends. Thanks to the now ubiquitous photos of smartly attired BPO workers, the concept of HP seeped down the strata, with “positive” connotations. Then came the “hands-free” era & we quickly learnt that (that guy on the street, talking to himself while making gestures) earphones are “cool”.

With resurgence of the Walkman© in it’s plethora of personal-digital-player avatars and of course iPods, head-phones finally crossed the social barrier. We now possess multiple headphones! Many of them legacy accessories that came with our old mobile-phone handsets.

But then, like music, there are just a pair o’ cans and there are true Hi-Fi sets. Those who care less than three hoots for “quality of sound” ( & i guess that’s the most ) may please opt out at this juncture. Connoisseurs & music lovers with keen-ears, please continue…

Marketers / Brands have done well for this category. Visibility at stores in metro & large towns is terrific! You find them in saucy “pick-me-up” see-through packaging, screaming in all possible shades of the rainbow. And the range is phenomenally wide too. One can pick up a branded (China made but not knock-offs) pair for less than 100 rupees or opt for the audiophile-grade Grado PS1000, which will set you off by roughly a lakh of rupees.

Like the other recommendations on this blog, I will, however, suggest a pair that is very reasonably priced. At less than 2K (Rs.2000), the ATH-T22 are a very balanced choice. They are high-fidelity cans. Fits well. Lightweight. From a very respectable, proven brand (Audio Technica) and most interestingly, available on-line!

Please note that the ATH-T22 is a not an “in-ear” or “bud” type of phone. It is a traditional “over-the-ear”, largish set with an excellent head-band.  The band is dual-sprung like most other AT models & it fits without disturbance. They are fully adjustable and sits nicely over normal (sized) heads.

The drivers (mini-speakers that produce the sound) are large and truly Hi Fi (covers the entire audible frequency spectrum – 20Hz to 20Khz). ATH-22 is also, vitally, quite neutral. They do not accentuate / under-play any specific band of frequency. That means, like good quality loudspeakers, you hear exactly what the music contains. Nothing more, nothing less. It is one of the most important criteria in a true Hi-Fi equipment. Clarity (whereby you can differentiate each instrument in the music or hear all the words, distinctly) is excellent too. The ATH-T22 are “not” finicky about any genre of music. They play everything with equal dexterity.

You can click on the image (on your right) and read technical specifications if you must. However, like most other systems, the true test is only in using, which I have been doing with the ATH-T22 for over 2 years now. Similar “quality” cans are available in retail, namely from Sennheiser, Shure & Bose. BUT, in comparison they cost at least double.

The cable is a bit too long & it is a good idea to keep it coiled unless you are sitting far away from your music system. The power output is rated at 500mw (milli-watts), which is enough for regular use and will not harm the ears even after long usage. While on this subject, it must be told that prolonged use of head-phones at high volumes is definitely harmful. It’s a good habit to start listening at low volumes (just like driving at sane speeds). Our ears are already under a lot of stress from everyday noise….

Headphones too require a break-in period, so adjust the equalizer on your system “after” at least 6-10 hours of initial use. 

Audio Technica has a huge range & I have included the link for a more premium set, below. Available from the same vendor. And by all means to go through the other models on offer. ATs are always good buys, across the range.

Apart from SONY, most other portable players (like iPods) come with terrible head-phones. So, it’s always a good investment. That apart, if you are into the Hi-Fi league already, a good pair of cans is a must.  

More Audio Technica Headphones (Premium Range)

Other Reviews

DISCLAIMER: This blog has NO COMMERCIAL or other FINANCIAL links with Audio Technica / Yes Asia or any of their affiliates in any part of the world. The author/s have acquired the reviewed item by paying personally, in full, the price mentioned (Sticker Price / Tag / MRP) on the product-package / price-list / on-line catalogue, for retail customers. The views are of personal nature and cannot be interpreted as a sales pitch / promotion. All embedded links are available in the public domain without requirement of any premium / memberships.