"What's the best sound quality of your headphones?" A brief analysis of the ranking of 1000 headphones from the overseas sound quality measurement network

Crinacle, a well-known overseas sound quality measurement website, has updated the ranking of more than 1,000 wired and wireless in-ear headphones in terms of sound quality grades (timbre grades). They ranked them alphabetically with "+, -" from highest to lowest.

That is, the ratings of S, A, B, C, and D are subdivided into three grades by "+" and "-".

The meanings of these major ranks are as follows:

S: The best sound experience (the ultimate ideal).

A: Near the top (excellent).

B: Very good.

C: Very good. (Many thousands, tens of thousands of headphones are C+)

D: The threshold for "bad" starts here.

E: It's scary, indeed.

F: Failed.

I watched the reviews and ratings of hundreds of these models, and I felt that they were generally objective, but there were also individual ratings that I didn't understand. For example, the SHUER AONIC 4 rating is B, uh... I think it's too dry, C-.

The following is a screenshot of some of the rankings (actually grades), I can't take them all, I'm too tired, and I don't have a manuscript fee. After only analyzing it for a few days, I feel that it may be helpful for some people who want to buy headphones.

It is estimated that many people are more curious about Sony and Senhai.

The highest timbre level included by Sony here is still S-MDR-AS800AP for the time being (once the official website price of 499 yuan of scientific HIFI wired sports headphones, only the details are slightly rough), the second is the flagship IER-Z1R (A+), then XBA-N3AP (A grade), A-IER-M7 and IER-M9, and finally B-'s XBA-Z5, H3 and A3, C+'s EX1000 and C's XBA-300AP.

This AS800AP, Xianyu (dozens of yuan) seems to be gone (I blew it a long time ago).

The N3AP is still the best combination of Sony's musicality and sound, and the price is not particularly expensive, so it is worth receiving.

As for the IER-M series, in my personal opinion, these two models are of good quality, but they lack dynamics and have a dull timbre, which makes it difficult for people to fully feel the rhythm, which can be described as a representative of the sound of the headphone industry.

At present, the only high-end Sony wired models worth buying for rational enthusiasts may be the N3AP and Z5.

And the 300AP is Sony's only quasi-female poison-type three-action iron high-end earbuds (which I like), but the tone may not be for everyone. In fact, as long as you get a C, you can try chopping your hands!

Then, Sennheiser. Flagship IE900 (I have) rated B. Yes, it is not as good as the domestic hzsound heart mirror PRO (B+) of 499 yuan, and it is not as good as the sub-flagship IE600 (A+) priced at 3500 yuan, the interpretation of the website to IE900 is "a single-dynamic in-ear headphone with good resolution, with excellent treble control, but the harmonics in the middle and high frequency bands are somewhat weak", and IE600's interpretation is "well-tuned midrange, strong and controllable bass, and highly extended (and spicy) treble. ”

Judging from the two interpretations, the smaller flaw is IE600, which is converted into terms "IE600 with a higher degree of tuning completion", and then converted into adult words is "IE600 is enjoyable to listen to".

I don't have IE600, but the IE900 vocals are really not good enough, I feel that the cohesion and brightness are slightly weaker, and I occasionally feel drowned out by the bass. From the perspective of frequency response, it may be related to the fierce low frequency and the collapse of the middle and high frequencies? Of course, the IE900 "soundstage" is still excellent! The darkness of the background creates a sense of stability that is suitable for large formations.

JVC's side, what I didn't expect is that the site is the same as me, and I also appreciate FX99X (the former thousand-yuan level), and the rating even reached B, as the high-end of the "fashionable bass small headphones" that JVC focused on creating many years ago, it was overwhelmed in the mainland because of its own wooden headphones... I still have the defective product given to me by the boss of Shanghai Dance Tiansun, you need to know that FX99X is the same as many headphones that focus on bass, and the analysis is not enough, but in addition to the bass, the basic clarity can still be guaranteed. If you like the Harman bass version, you can Tao.

The rating of the sub-flagship JVC FW1500 on sale is C, which is a very good level, but considering that the heart mirror ZERO is less than 200 yuan, it is C+ (the dislocation caused by the domestic headphones is too rolly), and it is embarrassing.

In fact, looking at the world at the moment, the price (the cost behind it) really doesn't play much of a role in the sound quality. But in the mainland (domestic products), the price still has a certain reference value, because we have reached the point where we have to use every cent of investment to "pinyin quality".

JVC's flagship FW10000 rating did not reach A, but B+, surpassing Senhai IE900. The site is interpreted as "neutral bright, strong and noisy diffusion field style, with solid resolution", my personal opinion is that it is very clear and stable, but the harder and slightly brighter lines affect the hearing resistance, and I pay more attention to the choice of ear tips and the player matching.

This side of the Iron Triangle. LS200 (B-), IM02 (C+), E70 (C), and I personally appreciate the E40 (mid-range monitor model) and CKR9 (the brand's thousand-yuan flagship dynamic many years ago), in addition, the brand also has multiple D ratings, such as the current flagship ATH-IEX1, for the sake of innovation (passive woofer), the sound is out of balance (I also have a collection). Comparatively speaking, Audio-Technica's overall rating is not as impressive as some of the other brands.

To sum up, among the mainstream headphone brands, in the wired in-ear range, the current best "10,000 yuan flagship" is still Sony IER-Z1R, and even its own custom series Just Ear XJE-MH2 "Club" (B rating) did not win it.

Finally, the higher the price of the headphones, the more likely they are to roll over. There are a lot of $1,000 to $3,000 headphones that fall in the C class, and while the C is still "pretty good," you get the idea, considering it's certainly not as good as A and B, and the price is so expensive.

ER4XR frequency response curve

Remark:

1. The ER2SE, ER3SE and ER4SR are all rated A (near the peak). They may not be as comprehensive as many of the current large groups of ultra-high-end headphones, but from the perspective of restoring the real (HIFI authenticity), these are the most in place in the processing and display of full-range information. It's a pity that the new flagship EVO was not included.

2. VELKAN (2000 yuan +) is A+ level. The overall quality (technical level) and tuning completion (timbre level) can be regarded as similar to the Sony IER-Z1R.

3. The frequency response curve seems to be good, but it may also sound unmoving, such as AONIC 4.

4. There are also many brands, regardless of the price, it is difficult to reach the B level, indulging in C- and D. It's a blessing to be able to go up to C.