Featured image: Creative Commons License by josh bis
If you’re in the market for a new pair of headphones and wondering what material to use to try them out, we’re here to help. Below are some of the best songs to test headphones.
With so many great tracks out there, I decided to take a different approach – selecting songs that offer something unique in testing scenarios. I’ve also included a range of genres to help reveal the full potential of any pair of headphones.
In a hurry?
If you need to test a pair of headphones quickly, here are the top three songs we recommend:
- “Electronic Performers” by Air
- “3WW” by Alt-J
- “Giorgio by Moroder” by Daft Punk
The best songs to test headphones
1. “Electronic Performers” by Air
Very few tracks have the complete dynamic range to test your headphones, but “Electronic Performers” by Air is one such track. Air’s experimental and progressive style mixes so many music styles that it can be somewhat over-complicated for many lesser-quality headphones.
This track is all about placement, control, and impact. The stereo panning around 1:30 should tell you how capable your headphones are, while the distorted vocals and many reverbed details added throughout the track should never sound out of tune.
2. “3WW” by Alt-J
With “3WW”, it’s all about control and separation – the layering of instrumentation is sublime, yet highly complex in how Alt-J execute it.
The finer detail, where you hear fire in the crackling or people laughing whilst frolicking in the water, is just another level of their layering. And while all that’s going on, the track’s ebbing and flowing nature incorporates sweet vocals that create a delightful harmony that is both gentle and powerful.
Marry this with the separation of the instruments, and you’ll see why we’ve included this song on the list – it’s also a firm favourite for putting any pair of headphones through their paces.
3. “Giorgio by Moroder” by Daft Punk
Daft Punk’s “Giorgio by Moroder” tests the spatial abilities of your headphones. It’s my favourite track on the album, but be warned that it is nine minutes long!
From the start, this autobiography-style track grows in presence and with each step, you hear more elements being added, opening up those spatial effects. The track never sounds cumbersome and delivers a disco vibe while still feeling completely modern — despite being over 12 years old. As for the crescendo, it builds naturally, highlighting the track’s complexity and distinctive character with just a simple click.
4. “Close to Me” by The Cure
There is so much going on in “Close to Me” that it tests a bit of everything.
You have the Yamaha DX-7 synth, a trumpet, backing singers – the lot. If you can’t hear all those elements clearly, it’s time to put the headphones down!
5. “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega
If you’ve never heard this track, you’re in for a treat. The a cappella version of “Tom’s Diner” famously set the standard for MP3 — earning Vega the nickname “mother of MP3” (true story).
With just her voice to create the rhythm, there is nothing fancy about the reproduction, just the honest sound of Vega’s voice without echo or enhancements. This allows you to hear the true sound of an artist’s vocal range.
6. “Lust for Life (The Prodigy Remix)” by Iggy Pop/The Prodigy
This is a loud track, full of fire and bite, yet it never loses the essence of Iggy Pop’s original. The Prodigy’s twist takes “Lust for Life” up to 11, making it a solid test of whether your headphones can keep pace with its energy.
The Prodigy track doesn’t forgive poor electronics or headphones. If you find that it sounds sluggish in any way, it’s time to put to look elsewhere; you want to be able to feel the energy of the song.
7. “I Found Out” by John Lennon
As recordings go, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is one of the most significant in music history. Unlike many others, it carries a raw, uncompressed quality that will test any headphones with ease.
In “I Found Out”, Lennon’s voice should never get lost in the mix, and Ringo Starr’s drumming should sound quite harsh and punchy. If the guitar sounds harsh, however, it’s a sign that your headphones are struggling to replicate the experimental sound that John and Ono were aiming to create.
8. “Cowboys from Hell” by Pantera
Even if you’re not a heavy metal fan, “Cowboys from Hell” is a must-listen. It brings a wide range of sounds that can really show a pair of headphones’ advantages and limitations.
There’s some fantastic imaging here — solo guitar work and just about every vocal frequency shout you’d want to test your headphones with. Those double bass drum kicks should be felt, but they should never interfere with the rest of the track. For me, it’s an absolute belter of a track to try, as it highlights weaknesses in seconds.
9. “Marea (we’ve lost dancing)” by Fred Again.. feat. The Blessed Madonna
The most recent track in this line-up, produced during COVID, sees Fred Again and The Blessed Madonna create an enduring anthem that will spark an emotional response in many listeners.
With its house beat and sampled vocals, this melodic track has plenty of space, making it one of the best songs to test headphones. The production bounces the sounds around your head while focusing heavily on the vocals.
If you feel there is no emotional trigger, and you’re a keen music lover, then it’s time to swap those headphones.
10. “Bring it On (Acoustic)” by Seal
Having been a fan of Seal since I first heard “Killer”, there are many tracks I could’ve chosen for this list. “Bring It On”, however, showcases his uniquely soft yet gruff vocal delivery. Partner that with the timbre of the acoustic reproduction, and this track is an absolute gem for headphone testing.
It demands control, and its sense of spaciousness stands out like no other track on this list, highlighting the light percussion and ever-present acoustic guitar, which perfectly complement Seal’s rhythmic vocals.
11. “What’s the Difference” by Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre’s “What’s the Difference” hits the sweet spot, maintaining quality even with the compression applied to shape its overall sound – a defining feature of the record. If your headphones can’t replicate that textured feel, it’s time to consider replacing them.
Like all good headphone-testing tracks, this one plays with stereo imaging. You should be able to hear how layered the track is, along with the subtle intricacies that only a great pair of headphones will reveal.
FAQs
Which song is best to test earphones?
The best songs to test earphones will also be the best ones to test headphones. We recommend trying these three:
- “Electronic Performers” by Air
- “3WW” by Alt-J
- “Giorgio by Moroder” by Daft Punk
What music is best for revising or working?
The best music for revising or working is instrumental music, such as classical or jazz. This can play nicely in the background without encouraging you to sing along to any lyrics!
What is audio clipping?
Audio clipping is the distortion that occurs when an audio signal exceeds the system’s handling capacity, causing the tops of the waveforms to be abruptly cut off.
Final thoughts
I hope you found our picks of the best songs to test headphones useful in your search! Although you may find some of them unconventional, they all have specific areas that will really show the pros and cons of your headphones.
Thank you Shane! This is an excellent list for headphone testing and I’ve created a playlist of all the tracks. I’m going to run it through my Naim Mu-so as well but if there is such a list specifically for speaker systems I’d like to know about it!