At maPlatine.com, we are committed to selecting the best Hi-Fi brands, so that we can offer you the best-performing products for your greatest enjoyment. For music lovers, we offer a range of Hi-Fi headphones. Our aim is to provide you with Hi-Fi equipment that you can keep for as long as possible! In this buying guide, we'll give you our advice on how to prolong the life of your Hi-Fi headphones.
1. What are Hi-Fi headphones ?
Just a quick clarification before we start: the word Hi-Fi is actually a contraction of High Fidelity. Hi-Fi headphones are therefore by definition high-quality, high-performance, comfortable headphones.
They are sedentary, and are generally used to complement a hi-fi system or a main listening system, for listening on the move or to isolate yourself from your environment.
1.1. Using hi-fi headphones
This type of equipment requires a specific headphone output on your sound system. It is also advisable to use a headphone amplifier to optimise audio reproduction.
It is important to understand that headphones are in fact miniature loudspeakers and may need an amplifier. The amplifier built into the Hi-Fi system may be of varying quality, also due to the miniaturisation of components. Adding an external amplifier can be a good idea to improve sound quality! It will give you a more comfortable listening experience with better sound control.
1.2. Open or closed helmet?
Speaking of comfort, it's vital to know the difference between open and closed headphones.
Open-face headphones have no sound insulation, i.e. they are generally open on both sides, like the Grado SR80 Hi-Fi headphones we offer.
Closed-back headphones, on the other hand, will have passive isolation, so will be able to provide you with a more immersive listening experience. For example, we have the Fostex TH-900 MK2 Hi-Fi headphones in this configuration.
2. A few tips for looking after your Hi-Fi headphones
To preserve the listening qualities of your headphones and enjoy them for as long as possible, there are certain best practices to follow. Here is some advice from our technicians on how to look after your hi-fi headphones.
2.1. Keeping your headphone cable in good condition
In the field of high fidelity, but as physics generally dictates, the better the condition and quality of the channel, the better the output. Think of sound as clear water flowing through a pipe. If the pipe is twisted, bent or stuck under your chair leg, then the flow will be affected.
This first tip seems simple and basic, but it is essential. You need to take care of your hi-fi headphone cable, because it's the only link between you and your music source!
2.2. Protecting your Hi-Fi headphones
It would be almost unimaginable for a musician to carry his guitar without a case, and the same goes for Hi-Fi headphones.
When you travel, it's best to use a special case. Similarly, when a guitarist has his guitar at home, he generally doesn't put it on the wall or on the floor, but on a stand. These exist for hi-fi headphones and, as well as being practical, they prevent damage to the headphones by placing them anywhere.
For protection, we also recommend that you buy replacement ear cushions for your headphones. These are the two parts, usually made of fabric or foam, that come into direct contact with your head. Often due to perspiration or rubbing, these two parts can become damaged over time. We therefore advise you to buy replacements and, above all, to check that they are replaceable. These cushions are also a guarantee of comfort: if you have to wear your headphones for several hours at a time, this could be a good solution!
Grado, for example, offers cushions in a range of sizes to ensure the best possible fit for your headphones.
2.3. Cleaning your equipment
As with your vinyl records or the stylus in your phono cell, the more you take care of your Hi-Fi headphones, the better they will perform and the longer they will last!
Over time and with use, your headphones may collect dust, wipe off traces of make-up or quickly become greasy from contact with your hair. You can then take the time to clean the headband, speakers and earpads.
Hi-Fi headphone manufacturers (Grado, Fostex, Focal, etc.) offer a wide choice of products, and the construction materials are often not the same from one set of headphones to another. For example, you'll find headphones with wooden shells like the Fostex TH-610 or Grado GS 2000e, or PVC shells like the SR125 headphones from Grado. All this to say that helmet maintenance depends on the materials used in its construction.
We recommend that you use a non-abrasive cleaning product that matches the material of the helmet and scrub with a microfibre cloth. You can also use a can of dry air for certain nooks and crannies. The most sensitive area is the speakers: once the pads have been removed, you need to be gentle when cleaning this area and avoid using any product on it. Simply rub with a microfibre cloth from time to time.
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Here are a few tips to help you look after your Hi-Fi headphones and keep them for as long as possible. Don't forget that our team is at your disposal for any further information, by telephone (0 810 810 121) or by message.
