Aural nirvana

The author lists two must-buy headphones for audiophiles

Bose QuietComfort 35

I 've always liked Bose's noise-cancellation technology for the kind of isolation one can feel in a crowd. The Bose QuietComfort 35 (QC35) came in a neat compact carry case (the ear cups folded in) and bundled an airline adaptor, headphones cable and charging cable.

The QC35 combines two popular features of the Bose line-up - active noise cancellation and wireless connectivity. The QuietComfort line has distinguished itself with this noise-cancellation technology over the years, while wireless technology seems a necessity nowadays, what with rumours of phone manufacturers, including Apple, planning to ditch the 3.5 mm headphones jack in favour of proprietary formats. That said, audiophiles shudder at the mention of wireless technology and noise cancellation is a mixed bag; some don't mind Bose's "equalising effect", while for others it's a no-no.

Out of the box, the QC35 had 35 per cent charge so I downloaded the app and paired it with a Google Nexus 5. I chose a lossless version of Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good" from the album Back to Black and the vocals were nice and crisp; I cranked up the volume and the treble seemed a tad enhanced while the bass was warm. The experiment was repeated with Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon" on my iPod and the results were about the same. Noise cancellation was spot on, yet, when my wife called out loud, I could hear her.

Since I don't quite like listening to classical music with noise cancellation, I switched off the headphones, letting the pure sound flow into the drivers and played the Esa-Pekka Salonen-conducted Los Angeles Philharmonic's version of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. The soundstage sounded decent enough. Even with the headphones turned on, but for the "pressure" one feels on the ears due to active noise cancellation, the output felt true. However, I had to take breaks every couple of hours with active noise cancellation.

Connected to my iPad, I watched Season 1 of Marco Polo on Netflix and was more than satisfied. On a single charge, the battery lasted for more than day with extensive usage.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 is possibly the best wireless headphones you can buy now; if you're not a fan of wireless and/or noise cancellation, just use them in passive mode and you won't find a more comfortable pair.

Price: Rs 29, 363

Hifiman HE400S

The HIFIMAN HE400S is a big pair of open-back headphones which envelop your ears in their embrace without being too pushy. The wired pair bundles in an adaptor and is quite light but has no carry case. I'd heard about planar headphones earlier but hadn't used one earlier. Without the technical bits, planar ones simply mean clearer sound. Thus I connected it first with my iPod and played a compressed version of Dire Straits' "Love Over Gold". The track never sounded better. The lows were good, as were the highs - but the HE400S really came into its own with the mids.

Next up was a high-resolution version of Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia"; I was impressed with the nuances I could pick from the background track. With such kind of clarity I needed to go the whole hog; an uncompressed version of Deep Purple's "Highway Star" was next, and I cranked up the volume. I was in heaven but brought back to reality with a nudge in my ribs. My wife, who was sitting next to me, asked me to turn down the volume. The HE400S leaks sound like a fishing net!

Next, I connected it to my iPad to watch an episode of Game of Thrones and was pleased with the sound.

The HIFIMAN HE400S is a great pair for purists and for those who listen to compressed music. A pity the leaking sound renders it unsuitable for commutes.

Price: Rs 23,999