pprRank Headphone Analyzer

Context: In May of 2018 Dr.Olive, MSc Todd Welti, and BSc Omid Khonsari published a paper which demonstrated a statistical model capable of predicting how highly listeners will rate the acoustic performance of a headphone.
How it Works: The Predicted Preference Rating (PPR) model compares a headphone's frequency response to the Harman Target and calculates it's standard deviation of error and the absolute slope that error. With those variables and a series of constants arrived at experimentally it can assess how accurate and neutral listeners will perceive the headphone to be, and what they average rating out of 100 a headphone will recieve with 86% accuracy and 6.7% error.
What is This: A database of community-recommended headphones, their price, format, cup type, and driver type, and their PPR.
Limitations of PPR: PPR only predicts user preference of a headphones sound signature, accounting for none of the other factors worth consideration in the assessment of a pair of headphones. Beyond a certain level of sound quality it becomes more and more important to find headphones that are comfortable, look good than to persue greater clarity. PPRs are only 86% accurate - in practice that means that comparing headphones within a few PPR of each other by PPR isn't reliable; consider headphone PPRs as existing in tiers of similarly preferred tunings rather than a straight score list. The PPR model has no concept of your individual HRTF, preferences, and sensitivies.
Further Reading:
On the Standardization of the Frequency Response of High-Quality Studio Headphones
Subjective Evaluation of Headphone Target Frequency Responses
Virtual Headphone Listening Methodology
The Correlation between Distortion Audibility and Listener Preference in Headphones
Listener Preferences for Different Headphone Target Response Curves
Listener Preferences for In-Room Loudspeaker and Headphone Target Responses
Validation of a Virtual In-Ear Headphone Listening Test Method
A Statistical Model that Predicts Listeners Preference Ratings of In-Ear Headphones Part 1: Listening Test Results and Acoustic Measurements
A Statistical Model that Predicts Listeners Preference Ratings of In-Ear Headphones Part 2: Development and Validation of the Model
A Statistical Model that Predicts Listener Preference Ratings of Around-Ear and On-Ear Headphones

Hey! Look! Listen!

If you're here for purchasing advice, here are some data and community supported recommendations.

Open-back headphones typically perform better than closed back alternatives, but don't block out environmental noise. They usually struggle to produce enough deep bass. There are many well tuned and low-cost open-back headphones knocking about, but be aware that that value usually comes from cutting corners in build quality and comfort.

For the best headphone experience possible, use a software equalisier like Peace APO or hardware equalisation in any format to correct frequency response deficiencies in most comfortable, best built headphones you can afford.

Headphone

PPR

Price

Format

Cup

Driver

Notes

Sennheiser HD800S with Parametric Equalisation

100

1750

Open

Dynamic

Essentially the most premium headphone platform in the world, equalise a pair of HD800, HD800S, or HD8XX for outstanding comfort, build quality, and sonic performance. EQ Settings

Focal Elex with Parametric Equalisation

1050

Open

Dynamic

Focal also produce extremely comfortable and high quality headphones that make prime candidates for equalisation. EQ Settings

Hifiman Edition XS

500

Open

Planar

Although more expensive than the Sundara for an inferior tuning, the Hifiman Edition XS are likely to feel like a much superior solution for many users due to their much larger front-volume which aren't prone to the squish factor of the Sundara's medium/small circular front volume

Hifiman Sundara (2020)

350

Open

Planar

Very well regarded for a recent entry, the 2020 revised Hifiman Sundara have examplary tuning and solid build quality. Non-swivelling cups and medium-small front-volume may cause discomfort for some user, but they have a nice suspension strap and solid build quality.

Sennheiser HD600

300

Open

Dynamic

HD600s are legendary headphones with excellent tuning. A medium oval front-volume and time tested design these have been popular since 1997.

Sennheiser HD560S

160

Open

Dynamic

By making compromises in the build quality of the HD600 line of headphones the HD560S offer unparalleled price to performance while remaining sturdy and wearable enough to rely on. These are a go-to budget recommendation.

Hifiman HE400se

150

Open

Planar

For a well-padded circular cup headphone on a budget the HE400se are an excellent option, build quality isn't fantastic so you will need to be careful with them!

Beyerdynamic DT880

140

Open

Dynamic

If you prefer a larger cup and front volume for comfort Beyerdynamic have a range of excellent headphones in that format. Of these the DT880 have the most universally agreeable tuning, but also consider the Tygr 300R and DT990.

AKG K702

140

Open

Dynamic

If you prefer a larger cup, front volume, and a suspension strap for ergonomics AKG have several excellent offerings. Among these the K702, K701 and K612 stand out.

Koss KSC75 with Yaxi Earpads

Open

Dynamic

If you want non-occluding headphones that are decently well tuned on the cheap, pray to the hidden god and augment KSC75 with Yaxi Pads.

Hey! Look! Listen!

If you're here for purchasing advice, here are some data and community supported recommendations.

All Headphone Data (506 Entries)