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ZDNET's key takeaways
- If you're mulling a headphone upgrade, try these tips first.
- Updating firmware fixes more performance issues than you'd think.
- Using different EQ settings for different media can liven the audio performance.
New headphones regularly hit the market, and as someone who often wears the latest and greatest ones, I can attest that the novelty wears off more quickly than with other consumer electronics. Headphones have a surprisingly lengthy lifespan, and if curiosity alone is what's driving you to consider buying a new pair, try tinkering with your current pair before welcoming a potential case of buyer's remorse.
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If your headphones are still comfortable, hold their battery well, and you're satisfied with their audio performance, but you're feeling bored with them, here are some tips to rekindle the romance between you and your daily driver.
Problem: Buggy, low-performing, or connectivity issues
Solution: Update your firmware
Headphone firmware updates don't arrive often, but when they do, they can include significant changes that completely change your experience in minutes. Your headphones' digital signal processing is usually updated via firmware, which can improve frequency response, noise cancellation, Bluetooth connection stability, and power management.
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Following a firmware update, it's not uncommon to notice that your headphones sound better, their noise cancellation feels smoother, their microphone call quality is enhanced, or their transparency mode sounds more natural. By keeping your headphones updated, you may find they're a totally different pair than when you first bought them.
It's easy to turn on your headphones, have them automatically connect to your phone, and rarely open their companion app. However, you've likely missed the notification to update your headphones' firmware, and they won't update themselves.
Problem: They sound boring
Solution: Tinker with EQ
Maintaining the same EQ settings across the different media you consume can lead to a flat or boring-sounding response. However, a well-applied EQ setting can bring out parts of a song you've never noticed before, or make your favorite podcast sound clearer than ever.
Some people avoid their headphones' equalizer because they feel intimidated by the numbers and symbols that represent frequency components. Many headphone apps include a five or six-band equalizer, and even if you don't understand what you're looking at, your ears will translate the different frequencies for you.
You'll immediately notice a sonic difference, and altered EQ settings can be more impactful than purchasing new headphones, especially if your budget is under $450.
Problem: You can't get that new pair out of your head
Solution: Spend one-on-one time with your current pair
When you get a new pair of headphones, you're more likely to put them on and pay close attention to how they feel and sound. Then, you fall back into your typical pattern of wearing them while completing other tasks, such as working, commuting, exercising, or traveling, and the headphones fade into the background again.
Once you update your headphones and tinker with the audio settings, sit down and intently focus on their audio response. Reset your headphones' headband and ensure they're in an optimal position for audio performance and comfort. There's a chance you have the upgrade itch because you've exhausted one listening mode, and you need a refresh to fall in love again.
The bottom line
Modern headphones are preference-focused, and hardware or software upgrades are incremental. Thus, certain brands produce headphones tailored to specific lifestyles or software ecosystems. Once you've found the brand that works best for you, there's a good chance you don't need to upgrade within that same brand just yet.
Apple's AirPods Max (2020), Sony's WH-1000XM4 (2020), and Bose's QuietComfort 45 (2021) are great examples of this; they each serve their target audiences well, and continued updates only make them better. If you've met anyone with these headphones, I'm confident they'll tell you they've had them for years and have no desire to upgrade.
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To put this idea in perspective, the re-released AirPods Max (2024) feature the same hardware as the 2020 version, aside from the introduction of a USB-C port. Bose hasn't updated the drivers in its premium headphones since 2019, but has released two new pairs since then.
If your headphones are five years old or less, don't rush to upgrade yet. It's less likely that you need a new pair altogether; you may just need new experiences with your current pair. When it is time to upgrade, ZDNET has tested dozens of headphones and hand-picked the best ones.
