The 7 Best Songs To Hear In Headphones!

Stereo sound is old news. When you separate the Left and the Right, songs sound better. But there are a few songs out there in particular that take it to the next level. These tracks were recorded, mixed, produced, and mastered to be experienced in stereo. And for those of you who didn't know, the best stereo is heard in headphones!

When we pulled this list together, we had 3 things in mind...

1) to argue about which songs are the best ever to hear in stereo,
2) for you to find your old pair of headphones (or get some new ones), and
3) for all of us to kick back and take a listen with our players turned way up!

It's possible that you may have never heard a song that was produced like these. It's more likely, however, that you heard them on an old "boom box" or at a party and couldn't notice the stereo goodness.

Here's what to listen for when you hear these songs...

When a band goes into the studio, all the different instruments are recorded individually and all these tracks are manipulated by the engineers. They mess around with the volume, EQ, and effects of each one. They also control which speaker(s) will play each part. In many recordings, the singer will be "in the middle" or in both speakers, whereas some of the drums will only be in the left speaker, and others only in the right. It's called panning. Sometimes, the lead guitar, for example, will pan slowly from one side to the other. Or, you may hear the keyboard bounce back and forth between the left and right. These things are easier to notice in headphones. Producers don't make these little changes by accident. Stereo production is it's own art form. It's a creative representation of a recording.

After a song is produced, it is sent off for mastering. The mastering process cleans up the audio and brings it to life, making everything sound more crisp and level. The best songs to hear in headphones have gone through all the stages of production and post production (mastering) with people like us in mind. These dudes knew they were making little masterpieces that would only be discovered in a real stereo environment.

So, bring your beverage of choice, turn down the lights, and enjoy these tunes the way they were intended to be heard - with one speaker in your left ear, and one in your right! Have fun!

Picture created by Hidrate (cool chick from the US). Thanks! To see more of her art, check out her online gallery and her profile on deviantart.com