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108 Best Songs to Test Headphones (For All Musical Tastes!)

October 3, 2017 By Tony Leave a Comment

headphone songs

When shopping for a brand new pair of headphones, how do you know which ones are going to be the best for you?

You’ll play music on them! In this complete list, we break down the 101 best songs to test headphones from these musical categories: Blues, Country, Electronic, Folk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Pop, R&B, and Rock.

But before we jump into the songs, there are three things you should keep in mind when looking for music to test:

1. How Will You Use the Headphones?

How to Find Your Ideal Most Comfortable Headphones Under 100 Dollars

Are you going for supreme noise cancellation, creating that personal auditory space? Or, are you using them in a more professional environment, like sound engineering or singing?

For those headphones you’ll use to create tracks, you want to listen to songs that are either a cappella or have layered vocal harmonies. When you sing along to the songs, are you able to hear yourself? A more isolated headphone design will help you with straight instrumental tracks, so listen to those as well.

2. Fullness of Sound

How to Find Your 200 Dollar Audiophile Headphones

Full orchestral songs, like classical music and movie or video game soundtracks, will give you an excellent range of sound to hear. If you can’t pick up on the softer instruments and hear nothing but loud brassy trumpets, those headphones won’t be the best for you.

Full orchestras also work with sound dynamics. Many tracks start out very soft, called pianissimo, and then build to a forte or double-forte dynamic level. See if you can hear all the dynamic levels.

3. Subtlety of Sound

Do You Need 200 Dollar Audiophile Headphones

In addition to paying attention to the dynamic level, you also want to listen for the subtle qualities in music. These include balance and differences in tempo. Some headphones might have one ear that doesn’t function as well as the other.

Listen to each side of the headphones while you’re testing out songs. Cover your other ear with your hand and really listen for balance. That indicates a high quality pair of headphones.

By keeping these four points in mind, you’ll quickly discern which pair of headphones can give you the highest quality and the best sound.

Best Songs to Test Headphones: 101 Best Tracks

Recommended Songs and Albums to Test

The awesome thing about music is there's something out there for everyone. That's why we've compiled the biggest list on the web of songs to test out your new headphones. 

Let's jump in!

music
BLUE SONGS TO TEST HEADPHONES
cash box kings

1

Name of Song:

House Party

Artist:

The Cash Box Kings

2

Name of Song:

Don't Leave Me Here

Artist:

Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo'

3

Name of Song:

Black Coffee

Artist:

Edo Lee

4

Name of Song:

Off the Ground

Artist:

The Record Company

5

Name of Song:

Frank Sinatra - Fly Me To The Moon

Artist:

Jacarandá

6

Name of Song:

Don't Know What It Means

Artist:

Tedeschi Trucks Band

7

Name of Song:

Make It Move

Artist:

Jonny Lang

8

Name of Song:

Steven Universe

Artist:

PhizzyPhizzy

9

Name of Song:

Matter of Time

Artist:

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

10

Name of Song:

Prayer for Peace

Artist:

North Mississippi Allstars

11

Name of Song:

Dream A Little Dream Of Me

Artist:

Ella Fitzgerald

12

Name of Song:

Anyhow

Artist:

Tedeschi Trucks Band

music
COUNTRY SONGS TO TEST HEADPHONES
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line

13

Name of Song:

Meant To Be

Artist:

Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line

14

Name of Song:

Body Like A Back Road

Artist:

Sam Hunt

15

Name of Song:

Marry Me

Artist:

Thomas Rhett

16

Name of Song:

Like I Loved You

Artist:

Brett Young

17

Name of Song:

What Ifs

Artist:

Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina

18

Name of Song:

Yours

Artist:

Russell Dickerson

19

Name of Song:

Greatest Love Story

Artist:

LANCO

20

Name of Song:

I'll Name The Dogs

Artist:

Blake Shelton

21

Name of Song:

Round Here Buzz

Artist:

Eric Church

22

Name of Song:

When It Rains It Pours

Artist:

Luke Combs

23

Name of Song:

I Could Use A Love Song

Artist:

Maren Morris

24

Name of Song:

Losing Sleep

Artist:

Chris Young

music
ELECTRONIC SONGS TO TEST HEADPHONES
Marshmello and Selena

25

Name of Song:

Something Just Like This

Artist:

The Chainsmokers & Coldplay

26

Name of Song:

Wolves

Artist:

Selena Gomez X Marshmello

27

Name of Song:

Let Me Go

Artist:

Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso Featuring Florida Georgia Line & Watt

28

Name of Song:

Silence

Artist:

Marshmello Featuring Khalid

29

Name of Song:

Stay

Artist:

Zedd & Alessia Cara

30

Name of Song:

It Ain't Me

Artist:

Kygo x Selena Gomez

31

Name of Song:

Best Friend

Artist:

Sofi Tukker Featuring NERVO, The Knocks & Alisa Ueno

32

Name of Song:

No Promises

Artist:

Cheat Codes Featuring Demi Lovato

33

Name of Song:

Faking It

Artist:

Calvin Harris Featuring Kehlani & Lil Yachty

34

Name of Song:

I Miss You

Artist:

Clean Bandit Featuring Julia Michaels

35

Name of Song:

Feels Great

Artist:

Cheat Codes Featuring Fetty Wap & CVBZ

36

Name of Song:

So Far Away

Artist:

Martin Garrix & David Guetta Featuring Jamie Scott & Romy Dya

music
FOLK SONGS TO TEST HEADPHONES
flat lonesome

37

Name of Song:

My Kind of Woman

Artist:

Mac DeMarco

38

Name of Song:

On the Road Again

Artist:

Willie Watson

39

Name of Song:

Young Folks

Artist:

Peter Bjorn and John

40

Name of Song:

Busted

Artist:

The Dustbowl Revival

41

Name of Song:

Just Say It Now

Artist:

Dori Freeman

42

Name of Song:

Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

Artist:

Arctic Monkeys

43

Name of Song:

Please Explain

Artist:

Catie Curtis

44

Name of Song:

Virgin Guitar

Artist:

John Craigie

45

Name of Song:

Prove My Love

Artist:

Lucinda Williams

46

Name of Song:

All My Life

Artist:

Flatt Lonesome

47

Name of Song:

Blessings

Artist:

Darden Smith

48

Name of Song:

undercover martyn

Artist:

Two door cinema club

music
HIP HOP SONGS TO TEST HEADPHONES
Eminem

49

Name of Song:

rockstar (feat. 21 Savage)

Artist:

Post Malone

50

Name of Song:

Him & I

Artist:

G-Eazy & Halsey

51

Name of Song:

Let You Down

Artist:

NF

52

Name of Song:

River (feat. Ed Sheeran)

Artist:

Eminem

53

Name of Song:

I Fall Apart

Artist:

Post Malone

54

Name of Song:

No Limit (feat. A$AP Rocky & Cardi B)

Artist:

G-Eazy

55

Name of Song:

Good Old Days (feat. Kesha)

Artist:

Macklemore

56

Name of Song:

MotorSport

Artist:

Migos, Nicki Minaj & Cardi B

57

Name of Song:

Bartier Cardi (feat. 21 Savage)

Artist:

Cardi B

58

Name of Song:

Lemon

Artist:

N.E.R.D & Rihanna

59

Name of Song:

Bodak Yellow

Artist:

Cardi B

60

Name of Song:

LOVE. (FEAT. ZACARI.)

Artist:

Kendrick Lamar

music
JAZZ SONGS TO TEST HEADPHONES
Paul Hardcastle

61

Name of Song:

La Vie En Rose

Artist:

Louis Armstrong

62

Name of Song:

Groove On

Artist:

Euge Groove

63

Name of Song:

Baby Coffee

Artist:

Michael J. Thomas

64

Name of Song:

Cut Loose

Artist:

Paul Hardcastle

65

Name of Song:

Boss

Artist:

Tim Bowman

66

Name of Song:

Sunset Walker

Artist:

ALUMO

67

Name of Song:

Fly Away Butterfly

Artist:

Carol Albert

68

Name of Song:

Midnight (feat. Marcus Miller & Steve Cole)

Artist:

Brian Culbertson

69

Name of Song:

Go Home

Artist:

David Garfield Featuring Kirk Whalum & Paul Jackson Jr.

70

Name of Song:

Piccadilly Circus

Artist:

Paul Brown Featuring Chris Standring

71

Name of Song:

Abusey Junction

Artist:

Kokoroko

72

Name of Song:

Velvet Groove

Artist:

Eric Valentine & Velvet Groove

music
POP SONGS TO TEST HEADPHONES
Dua Lipa

73

Name of Song:

Havana

Artist:

Camila Cabello Featuring Young Thug

74

Name of Song:

Perfect

Artist:

Ed Sheeran

75

Name of Song:

Bad At Love

Artist:

Halsey

76

Name of Song:

New Rules

Artist:

Dua Lipa

77

Name of Song:

Rockstar

Artist:

Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage

78

Name of Song:

Too Good At Goodbyes

Artist:

Sam Smith

79

Name of Song:

Thunder

Artist:

Imagine Dragons

80

Name of Song:

How Long

Artist:

Charlie Puth

81

Name of Song:

Wolves

Artist:

Selena Gomez X Marshmello

82

Name of Song:

What Lovers Do

Artist:

Maroon 5 Featuring SZA

83

Name of Song:

End Game

Artist:

Taylor Swift Featuring Ed Sheeran & Future

84

Name of Song:

Lights Down Low

Artist:

MAX Featuring gnash

music
RnB SONGS TO TEST HEADPHONES
SZA

85

Name of Song:

Young Dumb & Broke

Artist:

Khalid

86

Name of Song:

Finesse

Artist:

Bruno Mars & Cardi B

87

Name of Song:

The Weekend

Artist:

SZA

88

Name of Song:

Sky Walker

Artist:

Miguel Featuring Travis Scott

89

Name of Song:

Pills And Automobiles

Artist:

Chris Brown Featuring Yo Gotti, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie & Kodak Black

90

Name of Song:

When We

Artist:

Tank

91

Name of Song:

F**k Love

Artist:

XXXTentacion Featuring Trippie Redd

92

Name of Song:

Faking It

Artist:

Calvin Harris Featuring Kehlani & Lil Yachty

93

Name of Song:

At The Club

Artist:

Jacquees X Dej Loaf

94

Name of Song:

While We're Young

Artist:

Jhene Aiko

95

Name of Song:

Get You

Artist:

Daniel Caesar Featuring Kali Uchis

96

Name of Song:

Roll In Peace

Artist:

Layton Greene

music
ROCK SONGS TO TEST HEADPHONES
Portugal. The Man

97

Name of Song:

Thunder

Artist:

Imagine Dragons

98

Name of Song:

Feel It Still

Artist:

Portugal. The Man

99

Name of Song:

Believer

Artist:

Imagine Dragons

100

Name of Song:

One Foot

Artist:

WALK THE MOON

101

Name of Song:

Whatever It Takes

Artist:

Imagine Dragons

102

Name of Song:

Walk On Water

Artist:

Thirty Seconds To Mars

103

Name of Song:

No Roots

Artist:

Alice Merton

104

Name of Song:

Rx (Medicate)

Artist:

Theory Of A Deadman

105

Name of Song:

Thunder/Young Dumb & Broke (Medley)

Artist:

Imagine Dragons + Khalid

106

Name of Song:

Up All Night

Artist:

Beck

107

Name of Song:

World Gone Mad

Artist:

Bastille

108

Name of Song:

Live In The Moment

Artist:

Portugal. The Man

So that's our list of the 108 best songs to test your headphones!

Want a few more? Here are 8 more classic songs to check out:

Instrumental Epic Songs

Epic instrumental music will give you an extraordinary dynamic and orchestral range in which to test your headphones. You can find this type of music in popular classical pieces, like Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries,” Modest Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain,” and Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” includes vocals and a full choir. It starts out quiet and soft, then builds and builds to a wonderful crescendo. 

Modern instrumental composers also have an impressive track list that can help you test headphones. Hans Zimmer’s oeuvre includes the “Gladiator,” “Batman Begins,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” soundtracks. Howard Shore composed an impressive amount of music for the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” soundtracks. John Williams is famous for “Indiana Jones,” “Jurassic Park,” and all of the “Star Wars” soundtracks.

Classic ‘60s and ‘70s Songs

Classic rock, disco, and pop songs from the 1960’s and 1970’s was often produced with multiple instruments and excellent harmonies. The sound engineers and music producers layered vocals, guitars, drums, and instruments to create the songs that have become so familiar.

Anything from The Beach Boys or Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young or The Bee Gees features those trademark harmonies that will help you test your headphones. The Eagles’ album Hell Freezes Over with “Hotel California” will also demonstrate the quality of headphones. Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” should sound in your ears as if he’s playing that guitar live.

Drop the Bass

What if you want to test your headphones for an excellent bass sound? Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” with its relentless anthemic bass guitar beat, is perfect. So is “Come Together,” by the Beatles, and it also has a wonderful drum beat in the background. “Seven Nation Army,” by the White Stripes, had a retro sound that starts off quietly but insistently and builds.

“Money,” by Pink Floyd also has cash register sounds to go along with its bass rhythm. If you’d like something a little funky with your bass, listen to “Jungle Boogie,” by Kool & the Gang. It also has a full jazz section with trumpets and saxes. A wailing sax and crazy beat make “Brass Monkey,” by the Beastie Boys another bass-dropping hit. These are the best songs to test the headphones and bass.

Immersive Electronic Songs

Electronic and electronic-based songs have come a long way since the synthesizers of the 1980’s. There are quite a few trance songs, New Age songs, and ambient songs that will test your headphones and make you feel as if you’ve become immersed in their sound. Enya’s “Caribbean Blue” has a waltz-like feel to it. The minor key in “Insomnia” by Faithless is backed by a great drum beat.

The almost orchestral “Adiemus,” by Karl Jenkins also features a flute solo. “Dive,” by Tycho has an upbeat and relaxed vibe. One of the great ambient composers is Brian Eno, whose “Thursday Afternoon” will take you away to a calm spot. Electronic music coming through excellent headphones almost creates its own aural meditation room.

High Quality Headphone Songs

The Best Songs to Test Headphones

These are just some of the incredible songs you can listen to while testing out headphones. From trumpeting fanfares like the “Raiders March” from John Williams to soft, quiet piano tones on a Brian Eno track, you’ll have an enjoyable listening experience finding the best headphones for you.

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