Audiophile 101 with Raghav Somani
A Guided Listening SessionGET 18% GST INPUT
One of the reasons headphones and earphones in India are more expensive than overseas is
because of the Goods & Services Tax in India.
Don't let the GST input go to waste
especially if you can avail an offset.
All products sold on Headphone Zone carry
a GST compliant invoice and all products sold include an 18% GST.
Simply enter
your GST number at the time of checkout.
Browse EMI Plans
About Audiophile 101 : Masterclass and Guided Listening Session
The Audiophile 101 : Masterclass and Guided listening session is the perfect introduction for music enthusiasts and beginner audiophiles to the hobby of critical music listening.
Most beginners stay limited to being silent observers in the world of audiophilia, and most have not had a chance to understand and experience what good sound is really about. Some may even find the technical jargon intimidating. Even those who may have had a chance to try out high-end headphones, may not know what to look out for, or how to appreciate the difference that comes with good headphones.
Listening to music is easy, but listening to the way the music sounds is harder. Very often, trying out new headphones needs to be accompanied by knowing what to look out for. This is exactly what we will achieve over a 2 hour guided listening session.
This guided music listening session features a curation of popular music, and some critical recordings from Raghav’s personal playlist. Tracks featured are specifically chosen to demonstrate to you concepts such as Dynamics, Compression, Soundstage, Imaging, Warmth, Brightness, and you'll learn what are good and bad recordings. Don't worry if any of this sounds technical, that's what this masterclass is for!
We will not be trying to share technical aspects of headphones or other gear, although we are happy to answer any questions that we can.
Who is it for?
This event is perfectly suited to those who are relatively new in the audiophile community and we encourage everyone to come and experience what good sound is really about. If you are someone who has just started getting interested in audiophilia, or you're passionate about music, but stayed away from expensive-sounding gear, this is the ideal workshop for you.
About Headphone Zone Listening Sessions
Music isn't ever meant to be experienced alone. It is so much more powerful when shared. We’ve had the chance to listen to our music on some of the best sounding headphones in the world and we wanted to share what that feels like with you. Think of your favourite artist, and a song you’ve heard hundreds of times before. We promise to deliver those riffs, percussions, bass lines and solos that were always there, but were never heard.
Headphone Zone's Guided Listening Sessions are carefully curated by music geeks and hosted by audiophiles, that bring together India's most passionate and discerning music listeners with one simple aim - to Rediscover music.
Meet your host: Raghav Somani
Raghav founded Headphone Zone in 2011, straight out of university, looking to create a change in the way Headphones were sold in India. Raghav is a passionate musician, and a Political Philosophy buff, self-proclaimed idli-sambar connoisseur, and a Guinness world record holder for his collection of Airline Baggage Tags. In equal parts an A.R. Rahman buff, and a Classic Rock geek, his playlists borrow from his childhood memories growing up in Chennai
Upcoming Listening Sessions
Amazing and an insightful session by Raghav Somani - founder of Headphone Zone. Raghav takes you on a fascinating journey to experience music like you have never heard before, while explaining audio concepts such as soundstage, imaging, dynamics, among others.
I think Headphone Zone has been the introduction to the audiophile world for a lot of us. And in this session, Raghav truly helps you understand what good sound means. It's quite technical but aimed at absolute novices like me and by the end of it I had the tools to listen to music and understand how good it sounded.
Whoever was not here missed out on a lot I must admit!! I got to know so much starting with the basics and bonus I got to add more songs to my library!
Experience the World's Finest Headphones
Experience the entire listening session on the world's finest collection of Headphones, Amplifiers and DAC's featuring gear from brands such as Audeze, Astell&Kern, Burson Audio, Cayin, Chord Electronics, Dan Clark Audio, EarMen, Focal, Final Audio, Gustard, Hifiman, Meze Audio, Sennheiser, STAX, Woo Audio.
We’re Bang In The Heart Of Bollywood
The Headphone Zone Experience Studio is right in the heart of the Bollywood district of Mumbai, Andheri. We’ve build this space, bang in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the maximum city. A space where you can blast your open-backs at 100% and won’t be frowned upon for sound leakage.
We’ve got Mumbai’s finest craft breweries next door, and venues for the best live music. Within walking distance are 27 resto-pubs, excellent fine-dining restaurants, and uncountable street eateries. We’re not guaranteeing this is the ultimate day out, but its definitely worth the ride.
Find us on the Map
In Support of The Silent Olympiad
100% of Proceeds go to Charity.
We're going to be listening to music like you've never heard before. But spare a thought for those who can't hear at all. All proceeds from this event go to support the Silent Olympiad, a beautiful sport and cultural event for children with hearing and speech impairment.
Do I need to get my set-up along?
Not really, but you're welcome to get any audio gear you have along. We'll be already providing our audio gear for you to experience.
What sort of gear will I get to listen to?
We have gear from the finest brand in the world like Audeze, Chord, Campfire Audio, HiFiMAN, STAX and more!
I'm an absolute newbie. Will I be able to understand what's going on?
This event has been created keeping people like you in mind. If you don't understand anything, just ask! Who doesn't love an interactive session?
How different is this from Headphone Connect?
Headphone Connect is an audiophile meet-up event. While we do have listening sessions there, you won't get the guided explanations you'd receive in this masterclass.
Is there a dress code for the event?
Yes, don't forget your mask! Also, you can pick up an Audiophile T-shirt here.
Customer Reviews
Attending the "Rediscover John Mayer" guided listening session by Headphone Zone at the relaxing Moly cocktail Bar was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, the welcoming staff, including Karan, Ian, and CEO Raghav, made us feel right at home. They expertly guided us through their extensive collection of IEMs and amp/DACs, making the selection process enjoyable and informative.
The thoughtful organization was evident, from QR codes for the playlist to wipes for maintaining hygiene. Ian's session was a deep dive into John Mayer's life and music, showcasing his journey from discovering his musical calling to winning multiple Grammy awards. Ian's passion and well-researched presentation brought Mayer's pain and artistry to life through the music.
The evening was topped off perfectly with India's cricket team victory, making it a truly memorable night. I highly recommend these listening sessions or audio tours to anyone, whether you're an audiophile or not. You'll be hooked!
Headphone Zone, please keep organizing more events like this, especially with your exceptional open-back headphones. #AudioExperience #HeadphoneZone #JohnMayer #Audiophiles #ListeningSession
Hi there! Thank you so much for your kind words and for attending our 'Rediscover John Mayer' listening session. We're thrilled to hear that you had an unforgettable experience with us. Our team at Headphone Zone always strives to provide the best service and create memorable events for fellow audiophiles. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed Ian's session and the selection of IEMs and AMPs/DACs.
Lovely experience at Headphone Zone, got to learn a lot from Raghav.
We're glad that you had a great listening experience and thanks for the amazing review! Hope to see you soon!
I had the privilege of attending Raghav Somani's Audiophile 101 session, and it was an unparalleled experience. One can attend Audiophile 101 with Raghav Somani only once. As 2nd time onwards you are not the same man. Raghav's dedication to explaining complex topics like compression, dynamic range, speed, and the inner workings of headphones was truly commendable. His patience during the extended Q&A session was equally impressive.
The curated song selection for the session was exceptional, creating a meditative and transformative learning experience. What set this session apart was the opportunity to enjoy music through some of the world's finest state-of-the-art headphone gadgets, including headphones, tube amplifiers, and DACs. It was an audio enthusiast's dream come true.
Not only was Raghav incredibly knowledgeable, but his entire team was also supportive and eager to assist. And a special shout-out to Moonshine Meadery for adding a delightful touch with their beer.
Overall, this experience ranks as one of my best afternoons in 2023. Raghav Somani's Audiophile 101 has left a lasting impact on me as a listener, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to delve deeper into the world of high-quality audio.
We're glad that you had a great listening experience and thanks for the amazing review! Hope to see you soon!
Session was intuitive and gave a great insight into what to look out for when listening to a headphone. All this was done while keeping things simple and at a pace at which everyone could keep up. The session was very much interactive and am sure everyone came out a bit enlightened.
We're glad that you had a great listening experience and thanks for the amazing review! Hope to see you soon!
Enlightening Experience
Thank you for the review! we appreciate it.
Rediscover John Mayer
We're glad that you had a great listening experience and thanks for the amazing review! Hope to see you soon!
That's the best money I've ever spent on a music event. The way Ian presented the entire experience was fabulous. I mean, I'm not new to John Mayer's music, but the entire timeline of John's journey along with the way it influenced his mindset during the albums he recorded was something i wasn't aware of.
And ofcourse i had the privilege of listening to my favourite artist on premium audiophile gear! I've listened to lot of these songs hundreds of times and my ears still managed to pickup new instruments and basslines on this gear(HiFiMan Arya).
The mead from moonshine was the much appreciated extra cherry on a cake overflowing with cherries.
Ofcourse, the contribution to the Silent Olympiad felt very nice.
I'd definitely make this 3 hour journey again whenever there's an artist i like being covered in an experience. Great initiative team!!!
We're glad that you had a great listening experience and thanks for the amazing review! Hope to see you soon!
Rediscover Daft Punk
Hey there, thank you for your lovely ratings!