Get in touch
The fastest way to reach me is by email:
HeadphonesMatch is run by me, Horace Ward, based in New City, New York, United States. Emails come to a real person — not a support team, not a help desk, not an automated system. That means responses are personal but might take a couple of days during busy periods.
What I respond to
I read every email and reply to most. Here's what I'm especially keen to hear about:
Recommendation questions. If the matcher tool didn't quite capture your situation, or you want a second opinion on a specific purchase decision, send me the details — budget, use case, what you already own, what you're trying to accomplish. I'm happy to give you a personalized take.
Corrections. If something on the site is factually wrong — a price out of date, a spec listed incorrectly, a product that's been discontinued — please tell me. I'd rather fix mistakes than ignore them. Include the article URL and what specifically is wrong, and I'll update it.
Article suggestions. If there's a category I haven't covered or a question I haven't answered, let me know. The best ideas for new articles usually come from readers who couldn't find what they were looking for.
Disagreements. If you think I got a recommendation wrong, tell me why. I don't claim infallibility, and honest pushback from someone with real-world experience genuinely helps me write better content.
Feedback on the site itself. Found a broken link? A confusing interface element? An article that didn't load properly? I want to know.
What I usually skip
A few categories of email I generally don't respond to, in the interest of being honest with you about what to expect:
SEO outreach and link-building pitches. If you're emailing to ask for a backlink, a guest post slot, or a "mutually beneficial partnership" — please don't. I don't do link exchanges, paid links, or sponsored guest posts. These emails get deleted without reply.
Product PR pitches. If you represent a headphone brand and want me to cover your latest product, I appreciate the heads-up but rarely respond. My recommendations are based on synthesis of multiple established review sources and my own experience, not on press releases or PR samples. When your product genuinely earns enough positive reviews from independent sources, I'll cover it.
Repair questions about specific units. I'm not a customer service department for manufacturers. For warranty claims, broken headphones, or specific defects, contact the manufacturer directly — they have the parts and expertise I don't.
Personal headphone troubleshooting beyond reasonable scope. "Why doesn't my Bluetooth work?" type questions are better answered by the manufacturer's support docs. I'm happy to help with buying decisions and general guidance, but I can't realistically troubleshoot every reader's specific technical setup.
Response time
I aim to respond within 2-3 business days. During busier periods (right after a major product launch, during the holiday shopping season, or when an article gets picked up by a larger publication), it might take a bit longer.
If a week passes and you haven't heard back, your email might have been caught by spam filters — try sending it again, and consider whether anything in the original message (lots of links, attachments, suspicious-looking subject line) might have triggered the filter.
Corrections & updates
When I make a meaningful correction to an article — fixing a factual error, updating a recommendation that no longer holds up, removing a product that's been discontinued — I update the "Last updated" date at the top of the affected article.
For major corrections that change the substance of a recommendation, I'll also add a brief note at the top of the article explaining what changed and when. Transparency about mistakes matters more to me than pretending I don't make them.
Partnership & press inquiries
I currently don't accept sponsored content, paid product placements, or "exchange of mutual value" arrangements that affect what I recommend. My editorial independence is the entire foundation of the site's credibility, and there's no offer I've heard that would make trading it worthwhile.
Legitimate inquiries I may consider:
- Direct affiliate partnerships with retailers I trust (currently exploring select audio specialists)
- Quote requests from established publications writing about audio gear
- Speaking opportunities or podcast invitations on headphone-related topics
- Collaboration with audiology professionals on hearing-protection content
If any of those describe what you're reaching out about, please mention "Partnership Inquiry" in your subject line and I'll prioritize the response.
HeadphonesMatch is operated by Horace Ward, based in New City, New York, USA. For my privacy practices, see the Privacy Policy. For how I make money, see the Affiliate Disclosure.