We live in a society that relies on portable electronics to watch films and programs, play games, communicate with others, and play music. We often need to listen to what we see on them, which can be spoilt if we are in a noisy environment and have poor headphones. Poor headphones can ruin the quality of our experience if our hearing is hampered. With wireless, noise-reducing, and Bluetooth headphones currently on the market, we are spoiled for choice. Here are some expert tips for finding top-of-the-line headphones that produce quality sound.
When considering which ones to buy you need to think about what is most important to you. Typical categories include
Comfort
You do not want to experience pain or pressure on or in your ears when listening to something, especially if you are going to use your headphones daily, like when commuting to work. Making sure you get headphones that are comfortable for your ears is an important consideration.
Quality
Budge headphones may be good for an emergency purchase, but they will not last long. However, more costly does not always equate to better quality. Therefore opt for a known brand or headphones that have good independent reviews.
Sound
The best headphones have an equal distribution of sound, with the right balance of bass frequencies. In-ear models can struggle with this, whereas over the ear models can be the best-designed headphones for this.
Price
As stated price does not mean quality. Check reviews and stay within your budget. If your headphones are an item that is used daily, then it may be worth saving up to get the right set for you.
Of course, there are other categories to choose from, such as what type of headphones, whether you want them to be wireless or in a particular color. The above categories were mentioned in a Philips Shp9500 headphones review. By keeping an open mind as to what may be available in comparison with what you originally wanted to buy, could lead you to find something unexpectedly better.
There are three types of headphone, which are:
In the ear
In the ear headphones can allow external noise in, which can interfere with what you’re listening to. This is what makes users of these types of headphones turn their volume up and is the reason why others can hear what they’re listening to. Some in-ear headphones have flexible soft ear tips that prevent this from happening because they provide a tight seal.
One major disadvantage with in-ear headphones is they are closer to your eardrum, making it more prone to hearing damage, than with the other types of headphones. Furthermore, finding the right size to fit in your ears can prove to be problematic.
On the ear
These types of headphones have a band that usually goes over your head. On either side, there are ear cups that nestle on your ears. They tend to be smaller and lighter than over the ear type models of headphones. As they do not allow sound to easily penetrate into your ear, there is less chance of noise being heard by those around you when you are using this type of headphone. On the ear headphones are also gentler to use on your eardrum as they are not placed into your ear. However they can cause discomfort due to pressure exerted on the ears if they are used for a considerable period of time, so you may need to take breaks when using them to avoid this.
Over the ear
These are the largest type of headphones and the oldest type in terms of headphone design. Just like on the ear headphones, these ones have a band that has an ear cup placed on either side of them. However, the ear cups for over the ear headphones are considerably larger. They are considered more comfortable than the other two designs because the ear cups rest over the whole ear, as opposed to on it. Most noise-canceling headphones are designed this way.
Over the ear headphones tend to provide the best sound quality, which is in addition to comfort. However, these are also the bulkiest in design as well as being the most costly. If you’re going out for a jog, these would be ideal for canceling out other noise, but if you were going out, these may be too big for you to hold all night or awkward to have around your neck.
Buying headphones always comes down to why you’re needing to buy them in the first place. People typically use headphones at home, traveling, or for activities. What may be a good choice for one may not be the best for another. For instance, if you like to jog, then wireless headphones may be the most sensible choice. However, if you want to use them at home to watch tv, then over the ear headphones will provide the best sound quality. But these may be too bulky to use when you’re commuting, so you may want a smaller set.
Nowadays headphones are a necessity. Most of us rarely leave home without them. This has happened with the rise in popularity of the smartphone. Most of the uses we have for them require us to listen. This has made headphones as popular as smartphones themselves and as such, they have become an important purchase.
