Shopping for a new set of headphones can be a daunting task, given the wide array of styles, types, and prices. But it doesn't have to be—and we're here to help. If you can answer these five questions, you'll be well on your way to finding a set of headphones, earphones, or earbuds that should provide years of sonic enjoyment.
Before hitting the list below, here are a few things to consider. One is that there are great headphones for nearly every budget, so don't give up on good sound because you think you can't afford it. But also remember that you might not need a pricier set of 'phones that can reveal every ounce of detail if you're mainly listening to compressed mp3s or less-than-pristine YouTube videos.
Also, the model you choose has to be comfortable, especially if you tend to wear your headphones for extended periods of time. That may lead you to choose one type instead of another. For example, I personally can't wear in-ear earphones for more than 15 or 20 minutes without them becoming excruciatingly painful, so even my portables are on-ear models. You may decide to own several sets of headphones, depending on whether you're listening at home or on the go. My go-to cans at home are large, over-the-ear models that are really too large to lug around.
Finally, for many of us headphones have become as much a fashion item as a piece of audio gear. That's fine, but you don't have to sacrifice decent sound for an eye-catching design, though you're likely to pay a bit more cash for the extra flash.
Enough said. Here's our list of questions that should help narrow down your choices.
1. Will you be using the headphones primarily with a phone or tablet? If so, then pay attention to the headphone's sensitivity and the controls built into the inline remote control. Sensitivity is a measure of how much power it takes to drive the headphones to satisfying volume levels. Since most portable devices have much less power than a home A/V receiver, you should look for a model with at least medium sensitivity, although a model with medium-high or high sensitivity will alleviate most concerns. If you want to use the headphones to receive and disconnect phone calls, make sure the headphone's inline remote control has a built-in microphone and buttons that let you answer and disconnect calls without having to dig your phone out of a pocket, bag, or knapsack. You may also want to consider a wireless model that can connect to your phone via Bluetooth rather than a wire.
2. Will you be using them in a noisy environment? Then you'll probably want a model that can either block out some external noise, or one with active noise cancellation. Most in-ear earphones, which are jammed into the ear canal, and closed, over-ear headphones (sometimes called circumaural headphones) do a decent job of blocking out external sounds. Models with active noise cancellation use tiny microphones that capture the frequencies of incoming noise, and use battery-powered electronic circuitry to create out-of-phase frequencies to "cancel" the noise. Our headphone Ratings for noise-canceling models include a rating for sound quality and noise reduction.
3. Will you be using them while working out or engaging in active sports? If you will, you'll need earphones or earbuds that will stay in place during vigorous motion. Some models have special eartips or bands that provide a secure, snug fit, and more models now have water- and sweat-resistant materials or coatings that repel moisture and allow them to be washed after strenuous workouts.
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Have you ever tried buying a headphone online? Apart from its looks, there's literally nothing else you can possibly judge about it. Have you ever been through a situation where the headphone you ordered online, which got delivered a week later after much anticipation, turned out not quite what you'd hoped for. And to go through all that pain of return policy is frankly quite a b*tch.
Most of us depend on advice from good friends (you know who they are!) before making an online purchase. Sometimes it gets difficult to judge exactly how Becoming Insane will sound on that headphone unless you've actually tried it out, right? .
However, there are ways to identify which headphone works for you and which doesn't. Just like you can relate RAM to speed, mega pixels to camera quality and storage to the number of pictures while buying a phone, there are certain parameters that you can actually refer to ensure that the headphone you splurge on does not end up being a solid waste of money.
Here are the things you need to keep in mind while buying a headphone online:
You should be clear about the type of headphone you're planning on buying. There are three major types.
We all use these in-ear headphones, also known as IEMs (in-ear monitors), on-the-go because they are very handy and have great sound quality. These are ideal for daily commuting, but using them for longer duration is not a good idea. It might start hurting your ears.
These are also called supra-aural headphones. They are bigger, but not very comfortable when it comes to long usage. Also, most on-ear headphones do not have proper sound isolation, which means people around you can actually hear the audio as well.
These are, by far, the most comfortable headphones if you're looking at using it for longer hours. Over ears deliver great sound quality; the only drawback though is that they aren't very portable as they're bigger and relatively heavy weight. These are also called the circum-aural headphones.
Driver is the thing in the headphone, which generates the sound. It's generally made of magnet, voice coil, and a diaphragm. It's not a thumb rule, but majority times, larger the driver, better the sound.
If you like to hear loud music, this is what you need to look for in your headphone’s specifications. Sensitivity specifies how loud your headphone can get. Most headphones are at around 110 dB/mW, anything lower than 85 dB/mW should be strictly avoided.
The power required for a headphone to work is called impedance. Most mobile devices have enough capacity to deliver the required power to the headphones, but those requiring lower impedance can utilise full power to deliver great sound. Those requiring higher power may not be able to deliver their 100% without a dedicated source of power. Generally, 16 Ohms is a good impedance number for headphones.
Do you like music with bass? Frequency response is the range of frequency a headphone can produce, where lower limit is the bass sound and upper limit is treble.
Most headphones support 20 Hz – 20000 Hz frequency response. If you like more bass, then opt for something that can support wider than the usual frequency response range.
Do not skip this section even if you are planning to go for a wireless headphone. Even though a wireless headphone looks cooler and portable, you need to select it based on which wireless technology it's using. It can be either radio frequency or Bluetooth.
Bluetooth typically has 30m range and may not sound as great as any other wired headphones due to battery or range issues. In case of wired, do not to go with a rubber coated cord as it tangles easily and gets damaged early.
Try and check if the headphone is comfortable for your ears. Most human ears are non-identical and not every device will suit you. For in-ears, try to go for a smaller ear bud size, which can fit in and doesn't slip off easily.
RELATED: The AskMen Guide To Wireless Audio Gadgets
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