Headphones

Headphones are large products that rest of your head. They have large drivers and are generally preferred by those who appreciate music. They have heavy cushion padding which makes them suitable for prolonged use. There are two types of headphones to choose from, over-ear (circum-aural) and on-ear (supra-aural) headphones. Over-ear headphones are large headphones that cover your ear, when you wear them. They are known to be more comfortable and are usually used indoors.

On-ear headphones are usually smaller than over-ear headphones. They are designed to be carried around easily, and preferred by those who don’t prefer earphones.   Headphones these days also have foldable designs. The design makes them portable enough to be carried around in bags. Almost all on-ear headphones have a foldable design. There aren’t many on-ear headphones that have a foldable design.

Earphones

If it’s portability you are after, then earphones are the best option for you. Earphones can be easily carried in small pouches or pockets. They are small and light but are still powerful enough to have a loud output.  There are two types of earphones, earbud earphones and canal phones. Earbud headphones have a standard circular, but slightly bulky design. They fit right outside the ear. They are reasonably comfortable to wear but keep falling out most of the time. Canal earphones on the other hand fit right into ear canal and don’t fall out as often. They are more comfortable to wear because of the rubber or silicone coated earbuds.  

Earphones are also recommended if you are traveling or playing sports. They are also available in many designs that allow them to fit right in the ear and not pop-out while doing physical tasks, such as jogging or working out.

Cables, Connectivity

One of the things to look for in earphones and headphone is the length of the cable. Earphones are meant to be used outdoors, so they usually have a somewhat short cable, somewhere in the 1 to 1.5 metres range. On the other hand, headphones are meant to be used indoors and therefore have a longer cable. Some headphones come with 3 metre cables. The cable on a headset needs to be strong. Some headsets also come with tangle free cables. These cables have a flat design that does not get tangled easily, even when you keep the earphones stuffed inside your pocket.  

Some headphones have detachable cables. This is a really nice feature to have if you plan on travelling with your headphones. These cables can be detached from the headphone body and then reattached when needed. Almost all headphones come with a 3.5mm jack. This can be used with almost any media player, such as your MP3 player, tablet, PC and smartphone. Some studio headphones also come with a 6.3mm plug adaptor, in the box. The 6.3mm adaptor will let you connect your headphones to devices such an AV receiver or a high-quality source such as a CD player or headphone amplifier.   

If you prefer using wireless headphones, look for Bluetooth-enabled ones. These headphones can connect to your smartphones and tablets and let you listen to music without going through the trouble of tangled cables.

Noise cancellation

It’s often the background noise that doesn’t let you enjoy your music and movies on your headphones. It is a huge problem, especially for those who fly often. For such people, it is better to consider buying noise-cancelling headphones. These headphones have a built-in mic that cancels out background noise. These headphones require powered, and they get this by a lithium-ion or alkaline battery. Noise-cancelling headphones are generally a bit more expensive.  

If you don’t prefer noise-cancelling headphones, but want to get rid of the loud background noise, then look good noise isolation headphones. These headphones block out ambient noise from, by just the construction of the headphones. They aren’t as effective as noise cancelling headphones, but they do considerably reduce the background noise and they’re affordable as well. You can consider closed headphones that are specifically designed to isolate you from the background noise. Canal earphones are considered to isolate noise better than standard in- ear headphones.

Controls, microphone & other things to keep in mind

Some headphones and earphones come with a microphone built in. Headphones with microphones are typically used by gamers while playing multiplayer games. Earphones with microphones are meant to be used with phones and tablets with calling features. Most of these have a button to let you pick up incoming calls. This a great feature to have especially when you’re travelling. Similarly, some earphones and headphones also come with volume controls, so you can adjust the volume in an instant.

 

Headphones can deliver a truly entertaining experience, so you’re likely to be wearing headphones for long periods of time. Comfort is an important component of a headphone purchasing decision. If you are planning to travel a lot, then it’s important to look for a headphone that comes with a case. Also, look for the warranty provided for the headphones. There are some manufacturers that will provide you with a two year replacement warranty. After purchasing the headphone, you can try and experiment with all kinds of new genres and bands from sites such as last.fm.