How to choose headphones

With the advent of various gadgets, modern people have the ability to listen to audio in any place (on the street, in ground transport, metro or airplane). To prevent any interference from appearing, micro-headphones were invented. They provide maximum comfort and allow you to enjoy your favorite audio. Purchasing a quality product, in particular for a beginner, is quite difficult. It is sometimes quite difficult to understand the varieties and parameters presented on the store counter. To know which headphone to choose, you need to read the recommendations.

The principle of operation and the device of headphones

Headphones are a special device designed to listen to speech and other sounds by 1 person. Outside, it is 2 small sound emitters. They are mainly worn on the head or inserted into the ears. The models are used for household use, as well as for professional activities.

Headphones provide portability and sound isolation from ambient noise. The main components will be cups (sometimes with ear cushions), connecting fasteners (headband, bow) when it comes to a full-size model, and a wire with a connector that can be connected to any devices. The bow is fixed in the back of the head or at the crown, this will depend on the assembly. The ear cushions touch directly the ears, therefore they are made of soft and pleasant material: velor, foam rubber, leather. At the same time, the thinner the layer, the better bass will be transmitted and the sound will come faster.

Headphone selection options

The question often arises of how to choose headphones. Regardless of the type and class, each earphone has basic technical parameters that make it possible to get an idea of ​​the sound. When choosing a budgetary device, you should not focus too much on such figures, but they should not be ignored either. We choose headphones based on the key parameters.

Emitter

Emitters (in the technical literature they are often called telephones) are intended to convert electrical vibrations into acoustic vibrations in the outer ear (in the shell or in the channel). Emitters are present in every headset and are considered an integral part of them. The emitters installed in the headset are of various types:

• Dynamic. Due to the nature of the assembly, the sound of low or high frequencies may sink. Slight reaction speed to sound changes, uneven and unpredictable sound.
• Anchor. This type is distinguished by the best receptivity, loudness and clarity of sound. Of the disadvantages, it is possible to single out lower frequencies.
• Electrostatic. It features high-quality sound that has increased sensitivity and the least amount of distortion. To function, you will need to connect via a special docking station. The price for new types of headsets with a similar emitter can reach extremely high limits in some situations.
• Planar.This kind will give excellent detailed sound, however if there is a good amplifier that can reveal all the possibilities.

Noise reduction system

There are 2 types of noise suppression:

• Passive. It is used in budget products. Isolation will be achieved here thanks to the ear pads that fit snugly to the head and ears. Such a system will make it possible to suppress 30-40 dB, which is considered an average.
• Active. In addition to using ear pads, the effect of waves with an opposite phase is enhanced. A special microphone is built into the headset, which picks up vibrations, then they will be processed by the electrical unit. This will make it possible to reduce noise by up to 90%. However, there is also a disadvantage here - the limited dynamic range of the product.

Specifications

To buy good headphones for your phone, you should pay attention to their specifications:

• Frequency range. The bandwidth will directly affect the sound quality. The best sound is obtained at wide, and the worst at narrow. The popular range is considered to be within the range of 20 Hz-20 kHz.
• Power. There should be a similar correspondence for such indicators. When the power from the sound source exceeds the limits for the headset, the device will break down. Basically, the range ranges from 1mW-5000mW.
• Susceptibility. Basically, consumers call this parameter loudness, but professionals do not agree with this designation. Higher settings will produce a strong sound. A reading of 100 dB or more is considered a sign of high sensitivity of the headset.
• Resistance. This parameter is rarely emphasized. When choosing headphones, you need to check the resistance. Basically, portable devices are intended for use with low impedance products with a parameter of approximately 30 ohms. By connecting a 350 ohm headset to them, the sound will be heard, however, it is much quieter.
• Distortion level. Certain distortions are allowed during playback. Their degree is measured as a percentage. Of course, the quality will get better as this percentage decreases. When choosing a headset, it is imperative to take into account their weight and dimensions. For easier orientation, you should know that earbuds and vacuum products will weigh approximately 5-30 g, overhead - 40-100 g, and monitor ones - 150-300 g.
• Plug. It is also worth highlighting the method of connecting a wired headset. Most of the products for purchase have a mini-jack (3.5 mm) plug. An ordinary jack can be seen on a professional headset, while a microjack is extremely rare today. And yet, emphasis should be placed on what kind of plug the headphones have and whether there is an adapter in the package.

Other headphone specifications

To know which headphones are best to choose, you need to take into account the auxiliary indicators before purchasing the product:

• Transmitter power. By the power of the radio transmitter, it is possible to partially judge the actual, and not indicated by the developer, the range of exposure of the wireless headset. The stronger the power of the radio transmitter, the higher the range of the headset and its ability to “punch” through walls or other obstacles.
• Battery capacity. The wireless headset uses batteries as a power source. This is often Li-ion or Li-Pol. By the capacity of the battery used, it is possible to get an impression of the length of the autonomous period of the headset's functioning.
• Product weight. The weight of the headset plays a role in the situation of their attachment to the head by means of the occipital arch of the ears or clips. When the device is too heavy, the ears will get tired and the user will feel some discomfort.
• Style. Most consumers will not take off their portable products during the day. Such a device will become an integral part of the style.Considering this aspect, the developers turned the headset into a modern accessory, which is also used as a decoration along with earrings or clips. To date, products with bright and original colors are available for purchase, which are decorated with rhinestones or have an unusual shape. Such devices can be eye-catching and make their wearer stand out from the crowd.
• Waterproof housing. The headset with a waterproof housing can be used in the rain or during sports. At the same time, it should be noted that the moisture resistance of such a device is considered conditional. The product will be able to withstand the test of precipitation or sweat, but when the user decides to fully immerse them in the water, they are likely to break.
• The length of the cord. The length of the wire of a wired headset is often set by the purpose of the device and varies in the range of 1-8 m. 1.2 m).
• Braid quality. In accordance with practice, directly due to the unsuitableness of the braiding of the cord, headsets that are still quite good in other respects are often thrown away. Therefore, when choosing a product (first of all, this is referred to as budget portable models), an emphasis should also be placed on the quality of the braid. However, it should be noted that it is rather difficult to give an external assessment of the quality of the braid and the duration of its potential service until complete wear.

Wired or wireless

The question often arises of how to choose wireless headphones. Comfort in the listening process often depends on this indicator:

• Symmetrical and unbalanced. The latter are much more convenient, since 1 of the wires is longer than 2. This makes it possible to throw it around the neck at a time when the headset is not in use. Balanced wires of equal length are Y-shaped.
• Flat. In addition to the usual round ones, there are flat wires that look like telephone wires. The advantage of such people will be that they do not get confused, and therefore, they rarely break and serve more.
• Twisted. Such cords are often equipped with full-sized semi-professional and professional. models. Outwardly, they look like the wires of old Soviet rotary telephones. They are comfortable in that they provide the consumer with the option of movement in space, since during the tension the spiral will unwind, thus increasing the length.
• Wireless. Features a lower sound quality due to signal loss. Although the absence of wires in some situations is an undoubted advantage, it is necessary to take into account how long the headset can function without charging.

Types of headphones

Often the question arises, which wireless headphones to choose. It should be noted that since the market is full of various types of "head monitors", it becomes rather difficult to choose the best one. Therefore, to facilitate the process, it is necessary to initially classify the available devices according to their type, purpose and parameters. It will then be easier for the user to figure out how to choose the right headphones.

Earbuds

It is one of the most popular types of headsets. Despite the disadvantages present, such products are prevalent today. Very often, the earbuds are supplied directly to the smartphone and player. They sit comfortably in the ears, do not create inconvenience for the consumer. However, in an extremely noisy place, the sound will deteriorate due to insufficient insulation. Such products are not very suitable for athletes, since they can fall out.

Pros:

• do not create discomfort;
• compact size;
• adequate cost.

Minuses:

• will fit loosely to the ears;
• insufficient noise isolation;
• can fall out during vigorous activity.

In-ear (vacuum)

Today, vacuum products directly replace earbuds while listening to audio from a player and smartphone. They do not have the disadvantages that were present in the previous type of headset. They are not simply inserted into the auricle, but inserted into the canal. This makes it possible for them to firmly anchor. The sound quality will be higher as the noise isolation will improve. True, such products will not transmit high frequencies well.

Pros:

• compactness;
• fit tightly in the ears;
• will not drop out;
• budget price.

Minuses:

• significant load on the ear;
• prevent the free flow of air into the auricle;
• able to provoke discomfort;
• often require cleaning from sulfur.

Overhead

This type of headphone is classic. They have been available for purchase for over 100 years, but have not lost their popularity to this day. The model has a bow that fixes the headset on the head. The speakers are housed in earbuds that are placed over the ear, hence the name. Despite good loudness, this type of product will not be able to provide adequate sound isolation, particularly in a crowded place.

Pros:

• will not cause inconvenience;
• sound louder than similar ones;
• transmit low and high frequency range.

Minuses:

• large sizes;
• uncomfortable to wear with a headdress;
• rather overpriced.

Fullsize

A full-size headset will give you the best sound quality options. It differs from the past in that they will fully cover the ear with ear pads, which will improve sound isolation.

You can find 3 types of full-size products: open - they are distinguished by the presence of large holes letting in external noise; closed - will provide the greatest isolation from extraneous sound; half-open - the outer holes are small, therefore this type will combine the advantages of the past.

Pros:

• sufficient sound insulation;
• better sound quality;
• comfortable fit.

Minuses:

• heavy weight;
• uncomfortable to wear outdoors;
• overpriced.

Studio (monitor)

They are also full-size headphones, but intended for professionals. Thanks to them, it is possible to work with audio in special studios, solving difficult problems in sound, for example, in mastering, sound recording. Products of this type are distinguished by a wide frequency range, high resistance, low distortion and other parameters.

Pros:

• proper sound insulation;
• balanced sound;
• increased clarity.

Minuses:

• not suitable for listening to low-quality audio;
• impressive size and weight;
• overpriced.

The best headphone manufacturers - which company to choose

Often the question arises, which wireless earphone to choose. Almost every developer offers dozens of models. However, they are all similar in sound. Each popular brand has its own characteristic sound, therefore, having clarified the main parameters, it will be easier for the user to select the desired option from the variety.

On the domestic and international market, there are some common companies that have long earned a reputation and are in great demand among consumers:

• Sennheiser.
• Beyerdynamics.
• KOSS.
• AKG.
• Sony.

The choice of manufacturers is diverse. So that the buyer does not get confused, it was decided to use a special principle of product labeling. For example, the manufacturer Sennheiser uses smart labeling by adding an alphabetic prefix. It is considered a source of information that is able to inform the buyer about the assembly and other characteristic features of the device. The products of such large developers are trustworthy.

How much do headphones cost

To buy a quality product, you need to know the price:

• Earbuds and vacuum headphones can be purchased for 500 - 1,000 rubles.
• Overheads are slightly more - 1.5-2.5 rubles.
• The price for full-sized ones varies between 3-10,000 rubles.
• Full-size professional monitors have the highest cost - 10-100,000 rubles.

Often the question arises, which headphones to choose. To find out how to purchase a quality product, you should read these recommendations.