You can argue about the choice of headphones for a long time. Each type of device has its fans and opponents. And this is quite normal: the ideal, unfortunately, is unattainable, and any technique has both advantages and disadvantages.
Therefore, before choosing certain headphones, you need to carefully read their main characteristics. Surely, after studying this kind of information, it will be much easier to stop at a specific device model.
Headphone designs
Before you go shopping, you need to figure out how to choose headphones and decide on the type of design that is most suitable for you.
Plug-in
This is perhaps the most common and simplest type of headphones. Otherwise known as “inserts”. They are light, small, and low in price – these characteristics are due to their popularity.
Of course, they also have disadvantages. When you put the earpiece in your ear, it sits loosely and falls out easily. In addition, it will not completely avoid extraneous noise when listening to music or watching a movie. In-ear headphones do not have a clear position in the ear, which means that the sound quality depends on how they are worn.
These headphones are quite suitable for an unpretentious user as basic ones – for rare listening to music, audiobooks, as a telephone headset.
Intracanal
In-ear (vacuum) headphones are commonly called “plugs”. They are inserted into the ear canal, hold better, and give a more stable sound. The earphones are equipped with a silicone ear cushion, which ensures a tight fit of the accessory and prevents the penetration of sounds from outside. The position of the earphone directly in the ear canal allows you to direct the sound along a certain trajectory, without scattering it and providing high sensitivity.
Overhead
These headphones are worn on top of the head and pressed against the auricles. Ear hooks or temples provide a comfortable fit. The speakers here are much larger compared to previous models, so the sound at low frequencies is better.
On-ear headphones are quite large, so they cannot be called universal, but they provide better and deeper sound. It should be borne in mind that pressure on the ears can begin to bring discomfort over time. The advantage of headphones is that they can be connected to mobile gadgets to use on the go, during sports, etc.
Covering
The most dimensional headphones of described. They have large cups with soft ear cushions that completely cover the ears. The size makes it possible to place more serious speakers inside the product, and therefore improve the sound quality.
Over-ear headphones are a great option for listening to music at home, from stationary audio equipment, for computer games, and for professional activities. They are perhaps the most comfortable to wear. Not sure how to choose headphones with good sound? Look at this type of design.
Signal transmission methods
Bluetooth headphones
This accessory has no wires, which makes it quite convenient, especially when used in a car as a headset. At the same time, they are very easy to lose, as the earphones easily fall out of the ears.
The disadvantages of this model are also the need to charge the headphones and the high-power consumption of the smartphone when they are connected. Although black bluetooth earbuds can also work as regular wired ones.
Headphones with infrared and radio channels
Such devices are connected to equipment that is located at home: audio systems, TVs, and home theaters. Both types work on the same principle – a transmitter is connected to the signal source (it is also the base for charging), and a signal receiver is located on the headphones. A big plus of the accessory is the absence of wires. However, there are also disadvantages.
The radio channel operates within a radius of up to 100 m, it is not afraid of obstacles, including walls. Headphones with a radio channel are cheaper than infrared and, of course, are more common. If you don’t know how to choose wireless headphones, consider this option.
Wired
Headphones with wires are, as they say, a classic of the genre. The connection type determines where and how they will be used.
Conclusion
It is best to check the quality of the headphones yourself. However, if this is not possible, their acoustic characteristics should be studied. It is best to focus on sensitivity – the higher it is, the better. The resistance for portable headphones should be 16-60 ohms, for home headphones it can be more.
