Headphones

What to Look for When Buying Headphones

• Type of Headphone

  In-ear and earbuds fit snugly into your outer ear canal and often have rubber or silicone tips for a secure and comfortable fit. They are great for listening to music on the go and many have good sound quality. It is not a good idea, however, to wear them for hours at a stretch. On-ear headphonesrest lightly on your ears but don't cover them entirely. They can become uncomfortable if worn for long periods and don't offer very good sound isolation. Over-ear cover your ears entirely and are attached to a headband. For comfort and best sound quality, these are the headphones to choose. On the downside, they are bigger, heavier and definitely more noticeable.

• Noise Cancelling Headphones

  If you want to enjoy your music or film in total peace then noise cancelling headphones cut out the world around you. They are also ideal when travelling long distances by train or plane as you can switch off and relax without being disturbed by other passengers. Noise-cancelling headphones contain a microphone that detects sounds and sends an opposing waveform to your ear which cancels out the sound. It is probably best not to wear these when running or cycling on roads.

• Wireless or Wired Headphones

  A simple choice, do you want your earphones to have a visible cord or not? Wireless headphones are very portable and look cool but the wireless technology needs to be good enough to do the job. Wireless technology works on either radio-frequency or Bluetooth. The downside of wires is their annoying ability to tangle themselves up. Rubber-coated cords are particularly prone to tangling.

• Bluetooth Headphones

  Bluetooth has a typical range of around 30m and Bluetooth headphones are typically designed to link up with your smartphone. Range or battery issues can affect the quality of sound with Bluetooth headphones but they are less likely to suffer interference than radio-frequency models.

• Drivers

  It is the drivers in headphones that generate the sound. A driver is generally made up of a magnet, voice coil and diaphragm. It is not a huge deciding factor, but generally speaking, headphones with larger drivers deliver a better sound quality.

• Sensitivity

  If you like your music loud, then sensitivity is important. Most headphones have an adequate sensitivity of 110dB/mW or more. (Remember - music that is too loud played directly into your ear can permanently damage your hearing.)

• Impedance

  This is the frequency range that a headphone can produce. Bass sounds are at the lower end of the range with treble sounds at the upper limit. Most headphones support a frequency response range of 20Hz to 20000Hz. If you like more bass with your sounds, go for the widest range you can find.

• Frequency Response

  This is the frequency range that a headphone can produce. Bass sounds are at the lower end of the range with treble sounds at the upper limit. Most headphones support a frequency response range of 20Hz to 20000Hz. If you like more bass with your sounds, go for the widest range you can find.

• Comfort and Aesthetics

  This is where been able to try on some headphones is a good idea. Are they comfortable? Do your ears quickly heat up? Does the band give you a headache? Do the earbuds stay in comfortably or do they continually fall out? If you are going to wear headphones a lot then comfort is essential. Also, do you want to make a style statement in bold red or glittering gold headphones or is your fashion look a little more muted?

• Price and Budget

  Finally, like everything in the electronics world, headphones come in a wide variety of prices. If your headphones are for your daily commute and stand a chance of getting mislaid, then don't break the bank with your choice. If your main hobby is relaxing with your vast vinyl collection, then invest in the best pair of headphones you can afford.