Do you need high-quality headphones?

Look, I’m just going to come right out with the answer on this one – YES.

Yes, you need some high quality headphones.

Quality headphones are a must have. Whether you are working, commuting, jogging or on a call – you’ll want to enjoy quality sound without background noise. What most people don’t realize are the benefits of having quality headphones and the benefits of buying such headphones. So, let’s look at some reasons why you need to get a pair of quality headphones.

Reasons To Buy Quality Headphones

#1.Quality Headphones Help to Better Isolate You from the Outside World

Quality headphones are clear because they can cancel or block the outside noise.  This can be handy when playing a video game or when watching a movie. However,  it is not a good idea to always isolate yourself from the outside world. For instance, you shouldn’t drive with your headphones. You might cause an accident. Use common sense before you cut yourself off from your surroundings.

#2.Increased Focus

Closely related to the reason above, one of the advantages of quality headphones is that they allow you to focus on the task at hand. When busy, you’d definitely hope for minimal distractions.  Headphones allow you to listen to whatever you want, and as loud as you wish without disturbing the people around you and letting you focus on the task at hand. Quality sound is essential because it means you are likely to listen at the right volume. This is particularly useful when you are in the office.

#3.Quality Headphones Don’t Damage Your Hearing

Although headphones are sometimes viewed as fashion accessories, you need quality headphones that do not predispose you to any health conditions in terms of your future hearing.  Quality headphones shouldn’t be able to expose you to loud noise or inappropriate sounds that can damage your hearing.  Don’t buy headphones based on their design but the quality.

#4. Quality Headphones are Comfortable

Comfort should not be a compromise when buying headphones. You don’t need to walk around with bulky headphones that don’t fit right. Choose light headphones that have soft breathable pads on the ear cup. Also ensure that the headphones are fully adjustable.

#5 Quality Headphones are Easy to Use

Quality headphones let you be in control on how to use them.  You can switch seamlessly between music, calls and back again. Quality headphones allow you to switch between buttons without fumbling around searching for the right button.

Quality Headphone Buying Guide

In this digital era, headphones have become part and parcel of our daily lives. Choosing the right pair will let you enjoy your phone conversations or music without worrying about sound leaks. If you are still using he headphones or earbuds the came with your gadget, you may want to upgrade to better ones. There are various types you can choose.  This includes tiny models, in ear models, and over the ear models. So, what do you need to consider when buying headphones?

Tips on Finding the Right Pair of Headphones

Before buying your next CVC headphones, consider the following factors

Evaluate Sound Quality

Like speakers, headphones have different sound qualities.  You may prefer one over another.  If possible, try them before buying.  You can also check reviews online. Also check if it has a return policy so that you can exchange it for another model if it doesn’t match your expectations.

Choose a Design That Suits Your Needs

As mentioned earlier, over the ear models are ideal for use at home but could be large for traveling.  Although smaller models sacrifice the sound quality, they can sometimes be handy.  If you want to improve the quality of your phone conversations, consider buying CVC noise cancellation headphones.

Factors to Use When Buying Headphones

As you’re shopping for headphones, there are a few factors you should focus on to find the right ones for you.

1. Headphone Size: Big or Small

Your choice of headphones depends on your lifestyle.  Most people buy headphones for different uses. Say for working out or watching movies.  Some people don’t mind. You’ll find people on the streets wearing large models that should be reserved for home use while some people wear their earbuds 24/7 even when watch Tv.

When to Buy Smaller Headphones

Buy smaller headphones when portability is paramount. Portability here refers to small and light weight models.  These types of models can be easily folded and tucked in a purse or pocket.  These include earbuds.  Note that although the smaller and light models are more comfortable, they are not known for quality.

When to Buy Larger Headphones

Large headphones that look like earmuffs connected by an adjustable headband are also referred to home/studio style headphones. Most of them can be connected to an audio source such as computer or TV. They could be battery powered or rechargeable. There are also wired and wireless models.

2. Type of Headphone

Choosing the right type of headphones is a personal decision. Some listeners prefer insert style headphones that fir in the ear canals, while others find them irritating.  To some, over ear headphones are the best while some complain that they interfere with earrings and sunglasses. It depends with what you want to use them for. You may also consider buying the noise cancellation model. Use this guide to find the right type of headphones for yourself.

In-Ear Models

These types of headphones are also the smallest.  When inserted in the ear canal, they form a seal that can help put out background noise. They are fairly common because they often come with portable audio players and smartphones.  Most come with canal tips of various sizes to ensure you get one that fits you.   There biggest advantage is that they are easily portable.

Pros

• Portable: Because of their size and weight, they are the most portable. 
• Noise Isolation: They are effective at noise isolation because they are placed directly in the ear.
• Great for work outs:  Earbuds are the best headphones when it comes to exercise because of how light weight they are.

Cons

• Sound Quality:  Earbuds tend to have low sound quality compared to larger headphones.  Larger headphones have better sound quality because they have large drivers. Earbuds use smaller drivers which lower the sound quality.
• Wires easily get tangled:  Although this does not apply to all in-ear headphones, most of the wire always gets tangled.  This can be annoying

True Wireless Earphones

True wireless earphones also rest on your ear and are extremely portable.  These types of earphones are stored in a case which recharges the earbuds. They are powered by smaller batteries which mean that they run out faster.

Pros

• Extremely portable:  True wireless earphones can easily fit in your pockets.
• Sweat Resistant: True wireless earphones are often sweat resistant. There is no cord that whacks against your body while exercising.
• Stylish: True wireless earphones like Airpods are a cool way of listening to music in public.

Cons

• Battery Life: They have a shorter battery life because they have smaller batteries.
• Easy to lose:  Because they are small and not connected to any wire, you can easily lose them.

On-Ear Model

 Unlike earbuds, on-ear models sit on top of your outer ears.  The band can be placed behind or over your head with the drivers placed on your ear.

 Pros

• Portable: They are also portable. However, you can’t easily stash them in your pockets like earbuds.  They are ideal for people that prefer superior sound quality but do not want anything too bulky. Some of them have hinges for folding.
• Bigger Batteries: Bigger batteries mean a longer battery life.  They give you more listening time.
• Better Sound:  They have larger drivers which improve the sound quality.

Cons

• Harder to carry:  Although portable, they are not as portable as earbuds.  It is easier to carry them in your bag but you can stash then in your pockets.
• They are not the best for noise Isolation: These headphones sit on your ear and thus allow some noise from outside to enter.

Over- Ear Headphones

They are of two types: the closed back models and the open back models. Closed back models have sealed ear cups that muffle ambient noise.  Their undoing is that they might block thing you need to hear such as when your phone rings. The open back models have openings in the ear cups.  These openings give the audio a natural feel.  The openings allow in more external sound.

Pros

• Best Sound : These headphones have the best sound quality because they have  the largest drivers in the ear cups.
• Biggest Batteries:  They have large batteries which makes them to last for long.
• Comfort: They have larger ear cups. This means that they have even weight distribution. Because of their size, manufacturers add materials such as leatherette, velour and memory foam which make them more comfortable.

Cons

• Hardest to carry:  Although most of them come with carrying cases to use when traveling, they are more difficult to carry in comparison with other models.
• Price: Although this varies with models over ears tend to be more expensive because they have the best sound quality.
• Power:  Although rare, sometimes these headphones may require the use of an amp.

Wireless Models

These are the most common type. They use Bluetooth which has a range of about 10 meters to connect to portable media players, smartphones, TVs, and so on.  Although wireless models have a fairly short battery life, they are portable.

Pros

• Wireless listening:  You do not need a cable to listen to your favorite music.
• Improve Sound Quality:  Bluetooth headphones have better sound quality than 5 years ago.

Cons

• Battery: Bluetooth headphones consume more power. You have to often charge them.
• Wireless signals can be weak: Wireless signals frequently suffer from interference. Although it is becoming rare, it can be disgusting.
• Compatibility: Most wireless devices can’t talk to each other. Newer headphones will have problems connecting to older ones.

Key Headphone Features to Look Out For

• Noise cancellation:  If you work in a noisy environment or  you are an avid traveller or commuter, look out for headphones that cancels out noise
• Battery Life: Always check the battery life of the headphone that you choose especially if they are Bluetooth or noise cancellation headphones.
• Collapsible Ear cups: Check if the on-ear or over –ear headphone that you choose can. You need to choose headphones that are easy to store.
• Water Proof:  Make sure the headphones can’t be damaged by sweat especially if you work out.
• Built in Control module:  Check if the headphone has controls that allow you to do a number of things such as; answering your phone calls, controlling your music and so on.

Technical Headphones Jargon

Here are some technical terms used when talking about audio in headphones:

• Frequency response:  It is measured in Hertz (Hz) and tells the range of sound the product can produce.  This number is usually around 20Hz- 20,000 Hz. Te first number represents the lowest frequency while the second represents the highest
• Soundstage: This is the ability of the headphone to ‘inform’ the brain the direction sound is coming from. Larger headphones are better than smaller ones because the sound can bounce around the ear before reaching the eardrum.
• Open and Closed back Headphones: Closed back headphones have the drivers enclosed in the ear cups, This way sound can only go into the ear. They are ideal for commuters or people in a public setting. As you can guess, open-back headphones are the opposite.  Their drivers are exposed and not enclosed in the ear cups. They are ideal for using at home or in the studio because they allow surrounding sound to enter the ear cups. As a result, the music has a better soundstage.
• Flat/ Neutral sound:  When a headphone has a flat or neutral sound, it means the headphone is reproducing the signal it receives from the source device with as little deviation from it as possible.