The first headphones were the heavy, high-performance type of the Hi-Fi stereo age. These offered exceptional sound if you didn't mind having your vertebrae compressed by their heavy weight. Next came the lightweight, sponge-covered headphones of the Walkman era. The sound was tinny sometimes, especially in the bass range, but they were lightweight, portable and comfortable.
Both types of headphones still exist today, although the high-performance models are now, thankfully, much lighter, and they've been joined by earbuds and even a new generation of wireless headphones. You'll still sacrifice sound quality for portability, but you'll find comfort and performance in a wide array of headphones.
Headphone Styles
There are four basic styles of headphones: earbuds, canalphones, on-ear and full-sized. Earbuds are the cheapest option, and chances are they came packed with your iPod or Zune. These headphones fit over the outside of the ear canal without going inside the actual ear canal. They're comfortable and lightweight, but the tiny speakers aren't known for good sound reproduction. Frequency response is particularly poor in the bass ranges.
Canalphones cancel outside noise by sitting directly in your ear canals. Since the size of the ear canal can vary from person to person, these headphones often come with multiple sleeve sizes that help create a custom fit to your ear. Prices for these headphones can run anywhere from $100 to $600 depending on the quality of the speaker and type of noise cancelling technology that is used. Sound reproduction is better than earbuds, but care must be taken not to use these headphones in situations when you need to be aware of ambient sounds, such as when you're running or riding a bike.
Earpads will be familiar to anyone who owned a Walkman in the -80s. As the name implies, these speakers are padded and fit directly on the ear. The lightweight support frame typically fits over your head or wraps around the back of your neck. Because earpads are larger, they offer better frequency response and enhanced bass.
The final headphone type is the traditional, full-sized padded headphone that fits comfortably over the entire ear. If you want full frequency response, this is the way to go, but you'll be chained to your audio source by a cord. These headphones are the preferred choice for audiophiles and audio engineers, and spending more can get you headphones that will approach the performance of high-end home theater systems.
What Are You Listening to?
The first and most important question you will need to ask yourself before purchasing a set of headphones is what type of audio do you listen to most. Do you just listen to music from your MP3 or do you plan to plug your headphones into your Xbox or home audio system?
If you just want to hear some music to and from work or school, and don't feel you'll miss out on a high-fidelity experience, then the small-sized, mid-priced earbuds and canalphones will be perfect. These headphones work just as well for podcasts, radio and books-on-tape. If you're interested in getting a little more from your daily musical experience, then you may want to look into mid-priced earpads.
If you're planning to use your headphones to watch movies, play video games or enjoy the rich, deep sounds of your favorite opera, jazz concert or classical album, you'll want full-size headphones. The rubberized gaskets on these headphones effectively cancel out external noise, depending on quality and design, and larger speaker surfaces mean better performance with low tones than canalphones can provide.
Where Are You Listening?
The next logical question you'll want to ask yourself is where you'll be listening to your music, movies or games.
Working Out: If you listen to music while you work out, sweating will often keep headphones from staying in place. Canalphones that utilize a silicone-gel speaker cover are comfortable but get slick during work outs and can pop out of your ear. Lightweight earpad headphones will do a better job of staying in place while you exercise. These models have evolved to feature bars that go around your neck and are curved to fit more ergonomically. Ear tethers, found on some earbud models, will also help secure your headphones. These attach to the back of your ear to keep the bud securely in place.
Chilling Out: If you like to listen to tunes throughout the day or enjoy your morning podcast on the train to work, an inexpensive pair of earbuds will do just fine. Listening to music or movies on airplanes can be greatly enhanced with noise-canceling headphones. If you're listening at work or at home and don't need portability, full-size headphones deliver world-class sound.
How Long Will They Last?
Cost is far less an indicator of durability than design. For earpads and full-size headphones, a broken support strap is the end of the line. Look for metal rather than plastic, especially if you'll be taking the headphones outdoors in winter, where rapid changes from hot to cold can make plastic brittle. For full-size headphones, you'll want to check the quality of the gaskets that fit between the headphone and the ear. Rubber or rubber-encased materials are best. Foam tends to dry out and break down over the years. Pay attention, too, to how adjustable headphones are mounted. Metal supports and clasps will last forever with proper care; plastic tends to wear out and snap.
The major stress points on headphone cables are at the top of the jack and the base of each earphone. If you see plain wire connecting these elements, don't expect a long life. Better models have molded plastic or synthetic reinforcements at these points that move the stress back into the flexible portion of the wire. Good canalphones may only have reinforcement at the jack, and these headphones should be handled very carefully and stored in a protective case when you're not using them.
A Note on Wireless Headphones
Wireless headphones are out there, but they're a work in progress. Audiophiles report substandard sound reproduction from Bluetooth headphones, and competing technologies are starting to appear in the marketplace. If you're not picky about sound and hate wires, they may be worth investigating. At the moment, however, you'll find better sound and a lower price by choosing wired models.
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