Friday, September 13, 2013

The Promise of Cordless Headphones

Are cordless headphones worth the convenience?
The answer to this query depends on whether you are a committed audiophile or a casual listener.
True audiophiles relish the way sound from a nice set of speakers fills a space, and no set of cordless headphones can replicate that sound quality. However, a casual listener might not mind the minor differences in sound that cause audiophiles a lot irritation.
The quality of cordless headphones varies.
You usually get what you pay for with cordless stereo headphones. In case you buy an cheap pair of cordless headphones, you are likely to experience static and poor sound quality. However, in case you shell out $300 for a pair of high-end cordless stereo headphones or noise cancelling headphones, you'll find the sound quality drastically improved.
RF, IR and Bluetooth: What does it all mean?
Currently, cordless headphone technologies exist: RF, IR and Bluetooth. RF headphones usually operate on of radio frequencies: 900MHz or two.4GHz. Regrettably, these radio frequencies are the same ones used by microwaves, cordless rings and home computer networks, so RF cordless headphones are liable to interference.
IR, or infrared cordless headphones, transmit the signal using infrared light in lieu of radio frequencies. Because IR cordless headphones transmit using light, they only work in direct line-of-sight; you cannot take them in to the next room or to an area where the transmitter and headphones are not within the same line-of-sight.
Bluetooth is another radio transmission expertise, but it doesn't work like RF. Bluetooth signals "hop bands" and are much more effective in a high-interference surroundings. Bluetooth l is used to transfer voice and knowledge and is an increasingly popular wireless expertise. Regrettably, because of the low power-use and sleek designs favored in Bluetooth headphones, the sound quality is not prepared to replace traditional stereo headphones.
Cordless stereo headphones of the future.
Bluetooth is the most promising expertise for cordless stereo headphones in the future. Bluetooth cordless headphones exist now, but the expertise doesn't compare to a quantity of the high-end RF cordless headphones or high-quality speakers. As manufacturers experiment more with Bluetooth's low power-consumption profile and integrating Bluetooth in to more devices, it is going to take off as the cordless stereo headphone of choice. Until then, unplug the headphones entirely or get a high-quality corded set.

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