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Finding the best headphones for your needs is both challenging and time-consuming. It’s tricky because you have to consider the technical aspects, comfort, style, and so on. However, this headphones buying guide is what you need.
Things don’t have to be complicated when you are planning to buy the best earphones or headphones. Oftentimes, people buy headphones or earphones whenever they find out that the old ones are no longer useful. Therefore, understanding the type and specification is very important.
That’s why we are here to ease your pressure as much as we can. Now, you can dedicate your valuable time to doing less research to find the right one. And, enjoy more time listening to music.
What type of headphones do you need?
Headphones consist of different shapes and sizes. They work with a variety of audio peripherals. Also, they have different connection types. However, the most basic types of headphones include four types.
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Over-ear headphones
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On-ear headphones
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Earbuds or in-ears
· True wireless earbuds
We have covered the pros and cons of each headphone type. Hopefully, it will help you to find the right one.
Over-ear headphones
As the name suggests, over-ear headphones sit over your ears. It consists of a large ear cup, specially padded to give you extra comfort.
Over-ear headphones: What you may like
Over-ear headphones give you accurate music across the different frequency spectrums, from treble to bass notes. Because of the large drivers, more air can move between the spaces. As a result, you get clear notes.
Over-ear headphones give you better battery life too. With plenty of space in the housings, it can hold lithium batteries with ease. Moreover, the ear cups distribute the weight comfortably around your ears.
This is why gamers love to have over-ear headphones so that they do not miss the immersive sound experience when playing games. We have compiled a post on some of the best gaming headphones you can consider buying. Check the options if you are looking to buy one.
Over-ear headphones: What you may not like
These headphones have massive sizes. And, most people don’t like them. Moreover, it takes up a lot of space whenever you are putting them in a bag.
On-ear headphones
Unlike the previous one, the on-ear headphones sit on top of your ears. They are smaller in size compared to over-ear headphones.
On-ear headphones: What you may like
The on-ear headphones are designed in a way to provide an ultimate listening experience. While these are not compact like the in-ear, they have rotating hinges good for storage. The on-ears have large drivers for accurate music reproduction alongside bass notes.
On-ear headphones: What you may not like
These headphones can’t block background noise. A slight displacement of the headphones from your ears will let in all the unwanted noises. They have rotating hinges so that you can carry them around with ease. But they are bigger than earbuds.
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Earbuds or in-ears
Earbuds are the most popular headsets that people would want to have. You may remember that early smartphones and MP3 players used to come with earbuds. The craze even continues to this day. Check out some of the best earphones under 500 INR you can consider buying.
Earbuds: What you may like
First, the earbuds are extremely compact and easy to carry. You can roll them and put them into your pocket or purse and get going. The presence of silicone tips on the earbuds helps to seal the background noise effectively.
Wireless earbuds, on the other hand, are perfect for fitness enthusiasts. Another benefit of buying earbuds is that you can find them at a relatively lower price. Even if your budget is low, you can find yourself a nice pair of earbuds.
Earbuds: What you may not like
The limitations in earbuds, especially because of their size, make it harder for sound engineers to achieve accurate audio. However, you can find a variety of audiophile earbuds on the market. But they are quite expensive.
The wires getting tangled is another great disadvantage of having earbuds. Or, it can break sometimes. However, this isn’t something that people care about these days. A handful of earbuds come with replaceable cables, though.
True wireless earbuds
These are very similar to the earbuds mentioned above. True wireless earbuds are portable and fit in your ear with ease. It is the latest trend for personal music. These earbuds use Bluetooth technology to transmit music from the hardware. Also, they are the smallest and equipped with a lot of features.
True wireless earbuds: What you may like
True wireless earbuds are the most popular option you can find around. These earbuds include a case that holds the buds and charges them as well. They are free of wires and this is why people love them much.
As of now, wireless earbuds have almost become an integral part of smartphones. Even companies provide a lot of features on them. These kinds of earbuds come with features that make it easy for you to control them. Some of them include reconfiguring the button or touch controls, different toggle features, and so on.
True wireless earbuds: What you may not like
To begin with, the batteries in truly wireless earbuds don’t last for longer hours. The tiny battery cells and the charge-depleting cycle of these earbuds make a perfect recipe for small battery life. Apart from longevity, true wireless earbuds don’t provide you with great playtime.
Most of them have a battery life of about 4 to 6 hours. Connection stability is another great issue in these types of earbuds. While most companies support Bluetooth 5.0 or later, some develop their own versions.
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Things to consider before buying headphones
You should have a clear understanding of some technical terms before investing in a great pair of headphones. To make things easy for you, we have highlighted the key elements you should consider when buying the best headphones.
1. Is Comfort Everything?
Using a headphone for longer hours makes you uncomfortable. Surely, you must have experienced it a few times in your life. A general rule of thumb is that the larger the ear cups, the better will be its comfort level.
Headphones that are smaller and padded well can give you the comfort that you are looking for. Moreover, weight is another factor that adds to comfort. So, lighter headphones provide you with much comfort.
Lightweight headphones with foam padding are best suited for long listening periods. Apart from these, the headband contributes to comfort as well. Over-the-head style headbands are the perfect fit.
Moreover, you can adjust the headband. Rotating cups are another factor responsible for providing comfort, especially on over-the-ear headphones. So, adjust them to avoid sound leakage and improve comfort.
2. How important is Portability?
The best headphones do not create issues in terms of portability. For use during physical activities, a lightweight portable headphone serves better. Whereas, for studio work, closed-back heavy circumaural headphones are popular.
If you are looking for portable headphones, the fold-up designs should be a great choice. And, the headphones remain protected when you are on the go. However, it is wise to carry an extra case to store your headphones if you are traveling.
3. What about durability?
Everyone wants their headphones to last for a long time. Lightweight headphones won’t provide durability. Hence, you have to use them carefully. Put them in a protected case when you are not using them.
If the headphones are fold-ups, the hinges should be strong. Also, the quality of the cables should be more than average. Many people believe that the price of an item decides its quality.
To some extent it is true. Expensive headphones will stand out from ordinary ones in terms of durability.
4. Do You Need Long Cables?
The best headphones will have cables that should be long enough to serve your purpose. However, try to avoid very long cables whenever possible. That’s because it might impact sound quality. Also, they are easily tangled.
If you buy headphones with shorter cables, don’t worry. You can always use an extension cable to get the job done.
5. Can Frequency Response Impact Music?
You may have seen specifications something like 20Hz – 20,000Hz in the product description. This is called frequency response. It is the range of sound that the headset can produce. It is a common sight in almost every headset you find around.
That’s because humans can listen to sound frequencies that fall between 20Hz and 20000Hz. But, this is not the end of it. While there are different frequency response types, the “flat” ones should be the perfect ones.
The best headphones will have a flat frequency response capable of producing music notes with an equal amount of loudness. That way, you can listen to music in the same way as sound engineers do. However, you have to spend more to experience this kind of sound.
6. Choosing between closed and open-back headphones
You can find some of the best headphones with closed-back easily. The casing protects the internal components. Also, you can use them anywhere without worrying much about the audio leaking out. However, these headphones can’t create auditory space compared to the open-back ones.
On the other hand, open-back headphones have grilles through which you can see the drivers. There is a constant flow of air throughout the headset and it creates a “spacious” sound.
7. What should be the Battery Life of My Headphone?
Battery life depends on the type of wireless headphones that you are planning to buy. Over-ear and on-ear headphones have more battery life compared to wireless earbuds. On a single charge, almost every wireless headphone provides about 16 hours of continuous playtime.
Whereas, traditional wireless earbuds provide you with about 8 hours of continuous playtime. However, true wireless earbuds give you a playtime of about 4 to 5 hours after a full charge.
All kinds of earbuds support fast charging. You may have seen advertisements that say something like, “10 minutes of charging gives you an hour of constant music.” Moreover, certain headphones support a different variant of fast charging. And, they can provide a few hours of listening with only a few minutes of charge.
Headphones Buying Guide: Is a Wired or Wireless Headphone Better?
Just like anything else, there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ when it comes to choosing between a wired and a wireless headphone or an earbud. It is all about personal preference. For some people, wired headphones are perfect. Whereas, others will find wireless headphones the next big thing.
There are advantages and disadvantages of experiencing wireless connectivity. Hence, it will influence your buying decisions. Furthermore, a wireless headphone or an earphone may not be a great option if the device comes with a headphone jack.
Sometimes, you may feel that a wireless life isn’t worth the hype. And, opting for wired listening seems to be the best option. Again, it’s a matter of choice. Both wired and wireless headphones serve different purposes.
Headphones buying guide: Conclusion
Whether you are buying the best headphones, earbuds, or earphones, the quality of the product will depend on its price tag. If you want better sound quality along with other features, you can expect a higher price. So, the sound experience from a headphone depends on the amount of money you are willing to spend. How you want to use the headphones can help you choose the right one as well.
Headphones with comfortable ear pads and good-quality sound are important for a great listening experience. When you know more about headphones, making informed decisions on what to buy becomes easy. No wonder, headphones have made our lives beautiful. Therefore, know your requirements before narrowing down your choices.
Let us know what you think about the post in the comment section.
Headphones Buying Guide: FAQ
1. Why is the volume on my headphones too low?
There could be a few reasons why the sound of your headphones is too low. Start by checking the hardware. Check if everything is plugged in the right way. Also, make sure that the headphone jack is clean. If you are using earbuds check if they are clean without obstructions. If you are using wired headphones, check thoroughly if the wires are in good condition.
Slight damage on the wire may result in low volume. If you are using wireless headphones, there could be interference from certain elements like metals between the devices. Ensure that the headphones are not too far from the device that is playing the music. The connection becomes weak and your listening experience gets compromised.
2. Are headphones safe to use?
Using a headphone is all about responsibility and moderation. When you use headphones at a reasonable volume, do not have them 24/7, ensure that they fit well, and keep them clean, everything should be fine. But if you play music loud all day, never bother to keep it clean, and use headphones that are uncomfortable to wear, there could be issues.
3. What is the best way to use a headphone?
The best way to use headphones without hurting your ears is to limit the volume to 85dB or even less. So, try listening to music at 60% of the peak volume or less. Setting a specific time limit to listen to music using a headphone is a good idea. Although it is about personal preference when it comes to volume adjustment, it is wise to keep the volume at 60% maximum. You can use the headphones with this setting for 60 minutes. Take a break for at least 30 minutes before resuming again.
4. Why is my headphone uncomfortable and hurting my ears?
There are a few reasons why your best headphones or earbuds might cause discomfort. Ensure that the headphone you are using has the right fit. Headphones that have a poor fit can put pressure on your ears. As a result, you feel uncomfortable and annoyed. Keep an eye on how loud you are playing music. Out of excitement, people tend to turn the volume up. But you have to use headphones or earbuds responsibly.
Volume levels at 85dB or above can result in ear pain, hearing loss, or tinnitus. It is the term used to represent phantom noises in your ears including buzzing, grinding, or humming. If you are using earbuds, develop a habit to keep them clean. If left unclean for some time, allergens will get into your ear canal. Some of the best headphones and earbuds are available in different sizes. Therefore, make sure that the one you are using has the right fit. Or else, it can cause discomfort because of improper fit.
5. Which headphones are best for you?
The right type of headphones will depend on what you are looking for. Do you want headphones with superb noise cancellation? Or, do you want portability? What kind of audio quality you are looking for? Is portability your main concern? There is no shortage of the best headphones available on the market. Check out our post on the top 5 wired earphones you can buy. Once you know what you want, choosing the one for your needs becomes easy.
6. Are headphones waterproof?
Some of the best headphones come with sweat-resistant features. Whereas, some headphones offer strong resistance against high water pressure as well. But that doesn’t mean that the headphones are waterproof. There is a difference between water resistant and waterproof. For example, some earbuds come with highly water-resistant abilities. Still, you cannot submerge them in water beyond a certain depth.