Headphones

Headphones Buying Guide

Whether you want to listen to music or movies without disturbing others, get the best out of your MP3 player, or drown out background noise while exercising, there's a set of headphones for you. You can buy a portable pair for $10 or spend up to $500 for headphones with active noise-reduction technology.
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Types

The type of headphones you buy depends mostly on your lifestyle and somewhat on your budget. Some people buy different types of headphones for different uses, such as a pair to wear while exercising and another for listening to high-fidelity music. Here are the types of headphones to consider.

Home/studio headphones

These headphones are usually larger models that look like earmuffs, with earpieces connected by a headband. Most are corded, with wires that run from 3 feet to 8 feet long so they can be connected to an audio source such as a receiver or TV. Some can be folded for storage and come with carrying pouches. There are also battery-powered wireless models that pick up radio frequency or infrared transmissions from a base unit that connects to an audio source. Home/studio headphones come in a few basic designs:
 
Over-the-ears headphone models
Over-the-ears headphone models

Over-the-ears headphone models

Also called circumaural, these models cup your ears, sealing in sound and muffling ambient noise. But they might also block out some things that you want to hear, such as a doorbell or a child's cry.

 
Open, over-the-ears headphone models
Over-the-ears, open

Over-the-ears, open

These headphones have openings in the ear cups. You'll be able to hear more external sounds but sounds can also escape, perhaps enough to keep someone nearby awake.

 
On-ear headphone models
On-ear headphone models

On-ear headphone models

Also called supra-aural, these types of headphones are generally lighter and don't press on the sides of your head—they press upon the ears. Many wearers find them more comfortable for long listening sessions, but they can allow more ambient sound to enter. On-ear headphones, like over-the-ear, also come in open and closed versions. Most of these models use an adjustable strap that fits over, or behind, your head to hold them in place. (The behind-the-head models are sometimes called “street style.”) Some can be folded for storage and come with carrying pouches.

 

Portable headphones

Available in a variety of styles, all are lightweight, small, and may be foldable so they can be tucked away in a pocket or purse when not in use. They come in a variety of styles:
 
Hanging over-ear models
Hanging over-ear models

Hanging over-ear models

Active noise-reduction headphones are a good choice for anyone who doesn't want to be disturbed by outside noise.

 
So-called
So-called "ear buds"

Ear buds (intra-concha)

These are the familiar type that typically comes with iPods and other portable audio players.

 
Insert-style earphones
Insert-style earphones

Insert-style (intra-canal)

These earphones are inserted into the ear canal, forming a seal that can help keep out extraneous sounds. Many come with additional earpieces (canal tips) of varying sizes to ensure a proper, comfortable fit.

 
Sports-style on-ear headphone models
Sports-style on-ear

Sports-style on-ear

Also called supra-concha, these models are a good choice when you'll be engaged in a strenuous activity or exercise. The phones are supported by a bracket that passes around the back of the head, and generally radiate sound forward toward the ear canal rather than sideways directly into the ear canal.

 

Wireless headphones

Wireless headphones
Wireless headphones
Wireless models, once rare, are now increasingly common, and typically use RF, infrared, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. Most have a battery-powered headset and an AC-powered transmitter that connects to your audio or video gear. RF models can transmit signals through walls and floors, enabling you to use the headphones in other rooms or even outside. But they are also subject to interference from other devices that operate on the same frequencies, such as cordless phones and microwave ovens. Several RF technologies are used, including: FM (analog) or digital spread spectrum.

Wireless headphones that use infrared technology, much like a TV remote, require a direct line of sight to the transmitter. Bluetooth is a type of digital spread-spectrum technology, and the typical model has an operating range of about 30 feet. Bluetooth technology used in headphones (and other hi-fi audio uses) should employ the A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) or "advanced audio" feature, rather than the narrow-band voice-quality mode used for wireless cell phone headsets.

 

Active noise-reduction headphones

Active noise-reduction headphones
Active noise-reduction headphones
Active noise-reduction headphones are a good choice for anyone who doesn't want to be disturbed by outside noise. Any headphones with a closed design that fit tightly over your ears or inside the ear canal will block some noise by creating a seal. This is called passive noise reduction. Closed design over-the-ear and insert-style earphones tend to block more noise than do open design, on-ear, and ear-bud-style headphones. Models with active noise-canceling technology go a step further. These battery-powered headphones use tiny microphones to monitor noise frequencies, and then produce those same frequencies out of phase in an effort to cancel them.

We've found that the effectiveness of noise reduction technology can range from very good to poor. In general, we found the most effective noise-reduction in models that combined passive noise blocking with active noise cancellation. Some models let you turn off noise reduction; these will work without batteries. Others work only with noise canceling activated, and thus they can't be used for listening to music if the batteries die. And in some cases, you can use the noise-canceling feature even when you're not listening to music, simply to reduce outside noise.

 
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