Headphones aren’t just a way to listen music anymore; they’ve evolved into something you can wear and use with your phone. There are plenty of options when you plan to buy one. You can get small ones that fit in your ear, big ones that go over your ears, or Bluetooth type.
If you’ve never bought headphones before, it can be hard to understand all the specs and features.
This ultimate guide to getting headphones will help you figure out what you need to know about these listening devices.
Three Types of Headphones
From manufacturing and design angle there are three basic types of headphones available in the UAE market.
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Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones are the biggest of the several headphone varieties in terms of size. They reproduce sounds more accurately over the whole frequency range, from sub-bass to high notes. These powerful devices can move more air at once which smaller headsets like earbuds find difficult to produce without using many drivers. They offer greater comfort and longer battery life compared to smaller choices.
On the down side, over-ear headphones need much more space in your backpack than a set of wired or wireless earbuds. They are not as portable as in-ear headphones.
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In-Ear Headphones
As the name suggest in-ear headphones lay in your ear and are the most portable ones. Some models of in-ear headphones can be pushed deeper into the ear canal that is why they are considered the least comfortable headphones by many users.
Though occurring rarely but in-ear headphones when used excessively, their certain models may even harm your ear cartilage. In-ear headphones are generally comfortable to use for most individuals, but if you purchase a new set of earbuds, it could take a few days for them to adjust.
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On-Ear Headphones
On-ear headphones provide a middle ground between comfortable over-ear and uncomfortable in-ear models. On-ear headphones include cushioning on the outer ear, as the name indicates. These headphones are too uncomfortable to use for an extended period of time if the clamp is too hard. And if the clamp is too soft then they will come off.
They are a good option for anyone who want a set of excellent-sounding headphones to carry with them and don’t mind their bigger size and lack of pocket-ability. Some on-ear headphones may be useful for exercising, but be sure they have a sturdy clip to keep them on your head.
Wired or Wireless Headphones?
While wired headphones nearly always provide a superior sound quality than wireless ones, wireless headphones may be more practical. When it comes to wireless headphones, battery life is another thing to take into account.
Wired Headphones
Although their popularity has decreased, wired headphones are still in use today. However, except from a few high-fidelity listening settings, it’s possible that they won’t last much longer.
Wired headphones still offer a few key benefits even if wireless headphones are often more convenient.
Wired headphones often have far higher audio quality. This is due to the fact that they often utilize your phone’s or computer’s built-in headphone amplifier instead of the inferior amplifier found in contemporary wireless headphones.
Wireless Headphones
While sound quality must be taken into account, there are occasions when convenience comes first. For instance, the ease of a wireless design is definitely worth the trade-off of somewhat inferior audio quality if you plan to use your headphones at the gym.
Wireless headphones should be OK if you’re not an audiophile who appreciates high-fidelity music and has a keen ear for subtle sonic variations.
There are many distinct kinds of wireless headphones. The majority of wireless headphones are over-ear or on-ear styles, or they feature a short cable that goes around your head once.
However, “truly wireless” headphones have gained popularity, such as Apple AirPods. These earbuds are wirelessly connected to your listening device and to one another, giving you two separate earphones that are often stored in a charging case when not in use.
More over four hours of nonstop listening time is considered a good battery life for true wireless headphones, however the charging case may prolong that if you don’t listen for that long.
Non-true wireless earbuds should have a playing time of at least 8 to 10 hours per charge. Over-ear headphones should be able to last at least 16 or 17 hours and on-ear headphones at least 15 hours, however they may go as high as 25 hours or more.
How to Choose the Perfect Pair for You
Here are three tips that help you decide which headphone is right for you and how that works.
Sound Quality
You may favor one sound over another because headphones, like speakers, may emphasize (or distort) certain sections of the audio spectrum. Try out some headphones before purchasing if you can. Check return policies before making an online purchase to ensure that it may be returned or exchanged for a different model.
Noise Cancellation
Over-the-ear headphones are fantastic for listening at home but may be uncomfortable while you’re moving about. While sometimes sacrificing a little sound quality, smaller, more compact devices are unquestionably convenient, and in-ear headphones are simpler to use. Consider using headphones with active noise reduction if you need some silence when working at home or somewhere else.
For the Finest Sound, Use a Wire
We suggest picking up one of the higher rated wired devices for serious music listening. While many wireless headphones function well and some have great sound, we haven’t yet discovered any that match the sonic quality of the finest corded versions. On the other hand, some wireless headphones—even genuine wireless models—offer great sound quality. However, you may have to pay the extra price.