Headphone buying guide. Factors to consider when shopping for headphones

There are many types and models of headphones out there. Choosing the right pair of headphones is a subjective thing and it really depends on your needs and preferences.

Here are some guidelines you can follow to make the entire process easier.

Decide on the type of headphones

When it comes to headphones, you can divide them into 2 main categories: earbuds and regular headphones. Earbuds are smaller and go directly in your ear (hence their other name, ‘in-ear’).

Headphones also can be divided into 2 categories: on ear (supra-aural) and over the ear (circumaural).

Based on the back of the headphones, you can also classify them into closed-back, open-back and semi-open.

Based on connectivity, headphones can be wired or wireless. While wired headphones deliver a slightly superior audio quality, wireless headphones are more convenient, although they are usually pricier.

Read more about types of headphones here: http://www.bestreviewguide.com/en/reviews/electronics/best-headphones/

Budget

Earbuds tend to be the most affordable options. Wired headphones are also more affordable than wireless ones. If you just want something to use during your commute or for occasional purposes, you can find earbuds for even $10, although their durability and audio quality will most likely be questionable.

If you are a passionate audiophile and sound quality is your top priority, expect to pay even hundreds of bucks for a decent pair of headphones. It is all about priorities and your needs.

Purpose

As we’ve already mentioned it, buying the best pair of headphones is a matter of personal taste and needs. There are a lot of great headphones out there, but they don’t all excel at the same things. You have to know exactly what you’re going to use the headphones for, in order to pick the best model for you. If you know you’re going to wear the headphones a lot, comfort should be a main priority. If you want a pair of headphones for when you work out, maybe you should consider going for something wireless, to not get the cord all tangled up when you’re jogging, for instance. You should also consider going for something sweat proof and water resistant, if you know you’re going to use the headphones outdoors most of the time. If you need gaming headphones, you’ll want something with a generous bass and also comfortable, cause let’s face it: you will probably wear them for hours and hours. Audiophiles should pay special attention to the specs of the headphones, to make sure they can deliver the crispest, most balanced and detailed sound. If you’re looking for something to take to work, perhaps you should stay away from open back headphones, as they leak sound and you might disturb your colleagues. If you know you’re going to wear the headphones in loud environments, you should opt for a model that has noise-cancelling or a good sound insulation.

Main specifications

The most important specs to consider when it comes to headphones are:

• Frequency response: the human ear has a hearing range of 20 Hz -20KHz. At the lower frequencies we have the bass while higher frequencies are represented by the highs. The rule of the thumb is this: the broader the range, the more frequencies you’ll hear, hence the more detailed the sound
• Sensitivity: it is measured in decibels (dB); the higher the sensitivity, the better
• Impedance: in this case, the lower the impedance, the better. Try to go for headphones that have an impedance of less than 25 Ohms

Features

When it comes to features, here are some common ones to consider:

• NFC (Near-Field Communication) that allows you to pair the headphones by simply bringing it close to another device that has NFC
• Noise cancellation: is great for reducing/blocking outside noises
• Water resistance
• Built-in microphone, which allows you to take calls, access voice assistant such as Siri and more
• Battery life is another feature to consider, but it only applies to wireless headphones

Portability

How portable a pair of headphone is depends very much on the design, weight and size. If you need easy-to-transport and store headphones, you might want to look for a collapsible ear cups model, so that they’ll fold easily and take up less space. Also, try to consider headphones that are light and not very big.

Here are some of the best headphones you can buy in 2018: http://www.bestreviewguide.com/en/reviews/electronics/best-headphones/