Everyone loves music, but the test of music can vary from person to person and age to age. Some like booming sound, some likes melody while some love gaming, therefore it is important to choose the best headphones that can perform best to suit your passion. Choosing the best headphones is too difficult like choosing a baby name, hence we introduced the buying guide for the best headphones and earphones. Before going through the buying guide first you should know a little about headphones.
What are the headphones?
The headphones are a pair of small speakers that the user worn in or around his ears to listen to the sound.
Headphones were originated from the telephone receiver earpiece that later developed for both ears and known as headphones. They are electroacoustic transducers that convert electric signals into a sound like a loudspeaker but much smaller in size. Their small size facilitates you to carry anywhere and gives you privacy.
Types of headphones.
There are so many types of headphones that might you hear about them, but here we are going to clear something more about it.
Wired headphones.
Headphones come with wire only before Bluetooth invented. Wired headphones use a cable to connect with their source, which comes with a 3.5 mm Audio jack which is also known as an auxiliary connector. The sound quality produced by wired headphones is better as they do not require over the air technology that is prone to disturbance. Wire of headphones ensure a continuous and seamless connection and produced excellent quality sound every time. One more good thing about wired headphones or earphones is that they do not require recharging.
Because of the limited length of wire, they bound you to move away from the connected devices. You have to keep your device handy or in a pocket when connected with headphones. The wires of the headphones can get easily tangled and there is a risk of breaking down if they are not carefully separated.
Wireless headphones.
Wireless headphones do not use wire to connect with the audio source, they use Bluetooth technology instead. Bluetooth is a low powered wireless technology used to link for exchanging data between two or more devices. Bluetooth reduces the clutter of being tangling of cables found in wired headphones and also reduces the probability of tripping or falling. Users are free to move within the range of Bluetooth that is generally 10 meters or more in the latest version. Bluetooth headphones or earphones require a battery that needs to recharge every day. Read more about wireless headphones.
The major disadvantage is that they are prone to the risk of signal disturbances. The battery used in headphones are generally small in size and designed to fit in the tiny body and also have limited power backup. The sound quality of wireless headphones is not adequate compared to their wired neighbor.
Both wired and wireless headphones are can be categorized as follows according to size, fit, comfort, use, and portability.
In-ear headphones.
They are the most common types of headphones and are inserted inside the ears canal. Their tips are inserted in the ears rather than around the ears, therefore it gives a pretty effective sound. They are compact, lightweight, portable, and can easily fit in your pocket. They get easily dirty because of directly inserted in the ears and can become a reason for spreading germs. Their sound quality is no so good compared to other types of headphones, and their cable can easily be tangled if you are not choosing wireless earphones.
Here again, they are categorized into two types depending on how they fit.
In-ear monitors (IEMs).
They are using silicon or rubber tips to fit perfectly in the canal of ears. They block the external sound because of perfectly fitted rubber tips and gives a better sound experience. They are most suitable for those activities which involve movement, like walking, exercising, and traveling, because they stay fit in the ears and not falls. They usually come in different size options for tips because the canal size varies in different ears, so you can choose the one that is suitable for you. Silicon or rubber can easily pick up the dirt of the ears, therefore, your need to clean tips periodically or before sharing with someone.
Earbuds.
They are not using any rubber tip and rest on the outer ear. They can not block external sound that results in poor noise isolation. As they are not perfectly fitted in ear-canal they can easily fall anytime during movement. To prevent them falls down some earphones come with Earclip or Neckband design. However, IEMs also come with them.
Both In-ear monitors (IEMs) and Earbuds come in an Earclip and Neckband support design.
Earclips in headphones.
They are designed with an added clip. The clips are made of or coated with soft material helps them to stay in place more comfortably. They are most suitable for walking, running, and working because of their infallible design. Both wired and wireless earphones can be equipped with such kinds of clips design.
Neckband or behind the neck design.
They are designed with a special band that rests on your neck and both the earphone are connected with the band through the wire. The bands are lightweight and can be used for a whole day without trouble. The neckband design also comes with wireless headphones where the bands are a little heave because the battery used to power the Bluetooth is kept in bands.
On-ear headphones.
They are bigger in size and sit on the outer ear as they are equipped with bigger driver speakers however they can not cover ears completely. The drivers used in on-ear headphones are generally 40 mm in diameter and the headband of headphones is adjustable for a perfect fit for different sizes of heads. They are lightweight and portable compared to over-ear headphones and offer better sound quality compared to most in-ear earphones. They are propagated by soft and plush foam cushions for comfortable use for a long time but using them for an extended time can be a pain on your ears. Most of the on-ear headphones can not block the outside noise, this is good as you can be aware that what is happening in your surroundings, especially when you are riding a bike while enjoying music. These types of headphones are best for those who want better sound quality than in-ear earphones but not recommended for those who do not want to wear something bulky on their head.
Over-ear headphones.
They are designed slightly bigger than on-ear headphones so that the cushion can cover the whole ear. They are better in sound quality and comfortable for long time use as their soft cushions earcups distribute the pressure equally around ears. They offer better isolation from surround because of equally distributed and well-fitted cushions around the ears. Some over-ear headphones offer active noise cancellations features that provide a better listening experience. They are also equipped with adjustable headband earcups for a perfect fit.
Both On-ear and over-ear headphones are can be of two types depending on earcup shape and design.
Open-back headphones.
The backside of ear cups is open and covered with mesh or vent that allows air to be flow through it. They leak sound to your neighbor through such a mesh, however, it can cool your ears by flowing air in it.
Closed-back headphones.
Unlike open-back headphones, the earcups of these headphones are fully covered. They do not allow air to be flow in it and hence the sound is completely blocked and not be leaked to neighbors. Because of a closed backside, the heat or moisture might be buildup if being used for an extended time.
True wireless headphones.
Generally, In wireless headphones, two earpieces are connected with a small piece of wire however true wireless earphones are two different pieces with no wired connections between them and both the earpieces are behave as individual earphones that sit in your ears. They are extremely lightweight and both the earpieces have a tiny battery installed in them. They are convenient for working out or moving within a distance of 10 meters. Truly wireless earphones come with a charging case to keep them charged up, even the charging case itself has a battery that can be charged through USB. Read more about truly wireless earbuds.
Buying Guide for best Headphones.
Headphones are widely used in smartphones, digital audio mp3 players, some are connected through Auxilary wire while some are wireless that uses Bluetooth in order to pair with the device. The best headphones are those that deliver great sound quality, looks, and comfort while worn. Besides sound quality, there are more plenty of features that need to be considered while buying the best headphones. If you are planning to buy the best headphones but still confused, our buying guide will help you.
The followings are key features and technical specifications you should consider while buying good headphones in India.
The sound quality of headphones.
Headphones are built to deliver sound but the quality of sound should be adequate. The sound quality is based on personal performance and can vary across people. To understand the sound, you must take a look at terms that enhance the quality of sound.
Frequency of sound.
Frequency is a speed at which the sound waves vibrate which is measured in Hertz also denoted as Hz. The hearing ability of human ears can be expressed between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. Different musical instruments produce different frequencies and music is a combination of such different frequencies and vocals together. The frequency from 20 Hz to 200 Hz enhances Bass effects like a drum and booming sound, frequency from 200 Hz to 5kHz enhances Mids like male vocals and saxophone, while high frequency from 5 kHz to 20 kHz enhance trebles like female vocal and guitar.
Signature of sound.
The output of headphones is carefully adjusted with low, mid, and high frequencies of sound. Headphones that enhance with low-frequency range can produce good bass effect while enhances with high-frequency range can produce good trebles in output. Some ordinary headphone comes with a balanced sound signature output. This is like an equalizer that you are set by adjusting different frequencies in your device. The most common combinations are high bass, high treble, and balance signature.
Frequency response.
This is the range of frequency of sound that produces the headphones in output that is measured in Hz. The range of audible frequency for a human is from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Bass lovers prefer the headphones that support low frequency and treble lovers prefer the headphones that support high frequency.
Size of the driver.
The driver is the main component of the speaker which is made of a magnet, coil, and diaphragm that produces sound when vibrated. The size of the driver can be vary depending on the size of ear cups of headphones. It is from 6 to 12 mm in in-ear headphones and 40 to 100 mm in on-ear and over-ear headphones. Bigger drivers are considered better for sound however it can not produce high frequencies effectively that results in disturbing sound, therefore some headphone manufacturer installs the separate small driver in earcups for better sound.
Sensitivity.
The sensitivity of headphones determines how it responds for a given amount of input. It is defined as the loudness of the sound of headphones measured in decibels per milliwatt (dB/mW). Higher the sensitivity, louder the headphone for a given input.
Impedance.
Impedance is a measure of electrical resistance that limits the current flowing through the driver to keep it safe, it is measured in ohms. Headphones having less than 32 ohms impedance are preferred for use with smartphone or multimedia devices however, a professional high-powered amplifier requires headphones having an impedance of more than 600 ohms. Headphones having higher impedance produce the less loud sound and having lower impedance produces the louder sound.
Headphones are built to deliver sound however modern headphones are also equipped with plenty of features like calling and voice command. To enjoy a hassle-free music experience, look for the following features while choosing the best headphones.
Microphone.
The microphone on headphones helps you to talk over a call without disconnecting or switching the device. Some headphones come with two or three mics for active noise cancellation. Microphones are generally located on a wire, ear cups, or on an extended accessory depending on need and design. Wireless and truly wireless headphones have mics available on the earpiece. Extended mics are great for call center executives and professionals as they want clear sound while communicating.
Connectivity.
Wired connectivity.
Connectivity is a medium through which headphones connect with their audio source, it can be either wired or wireless. Most wired headphones use a 3.5 mm audio jack which is common in most devices like smartphones, mp3 players, and laptops. Some headphones come with a type C or lightning connectors for those smartphones that do not contain a 3.5 mm audio jack. If you already own a headphone having an audio jack and want to connect it to smartphones that do not contain a 3.5 mm connector, you must buy a small adaptor. From type C or lightning connector to 3.5 mm converters are widely available online, some smartphone companies supply them with a smartphone. Earphones that come with tangle-free cables are easy to handle.
Wireless connectivity.
Headphones with wireless connectivity use Bluetooth in order to pair with Bluetooth enabled devices like smartphones, laptops, and televisions. Some Bluetooth headphones have the ability to connect with more than one device simultaneously. Bluetooth headphones generally have a 10-meter range and the sound quality is dependant on the distance between the audio source and headphones.
Wired headphones can produce better sound compared to wireless headphones which are prone to interference.
Controls and voice assistant.
Headphones should be equipped with control buttons for different functions like play/pause, next, previous, and call. Some headphones have a single button whereas some come with added buttons for more actions. These found on the wire in wired headphones and on earcups in on-ear and over-ear headphones.
Some headphones are equipped with a built-in voice assistant like, Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. Voice assistant helps you to play or control music, managing tasks, and language translating using a voice command only.
Design, build quality, and durability.
Headphones should be well designed and look pretty when worn, people do not like to wear something that looks weird and bulky. Premium headphones are made of strong materials that are lightweight like tough and damage resistant plastic. High-quality earphones have resilient rubber-coated that resists damage from abrasion and banding. Headphones should also resistant to moisture and dust and water, they should be durable too.
Water-resistance or waterproof?
Headphones are made for everyday use, therefore it important that they should be dust and waterproof. They are designed with those materials that block sweat and water, especially helpful when working out. Headphones should easy to clean and can resist water splash and rainfall. Waterproof headphones can be immersed in water and they are not damaged by it. They are a perfect fit for working out and outdoor activities, even they are not damaged by rainfall. The ability to resist water for headphones is denoted in IPX rating, it is between IPX1 and IPX8. The headphones having IPX ratings from 1 to 4 are water-resistant and from 5 to 8 are waterproof.
The following table helps you to understand the IPX rating.
| IPX Ratings | Features |
|---|---|
| IPX0 | No water protection |
| IPX1 | Can resist water that drips vertically on headphones |
| IPX2 | Can resist water that hits the earphones from an angle less than 15 degrees |
| IPX3 | can withstand water sprays up to 60 degrees from the vertical |
| IPX4 | Can resist water that drips vertically on the earphones |
| IPX5 | Resistant to water splashes from all directions |
| IPX6 | Can withstand a continuous, low-pressure water jet spray |
| IPX7 | The earphones can be submerged under 1-meter water for 30 minutes |
| IPX8 | Can b submerged deeper than 1-meter water as specified by the company |
Ease of use.
Although there are so many headphones of different types and features, not all headphones are useful for all kinds of tasks. Different types of headphones are suitable for different use, some are comfortable when traveling and some are when working out in the gym. Here are some headphones that suit perfectly in different works.
Headphones for everyday use.
They should be lightweight, comfortable, portable, compact, and easy to use for talking on a call, listening to music and videos on the go. In-ear and neckband headphones are most suitable for everyday use.
Headphones for sports and gym.
They stay in place while movement like running and gyming. They are wireless and resist water and sweat. In-ear headphones with ear clips and true wireless earphones are best for sports and gym.
Headphones for travel.
they keep you fresh with their best sound quality and private listening when you are on a bus or plane. On-ear headphones and over-ear headphones are most suitable for traveling.
Headphones for professionals.
They are extremely best in sound quality with a high impedance as they are used to be connected to a high power amplifier. Over-ear headphones with wired or wireless are a perfect fit for professional use. They have large earcups and noise cancellation features.
Gaming and home entertainment.
They are made for immersive gaming, hear background sound, better sound effects, and dialogues without disturbing others. Look for surround sound and noise cancellation with large ear cups for extended time use. Over-ear and on-ear headphones are most suitable for gaming and entailment.
Now, you just have gone through the buying guide and different types of headphones, it is up to you to how to choose your favorite headphone. We love to answer your question, leave a comment below in the comment section if any.