We use headphones all the time – to listen to MP3s and DVD’s, play musical instruments, and more. But how exactly do they work?
Essentially, headphones are a pair of transducers that receive electrical signals from some sort of media player or receiver. The headphone’s speakers convert these signals to sound waves that your ears can then hear. Based on this description, you may immediately think of how telephones and radios function. And indeed, headphones preceded both of these inventions.
There are four basic types of headphones: circumaural, supra-aural, earbuds/earphones, and canalphones. The differences between them are mostly visible – they vary in size and style. A lot of people these days are concerned only on the looks and style of the heaphone…I feel thats a bad thing. You should be more concerned about the quality and durability of the headphones you are purchasing, rather than worry how you are going to look with them on your head. Would you rather have a great listening experience that will last a long time, or would you rather look better and have a bad listening experience?
However, studies have shown that using headphones at a high volume level can lead to temporary or permanent hearing damage. Companies have responded to this danger, promoting safer products. Some people believe closed-air headphones, which are sealed, are actually better for hearing than open-air headphones, which allow outside interference. This is because people are then less tempted to turn up the volume because the sound quality is so good already.
When looking for a new set of headphones, you can visit your local retailer or shop online. Wireless headphones are a popular trend and they allow users to roam about while listening to music or other audio, rather than having to sit stationary next to their MP3 player or computer. Whatever your needs or budget, you’re sure to find the right headphones for you.
Too often the weakest link in a portable audio setup is the headphones
Many portable music enthusiasts spend a great deal of money trying to improve on the quality of their music by buying the highest quality CD players, MP3 players, stereos, and speakers. Then they spend most of their time listening to their portable audio devices through the cheap headphones that came with the devices or something they picked up at the local discount store. Good headphones should be the primary concern in most cases where portable audio quality is a primary consideration.
The cost of headphones
The good news is that great quality from headphones is much less expensive than getting great quality from the other audio components. A good set of headphones will often provide you with a better sound experience than a very expensive set of speakers. So if you’re going to spend for the best audio quality, the primary concern should be on purchasing great headphones.
Many people make the mistake of not even buying headphones at all. Almost all portable audio devices now come with their own little headphones. In most cases these are not even brand name headphones, but rather mass manufactured headphones that have a market value between $1 and $10. Even when they are brand name headphones, they are often at the bottom of that brand’s product line. Using these headphones greatly compromises the sound quality of the music you listen to on a daily basis. So as long as you’re going to invest in a portable audio player with all of the features you want, invest in a good set of headphones as well.
Headphones and location
Primarily we use headphones so that we can listen to music wherever we go without rudely imposing our music preferences on those around us. Think about the various places where you listen to music and where you would like to listen to music. How much better does great sounding music make you feel about each of those places? If you’re going to take your music with you, make it great.
These are not your grandpa’s headphones
Headphones were once big metal, wood, and then plastic speaker systems that hung on giant headgear on top of your ears. Over time they got smaller, became more comfortable, and provided better sound. This trend in headphones continues today. While earpieces have been available for a few decades now, the moderately priced earpieces we have now provide sound quality that only the best speaker systems of the past could compete with today. But that doesn’t mean you should settle. If you can have the sound of a concert hall, why settle for the sound of bad headphones? Take a little time and spend a little money to make sure you get a great sound experience from your portable audio devices with a great set of headphones.
O.K. Now you’ve finally purchased your beloved iPod and your ready to listen to some tunes. Unfortunately the headset that came with it are for crap! Who wants to waste their time listening to poor audio on an expensive iPod. You want gear that will match the quality of your iPod and offer the best sound quality possible. Good news is there is a HUGE selection of quality headphones. A wide range of styles, quality, and prices. Don’t waste your time with the crap missing out on what music should sound like. Don’t be afraid to try something new and know that mixing brands is o.k.. When it is time to shop for headphones consider the following.
Fit: Fit can make a huge difference in terms of sound quality believe it or not. Ear bud headphones fit into the ear canal but don’t enclose the ear as a result of this other sounds can interfere with what your listening to. In turn ear bud users turn up the volume which damages the ears. Ear buds can also be rather uncomfortable. This type of headphone is the kind that came with your iPod.
An excellent alternative to ear buds are the enclosed model of earphones with padding. This type of headphone contains what is called a dynamic transducer, and in my opinion offers the best type of audio listening experience. Another type of headphones is headsets that fit tightly on the head or wrap around the head DJ style.
Another alternative are the Canal Phones. These are designed to fit comfortably inside the ear canal and provide better sound with more isolation and good bass. Canal phones are considered to be more effective and safer than other headphones. They are able to eliminate most of the external noise. Which in turn means you won’t have to turn up the volume in order to hear it, reducing the possibility of hearing loss. The lesson here is find headphones that block external noise, then you won’t have to turn up your volume!
A nifty feature on some enclosed headphones is a noise cancellation feature. This is used when there is a hissing, or you can hear external noises which lessens your listening experience. All you have to do is flip a switch to take advantage of this feature. The background noise will be cancelled out and all you hear is sweet music to your ears!
Wireless headphones are also another great feature available for people on the go who don’t want to be “tied down”. The one draw back is wireless headphones usually have a small broadcasting range. Try and find one that offers a good range so you can wander far and wide!