What To Consider When Choosing New Headphones
Headphones have changed a lot in the past ten years. They’re also a lot more expensive, so you have to make the right decision or you’ll be seriously out of pocket. Now you can choose between different sizes, styles, wireless, and voice-controlled. The list goes on. We’re here to help you make the best choice when choosing your new headphones.
In-Ear Or Over-Ear?
Some people don’t feel comfortable putting earbuds into their ears; they feel uncomfortable or don’t fit properly. Others don’t like the bulky look of the over-ear styles and feel a bit conspicuous wearing them. There are a few differences. Over-ear styles are slightly better for your hearing as they don’t involve pushing something in towards the eardrum. Since hearing loss is becoming more common it’s worth doing some research to learn more about protecting your hearing.
Wireless or Wired?
Wireless styles are very convenient. You don’t have to spend the first five minutes of your commute trying to untangle the wire and they’re also handy if you go running or to the gym as you won’t catch the cord and accidentally pull them off your head.
If you’re going to be using them at home, wireless headphones will allow you to connect to various different devices like your phone, TV, or sound system without having to stay within a few feet of your device. The downside of wireless is that they have to be charged. Battery life is getting much better but if you need to wear them for long periods of time, you could find they run out of charge at just the wrong time.
Where Will They Be Used?
If you spend a lot of time commuting or traveling, then you might want to look at over-ear styles that have good noise-canceling features built-in. Some people don’t like the look of over-ear styles, so look for a good quality in-ear set that won’t draw attention to you.
Remember that in-ear styles don’t form a seal around your ear so are more likely to be heard by fellow passengers when you turn the volume up. Don’t be that person! If you plan on using your headphones primarily at home, good quality over-ear style is probably what you’re looking for.
You’ll get good sound quality and benefit from the comfort of the soft ear cups. As you’ll be at home, you probably won’t be too bothered about how they look like not many people will be able to see you.
Who’s Going To Be Using Them?
Choosing headphones for family use will limit your options to over-ear styles. It’s very unhygienic to be sharing earbuds between multiple people. They’ll need to be robust, too as kids are notoriously heavy-handed with technology. If you go for wireless, they are much safer as your kids won’t risk getting tangled in the wire, but be prepared to hunt around the house for them when they get lost.
